CHAIM: {Hebrew} n. life pronounced: kha|yeem or hi |eem You have chosen CHAIM because you want life and MORE LIFE: more life in your every day, more life in your relationships, and more life with your family and friends. Jesus Christ came to give you life and life more abundantly. CHAIM is a Christian magazine devoted to YOU who want the best out of life. CHAIM is a bold, no-nonsense Bible approach to conquering the daily challenges women face with practical HOW-TOs based in the Word of God. You will enjoy articles, resources, and real life stories to encourage, build up, and strengthen the spirit, soul, and body. God has given us His Word to direct and restore our lives. He is keenly interested in putting paradise back into our everyday living. In CHAIM magazine, readers will find the love of God on display in every article, resource, and real life story. After all, this is the mystery of heaven: that God LOVES YOU! CHAIM will help you focus, adapt and constantly strive for improvement on your road to achieving your goals, even if you don’t know what they are right now. CHAIM is here to encourage, motivate, and sometimes be tough with you. We are devoted to your success. You will reach your destination. You will be victorious. You will have paradise back in your everyday life. Be encouraged, CHAIM is for you.
5 Editor’s Note with Cristina Hawkins 13 Set Your Face Like Flint by Meghan Bailey 7 Armor That Works by Curt Hawkins Daily Paradise 30 DAYS OF ENCOURAGEMENT Each Other REAL PEOPLE. REAL VICTORIES Cleaning with Joy TIPS TO MAKE YOUR HOUSE A HOME The Market Square RESOURCES FITNESS Exercises, Articles, CULINARY Cooking, Nutrition, Parties TRAVEL Around the World with DIY Favorite Things THE TREEHOUSE Loving and Training our children DIGITAL Podcasts, YouTube, Online shopping, & More
OCTOBER 2011 Volume 1 | Issue 4 Printed in the USA EDITOR IN CHIEF Cristina Hawkins
Yes, you heard right! We are so pleased to make this available for you. Praise be to God! If you have it in your heart to partner with us, please contact us or email @ info@ChaimInc.com. If you want to subscribe online, see instructions on page 36 or visit ChaimInc.com and click 'magazine,' and there are a couple ways to subscribe for a monthly issue. Remember you can choose to have your issue either in print or digital or both. Just let us know your preference.
To receive your subscription of CHAIM magazine, write to CHAIM, INC. PO BOX 190464, Boise, Idaho 83719-0464 or subscribe online www.ChaimInc.com.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Curt Hawkins Meghan Bailey Joy Lefforge Kathy Goodheart
ON THE COVER Olivia Hawkins PHOTOGRAPHER Emily Hawkins
For general inquiries about CHAIM magazine, please contact us via email: info@ChaimInc.om For partnership with CHAIM magazine e: partner@ChaimInc.com For submissions to CHAIM magazine: (including DIY, recipes, or articles) e: info@ChaimInc.com with submission in subject line CHAIM magazine is a monthly publication by HAWKINS MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL, a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the demonstration of love – because God’s love is real! All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
That’s good news!
I’ve not written an editor’s note before; I guess this is just a space to share a about what’s been going on in my little world. As I said above, I thank the LORD for His goodness: not only in my own life, but in the lives of those around me. Each Tuesday, at the Women’s WordShop, women have the opportunity to share their testimonies, or first hand experiences of answered prayers and as one lady said, “surprises from God”. These good reports always encourage me. As it is written in Psalms many times over, “O that men would praise the LORD for his goodness.” “It is good to give thanks unto the LORD” and “Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.” We praise the LORD daily by our willingness to declare or say aloud for others to hear, all the ways God has demonstrated His love to us. My heart overflows with joy when hearing about God’s mighty hand evident in people around the world. We see and hear so much good, but many times are easily distracted by the not-so-good and bad stuff in our world, people we know, and even in our own homes. If you are born again, then you don’t have to be discouraged. God has provided all your solutions. He is your solution. If you are not born again, and you want things to improve in your little world – call on Jesus today! His arms are open to receive you. HOW HE LOVES YOU!
