November 29, 2016
Push Away…
The Push Away Diet Plan
“Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning…For He is gracious and merciful. Slow to anger, and of great kindness.” Joel 2:12-13
There was a woman who receive a remarkable healing in her body. She was so exuberant with joy she wrote her Pastor to tell him the good news. She finished her letter by asking, “Do you think God would do anything about my being overweight?” The Pastor wrote her back and congratulated her on her miracle, and replied to her question regarding her weight , “This kind only goes out by fasting.”
Sometimes the best diet is the push away diet plan. You’ve got to push away from the table until your body weight becomes balanced and stable. But this applies to everything. You’ve got to push away from negative and deleterious thinking. You’ve got to push away from harboring pain of your past, bitterness and resentment. You have to push aside feelings of inadequacy or inability. You’re really quite wonderful and those things that weigh you down will hold you down if you allow it. Lighten the load! Fitness isn’t just for the body-it’s for the soul. You’ve got glow! So as you remember to be kind to others, be kind to yourself as well! -Nicole
November 27, 2016
Abundance Found…
I love the story of George Mueller. A minister who built huge orphanages and did many great things by Faith. He rarely had a resource, other than gratitude. As he thanked God for the need met, while still in need, then a miracle would happen. Imagine what America would look like if we all did this. We’d have abundance without ever becoming spoiled. Let not this season of gratefulness end with the last bite of pie. Thank God for the answer before it comes…as if you already held it in your hand! Miracles flow and your faith for them will grow…
Abundance is found in Gratitude.
-Nicole
(photo by Aesthetically Alexandra)
November 26, 2016
Weightless Gratitude
It’s the season of endless eating, online malls and grumpy people. I had to go to the store on Wednesday to replace my laundry basket that finally bit the dust. As I scurried through the Home Goods store (I love Home Goods) there seemed to be aisle after aisle of Christmas decor, but little to nothing Thanksgiving related. Most of the people were located in the dish ware section buying that last minute carving set or platter for the big meal. It was crowded and the aisles were narrow. I tried to be courteous. I tend to smile at everyone and am generally willing to speak to total strangers, but today no one was smiling back or even making eye contact. Instead of letting it bother me, I knew it was because they were most likely all stressed.
People make jokes about holiday weight gain and I even post about maintenance strategies for the holiday…but are we truly remembering to measure the weight of our gratitude? Gratitude finds a bright spot in any situation. Gratitude is at peace with others. Gratitude looks at all we have in our life that is good. So what about you. Do your clouds have silver linings or lightning bolts? Everyday has the possibility to be great when we take a moment to truly give thanks. ~Nicole
November 21, 2016
Secrets to Strength
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14
What words are dripping from your lips? Are you self sabotaging your own better self, your own better health, you own best fitness or career ambition? Is your family suffering by the words falling from your mouth?
Our words have so much power to prophesy what will be. What you believe can shape and direct the very coarse of your life. In my own health and fitness I always imagined I could be very fit and the master of my food choices, but it took me a very long time to overcome and get to the level of discipline in my exercise and eating that I needed to be to see the fruit I wanted to see, but I did not give up. I kept speaking where I was going and believing it would come. This is only one example.
EVERY area of your life is at your disposal to be INCREDIBLE if you can just shift your mind. When you get your mind right, every issue of life becomes the lesser issue and takes flight from influencing your life. So get your mind right! You’ve got real strength behind those lips! ~Nicole
November 16, 2016
Time Under Tension
It takes a long time to build muscle and change your shape. With consistent effort, good nutrition and faithfulness you begin to see some fruit of your efforts right away, but for long term wellness you’ve got to stick and stay. Your reward is in the constant and deliberate application of it. You’ve got to be patient.
The same is true for Soul Strength. You must nurture your own heart, feed it good stuff, always be expanding your mind and growing your soul. Be open to new ideas and opportunities as they unfold. Be mindful that not every good idea is God’s idea for your life just like not every fitness protocol is the same from person to person. Seek soul strength, find wisdom, pursue it diligently like you were a Bride preparing to fit her wedding dress– ironed and pressed.
Be patient with the process.
Everyday is a great day to get better. You’ve got this! ~Nicole
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30
November 14, 2016
Food For Thought
Food for Thought…
A big factor in health and weight management is nutrition, but in addition to good nutrition you need portion control. Too much of anything will make you gain excess weight. One way to monitor your intake is by measuring your portions. So, stay off the scale, measure yourself with a tape measure and use a food scale to weigh your food instead. I love my food scale! You can get less expensive or more expensive scales, shop by your budget and need. It’s a great tool. ~Nicole
“But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
1 Cor. 9:27
November 11, 2016
Balanced Living
Everything we do in the physical also affects us in the spiritual. It is unavoidable. Our mind, body and soul are all tied together, work together and compliment each other. This is by Divine Design. So if Rest, Exercise and Diet are our gauges for wellness physically, the same can be true for our spiritual, emotional and mental health as well.
REST in the Arms of the Almighty. At the end of the day you can rest when you know you’ve given your best and can trust God with the particulars of world order and personal progress and provision. Learn to say no to some things so you can say yes to others. There are demands for our time and attention everywhere. Be intentional about rest!
EXERCISE your freedom to choose to be kind, generous, and willing to discipline yourself in right living. Take up hobbies that refresh your soul. Do charitable work for others. It doesn’t have to be to a specific organization, non profit or population. Last night I spent two hours mentoring a young personal trainer who is just getting started in the business. You get the idea.
DIET. You need to feed your soul strength just as you feed your physical body for strength. What are you feeding on? Be careful about your conversations. Be thoughtful in what you select to read and watch. I encourage you to select a devotional or morning scriptures from the Bible. You will find yourself with greater Peace and ability to “manage” life when you’ve feasted on scripture. Pray. Time spent reflecting and speaking to the Creator also has cleansing and relaxing qualities. It’s like yoga for the soul. Take time to reflect. Journal. Write down dreams, ideas and aspirations. Set goals. It is a beautiful form of release and expression.
When you pay attention to your spiritual Rest-Exercise-Diet (my R.E.D. Flag’s of Wellness) you will notice you have greater balance and perspective in all of life. Refreshed and Blessed! ~Nicole
“..and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:19
November 3, 2016
BE-You-ty Times Nine
Have a blessed day filled with
“Beauty Times Nine”
When I wrote “Brilliance Times Nine” this past week the number nine was a reoccurring theme…it was so highlighted in my heart, but I did not know what it meant. I knew it was deeper Truth that would gloss past most everyone’s eyes but within there was a prize.
The number nine in scriptures represents God’s Completeness and the Fruit of the Spirit. So you are complete in him. His Glory is Complete within us. His abounding fruit cannot be undone, for it is a complete work, worked completely in and through each one of us.
So whatever is unfolding in your life, whatever is testing you, challenging you or happening with you…He is working His Completeness in you. What an honor to have the King of Heaven think so highly of you to want to showcase His Glory in you. Think about it–
Completely Amazing! 💜Nicole
“I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” Isaiah 48:10
Broken & Brave 
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