Since 2009
THE PRAYFIT DEVOTION
He Couldn't Move
"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." --1 Peter 5:10
Read: 1 Peter 5
We talk a lot at PrayFit about the countless biblical examples of people who had physical reactions to Jesus, either to be near Him or because they had just been with Him. Shepherds sprinting to see the baby Messiah, John leaping in his mother's womb, or friends lifting their paralyzed friend through the roof so Jesus could heal. We've said it before, but He moves us!
But there was one person who didn't move a muscle.
The thief had just been given Heaven. Every sin of his wasted years had been forgiven, his name had just been written in the lamb's book of life, and soon the angels would be teaching him to sing. And yet, despite this gift of grace and mercy, He didn't run to embrace Him. He didn't leap for joy, lift his hands in praise or kneel in worship. Why? Well, he couldn't move. See, the nails were too deep, the pain was too great. If he could've descended the cross, he probably would've demonstrated physically what his heart had experienced spiritually.
What about you? You may be 18 or 80 and Lord knows this brief life is not about the body, but have you been given Heaven? Then tell your body to react. Walk the block, lift some weights, swim a few laps. And by all means, kneel. Don't wait. Celebrate in this life the free gift of eternal life.
--Jimmy Peña
RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Rise n’ Shine Breakfast Wrap First thing in the morning, you need protein to fight off muscle wasting, carbs to replenish energy stores and some healthy fat to aid digestion. This recipe provides all that and more in a tasty, waistline-friendly dish that'll get your day off to a perfect start.
(Serves: 4)
Ingredients: 4 eggs plus 4 egg whites 3 tablespoons water Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper ½ cup chopped tomato ½ cup chopped poblano pepper 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 4 (6-inch) whole wheat flour tortillas Nonstick cooking spray
Directions: Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Combine eggs, egg whites, and water in a large bowl and whisk well. Spray skillet with nonstick spray and pour in eggs. Season with salt and pepper and gently scramble until eggs begin to set. Add tomato, pepper and cheese and cook until eggs are cooked and cheese is melted. Evenly divide egg mixture into each of the tortillas; roll up and serve immediately.
Nutrition Info Per Serving: Calories: 349 Total Fat: 17 grams Saturated Fat: 6.5 grams Carbohydrates: 25 grams Protein: 21 grams Cholesterol: 242 milligrams Sodium: 521 milligrams Fiber: 2.5 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.
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
CHRISTMAS PRESENCE
"So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger."&mdas; Luke 2:16
"What do you give to someone who has everything?" That's a common question asked year after year by a countless number of people. But what do you give someone who is everything? Well, that original question was uttered only once by a small group of eyewitnesses. Maybe the Shepherds asked each other that very thing as "they hurried off "(v. 16).
Wait, did you notice that? Long before Jesus gave the lame the strength to walk, He had shepherds running. After the angel told them the news, I doubt they hung around the fields, or grabbed a bite to catch up on the latest herder's gossip. No, the news of Jesus had these shepherds high-stepping with hearts pumping. Were they unsure of what to give God? Perhaps. But they were ironclad-certain about doing their best just to get there. Showing up out of love, out of excuses and out of breath. What they lacked in presents, they made up with their presence.
–Jimmy Peña
ACTION! Yesterday, we reminded each other that "go" is still an action verb. Here are six more that will continue to help us build the PrayFit Nation
>> WATCH: To start PrayFit's new at-home DVD, click here. (Click here for the trailer)
>> JOIN: To hop in our now 7,000-strong community on Facebook, click here.
>> READ: To order PrayFit: Your Guide to a Healthy Body and a Stronger Faith in 28 Days, click here.
>> WEAR: To set yourself or a friend up with some cool PrayFit gear, click here.
>> TWEET: To follow us on Twitter, click here.
>> PRAY: To pray with other members of the PrayFit community, click here.
Please also be sure to use our social networking features — Recommend, Tweet, Share and E-Mail — at the top of each page if you see something you like or want to share with others.
HE MOVES YOU
June 15, 2011Read: Mark 2
"Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them." -- Mark 2:3
John the Baptist jumped in his mother's womb when a pregnant Mary walked into the room. Shepherds dropped their tools and sprinted to see the newborn king. And years later, friends of a crippled man lifted him up and through the roof to be healed by Jesus. Then and now, there's just something about Him. He moves people. John jumped, shepherds sprinted, and friends lifted.
However He affects you...move.