First, I would like to shout: PRAISE THE L O R D !! For He is good and His mercy endures forever! Curt and I just got back from shooting our video Bible study “Faith to Overcome”. The weather was perfect, so we decided to film at a beautiful downtown park. What a joy to talk about the goodness of God with my husband. We talk about God and His Word all the time, but it is especially wonderful to be in a beautiful setting. This month’s CHAIM construction has been a blessing to me. As I continue learning to take God at His Word, I find over and over that God’s Word works, and He is faithful to perform it. All I have to do is believe Him.
You will find a lot to like about digital issues. Just a click away, you will find embedded video, making stories and ads come alive in a way print editions can't. You can click on links and be transported to easy online shopping with partners’ and sponsors’ web sites. digital also enables readers to print pages and save them, or even forward them to share ideas and information with their friends on facebook and twitter.
Your interactive experience with CHAIM digital is waiting. Meet Little Mouse Jacob Strauss. Once upon a time, there were six little children who went to visit their beautiful Grandma. All the children gathered around Grandma as she sat knitting, and listened intently to the wonderful adventures of Little Mouse Jacob Strauss. Grandma loved to tell the children stories, especially when the weather outside was too hot or too cold and remaining indoors was a must. It was then that Little Mouse Jacob Strauss was born. In honor of those delightful stories, we have invited Little Mouse Jacob Strauss to be our digital tour guide. He is friendly and eager to show us all the wonderful places we can CLICK while reading CHAIM digital. Just start CLICKING! When something grabs your attention…just click it. The click of a mouse can take you to YouTube videos showing great how-to’s, all linked so you can shop from the convenience of your computer. Remember that Little Mouse Jacob Strauss will be there to show you the way.
How many sermons have you heard about the armor of the Lord? “Take the sword of the spirit! Put on your breastplate of righteousness! Brothers and sisters, the shield of faith can quench all the fiery darts of the devil!” If you have been saved for a while, you’ve probably heard a sermon along these lines. Yet, for all these sermons, we sure seem to be getting beat up by the devil. There has been a grave misunderstanding regarding the armor of the Lord, and I think it’s time we set things straight. There are too many people going through the motions of putting the armor on and getting no results. We must have results! When I was a young man, I too heard a sermon preaching the benefits of wearing the armor of the Lord. During the teaching, my spirit perked up and my eyes got big. Just the thought of this armor acting as a force field against the powers of darkness and the devil excited me greatly. The preacher intricately explained all the functions of each piece of the armor of the Lord. He went on to say how critical it is that we have this armor on at all times. This all sounded great to me. Then he went on to explain how to put on this armor. My eyes got really big. The preacher said, “Each morning as you get out of bed, put on the armor of the Lord! Literally, act as though you have something in your hands and put on the girdle of truth. Now stand up straight and go through the motions of putting on the breastplate of righteousness. And when you put it on, say what you’re putting on. Now make the motions of putting on the shoes of the gospel of peace.” So on and so forth until you’re fully clothed with the armor. Desperately wanting the benefits of this force field, I diligently put on the armor every morning without fail. That is until I started noticing that the armor wasn’t working like I thought it would. I did not win any more victories than I had before.
