Embrace Change...30 Day Challenge Day 30 ~ Guest Blogger Josh Copeland

Here we are, the last day of your 30 day challenge! Praise God! Whew! You accomplished your goal if you tried your best, learned something about yourself, developed some discipline, or developed a health and wellness plan that you can maintain in the future. These 30 days were not about dieting or focusing on 30 days of health. Can We Talk?!

The author of Made to Crave…said “Diets don’t work for me…so I’m not on a diet. I’m on a journey with Jesus to learn the fine art of self-discipline for the purpose of holiness.” I hope that you understand that these 30 days were very much a physical, emotional, and spiritual journey with Jesus to begin living a healthier life. The plan for healthy living is different for each of us. Read guest blogger Josh Copeland’s account of his journey with Jesus over the past 30 days.

I had high hopes. When my mom presented this challenge I felt ready to dive in. I received a copy of P90X and I had big dreams of getting through these 30 days with an amazing story of how I stuck with it and made all of these improvements. I even started a week early by mistake and felt like it was a good warm up for the challenge. But then life took an unexpected turn.

I started a new job at a catering company and the hours are normally pretty stable and consistent except for the fact that I don’t know what time I have be at work for the next day until the day before. That’s normal in the corporate catering world. I did not know that this is one of the busiest times in the year for my company because of the back to school rush. So my work schedule turned upside down to the point where I was working 60 hour work weeks. I was working up to 16 hour work days which would leave me barely enough time to sleep on most days. This went on through the entire span of the challenge.

As you can imagine with barely any time to sleep on most days working out was the last thing on my mind. Of course I would get the emails and tweets my mom was sending out during the challenge but I felt that my work situation couldn’t fit in with the challenge. So since I couldn’t work out I pretty much threw my diet out of the window. I’m not even going to try to downplay my bad habits. I was popping fresh baked chocolate chip cookies in my mouth like breath mints. During this time I didn’t really have a chance to sit down and have meal so I always had to eat on the go and without any kind of plan I took whatever I could get.

You may think that because of this that I failed this challenge. But the reality about it is that through this time I learned a great deal about myself and how important it is to call on the Lord to help with the process. The mistake that we often make in dieting and our walk with God is that we get so caught up in the letter of the law that we miss the true freedom of being in the Spirit of the law.

Look at what Paul asks the Galatians when they wanted to live by the law and not by the Spirit…So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? Galatians 3:5

We have to ask ourselves this when we are taking on any challenge in our lives. Are we going to make it through a challenge because of the rules and regulations or are we going to make it through by the Spirit of God? Are we going to strive for a healthy lifestyle because we truly believe that it is what we need for our lives or are we just doing this because 4 His Temple said so? In my walk I made my health journey about the 30 days so when I couldn’t participate the way I wanted to I settled with doing just a little. Had I lived in the spirit of the challenge, which is committing to a healthy lifestyle, then I would have been intentional about planning around my circumstances instead of letting the circumstance control me.

I believe that this challenge was intended to be a starting point for a healthy life not just a healthy thirty days. Although I didn’t have any amazing before and after pictures like I imagined I was going to have on Day 1, I eventually got to the point where I didn’t gain or lose any weight during the 30 days. I spent these days adjusting to my schedule, my faults and my weaknesses, and mainly praying and asking God for help and repenting for my mistakes. He showed me things that I could do to counter my schedule and He used the Holy Spirit to convict me when I popped that third cookie of the day in my mouth. But most importantly God was there to extend His grace to me. I admitted my faults and I prayed for God to help me “want to” change at my core through my thinking, my emotional reactions, and by helping me to change my desires. I can proudly say that as of this past Monday I instituted a new life challenge.

Every morning I will wake up before work and do a short and intense cardio workout before I go to work. I always knew I NEEDED to do this but I never WANTED to do it. God is not a respecter of person to where He changes the rules just because we don’t feel like following them. The Lord wouldn’t let me snooze past my planned workout time even though my flesh didn’t want to get up. In fact I started waking up before my alarm went off. After I finished my last rep the first words out my mouth were “Thank you Lord!” Not just out of exhaustion but because He took me through a process that led me to this point that I desire more of Him and more change in myself. I know He will do the same for you if you believe that being healthy in all areas of your life is crucial.

