From the Cradle to the Cross

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:19, NIV)

The story of Christmas is familiar. Many of us can recite verses and sing choruses that recap the holy day without so much as a second thought. It is said that familiarity breeds contempt – so I wonder.

I wonder and I search my heart.

When I sit and search long enough to listen to God’s still small voice, I grapple with the familiar and I groan for the fresh… and I wonder. Have I shopped, cleaned, and baked away the season without bending a knee to worship the Savior? Have I decorated my home, but failed to focus my heart?

The story of Christmas is the ultimate story of life, of hope, of freedom. The beautiful and mysterious intersection of humanity’s depravity and Divinity’s provision. A complex invasion of darkness by light. By love. By a love that breathes life and brings beauty.

A LOVE THAT BREATHES LIFE

In the beginning, Love breathed life into the made-from-dust lungs of Adam. Life-giving love. The perfect and complete love of a holy, triune, eternal God who spoke words and created new galaxies – new wonders – new worshipers. All was made so that He might be glorified. We His image bearers, however, are different from all other creation in that we are made to know Him. Personally. To know Love. True, pure, eminent love.

Then, stains of rebellion brought separation. Rebellion of God’s plan – of His spoken word, of His will. Human wants and desires rose to rule – our own wills were done instead of God’s: in the Garden… in my life… in yours.

And though rebellion demands death, (Romans 6:23) God’s love pursues with life-giving power. This Love that descended from heaven to earth, came to speak life to death through the incarnate Grace that was wrapped in swaddling clothes in a humble manger. From the cradle to the cross, Jesus came on a love mission.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10

A LOVE THAT BRINGS BEAUTY

Jesus came upon the no-vacancy scene in Bethlehem to annihilate death – so that we, who are hopeless without Him, could experience love, forgiveness and freedom. Full life. Abundant life. Beauty-from-ashes life.

Childhood gave way to manhood, and at the age of thirty, Jesus Christ made his love mission known. While in a synagogue in Galilee, he unrolled an ancient scroll and found the place where it is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. 
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,
 to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:14-21

The story of Christmas is the story of Jesus. The story of captives being set free, of the blind gaining sight, and of our stains of rebellion being washed white in his blood.

The story of Christmas is the story of life.


Today, as we move and meander in the mundane, I pray that you would join me in being gripped by a fresh and compelling awe for this perfect Love that breathes life and brings beauty to our brokenness.  

How To Eat Healthier By Planning Ahead

Everything is easier with a plan and eating is no exception.  If you are trying to lose weight or eat healthier, having a plan can make all the difference.  Planning ahead can help when it comes to food.  We all get busy and sometimes we just eat what is at our fingertips, or even worse, stop by the local drive thru for some fast food.  Let's talk about attacking our cravings with a game plan:

 

1. Stock your house pantry, fridge and work desk with healthy food:  When hunger comes along, what do we do?  Head straight for the refrigerator or pantry (or desk drawer at work) and eat whatever we can get our hands on. Get rid of all of the junk and unhealthy foods and replace it with healthy foods and snacks.  This will force you to eat healthier.

 

2. Write down your "why": Why are you trying to eat healthier?  Is it because you want to live longer?  Is it to save money down the road on medical expenses?  Or maybe you just want more energy?  Whatever your "why" is, be sure to write it down as a constant reminder of the big picture on why you would like to make this lifestyle change.  This helps you hold yourself accountable and motivated to keep on track with clean eating.

  

3. Join up with a buddy: Having someone that has the same goal as you can make things a lot easier.  If you know someone trying to eat healthier as well, talk to them about your goals and provide support for one another.  You don't have to be alone in this.  Find someone to help motivate you and hold you accountable and help each other reach your goals.

 

4. Find a meal planner:  Use a meal planner to help you stay on track.  These will portion out and suggest healthy meals for you.  This will help you know exactly what to shop for at the grocery store, what to eat, how much, and when.  There are several meal planners to choose from online.

 

Just like anything else in life, when you have a plan and the desire, you will succeed. Please ask me about our Beachbody meal planner to get you started.   Good luck in your goals in eating healthier.  

