{Faith and Fitness}: Waiting...A Physical and Spiritual Need

As I was praying and preparing for this blog post the Lord laid this concept on my heart. This post takes a little step back from Health/Fitness complete view on things and really dives into the NEED physically and spiritually for the time the Lord ordains for us to rest in Him. I hope you enjoy :) 

Waiting......This word can evoke a myriad of emotions in people. As I say it I can feel my heart beating faster and my frustration mounting. To wait, now that is a concept, and one that I might add, many Americans do not like to encounter. We have become a nation that is used to drive-throughs, Face timing, the "magic" diet pills that cut 20 lbs of fat in 2 days, speedy delivery or your food is free, entire meals ready in minutes, we even have faster internet service, each company boasting that they have the new and improved means to get you your information the quickest. If I am being completely honest, and I promise to always be, I get frustrated when my information is not always at my finger tips, I get a little out of sorts when I have to wait an extra 2 minutes for my computer to sign on and I almost feel lazy when I look at my calendar and it is not filled up day to day.  But I have to stop and think; “where does the idea of waiting fit into all of this”?  What are we missing in all the busyness? What am I not grasping as I look forward to the next health goal that Im trying to attain? What am I overlooking in these times of waiting, where patience is required and faith is strengthened?  

It is a biblical truth that the Lord ordains times of waiting.  Hannah, barren and heartbroken waited year in and year out for her womb to be opened, to be given a son; Joseph, sold into slavery by his brothers and taken away from everything he had ever known, Job had his family, possessions and health stripped from him in one day. All three of these are biblical examples of waiting and longing, even yearning for the Lord and his promises to be fulfilled. Often as we wait or when we get tired of waiting, we begin to fill the void that can only be filled by God, with activities or useless actions when we are called to “Be still and know that I am God”. (Ps. 46:10)

 I am in such a time as this right now as we speak. I have found myself spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted all the time and I realized I  have been  spending less and less time with the Lord and more time milling over and trying to control every aspect of my life and manipulating things to happen in my time and in my way. No wonder I am exhausted. I have been trying to be lord of my life and refused to wait for the Lord and his timing. I am refusing to die to myself and have been pretty certain that the way I have been living is far better than what my Creator and lover of my soul had planned and specifically ordained for my life.  I was once told, “no matter what season you are in or where the Lord has you, BE PRESENT”. 

How often are we there physically but our minds and hearts are on other things. It wasn’t until I was forced to stop because of utter exhaustion that I was able to take a survey of my life and realize that my priorities were out of whack.  We  have all been called and ordained by the Lord for a specific purpose and often we miss  most of his leading and gentle nudges because we are  blinded and deafened by our activities and own desires. We cannot see the Lord working or hear his voice if we are screaming out our own agenda day in and day out.   Webster’s dictionary defines waiting as:remaining inactive; to be available or in a state of readiness. If we are called into a time of waiting we are to remain inactive, not in seeking the Lord but in pursuing the meaningless, useless idols and events that waste our time and energy. (Psalm 46:10) 

Have you ever just stopped? Stopped the planning, moving, talking and just been still? So many of us cannot handle the silence because we are a culture that likes to have every second possible filled with something, whether it be Facebook, TV, music, friends, or event after event. We refuse to stop because if we were to be still we would be forced to face our sins, our short comings, our areas of pain that we continue to push down. And yet the answer lies before us, “Be still and know that I am God”. The Dictionary also defines waiting as being available or in a state of readiness, and this is essential as well. In periods of waiting we are not to just sit there like a bump on a log but we are continue to seek the Lord and his face and his will for our lives. Romans 12:2 tell us “We have been called to “be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2). Continue to seek Him though he seems distant.  We have the promise that the Lord works on his own time and his timing is perfect. God never breaks his promises. Romans 8:28 tells us that “we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose” and still many of us try and manipulate people and situations to fit into our idea of how life should be. The Lord uses times like this, periods of waiting, to grow us in Him. 

Will we continue to see his face and relationship with Him even when we do not have the answers? When we don’t know what our next step will be are we trusting in Him and waiting to see his hand move and his gentle voice telling us to move forward? Stop and think, the Lord sees all, he knows all, and he is in the past, the present and the future. He has gone before and has a specific purpose for every creature and every event. We see only the here and now.  We can draw on past events but how much better is it to stay in constant contact with the one who is in all areas and present in all times. So if you are like me, crying out for the sovereign Lord to answer your prayers and lead you in the next step stop and rejoice that His timing is perfect, his way is better than anything we can imagine. He promises “to keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on [him].” (Isaiah 26:3) So stay constantly connected with the Lord and do not fall into the habit of listening to the world, the enemy’s whispers and venomous lies.

