God's Choices

His ways are far wiser than ours. Though we may not always understand the plan, we should always have faith that God sees the bigger picture while we only see frame by frame...

The Sweet Persimmon

You may have noticed in the markets recently a tomatoey looking fruit called Persimmon. There are two readily available types in most U.S. markets, the Hachiya Persimmon that is longer in shape and the Fuyu Persimmon which is shaped more like a tomato. Both are delicious when ripe, very sweet and succulent.

When buying persimmons they should be ripe, soft to the touch or buy them under ripe and allow to ripen at room temp. These yummy fruits are a real joy to eat and contain a host of nutrients which benefit our body. They are a significant source of fiber, 6 grams, and a great source of vitamin A. One of the best reasons to indulge in the small but mighty persimmon is that they are full of antioxidants. They contain 20% of the daily value of Vitamin C as well as bioflavonoids, carotenoids, and phytochemicals. These powerful antioxidants add up to health inducing power which boost our immune system and protect the heart.

The season for this fruit is September through December, so grab some while you can. Persimmons can be frozen for up to five or six months if you plan on using them in recipes.
It's great to have access to something that tastes so sublime and is so beneficial for you!

Fruits of the Spirit Series: Faithfulness

This is part two of the Fruits of the Spirit Series. Today I'm talking about Faithfulness. In my last Fruits blog I mistakenly posted Faithfulness as the title when it should have been Gentleness which was the fruit in discussion.

Faithfulness is that believing that God is who he says he is and trusting in what God says, not what your own eyes or the world tell us. When life becomes inconsistent and takes us through the hills and valleys we should remain steadfast in our Faith that
God is or will work things out, maybe not the ways we think it should be taken care of but in His way, because he sees things differently than our human minds do.

Having the fruit of Faithfulness will carry us through life with the confidence of having an insurance policy, one where the only requirements are faith and obedience. Studying on the fruit of faith helps me get through my difficult times because it's a constant reminder of who is really in charge...

Doodles For God

As we walk in Gods power and spend time in His world, He gives us strength to live according to Kingdom values and not the spirit of the age.

John 17:15
Romans12:1-2

We live in this world but our allegiance is to Heaven.

fruits of The Spirit Doodle

The Fruits of the Spirit are the backbone of who we should be and how we should aspire to live. These fruits help us to stay focused on God and not to rely on our own ways which are influenced by our own sin and Worldly ways.

Doodles For God

Here sharing my doodles. I love drawing and why not create something's to remind and inspire others to the greatness of God. When live throws me a chew bone, I remember that God is always good and the rough times are just as purposeful as the good times. I remember to lean on Him and to have faith in the bigger picture..

Walkout Progress

I'm back and no I didn't forget to post, I've been making a few adjustments to my workout routine. First of all, I still like doing Leslie Sansones walking at home DVDs and I'm getting a great workout especially all of her five mile tapes.

However I've recently discovered that its not a pattern for me to start switching up my routine, I now know that it's the way my body responds best. I used to think I didn't have much attention span to be loyal to one particular workout, but that wasn't so. I stay most focused and work out more effectively when I mix it up. It keeps my body from getting used to a particular workout but more importantly it keeps my mind refreshed so that I push myself to actually Do the workout. So instead of feeling bad about not following through on what I thought I would be doing, I'm happy about this breakthrough moment of honesty. After all the whole point of this is to get and keep myself healthy.

Lesson learned not to get stuck on doing something a certain way because it was planned that way. Life is changed and rearranged frequently as one progresses through it. I'm joyful to not box myself in and to have the freedom to create and recreate my path as I go. This week I've started part of the Hip Hop Abs cardio workout by Shaun T from Beach Body. I'm not the best dancer around but even I could do the moves and it's fun and a heck of a workout! I will be interchanging this with running on my rebounder for the week. Sounds like a good plan! Until next later, work it out in good health!

Jogging or Running Anytime

Last year I purchased an inexpensive trampoline from Walmart for around thirty dollars. It was one of the best purchases I've made. I have a knee condition which makes running on pavement impossible so with the aid of this little trampoline/rebounder I can get my run on anywhere or time!

