The entire thing is He loved me first. And even wh The entire thing is He loved me first. And even when our surroundings are burning or when all we see is rubble, there is an unseen Kingdom to serve, a Family to be part of, and a powerful Love to give and receive. 

Every week it seems I’m inspired by a comment a friend and pastor made years ago — “Don’t be afraid to talk to someone about the truth of Jesus. Think of it as joining a conversation God might already be having with that person.” 

May we be conduits of that strong, courageous, welcoming, comforting, healing, transforming, sustaining, peacemaking, eternal Love. Or as Bernice King said, “Love puts in work.”
Call it ‘a Sunday stroll in Appling.’ Call it ‘a Sunday stroll in Appling.’
“God is always coming to you in the sacrament of “God is always coming to you in the sacrament of the Present Moment. Meet and receive Him there with gratitude.” Evelyn Underhill 

Such brokenness we see, such pain, such fear. Attend to Jesus — Lord, Savior, King — with all your honest thoughts and feelings, and let His power and love change you. Let Him form and re-form you into a help for the hurting, a bright spot for those in the dark, a presence for others to rest in. A ‘little Christ’ on the earth.

 ^ what I’m rehearsing to myself
Living life with the Holy Spirit — “you fulfil Living life with the Holy Spirit — “you fulfill the will of God through the inner influence of His Spirit instead of the outer influence of the law of God” (David Guzik).

This took me probably 15 years of following Jesus to grasp. It felt too easy, my willpower was my measuring stick, and the freedom was terrifying. 

But alas, God’s way is the best way, and there is no substitute for the Holy Spirit. I can’t muster spiritual fruit, but His goal, thankfully and marvelously, is vineyards and vineyards.

May we surrender this work to Him.
“The deeper our faith, the more doubt we must en “The deeper our faith, the more doubt we must endure; the deeper our hope, the more prone we are to despair; the deeper our love, the more pain its loss will bring: these are a few of the paradoxes we must hold as human beings. If we refuse to hold them in the hopes of living without doubt, despair, and pain, we also find ourselves living without faith, hope, and love.” Parker J. Palmer
I pose to you what the Holy Spirit posed to me rec I pose to you what the Holy Spirit posed to me recently: What if you made choices out of fear of missing out on God instead of fear of missing out on what others deem significant?

In all honesty, FOMO sneaks up on me not along paths of a friend’s travel adventures or home decor or even if friends hang out without me. My FOMO animal comes in the form of popular and effective Christian voices. Because of technology and social media, I have access, though not complete (because we’re not actual friends), to their lives and ministry, their work and the personality they choose to share online. While a good thing in many ways, it stops being good when it becomes an avalanche I can’t keep up with but am afraid to stop.

// new blog post: FOMO on God //
zoom zoom zoom zoom
Like Anna plays in my presence, like she comes to Like Anna plays in my presence, 
like she comes to me when she gets hurt,
like she wants to be held when she’s sick,
like she unashamedly + honestly feels any and every range of emotion with me, 
like she never corrects or censors or judges herself before coming to me, 
like she trusts me to love and care and accept her always... 
so it can be and is for me with God my Father. 

What a delightful way to be with Him! Don’t hold back — disappointment, confusion, happiness, sadness, longings. Give Him access to you, as you are right now, and find rest and love for your soul.
Just a girl bumping her New Years’ goal of wakin Just a girl bumping her New Years’ goal of waking up early to February as she reaches her 10th day of coronavirus quarantine.

I’ll keep the details to myself, but I do have to acknowledge the generosity and availability and kindness of our family and friends. They’ve brought us meals, groceries, medicine, and @maghjohnson, IN MICHIGAN, sent us a Door Dash gift card for a pizza. I could cry over the love. @audreyhealy5 @kgmartin521 @ansley.c.evans @nm_wilson @klb418

Also, even though today was the first day I had the energy to walk it, I’ve never been more thankful for our long driveway. Sunshine is the JAM. 

To everyone who has had COVID or will get it, our experience will of course be different, but— solitary, friends, solidarity. And grace upon grace.
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wellness · 03/02/2016

My Relationship With Food: It’s All About Balance

I eat bread. I eat ice cream. I really like pizza.

At the same time, I really enjoy breaking a sweat. And I like fruit and vegetables. And salad.

I drink lots of water. I don’t drink soda. But I do like iced coffee and sweet tea.

I finally understand that, for me, balance is more important that being an extreme fit person or an extreme donut eater.

To love yourself as a whole person means to nourish, sustain, and care for not only your physical body but also your mind and soul.

Restricting my favorite foods tends to make me moody and a tad miserable, but over-indulging on sugar and pizza oftentimes leave me lethargic and bloated (let’s be honest).

I really like an iced coffee with caramel swirl from Dunkin Donuts, I’m not opposed to caffeine, but I probably drink about 70 ounces of water a day.

It’s a fact of life: when I eat well, I simply feel better – with more energy and a better ability to focus. And that’s marvelous news. But, when I eat my favorite foods (that wouldn’t be put in the ‘clean eating’ category), I also feel good.

It’s taken me a long time to get to this place.