Battles were just as difficult. The enemy, satan, seemed to easily have his way with me. So I stopped dressing with this armor. What happened? I was so meticulous going through the armor in order, making sure that I did the motions for each piece as best I could. Were my motions not authentic enough? Did I not say it right? Did I not mean it from my heart? As I judged myself, I got no indication that I was doing something different than what the preacher was saying to do. It just wasn’t working. Fast forward . . . too many years of not having victory in this area, and here I was, getting beat up by the devil and the forces of darkness. During this much-too-long period, I was slowly learning the importance of the finality of God’s Word: The authority of the Word, and the power in the Word. The Holy Ghost was teaching me how to trust God on another level. Trusting God meant trusting His Word. I had grown enough to at least know that the Bible, all of it, is TRUE. So if I ever came to a passage that didn’t seem to work in my life, or didn’t seem to be true, I knew that the issue was with me and my revelation of it. The problem was not with the Word. The Word always works! My friend, just having this confidence in the Word brings a great deal of peace. Have you rested your entire being on the integrity of God’s Word? Back to the topic at hand, the armor of the Lord. In the quietness of each morning, I like to spend time with the Lord. This is where a lot prayer takes place, praise and thanksgiving, and meditation in the Word of God, and oh yes… coffee. It’s meditation of God’s Word that brings revelation. This is by no means a formula, but I like to start out in Psalms or Proverbs first, then read and meditate in the New Testament from Matthew to Revelation. During one of these mornings, it was time to take my place in Ephesians 6. The armor of the Lord. I usually have such a thirst and hunger for the Word, but I have to admit to you that this particular morning I was not excited to read this passage. I wasn’t excited because I remembered the past. I remembered putting on the armor and getting nowhere. Being honest with myself and with the Lord, I poured out my heart to Him. “Father, why isn’t this working in my life? I don’t get it. Would you please give me wisdom? Would you give me revelation regarding what you’re saying through Paul? I receive it in Jesus’ name! I believe I have it.” So I began to read slowly starting in verse 10, and continuing through verse 18. I read the whole passage again. And then again. Probably fifteen times. And then the Lord began to open my eyes to the wonderful truth. So many times we’re in such a hurry that we pass right over the goodness of God without even thinking about it. “Well, I got my Bible reading in, what now?” Slow down! Who cares if you spend forty-five minutes on two verses!? Did you get a word from God? Or did you just do your Bible reading? As simple as this may be, what the Lord began to show me was this. You can’t be protected with armor that doesn’t exist. Going through the motions of putting on armor is no more real than playing ‘air guitar.’ Just as the air guitar makes no noise, so putting on ‘air armor’ doesn’t protect you from the craftiness of the devil. All this amounts to is performing a ritual. It is superstitious is on the way to witchcraft. Here is another visual. It’s like someone making the sign of the cross over their chest before they do something important to bring them that extra blessing or luck. When you see a field goal kicker cross his heart before the 52 yard field goal attempt, do you say, “Oh it’s gonna be alright, because he crossed his heart?” No you don’t. You don’t put any faith in that action at all. It’s superstition. If going through the motions of putting on the Lord’s armor doesn’t work, what does? Here it is (drum roll please….) THE WORD WORKS! Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). The only way to please God is with our faith, so we need the Word. A Rhema Word from God comes from the Word of God. The more you meditate in the scriptures, the more you will get a Word from God. This Word from God gives you the faith you need to carry out the plan of God. In fact, you will carry out the plan of God with confidence. Confidence because you’ve gotten heaven’s solution.
As you order your life by the Word, armor is being attached to you. I’ll say it this way. Your getting dressed in the armor of the Lord is your meditation of God’s Word and your doing of God’s Word. It is not making motions with your hands to put it on your body. Here’s something else. Getting dressed in this armor isn’t something you do quickly. Clothing yourself in the armor of the Lord takes time. It takes time for you to read it, meditate on it, and sow it into your heart. As you sow the Word into your heart, your faith builds. As your faith builds you become unstoppable and impenetrable because you are clothed in armor. Not just any armor, but the armor of the Lord! Praise God! see page 35 for details
