Here at The IN SEASON Lifestyle blog, as we move towards the latter part of every year, we often feel like our health articles (which are posted under the topics in our AN APPLE A DAY section) seem to get neglected.
This isn’t intentional or on purpose.
We do try to make up for that in the first few months of the year; when there is more time to concentrate on the subjects of health.
Beginning with each fall season we enter into so many important, busy and festive events. They are all-consuming as they come packed within the days and spaces of several delicious annual seasons.
We actually try our best to slow things down and make extra space; but it is hard to squeeze in every single area of our favorite lifestyle subjects and still keep the pace of the seasons.
Sometimes you just have to focus on the moment. Often that “moment” might lead to unhealthy decisions if you are not focused.
How can we stay on top of this desire to stay healthy and still have the joy of our seasons?
WHEN THE MOMENT IS OVER
Much of the every-day focus on health gets shoved aside in order to indulge in the happenings of the fall and winter seasons that we love. Our complete attention goes toward the many holy days and holidays that come to us during this time of the year. Holy days and holidays usually have very busy schedules that are full of feasting.
Maybe that is why, each year as the time for January rolls around, we like to begin the secular/civil year with a very firm re-focus on health and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. At least we know there is much more room to focus in these months; and hopefully the habits will stick and we can sail right through those other months without making wrong health decisions.
Or what if we reversed that a bit this year and just kept the lack of focus down to a minimum?
We just need a little more balance in our seasonal activities.
Perhaps this is why every winter even God’s natural calendar slows down a bit until spring. It gives us time to focus on the ordinary, every day habits of our lives. Let’s remember to slow down and think those things through this year.
A WEALTH OF INFORMATION TO DIGEST
This subject of health and well-being contains so many different important areas to focus upon. They include exercise, nutritious eating habits, personal care and attention. There are several general ways that we can manage to de-stress, slow down and live in the present moment long enough to reap the best health benefits that life has to offer. Even though we want to choose to try to keep a healthy focus during our life’s favorite moments; we still want the needed joy of those moments without distraction.
Can we stay balanced and maintain our joy?
We have found as each year begins, the earlier you start a program true to your every-day healthy practices; the better the outcome of balance you will be able to maintain during the fall and winter seasons.
This is not just true of physical health. We also refer to mental and spiritual health. God desires that we keep our mind, body and soul tuned in to the best ways to live.
At the beginning of this year we urged you to think over the best eating program/exercise program/prayer life/worship and scripture reading etc.; that would help you to live out God’s Best Ways to Live (the 10 Commandments) over the coming year.
Have you begun to connect your daily life to your plan?
THE BEST WAYS TO LIVE
Health matters so much.
If you do not have your health, it is harder to accomplish many of the other things that bring joy to life.
Health needs to take first priority over many other areas, especially as we go through wrapping up the struggle with COVID-19.
I was one of the lucky ones (ha) who caught the virus, and I can tell you now that I have a whole new appreciation for a healthy lifestyle! COVID hit me hard. It took me about six weeks to recover. I hope to never go there again.
I’m deliberately avoiding all of the politics floating around this issue; and I just want to concentrate on how we can get through all of this and come out healthier and happier people.
Now that we are way past January; how are you guys doing with this?
As we exit the holiday seasons of Fall and Winter for 2021 and move into a new year called 2022; expect more and more talk on this blog of how we can maintain healthy daily habits.
We firmly believe that family gatherings are one of the very best things you can do for mental health.
A good visit from those you love the most can boost your immunity and improve your motivation. It has been proven over and over. We hope you are able to gather as a family this year’s next spring and summer, then fall and winter and enjoy the seasons together again.
Even though this is true; people need to realize (no matter how effective or un-effective masks may be) we must deal with the fact that COVID19 is very contagious. We hope you are still gathering with those that you love; only we also caution those who are sick to stay home and not pass on the problem. I just recently had to turn down a little family gathering that I would have loved to have participated in; because I encountered a visit from the omni strain; and I wasn’t well enough to feel safe in a crowd yet.
A better day is coming; we must not lose hope and we just need to keep persevering. We are SO CLOSE to putting this behind us and moving on to normal life again. Perhaps it is helpful to remember that phone calls, cards and letters are great ways to stay in touch when we can’t do anything else.
Good common sense is to do whatever you can to stop the spread of germs. After doing so; those of us who can, need to be at work, in school and with others who are healthy.
Our desire is to finish 2022 much healthier and happier than we started.
With that ground work established; where should we begin with everything else?