A place where I recognize that a healthy, good attitude towards food is as important to me putting nutrition in my body.

My Relationship With Food: It's All About Balance | heartnatured

When I was running track in college, we/they were obsessed with our food intake, light on the sugar and processed foods. If you have a specific purpose or goal, and this is your strategy, power to you! That can be wise. But after that chapter of my life was closed, I realized how exhausted I was from obsessing over every single meal.

A helpful perspective for me in the day-to-day is the small choices. If I know I’m going to want dessert after my lunch at work, I won’t eat a huge meal (or I’d be asleep by 3pm). If I know I want to add an extra mile to my run this weekend, I need to fuel myself well so I have the energy and attitude to accomplish it.

These days I give myself more grace, but still try to be disciplined. I genuinely enjoy a well-made salad, but if you’re offering cookies and cream ice cream for dessert, I hardly ever say no. On the other hand, if I’m craving a big juicy burger and fries, I probably won’t feel up for dessert. Not because I’m against sugar, but because I’d rather savor the burger and fries and not smother it with excess calories.

Being conscious and thoughtful with the small choices keeps me happy and healthy.

I don’t make extreme decisions anymore, to never have a chocolate chip cookie or handful of salt and vinegar chips (my favorite) – my cravings would be off the charts and I’d probably be mega moody. But I also don’t over-indulge on the foods considered ‘bad’ because they would lose their fun, and wouldn’t taste as good.

In the diet community, you’ve probably heard that the answer is willpower. “Ignore those cravings, eat a carrot” or “Mind over matter, go work off that cupcake.” Sometimes that is wise advice, I’m not discounting it.

My Relationship With Food: It's All About Balance | heartnatured

I personally have learned that I am one whole person. My heart, mind, soul, and body are all one person. Seems like a silly + simply statement, but if I’m mentally stressed out because I can’t enjoy the occasional cookie, the rest of me is affected. Then again, if my body needs real, whole nourishment and I emotionally want Zaxby’s and Bruster’s, there’s a problem.

I’ve learned to listen to my body, and make choices that are appropriate, helpful, and enjoyable at the moment.

Loving myself best means balance.

This isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay! I believe it’s all about finding YOUR balance. It might look different than mine.

I can say, with a happy dance, that I’ve finally found a happy relationship with food.

Maybe this can spark a new perspective for you?

PS – All of these images are the work of Death to Stock, a great place for lovely stock photography.

In: wellness · Tagged: body image, food, health

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Comments

  1. Shannon says

    03/02/2016 at 6:05 pm

    I feel like my approach to food is very similar. I don’t feel guilty for eating and enjoying candy, pasta,the occasional cheeto ;) but I also enjoy a good salad and fresh vegetables and fruit and try to just keep it balanced like you said. Restricting or shaming yourself can so easily lead to an unhealthy relationship with food. Glad you shared such a reasonable post!

  2. Megan says

    03/03/2016 at 3:22 am

    I try to live my life like this too. I went through the restrictive, extreme dieting and the compulsive over-exercising and I was miserable. Balance has made me enjoy food and exercise again. Great post Chelsea.

  3. Kylie says

    03/04/2016 at 8:35 pm

    I love this! I am still working on this balance for myself. I feel like I swing back and forth between the extremes all while looking for the balance for myself.

  4. Annie says

    03/04/2016 at 10:42 pm

    Such a great post. I think a lot about what I eat. It’s taken me so long to realize that it’s all about the balance, and to not get so mad if I want a treat sometimes. I still struggle with it, but it’s like a weight off my shoulders when I don’t worry so much about it. Loved this!

  5. Jenna @ A Savory Feast says

    03/09/2016 at 8:53 pm

    I love this! My approach is all about balance, too. For the most part I eat a healthy diet, but I don’t obsess over it or deny myself of everything. A little treat here and there is good for my mood!

  6. Susannah says

    03/13/2016 at 3:33 am

    I absolutely adore this! I’m working on having a healthier relationship with food so this was something I needed to read!

  7. Kati says

    03/14/2016 at 7:00 pm

    I totally agree with this! This is what I am trying to do, we love baking and making treats as a family, it’s creating fun memories. We do it once or twice a week, we eat healthy meals 90% of the time and have an occasional burger or pizza night. It’s all about balance and not beating yourself up over eating something that is “forbidden”. If it’s off limits, it becomes all you want! I’m hoping we can instill this into our children so they can grow up with a healthy food/life balance and not obsessing over diet or weight like is so prevalent in our culture. Thanks so much for sharing with us at the Wednesday Showcase!

  8. Chelsea B.E. says

    03/15/2016 at 6:52 pm

    Kati, I couldn’t agree more. I want to help my future children find freedom in all aspects of their lives, no matter what culture tries to make them believe is the “best way.” I love the family cooking and baking!

  9. Chelsea B.E. says

    03/15/2016 at 6:52 pm

    So glad it was helpful, Susannah!

  10. Chelsea B.E. says

    03/15/2016 at 6:53 pm

    I agree with you Jenna!