My friend, my fellow companion in life’s journey, lets rejoice and find peace in this ordain time. As we cry out to our Lord, let’s rest in the fact that he loves us enough to give us only the best and that is what he is preparing our hearts for. You may not have the answer yet because he is still molding you and growing you to be prepared for the next step.  In the times of waiting where answers are few and tears are many, rejoice that we are covered in His everlasting love and presence that is constant and overflowing.

To see the previous posts in the {Faith and Fitness series}, go here.

About the Author: Lauren Barksdale is the founder of Soul Fitness. She has a BA and Masters in Kinesiology from Dallas Baptist University . She coached volleyball at Birdville High School in North Richland Hills for the last 5 years. In college she played volleyball for Baylor's club team and at Dallas Baptist University. She has been married to Ben Barksdale for 5 years and has two children; Evie Grace who is 3 and Hudson who is 10 months old. Lauren has a passion for health and fitness and incorporating that into everyday life as a Christ follower

{Faith and Fitness}: Ready, Set, GOAL!

We all have goals and ideas of what we would like to accomplish. Some of us want a faster 5k time. Some of us want to cut back on the calories. Some of us just want to become more disciplined in the area of fitness.  Lets cut to the chase, we all have goals but how many of us are consistently working towards achieving them? So often we get off track or make excuses as to why we were not intentional in moving forward. Below are a couple reasons we get off track (Roadblocks)  and ways we can combat that (Action).


-ROADBLOCK:   Satan does not want you to move forward when it comes to growth, especially when you are honoring and growing in the Lord through your goal setting/achieving. He wants us to believe lies and become stagnant. If you aren't growing or moving forward then you are of no worry to him.

-ACTION: The bible tells us to meditate on the Lord's word day and night. Fill your mind, renew your mind so that you can have a clear focus and vision and listen to the Truth that the Lord has told you and not the lies the enemy uses to disarm and hurt you. The Lord has come to give you life but the enemy has come to kill, steal and destroy. (Ps. 119, Romans 12:1-3, John 10:10)

- ROADBLOCK: We do not have written goals that are visible to be seen daily. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR FUTURE or GOALS to your memory.

-ACTION: Write them everywhere! Let it be a daily reminder of what you want and where you are going. Life gets hectic but if you have the reminder around you all the time its easier to stay focused.

-ROADBLOCK: You have not created a discipline/habit to achieve your goal. So its hit or miss.

-ACTION: It takes 21 days to form a habit. That means in the pursuit of your goal you must do the same action 21 days in a row for it to begin to be habitual. Try this, pick an action that will help you (daily) get closer to your goal. Start it within the next 48 hours, stay with it for 21 days and see what happens. :)

- ROADBLOCK: Comparison!!! Too often we are zapped of motivation or joy in the journey because we begin to compare our progress or journey with that of others.

-ACTION: STOP comparing! If you are moving forward and honoring the Lord as you do, then it should not matter what others are doing. Comparison can rob us of so much joy. It creates blinders that inhibit us from seeing the true progress we have made.

I would love for you to post your goals at the bottom of this and check back in next month to let me know how you have done! You can also email me at lollie.barksdale22@gmail.com. I would love to encourage you and pray for you as you start, continue and accomplish your goals!

About the Author: Lauren Barksdale is the founder of Soul Fitness. She has a BA and Masters in Kinesiology from Dallas Baptist University . She coached volleyball at Birdville High School in North Richland Hills for the last 5 years. In college she played volleyball for Baylor's club team and at Dallas Baptist University. She has been married to Ben Barksdale for 5 years and has two children; Evie Grace who is 3 and Hudson who is 10 months old. Lauren has a passion for health and fitness and incorporating that into everyday life as a Christ follower

{Faith and Fitness}: Are you Prepared?

