Magical Moments to Refocus and Get Grounded Again. And Again.

There is something magical about quiet moments in a Florida air-conditioned Starbucks. A hot, dark cup of Pike (you Starbucks people know exactly what I'm talking about), and a divine moment with God. You know, God, the Maker of the Universe. The Creator of all, Heavenly Father, Alpha and Omega, and Perfect Friend. 

Magic in the making.

Before you critique me for mentioning "magic" and God in the same paragraph, quietly reach down and pick that wad of underwear out from your butt crack. I have run into so many people claiming Christianity who are so quick to critique people because they don't care to try to understand another human being on the face of the planet and forget the true mission of Jesus: Love God and love people (Matthew 22:37-39). In no way am I insinuating that God does medicine-man-witchcraft-magic. To some of us who love unicorns and all things that sparkle, the term magic has nothing to do with sorcery or even Harry Potter himself. 

Alright, moving on. 
Back to the magic of the above stated equation.

Starbucks' air conditioning + black coffee + quiet moments with God = magic 

It is in these moments when I am brought back to earth. When my ungodly unattainable expectations for myself are brought back into reality. When I begin to see how far off I have been. When I return my focus to I AM. 

But Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to Bnei-Yisrael and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His Name?’ What should I say to them?”

God answered Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” Then He said, “You are to say toBnei-Yisrael, ‘I AM’ has sent me to you.” 

God also said to Moses: “You are to say to Bnei-Yisrael, Adonai, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My Name forever, and the Name by which I should be remembered from generation to generation.

Exodus 3:13-15

Jesus even declared he is, "I AM." 

John 8

I AM WHO I AM. 

Seems so simple. And complex. Simultaneously. That's the trinity for you! Everything and all things and intricate and beautifully simplistic all jumbled up together at one time with perfect organization. And sprinkles on top. 

As I graciously bask in my magical moment with God at Starbucks in the air conditioning, sipping my coffee, I am absolutely bewildered that I would even consider taking my gaze off something so magnificent, so amazing, so...(ahhhhhh there are no words to describe him)! But I totes do. All the time. 

Insert positive self talk: Give yourself grace, Kelsey. You won't get it right all the time.

End positive self talk.

I'm practicing positive self-talk, so better utilize every opportunity, right?! 

The reality is, there is an enemy who wants to distract us from being so crazy in love with Jesus that we worship whatever else. Satan wants to have God's spot (Isaiah 14:13-14). I see those distractions in my life. It comes mostly in perfectionism and people-pleasing. 

Having been an avid athlete and finding my happy place in CrossFit nearly three years ago, I have definitely prioritized weight-lifting, diet, my physique, WODs, workout clothes, and more before God. As if "perfecting" my lifts or looking "perfect" will fulfill everything in my life. I love CrossFit. I love fitness. I really do. But, I have to assess if my actions show that I love God more or the gym more. Ouch. Sometimes I wonder when enough will be enough. If it's not residual issues from the eating disorder that used to control my every thought and action, it's the distortion of something good. I make fitness my idol. 

But, then, I'll experience a magical moment with God (not always at Starbucks) and reality will come crashing down again. Realizing I have placed myself on the throne and lost focus of my Creator. Again. 

But, even there, I could get discouraged that I have failed yet again. But, no, not this time satan. You lousy dude. 

See how this can spiral out of control? 

Where do lies and distractions get you down? How are you falling into the trap of idolizing anything other than the Creator God, Adonai himself?

The things that matter most.

May I encourage you to be aware. Sit still. At Starbucks, or not. Drink coffee, or not. Be where you need to be to hear the silence. Seek God's voice. This will entail turning your phone off and logging out of Facebook. Schedule this magical time if you have to. It's more than worth it. 

As I begin to end this blog post, I am inspired and motivated to reprioritize life. God. Family. Friends. Loving people. Doing good. Less obsessing about the worries of the world. Less counting macronutrients in pursuit of a perfect physique. More enjoying life. More of what God has intended. Freedom and peace. 

