Since 2009
THE PRAYFIT DEVOTION
BORN IN US
"When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy."— Matthew 2:10
If you missed "Christmas Presence" last week, we talked about the shepherds and their efforts to see the newborn King. We agreed that their best was all they had to offer Him; our pacesetters if you will, and they made it. Can't you just see their cold breath and chests rising as they arrive? But today, let's focus on the one who didn't run. Though she trembled, Mary waited for the promise.
As I write this, a song by Francesca Battistelli called Born In Me is ringing in my ears. The chorus:
I'll hold you in the beginning, you will hold me in the end. Every moment in the middle, make my heart your Bethlehem, be born in me.
Isn't that what we want? For our hearts to be His Bethlehem? Born in us? When you and I walk into work or school, when we make dinner for the kids or visit a neighbor, we hold Him. We're His home on earth. Mary offered to God what she was denied at the inn; a vacancy. The shepherds offered to God the only thing they could; an audience.
As Christmas nears, let the ones who ran to Him, and the one who didn't run from Him, give us courage to do both.
–Jimmy Peña
PRAYFIT IN THE NEWS
>> PRAYFIT ON ITUNES: Yes, you can find PrayFit's 33-Day Total Body Challenge DVD on Amazon but did you know that you can also download it on iTunes? Now, you can sweat with PrayFit founder Jimmy Pena anywhere you can take your iPad.
>> CHRISTIAN POST: Jimmy Pena Talks 'PrayFit,' Healthy Holiday Tips
>> CROSSROAD MAG: PrayFit Stepping into Living Rooms This Winter
ARE THEY HERE YET?
"They went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was."— Matthew 2:9
This week, like many of you, we'll finally arrive at the home of family and friends to celebrate Christmas. Do you have "going home" traditions? We do too. One tradition my parents actually started during my college years was hanging a "Welcome Home, Jimmy!" sign at the house. When I got married, they added "& Loretta", and we've seen that banner for 16 years now. And no matter how quick our trip might be, that sign is waiting. It's seen its share of attics, but it brings Mom and Dad a lot of joy to pull that out of storage. That sign symbolizes Christmas, and that their children are almost home.
Beyond a doubt right now, celebration plans are almost ready in homes such as yours and of those you love. All the decorations have been hung, everyone's favorite dishes are being prepared and front room curtains are being impatiently pulled back to see if "they're here yet."
You know, I've often wondered if the star in the east was as much God's way to honor His son, as it was our way to find Him. Even though Jesus' time on earth was short, God knew how He'd be rejected, and of the cross that awaited him. So perhaps it was God's way to say, "I love you, Son" and in doing so said to us, "Here He is".
He loves us that much. And if we look forward to seeing loved ones, how much more does He? Because you see, someday God will send for us. And I like to think that after spreading the table for the great celebration and hanging the welcome-home banner across the door, the angels will pull back the curtain, peeking to see...are they here yet?
--J.P.
PRAYFIT RECIPE OF THE WEEK: ROAD TRIP SNACK: TURKEY & CHEDDAR PANINI
There's something about the crunch of a perfectly toasted panini that's hard to resist. But oftentimes, it ends up on the "do not eat" list for those of us trying to lean up or lose a few pounds. This recipe, however, is a healthier, protein-packed alternative that will serve you well, whether you're looking to build muscle, get lean or just recover from a tough workout.
Turkey & Cheddar Panini
2 slices Ezekiel Bread 2 tsp Dijon mustard 4 oz deli turkey 2 slices tomato ¼ cup baby spinach leaves 1 slice low fat cheddar cheese 1 tsp canola oil
>> Spread each slice of bread with mustard and assemble panini by layering turkey, tomato, spinach and cheese between slices of bread. Heat canola oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add panini and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, pressing down gently with a spatula. Cook until bread is toasted and cheese is melted.
Calories: 390 | Protein: 30 grams | Carbohydrates: 38 grams | Fat: 12 grams
BETHLEHEM ECLIPSED
"Where is the one born King of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."— Matthew 2:2
Saturday night's lunar eclipse was as rare as it was spectacular. But if you're like me, you missed it. Chances are, we were all asleep, exhausted from work, school and some early Christmas shopping. It may have been a celestial phenomenon, but who has time for star gazing anyway?