Let’s go back to the word meditate for a moment. What is meditation to you? Meditation of the Word of God is to ponder the Word. To talk to yourself about it, to talk to Father about it, chew on it; turn it over in your spirit all day, all night. The Word changes the image in you to line up with Father’s image of you. When the image inside changes, the outside has to change. When you read Ephesians 6:10 –18, it sounds like Paul is telling this group of believers to put on something they haven’t had before. Like it’s some kind of one time process. What would be more accurate is that Paul is telling the Ephesians this: “Keep in the forefront of your minds that you have already been in the Word. Now realize what the Word does for you and don’t let go of this. Like a soldier fighting in battle is clothed with physical armor, so the Word of God is your spiritual armor. Remember, you can’t have or be what you don’t know and do.” And notice the position of the believer. He’s in battle. He’s fully engaged in warfare, fighting with a sword. The sword is the Word from God in your mouth! What has God told you personally? If you don’t know or it’s been a while… it’s time to get back in the Word. Many times we do wrestle with flesh and blood as we see the circumstances around us being so real. All this wrestling with what we see is as good as flailing about with not one punch connecting. You keep trying to fight a situation and nothing is moving. Nothing is changing. There is another realm that is even more real than what we see and feel. The spiritual realm. To fight here you must have revelation from God. Heaven’s solution. Now, instead of flailing about, you’re wielding a sword like a laser beam that divides between soul and spirit, and even discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). Now you’re not experimenting or trying things hoping something sticks. You’re getting results because you know exactly what to do. You’ve downloaded wisdom from your Father who loves you. We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ. Jesus overcame the world and He expects us to do the same through Him. Don’t sit there and let things happen to you. Fight! Know that it is God’s will for you to WIN EVERY BATTLE. Clothed in the armor of the Lord, you will! CHAIM
Curt Hawkins, President of HAWKINS MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL gave his life to the LORD over 35 years ago. He loves his wife and children, and endeavors to walk in the love wherewith the LORD has first loved us. Whether preaching side by side with his bride, playing Frisbee with their children, or motorcycling in the mountains, Curt witnesses first hand that God’s love is real. YOU CAN TOO, because God is no respecter of persons. To find out more, go online: HawkinsMinistries.org
If you do not know
as your Savior and Lord, Simply pray the following prayer in faith and Jesus will be your Lord! Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. Your Word says, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” and “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” ACTS 2:21, ROMANS 10:9 You said my salvation would be the result of Your Holy Spirit giving me new birth by coming to live in me JOHN 3:5-6, 15-16; ROMANS 8:9-11 and that if I would ask, You would fill me with Your Spirit and give me the ability to speak with other tongues LUKE 11:13; ACTS 2:4
I take You at Your Word. I confess that Jesus is Lord. And I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. Thank You for coming into my heart, for giving me Your Holy Spirit as You have promised, and for being Lord over my life. Amen. If you have just prayed this prayer, please contact us and let us know of your decision. We have a free Salvation Package we would like to send you to help you begin your new life in Jesus! Simply write and ask for offer #001.
GOD IS NOT A RESPECTER OF PERSONS! What He has done for one person, He will do for you. There are times we may struggle with issues or circumstances and to read about others who have taken God at His Word and been victorious gives us further proof and standing power because GOD IS. We endeavor to be perfect like Jesus, but even if we fail, that’s okay because He is plenteous in mercy. He picks us up and we continue following the LORD. It’s in the getting back up that encourages others to do the same…to NEVER GIVE UP. When you share your story, you’ll touch someone, who when they read will find that they, too, can overcome their situation and be victorious.
Let us share your story. Send in your testimony of God’s goodness to you.
EachOther@ChaimInc.com
You are loved Prayer for our readers and partners is top priority at CHAIM, Inc. Every day we pray for one another, for the magazine, our nation, for our world. Why? Because, God first loved us. People are important and valued in God’s eyes and we agree with II Peter 1:2 that “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our LORD.” We pray for your health and healing, for your finances and for your relationships, basing all our praying on the Word of God. Then we go to work . What a blessing it is for the staff of CHAIM, Inc. to (each day in focused prayer and intercession) lift up to God our readers and partners! You can see we don’t take prayer lightly. We understand the power God makes available to us through the prayer of His people for one another. James 5:16 “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Always praying for you! We agree with you in prayer according to the promises of God’s Word. We stand ready to serve you in taking your needs and the desires of your heart before the LORD. There is not an issue in your life the Word of God does not address and we are equipped to lead you to the Word and help you use it in authority over every issue.
Prayer plays a major role at CHAIM and in our partnership with you. We are here for you wherever you are (whether geographically or personally) to pray the prayer of faith in agreement with God’s Word over everything that concerns you. Let us hear from you! We would love to hear how CHAIM has been a blessing in your life. Please contact us with prayer requests and testimonies of the goodness of God in your life.
EachOther@ChaimInc.com PO Box 190464 Boise, ID 83719
The question is: from where does our help come? There is a difference between a strong woman and a woman in God’s strength. We have all been in the midst of some major mountains in our lives; where our obstacles loom largely in front of us. We have circumstances that warrant some help in our relationships, jobs, finances, and families.