Imagine going to work out and you forgot one of your shoes. Imagine being asked to run a marathon with only 1 day of training. What if you are like me and your "white girl moves" are not cutting it at Zumba?  What if you tried to jump into a CrossFit work out when for the last five years your idea of "working out" is walking to change the TV channel? We have all been in that place where we think, "I am NOT prepared for this type/length/level of activity. You are bound to feel unprepared, lacking and a bit overwhelmed. There are basic things that we need in order to work out and get in shape and feel prepared for the battles you are about to take on. We need shorts, shirt, tennis shoes, water, a purpose and goal, & persistance.  Many of us stop before we get very far because we have not armed ourselves with the equipment needed, both physical and mental, to pursue and fight the battles and achieve the end goal. We must also stop and realize that we will not accomplish our goals in one day. Just as eating one good meal wont make you healthy, working out once or twice wont help you cross the finish line to that marathon. In preparing for a marathon or a physical activity that seems outside of our limits or abilities there will be blood, sweat and tears and a day after day discipline to better yourself and push forward. There is no way around it. Not doing these things will leave you stagnent and weak.

Now lets transfer that to our sanctification. What if you go into life, the battles that are around us, unprepared? What if you are shoeless? What if do not have the endurance, the focus? What if you are presented with a huge obstacle and have not trained or prepared or are lacking the essential things needed to proceed and succeed? Are we aware of the battle that is going on around us? This is a battle that will last our whole life long. Do we have the end goal (eternity with Christ) as a focus? Are we trying to take on this life, this "activity" or "challenge" without being fully prepared? Life and our walks with Christ are no Zumba class. Our ability to move our hips are not going to bring us through the battles that rage around us. So if we know what is needed to pursue fitness physically, are we aware of what is needed to pursue fitness spiritually? 

We need to be clothed and prepared to grow and get "fit" and fight these battles. Ephesians 6:14-17 speaks to us about preparing and having the correct equipment as we train and pursue the end goal and fight the battles along the way. If we go into this world without one of these it is just as if you go into the gym wearing only one shoe; you would be unprepared for what you are about to encounter. 

Just as you would pursue and work towards you end goal in physical fitness day in and day out the same is true for spiritual fitness. If you are not wearing and using the correct equipment designed to strengthen you each and every day then the process is strained and you become weak or stay the same. This is not going to push you forward. 

So wether it is running the Boston Marathon, starting a new weight lifting routine or growing in the Lord and being used by him daily, the same things are needed; the correct equipment and focus. Discipline yourself today to seek hard after the Lord and the things he has set in place for our good and our growth and our protection and lets get ready to fight and move forward! Remember this will not happen in a day... but in the end it will be worth it! 

 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

Ephesians 6:14-17

Go here to see the previous posts in the {Faith and Fitness} series.

About the Author: Lauren Barksdale is the founder of Soul Fitness. She has a BA and Masters in Kinesiology from Dallas Baptist University . She coached volleyball at Birdville High School in North Richland Hills for the last 5 years. In college she played volleyball for Baylor's club team and at Dallas Baptist University. She has been married to Ben Barksdale for 5 years and has two children; Evie Grace who is 3 and Hudson who is 10 months old. Lauren has a passion for health and fitness and incorporating that into everyday life as a Christ follower

{Faith and Fitness}: What Drives You?

As I sat down and wrote this the Lord really tugged at my heart. I have struggled with this truth for a while and yet this is the first time I can say that I rejoice in the struggle. I rejoice because I know that my God meets me in this struggle and tells me that "I am His" and that "I am made in His image" and it calms my soul and stills my anxious heart. So with that said, I share with you what has been driving me and so many others around me and the promises and the truths that are so much better and more powerful than the lies the world tells us.

