Personal Challenge #3 - May 11th - May 24th

These next two weeks I wanted to add just 

one new challenge.

 I'm also going to give a quick reminder of all the ones we have done so far. 

I am trying to continue to do all of them, 

but some days I don't go as well as other days! 

Let's remember that delicate balance of giving ourselves 

grace as well as a nice big healthy push!

Are you ready?!

 Challenge # 3

Week 1 ~ fast from all social media

Week 2 ~ set boundaries in this area

* If social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc...) is not something you do, fast from something else. Maybe it's the news, or texting, online window shopping, or watching movies. 

If we are honest with ourselves, we waste a tremendous amount of time doing things that do not help us spiritually, emotionally, or physically. And these things are detrimental to the precious relationships we have right in front of us. 

~ Prepare to be amazed at the extra time we find when we 

cut these things out of our days this week!

~ Try focusing on our relationships instead.

~ Ask God to show us how to manage our time in this area.

Ask Him to show us if there is anything we need to

surrender to Him in this area. 

* There are many wonderful things about technology, but we need to still your hearts and really think about what kind of feelings we're getting and where are focus is left after engaging in the activities and things we choose to add to our lives. Discontent, Fear, Self-focus, Despair, Pride, Lethargy, Apathy...the list goes on and on with attitudes and lies that drag us down.   

Philippians 4:8 says 

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

~ Consider setting one time in the morning and one time in the evening to check and respond to our email messages and texts. 

Our phones still do ring if we need to be contacted!

Better yet! Our doorbells work :)

Challenge Reminders

Make quiet time in the Word and 

Prayer a priority, every day!

Drink at least 8 cups of water a day.

Get your heart rate up, several times, 

every day!

Put to memory a passage of Scripture

Reduce your sugar intake

Stretch Daily

Keep looking up! 🤍

Staying Well Tip:  

Boosting your Immune system

Get your Vitamin D

Go out in the sunshine (without sunscreen) for at least 15 minutes a day, making sure you have plenty of skin exposed. The most intense sun is between 10-4, so try early mornings or late afternoons if getting exposed to too much UV rays concerns you.

Get your Vitamin C

Eat foods high in vitamin C every day.

We know that citrus fruits, like oranges, are high in C, but 

did you know kiwi and red and green peppers have even more? Strawberries, broccoli, kale, parsley, papaya...go look up all the yummy foods that give you vitamin C.

Exercise to keep your lymph system moving

A nice brisk walk is excellent. Move your arms while your walking to increase the circulation. 

Bouncing on a trampoline (small bouncing is suitable) 

is shown to be one of the best things for this.

Be sure to stay hydrated.

Get enough rest

Studies show that your most health-giving rest is what we get before midnight. So Ben Franklin was right in saying "Early to bed early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." 

Work on your gut health

A huge percentage of your immune health is in the gut. So eat lots of veggies, fruits, and healthy fats and drink plenty of water (hot water or tea after a meal helps some) to keep things moving in your GI tract. Exercise is also important for this.

Lay your cares at the feet of Jesus

Stress is a killer of your immune systems as well as so many other things. Start each day asking the Lord to lead you through the day. He takes care of the sparrows and the lilies, we can take care of you. He may ask you to throw your whole plan for the day out the window - that's OK. We have to learn to surrender. I know...it's hard.

Maybe before bed, take our a note book and draw a line down the middle of the page. On the top right side write blessings. On the top left side write Negatives. Under negatives write out everything that went wrong or bothered you that day. Under blessing write out all the blessings you received that day (don't forget things like beautiful stars, the sound of birds, running water). Then go through your list in prayer, thanking the Lord for the blessings and telling Him your mistakes, hurts, worries, and problems and work through each one with your loving Heavenly Father. He knows, He cares!

Laugh and Love

You may have to find something funny to read or watch or ask a funny friend to come over for coffee, but laughter is one of the best medicines! Maybe you could just have a contest with the others in your house on who can foster up the best laugh.

Finally, love people. Serve them. This brings joy and purpose, which brings health.