--J.P.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Honey Mustard Dressing & Dipping Sauce
Makes: ¾ cup
Ingredients: ¼ cup Dijon mustard ¼ cup honey ¼ cup reduced fat (2%) Greek style yogurt 1/8 tsp kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions: Combine ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine. Transfer to a resealable jar and store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Nutrition Info (per tablespoon): Calories: 30 Total Fat: 0 grams Saturated Fat: 0 grams Total Carbohydrate: 7 grams Protein: 0.5 grams Sodium: 133 milligrams Cholesterol: 0.5 milligrams Fiber: 0 gram
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. You can also visit her blog for more recipes at http://blog.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/.
>> GOT A RECIPE? Finding healthy recipes that taste good can be a daunting or even discouraging task. Do you have a physique-friendly dish that you'd like to share with the community? Drop it in our recipes forum and we may use it as a featured recipe of the week in a future entry.
>> 28 DAYS: What can you do in 28 days? How much can you grow in your faith? How strong can you get? Thousands have found the answers to these questions through "PrayFit: Your Guide to a Healthy Body and a Stronger Faith in 28 Days," now available at our online store.
CHRISTMAS PRESENCE
December 23, 2010Read: Luke 2
"So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger." --Luke 2:16
"What do you give to someone who has everything?" That's a common question asked year after year by a countless number of people. But what do you give someone who is everything? Well, that original question was uttered only once by a small group of eyewitnesses. Maybe the Shepherds asked each other that very thing as "they hurried off "(v. 16).
Wait, did you notice that? Long before Jesus gave the lame the strength to walk, He had shepherds running. After the angel told them the news, I doubt they hung around the fields, or grabbed a bite to catch up on the latest herder's gossip. No, the news of Jesus had these shepherds high-stepping with hearts pumping. Were they unsure of what to give God? Perhaps. But they were ironclad-certain about doing their best just to get there. What they lacked in presents, they made up with their presence. Showing up out of love, out of excuses and out of breath; sounds like what you give someone who is everything.
--J.P.
From the Prayfit family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas. May God bless you and keep you safe. We'll be back online Tuesday, December 28th.
In Jesus' name, we pray and train. Amen.
SHEPHERDS IN SUITS
September 16, 2010Read: Matthew 10
"And even the very hairs on your head are numbered." --Matthew 10:30
Of last year’s highlights and heroes, none made as much of an impact on me as did a small group of soldiers-turned-bodyguards. Once brave on the battlefield for our country, these men now stand in the gap between danger and their client, with no regard for self. On watch and on guard, for the sake of their call.
As it so happens, I was hired to help their client with training and nutrition, so I had a rare, bird's eye view of their excellence. And what I witnessed was nothing short of perfection. Selfless, stealthy. Shepherds in suits. I say shepherds because shepherds are fierce protectors; they can handle themselves, no problem. And yet shepherds are as caring for their sheep as nurses with newborns. And because I stayed close to the client, I shared his shield. I was safe, not because of who I was, but because of who he was. One call from the client, and you got the cavalry.
So I suppose it's no wonder the bible refers to Jesus as the Great Shepherd. He watches over us night and day, and would go through hell to keep us safe. As a matter of fact, He did.
One call to Him? Calvary.
--J.P.
PRAYFIT Q&A: STRAPS
Q: What's the real deal with weight lifting straps? Are they beneficial or are they keeping me from developing maximum strength?
A: To many of you who love to lift weights, the idea of using a pair of pulling straps on back day is the last thing on your mind. But let’s take a practical look at what exactly is going on when you use straps.
Let’s say your best 10 rep max (10RM) on dumbbell rows without straps is 100 pounds, meaning if you just use your hands, you could row a 100-pound dumbbell ten times. Then we twist your arm and you reluctantly use a pair of straps which allows you to pull that same dumbbell 12 times. First off, if you could achieve 1-2 more reps by using a simple pulling strap, imagine how many more reps your back could endure over the course of a year! That’s two extra reps per set, at, say, four sets per exercise, at four exercises per day, at two days a week. The cumulative benefits to be derived from the benefits that straps offer far outweigh the biggest drawback, which is development of grip strength. However, if you're that serious about grip strength, you can simply add a forearms training session at some point during the week.
Try a set of straps on your heaviest pulling days and see how your back responds to the added weight and volume that they allow. You can try any starter set of straps -- we suggest Versa Gripps (www.versagripps.com). (today's fitness tip is a modified excerpt from my work in Musclemag magazine)