I ordered a few Virtual Active Home DVDs from Amazon that feature a forward motion running experience. There are many scenic locations to choose from, like Los Angeles, Venice and other places. There's a helpful trainer built into the workout but he's not overly intrusive. I'm a huge fan of these DVDs and sometimes I will mute it and just go to my own music. A fun and interactive way for work out, especially for those in cold weather states!

Fruits of the Spirit Series Pt. 1 Faithfulness

A few weeks ago I attended church and the sermon was on the fruits of spirit. At that time I listened but it didn't really hit home until later. All during that week I kept coming across readings and videos on these fruits. It was obvious God was trying to guide me to study this topic in depth.

As I began to really study and let the fruits marinate in my spirit, It became clear how important this subject was. In the past I only attempted to memorize them but the fruits must be absorbed and wrung out through the pores of your life. The more I began to understand these fruits the more I was able to live by the and incorporate them into my life and the lives of others. These fruits are one of the best meals my spirit has had and I will be forever grateful for that sermon led by Gods hand.

The first fruit I want to pluck is the fruit of Gentleness.
This is one I go back to often as I need repeat reminders of it. Gentleness is learning to lean on God for everything. Relying on my own thinking keeps me from fully submitting to Gods ways, as His ways are above mine. Gentleness means to recognize that they way I view things is shaped by my exposure to sin which causes misinterpretation of the experiences I have. Gentleness is acceptingGods world view that is the real truth about spiritual and material worlds. It's about allowing God to lead me. I'm not always lead to a place of my choosing but if it's what He wants then that's what matters. Finally getting this and putting it to heart and mind is changing my world.

Matthew 4:4
Man does not live by food alone. People need every word that God has spoken.

Operation Walkout Week 2

It is week two of using only Leslie Sansone walk at home DVDs as my main workout. I've been using them five times a week, and yoga on the sixth day. I'm happy to say I feel great and much to my surprise some of my clothes are slightly loose.

I've been eating mostly clean, meaning not bombarding my diet with processed foods. I do allow a treat now and then, even though I said in the first blog I was taking away All sweets. I find with staying in my caloric range and working out, those small portion controlled treats are not derailing me. An example are the mini or snack sized snickers bars ( my fave! ), or a raw Carmel dip made of dates and nut butter for apples. These aren't daily eats, they're used as treats.

I'm using the app called Lose It! It's a great app for keeping track of what you eat. You can set goals for weight loss or just maintain and you can add your own foods if they're not in the large listing of given foods. I find this app to be a motivator for me as it lays out my caloric intake I have for the day and subtracts from that as I record my meals. It's easy and provides me with the boundaries I need to keep in control.

I'm really enjoying my walking DVDs and I'm not in pain from complicated moves or body strain. I'm aiming for great health and I'm well on my way.

Operation Walkout

Today October 8 2012 I begin a new journey to regain my optimum health through simply walking with the use of Leslie Sansone's walk at home workouts. There are numerous walks available in her walk plans, ranging from one up to five mile power walks.

I have many home workout DVDs but over the years I always come home to Leslie's walk at home walks. They are easy to follow for uncoordinated people like myself and are great on the knees and joints. Can one get an effective workout from these walks? Absolutely! I'm diabetic and I keep my blood sugars in control and gain energy with these workouts.

I went through a period when I pressured myself to join the ranks of the super high intensity, survive if you can workouts like P90X but for me, even though I could get through some of the workouts I didn't want to. If I don't at least somewhat like what I'm doing for exercise I won't keep at it. I've proven this to myself time and again. I just stop altogether or end up aggravating a shoulder and knee injury. I'm not knocking these type of workouts, they will give you results if you stick with them, if you want this type of intensity. However, for me for this time in my life the walk outs fit my lifestyle perfectly.

I've lost weight using them years ago and I know I will reach my ideal weight using them again. I choose to share my experience of this through this blog. After stopping and restarting various workouts and falling in and out of the right mind frame for fitness(terrible isn't it?), I have finally arrived at a point in my life where I am talking responsibility for my well being, because if I don't no one else will and I'll be left sick and unhealthy with no one else to blame but myself.