LAYING OUT THE GROUND RULES
Most experts will tell you that the key to good health starts with the use of excellent daily practices and habits. Emphasis is placed on the word “daily.” Those daily habits are the ones that incorporate and encompass the mind, body and spirit. This can make you or break you.
Your choice!
The lifestyle suggestions and habits related in this blog would reflect the lifestyle of one who is a Child of God and a Born-Again Christian. That being the case, we try to be very careful that all we do is pleasing and desirable behavior toward God’s intended purposes for our lives.
WHAT WE CAN ELIMINATE
As mentioned in the past; we instantly rule out the yoga practices which all of the rest of the world seems to gravitate toward.
You may ask why?
They will not work for us. Yoga is part of a system of false religion; whether you think of it that way or not doesn’t matter. God said to have no other gods before Him. The more you move into yoga the more you realize that every pose and position you use in yoga is dedicated to some little false god.
Just don’t do it!
Several articles in a series we previously posted cover the multiple reasons why we have made this decision; you may review them here if you wish: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/mindfulness-meditation-yoga-thoughts/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/mindfulness-and-absolutes-article-two-about-mindfulness-meditation-and-yoga/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/mindfulness-meditation-yoga-part-five-is-it-christian/ , https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/mindfulness-yoga-meditation-and-they-make-you-feel/.
In the end of all of the research on yoga; I still found the words “Christian” and “Yoga” being used in one sentence together to be rather ironic. The author of one book in particular made some excellent statements about worship practices, and they were almost persuasive; but in the end they did not feel spiritually sound. We could not align them with the scriptures without finding so many contradictions in the so called “new” practice.
Nothing about yoga is new. It is a new trend perhaps, but not a new practice.
After more prayer and lots of careful research we decided to stick by our guns and simply not allow “Christian” yoga to be a part of The IN SEASON Lifestyle’s recommended exercises.
Whenever a Christian accepts a theory, it must be 100% truth. We could only find about 80% truth in the practice of Christian yoga, mostly because even though the worship was said to be directed toward God instead of pagan deities, the same pagan worship poses were used, just as in all other forms of yoga. You can call an apple an orange; but it is still an apple.
In the end this seemed to merely be re-labeling something pagan with Christianese.
THERE ARE OTHER GOOD ALTERNATIVES TO GREAT EXERCISE
So we ruled the practice of yoga out of our lifestyles here; but on the flip side; we do definitely see the necessity and the good use of physical exercise in keeping our bodies and minds fit. We will focus and make recommendations in this area.
One instructor that understands how we feel about yoga (and totally agrees with us) has designed many alternative exercise programs with a Christian focus on health for years now. I hope you will look into some of her programs. Her name is Laurette Willis and her company is called Praise Moves. You can find here by clicking here: https://praisemoves.com/blog/power-praisemoves-class/ She has something good for everyone.
We all need to make sure that we are getting enough exercise during times and seasons when our schedules are so stretched.
Try to find a way to incorporate some beneficial exercise into your day; every day. Get creative and think of ways to put sunshine and exercise into your special days as well as your ordinary days.
We have a family tradition on Thanksgiving to go outside and take a walk around the neighborhood. It makes us feel better after such a huge meal. Also, we get to enjoy the beauty of Fall in its peek. Win/win. Things like this can make a huge difference.
GOOD MEDITATIONS
There is a lot of evidence that the same scientific healing aspects of yoga are also available from simply using physical exercise and biblical meditations which are scriptural.
We will stick to those spiritually safer avenues for times we choose to exercise at home or with a group.
Our meditations will not be yoga meditations; but we WILL meditate on the things that we KNOW are centered around and pleasing to God.
This is not only harmless, but beneficial and commanded by God.
EATING FOR GOOD HEALTH
Our eating habits will also be a huge part of this desire to maintain good health.
Again, we will not focus on all the latest trends. Instead we will will search for the best eating plan that fits into a godly person’s life and lifestyle.
There are plenty of good choices to work with.
We hope to eventually find the time for this blogging community to explore some of the best nutritional advice we can find.
When it comes to nutritional health, even little things matter.
For example; I love how one daughter in our family will decide to bring a smaller serving of Keto dressing during a holiday in order to add it to the food stations. That way people who are on a Keto diet will be able to eat without blowing their eating plan for the day.
I also love how our daughter’s have taken to riding bicycles together. It is a great way to start out your day!
MAPPING OUT THE PLAN
So where do we start first?
Maybe a good place to start is to realize why maintaining the physical body as a healthy temple for God’s Holy Spirit to live in would be an excellent daily pursuit.
Who seems to care about such things these days?
We thought we had found ONE place.
