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“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19- 20

I’m writing this blog, wearing my uncomfortably-tight around the waist jeans. So what, right?  I tell you this because over the last few months I have become rather complacent in making not-so-good food choices for myself and my family. Stress plays a huge role in my dietary choices.  Yes, I admit it– I am an emotional eater!  Over the last few months, while making some very apathetic food choices, I knew I was not only gaining weight, but I started feeling really lousy!  In an effort to further feed my denial, I became the daily wearer of stretchy-pants.  My work out pants (an ironic thing to call them) became my go-to fashion wear, and I assure you, they saw little to no working-out time.  Jeans were uncomfortable, and a dreaded reminder that I shouldn’t be eating as badly as I was. Throughout my life, food had become my best friend during stressful times.  Pita chips, and their salty-crunchy goodness, became my closet companion…my medication for the stress.

While I wrote and spoke about how we should all turn our cares and worries over to God,  I wasn’t necessarily living out that truth.  I was not going to my prayer closet laying my burdens in front of the Lord, instead I was going to the pantry and seeking comfort in starch or sugar.  At some point before the new year I prayerfully brought my brokenness to God.  Realizing that I was not only hurting myself, but through my example, I was leading my whole family down a road of unhealthy living. I prayerfully asked for guidance and forgiveness. I need God’s healing in this aspect of my life.

Through my many connections in Christian media, I have befriended Joanna Faillace, who is a Certified Biblical Health Coach.  She specializes in helping people get healthy, while teaching us to focus our hearts on the One who created us!  When I approached Joanna about helping me with this New Year’s Resolution series I was writing for the What’s in the Bible? blog, she didn’t hesitate to lend me a hand! Her words are encouraging and insightful!  I’m going to post some of what she sent me in the paragraphs below. Keep in mind that these are her suggestions, and they may not all be practical for your family! Please share with us your ideas in the comments section. For the whole article, including some wonderful meal ideas, you can go to my personal blog at www.talkinglikeagirl.blogspot.com 

Being blessed to live out the traditional role of wife and mother, the food I cook and what I stock in my pantry and fridge directly affects the health and lifestyle choices of my entire family.  What’s even more important is remembering to teach my children that God wants us to take care of our bodies. Health is a gift which God wants to bestow on us. These jeans, which are starting to feel comfortable again, are my little reminder to take my decision to live healthy a little more seriously than I have in the recent past.

Is getting healthy on your list of resolutions this new year?  If so, please share with us how you’re accomplishing this very important goal.

Here are some dietary tips from Joanna Faillace to help you:
“Decide not to buy processed junk foods that are void of any nutritive value and make it your goal, as much as possible, to buy whole foods that are made without any artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, toxic pesticides, chemically engineered feed, growth hormones and antibiotics. Read your labels and choose not to buy foods that contain preservatives like MSG. Switch from conventional milk to organic, whole milk that is least processed and is not treated with dangerous growth hormones and antibiotics.
Don’t buy chemically bleached white bread, white rice and white sugar as these are high glycemic, “man-made” foods that cause your blood sugar to spike, and set off the hormone, cortisol, which is likely responsible for junk food cravings that your body will just store as fat! Do buy organic, whole grain breads, organic brown rice and organic cane sugar for baking.
In place of artificial sweeteners such as Splenda and Aspartame which can cause a host of side effects like migraines and hyperactivity, use raw honey and organic maple syrup for sweetening coffee and tea and avoid diet sodas.

These are some easy and highly effective dietary tips that will work greatly to get you and your family on the road to supernatural health and wellness this New Year!

RING THAT DINNER BELL TOGETHER!

God made whole, nutritious foods designed to keep us supernaturally healthy! Unfortunately, man has altered God’s perfect foods drastically by adding artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, toxic pesticides, chemically engineered feed, growth hormones and antibiotics.

