Tag Archives: health

Living Life on Paper

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Time not journaled is history up for interpretation tomorrow. That might not make sense to you, but it speaks volumes to me and hopefully, I can clear the fog for you as you continue to read this.

My life challenge to myself is: I want to live a life that is worth writing about and that in every word I write, that my Jesus would be glorified. I have no interest in one day dying and all that can be said about me is “he was a nice guy”. I want to make an impact, a difference and leave a legacy in the here and now and in the days to come.

My wife’s father, the late Dr. James L. Zirkle, was quoted saying, “The shortest pencil is better than the sharpest mind”. He was always requiring the staff to have some type of planner system for our calendars, contacts, to do list, along with notes from meetings and other such things. He knew the importance of writing things down. But relating this back to my opening statement, you are worth writing about when you live the life God has secured for you through Jesus and His death and resurrection.

Michael Hyatt has produced a couple of great blog posts on journaling that I highly recommend. Click the links to read:
The 7 Benefits of Keeping a Daily Journal:
How to Become More Consistent in Your Daily Journaling:

Since the beginning of time and throughout history, somehow mankind has journaled their life and the events that impacted it. Now think about how it would be today if they had not done that! The many things we would not know and the things we would have to try and figure out all over again. On the walls of caves, animal skins, and parched scrolls of old, is journaled history screaming out for us and to us today and the generations to come. Men and women have been writing things because they realized the importance of it and hopefully, that will never change. I heard someone once say, “My life is not anything that someone would want to read about”. Well change that thinking today! You have significance whether you realize it or not. I want the future generations of my family to know who I am, not just by what others might say, but also by my life lived in my journals. Every up and down moment has a voice and we can learn and grow from them all and so can others.

Many of the writers I love and admire most are not here with us anymore, but their writings live on and many of those writings have touched and changed my life; like CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien to just name two. But I could list many, many more.

So I want to encourage you to invest in a journal, and start writing today. It’s not science or even a structure; just be real and write from your heart.

So that’s it for NOW! I want to hear from you with your thoughts and input on this post. So please share them below.

Until next time, eyes up and gear up for the best yet is right at hand. Take this day gladiator style, ruling and reigning it and not letting it reign you.

LivXtrem4Him

MARCH MEDICAL MISSION TRIP UPDATE:

In just 6 days, I am leaving for my March Medical Mission trip that will take me to Guatemala and then over to Nicaragua. As you may know, I leave March the 24th and return on April the 7th. We have a budget of $3,000 for this trip. As of today, we have had $2,611 of this come in. We still need those remaining funds, in order to complete everything we are doing in both of those countries. You can click on this link to give NOW or send your seed to:
Living Water Teaching
PO Box 1190
Caddo Mills, TX 75135
On the memo line of your check write #25000.

Thank you for partnering with us as we go forth doing His Kingdom work.

WHY?

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This week is Spring Break and my family and I are spending some time out playing, so I am reposting one of my first blog posts (it is also a favorite of mine). I hope you enjoy the post and I will be back next week; until then, Eyes Up & Gear Up for the best is right at hand…

What-why-how

I am going to list a few questions you might have asked yourself, as I know I have asked myself these questions before!

1.) WHY?

2.) What is my purpose?

3.) How did I get to this place in life?

What are we seeking when we ask these questions? Are we seeking answers or purpose, or is it our way of dealing with a lost feeling of life with no direction? Whatever the case may be, we can’t stop living. We all have a number of undefined days in life and with each passing one, we have got to know that we made it count in some way.

I’m a dreamer and a visionary and like many, my mind seems to live in “LET’S GO” mode 24/7/365. But I also have to know that I am a man with a purpose and a WHY and my WHY is not your WHY and unless ordained, no one else can fulfill that WHY! Still with me?

I look at some great dreamers like Walt Disney, who believed that actually doing the impossible was fun. I also look at writers like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, who wrote masterpieces that have gone beyond their years in what is now future generations and touched our hearts with hope and our minds with adventure, while bringing a Kingdom message to all that watch. What about Henry Ford, who dreamed of a machine that we could get around on, on it’s own power? And then there was the legendary John D. Rockefeller, the first billionaire in history. Although his life was not perfect, he had strong Kingdom beliefs. He is quoted to have said, ”I never would have been able to tithe my first million dollars I ever made, if I had not tithed my first salary, which was $1.50 per week.” It has been said that he gave away over $555 million in his lifetime.