A strong woman will end her trial drained and with hope dwindling. A woman in God’s strength will end her trial strengthened and victorious. In the bible, it clearly tells us that through our God we have the power to leap over our obstacles and the authority to tell our mountains where to go. MARK 11:23 Our amazing God has many titles, too, in addition to our loving Father. He is also known as our Redeemer, Deliverer, Protector, and Provider. Amidst life’s trials, we must be strong in the Lord. In Isaiah 50:7, it gives us a great picture of how to be strong when we need help. It says, “For the Lord God will help me; therefore I will not be disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed.” II SAMUEL 22:30,
A woman in God’s strength sets her face like a flint, and grounds her feet on the promises of God. God, being THE amazing author He is, uses such colorful language in the Bible, so this verse is easy to visualize. Flint is an extremely strong rock. It is a type of quartz that is known for its durable, immovable quality. Bold in color and durability, flint is used in jewelry, making fire, knives, and even as building material. Flint extremely strong and is a 7 on Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness (Diamond is a 10, which is the strongest). We are to set our face like this rock: immovable and bold in the midst of our trials. The Word says the Lord will help us, and we will not be disgraced nor will we be ashamed. “Not ashamed” is being hopeful, assured, and without regrets. We will never regret following the Lord’s plan, for He will never lead us astray. The path the Lord is calling us is paved with victory, my friends! This verse in Isaiah seems to be telling us to have an immovable faith, or a flint-like faith. We are to be movable, even elastic, in what God has called us to do. I’ve even heard it say we are like the wind, moving to wherever or whoever the Holy Spirit is calling us. Once our feet have found the path the Lord is calling us, we set, or fix, ourselves for our journey. It’s as if the Lord is telling us to “BUCKLE UP!” He will always lead us to hope, to victory, to His assured blessings. Many people of the Bible exhibit this flint-like faith. We will see flexibility when heeding to the Lord, yet a steadfast, immovable stance amidst the trials that came their way. Remember Ruth? She showed a loyal, steadfast faith when she stuck by her mother-in-law. Her faithful servitude is almost unbelievable in our day. She was so virtuous, it says in Ruth 3:11, that entire the town knew about her! She chose to stand by an impoverished mother-in-law, laboring day in and day out, and because of her flint-like faith, God provided her a place in the family lineage of Jesus! Esther is another woman of incredible flint-like boldness in her faith. Vashti, the queen before her, was exiled due to her ‘insubordination to the king.’ Esther was promoted in place of Vashti, later to find the king had signed a decree to kill all Jews. She found herself in a place of need. She needed to save her people, yet knew what the consequences could be. Approaching the king without being summoned warranted a death sentence in that day. She had quite the mountain in front of her, yet she knew she would not be ashamed, set her face like flint, and approached the king. God moved in the king to release the decree to destroy the Jews, and her people were saved. All because a woman chose to be courageous and take God at His word!
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego set their faces like flint, and said this in DANIEL 3:17 “If that is the case (that the king will send them to the furnace for not worshipping the idol), our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.” And guess what? God did not put them to shame. So sure was their faith, and so powerful was God’s deliverance, that the king even believed! He said, “there is no other God who can deliver like this.” DANIEL 3:29. Daniel also refused to worship anything other than the Lord, so he was thrown in the lion’s den. We don’t know what Daniel did once the stone was set to seal the entrance of the lion’s den, but we can assume he set his face like flint as he did every other time in his life. When morning came, and King Darius called into the den, he found Daniel untouched. An angel of the Lord had come to seal up the mouths of the lions. So powerful was this experience, King Darius signed a decree that said “men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.” DANIEL 6:26. Lastly, we see Jesus setting His face like flint in the garden of Gethsemane. He said, “Not my will, but your will be done.” Knowing His Father would later glorify Him and prove the ULTIMATE victory, He set His face like flint and gave His very life for the good of us all. There are many more examples of people having this steadfast, sure, immovable faith in the Bible. What a wonderful picture we have as an example to live our lives. We face a mountain, we find the promise in the bible that speaks to this, and we set our face like flint, knowing we will always prevail. Picture Ruth, setting her face like flint amidst her impoverished days. Picture Esther, setting her face like flint, knowing she was in that palace for a reason, and following through with what God had called of her. Picture Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, coming out of a blazing hot fire untouched, filled with hope and victory. And Daniel, still sitting in the lion’s den, unscathed and smiling the victory once the stone was rolled out. Jesus. Who set His face to give His life so we could have this life of victory. Because of Jesus, we can have the hope, the help, and the flint-like faith amidst anything. Set your hopes on this: that He who is in you is GREATER than he in the world. My friends, your help is here. His name is Jesus. So what is your mountain? Is it in your relationships? Is it in your finances? Is it in your family? Choose to be a woman in God’s strength. This will never lead you to disgrace or shame, but will always lead you to hope and victory.