Today as I read through "Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren the question came up as to what drives us? To start, the word drive means to "control, or direct". So what are we trying to control, what are we trying to direct?  What is controlling us, what is directing us? As a girl especially, I know that we are often driven to look and act a certain way by what we see in the magazines, the ads on TV and HUGE signs that drape the billboards on the side of the road. It is all around us. To be the "perfect" size, the "perfect" age, to have that "perfect" look, the world is always calling to us to be these things but we must stop and sit still and remember one thing... Who we ARE is His.  We are PERFECTLY made by a Creator who DOES NOT make mistakes. Trying to live up to these things is a crazy trap because yes we may get to the "perfect" size but often at the expense of solid nutrition and what is truly healthy for our bodies. A size 4  that comes from watching your calories like a hawk and focusing all your time and mental, physical and spiritual energy into eating only what fits into your designed caloric intake can be detrimental. Now please do not hear me say that its bad to count calories or that we shouldn't be aware of what we put into our bodies. If you know me at all you know I am a huge advocate for healthy living both physically and spiritually.  What I am saying is that when you become anxious over what you eat and cut out calories just because of the number assigned and don't look at the nutritional value of a food then it has become an idol. I can say this because I have struggled with this. I have seen what is on my plate and thought, "okay, so if I eat this but not this then Im good and can stick with my goal to "look" a certain way. It started to take over my life and when I finally stopped and looked around I saw that other things in my life were out of whack as well. It had become an idol that had clouded and even covered the face of the Lord from my eyes and my heart and it had to stop then and there. ( That is where Soul Fitness was birthed) So all that to say, yes , take care of what the Lord has given you because our bodies are not ours in the first place. By taking care of  our bodies it means knowing what you put in your body, what is best for your body and filling it with things that will allow you to serve the Lord, your family and others the way we have been called to. Not eating a certain amount of food to look a certain way so you can live up to the world's view of perfect is not what we have been called to.  Because here is a little hint. The ideas of "perfect" or "beautiful" always changes in the world's eyes. 40 years ago there were ads selling products to help women gain weight. Marilyn Monroe was seen as beautiful at a size 12. Now people would be telling her constantly she needs to diet and fit into the mold of the waif thin models to be "beautiful". But wait..... we are all beautiful, yes, even the guys. For we are made perfect with the Masters touch. "You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!" (Psalm 139:16) " I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born" ( Isaiah 44:2a  CEV) God chose every single part of who we are. From our eye color, to our race to the color of our skin, even the color of our hair. He wove into each of us our personality and traits and talents or gifts that are unique to each one of us, to be used to glorify Him. "You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something." (Psalm 139:15, The Message).  So if the God who  creates with such precision and detail into who he PURPOSEFULLY made us to be, why do we settle for what others thing or allow other things to drive us to attain goals that are set by other sinful and broken people?  We are made by the original, the blameless, Holy, perfect Creator and our beautify will never change and He will always long for and love his children, the way they are, made perfectly by Him. So what drives you? What are you trying to attain or control? Strive for the Lord, seek His face and His kingdom and it all falls into place. See your beauty not in the mirror of the world but in the face of the one who created you.

Practical Ways to apply this on a daily basis: 

1. Write down and post Psalm 139 and Isaiah 44  on your mirror and read it every morning 

2. Pray that the Lord would open your eyes to see yourself and others as He sees them. 

3. Be aware and proactive in taking care of yourself. Do not deprive yourself or over indulge. Through prayer ask the Lord where you need help in each area. 

4. Realize that food and being active are both things CREATED by our God. Remember to worship the Creator, not the creation. 

5. Meditate on the Word of God during the day. When your mind begins to wander to images or stories and you begin to compare yourself with others ask him to draw you back and let him love on you :) 

Go here to see the previous posts in the {Faith and Fitness} series.

About the Author: Lauren Barksdale is the founder of Soul Fitness. She has a BA and Masters in Kinesiology from Dallas Baptist University . She coached volleyball at Birdville High School in North Richland Hills for the last 5 years. In college she played volleyball for Baylor's club team and at Dallas Baptist University. She has been married to Ben Barksdale for 5 years and has two children; Evie Grace who is 3 and Hudson who is 10 months old. Lauren has a passion for health and fitness and incorporating that into everyday life as a Christ follower

{Faith and Fitness}: Where are you running ?

Okay sisters its time for a "heart to heart/come to Jesus" meeting. This is a time when honest answers need to come out even if they sting a little. The following question keeps popping up in my mind as of late and I want to see where you stand as well.

                                        Q: When times get tough where do you run?

 Do you run to the pantry? Do you run to the gym? Do you run to the nearest Chick-fil-a and get yourself a #1 but substitute the fries with fruit so you don't feel as bad?

There is nothing wrong with Chick-fil-a, in fact secretly I hope there are a couple in Heaven. You know, at the corner of Glory & Eternity.

All joking aside, how many of us run straight to the Lord?

If you were to ask me this a couple months ago I would have honestly answered that I ran to the Lord.....as I sat eating my "healthy snack" or on my way to "work off some stress." But the Lord in all his faithfulness has shown me through a series of events and heart "aha" moments that I DO NOT run to him but I rather quickly chase things that can distract me for the moment but perish later and leave me devastated and looking for more.