I have always been intrigued by visionary dreamers, those that would take a dream and run with it and not look back. Those that had value and character and respect that was not demanded but instead, earned, as only it can be truly acquired.

The answer to WHY is in the commission that we have all been called to in life. The WHY is not really a WHY but instead a WHO. It’s made up of a global sea of faces. When we are in our WHY, then we can impact the WHO, which in return is fulfilling the greatest command ever spoken and that is “GO YE”.

So next time you wonder WHY, don’t look inside yourself; but instead, look around you at a lost and dying wold filled with the WHO’s you have been called to touch and make a difference. BUT to do this, you must know HIM! You might say HIM WHO? The HIM that loved you so much HE created you in HIS likeness and created a KINGDOM like no other for you to not just live in, but to rule and reign in. SO it’s time to know HIM so you can then know WHY and then reach WHO the one true KING of KING’s has called you to and so that you will one day be spoken of as one of those uncommon dreamers of then and now.

So open the door and ask HIM into your life as your LORD and SAVIOR forevermore!

Are You Really Secure?

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secure

Are you really secure? What a profound question to ask!

Let’s first define the definition of secure: Free from danger, attack, loss, free from fear, anxiety, or doubt, stable or firmly fastened, reliable and dependable.

I remember Debbie’s dad, the late Dr. James Zirkle, making this statement: “If you want to succeed, then help someone else succeed”.

I believe discipleship means you are always leading others to a place called there or their yes. You are to be helping others find their way. Here is a link to my first Podcast title: “Are you a beacon of light for the lost?” – Which focuses on this very topic. I have made some awesome new friends lately and everyone is always so eager to help one another succeed at their dreams and the group just keeps growing with other like-minded individuals.

But you don’t always see this attitude around you; either Christian or not. You can look at the businesses, churches, and ministries and find insecurity that speaks out in the inability to work with others in fear they might lose something or someone. Insecurity creates a wall that keeps you from advancing and at some point you will be the one thing that kills your own dreams if you were to continue in that insecurity.

I myself want others to succeed and I want to rejoice with them as they are rejoicing. I have a friend named Kimanzi Constable and he just moved to the next level of his dream by moving to Hawaii. Another new friend I consider to be close has two successful businesses; he also blogs weekly and his name is Zech Newman. Another good friend is Kent Sanders, who to me is the king of Evernote, which I love and use it ALL the time. (CLICK HERE to visit his Evernote training site.) I will be spotlighting more and more of these friends as we go, because that’s what we are to do – help others, not with an agenda but because we are called to help and lift one another up. (Side note – You all who are my dreamer friends and you know who you are, I want say thank you so much for all you have done to bless my life!)

Now how do we do this? How do we put ourselves to the side and openly help each other achieve their dreams? By letting down the walls and letting others in so we can help them be all they dream and desire to be, by being secure in who we are and also whose we are. I’m a Christian, no apology and no hiding it. That’s who I am and what I am. I’m secure in who I am and also whose I am because of Christ in me, the hope of glory, Colossians 1:27.

I started the http://www.kingdomthinking.org blog for one reason and that is to share my Jesus as I grow in His Kingdom. Hopefully by doing this, others will be able to learn because we spend so much time recreating a wheel that is already built and perfected.

So I ask you again, are you secure? Can you wake up each new day and take it head on with no regret or condemnation? If not, allow me to give you a good starting place. Grab any Bible and turn to Matthew 6:33 and start there and move forward.

You are highly favored and deeply loved beyond anything you could ever imagine.

So eyes up and gear up for the best is right at hand. Take this day gladiator style, ruling and reigning, dominating it and not letting it dominate you!

CALL TO ACTION

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Long before the posters of Uncle Sam came to be, a call to action was pronounced.

UncleSamWantsYou

Before we charged the front lines of any battlefield or charged the beaches to take back what our enemies had taken, a battle cry was proclaimed.

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Now please do not think I am putting down our military, because I love our men and women who are holding the lines around the world – I even have two boys doing their part in the Air Force. But long before any of this was even thought of, a battle cry went around the world and called ALL of mankind to rise up and take their place to live a life with purpose and vision for the lost and lonely who had no hope.

