The New Year is here. It is like birthdays. They come whether or not you are ready. 😲

I like to take time to plan my new year. It gives me that confident “I can see great things” mindset. And this year is no exception.

I always start with a new Bible focus and a revisit to my health focus.  Last year my goal was to bike the Florida coast from the border of Georgia to the tip of the Keys. That was an incredible journey, one I will never forget.

I really wish I could do the entire East Coast Greenway from the tip of Canada to the Keys. It is over 3,000 miles long and I have now completed all Virginia and Florida, partly completed North Carolina. Yet, to finish takes a lot of planning and one or two people to join in. Riding solo is not a fear of mine, but common sense says it is better to ride in pairs. Plus to share the scenery, conversation and to not stop till we have reached our max! That is a tremendous benefit to riding with friends.

I have always ridden alone because of logistics. Steve follows on the app and stays close by to get me out of lostness, flat tires and weariness.

So, you can see that to ride from Maine to the Keys, I need to recruit some friends.  Would that be you? 🚲

The New Year - Two Focus Points: Spiritual and Physical

Each week for the next 6 weeks, I am going to ask you to walk with me through two focus points.

I will share 6 spiritual points for us to ponder together and I will share 6 physical changes to make sure we are using the best products, tools and options.

Thanks for joining me as we walk together into 2023.

Week 1   Courage and Cleaning

Spiritual Focus - Courage 💪

On our family banner, I included the verse “Be strong and courageous”. This was intentional. Courage comes from confidence in the Lord. It is a learned behavior. One that happens as we daily depend on Him.

But no one can deny that we live in a frightening world.  There are people who wear shirts that state: ‘No Fear’. But we both know there is plenty in this world to fear. And actually there is much that is basically frightening. Yet, this is apart from God.

All of us will be tempted to fear. That is life.

Isaiah Chapter 8:11-14 teaches us how to live with courage.

For thus the Lord spoke to me with a mighty power and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying, 

“You are not to say, ‘It is a conspiracy!’
In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy.
And you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it.
‘It is the Lord of hosts who you should regard as holy. And He shall be your dread.
“Then He shall become a sanctuary; 

Isaiah had to be instructed - which means corrected or disciplined for the purpose of education. Even Isaiah had to be educated in how to be courageous in a frightening world.

God is saying - when you fear don’t walk and talk like those around you.  Don’t respond like everyone else.

Don't compromise.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord - Jeremiah 17:5, 7. 💖

When we are frightened, it is tempting to compromise. God is clear that is not what He expects.

Don’t cave in.

Don’t fear what the people fear. Don’t be intimidated by threats.  See 1 Peter 3:14-15.

Above in Isaiah 8:13

It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy.

This means to set apart. We are to set apart our relationship with the Lord. It is not to be a common relationship. He is our Creator. Our thoughts of God can be too small. They are to be sanctified.

As we set God apart in our hearts, our fear will only be of the Lord - a blessed fear, a fear that does not waver at the winds of people and events happening around us.

The reason we struggle so intensely with fear of man and circumstances is because we think of God as being ordinary.

When we give more honor and power to the Creator and not the created, then our fear will go away. 🤲

Here are some verses to ponder: Psalm 91:1-2; Psalm 45:1-3 and Romans 8:31
If God is for us, who is against us?

Ok - is this as powerful for you as it is for me. That is a lot to focus on this coming week.

Be strong and courageous!

Physical Focus - Cleaning 🧽

Let’s start our checklist of making sure our homes are clean. Did you know the cleaning products found in the grocery aisle are very toxic and extremely carcinogenic?

Babies that came to the ER when I worked there would arrive late at night with a rash or a raspy cough. We called it the Bounce rash. The cough was typically induced from the laundry detergents and fabric freshener sheets. These are highly toxic.

I list in the Treasures of Health Nutrition Manual many of the ingredients to avoid. It would wipe out all the products at Walmart.  

I used to walk for exercise in a neighborhood and could smell in the air who was doing laundry. Then I would pray for the kids living there. Those fumes you see the woman on the commercial smelling and loving - are toxic.

Now that is not all. Window cleaners, floor cleaners, you name it - they are all toxic. ☠️

I have avoided these toxic cleaners since 2003, when I was made aware of the toxicity. Why use these around my family, young kids and pets?

There are many options.

Here is a video where I share some inexpensive options and some products you can buy readymade that work and don’t cost too much.

This is a simple way to make sure your home is clean and not toxic. 😃