So, it is here where my journey begins. This is the start of a new day for me (in the words of Jennifer Hudson!). I will post bi weekly my progress and thoughts on my journey. My eating habits are also getting an overhaul. I'm putting my sweet tooth in check by adding higher protein foods and increasing my raw foods intake. I've been involved with raw food eating for some time now. However even with that I would find ways to sneak in tasty sweet treats made of seeds ,nuts, dates and other raw but high calorie goodies! No more raw cheesecake or brownies for me for a while. I need to regain control and any treat even raw only pulls me further from my goals. More on my foods in my next blog.

For now I'm off one step at a time walking on the road to good health!

Slowing Down to Move Up

As of late I've been getting the repeated message that I have to stop trying to run ahead of myself. I keep tripping over the same rocks, accumulating the same ' injuries' and wondering why.

Growing where I am planted is a seed that is finally beginning to take root. God speaks to us often through unlearned lessons that must be repeated until we hear...

Learning to stop, wait and listen for Gods guidance is allowing me to see why I continued to repeat my own mistakes. I realize that by filling my life with my 'stuff' that being to do's and have to's and self imposed deadlines I was unknowingly seeking worth and value as a person. As long as I filled my time with stuff that we're all supposed to do then I'm important and adding value to myself.

My fumbles were a part of my process of learning to seek my worth and value through the Lord. I thought I was, but my actions showed me otherwise. All of my busyness left me little space to follow the Lord when he called for me in whatever area needed.

It also believe that some of my actions were an attempt to hide the fact that I felt not qualified enough to do the Lord's bidding, that I would screw it up or misunderstand somehow.
I also realized that there was some selfishness involved, being that it required that I move into an uncomfortable place in my life, or give up some of my time and plans. Service is sacrificial and not going to be convenient for my personal satisfaction.

Slowing down has been humbling, moving, and scary like walking a tight rope without a net. I realize I've always had a net, the Lord... So now, I operate at a new pace, reset priorities, listen and grow. I will push through my feelings of inadequacy and get off the hamster wheel. My worth has always been in and through Him, not worldly achievements and successes. I realize that any service I do in the Lords name is valued by him. That's real success.

Using my I Pod to enhance my spiritual experience

The nice thing about the age were living in is that we can take most things we do at home with us using technology like tablets and such. I thought I'd share how my I pod keeps me connected to my spiritual walk wherever I am.

One of my favorite apps is the You Version Holy Bible. The user interface is clean and easy. I can pull up, a scripture or reading plan from one of many at the flick of my thumb. I also like how it can read to me, I can take notes, keep a journal and connect with others.

I have the Olive Tree Bible Reader which allows me to download books and sermons and e books pertaining to the Bible at a glance. It works like i books and stores all my reading neatly on my bookshelf.

I took the Joyce Meyer web page and made it as an app on my I pod so I can pull up and listen to a sermon or read anytime I choose.

I love the app i Talk to God. I can with this app look up, any struggle I'm dealing with and find scriptures to help me through my troubles. I've been struggling with forgiveness lately and I looked it up while in line at the market and was able to connect to the word right then and there. This is what I like so much about mobile spirituality!

I have a few other favorite websites I've added onto my I pod as apps so it takes me right to them instead of going into safari or something. A few more of my favorites are Joel Osteen website, Our Daily Bread, a time held spiritual magazine that has daily inspirational scriptures to read or listen to. God Life is another great one that's filled with readings and video on various life subjects to help you to get to know Jesus. Jesus Texts is an actual app that gives little spiritual nuggets each day.

There are plenty of apps in the I tunes store as well as bibles and meditations and spiritual tools. God is always with us, but it's nice to have the tools handy for wherever our lives take us! God Bless😊

My Erin Condren Day Planner

I bit the bullet and purchased an Erin Condren Life Planner! It's lovely and I had it personalized with my smiley picture on the back. This is a great company to order from and their customer service is top notch. It took about three weeks for my order to come as they are a small company.

When the planner arrived it was beautifully packaged in tissue paper and I received little extras from them such as a few mailing stickers with my full name on them, extra mailing stickers for birthdays and such. All of the extras came in a pretty red envelope. Tis is part of what made the Erin Condren experience so much fun, like opening a Christmas gift!