“Faith in God does not entitle us to expect different results from doing the same old things. Embrace change and you will progress.”

Your body is the temple of the Living God! Live Well in His Name!

Standing Under the Weight of Waiting

Are you in a season of waiting? Or as I know it now to be a season of preparation and transformation. Ever asked yourself or more to the point asked God what is this waiting all about? Can We Talk?! 

When God has us in a season of waiting don't let Satan fool you. Something is happening. God is faithful to complete the work He began in us. Besides the work God is doing to work out the situation for our good, God is also busy at work...working in and on us. Remember the story of Joseph. 

Often, manifestation of the promise is secondary to the work God needs to do in us. Secondary to our spiritual maturity and growth. If God gave us gifts and blessings that we were not spiritually ready to receive we would most likely squander them. Take heart, there is good news in the waiting.

Some promises that we are waiting on the Lord to fulfill will not manifest until we prepare and transform. If we are fighting the preparation and the transformation process, we are prolonging our waiting season and delaying our blessings. As we wait, God will change us and our perspective about the situation. He may even shift our priorities and our needs. Have you ever waited on hold on a telephone call for so long that you forgot who you called? God can also do that in your season of waiting. He can, if we surrender our will to His make the experience of waiting so peaceful that we forget about the waiting and the waiting becomes secondary to the time we spend with Him growing and changing. We might even find that what we so desperately WANTED God to do we no longer NEED God to do. Can I get an "Amen" for unanswered prayers?

Don't be discouraged, but you have to hear this...sometimes we may have to wait on the Lord' s promises to manifest for a long long time. I have been in a season of preparation for 5 years now. I have to admit that the first couple of years were tense and anxious times. I did not want to wait. I wanted God to fulfill the promise He spoke to me. I focused on the waiting which made the waiting miserable. God is productive in our waiting process and we should be productive as well. This revelation makes new seasons of waiting more bearable and more constructive.

What are you DOING while you wait? Just think...God may be preparing that husband or wife, moving obstacles out of your way, raising up ministry partners, creating that job or preparing the hearts and minds of those you might be called to minister to or lead. Are you ready to receive any of these? There is good news in the waiting folks!

Now I wait in still attentiveness for the Lord's will for my life.  I know that He knows what is best for me and He has my best interest in His heart. Yours too is in His heart beloved! As I wait God is developing my patience, humility, and my character. He is deepening my dependence on Him. I really don't think about the waiting like I used to unless someone talks about their own waiting, which is what inspired this blog. Otherwise, I am content in my season, knowing full well that God can and will come through. When He is ready and when I am ready. In the meantime, I am busy doing what He called me to do and preparing to receive the promise.

So we wait in still attentiveness for the Lord to fulfill His promise to us and in us. Be. Still. Know.

Your body is the temple of the Living God! Live Well in His Name!  

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A Gift!

None of us should live our lives to receive accolades from people. If we do, that in fact may be our only reward. People can give you great praise one minute, but that praise may not amount to much of anything later. Jesus received a royal welcome when he entered Jerusalem, the people were hailing "Hosanna in the highest, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" and five days later those same people were shouting "Crucify him".

As believers our goal is to live and die for Jesus on this of eternity and our reward is heaven on the other side. Occasionally, we receive the gift of knowing that we have touched the lives of others. We've made a difference, instead of making a mess. Sometimes after a loved one goes on to be with the Lord the family receives that gift. 

In the wake of my brother's home going, I want to share with you something that a friend/customer of his took the time to write and send to the Galveston Daily News. He didn't write it because Nelson died, he wrote it because Nelson lived. What a gift.  

Letters for May 26, 2011

Gentleman Cab Driver Will Be Missed

On May 16, I called for Yellow Cab to take me several places as my car was in the shop. Upon returning home, I realized that I needed a bag of ice. I called Yellow Cab and asked if my old friend “Nelson” was anywhere on the East End, and if so, could he pick me up a bag of ice and deliver it to the Galveston Yacht Basin? He did so. We talked for quite a while, as I had known him for years.