As we daily walk the battlefields of life, many turn a blind eye to what’s going on around them. They live life as if everything is ok, but it’s not. People daily make decisions that will affect them beyond this short time they have here on earth. They live for themselves as if they don’t need an eternal savior but when they find themselves lying at the threshold of life and death, they find themselves crying out for a person they never took the time to know. They might have even found their way and maybe are even living their dream, but if it never impacts the lives of the hurting and hungry souls, then what good is it?

But at the same time, I know there are those that proclaim Him as their savior, but never take the time to really get to know Him. God wants us to have a personal relationship with Him; not a “fly by” one that drops an empty prayer filled with empty words spoken from an empty heart. After all these years, I seem to daily find something new about Him!

Why don’t you start your journey right this second? Set your spiritual GPS; grab a pen, paper, and get ready, because an EPIC adventure awaits you!

So eyes up and gear up for the best is right at hand. Take life gladiator style, ruling and reigning forevermore.

We would love to hear from you on this post or any older ones. Maybe you have a thought about a future blog post; please share it.

Until next time, live Xtrem4Him!!!!!

Guest Post By Rachel Curtis – Founder P31 Fitness

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P31 Fitness

Greetings to all and I pray this New Year you are walking in is the best one yet. I am so excited about this New Year and all that God is doing in my life and ministry. I have set goals for myself that I know I can’t do alone, but rest in His word that says “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me”.

This first post of the New Year is a guest post from the founder of P31 Fitness, Rachel Curtis. My wife is a part of one of the P31 groups here in Texas and she has not been just physically blessed but also spiritually blessed. P31 stands for Proverbs 31 and as we all know, it is talking to the women; but guys, don’t stop here – because YOU need this maybe even more than the ladies do! I know you will be blessed by this post, so read on!!!!!

By Rachel Curtis:
It is interesting to me to watch people every New Year with fitness and goals. Everyone is “trying” programs to see if they will “work” for them. That is a FUNNY statement to me. Will it work? There is not a magic pill, there is not a magic workout, not a magic program. It is about YOU making the decision that YOU are WORTH the time to truly make the change. To dig deep, to take care of all parts of health, and to admit that it is the habits we have that have caused us to be where we are today. What about just good health habits, a hard workout, working on all parts of health, and taking responsibility for all areas of health? Stop looking for magic. Just put in the hard work, dedication, introspection, and discipline. YOU are WORTH it! So… instead of asking if a program “works”, realize that a program works when YOU work on YOU!!!!

During this time of year, everyone is in the process of making resolutions. Some are resolving to be more organized, some to lose weight, some to be more disciplined, and the list goes on and on.

The only problem with resolutions is that they tend to only last about 2-3 weeks (maybe a few more if you are really dedicated) and then it is back to old habits, old ways, and a feeling of discouragement arises; failure again. Or so the lies scream….

Let’s try something new – and this year, I want to challenge you to make resolutions that WILL LAST!

A few guidelines:
Don’t be extreme
Don’t be absolute
Be gracious on yourself
Allow room for mistakes and error
Be patient
Be kind

Here are 10 solid resolutions that you can keep this year!

1) Begin each day on your knees and give the day to GOD.

2) Do some kind of movement every day.

3) Listen to your body! Eat when hungry, stop when satisfied!

4) Focus on God, others, and ways to serve those around you.

5) Don’t get so caught up in diets and food rules that can get your focus more on yourself than on God.

6) Un-clutter your life by praying before committing to activities.

7) Journal often.

8) Spend time with God and His Word regularly.

9) Love and serve others as if serving God.

10) Live for an Audience of One – seek the approval of God alone.

Our program, P31 Fitness, empowers women of all ages and fitness levels to experience freedom Spiritually, Mentally, Emotionally, and Physically through a unique fitness environment. All women should feel empowered to be all that God has created us to be each day. May we all work on creating realistic goals for the New Year for this year!

Nutrition:
One area we truly can all make improvements upon, is in the area of nutrition. P31 Fitness asks that you take a new approach to nutrition – called “Listen and Lose”.