It was 2000 years ago that God placed the star in the east to announce the birth of Jesus. But much like this weekend's early morning miracle, most everyone missed it. The calendar on Bethlehem's Blackberry was booked -- too busy, too stressed, too in control. Things had to get done and nobody else could do them. And yet, Jesus came to earth. Despite a limited live audience, life's main character was born.
Simply put, a lunar eclipse occurs when our world gets in the way of the sun.
Lord, may we never again let the same happen to us.
–Jimmy Peña
WORKOUT OF THE WEEK: Leg Day
The mark of a true gym warrior is the telltale hobble in the days that follow leg day. You see, as your calendar begins to crowd over the course of the week, the first thing to suffer is usually your workout schedule. And the first bodypart routine to get bumped is usually legs, due to the energy, focus and determination required to thoroughly and properly exhaust these large muscles.
Legs, however, offer you the best chance of the week to make a positive and drastic effect on your overall body composition. Because of the amount of muscle mass worked in a single, well-scripted leg routine -- like the one offered here -- you enjoy a greater caloric burn and hormonal response in the days that follow that workout. So do yourself a favor -- don't skip leg day. Ever. The long term benefits are too great to sacrifice for the sake of a few days of discomfort.
Perform these exercises in the order listed, allowing 90-120 seconds of rest between sets and exercises.
Leg Extension: 3 sets of 8-10 reps The leg extension is a single-joint move that targets the front of your legs without the assistance of other muscle groups.
Leg Curl: 3 sets of 8-10 reps The leg curl is an isolation move that zeros in on your hamstrings without any help from other muscles.
Leg Press: 4 sets of 12-15 reps The leg press is compound, multi-joint exercise that hits the quads, hams and glutes. Research shows that it is the best exercise to target the inner, tear drop muscle of the quad (vastus medialis). Despite what many trainers will tell you, no matter your foot placement, the leg press is not the best exercise for the glutes because you don't have full hip extension.
Smith Machine Lunge: 4 sets of 12 reps The lunge is a multi-joint move that works all major muscles of the leg while providing the added benefit of safety. And since the weight is locked in a predetermined range of motion, you don't have to worry about balance -- you can focus your efforts on simply pushing the weight.
Jump Squat: 4 sets to failure Capping off the workout is the jump squat. A plyometric move where you don't decelerate your momentum, but rather allow your feet to leave the ground on each rep. Plyometrics are an excellent "finisher" for this kind of workout as the jump squat will exhaust every last bit of fast-twitch fiber your legs have to offer.
FAST-TWITCH describes the muscle fibers most responsible for fast, powerful and explosive movements such as jumping or lifting weights. These fibers are also the ones most responsible for muscle tone.
BETHLEHEM ECLIPSED
December 21, 2010Read: Matthew 2
"...where is the one born King of the Jews. We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." --Matthew 2:2
It's been 372 years since the last lunar eclipse occurred on a solstice, so last night's celestial phenomenon was as rare as it was spectacular. But if you're like me, you missed it. Chances are we were all asleep, exhausted from work, school and Christmas shopping. Who has time for star gazing anyway?
It was 2000 years ago this week that God placed the star in the east to announce the birth of Jesus. But much like last night's midnight miracle, most everyone missed it. The calendar on Bethlehem's Blackberry was booked -- too busy, too stressed, too in control. Things had to get done and nobody else could do them. And yet, Jesus came to earth. Despite a limited live audience, life's main character was born.
Simply put, a lunar eclipse occurs when our world gets in the way of the sun. Lord, may we never let the same happen to us.
--J.P.
FIRST LADY: ADVOCATE FOR HEALTHY KIDS
Regardless of what side of the aisle you are on politically, there's reason to cheer one of the latest bills signed into law by President Obama. With his wife at his side on December 13, 2010, the president put his John Hancock to the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, which reauthorizes the federal nutrition program, a $4.5-billion measure that expands free school meals for the needy. The biggest difference is that it sets nutritional standards for all food in schools, including what appears in vending machines, and is designed to fight the growing epidemic of child obesity.
Opponents of the bill claim that it is another example of America becoming a Nanny State, wherein citizens need their lifestyle choices made for them. But advocates of the legislation believe that simply making better choices available to our kids where they spend a great deal of their time each day is a good first step that can help stem the tide of a growing problem.
Urging people to depoliticize the issue, the First Lady said: "“We can agree that in the wealthiest nation on earth, all children should have the basic nutrition they need to learn and grow," she said. “Nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our children. Nothing."
>> For the full story from the L.A. Times, click here.