The planner itself is sturdy the front being laminated with a hard plastic. There are a number of designs to choose from or you can really personalize it and add your own pictures or art work, quotes whatever you like. You're also able to choose you color preference even with their designs.

I love how big and colorful the planner is. The spaces for day fill ins are big which is great for large writers like me or for putting multiple entries into. What I really like about this planner is the section for each month for goals to set. I find goal setting like this allows me to not only do what I set out to but to continuously develop into the person I choose to be. It's a daily reminder for what's really important.

There's also a to list area. Following the calendar areas there is lined sheet paper for notes and plain sheet paper. The plain sheets are decorated with samples of some of the designs offered for the planners.

There are a variety of stickers with labels like doc appointments, Vegas trip, and many other topics. There's also blank stickers for adding your own labels. After that there's a pocket page for putting in an extra notebook or whatever papers you may have and a cute clear plastic zip envelope, like a kids pencil holder for storing whatever you choose.

The Erin Condren planner is a bit pricey as you can personalize it any way you'd like. I'm enjoying my experience with it. I have since discovered other pretty planners that are more cost effective but if you're looking for personalization this planner is a great one!

A life Well Lived Bible Planner...Terriffic!

I've recently purchased a great bible day planner to help me focus my daily bible study. I don't use the actual, day plan section as it's small and I have a great life day planner already(future blog).

This planner has features that help guide you to daily reading and understanding scriptures, as it instructs you to re write the days scripture in your own words. There's also an area for setting your goals, priorities and tasks for the day as relating to your actions and putting scripture to work. For example, a couple of my priorities and goals include when I'm having negative thoughts about someone or situation to stop and remember Proverbs 4 to guard my heart. Its my goal to know that God looks at the heart. I can't take in garbage and produce good things, it doesn't work that way.

I love how this bible planner gets me to think and remember HOW I think as well as act throughout my day. It's allowing me to be reformed by constantly putting right thoughts and ways of being into action.

There are worksheets in the back that help you to focus on life areas. There are seven, Career/Financial/Spiritual/Physical/intellectual-Creative/Family/Social. You are guided here to identify these areas and set goals for improvement in areas needed.

This planner has changed my spiritual life for the greater and I'm so thankful for God bringing it into my world. To purchase one of these go to
Www.A-LIFE-WELL-LIVED.com. This planner is not only a great addition for you but would make an excellent gift for someone in you life who's struggling spiritually.
This is my own opinion and I'm not being endorsed in any way. I just want to spread the word on this fantastic planner!

Fresh summer eats

Summertime is a great time to play with your food! I love using fresh raw produce to create simple amazing dishes that work as a meal, snack, and tasty dessert. It's a great comfort to know that great taste and nutrition can go hand in hand without either being sacrificed.

Great E Business Course! Do what you love!

http://leoniedawson.com/affiliate-redirect/?p=Deb&w=circle http://leoniedawson.com/affiliate-redirect/?p=Deb&w=circle

Jogging/Running for Physical and Emotional health

I'm new to running but my mind took to it immediately. When I'm focused on my breath and pacing myself it becomes a form of meditation for me.

I feel a sense of peace and rejuvenation during and after my run. I'm elated that my body took to this activity as well showing up in a loss of weight and inches. I look forward to running as I never have with any other aerobic activity. I'm excited to see where this takes me...

What is Perfection?

I've never really considered myself one of those perfectionists types. However in closer examining of my character I see perfectionist tendencies . My art is a clear example of this behavior. If I feel something isn't coming along the way I envisioned it, I scrap the entire thing and begin again and again. What state of greatness am I attempting to reach for and for who, Myself, others approval? Am I trying to imitate something I feel is just right but fail to do so?

Questions like these I've begun asking myself lately because I'm noticing this behavior repeating itself in different areas of my life. Why have I become so steadfast for some unattainable goal? I know that being creative is one of God's greatest gifts and it's meant to be appreciated and nurtured from the spirit. The joy gained from any creative experience is an inward journey expressed outward. I'm not sure when I became so focused on getting it right, because each person has a different formula of their own right.