That Monday was his 58th birthday. Grateful, I gave him a gracious tip. The next day, I called for his services again. I was informed that he had died from a heart attack. He was buried May 24 in early morning services at Shiloh A.M.E. Methodist on 29th Street.

What I share here is not an obituary. It is due tribute and recognition. Nelson Holloway was in fact a friend to every hotelier, restaurateur and bar owner on this island, as he could be counted on to deliver your patrons, customers and guests home or to their hotel room alive, with their purses, wallets, keys and dignity.

During the years, I have in one way or another placed many fares in his care. Once, he even made certain I was home safe and secure, delivered to my boat after a long night out.

We might all take it for granted, but in a tourist town, not unlike New York City, cab drivers are an important part of the overall experience and essential. Nelson Holloway was exemplary in his performance.

They may not yet realize it, but every hotel, restaurant and bar on Galveston Island will come to miss him, as I do already.

Michael A. Basham
Galveston

Are we living a life that glorifies God as well as a life that leaves an imprint on the hearts of the people we encounter? The Word says...Let your light so shine before men that they might see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Let's live a life that pleases God AND a life that leaves people better than they were before they encountered us. The Jesus in us may be the only Jesus some people ever get to see. Jesus commands us to love one another. If someone were to write a letter to your local newspaper about you, what would it say? 

Your body is the temple of the Living God! Live Well in His Name!

When Darkness Falls God is Still Good and Still God

This past week my brother-in-law of more than 30 years, Nelson was laid to rest after suffering a heart attack. He was on the road to a lifestyle change of healthy eating and exercise, but he was not able to undo years of unhealthy living. This passion project is even more dedicated to helping and supporting believers in their journey of eating and living well to the glory and honor of God. We are desperate and committed to continuing the work of this ministry and to gain ground on the epidemic of obesity and it's health complications.

 

As a family of believers, we found comfort in knowing that my brother was a believer. Darkness can never overcome the light. We understand that death can have no victory in the lives of believers. Some of you may also be mourning the loss of a loved one. I wanted to share with you something that I wrote for my brother's funeral service. I hope that you find comfort in knowing that death is not final and mourning is a natural process.

God doesn't waste anything. He is able to use everything that we go through to bless us and to bless others through our testimony. We will not allow Nelson's death to be in vain. I pray that it causes some of you to commit to a healthy lifestyle with your whole hearts and I hope that it will jolt some of you into getting started today. Your response and commitment are necessary and the need is urgent. We really cannot afford to wait. Please make a change today, putting this change at the top of your priorities. We can do this with God's guidance, power, and grace.

Thank you and bless you for reading, commenting, and sharing.           

This Time

Visiting death again. Storm raging. Sorrow palpable.

The world's truth we must all pass from This life to This death.

The Kingdom's truth we will live forever in eternity with Him. Comfort.

This time we rest with an unrelenting and unwavering assurance that God is in control. Sovereignty.

This time death and hell can have no victory. Faith.

This time the man. Son. Father. Husband. Brother. Uncle. Nephew. Cousin. Friend

Knows the One who conquered death, hell, and grave. Victory.

Griped with grief. Screams into deafening silence. Barely breathing, our tears fall and our hearts break.

This time our souls cry out to a loving merciful God. Dependence. He is present. He is listening.

This time in This pain we know victory. Assurance.

Victory and peace pursued, captured, and apprehended because Jesus is present This time. Love.

Grace keeps us. Faith sustains us. Love lifts us. Heaven is near. Heaven is felt This time.

This blog is dedicated to my brother, Nelson "Tank" Holloway (1953-2011)

Your body is the temple of the Living God! Live Well in His Name!  

Exercise and Injury...What Can I Do?

God Day Conquerors!  

Are you staying true to the health, wellness, fitness, and spiritual goals you set at the beginning of 2011? It's Springtime! Many folks have abandoned their new year's resolutions, but not you! It is time for new beginnings. Even if you have fallen off the goals you set, now is the time to start again. Our God is a second, third, fourth....chance God. It is also time to declutter our homes, lives, and minds. What an awesome time to invite the Lord into our hearts and into our lives for some intimate conversation and strategic planning!

