Week 10

Your Finances: Saving money on goods and services or spending less money on goods and services often has the result that seems to be the same as earning money. The bottom line is that when you spend less than usual, you end up with more to invest, put in a savings account, or spend on some needed good or service that you may not have otherwise been able to afford. Think about the need to be a good steward over the finances entrusted to you. How would you like to painlessly save $100? This article at Woman’s Day Magazine has some really good ideas. Check it out: http://www.womansday.com/gallery.aspx?section_id=115&webtrends_section=money&section_prefix=money&article_id=11704&window_id=1&gallery_id=292&slide=on&page_number=1&seq=1
Your Body: I’m thinking about diets. It seem like many people are starting a new one or reviewing ones that they have tried already in times past. Seems strange that there are so many diets published in newspapers, magazines, books, on websites, cookbooks, etc. and our country has more weight problems than ever. There is no quick fix. I’ve found some diets do produce temporary results. We need to educate ourselves about what nourishment the body needs and how to provide that nourishment with the fewest number of calories. We all know that we must be careful not to consume more calories than we use in our daily activities. A short while ago I cut back on what I was eating. I didn’t go on a ‘diet.’ I just ate less than usual. As a result, I lost a considerable amount of weight. I felt better and looked better. When I stopped focusing on the discipline of my eating, some of the weight found its way back. I’m concentrating again on making wise choices in my eating habits. These habits lead to a healthy lifestyle. Keep me in mind.

Your Spirit - Meditate on your favorite Bible verses (or chapters) daily. Don't forget to read today's Verse of the Day in the upper right hand corner of this page.

Week 9

Sorry about last week. Just couldn't seem to get to it. I'm back this week.

Your Finances - It is so important to control your spending after considering how much you actually have to spend. I’m talking about budgeting again because it is very important. You decide how to best spend your money then follow your plan. Here is a powerful article from Dave Ramsey who is committed to helping us to become debt free (but only if you want to). You’ll find the article at:

http://www.daveramsey.com/the_truth_about/budgeting_3457.html.cfm

Your Body - Dietary fiber comes from the portion of plants that is not digested by enzymes in the intestinal tract. Part of it, however, may be metabolized by bacteria in the lower gut. Fiber may be beneficial in treating or preventing constipation, hemorrhoids and diverticulosis. Water-soluble fiber helps decrease blood cholesterol levels.
Foods containing dietary fiber are plants and include fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains. There is no fiber in meats, milk, or eggs. My recommendation: Try to consume at least 19 grams of fiber per day (preferably more). Please visit the site below for much more information on dietary fiber, such as, what it is, what some benefits are, amounts of fiber found in different foods, how to read food labels, etc. This information is from the Colorado State University Extension:
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09333.html

Your Spirit - Don't forget to read at least the Verse of the Day.

Week 8

I'm running behind this week. It's been really busy around here. Stay tuned for info on adding fiber to your diet. Not a fun topic but it's really good for you. :-)

Week 7

Your Finances - It's important to save some of what you earn. Even when it seems that you owe all that you make for living expenses, save some. The Richest Man in Babylon is a great book that I read some years ago. One teaching from this book that will help you to change your thinking about money is the realization that some of all that you earn is yours to keep. I talked about the importance of tithing in Week 2. That's priority number one. After that, save some (even if it's a small amount). Then pay your living expenses and other obligations. Choose Life in your finances.

Your Body - This is an excerpt from a wonderful article by the Mayo Clinic.

Seven benefits of regular physical activity
Need motivation to exercise? Here are seven ways exercise can improve your life — starting today! Want to feel better, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Look no further than old-fashioned exercise.
The merits of exercise — from preventing chronic health conditions to boosting confidence and self-esteem — are hard to ignore. And the benefits are yours for the taking, regardless of age, sex or physical ability. Need more convincing? Check out seven specific ways exercise can improve your life.
1. Exercise improves your mood.
2. Exercise combats chronic diseases.
3. Exercise helps you manage your weight.
4. Exercise strengthens your heart and lungs.
5. Exercise promotes better sleep.
6. Exercise can put the spark back into your sex life.
7. Exercise can be — gasp — fun!
Find an activity you enjoy, and go for it. If you get bored, try something new. If you're moving, it counts! Are you convinced? Good. Start reaping the benefits of physical activity today!

