Holiday Tips

Do you have any Holiday tips?

Absolutely!! Christmas is a wonderful time of year. We are celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior. We are celebrating that we can have eternal life through Him. We are celebrating that we are forgiven for every sin in our past, present and future through our belief in Jesus as our Savior. We are celebrating a true miracle!!! My main Holiday tip is remembering the reason you are celebrating.

Other things you can do to stay fit during this season;

1. Focus on His love. He did not invent, shopping and over the top, rest in His peace.

2. Enjoy all you are doing.

3. Love those you are with. Do not be so focused on getting things done that you ignore the people in front of you. Always practice random acts of kindness.

4. Enjoy the holiday foods. Eat the items that you only get this time of year. Don’t over indulge. Simply savor the entire flavor. Practice healthy eating too.

5. Move more. Most likely you will be consuming extra calories so plan on moving more. Take the stairs, take a lap around the mall, and walk around for five minutes on the hour, park in the farthest away parking space! Intentionally decide to move more.

6. Spend within your means. Over spending is not of God. You are to only give what you have. Do you think anyone you are buying for wants you to go in debt for their present?

7. Build in margin to your day. Stress accompanies this time of year for many reasons. One reason is we take on too much. Less is more. Enjoy your moments.

These are a few things you can do to keep yourself focused on the reason for the season.

Luke 2:11 “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

I have holiday stress. It is not that I have been going to parties or making cookies. I just have not been focused on starting my new life style. I want to, but not enough to do it. Should I just wait until January first and get the New Years incentive?

Since you are feeling holiday stress, try to let it go. The birth of Jesus is the reason for the season. Happiness does not come from having things perfect. Do what you can comfortably. Focus on His love and spread that this Christmas.

You have a desire to have a healthier lifestyle now, do not put it off. I believe the ultimate in a healthy lifestyle includes holiness, healthiness and happiness. If you are struggling with the exercise and diet angle, start with His peace. One of the ways I do this is by reading His word daily. In addition to holiness you can work on being happier. Intentionally do at least one fun thing every day. This can be as simple as letting yourself day dream. Happiness comes from within; it is largely determined by your attitude. You can decide to enjoy what you have. Focusing on your holiness and happiness will help you be healthier. To increase your fitness level and improve your diet, start simple. Take the steps you will do. Baby steps are OK. The main goal is to have a holy, healthy, happy life. Do a little something every day, and eventually you will be living a new lifestyle. Do not put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

1 Timothy 4:8 “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”

At the Rock Prairie Women’s retreat we all chose a fitness goal for our body. I am having surgery next week. I really can’t come up with an exercise goal. I will get started on something after my surgery. There is really not much I can do now, right?

You are 100% correct after surgery you cannot immediately start an exercise program. Most of the time your Doctor will have you wait six to eight weeks. Your physical limitations need to be determined by you consulting with your Doc.

There are however many things you can do to help your body in health and in recovery aside from exercise.

1. Getting enough good quality sleep is a great starting point.

2. Resting in His peace, regardless of your circumstances is also an essential element of good health. (“Casting all your care upon Him, because He cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7)

3. Enjoying fun recreation, even in your hospital bed you can laugh, listen to music, or read make sure you do one fun thing for yourself every day.

4. Eating a well balanced, nutritious, natural, calorie appropriate diet is a fantastic way to aid in your recovery.

5. Practicing proper hygiene even if you are tired and don’t care, will help you avoid possible infection and give you a daily lift. (I consider this step not only bathing and brushing teeth but getting dressed in something that makes you feel good and continually brushing off old behaviors that ensnare you)

6. Putting on faith, every moment remember He loves you and has plans for you. (Jeremiah 29:11) Exercise helps the body, but taking care of your physical body is more than just getting regular exercise. I think the most important of all these ways to help your body especially in times of surgery is to trust the Lord with all your heart and mind. Casting your care for He cares for you and remembering how much He loves you! My prayers are with you for a successful surgery and a healthful recovery.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

I work in an environment that promotes gossip and complaining. How do I avoid entering in to it?

Great awareness! Many of us work around gossipers and complainers. It is easy and very tempting to join in. Recognize when you need to get up and away from the downturned conversation. If you cannot leave try to just say something nice. I believe saying good things or keeping your mouth shut is the only way to avoid getting sucked in. Try saying that you are not comfortable ripping the person apart. Try bringing up solution orientated conversations instead of complaining. People like to be a part of a solution. People instinctively know gossiping and complaining is wrong and will appreciate you helping them get out of the negative spiral. Hold your tongue when you have a juicy “tid bit” to add. You will feel better about yourself and empowered to do it again next time the gossip and complaining starts.

Mathew 15:11 ”Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man: but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”