Have you ever gotten all geared up for a new “diet,” done well for a few days, and then fallen off the wagon? We have all been there. Diets seldom work, because they only create more rules for us to follow. With diet rules, it is easy to set yourself up for failure. When “cheating” occurs, it is easy to go off the diet. Begin to listen to your body. Learn to listen to your basic hunger and fullness scale inside your body. Your body will tell you what and how much you need, if you will just begin to tune in to the hunger and fullness mechanism. It is about freedom.

Lastly, it is important for young girls and women to see their worth and purpose in life. Because of my own background and struggles with nutrition, fitness, and other areas, I feel I can relate to all types of women. There is an answer to our struggles, and it must be based upon TRUTH!

God created us all special and unique, and He wants us to FEEL worthy and FREE every day. I believe that we were meant to take care of the bodies that God has given us each day and that when we take care of ourselves, we are better equipped to take care of those around us each day.

To learn more about our program, and how to get involved, visit our website: www.p31fitness.com
Thank you Rachel for this really awesome Blog post and to all that are reading this, I encourage you to find a P31 group in your area and take the challenge.

Click this link to listen to a radio spot for P31 Fitness.

So that’s it for this week, but as I always say, “Eyes up and gear up for the best is now at hand”. I challenge you to take this week gladiator style, holding nothing back, giving life your all. Making the decision to live life on purpose with purpose. Until next time, keep pressing forward!
LivXtreme4Him

KINGDOM THINKING UPDATE:

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With only 26 days left in 2013, I see even more new changes in my life ahead. As I enjoy the remaining days in this year and start praying about next year, I won’t be posting any of the daily Kingdom Thinking thoughts. I will be uploading weekly VCast and blog posts as God gives them to me, but that’s it.

I have a prayer request. Our ministry outreach, Operation Shoebox, is in full swing and my wife leaves for Guatemala in the AM for 9 days. Please be standing with us for safety, wisdom and Kingdom success as they minister and bless the children of Guatemala, Panama and Nicaragua in the days to come.

Here are two blog post links that I feel would be an encouragement as you prepare for this new day and year to come:
Gear Up (Part 10) – “CHANGE”
https://rkspanberger.wordpress.com/2013/11/19/gear-up-part-10-change/
Gear Up (Part 11) UNPLUGGED
https://rkspanberger.wordpress.com/2013/12/03/gear-up-part-11-unplugged/

I want to say thank you to all those that have followed the KT blog this year and I know that the best is right now at hand. Kingdom Thinking has touched lives in places I have never dreamed of. This blog is just another part of fulling the vision God has given our ministry, and that is to make disciples. You can partner with us in this outreach as we reach out globally in helping others live a Kingdom life and fulfill their dreams. Just click this link and note KT in the memo area of your donation. LINK HERE

Always know that you are in our prayers and we count it an honor every time we hear from you with praise reports, prayer requests and/or questions.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Sincerely,
Keith & Debbie Spanberger
CEO’s/Executive Directors
Living Water Teaching International
http://www.livingwaterteaching.org
Kingdom Thinking Blog
http://www.kingdomthinking.org

Gear Up (Part 11) UNPLUGGED

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unplug

 

Last week, I posted on the topic of “CHANGE”.  I’m following up this week, by touching on one of my own personal changes.

So let’s talk about the topic, “UNPLUGGING”.  I have read many articles on this topic and about how those that have unplugged for many days, and I thought to myself, “How could one do this?”  But as I have found with all change, first comes the want to make the change and then the step forward to put action to it.  Last week I moved forward with my own “UNPLUG DAY” and it has been a breath of fresh air.  As I write this post, I’m actually completing my second “UNPLUG DAY”.  No withdrawals, no jitters and for sure no regrets.

Addiction is defined as “a compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance”.  Welcome to the tech world we live in; it’s truly become a substance that many can’t live without.  So much so, that we made a young man the youngest millionaire in history because of this addiction.  It’s addiction is evident to all and bullies have realized it and made it a weapon of choice.  The need to know what others are doing, is a “have to know” around the clock.

I shared in my last post, about how I could be sitting in a restaurant and watch families with their face glued to their God; without even realizing that they are losing time with their family and friends.  I actually saw this with a mom and daughter just a short time ago and the mom never really gave the little girl anything other than a warm body at the same table with her and a hot meal, because everything was being given to her smart phone which she never really put away. Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the social sites and such BUT, when I stopped and looked at how much time I was giving to them and the many times a day I spent doing it, I knew I needed a change.  So this is where the “UNPLUG DAY” all started for me.