Rethink the way your kitchen is organized. Arrange small work stations set with the things you need right at your finger tips. EXAMPLE: Store coffee pot in the cabinet together with the coffee, cups, filters etc. Keeping everything in one spot makes the kitchen more efficient, and helps to cut out going back and forth across your kitchen just to get a cup of coffee. Do the same with a baking station, big bowls, rolling pins, flour, sugar you know what you use. Keep like items within arms reach. Put the dinner plates in the cabinet closest to the dinning area, makes for fewer steps to set the table. If you have a small kitchen, consider storing big and bulking appliances you don't use as often in a spare bedroom closet or in the garage with a big black trash bag around it to keep it clean.
At times, are you like Martha? Martha, Martha.....What a busy woman she was. A first born, take charge, plan it out and get it all done! She was someone who had the gift of hospitality and loved to serve. We know this because every time we read about her, she had a house full of people. Martha is mentioned three times in the bible. First in the book of Luke 10:38-42 , where she is recorded blurting out her intense frustration to Jesus, in verse 40, “Lord don't you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself.” She wanted what she wanted and she wanted it her way... “make my sister help me” she exclaimed to Jesus. We see how Jesus gently corrected her attitude and showed her that her priorities, though good, were not the best. The personal attention she gave her guests should have been more important than the comforts she tried to provide for them. Her awareness to details may have kept her from seeing the whole picture....duh, the Son of God was right there!
The second time in John 11:1-45 is the story of her and her sister mourning the death of their brother Lazarus and Jesus resurrecting him from the dead. We see ambitious Martha in verse 20 and 21, .... “she went out to meet him (and basically put the blame on him) .....if you had been here my brother would not have died.” Maybe by now she has mastered the priority issue she had, but another lesson she had to learn was her hope was too limited. In verse 25, Jesus tells her “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.......He pointed out that he was not only Lord beyond death, he was Lord over death. Then thirdly in John 12:1-3, we see “Martha served.” Nothing recorded about her complaining here. Instead in verse 2 we read, “Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.” So get this, her brother and others are laying around, relaxing and then her sister starts pouring an expensive, I mean expensive, like a year's worth of wages expensive, perfume on Jesus' feet and wiping his feet with her hair. She could have blurted out, “Now I'm gonna have to clean that up and Mary needs her hair washed”.....but instead nothing is written about her frustrated outbursts to Jesus. The fact that nothing is recorded, reflects Martha was silent. I like to think she found peace in her work and service toward others. I imagine she had started spending some time, like her sister Mary, sitting at Jesus' feet.
Questions about cleaning? Email us Joy@ChaimInc.com
Cleaning kitchens and preparing meals is a lot of work. At times it is frustrating. You can feel like you are the only one. God does not intend for us to be worried and distracted with many things to the point of frustration. God does desire time with us and that when we serve we do it as unto Him. My hope for all of you is that you can spend some time at Jesus' feet and focus on your heart attitude while you are cleaning the kitchen and preparing meals.
A quick and easy way to clean the microwave is boil a cup of water in it or just after you cook whole potatoes. While the walls and door of the microwave are moist so is the stuff stuck to it. This is the perfect time to give it a quick and easy wipe down. To keep your disposal smelling fresh, quarter a lemon, put in the disposal and turn it on. Pumice stones aren’t just for toilets. If you have a porcelain sink you can scrub most any discoloring or marks left from pots and pans right off.