I encourage you to give away 10 items in your home during your spring cleaning! You will be relieved and someone else will be blessed. Make sure it is really nice stuff. I got these cool sneakers from a dear friend when she completed her closet spring cleaning. Let us not be consumed by the romance of stuff. We can't take it with us! HEAVEN is already furnished! Praises to God!

Have you submitted your plans to the Lord? Can We Talk?! The Word tells us to give the Lord our plans and we will see those plans come to fruition (Proverbs 16:3). Now that doesn't mean we make the plans and give them to God as the final version. God is not in the business of blessing our mess! That means we submit a VERY ROUGH draft of our plans to God and He has the final say about the execution of those plans. The Message says "Put God in charge of your work, then what you've planned will take place.” Once God is in charge of our plans we can't fail, because He can't fail! Amen?!

Today's question comes from a community member who is out of state. Please pray for “T” in your prayer time. Injury and pain are major limiting factors for exercise for many people. We should always seek the advice of a doctor before starting any exercise regime, particularly when preexisting pain, injury, and health concerns are present.

Dear Aqua

My weight issue is weighing me down. I am so afraid of exercise because of the pain I have every day of my life. I just don't want anymore of it. I have a total knee replacement, bi-lateral bulging disk in L4 and L5 with bone spires and a second rotator cuff surgery that they could not repair all the way. I know that I look at what I cannot do instead of what I can, but what can I really do? God is so able to do above and beyond what we ask or think, I am just tired of asking. Love T

Dear T

There are exercises that you can do. You may have to modify them to make sure that you don't further injure yourself. I am not sure where you are in your rehabilitation process, but some exercise and rehab may help with the pain that you are experiencing. Always check with your doctor about what limitations you should adhere to so that you do not exacerbate your injury. In fact ask the doctor is there a person, place or organization that he/she can recommend that can help. You may be able to walk and may be able to do seated exercises. I heard the other day that "Walking is still the undisputed king of exercise".

Because of your limitations with EXPENDING energy it is going to be important for you to monitor your energy CONSUMPTION. In short, it is going critical for you to monitor WHAT and HOW MUCH you eat. We can give you encouragement and support virtually, but I do recommend that you find some help in your community for nutrition and exercise programs to meet the needs that you have. Call community centers and local churches to see if they offer low to no cost exercise programs. A good program will have a trainer who understands and is able to work with people with injuries.

Don't let your injuries keep you from seeking help. In fact those injuries should be the fuel that cause you to knock on every door and leave no stone unturned. God's desire is not that you live in pain. He wants you to prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers. Seek His will for a healthier life and lifestyle. Don't get tired of asking! God is an ever present help in the time of trouble. We will be praying for you. In fact, right now we speak healing and deliverance in your body in the name of Jesus! Stay in touch with us about your progress. 

Your body is the temple of the Living God! Live Well in His Name!

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A Test Becomes a Testimony!

God Morning Temple Lovers 

Today we are going to experience a powerful testimony from Liz. With God's help she is winning the war on diabetes and its complications. One take home message from this testimony is NOT to wait until we are forced to and faced with the choice before we start caring for God's temple. Another take home message is knowledge is power or better, what we DO with the knowledge that brings about the power. We have to educate ourselves if we are going to live healthier for the glory of God! You can send your success stories, struggles, questions, and comments to DearAqua4HisTemple@gmail.com. You can also leave your comments on this blogspot. Let's get right to it, Can We Talk?!

 

When I first came to the United States some 20 years ago I was a petite size 0, but as the time went by I gained weight slowly year after year. Once I enrolled in a lifetime membership at a fitness center and only used it for 3 months. I had no commitment and eventually I stopped going. I had no motivation at all and always had many excuses for not going. As the years progressed I continued to gain weight inch by inch in my waistline.Why? Because I love food and since I am not a good cook I ate mostly in restaurants with a complete course meal, from appetizer to dessert. I also like to eat snacks, mostly junk food. Once in a while if I felt heavy I would take a walk, but not consistently. 