This has became so strong on my heart, that I actually created a Facebook page =)  I want to start a movement for as many as I can, to set aside at least one “UNPLUG DAY” each week.  Here is the link to the page: https://www.facebook.com/day2unplug .  Time is the one thing that once we spend it, we can’t get it back.  We either grow in it and make precious memories or waste it and one day wish we had it back.

I will close this post here for now, BUT there is more to come!

I really hope this post helps you get a new view of how to live a Kingdom life.  God has prepared a life just for you and it is AMAZING if you can simply get past the junk of this world.

We would love to hear from you with your questions, prayer requests, and/or praise reports.

So until next time, eyes up & gear up for the best is right at hand!

LivXtreme4Him

Gear Up (Part 10) – “CHANGE”

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change

The word “change” is defined by Webster as: “The act or instance of making or becoming different”.

The greatest change we will ever make or deny, is making Christ The Lord of our life. Now I know me making that statement will automatically make my blog not for everyone; but on the flip side, it is a blog that ALL need to read because of our overwhelming need for Christ and the understanding of what a Kingdom life really is. You can spend 1 minute on any social media site and see that most people, even many Christians, have no clue on Kingdom living! This is what this blog is all about.

Have you ever found yourself at a point in your life where you needed things to be different? It could be because of your health or career situation; but whatever the reason was, you just needed change. I have found myself at this cross-roads many times, but I have not always been willing to make the needed changes. A few years ago, I made some eating and exercise changes that after time, reaped some benefits. However, because of not allowing those change to become habits, I wavered and never really stuck to things. Over this year (2013), I have done better; but, there is always room for more growth and improvement. Other changes I needed to make have become evident lately, as well, and I wanted to share some of them in this blog post.

I will start with yesterday: Sunday, November 17th. I have read many articles this year on unplugging and the benefits of it. When I say unplugging, I’m talking about not checking e-mails, not even looking at social platforms, texting with non-family members, or anything that has to do with work and unplugging from it. In the day and time we live in with smart phones, tablets, and laptops in every person’s hands almost globally, it’s created an addiction – like movement that we feel like we HAVE to check these things . I have set in restaurants and watched couples on dates and also families, engrossed on their phones, instead of living in the moment with those they are with. How many lost seconds, minutes and hours have been given to this addiction? So I took a stand to unplug and it was refreshing! My new commitment is that every Sunday is my unplug day. I would encourage you to set at least one day a week to do this and make it a day for God, family, friends, or maybe even just a book day!

Next is keeping a journal. I believe we should have a work journal to help us track our work, but more importantly, we should have a journal for life. I have heard it said, “No one will be interested in reading about my life after I’m gone”. If that is the case, then we are at fault for not making our life an extraordinary one. I might not have lived a life that others would want to read about up until now, BUT as long as I’m still breathing, that book is still being written. I also want my future generations to know who I am – not just by what others say or don’t say about me, but by my life lived out in my journals. Plus, it also gives me a way to go back and relive those special moments. I have notes, thoughts, scriptures, pictures, movie tickets, etc. pasted on the pages. My new commitment is to journal more often than ever before, because my life is extraordinary. I have the most AMAZING wife, children, family, friends. I spend my life reaching out to others and God is daily showing me something new in His Kingdom. My late father-in-law, Dr. James Zirkle, once said this, “The shortest pencil is better than the sharpest mind”. My journals in a nutshell, are my life lived on paper. Your life is worth that, also. You must see the value of you and a journal can help with that.

Last thing for the post is exercise. I’m daily getting up and doing something to better my body. Stretching, lifting weights and/or just simple core work, helps me kick start each day – just like my Word time. Something is better than nothing and once you start, the benefits seem to push you to do more.

I really hope this post helps you get a new view of how to live a Kingdom life. God has prepared a life just for you and it is AMAZING if you can simply get past the junk of this world.

We would love to hear from you with your questions, prayer requests, and/or praise reports.

So until next time, eyes up & gear up for the best is right at hand!

LivXtreme4Him