Since 2009
THE PRAYFIT DEVOTION
Chase What Matters
"Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. And all these things shall be given to you." --Matthew 6:33
Read: Matthew 6
Ironic that a credit card company would give such great advice: encouraging us to seek out only what we need. But credit is all about trust, isn't it? Because of our history, we're allowed only so much, and we're trusted to pay it back.
When God looks at our lives, He doesn't see us, He sees the blood of Jesus. His bloodline of credit extends to you and it extends to me. My mom will tell you it reminds her of the song, "He Paid a Debt."
He paid a debt, He did not owe. I owed a debt, I could not pay. I needed someone to wash my sins away.
And because of that, we do get to chase a life that matters...and the credit is His.
--Jimmy Peña
Question(s): How does your health help you chase the life the matters? What would you do if you lost your health? Would it be different than what you're doing with it now?
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.
WHEN HE KNOCKED
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."— Revelation 3:20
It was a typical day when Jesus knocked on my heart's door. I wasn't expecting company, so when He knocked, I hesitated. Looking through the peep hole, I wasn't exactly sure what to do, so I paused. Again, He knocked gently. As I slowly opened the door to invite Him in, I admit, I was a bit embarrassed at what He walked into. I had plenty of grudges lying around, and the smell of fear lingered heavy in the air. Quickly trying to clean the place up, I asked if I could get Him anything, but He just made his way through the halls. (He seemed to know His away around.)
He first walked by my room of regrets. "Ugh, why didn't I keep that door closed?", I grumbled. Then my shoulders drooped when He saw all of the corners where I stood in compromise. "I'm sure He'll want to leave now", I resigned.
But the next thing I knew, we were in the backyard. I seldom went out there. He led me to the garden of Grace that He himself had planted. He said this garden will never die, and that I should spend time there each day. I nodded.
Then to my surprise, when we walked back inside, everything was made new. What was once a den full of doubts had become a living room of faith. It even had a new room; a Master bedroom. He said if I'd let Him, that's where He'd stay.
I'm so glad I let Him in that day. He's the resident king in the castle of my heart. I don't always act like I know that, but He shows me the garden everyday. And I nod.
--Jimmy Peña
>> IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Today marked the official, global release date of PrayFit's 33-Day Total Body Challenge DVD byLionsgate. View the trailer by clicking here, or order yours immediately by visiting Amazon. Share the news with your pastors, small groups, friends and relatives!
RECIPE OF THE WEEK: SAUTEED KALE Go green with this health-filled, spicy spin on kale
Serves: 4
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 2 bunches kale, trimmed and chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions:
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add kale, season with salt and pepper and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add garlic; reduce heat to medium and cook, turning frequently for an additional 5 minutes. Add vinegar and continue to cook until kale is just tender, about 5 minutes more.
Nutrition information per serving: Calories: 103 Total Fat: 3 grams Saturated Fat: 0 grams Carbohydrate: 15 grams Protein: 5 grams Cholesterol: 0 milligrams Sodium: 125 milligrams Fiber: 3 grams
Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC is a registered dietitian and is currently a nutrition expert for the Food Network, and has worked as a media spokesperson for Cooking Light Magazine. She has appeared on Good Day Street Talk, Food Network.com, Access Hollywood and GMA Health. Visit her at Dana White Nutrition.
>> For a printer-friendly version of this recipe, click here.
HIDE AND SEEK
September 28, 2010Read: Psalm 32
“You are my hiding place. You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” – Psalm 32: 7
I'm no Jack Hanna, but did you know that the rhinoceros beetle is the strongest creature on the planet? He’s the Popeye of the animal world. Elephants? Weaklings. Hippos? Don’t even belong in the same sentence. Oh sure, the elephant can put up to 25% of it’s weight on its back, and the Hippo’s bite provides around 1400 pounds of pressure per square inch, but compared to a beetle? That’s like fighting a lion with a toothpick, especially when you consider that this beetle can carry 850 times his own weight. To put that into perspective, if you were that strong, you’d be able to lift 65 tons over your head.
But what’s interesting to me is not how strong he is compared to the other creatures, but it’s how he got so strong that catches my attention. Scientists say he’s so strong because every day he digs his way to a hiding place to escape danger. He literally moves earth to get to safety. Simply put, he gets strong when he hides.
You know, as believers we gain strength when we go to our hiding place; when we find a quiet place to talk to the Lord and read His word. When we don’t — when we get “too busy” – we’re weakened, out in the open, vulnerable, and subject to predators we were never meant to face. But friends, when life is a jungle, He’s our hiding place and source of strength all in one, and we can go there anytime we want. After all, He moved heaven (and earth) to make sure we could.
–J.P.
THE OBESITY GENDER GAP Does it cost women more than men to be obese?
Obesity is taking its toll on America. A new study conducted by OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), a group of 33 countries ""committed to democracy and the market economy," showed that the U.S. has the highest percentage of overweight and obese individuals in the democratic, market-economy world. Not exactly a great distinction for us as Americans.
But within our own waist-widened society, it may be women that are hardest hit. Another study, performed by researchers at George Washington University, shows that a woman ends up paying nearly double her male counterparts. While a man racks up $2,646 annually in extra expenses if he is obese, a woman’s obesity costs her $4,879, almost twice as much. For the full story, click here.