Live fully, love wholly, rejoice daily, 

Kels

xoxo

Food Addiction: How Understanding the Biochemisty of Food Can Help You Gain Freedom from Food

Addiction. 
Just the word sounds daunting. Robbing freedom and stealing joy. Addiction does not only affect the individual struggling, but those close to that person, as well.

I don't know when my food addiction "started." Addiction does not happen overnight. But, throughout my 28 years of life, I have been pulled toward food as if subliminal messages told me food would cure my loneliness, unhappiness, stress, etc. My struggle with bulimia was intertwined with food addiction.

Many factors contribute to the development of a food addiction. Some may have a genetic marker associated with food addiction. Others have self-medicated with food and are now chemically dependent. Addiction can have familial and cultural roots.Some of us have poor coping skills and grabbed whatever was easy and accessible: food. Whatever the causation, you can overcome.

Did you know that the pleasure centers triggered by cocaine and heroine can also be triggered by food (Food Addiction, WebMD)? The combination of sugar, fat, and salt release our "feel good hormones" (i.e. dopamine and serotonin). For some, a chemical dependency is formed. We physiologically feel good when we eat sugar, fat, and salt. Neural pathways are created, telling ourselves we need food to be happy. Consequently, when we feel sad, depressed, anxious, or angry, we reach for food.

Food addiction is not entirely a matter of self-control. Your body is craving food with such an intensity that 'just not eating' is not an option. You are not without hope though! Understanding what is happening in your body is invaluable. Getting educated on the physiologic effects of food will help you beat the pulls of food addiction.

4 Tips to Overcoming Food Addiction

• List all the foods you can think of, and research other foods, that contain sugar, fat, and salt. I'll give you one: pizza. The crust is carbohydrates (or sugars), the toppings are generally fats and contain salt. The more you know about the biochemistry of foods, the more equipped you will be to avoid your trigger foods. Also, list foods you know you go to when you are experiencing negative emotions.
• Be mindful daily of avoiding foods composed of sugar, fat, and salt. You need to eliminate the trigger foods while you explore why you turn to food when you experience emotions. It is agreed upon that an alcoholic should avoid alcohol and hanging out in bars and taverns. Your addiction is real. You will need to avoid your trigger foods to start your journey of healing.
• Schedule some counseling sessions. Just like any other addict, there are issues beneath the issue. Face it head-on. It is challenging, but you will gain freedom from food that is long-term and life-giving. The bravest thing you can do is admit you can't walk this journey alone and seek the necessary help to overcome your addiction. Your counselor can give you positive coping tools, as well.
• Give yourself grace. If you are a binge eater, you may slip up and binge again. If you struggle with bulimia, you may binge and purge again. If you restrict your eating, slowly reintegrate healthy amounts of food back into your diet. You will not be completely okay starting tomorrow. This is a process and a journey. You are not a weak-willed person. Invite someone close to you to support you while you overcome your addiction. You are not an addict, you have a food addiction. You are brave and courageous to take the first step toward freedom and healing. 

May these tips help you overcome addiction. May you experience true freedom. If you found this article helpful, please share with those who may need help with their food issues and follow my blog. Comments are always welcome! Please do so below!

Live wholly, love fully, rejoice daily.
Kels
xoxo

Youth Sexualization and the Media

As 8-year-old Britney, a California beauty pageant competitor, awaits her Botox injection, her mind is fixated on eliminating wrinkles. Last week, on Good Morning America, Britney admitted that she thinks wrinkles are not nice on little girls, (ABCNews.com). Britney’s mother, Kerry, administers the Botox injections in the pursuit of triumph over the other done-up little ones. The goal? Bring home the crown.

Jayne Bennington, a British fame-seeking mother, ensures her 11 year-old daughter, Sasha, is beautified with fake tanning, hair extensions and pedicures. She laughed when Sasha told interviewers her opinion of herself, “Blonde, pretty, dumb – I don’t need brains,” (Mail Online).

The sexualization of young girls is prevalent in the media culture. The American Psychological Association (APA) uncovered sexualization of women in nearly every media form studied including video games, sports media and music lyrics. The negative consequences affect girls’ mental and cognitive wellbeing, emotional and physical health, attitudes and beliefs, and sexuality, APA.