  11. Chelsea B.E. says

    03/15/2016 at 6:56 pm

    A weight of your shoulders when you don’t worry so much about it. Yes yes yes Annie! I agree.

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The entire thing is He loved me first. And even wh The entire thing is He loved me first. And even when our surroundings are burning or when all we see is rubble, there is an unseen Kingdom to serve, a Family to be part of, and a powerful Love to give and receive. 

Every week it seems I’m inspired by a comment a friend and pastor made years ago — “Don’t be afraid to talk to someone about the truth of Jesus. Think of it as joining a conversation God might already be having with that person.” 

May we be conduits of that strong, courageous, welcoming, comforting, healing, transforming, sustaining, peacemaking, eternal Love. Or as Bernice King said, “Love puts in work.”
Call it ‘a Sunday stroll in Appling.’ Call it ‘a Sunday stroll in Appling.’
“God is always coming to you in the sacrament of “God is always coming to you in the sacrament of the Present Moment. Meet and receive Him there with gratitude.” Evelyn Underhill 

Such brokenness we see, such pain, such fear. Attend to Jesus — Lord, Savior, King — with all your honest thoughts and feelings, and let His power and love change you. Let Him form and re-form you into a help for the hurting, a bright spot for those in the dark, a presence for others to rest in. A ‘little Christ’ on the earth.

 ^ what I’m rehearsing to myself
Living life with the Holy Spirit — “you fulfil Living life with the Holy Spirit — “you fulfill the will of God through the inner influence of His Spirit instead of the outer influence of the law of God” (David Guzik).

This took me probably 15 years of following Jesus to grasp. It felt too easy, my willpower was my measuring stick, and the freedom was terrifying. 

But alas, God’s way is the best way, and there is no substitute for the Holy Spirit. I can’t muster spiritual fruit, but His goal, thankfully and marvelously, is vineyards and vineyards.

May we surrender this work to Him.
“The deeper our faith, the more doubt we must en “The deeper our faith, the more doubt we must endure; the deeper our hope, the more prone we are to despair; the deeper our love, the more pain its loss will bring: these are a few of the paradoxes we must hold as human beings. If we refuse to hold them in the hopes of living without doubt, despair, and pain, we also find ourselves living without faith, hope, and love.” Parker J. Palmer
I pose to you what the Holy Spirit posed to me rec I pose to you what the Holy Spirit posed to me recently: What if you made choices out of fear of missing out on God instead of fear of missing out on what others deem significant?

In all honesty, FOMO sneaks up on me not along paths of a friend’s travel adventures or home decor or even if friends hang out without me. My FOMO animal comes in the form of popular and effective Christian voices. Because of technology and social media, I have access, though not complete (because we’re not actual friends), to their lives and ministry, their work and the personality they choose to share online. While a good thing in many ways, it stops being good when it becomes an avalanche I can’t keep up with but am afraid to stop.

// new blog post: FOMO on God //
zoom zoom zoom zoom
Like Anna plays in my presence, like she comes to Like Anna plays in my presence, 
like she comes to me when she gets hurt,
like she wants to be held when she’s sick,
like she unashamedly + honestly feels any and every range of emotion with me, 
like she never corrects or censors or judges herself before coming to me, 
like she trusts me to love and care and accept her always... 
so it can be and is for me with God my Father. 

What a delightful way to be with Him! Don’t hold back — disappointment, confusion, happiness, sadness, longings. Give Him access to you, as you are right now, and find rest and love for your soul.
Just a girl bumping her New Years’ goal of wakin Just a girl bumping her New Years’ goal of waking up early to February as she reaches her 10th day of coronavirus quarantine.

I’ll keep the details to myself, but I do have to acknowledge the generosity and availability and kindness of our family and friends. They’ve brought us meals, groceries, medicine, and @maghjohnson, IN MICHIGAN, sent us a Door Dash gift card for a pizza. I could cry over the love. @audreyhealy5 @kgmartin521 @ansley.c.evans @nm_wilson @klb418

Also, even though today was the first day I had the energy to walk it, I’ve never been more thankful for our long driveway. Sunshine is the JAM. 

To everyone who has had COVID or will get it, our experience will of course be different, but— solitary, friends, solidarity. And grace upon grace.
Supplies of water, sustenance and shade in the wil Supplies of water, sustenance and shade in the wilderness are impossible without God. Miracles of change and help.

“The poor and the needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I will answer them. I am the Lord, the God of Israel. 

I will not abandon them. I will open rivers on the barren heights, and springs in the middle of the plains. I will turn the desert into a pool and dry land into springs. I will plant cedar, acacia, myrtle, and olive trees in the wilderness. I will put juniper, elm, and cypress trees together in the desert. 

So that all may see and know, consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.” Isaiah‬ ‭41:17-20‬ ‭CSB 

It is the Spirit of God who changes hearts.
It is the truth of God that transforms + renews minds.
It is the Son of God who leads the way.
It is the love of God that heals and calls. 
It is the power of God that does the impossible.
It is the presence of God that makes a difference.

So I pray. Faithful to what + who He puts before me. Trusting Him to be faithful in being God.

So we pray.

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