Joy for your Body: Movement

“ Meanwhile, Jesus would slip away to deserted places and pray.” -Luke 5:16 It’s not always what you do but how you do it.  As someone who struggles with how to actually implement self-care this idea has helped me understand in a new way.  For me, exercise has been a concrete example to practice self-care. 

Kind Reminder for your Body: Self-Care

I am worth the space it takes to heal In his book, Ladder to the Light, Steven Charleston writes, “Spirituality is not a spa, but a construction site…”. The work of truly caring for ourselves is a messy, imperfect process. It takes time and investment. While self-comfort and pleasurable activities are part of the equation,

Joy for your Body: Acceptance (Matthew 6:25)

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”  -Matthew 6:25 Throughout our lives, our bodies change; that’s the design! While some changes are hard

Comfort for your Body: Aging (Matthew 6:25)

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”  -Matthew 6:25 As I age it seems life’s complications and difficulties increase exponentially.  Things aren’t getting

Kind Reminder for your Body: Aging

It’s a privilege to grow old. This week’s mantra reminds us that while getting older and accepting our limitations is a challenge, it is also a privilege.  Not everyone grows old.  If you are feeling young, not old, hooray.  This mantra can be an invitation to show gracious kindness to those who do feel the

Comfort for your Body: Chronic Pain (John 1:14)

“And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 After the birth of my oldest son, in my early 30’s, I was diagnosed with hypothyroid disease.  My fatigue had gotten quite overwhelming, but I

Kind Reminder for your Body: Chronic Pain

Life will always be imperfect but I have the gift of now. Some ailments have no end. The practice of radical acceptance can be most unwelcome, particularly when suggested by those who are not plagued by a chronic illness. And yet, embracing the reality of our circumstances is what allows us to transform our perspective,

Comfort for your Body: Listening to your body (Psalm 56:8)

“You have kept count of my tossings;put my tears in your bottle.Are they not in your record?” -Psalm 56:8 Our bodies have often been seen as something separate from our true selves or our spiritual being.  But, in fact, we are created with bodies by God.  And our bodies, instead of being separate from, often

Comfort for your Body: If/Then (2 Corinthians 4:7-8)

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair . . .”  2 Corinthians 4:7-8 Recently on my son’s 18th birthday I unconsciously backed out of a

Kind Reminder for your Body: Listening to your Body

I am grateful for all my body does for me In this series, we will be providing a weekly bonus post that features a focus statement. These simple phrases are a reminder and blessing, an affirmation that can be used as a breath prayer throughout the day or as a word of encouragement that you