One such moment came when I decided to fast so that I could hear the Lord's voice more clearly on certain events taking place. When I started to get hungry and my stomach started making crazy noises my first inclination was to run straight to the fridge and get something to satisfy me and my need. It wasn't until I was mid-bite that the Holy Spirit stopped me and reminded me that the Lord was the only one who could satisfy and that I needed to come to him and not run to attempt to satisfy the need myself.  Then and only then did I realize my crumbling idol that I lean on during stressful times was food/ working out.

Now it may look good from the outside as I munch on my apples & PB or I go for a run, but we all know that the Lord knows our hearts, the inside. He knows that we are chasing after crumbling and vanishing gods that will NOT satisfy or dull the hunger we are feeling. The hunger for love, safety, direction and peace. These my friend can only be satisfied by the Bread of Life himself. When times get tough we are told that "the righteous cry out and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles." (Psalm 34:17) We are to come before him and let him fill us up, dull our hunger and thirst for more and find fullness of life in him.

How many of us have allowed such a wonderful provision of food, unhealthy and healthy, to become our idol? How many of us instead of running to the Lord when life begins to crumble around us, instead run to the gym or to a friend who will listen to us vent?

Food, exercise and friendships are all things the Lord has blessed us with but when we put those things above the creator of ALL things then they in turn become faulty gods who will always let us down. So sister, when you find yourself hungry and longing to be filled. RUN to a God who listens, cares, and fills us with unending joy and life so that we may never hunger or thirst again.

We are told in Psalm 34:18 that "the LORD is closer to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in Spirit". Also, in Psalm 25:14 the Lord tells us that "the friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant". The Lord longs for us to run to him. In his presence is friendship, healing and peace. Here are some practical things I have found that have been helpful that keep me on track as I "run" after him.

1. Run/Walk & pray.  This is a great time to be alone with the Lord and talk to him on-the-go.
2. Put scripture in places that you frequent. (ex. car visor, bathroom mirror, door to the garage) Let there be a constant reminder and prayerful attitude towards running after him.
3. Memorize scripture. Worthy of the Prize Fit Bands are great for this. They are easy to take with you and a great way to memorize and meditate on scripture throughout the day.
4. To stop yourself from only seeking crumbling idols in fitness or food, you can post scripture on the fridge/pantry or put reminders on your IPOD to show up when you are working out.

Go here to see the previous posts in the {Faith and Fitness} series.

About the Author: Lauren Barksdale is the founder of Soul Fitness. She has a BA and Masters in Kinesiology from Dallas Baptist University . She coached volleyball at Birdville High School in North Richland Hills for the last 5 years. In college she played volleyball for Baylor's club team and at Dallas Baptist University. She has been married to Ben Barksdale for 5 years and has two children; Evie Grace who is 3 and Hudson who is 10 months old. Lauren has a passion for health and fitness and incorporating that into everyday life as a Christ follower

{Faith and Fitness}: New Year, New Goals

We all know that with each new year comes new goals and resolutions. We all start out picturing ourselves at the end of the year having healthier bodies, healthier finances, giving back, serving more and spending more time with our family. Sadly, by mid-February we are struggling to keep up with at least one of the goals on our list. One of the hardest goals to keep, I have found, is getting and staying in shape. I hope the following list helps you stay on track and get where you want to be. My prayer for you in 2013 is that the Lord blesses you immensely and no matter what goals you have set forth that you will live by Proverbs 3:5-6 and trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Happy NEW YEAR!

1. Start slow & Stay Consistent. Don't push yourself past what you know is your best. Rushing the process of getting into shape could end up in an injury.

2. Find something you love to do. There are so many different options for work outs today that there is something for everyone. Whether you are into Zumba, running, bootcamps or Pilates, find something you love and it will be easier to stay consistent.

3. Go to bed on time and get up on time.  The hardest part of getting going is getting up. It is easier if you get a good nights sleep and are rested. It allows your body to not only burn more calories and for your muscles to recover but it also helps put a little pep in your sleepy step. :)

4. Set your alarm and actually get up. Pick a time that you will get up at consistently. Try not to start too early if you are not a morning person. Pick a reasonable time that works with your family and work schedule and go from there.

