Summer is coming to an end as leaves start turning into their
beautiful Fall colors. Hopefully the rain will fall along with the
leaves. It really puts a 'damper' on outdoor activities. Of course, if I
don't like the rain then I guess I should move out of the Rainforest! I
need to learn to be more like Paul and be happy in any situation, even
if it is getting stuck in the rain and mud on what was a great day for a
hike! Yes, this happens. And I am sure I am not the only one. We need
the rain, I know and I thank God for it (most of the time).
This month's newsletter is dedicated to encouraging you to use up
what little bit of Summer you have left in fun and fitness for Christ!
Journaling4Jesus
Angela
J. Perez
Journaling is a great way to unload your emotions of the day/week.
You can get in your cozy chair and sip your herbal tea while your minds
eye gives you colorful illustrations for you to jot down entries in your
life story. Journaling can sometimes be even a good 'sounding board',
somewhere to vent your frustrations and fears. Your journal is a book
about you and your life experiences.
Journaling4Jesus is basically the same, but with a slightly different
angle. Its jotting down your Jesus experiences. Your thoughts on Him,
your Christian walk, and more. Its you describing, in words, what you
think God looks like, what Heaven will be like, a description of your
guardian angel. Its you taking note of every prayer that has been
answered as well as the ones you are hoping for. Explaining in detail
the miracles you've witnessed, the miracles you've received and the
people you've witnessed to. It's a list of all the names of those you
are praying for Jesus to touch and more. And a checkmark next to the
ones who have accepted Him as their Savior with the help of all your
prayers.
When you are Journaling4Jesus you are creating a book of not just
you, but a book of you and Jesus and the experiences you have shared
together. A history book for the generations that will come after you. A
way that your children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren can read
that God was very real in your life. That He does answer prayers, that
miracles do happen. Its also a way for you to look back on your life
with Christ, a reference book for you to go and read of all the
wonderful things your faith in Christ has brought about. A romance novel
of Gods love for you and your love for Him.
How many times has God answered a prayer for you and you forgot about
it. How many times have you thought to yourself, "I wish I had
written down that word God gave me," or, "What was that verse
again that the Holy Spirit told me to stand on in faith?". How many
times have you forgotten something wondrous that God has done for you or
a member of your family and you wish you had written down all the juicy
details, including the date. In your journaling experience, there's
nothing wrong with jotting down your camping trip with the kids, your
week at work or even that argument you had with your spouse. Just down
forget to write down the stuff that will matter even after you are gone.
What do you want your kids and grand kids to read about you after you
are gone? Do you want them to read about all of your complaints and
frustrations, or your victorious life with Christ? Journal for you, go
ahead and express your humanness, write down your desires, vent your
angers-let it all out, but don't forget to express your Christianity and
Journal4Jesus.
Setting goals is important in life, not just in your training
programs, but her we are talking about setting goals that will
help you reach the level of fitness you desire. Set short-term
goals, like walking five miles in the next week, as well as long
term goals, such as running a marathon next year. Plan your
goals so that they are realistic and achievable in the time
frames you are putting them into. Write them down and make them
visible and be sure to chart your progress so you can see what
it has taken to reach each one and reward yourself for each goal
met.
Part of your goal setting should include goals of beating
your own times. If you can walk three miles in one hour then set
a goal to walk four. Keep setting these goals of beating your
own times, but stay within reason and be safe. Injury will only
make your future goals harder to reach. So push yourself safely!
One method of safety and preventing injuries such as shin
splints is by treating your feet to a good pair of shoes. Don't
go stingy on your foot gear or your feet (and more) will pay for
it. Jogging and even just walking on concrete without proper
shoes is sure way to risk an injury like shin splints. If you
are a runner, or plan to start, plan as well on buying a new
pair of running shoes about every three months or so. Get good
sturdy and well cushioned shoes to help you in your fitness
routine. Be kind to your feet, they help you reach your goals!
With school starting up again, I have to add some
kid-friendly fitness tips. You can help get your kids in shape
for school so their little bodies don't go into 'shock' when
they get back into PE class. Here are a few ways your kids can
get into shape and you can do them as well-Jumping Jacks-these
are a great all around-get your body moving-cardiovascular
exercise and are enjoyed by most; Jumping Rope-is also a great
cardio-vascular exercise and you can be very creative with a
jumprope so you can have fun and get fit at the same time;
Sit-ups and/or Crunches of course are always a good way to help
strengthen your core; Pushups as well is something your child is
already familiar with or will be as soon as they hit the gym at
school; and of course get them out walking and/or jogging for a
full body benefit and to prepare them for PE as well as after
school sports activities. Encourage them to join sports and
other activities and to stay active in their young lives. It
will help to promote a lifetime of health and fitness in your
children.