Peanut Butter Fudgy Pops

Peanut Butter Fudgy Pops

Chocolate and peanut butter blend together in this yummy frozen treat.

Total Time: 3 hrs. 5 min.
Prep Time: 5 min....
Cooking Time: None
Yield: 4 popsicles, 1 popsicle per serving

Ingredients:
1½ scoops Chocolate Shakeology
1 Tbsp. all-natural peanut butter
1 cup nonfat milk

Preparation:
1. Place milk, Shakeology, and peanut butter in blender; cover. Blend until smooth.
2. Pour evenly into four ice pop molds; freeze for 3 hours, or until hard.

Nutritional Information (per serving):
Calories: 101
Fat: 2 g
Saturated Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 7 mg
Sodium: 64 g
Carbohydrate: 10 g
Fiber: 1 g
Sugar: 7 g
Protein: 10 g

P90X/P90X2 Portions (per serving)
1 single snack

Body Beast Portions (per serving)
1 protein liquid

Halloween is over, right?

We are 4 days out from the scariest holiday of the year!  HALLOWEEN causes many of us to go running in the opposite direction from the mirror when you pull up those skinny jeans after a weekend of candy treats, fun drinks and appetizers!  You might think to yourself that those mini candy bars are a good idea because they are portion sized but then you also think to yourself that you can have more than 1 because they are bite sized!  Before you know it you have taken down half the candy bowl and you are feeling pretty defeated!  

But I want you to also start to change your thinking right now!  Just because you think its going to be hard doesn't mean you just don't start at all or you take an entire week off of eating healthy and working out because of one day of trick or treating!  It's all about changing your mindset. So here are some of my top tips:

 

1.  Don't get your favorite candy to hand out on Halloween.  Honestly it's like a death sentence.  Why on earth would you torture yourself by getting your favorite candy, putting it in a bowl and starring at it maybe even drooling as people slowly take your favorites!  I will almost put money on it that by the end of the night you have a stashed a few pieces away in your pocket because you feel like you deserve it!  

INSTEAD---- Get a candy that is not your favorite and doesn't tempt you!  In the past we have gotten the large boxes of pretzels to hand out and there is no temptation there.  Trust me, you are not doing a disservice to other kids.  They are getting plenty of goodies in their treat bags. There will be no almond joys and Reese's peanut butter cups in my house!

2.  Out of sight out of mind.  So don't keep a candy dish in the kitchen or on the end table.  It's screaming eat me mindlessly as you walk by!  We have a candy container that is in the pantry closet and its up pretty high so that you have to go out of your way to get to it.  My kids very often forget that there is even candy in there. It's not readily accessible so they are not constantly sugared up either!  Once Halloween is over you can keep a few pieces and then donate your candy, send it with your spouse to work!  There is no reason to feel the need to eat all that candy.  Its just going to undo all the great work you have been doing for yourself.  Candy is literally like crack, the more you have it the more you crave it!  Sugar is very very addictive!  So be ware, once you start its hard to stop!

3.  Keep a journal.  It's really really important that as you move into the holidays that you have a great way of tracking your daily food intake.  Honestly, its so easy to not realize what you are eating.  You take 1 little bite here and 1 little bite there and before you know it you have had way more than you ever expected.  But when you have to write it down and be accountable to that it makes you second guess that decision!  I know for me, that was the defining moment in my weight loss.  I was self sabotaging myself and not even realizing it.

4.  Exercise.  So its important that no matter what you stick to your fitness program.  I am going to get up do my workout, drink my Shakeology for breakfast, have 2 healthy snacks, a healthy lunch and dinner!  I'm not throwing all caution to the wind for the entire day.  I'm not starving myself to have extra calories for the evening! Stick to the plan.  It's 1 meal not an entire day or week!  This is the key to success.  Everything in moderation and don't skip a workout EVER on a cheat day!  DEAL!!!

5.  Find healthy alternatives.  So you have some favorite halloween treats you love to eat.  Find a few better options to replace some of those not so healthy options!

 

 For me Shakeology is always my sweet treat replacement!

If you want to change you are going to have to give up a little to get a lot of good!  

Want an extra level of accountability?
Join my Challenge Group to help you get focused and make it to Thanksgiving with a whole new box of tools to use!