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Bible Study "Good Health, Good Life" by Joyce Meyers, please complete

Chapters 1-3.  

Recap: Last night we officially started our Bible Study "Good Health, Good Life" by Joyce Meyers; we reviewed Chapters 1-3.  We had great attendance, discussion, and ideas shared on how each of us can focus on our health and make small daily choices to help us live better.     

Below please find links to our mindful meditation, worship song, and supportive educational video. Since our discussion ran over a bit we didn't get to the video so I encourage you to take a few minutes to review.  It's only 8 minutes and has some helpful information.  

Mental Reset: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztTexqGQ0VI 

Things New - Hillsong Worship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYXTSybQA9M Biblical Health  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvm8gyLUFTw

Next Steps: 2 WEEK challenge:  Add movement, balanced food choices, add more water, remove/reduce one food item that is not well balanced/healthy and remember baby steps.

Bible Study "Good Health, Good Life" by Joyce Meyers, complete Chapters 4-6.

Recap: We reviewed Chaps. 4 (Exercise) and 5 (Eat In Balanced Ways).  We talked/shared creative ways we each incorporate exercise daily; like dancing, daily chores, or a purposeful plan of exercise such as walking, hiking, or swimming.  We also talked about how to choose to eat in balanced ways such as portion size, God made food, and giving ourselves permission to eat --- mindfully.  We also talked honestly about our areas of weakness and how we can work to improve our habits in baby steps.  

Links:  Below please find links to our mindful meditation, worship song, and supportive educational video/documents.    

Meditation:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3O22mqcnPI&list=PLy0D8GtVnmBdDNVGL2mXXjLALa0Sn_myE&index=2&t=157s  Worship: MercyMe - Grace Got You 3.37 mins  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtiUjNT_vAM&list=PL8ecln3vdBdLioL8UZ-wZFp6sjnM_SbML&index=11  

Biblical support video/articles:  

Next Steps: 2 week challenge To kick start your journey for our next three chapters - say Grace before at least one meal, take time to nourish your Spirit (meditation, read His word), FIND TIME TO PLAY.  Play helps us to destress – maybe play for you is to create a homemade craft designed to give as a gift or give your home a lift, dancing while doing housework, laughing with a friend, or playing cards.  Find time to find Joy!  God wants us to enjoy LIFE.   

Take 5 PRAYER CHALLENGE: Pray for family, friends, our nation, our world – and don’t forget to pray for yourself – talks with God help us to declutter and refresh.  Take 5  

Bible Study "Good Health, Good Life" by Joyce Meyers, complete Chapters 6-7.

Recap:  We discussed how consuming water “flushes out the filth from our cells” (Joyce Meyers, pg. 37).  We talked about creative way to increase water in our daily routine like how adding fruits and vegetables naturally adds more water.  

We talked about being mindful about food means choosing a rainbow daily – all the fruits and vegetables God specifically designed each color to nourish our bodies with important nutrients to keep us healthy.  We even had a good chuckle about the candy colorful treats considered the rainbow is NOT what God intended.  

It was a small group but we had a hearty discussion!   

Below please find links to our mindful meditation, worship song, and supportive educational video/documents.   

Meditation:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V8pZaD9tgg&list=PLy0D8GtVnmBdDNVGL2mXXjLALa0Sn_myE&index=1&t=47s  Worship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVEsJXKfhEo&list=PLy0D8GtVnmBdDNVGL2mXXjLALa0Sn_myE&index=2  

Support video/articles:  

Creative ways to add water to your daily life - https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/water-a-vital-nutrient#how-to-get-enough-fluid-in-your-diet  

Eating a rainbow of nutrients -  https://foodrevolution.org/blog/eating-the-rainbow-health-benefits/  

Next Steps: 2 week challenge: 

Chapter 8 Curb Spiritual Hunger – choose a bible book or verse to study to devour. Chapter 9 Destress – find one or two ways to occupy your time wisely focusing on something that brings you JOY! Maybe relax with some good music, spend time with a good friend, play cards – whatever helps you to find peace.  Yes reading His Word and talking with Him can help us to destress but He has created a world with human interests and He wants us to enjoy those too! 

Bible Study "Good Health, Good Life" by Joyce Meyers, complete Chapters 8.  

We had a successful hybrid meeting this week.  We had in person participation and zoom attendees.  We had a vibrant discussion on how to “curb your spiritual hunger”. We all shared different experiences related to our spiritual hunger and how it relates to our daily eating habits.  We also had a great debate on the term “curb” and why we believe another word would be more fitting.  Our group is growing–we had honest discussion regarding our spiritual needs balanced with words of encouragement from all.  Such a blessing for us to meet, share, learn and grow.   

Recap: Major points discussed  

Eating and emotions – loneliness, sadness, anger, frustration.  

Filling our spiritual emptiness with food – discontentment with life situation.