BEFORE



With this lifestyle I thought I am doing fine, until one day I went for a yearly checkup; my blood test showed an elevated blood sugar. My doctor told me I had diabetes. I was in disbelief and denial. To prove to the doctor that she was wrong I began to exercise consistently 7 days a week. I would jump on the treadmill 45 minutes a day and on top of that I walk another 30 minutes after the treadmill. I started eating vegetables (I don't like veggies that much). I forced myself to eat them with tears rolling down my cheeks because I was thinking I might not be able to eat the food that I want anymore. I cut down all of my carbohydrates even white rice which I love so much. Back home we eat rice with every meal.  

I felt like I was out of order and all over the place, but I was driven and my focus was to shed some pounds and let my doctor know that she made a mistake. I eventually managed to shed 15 lbs in 3 weeks. I went back to see my doctor for a follow up and she was surprised of my dramatic weight loss but she STILL started me on maintenance medication (I have a history of diabetes in my family). 



I was diagnosed with Diabetes ~Type 2. Type 2 Diabetes can likely be prevented by living a healthy lifestyle. I wish I can turn back the clock, however I finally came to terms with this disease and I made a choice to stay fit and healthy to fight any complications that might come along the way. My lifestyle has changed so much since then. Exercise along with eating healthfully and taking my medication regularly is the vital tool for keeping me healthy today. I learned to look at and count the nutritional value on every can or package of food that I get from the store. I can still eat what I want, but only a small portion and learned to substitute this for that.

Everyday is a struggle, but I made a decision to stay healthy. To some of us exercise is like an obligation and sometimes it is hard to incorporate it in our lifestyle. I will share some of the tactics that I read from the magazine to help stick to an exercise plan. I got this from the Diabetic Cooking magazine that I subscribe to monthly.

1. Workout with a friend: Chatting with a pal makes the time fly by! (We do this at our gym in the church)

2. Always carry around gym shoes and exercise clothes: Being prepared will make you more likely to stick to a plan.

3. Add purpose to your workout, such as walking or riding your bike to work or even to the convenience store.

4. Focus on how good you feel when you're done: Exercise is proven to relieve stress and anxiety. Instead of a drink after work, de-stress with a walk. Commitment to living a healthy life style not only help to prevent complications and diseases but also helps us gain self confidence and an overall healthy attitude.


AFTER

Throughout this health and wellness journey I put my life, faith, and trust in God. Every single day of my life I ask for His help to give me strength and encouragement. I thank Him so much for graciously giving me strength, especially when I made some progress in changing and maintaining my new way of life, for without Him I am nothing.

Your body is the temple of the Living God! Live Well in His Name! 

Sacred Season of Success 2010 Day 1 Take A Look At Yourself

God Morning Believers!

This morning at 0600 we started our Sacred Season of Success (S3) 2010. We are so so excited about what God is going to do with us, TO US, and through us during this fasting season. Turn your attention to Isaiah 58:1-10 for foundation for the fast. We will be loving, serving, and giving to God and His people like never before in this season!

This year's fast is deeply personal. We have to start with ourselves so that we can be useful to God's people in transparency and with integrity. God wants us to be different and behave differently at the end of this fast. Use this time as an opportunity to fall in love with Him again and through that intimacy allow Him to transform your life. God is speaking to us clearly saying, there are attitudes, behaviors, habits, and ways that we have as believers that do not please Him and this is the time to surrender them so that we can be used more effectively for Kingdom building. He has greater works for us to do, but we are hindered by these attitudes, behaviors, habits, and ways.

I will not be sending a daily focus this year. I will check in frequently. Start this week focusing on identifying areas in your life that need God's attention and where you need deliverance. Honesty with Him AND yourself is key. Don't be afraid to confront what you see. "The truth requires confrontation"...Where are you falling short? Damaging your witness? Making excuses? Wearing your weaknesses as a badge of honor, instead of addressing them? Where does Satan have a stronghold on you or your family? Are you a vehicle and vessel for His Word, grace, and love?

No doubt this process will be painful, but the truth will make us free!

See you at the top!

Agape
Aqua