5. Stay positive and give thanks. Understanding that getting "fit" is a process takes the pressure off to try and change overnight. Remember, you did not gain the weight over night and you will not lose it over night. One thing that I have found helpful is giving thanks to the Lord for the way our bodies are made in such amazing ways and thanking him for creating me in such a unique way. ( Psalm 139)

6. Drink Plenty of Water. This helps keep you hydrated and healthy. Each person actually needs 1 ml of water for each calorie consumed. There are approximately 30 ml in an ounce. Therefore, for every 30 calories we et, we need one ounce of water. If we consume 2000 calories per day, we should consume 2000 ml of water, which equals approximately 66 ounces of water, or a little more than eight 8-ounce glasses of water.

7. Listen to your mama, "Don't skip breakfast". This is the most important meal of the day because it is the first meal that gets you going for the day. It starts the burning of calories and helps get your metabolism going. Studies show that those who skip breakfast end up snacking more and eating larger meals at night and gain more weight than those who eat a healthy, balanced breakfast.

8. Give yourself a break and a cheat day. Getting healthy is not a magical pill that you take and all of a sudden you have lost 50 lbs and gained loads of energy, it is a life style change. With any change comes hurdles and different ways of thinking. In changing your work out and eating habits you need to give yourself a day or meal that you are able to take a break. This not only allows you to stay on course longer and gives you something to look forward to but it also gives you a chance to "surprise" your body. At times this allows your body to kick into high gear to burn the extra calories and ends up burning a couple extra :)

Go here to see the previous posts in the {Faith and Fitness} series.

About the Author: Lauren Barksdale is the founder of Soul Fitness. She has a BA and Masters in Kinesiology from Dallas Baptist University . She coached volleyball at Birdville High School in North Richland Hills for the last 5 years. In college she played volleyball for Baylor's club team and at Dallas Baptist University. She has been married to Ben Barksdale for 5 years and has two children; Evie Grace who is 3 and Hudson who is 10 months old. Lauren has a passion for health and fitness and incorporating that into everyday life as a Christ follower

Thanksgiving Desserts Without The Regret

As we get closer to Thanksgiving and each person starts to make plans for Turkey Day I know that each person is thinking of the food that will ordain each table and will inevitably be leftovers for the next week :) I may be the only person who actually does not like Thanksgiving food. Gasp! I know, its almost like its unAmerican :) To top if off, this year my birthday falls on Thanksgiving day. So I get to celebrate the big 2-9 with a large bird and fixins that I do not particularly like. BUT the thing that saves Thanksgiving food in my book are the desserts. Now almost every other day at the year I have no problem saying no to desserts but there is something about the made-from-scratch pies and cakes and the aroma of each of these filling the room that makes it very hard to pass them up.  So, I thought I might pass on a couple guilt free recipes that can be either for dessert on Thanksgiving or even snacks during the day. They will keep you full, fuel your body and let you enjoy that second helping with a little less guilt and shame ;)

I hope you enjoy


Protein PB Balls

-1 cup of AdvoCare Muscle Gain ( vanilla or chocolate) - you can use other forms of protein. I chose this one because it is one of the highest quality proteins on the market.
-1 cup of Peanut Butter ( natural or organic)- Walmart has "Natural Skippy" that you dont need to stir
-1 cup of Honey (try for locally made or organic)
- 3 cups of nuts (optional) and rolled whole oats

Chop or put the nuts in a food processor; keep the oats whole, mix it all up and roll into small balls. Keep in the fridge. Can be frozen. ENJOY :)


Banana Pudding

- 2 large boxes of sugar free instant vanilla pudding 
-5 cups of low fat milk 
- 5-6 oz of low fat sour cream 
-2 cups of lite Cool Whip 
-2-3 bananas 
- Low Fat Nilla Wafers 

Pour the dry vanilla pudding mix into the cold milk. ( Pouring it into the milk prevents it from being lumpy when stirring). Mix well. Add the sour cream and Cool Whip. Let the pudding set for a few minutes. When it is set, line the bottom of the bowl with Nilla Wafers. ( If preparing this ahead of time, you may want to skip this step and just add the wafers to the top before serving so they do not become soggy). Pour the pudding into the bowl covering the wafers. Garnish the top of the pudding with more wafers. 

I know a couple of you may be freaking out about the sour cream. I PROMISE you will not taste it and it actually helps give the pudding a little bit of thickness. 