You may have seen our new products at our Fit4Jesus shop at Cafépress.
If not, please feel free to check them out!
We are always working on new logos and designs to put on our
products and adding new products as they become available.
Using our Fit4Jesus products-clothing, hats, bags, coffee
cups and more, not only advertises your faith in Christ, but
they are also great witnessing tools. And of course, they help
advertise and support the Fit4Jesus.com website and newsletter.
We are also on the lookout for illustrators who love Jesus!
If you or someone you know may be interested in doing logo
illustrations and more for a Christian company, please contact
the editor at editor@fit4jesus.com.
We've decided to add this new department to our newsletter. Here
in our monthly newsletter you will find a review of a book on
fitness, health, nutrition, Christianity or something along those
lines. Please feel free to submit your own book reviews to the
editor.
With this issue we have wrote up a review of: Arnold
Schwarzenegger's "The New Encyclopedia of Modern
Bodybuilding". Published by Simon & Schuster, this book
sports five books in one with a total of nineteen chapters )plus
anatomy of the muscles to boot!) and a whopping 790 pages and a
full index.
This book is not only well written, but it is also an excellent
resource for not just bodybuilders, but for anyone who wants to
learn more about how the human body works, metabolisms, nutrition,
muscles, how to treat injuries, and so much more! This is truly an
encyclopedia jam-packed with great information and
black-and-white, well taken, photographs. The sections on specific
exercises fully illustrate with words and photographs what the
different exercises look like, proper form and how they should be
executed, what muscle groups they work and more.
For the more advanced fitness guru or for those who dream of
being a bodybuilder, this book is a must have. It explains proper
posing, competition, do's and don'ts, training, diet and more. It
also has a great section on nutrition and proper diet. Its full of
information on carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and
supplements. It even showcases sample diets for those who want to
lose weight and even for those who need to gain. I just cant say
enough that "It's a great book packed with information and a
handy (if you can lift it) reference for anatomy and loads of
exercises"-Angela J. Perez.
This is another department that we've decided to add to our
newsletter. With this new addition, the hope is that the focus of
the newsletter is a little more balanced so that it not only has a
focus on fitness and nutrition but on Christian life as well. The
purpose is to encourage you to meditate and pray on a specific
verse in the Bible and see how it applies to you and your life or
how you should apply it. Ask the Lord for revelation and
understanding on the scriptures and he will grant your request.
Luke 23:46 NIV-"Jesus called out with a loud voice,
'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' When he had said
this, he breathed his last."
___________________________
Luke 23:46 AMP-"And Jesus, crying out with a loud
voice, said, Father, into your hands I commit My spirit! And with
these words, He expired.
Father into your hands I commit my spirit! The life of Jesus is
a perfect example of commitment. Even unto death, Jesus was wholly
committed to serving the one and only Living God, his Father in
Heaven. We can learn the true meaning and the value of what
commitment really is by studying His life. He was committed to God
in His daily walk and even with the little things in life. And
committed to prayer, fellowship, friendship with the Father, His
God. He was committed to the same God who is your God, your Lord,
your Savior. Are you?
If not, its time. The Spirit of the Living God is calling you
to walk with Him. Talk with Him. Be His friend. As Christians we
are suppose to be striving in our own lives to be like Jesus. To
imitate the life that Jesus led as best we can, with the help of
the Holy Spirit of God. Christian = Christ-like. This day and
every day we should be following His example of commitment,
raising our bar to His level of commitment. We should be saying,
"Father into your hands I commit my spirit," and,
"Father, Lord of my life, into your hands do I commit my
life, my will," this day and every day. Make the commitment
today and each day forward to live your life as Christ did, wholly
committed to his Father. Then when the day comes for you to breath
your last breath here on earth, you will wake up to the Glory of
the Living God in Heaven, having committed your spirit, your life
to Him.
We are always looking for articles, recipes, photographs,
suggestions and new ideas for the Fit4Jesus newsletter.
Please feel free to forward this publication in whole by
email. For copies or authorization to reprint articles, contact
the editor. Submit your stuff to the editor at:
editor@fit4jesus.com.
Copyright 2003 Fit4Jesus. Juneau, Alaska USA. All Rights
Reserved.
