What would Jesus eat?

On Thanksgiving, my sister and brother-in-law handed me a magazine with an article they thought would interest me. It was from the magazine, "Christianity Today". The article was titled, "A Feast Fit for a King, Returning the growing fields and kitchen table to God". The author, Leslie Levland Fields, starts the article with her latest experience at a church potluck event. The offerings are the usual hot dogs, white enriched buns, buckets of fried chicken, Doritos, jello molds and the like. Once the blessing over the food is given, the author wonders to herself, "What would Jesus put on his plate? Would He be okay eating the chicken that probably lived an inhumane life and was fed substandard food?" She goes on to reveal what most of us already know, that the majority of food produced in the United States is just not good for us and the question we need to be considering is, "Would and is Jesus okay with how food is grown and how animals are cared for prior to us eating them?"



Please don't mistake me for telling you to go out and buy all organic food. What I really want you to consider is, where does the food I buy come from? Maybe you know your grocer supplies locally grown food or maybe you have no idea if your apple came from an orchard in Ohio or California. As Christians sometimes we get scared to talk about this because it can seem a bit political, but really we should be the ones who care the most! This is God's creation we are talking about. So when you go to the store, what are you supporting? Are you buying fruit and vegetables that are so sprayed down with chemicals that they are almost more toxic than not? Are we buying the chicken that's $2 cheaper just to save a buck, but was pumped with so many antibiotics that it can't even walk properly because it's body is so large? I know that this topic brings up much debate. Perhaps I even ticked you off a little bit, I am sorry for that, but I hope it makes you consider your purchases beforehand. My hope is that when it is time to shop for our families, we would consider more than just cost, but also what will make our families healthier and in the end brings glory to God as well.

Proverbs 22:9

"A generous man will himself be blessed, for he share his food with the poor."

Grateful,

Katy

Don't be scared of the turkey!

I find myself amused this morning as I watch the discussions on the morning news programs. This is a rarity because most mornings I am in a hurry to get children dressed, fed, teeth and hair brushed and on the way to school so that I can get myself off to teach a class. Thanksgiving has given me a break in my routine for which I am so thankful for. So, as I sit and drink my coffee watching this program, I hear them calculating the calories in a typical Thanksgiving meal. They go on to discuss the length of time you would need to exercise in order to burn off the calories consumed. My thoughts? Please don't be one of those people who diets on Thanksgiving! I know we can get nervous, especially those that are trying to keep their eating in check, but take the day to enjoy yourself. Now, please don't use this as your free pass to eat until you pass out! :) I am saying, let's just not worry about every little calorie that goes into your body and just enjoy time spent with family and friends.

That said, what should the day after Thanksgiving look like? It should consist of eating healthy, unprocessed foods that will give you the energy you need to complete a challenging workout and to accomplish all the things you need to do that day. I believe that people get themselves in trouble, not by eating a Thanksgiving meal, but by eating that way until Christmas. PLEASE don't do that. Your body will not be happy and neither will your mind! Sugar and other processed foods do more than just pack on pounds. They can really alter your mood and energy levels, certainly not something we need.

Okay enough of that! Please enjoy your Thanksgiving and remember to thank God for all He has blessed you with. I am so thankful for each of you. God created only one you. Use the unique qualities He has given you to bless those around you.

1 Corinthians 15:57
"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Happy Thanksgiving!
Katy

Do you realize how blessed you are?

With Thanksgiving right around the corner isn't it only appropriate to remember how truly blessed we are? The reality is, that if you live in the United States and live in a home you are in the top 5% of the wealthiest in the world. Even though most of us know this, we (myself included) find it easy to complain. I find it inconvenient if my Blackberry takes too long to search a topic on the Internet or if my cable goes out for a brief moment. How ridiculous is that?! Shouldn't the fact that I am warm in my home when the weather is cold or that I have my choice of food to eat be something I continually thank God for? My inconveniences are nothing compared to what some people are struggling with on a daily basis.