I truly believe that God is challenging families to reverse their fast foods habits and get back into the kitchen and do some down home cooking with the foods he’s created! Family time in the kitchen can be really fun and educational! Assigning age-appropriate tasks to our children sparks a healthy interest in cooking, builds self-esteem and helps them to develop a sense of responsibility in caring for their bodies, which the Bible says are God’s temple! Some of our most valuable lessons and treasured memories come from cooking in the kitchen with Mama!

EXERCISE FOR LIFE!

If you are financially able, prayerfully consider making an investment into a family membership at your local gym. This is another excellent way to strengthen the family bond and to ensure that everyone is getting consistent exercise that will help tremendously to ward off stress, fatigue, obesity and disease. Daily exercise also produces positive, mood-boosting endorphins in our brain that helps to create a joyful state of mind! If you cannot financially afford a gym membership, than you can always schedule daily walks in your neighborhood, or visit a local park or just get outside and have a ball and shoot some hoop with your kids!  Another idea is to buy a set of inexpensive hand weights to keep those arms strong and toned! Whatever you decide, a daily exercise plan will help your family to be responsible in caring for their bodies and to achieve life-long supernatural health and wellness!”

Joanna Faillace is a Certified Biblical Health Coach. She is also the Creator and TV Host of “Super-Naturally Healthy Kids with Chef Joanna”, a series of healthy cooking segments that is broadcast daily on TBN’s Smile of a Child Network, and the author of “Super-Naturally Healthy Families Cookbook”. She is a speaker for Thelma Wells’ and Christian Women in Media’s National Conferences. Joanna makes her home with her husband, Jim and family in beautiful Central Virginia. Joanna’s desire is to help YOUR family get supernaturally healthy and she welcomes you to visit her web site today at www.supernaturallyhealthy.net.

Lisa Strnad is a freelance writer/blogger, who regularly contributes to What’s in the Bible? and Jelly Telly.  She is a homeschooling mom of two, who works independently in Christian media in the areas of writing, promotions and marketing.  She lives with her husband and children in Nashville,TN.  Follow her personal blog posts on www.talkinglikeagirl.blogspot.com.

As we say goodbye to 2011 and welcome in 2012 with great anticipation, did you make a resolution to change something in your life?  For most of us it’s a time when we re-evaluate our spiritual, emotional, and physical choices of the past in order to make healthy changes in the coming year.  The idea of making new year’s resolutions have become trite over the years, mostly because it’s a firmly rooted belief that people don’t change … or won’t change.  We are creatures of habit and comfort, whether that be good or bad. The world tells us that true change, while possible is not probable, which makes us feel a little hopeless in our desire to become healthier. Thankfully the Bible tells us that through Jesus all things are possible!  We CAN change… because we are made NEW in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Can this big verse be relevant to my little family and our personal resolutions to make healthy personal changes? Even things that seem unimportant in the eyes of the world, like your battle with weight, your seasonal depression, helping your kids eat their vegetables or even how much time you’re able to spend in prayer due to other daily commitments, are important to God! We can teach our children to bring their smallest concerns to the Lord and He will listen.  His desire is to help each and every one of us in our attempts to make good changes, or resolutions, that will benefit our overall health and happiness. We are His beloved!

~ The Unmarred Page ~
Let us be mindful that God
hands us each
A beautiful white page on
which to write
Our record of the days He
gives, and He
Asks only that we live them
worthily.
- Grace Noll Crowell -

Next week I’ll be writing about what most people resolve to change: their physical health.  We’ll be learning how we can help our whole family make better eating and exercising choices a part of our daily lives.  In the weeks that follow, we’ll discuss spiritual and psychological health and some plans that will help with those resolutions as well!

So, what are some of your New Year’s resolutions? If you haven’t made any yet, will you?

Lisa Strnad is a contributing writer/blogger to What’s in the Bible? and Jelly Telly.  She is a homeschooling mom of two, who works independently in Christian media in the areas of writing, promotions and marketing.  She lives with her husband and children in Nashville,TN.  Follow her personal blog posts on www.talkinglikeagirl.blogspot.com.