If forgot the specialness of expression be it in art, cooking or some other activity. I forgot that my individual expressions are special in themselves because I'm utilizing God's gift. I forgot that I'm not striving to please or impress others or imitate others. I'm finally remembering that my gifts were given to me as personal expression, and inspiration and joy. I had become worldly with my gifts and that's when I became unsatisfied and discontented.

I'm taking time out now to remember and to give thanks for what I'm given. When I do anything in my life I'll do it with reverence and with a sense of gratitude and humility for whom this all came from. The next time I pick up a pot and ingredients or paper and drawing utensil it will be solely an outward expression of what I'm here to give...

Try Doing it Gods Way...

Time and time again I am like the rabbit from the story the rabbit and the hare. I try and move so fast or at the pace that I feel is acceptable for me in my life, trying to accomplish something or things that I feel must be accomplished. Thankfully, I keep being reminded to become more like the hare, to go at the pace that's right for me.

God says in Isaiah 55:8-9 My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Sometimes I think I run so far ahead of myself because I fall back in being caught up in worldly ways and doing things for worldly rewards. Gods plans for me are beyond worldliness and serve a much greater purpose. When I become the hare I remember that I become a much more joyful person. I am thankful for the lessons I am taught and re taught. God always allows me to see the value in living for him and reap its REAL rewards.

Just Being is just fine...

Everyone is always so busy doing, and that's fine but what happened to being? When did it become unpopular to Not be over busy, to Not have a cell phone attached to your body or to only have one or two things on the agenda?

It surprises people that I don't have ten different doings happening in my life each day. It's almost as if I am ill or void of a 'real' life. It's become a status symbol to stay as busy as the day is long, yet so many people have forgot that they are human beings first.

Yes it's absolutely fine to have a full life, and it's also absolutely fine to have a life that's perhaps only sometimes filled with doings but always filled with being. I'm able to unplug, and continually familiarize myself with what's really important, who it is I choose to be and who I am growing into. Everyday connections with other people even getting a smile out of a stranger is a connection well made. We were put here to be examples of love to and for one another, to help and to, reach out to each other. Connections don't have to be some grand gesture, some of the best things come in the smallest packages!

Having a life and success are defined differently for each one of us, however, most of us have been unduly influenced by society's measuring stick as to what being a successful person should be. I try not to get too caught up in so many worldly ways, but to live simple and as true to myself as I can. It is my hope to inspire and and continued to be inspired by the beauty of life and it's lessons that teach me each day.

Tired of Double Dutching through life

Today I listened to a sermon that spoke directly to me. We can choose to have a life of peace and be content in that life listening to and living a life that is God lead. Or we can choose to take the reigns ourselves and do things our way. Only one of these ways of living leads us to the pathway of true peace.

I feel like I've been double dutching my way through life. I jump and have one or both feet in God's world and then jump back into living my way, trying to accomplish things on my own. Back and fourth I go with the jump ropes of life twirling around me in a repetitious vortex of getting a piece of peace.

I realize that I am ready to put down those jump ropes, take off my tennis shoes and use my bare feet to start walking in faith consistently. It's the doorway to real peace, joy, and contentment. A true peace that comes not from the world, but from the God center placed within me. When I start looking for things, answers, opportunities outside myself I remain unfulfilled and discontented regardless of what's gleamed from living this way. Each time I come back to God and allow Him to take lead I have a sense of quiet peace, a joyful calm knowing that my Father knows best. I don't have to hop and jump around in a state of confusion from trying to control every event in my life. I feel like I can finally catch my breath because I don't have to avoid being hit by those ropes constantly jumping and out of breath.

When I think of the deal God provided us with ("My son for your sins"), words can't describe the state of my heart. I can't believe the things I put myself through when my mind pushes this fact aside. I can't believe what a know-it-all I think I am to believe I can come up with all my own answers. When I look back at that person I've been I give great thanks that God is patient, kind and forgiving, always. I am thankful for being allowed to fall face down from those double dutch ropes time and time again. The harder I hit my head the wiser and more humble my head becomes. God is always there with his infinite wisdom to patch me up and give me yet another opportunity to follow him. When people and life disappoint He never does.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind
Romans: 12:1 & 2