One day the author stumbled across some interesting articles that spoke about some Orthodox monks who were living at Mount Athos. Their lifestyle revealed some interesting theories about maintaining health. We were told that in this very small section of Greece, prayers have been offered up continuously for more than one thousand years.
Can you imagine?
Is health all about a certain prayer-life?
Or maybe a special culture?
We will try to answer these questions and more as we go through the rest of this year.
A CULTURE OF EXCEPTIONAL HEALTH AND DISEASE-FREE LIVES
Perhaps it is the fact that these men are said to live in constant prayer that they have reported exceptional health and seem to live such long, disease-free lives.
We will have to ask ourselves how important it is for prayer to be a part of our attempt to achieve physical fitness.
In looking at the prayer patterns of these Greek Monks however; if we should discover that prayer IS what has caused their good fortune and developed their apparent extremely good health; I’m sure the rest of us may soon find that particular avenue to be a bit impossible.
They pray around the clock.
Yes most people pray; but do they ever pray continuously?
I’ve tried “centered prayer” and methods for praying constantly from time-to-time, but I cannot honestly answer “yes” to that question.
It is something to hope for.
Maybe we aren’t as hopeless as we think we are. Prayers might have been offered up on the plot of ground where I live for over a thousand years too (for all I know; though it is very doubtful) but; it is that “continuous” part of the statement that wipes out any hope of my little plot of earth ever being so holy that it aids God in healing people.
A whole lot of the rest of humanity just happens to live within a very short vicinity of my house. Like me; they desire to be holy but can’t say they are that way 24/7.
Oh that all disease in our land WERE rooted out and more Godliness could take their place!
Alas, it just isn’t so.
Humanity will always turn out to be human.
However; Christians have been told through prophetic scriptures and prophets that there will come a day in God’s Kingdom when this actually happens. We have to be realistic and realize that perfect health is probably not attainable in this world, but it never hurts to make the effort. For now I think we can know whether it has health benefits or not; that very few people are able to obtain a perfect prayer life.
I’m also sure that in this place where I live there may have been long lapses of time between the many faithful prayers which we have humbly offered up to God. There goes the “continuous” part of the prayer suggestion. To my current knowledge, no one has prayed continuously here, or any other place close by.
I wish.
Bummer!
DON’T GIVE UP ON GOD’S MERCY AND FORGIVENESS
Yet; as human as we are; we DO know that God is merciful and forgiving. He dwells within us; whether we are consciously and continuously at prayer or not.
Hopefully, we can find some other reasons (due to God’s mercy) that these people we have discovered to be so healthy seem to live such long lives and maintain such healthy physical bodies. Perhaps it will be something we can imitate that doesn’t require perfection.
What facts could exist in their daily lifestyles; besides their constant devotion to Christ, that makes them fare so well?
We have previously followed all of our human tendencies and asked all of the pertinent wondering questions:
MAYBE TEA????
Some people think it is the tea they consume.
Drinking tea is a local custom of the area. Drinking certain types and kinds of teas CAN be a healthy practice because of the herbal and medicinal qualities that certain teas contain.
We will look into that later, because I’m not really sure it is the tea.
MAYBE IT IS WINE??????
Well, wouldn’t that be nice?
Some people think it could be the wine they consume.
They do have their own brands of wine that are produced and grown locally.
Could that be the reason?
Some wines have been known to have healing qualities that come from the Great Healer named God Almighty. We will check out the healing factors found in certain wines at some point on our journey.
But I haven’t yet been convinced that it is the wine.
COULD IT BE A MIX OF THIS AND THAT????
We will simply need to take a look at the whole picture of these devoted men and deduct our own conclusions.
It could be anything.
For one thing; it could be the fresh air from the ocean breezes.
On the other hand, it could be the nutritious way they consume their food.
Yet again; it could be the exercise they get as they go about their daily labor.
It could be a mix of all of the above and/or more.
For starters though, there is one thing that remains constant. We cannot pass that constant devotion to Christ off so easily. This part may actually be the whole sum of the equation.
FIRST FACT TO NOTE AND REMEMBER
It is possible that we already know the miraculous healing factors that automatically come to certain cultures and not others. The first and most important part of maintaining a healthy body is always to maintain a healthy soul.
Whether or not this has been the reason for the unusual culture noted above; this has been proven over and over again by many cultures in the past.
If we constantly practice the presence of God in our days and direct our minds toward Him, we will soon begin to find the first key toward maintaining life from within.
He will show us what we need to know.
Everything starts on the inside and works its way toward the outside.
That is how Jesus lived; straight from the heart, inside outward. The things of His heart radiated out to the world from the rest of his physical body.
FINDING THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE
Life is how our body survives the decay of the sins from the world around us.
Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life.”
Newsflash: We really don’t even need to continue to wonder and/or to follow these isolated men in order to find our way to good health practices.
There is only ONE man whom we really want to imitate and that is Christ alone.
DO NOT PUT YOUR FAITH IN MEN
Not to burst your enthusiasm about all of the above information; I stated it to make a point, but now I must tell you that the further and further I studied these men with the amazing longevity in their genes; the more I found out about the flaws of mankind.
It has been the same on this journey of trying to end COVID 19. I find no correct or exactly proven answers from men; only from God.
Several years ago I made it my goal to study this culture of that little group of Greek men and find out their secrets. Like most people following their own plan; I soon found out I was a total expert at wasting my precious time.
Guess what actually happened? God lead me straight back to the basics. This year I don’t intend to wander away from them.
Whether we are dealing with holiday overload or trying to defeat a strong virus; the basics matter so much.
Like so many “perfect” and “pure” organizations set up on human management; I found many flaws with the information that has been touted about these famously healthy monks. Much of it was connived and/or fake.
Their stories are full of half-truths and many things about their lives have been covered up in the name of the greater good, or I suspect, in the name of keeping certain powers fat, happy and prosperous.
A few years later I seem to be forming the same opinion in relation to the disease of COVID19. Seek God in prayer for how to tackle your daily life. Ask God what to do or what not to do. If you are sick – stay home and treat yourself. If you are healthy – go out and try to hold the pieces of your world together enough to be able to help those who cannot help themselves because they are truly sick. This isn’t rocket science. These are the basic ways to live which we all have learned from following God’s ways for generations.
Quit listening to men; ask God. He knows because he created the substances in the disease, and watched as the people who spread it unlawfully did what they did. God knows the whole story and He will help you – just pray and wait on the answers.
NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY
Have I shocked you in stating this concept?
I know you wanted to know the mysterious secrets of some exotic healthy culture too!
Please forgive me for being so disappointing.
I’ll admit I might have been stringing you along in order to make a point about yet another ground rule that we need to consider.
The health lesson learned here is not to put your faith into any human organization, only keep looking straight into the eyes of Jesus.
HAVE YOU BOUGHT IN?
The whole wide world will lie to you if they know you are part of whatever it is that will make them wealthy and powerful.
They will quickly hawk their pills and oils and special foods. Many others will tout the successes of their vaccines. Even though a few were killed in the tests, or even if aborted babies are the main source for the contents; who cares if they work for you?
Can you hear the selfishness of those words?
There are some wealthy globalist that think our populations need to be controlled. They want to play God to the world. I have news for you; they are NOT gods and they can destroy your health with their careless theories about how you should stay healthy.
Healthcare is definitely not one-size fits all; no matter how much easier it would be if it were. It isn’t!
They will tell you their well-guarded secrets to success and they will advise you to study their special programs. Americans are always following the rising and lowering tidal waves of new and amazing diet plans. These faddish diets are so popular and those who have “bought in” (and I mean that literally) will be the loudest to proclaim the praises of the newest, latest fad diet.
These amazing diet systems always seem to be the “new cure, ” and it isn’t until millions have handed out thousands and thousands of whatever financing it takes to make it work that we usually find they have flaws and they aren’t worth even considering.
As the diet food world goes; so goes the pharmacies that will quickly sell you vaccines and easy-cures. If they can get the government to approve and demand their services in the name of your “good health” they will do it; regardless of how risky it will be to you. All they care about is lining their own pockets and controlling the market.
Yes; I’ll admit that a “quick and easy cure” even if it means sticking a hole in my arm would be worth the pain. I just want to KNOW for sure that the touted product is right and that it works for the good of all. I haven’t seen the proof yet; but I am waiting and watching and hoping.
As soon as the multitudes have flocked to the most popular plans, they will be found to have flaws and those same people will just move on to the next thing that people want to lie about to them. Blind sheep being led to the slaughter; no one can see what is happening to humanity.
You and I don’t need to fall into this trap.
Biblical standards and trust in God will never lead you astray. You have to do the hard work. Willpower, science and determination DO play into this picture on a very large scale. These should be the starting place for seeking our answers. It is the ONLY place we will even begin to find complete, un-corrupted truth.
So; my conclusion for the beginning of this healthier journey through the rest of the winter season would be to say that we must find all of the correct truth in order to find real things that work for good health. Hopefully; it is out there somewhere and hopefully we can discover it.
It is time to go to school the old-fashioned way, that way that requires self-discipline, perseverance, faith, will-power and overcoming. We must base our practices upon proven godly authorities and not stray into the trends of our easily led culture. Am I against vaccines altogether; no I’m not. The polio vaccine was needed and has saved many. It was researched though much longer than the vaccines we are getting today.