I hope you enjoy Thanksgiving and get to try out these recipes! :)

LB

About the Author: Lauren Barksdale is the founder of Soul Fitness. She has a BA and Masters in Kinesiology from Dallas Baptist University . She coached volleyball at Birdville High School in North Richland Hills for the last 5 years. In college she played volleyball for Baylor's club team and at Dallas Baptist University. She has been married to Ben Barksdale for 5 years and has two children; Evie Grace who is 3 and Hudson who is 10 months old. Lauren has a passion for health and fitness and incorporating that into everyday life as a Christ follower

LIMITLESS

 

Have you ever had those encounters with God that you walk away just stunned by his overwhelming greatness?  Those times where everything that happens is dripping in his presence and can only be explained as an ordained and sovereign happening of the Lord? This weekend I had an encounter like that. This weekend I was able to help and be behind the scenes at an outdoor Jeremy Camp concert. It took place in a small Texas town with under 600 people making up the entire community. To get a sense of how small it is; there is not even a stop light or a Dairy Queen! The amount of people who showed up to the concert doubled and almost tripled the entire town’s population. It was an awesome sight to see. The quote from Field of Dreams came to mind where he says, “ If you build it, they will come”. That is exactly what happened and they came. Satan tried many times to put a stop to this event but did not prevail! As each obstacle came up, the Lord, who is ALWAYS in control, took care of each situation so that the concert could take place. 

I have found, that the Lord loves to show his power in situations that seem helpless to the human eye.  From the moment the day started on Saturday until Sunday at midnight the Lord really showed up and let me know in a BIG way that He is LIMITLESS.  For example, the concert took place in an area that is usually drought stricken and a storm came in on Friday that caused flash floods in certain parts, and for a concert that is taking place in an outdoor venue this is not a good sign. But the Lord is LIMITLESS. He stopped the rain and dried up a drenched field covered in 4 1/2 inches of water to the point where people were able to sit on the ground to watch the concert.   He continually defied the odds and you could almost taste his presence. Halfway through the concert I just stopped and was amazed at the POWER of the Lord. The fact that the winds and rains answer to the Lord and all of creation was breathed and controlled by my Creator was powerful. Then and there he spoke to me, right to my heart, saying, “ Why do you limit me?” It caught me off guard, because never in my mind did I think I was limiting the Lord. How can I limit such a mighty God? But then he asked me again, “ Why do you limit me?”  and thats when it hit me, in my mind I believe the Lord can do mighty things but do I really believe it in my heart and live out that belief? To often I hold onto what I know the Lord can do and try and put him in my “Lauren- made” box. The problem with this way of thinking is that his thoughts are not my thoughts and his ways are not my ways (Isaiah 55:8-9) and He is able to do and does more than I can ever imagine. He breaks my man- made box in every aspect and yet I continually try and shove him back in there. I need a good slap across the face and a reminder that we have a God who has created all and literally breathed all into existence. We were created by a LIMITLESS God. 

How often do we also put limits on ourselves? We see the goals we want to reach physically, like wanting to lose weight, or get more toned or build up endurance but we only see ourselves able to do so much. We put these unspoken and unseen limits on our abilities when the Lord has created us to do so much more with his help and through his power. You see, that is where we get messed up. We limit ourselves because we only see what we are able to do as humans. But through God, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!  ( Matthew 19:26) He breaks every boundary, he breaks through every limit that was placed and works best through the weakest and most available servants. I have found that the Lord loves to flex his power and majesty in situations that seem impossible and are covered in the doubts and limits put on them by our finite minds. So before you settle, before you only see yourself going so far, or accomplishing only so much, stop and ask the Lord to guide you and give to him all that you are and let your LIMITLESS God work in and through you. 

Tonight as you lay your head down I challenge you to  pray Psalm 31:3,5 to the Lord. Whisper in the darkness, “ SInce you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead me and guide me. Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth.” Then let him work, watch him work and show up in mighty LIMITLESS ways.  

About the Author: Lauren Barksdale is the founder of Soul Fitness. She has a BA and Masters in Kinesiology from Dallas Baptist University . She coached volleyball at Birdville High School in North Richland Hills for the last 5 years. In college she played volleyball for Baylor's club team and at Dallas Baptist University. She has been married to Ben Barksdale for 5 years and has two children; Evie Grace who is 3 and Hudson who is 10 months old. Lauren has a passion for health and fitness and incorporating that into everyday life as a Christ follower