Girls are wearing more provocative clothing, developing eating disorders and engaging in acts of self-harm, and having sex at younger ages. When will enough be enough? Are performance-driven, beauty pageant parents truly seeking their daughter’s best interest? At what cost are we willing to subject our children in order to satisfy our personal feelings of inadequacy? Is subjecting young girls to dangerously destructive media messages worth the profit gained from promotion and sales?

We were made with a purpose. We were intentionally created. Gensis 1:27 declares, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” We were not made to be sexually objectified and discontent with our bodies. In fact, God granted us freedom to live under grace (Romans 6:14). We are encouraged to live boldly because we are His chosen children (Ephesians 1:4-7).

When our focus is on anxiously meeting the standards of our society, we neglect to experience the freedom in which Christ provided (Romans 6:23). We can become obsessive over straining to attain acceptance from a world that demands unachievable perfection. When we pursue the heavenly realms we exude an unmistakable, holy confidence. We walk in grace, knowing God’s purpose for our lives will be fulfilled (Psalm 138:8).

How do we protect innocent little ones from the sex-crazed, confidence-crushing, devaluing media messages? Instill a renowned self-respect and boost self-esteem with nonperformance and nonappearance related compliments. Give her the tools she needs to speak her mind. Encourage her to excel in math and the sciences. The APA recommends co-viewing media with young girls, in the hopes of helping shape their interpretations of the delivered messages.



We are called for more. How will you change the growing trend?



Sources:

American Psychological Association (APA), Sexualization of Girls
http://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/girls/report.aspx

ABCNews.com
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/mom-year-daughter-botox-young-young/story?id=13580804

Mail Online, Mummy's little Lolita: The 11-year-old girl whose beauty treatments cost £300 a month to make her look like Barbie
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1032029/Mummys-little-Lolita-The-11-year-old-girl-beauty-treatments-cost-300-month-make-look-like-Barbie.html

Interesting Info:

Cover Girl Culture: Awakening the Media Generation
http://www.covergirlculture.com/

Glorifying God with Your Body

Throughout my personal struggle with body image and loving myself for who God created me to be rather than what God created me to look like, I have read countless books, articles, and heard several speakers use 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 in reference to the way we must approach our physical body in the context of bringing glory to God. This verse is often quoted within the realms of eating disorders, body image distortion, exercise addictions, over and underweight, inner peace, confidence, and self-love.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV).

Another popular passage is 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, “Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.” (ESV)

In The Message this same scripture states, “You realize, don't you, that you are the temple of God, and God himself is present in you? No one will get by with vandalizing God's temple, you can be sure of that. God's temple is sacred—and you, remember, are the temple.”

As these verses are inspiring and encouraging (they ARE the WORD of GOD), we cannot use these commands conversely to support over-exercising, obsession with calorie counting, and worshiping the body above the Lord.

Let me take a quick detour as to explain myself more fully. The Word clearly states that one must be right with others before giving to the Lord. He is not interested in money from His people if we have relationships to mend. At church on Sunday, our pastor reminded us that we must not use broken relationships or strife as an excuse to withhold giving. That is twisting the Word to suit our selfishness. Example: Someone somewhere is mad at me, so I cannot give today.

Manipulating the meaning and using false application of the Word is wrong. Yes, your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. But, girl, you cannot stretch scripture to excuse your actions when you invest 90 plus minutes sweating on the elliptical and only a fraction of that time digging into the Word. The Bible is God’s Word. He communicates to us through it, revealing His truths and teaching us of His goodness, faithfulness, and almighty power.

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (NIV)

We must find a balance between caring for our bodies (“temples”) and becoming overly consumed with weight loss or maintenance. Consider analyzing how you spend those precious minutes of the day. Do you exercise longer than you study the Word? Are you flexible with your schedule in a way that would allow you to simply cancel plans and go where God wants you to be in the very moment He calls? Are you glorified by your fit physique or do you glorify God with your body? Obsession over exercise and weight loss is far more than a health issue; it is a heart issue. While exercising your body is of value, exercising your soul is eternal.

Love wholly, live fully, rejoice daily.