Filling space/time – Boredom (idle hands are the devils work)  

Pg. 76 “learn to run to God first” 

Pg. 77 don’t “wait for a crisis to start feeding your spirit” – “feed your soul continually”.    Below please find links to our mindful meditation, worship song, and supportive educational video/documents.      

Meditation: 

Let Go and Trust God https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3O22mqcnPI&list=PLy0D8GtVnmBdDNVGL2mXXjLALa0Sn_myE    

Worship:  

We Hunger and Thirst – Sovereign Grace (5:47) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq9i98gBL0A&list=PLy0D8GtVnmBdDNVGL2mXXjLALa0Sn_myE&index=2    

Be Still My Soul – Kari Jobe (5:12) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq59iE3MhXM&list=PLy0D8GtVnmBdDNVGL2mXXjLALa0Sn_myE&index=3     

Next Steps: This week’s challenge   In preparation for our next meeting and to apply what we learn in Chapter 9 – Destress: Find one or two ways to occupy your time wisely focusing on something that brings you JOY, relaxing with good music, spending time with a good friend, cards – whatever helps you to find peace.  Yes reading His Word and talking with Him can help us to destress however remember He has created a world with human interests and He wants us to enjoy those too! 

• Bible Study "Good Health, Good Life" by Joyce Meyers, complete Chapter 9.  In Person Meeting at Brenda L.’s home, zoom available.  Check the Beloved text thread for meeting address.  

Recap: Who doesn’t experience stress these days?  Work stress, home stress, going to the food store stress, and just plain “life in general” stress!  We need to seek God and learn ways we can destress.  At tonight’s meeting we all shared causes of our stress and solutions we find best  help us manage the stress – prayer, talking with a trusted friend, a walk, music, massage, pedicure/manicure, and even simply laughing through the challenge.   As always, we enjoyed the comradery so much we went over our planned time.  We are growing!  

Major points discussed 

• A “dangerous drug” – cortisol and adrenaline.  Stress increases the levels and they can have devastating health affects when they are the norm not the exception.
• Today’s world - stress is the norm not the exception
• Health effects: heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, digestive issues, low immune system, depression. Good news – identify the triggers/reasons.  Recognize, the issues ask God for help and implement your stress reliever – prayer, walk, talk, music – whatever works for you!
• As Joyce Meyer’s reminds us “relaxing is not selfish, it is not slacking off” (pg. 100).   

Find time to relax and enjoy life!  Below please find links to our mindful meditation, worship song, and supportive educational video/documents.    Meditation:  10 Minute 

Mindful Meditation:

Let Go https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syx3a1_LeFo&list=PLy0D8GtVnmBdDNVGL2mXXjLALa0Sn_myE&index=1&t=31s   

Worship:   

God of All My Days – Casting Crowns (5:03) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syx3a1_LeFo&list=PLy0D8GtVnmBdDNVGL2mXXjLALa0Sn_myE&index=1&t=31s   

Holy Spirit:

Kari Jobe (10) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPPMSfCdUng&list=PLy0D8GtVnmBdDNVGL2mXXjLALa0Sn_myE&index=3https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVEsJXKfhEo&list=PLy0D8GtVnmBdDNVGL2mXXjLALa0Sn_myE&index=2   

Next Steps: This week’s challenge  - Chap 10 Live with the right vision. Pick one aspect your life that seems bleak and imagine it in new light. Joyce Meyers Good Health Good Life (pg. 106) Ask yourself “will your current actions get you to your destination”?  Pray, Ask God for help.  Speak His Truths into the situation. 

Bible Study "Good Health, Good Life" by Joyce Meyers, complete Chapter 10.  In Person Meeting at Brenda P.’s home, zoom available. Check the Beloved text thread for meeting address.  

Recap: Our guiding question this week is “Have you had the experience of long distance running, maybe a sports competition with set objectives/obstacles?  If so, share what you did to train/prepare, what did you experience during the training – what did you learn from putting into practice that training?” 

We all shared experiences of when we had to set our mind to achieve a goal, had set the right vision to achieve the goal and then practiced/trained to work towards that goal.  A great life experience was shared by one of our “beloved” about training for an adult obstacle course challenge – she discussed the practice, training and mindset needed to complete the course – so inspirational!  We all agreed what a great analogy of how we can prepare ourselves for life’s obstacle course – especially when she shared how she overcame each obstacle “one at a time” and “stayed focused on each” and knew her training and teammates would help see her through.

Let us remember that God is on our team and we train daily when we focus on His word and then put His word into practice in our daily lives.

Major points discussed

Joyce Meyers, pgs. 106, 109, 111

• Goal setting – where are you now, where do you want to be?
• “Talk about your future, not your past”!
• Proverbs 23:7 As he thinks in his heart, so is he. -  Yes!!
• “Positive thoughts are precursors to a positive life” 
• “Bad thoughts turn into bad words, bad words into bad actions…”
• “Emotions are not wisdom…the more we walk in wisdom the more we can remain stable through the storm”
• Assume the best… “replace suspicion and fear with trust” – use wisdom to know who, how and what to trust – seek God first!

