Since 2009

THE PRAYFIT DEVOTION

jimmy pena 9/16/13 jimmy pena 9/16/13

The Palm and the Cedar

"The righteous will flourish like the palm tree, they will grow like a cedar in Lebanon." --Psalm 92:12

Read: Psalm 92

Many of you know by now that Loretta and I walk each night. Not so much for the exercise -- it's simply a time to share the day. So I'd say it's more like a three-mile mosey. Anyway, a few weeks ago, I noticed a crew caring intently for a tree on our street. A few days went by and there they were, still climbing and manicuring. I admit, I was so impressed with the finished product, I snapped this pic, hoping to share it with you at some point. I think today is a perfect day for it.

In Psalm 92, the Bible says, "The righteous will flourish like the palm tree, they will grow like a cedar in Lebanon." Of all the trees the psalmist could have used to describe the righteous, he chose these two. First, the palm tree can tower as high as 70-90 feet, and its root system is so incredibly strong, it can withstand storms without equal. And what's more? It produces a lot of fruit. And as for the cedar, this symbol of strength has a trunk that's more than eight feet wide. And what's more? It's impervious to not only weather, but also termites; tough to get to this one from within or without.

Sounds about right, doesn't it? The palm and cedar. God wants us to be deeply rooted, nourished by His word so we can withstand the storms of life. And He wants us to grow, to flourish, and to be fruitful all the while.

I'm so glad I watched that crew go to work. They can't take credit for its deep root system. They didn't design and fashion the fruit. And they certainly aren't responsible for its strength during storms. But the fact that they took the time to care for it, we're reading about the One who is.

--Jimmy Peña

Question: How can we be more like the palm tree or cedar? In what ways can our health help us stay fruitful? And how - like the crew - can our humble care for our health point others to the God we serve?

RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Mango Lime Chicken Salad

Pretty much every word in the title of this recipe by PrayFit contributor Kimberly Fuller says "health." But remember -- "health" doesn't have to mean "bland." This full-flavored lunch-or-dinner dish packs a punch heavy on vitamins and muscle-building protein.

>> Click here for the recipe!

jimmy pena 6/18/12 jimmy pena 6/18/12

Pick A Food Fight

"And everyone who is striving, has self-control in all things." --1 Corinthians 9:25

Read: 1 Corinthians 9

At PrayFit, we place a great deal of emphasis on healthy eating habits in order that you might live more abundant lives. Of course, we believe that this life is vapor-quick and that no matter how many good foods we eat or bad foods we avoid, our days are numbered. Let's face it, food can't save us.

And many say, "Since life is so quick, why not eat up?" We say "Since life is so brief, why not stay the course?" Think about it: Where does God live? He lives inside of us. Our bodies are His dwelling place. How much respect are we showing if we have a willful disregard for what certain foods -- not to mention what certain amounts of foods -- can do to our bodies? Again, this won't translate into long-lasting change unless you see healthy eating as an act of obedience.

Now, we're not saying we can't enjoy food -- even the cheat kind -- but too many of our friends and siblings, parents and kids are struggling in a battle against food-related illness...A battle we were never meant to fight, and one we're sure to lose unless we:

--push away from the table sooner --shop smarter --teach our kids portion control --put up a fight

Besides, God didn't design us to be at the mercy of food. Let's bless His heart by taking care of ours.

--Jimmy Peña

DANA'S HEALTH FOOD QUIZ

PrayFit nutritional consultant Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, is the best in the business when it comes to helping people develop healthy eating habits. A stickler for education, Dana came up with this simple quiz to gauge just how much you know about the difference between processed foods and fresh foods.

1. Which typically contains the most additives and preservatives?

A. Frozen dinners B. Sugary cereals C. Canned tuna

2. Which is lowest in sodium?

A. Frozen pizza B. Frozen vegetables C. Canned soup

3. Which preservative is typically used to add color to hot dogs and lunch meats?

A. Xanthan Gum B. Sodium Nitrite C. Citric Acid

4. On food packaging, "natural" means...

A. Nothing B. The ingredients meet federal requirements C. The ingredients come from nature

RESULTS

Add up your score based on the following points system: 1. A: 5 points; B: 3 points; C: 1 point 2: A: 3 points; B: 5 points; C: 1 point 3: A: 1 point; B: 5 points: C: 3 points 4: A: 5 points; B: 3 points; C: 1 point

Your Score:

15-20 Points: All About Fresh You know better than to mess with frozen pizzas and breakfast sandwiches and instead opt for mostly fresh ingredients and the healthiest of processed foods like frozen veggies, canned tomatoes, dried fruit and whole grain crackers.

10-14 Points: On the Fresh Track While you may not always be making it to farmers’ market or produce aisle, your diet has a healthy balance of fresh and packaged foods.

4-9 Points: Packing in the Preservatives A quick lesson in fresh foods 101 would do you some good. Pay closer attention to those labels and tally up the sodium count, are you getting way more than you need?

Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition.

jimmy pena 1/18/11 jimmy pena 1/18/11

IN A FOOD FIGHT

January 19, 2011Read: 1 Corinthians 9 "And everyone who is striving, has self-control in all things." --1 Corinthians 9:25

At PrayFit, we place a great deal of emphasis on healthy eating habits in order that you might live more abundant lives. Now of course, we believe that this life is vapor-quick and that no matter how many good foods we eat or bad foods we avoid, our days are numbered. Let's face it, food can't save us.

And many say, "Since life is so quick, why not eat up?" We say "Since life is so brief, why not stay the course?" Think about it: Where does God live? He lives inside of us. Our bodies are his dwelling place, right? How much respect are we showing if we have a willful disregard for what certain foods, not to mention what certain amounts of foods, can do to our bodies? Again, this won't translate into long-lasting change unless you see healthy eating as an act of obedience.