To read the complete article, click here: http://mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/HQ01676

Your Spirit - Meditate on your favorite Bible verses (or chapters) daily.

Week 6

Your Finances - Control your money. Don't let it control you. Make a plan for every dollar that you have, then follow that plan. Make whatever adjustments you need to and keep your priorities straight. Don't bet caught up in trying to impress the 'Jones'. You don't really know their situation. Be true to yourself and your responsibilities. Pray for wisdom. God wants to give it to you. James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Your Body - Find simple ways to incorporate exercise into your life. Follow some simple suggestions that you already know: Take the stairs when possible instead of the elevator or escalator; leave the telephone in the other room and walk to answer it; park farther from the building than you want so you can walk more steps. Think of ways that you can move your body more. This is an area that requires conscious 'choices' for me because I don't like to move around much. Because I know my body needs exercise I parked near the end of the parking lot the other day so I could walk more steps. It wasn't so bad. Sometimes I forget to take the cordless phone with me to another room so then I must move to answer it when it rings. Pray for me in this area. It's hard for me but I must make the right choices.

Your Spirit - Don't forget to read today's Verse of the Day in the upper right hand corner of this page.

Week 5

Your Finances - You need to have a rainy day or emergency fund in your financial program to relieve some of the stresses of unexpected expenses. Emergencies are considered to be such because we usually have not planned for them. If you create a savings account of $1,000 or more for this purpose, those events won't be quite so stressful. Some things classified as emergencies might be car repairs, unexpected trip out of town, broken appliances, storm damage to property, and the like. Some extra dollars put aside in an account that you can get to easily will help us through these times with less stress.

Your Body - Speaking of stress, it's not good for your physical health. The Mayo Clinic defines stress as 'Unhealthy response to the pressures of life.' Worrying about things over which you have no control could impact your immune, digestive, nervous, and cardiovascular systems, as well as others. 'Stressing out' will potentially affect your physical and emotional health adversely. It is also living outside of the will of God since Jesus teaches us not to worry or fear. Instead of succumbing to stress, read a good book (The Bible and others), count your blessings (develop an attitude of gratitude), pray and expect a solution to your problem, make a deposit into someone else's life by doing a good deed. Use a planner, eat balanced meals regularly, exercise, learn to say 'no.' Look for other ways to 'stress less.'

Your Spirit - Don't forget to read today's Verse of the Day in the upper right hand corner of this page.

Week 4

Thanks for visiting with me again. This week let's evaluate our attitudes about money and eating fresh foods:

Your Finances - I've read Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. I'm reading Rich Woman by Kim Kiyosaki. I've read Matthew 25:27 'So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. One thing that's happening in my life as a result of these readings is that I'm adopting a new attitude about money. As a good steward over what God has entrusted to me, I must use the money that I have to make more money. The Rich Dad author teaches that we must move from the practice of 'working for money' to having money 'work for us.' That concurs with what Jesus is teaching in the parable of the talents when He says the man returning from the far country expected that the talents (money) would have multiplied by, at the least, earning interest in the bank. I'm looking for ways to make my money generate more money by becoming financially literate.

Your Body - There's much value to the statement that 'we are what we eat.' It's a great challenge today to find nourishing foods (even in the grocery store) but we can make some choices that are better than others. Don't be directed exclusively by your taste buds when deciding what to eat. It's good to decide to eat for health as well as for pleasure. Choose foods that are baked rather than fried; high in fiber; low in sugar; fresh rather than processed; low in fat and salt. Try to make these choices at least half of the time and it will make a positive difference in your physical health. Also, choose fresh fruits and veggies every day. Read food labels. For more information on nutrition, visit: http://www.mypyramid.gov/

Your Spirit - Don't forget to read today's Verse of the Day in the upper righthand corner of this page.