Below please find links to our mindful meditation, worship song, and supportive educational video/documents.    

Meditation: 

Daily Christian Meditations: You Are Not Your Thoughts - 5 Minutes with God, Rhonda Jones, Christian Meditator  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-BI8oBfIBE&list=PLy0D8GtVnmBdDNVGL2mXXjLALa0Sn_myE&index=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V8pZaD9tgg&list=PLy0D8GtVnmBdDNVGL2mXXjLALa0Sn_myE&index=1&t=47s   

Worship:  

Open our hearts first with this song… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVEsJXKfhEo&list=PLy0D8GtVnmBdDNVGL2mXXjLALa0Sn_myE&index=2Phil Wickam – Anthem (5.21)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVEsJXKfhEo&list=PLy0D8GtVnmBdDNVGL2mXXjLALa0Sn_myE&index=2  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PijwAXXQgfg&list=PLy0D8GtVnmBdDNVGL2mXXjLALa0Sn_myE&index=2  Open our eyes with this song… Be thou my vision,  Celtic Worship (4:59) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dxrT9OO4xA&list=PLy0D8GtVnmBdDNVGL2mXXjLALa0Sn_myE&index=3 

Let us receive your goodness and love daily Lord and live our lives according to your will not ours… 

Come thou fount, Celtic Worship (5:07) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKOoeTbjSeI&list=PLy0D8GtVnmBdDNVGL2mXXjLALa0Sn_myE&index=4 

Next Steps: This week’s challenge

Chap 11 : challenge - focus on the “lot’s of little’s make a lot”, laughing a little at your setbacks, pick one thing you’d like to change over the next two weeks and break down into small manageable steps and MAKE IT FUN to achieve. 

Chap 12: challenge – Meditate on the responsibility you have for your life lived to glorify God.  The broken road has led you to where you are… now to take all that wisdom and grace and share the good news.  Think of 1-2 ways of uplifting someone in your life, maybe even a complete stranger and fill their cup with some of God’s peace. 

Bible Study "Good Health, Good Life" by Joyce Meyers, complete Chapter 11 &  12 (with summary of chapters) In Person Meeting at Brenda P.’s home, zoom available. Check the Beloved text thread for meeting address.    

Recap: The last two chapters of our study were short and sweet and so was our meeting too after we had to once again overcome the ongoing challenges of technology. From the start of the meeting we learned quickly how to be flexible – the time lost on technology hiccups meant we needed to dive right into the teaching for this week’s study.  Therefore, we put meditation on worship on hold knowing that our Beloved page contains the links (see below); we also  decided we could each spend our own time to focus on the meditation and worship. 

Our discussion during this week’s study focused on making health “Easy and Fun”.  For example, eat those things that you like that are healthy and if that DOESN’T include lima beans that’s okay, and, remember too it’s okay to have a treat now and then.  We talked about the small steps leading up to bigger goals, laughing at the setbacks and rewarding yourself – be sure the reward is appropriate to the achievement (e.g., losing 5 lbs, maybe a pair of earrings and save the new wardrobe reward for when the entire weight loss goal is achieved). 

Lastly, we chatted about the responsibility we have to take care of ourselves.  The book presented a great example of how we can spend so much time and effort into planning a vacation (finances, agendas, bookings, packing, organizing people and things, etc) and how quite frankly how we need to invest the same time and attention into taking care of our well-being – spiritually, emotionally and physically.  

This week’s verse and prayer…  

James 1:2-18 Testing of Your Faith 

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  

Testing our faith comes in all different shapes and sizes – health, relationships, work, our relationship with the image we create of others’ and even ourselves.  Our relationship above all with God is strengthened when we turn to Him not only in the trials but in the joyful moments as well.  God has a plan for our lives – to live fully and abundantly in all the dimensions of our living here on earth.  As we’ve learned from this recent study, our first steps in building better relationships with others starts with our focus on building ourselves – spiritually, mentally, and physically.  Let us take a moment to thank God for our health (wherever it may be) – grateful for the “good” health and grateful for the trial - for as Matthew 5:3 reminds us “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God”.  We need to remember it is those moments we are weakest we are reminded of His strength and unending love.  May the peace of God run over you and may His love pulse through your veins.  May we remember that the day will come that we will be fully restored and singing with the angels.  For today, here in our earthly bodies, we are obedient to Him when we take care of the gift that He has given us – life!     

MEDITATION:

WALK WITH HIM 10 Minute Christian Meditation / Prayer Soaking Music / Instrumental Prophetic Worship

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRKo7EVvKRc&list=PLy0D8GtVnmBdDNVGL2mXXjLALa0Sn_myE&index=1&t=1s WORSHIP 

I can only imagine, Wynonna Judd 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Klrc0YuikM&list=PLy0D8GtVnmBdDNVGL2mXXjLALa0Sn_myE&index=2 

2 Week Bible Study  - Week 1 "TBD" with fun activity

Recap Coming soon...