LETS GET THE CORE FACTS AND PUT THEM INTO PRACTICE
Also; I’m not just talking about vaccines; but I want to discuss the facts of general over-all health. I’ve found that these numerous and easy-peasy 3-day plans, where you can eat-your-way to weight-loss are nothing but distractions from all of the firm core, basic and proven facts. They are never helpful in the long run. I don’t care how wonderful your salesperson was; or how trim and fit they seemed to be. Some people are just born that way. Others, like you and me have to work at it. It isn’t ever easy.
Also; please don’t get your medical advice from the internet and then try to diagnose yourself. It is a noble well-intended pursuit; but none of us are health experts, including this author! Keep in mind that government officials are not health experts either. Find a REAL medical doctor that has proven his or herself in private practice and seek their help and advice. The best way to know what works in the medical profession is through the applied knowledge gained in treating patients for years and years.
Go first and have a licensed, well-respected medical doctor to give you an annual physical. Let them test your vitals, your heart, lungs and internal organs and make sure you don’t already have too many serious problems to begin a new plan without their help.
When you know where you stand on the healthy scale; then turn to thinking about how you need to eat to get or stay healthy.
After that consider a good daily exercise plan. Stay in motion.
Drink plenty of water.
Keep a journal of your thoughts and progress.
Concentrate on keeping your mind and spirit healthy.
What you listen to, what you watch and the groups of people you participate with will weigh heavy on what you do with your life habits. Find people who lift you up and do not bring you down.
Turn off the news.
Forget trying to keep up with social media.
Live the life that is truly before you and don’t compare your progress with others.
Look at where you were yesterday compared to where you are today. If you are making progress; this is good!
THE FIRST STEP FORWARD
Let’s stick to what we know is tried and true and trustworthy. It will not only help us to achieve our goals faster, but it will teach us information about practices that will endure the waves of time.
God is The Creator and the true source of all life. If our minds stay focused on returning to God (just as the needle of a compass constantly returns to the north;) God will stay the pole-star of our inward being, and we will achieve the first step in maintaining whole health.
This is the main thing and it is the first step.
Don’t let any one or any government official convince you not to worship.
Gather with precautions; but gather and worship.
This is as important to a child of God as eating, sleeping and exercising. It is part of staying healthy. You are one section/part of a whole group of people who make up the one body of The Bride of Christ.
If you are missing; part of the person Christ loves and adores is not complete.
The first rule of health: YOUR BODY CANNOT BE COMPLETELY HEALTHY UNTIL YOUR SOUL IS HEALTHY.
Ok then. Let’s go to the next obvious question:
How do you maintain a healthy soul?
Start out with belief in Jesus Christ as Savior and understand that He is a part of God Almighty. Confess your sins to Him and begin to live your daily life in pursuit of Him. Then ask Him to help you. To your confessions; add other prayer. Prayer is a two-way street – speak; but don’t forget to listen too.
Take one week to set apart 15 minutes a day. It can be anytime during your daily routine. Use whatever works best for your own schedule.
FIND YOUR QUIET PLACE
Take that fifteen minutes of your own personal time during each day and dedicate it to God.
Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. Spend a few minutes praying when you arrive. Ask God to show you the areas in your life that need improvement and to also show you how to go about achieving this.
Be sure to take a notebook and your bible with you. As you pray open your bible and read. Read any scripture passages that God leads you to study. Then sit and think about those scriptures for a moment. Sit in quiet and listen to what God is saying to you. He will give you answers; but only if you can manage to stop long enough to listen.
When you feel very sure that God is speaking to you; write your thoughts down beside the date.
That, my friends, is the very first step to becoming physically fit.
We will talk about more steps later.
A HOUSE MUST HAVE A FIRM FOUNDATION
Nothing good happens instantly. Be aware that this is a journey and just make the decision to stay with this journey all the way till the end.
I will be praying for all of you and know that I will also be participating along with you.
This will lay the foundation for all of us staying healthy through the days of 2022.
All we need to do is start right where we are.
Don’t deny yourself all of those holiday treats; start out by cutting what you would normally consume in half. You can keep reducing them from there. Treat yourself every now and then so that you don’t fail so bad that you binge and then regret it.
Keep nurturing your soul. By nurturing your soul you will be well on the way to nurturing your physical body.
May God bless your efforts and multiply them back to you in a million healthy blessings during the days to come.
Let’s all be praying for the healing of our nation. Maybe we can go into the new year with a better hope of a healthy future.