When teaching a class, especially when we are going through a tough part in the workout and I see everyone is wanting to call it quits, I tell them one simple thing. Do you all know how lucky you are to feel that "burn" in you legs or to feel your arms getting so tired you can hardly lift that weight? Well, you are because you actually have legs and arms that work correctly and you are not paralyzed, therefore you can feel that glorious pain! Okay I know I sound melodramatic, but is it not the truth?

When things get hard, whether it's a workout or just a life experience, thank God for that struggle. Why? It's simple, Christ is making you stronger through whatever hardship you are going through. Once you are through it, He's going to use it for His glory and it will more than likely be used as a story to bless someone's life. Pretty awesome if you ask me! So although what you are experiencing may seem pretty awful, and by the way it I know some of you are really dealing with big things, don't take your eyes off of Christ. He is your rock and the only real stability in your life.

James 1:12 "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him."

Grateful,
Katy

Clean life...clean diet

I am often asked about my daily diet from people who take my fitness classes. Sometimes people are looking for a quick fix, other times people are really looking for a way to eat healthier so that they will feel better and their bodies will be able to perform at a higher level. My advice is a simple...eat a clean diet. What does that mean? Well it means eating things that are natural. More specifically, this means the food hasn't gone through much of anything since being pulled or plucked from the earth. Most people realize that eating foods that are highly processed are just not a good idea. Processed foods do not aid in creating a more healthy body and they simply add useless calories, sugar and fat to our bodies. All this is fine and good in writing, but living it out on a daily basis is a whole other thing. When you find yourself hungry after a workout or you have been busy all day only to realize you haven't ate lunch, what are you going to reach for? Well if you haven't planned accordingly you are more than likely going to reach for that box or bag of processed food. If you plan ahead a little and put things in your kitchen that support your healthy habits and get rid of the things that don't, well eating healthy will be that much easier.

The same goes for living a "clean life" or more specifically a Christ centered life. If we continually add garbage to our life, it's going to be that much harder to stick to the path that Christ calls us to. That so called garbage might look a little different for each person. It might be certain TV shows, music, books, magazines, or even a friend that continually pushes you in the wrong direction. I encourage you to seek those things that support your relationship with Christ. This might be a bible study, a mentor ship, serving in a ministry, reading your bible daily, spending time in prayer daily, encouraging a friend/family member or just placing yourself in an environment that will help you to grow in your relationship with Christ.

I know that living both a "clean life" and eating a "clean diet" are hard things to do consistently. That's the point right? Trying to become more like Christ and making your body healthier doesn't come naturally. It takes work. Are you willing to put the time in?

Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Grateful,
Katy

It's not all about me

How easy it is to get caught up in our own little world! I know I can easily get a one track mind when it comes to my schedule and what needs to be done to make it happen. From the moment I wake up I could tell you exactly how I would like my day to go. I have a friend who is so good at taking things as they come and embracing each moment as it stands. I find myself in awe of her and wishing I could be more like that. I believe that she realizes, on a much deeper level than I, that it isn't "all about her". She knows there are people to encourage, kids to inspire, a husband to who needs a listening ear and arms to hug at the end of the day and most importantly, a God who loves her so much and wants nothing more than for her to obey Him and just listen.

I want to be more like that and it really only takes one thing. It takes making Christ the priority in my life at all times. When I am busy serving Him by helping others and listening to Him by reading His word and spending time in prayer, I don't have time to think about my worries. I'm too busy worrying about what God wants from me! When I feel like my friends aren't there for me or my kids don't appreciate me enough, well who's to blame for this feeling? Me!! Logically I know that when a friend lets me down, she is not doing this to hurt me, it's just human nature. None of us are perfect. When my kids whine and complain and make me crazy, they aren't doing it to hurt me. They are imperfect little beings who are going to disappoint me at times. So who is the only one who won't disappoint and who knows exactly what I need when I need it? Yes, it's Christ. So when you find yourself disappointed because someone let you down and didn't realize that things should revolve around you (sense the sarcasm) realize that maybe it's time to shift the focus on to Christ and off of yourself.

I so appreciate being able to share with each of you that read this blog. Know that these are things that I struggle with and it's just me working things out in writing. I hope that it serves to encourage you and also to know that there is someone else out there dealing with the same things!

I'll leave you with this verse from Philippians 2:3-4. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Grateful,
Katy