If you have a stainless steel sink, after cleaning it spray a daily shower spray directly on the wet sink and forget it. It dries with a perfect shine. If it’s already dry, spray some Pledge furniture polish on it and wipe it out with a paper towel. Stainless steel is beautiful when it is shining! After cleaning it with an SOS pad, dry it off, spray some WD40 on a paper towel and wipe it to leave it looking brand new. You can also do that to your outdoor Bar-b-que.
When cleaning floors, if you use a mop, try this after you sweep up the dirt. You dip the mop in the bucket of cleaning solution, wipe the floor, and rinse the dirty mop head in the sink, ring it out and back to the bucket of cleaning solution. This way you are only applying a clean-cleaning solution to the floor. Run an empty dishwasher with vinegar, any kind, it will help break down the hard water deposits and keep it smelling fresh.
Meghan lives in Boise, ID, with her husband Scott of 6 years. She is a native Montanan and enjoys people, the outdoors, and activity. Meghan has a passion and vigor for life, love and the Lord. Meghan currently runs a business with her husband and teaches classes at local gyms. She leads and writes Bible studies, as well as publishes a blog designed to IGNITE the spirit, mind, and body. Find her fervor for Jesus, health, food, and fitness @ TheIgnitedLife.com. Meghan’s heart’s desire is to help free women from the bondage of religion and the world through the Word. She wants to help women learn how to live a victorious life through Jesus. Although Meghan got saved at the age of 11 when The Power Team came to her hometown, she did not to walk with God in the years thereafter. It’s been almost 10 years since Meghan re-dedicated her life to the Lord. Since then, she’s learned it is a MUCH better life on the side of Jesus! Meghan immerses herself in studying and applying the Word, and recently spent a year in the Life Church School of Ministry. Meghan has experienced firsthand the power of Jesus and wants to help others experience the same dynamic relationship with their Creator. As an integral part of CHAIM magazine, Meghan is not only an amazing writer, and our resident fitness expert, she also shows off her domestic side with the delicious culinary masterpieces found on the Let’s Eat Well pages. Beautiful inside and out, Meghan is always encouraging and joyful to everyone around her. Her laugh is contagious, her energy inspiring, and her love of the LORD is both real and evident in all that she puts her hand to.
Perform each with a little rest in between. Do these 6 moves in a circuit 2-3 times. Synchronize your breathing with the movement. MOVE 1: LEG EXTENSION Start with knees above hips, brace belly, and extend legs. Keeping back flat, exhale and pull legs back to start. Repeat. Perform 12-15. *Option: Legs bent in extension
MOVE 2: SNOW ANGEL Keeping back flat, extend arms and legs whilst inhaling, exhale and tuck body together, touching the sides of the legs. Repeat. Perform 12-15. *Option: Keep arms and legs bent while extending.
MOVE 3: DEAD BUG I learned this one from my physical therapist friend Jenny, and have done it weekly since. Extend arms and legs upward. Bracing belly and exhaling, touch opposite hand and leg. *Option: Keep legs bent while extending to touch. *Challenge: Straighten legs and arms away from the body.
OUR DISCLAIMER: Not everything we suggest here is for everyone. Please consult your doctor before starting any exercises, and listen to your body. If you feel sharp pain immediately discontinue. Stretches should be to ‘the edge of discomfort’ and will take time. Rushing through or forcing a stretch will have the opposite effect, and cause injury. Please soften your joints, never lock them, and look for the ‘stretch reflex’ a point at which you should back off a stretch…when your muscles begin to shake, engaging to protect themselves from damage. This sounds scary, but if you exercise common sense along with the muscles, you should be just fine!
MOVE 4: PLANK Elbows under shoulders, on knees or toes, brace belly and line up the hips with the shoulders and the knees/toes. The goal is to have one long line in your body. Breathe while holding this for 30 seconds. Challenge: Perform the plank on your toes.
PHOTO B
MOVE 5: SIDE PLANK Elbow under shoulder, on knee or toes, make sure the hips line up with shoulders and knees/toes. Breathe and contract the belly, pulling the hips upward. Hold the plank for 30 seconds. Switch sides and repeat.
MOVE 6: BACK EXTENSIONS Brace belly, tuck chin, and lift upper body while squeezing between the shoulders. Lift from the elbows and squeeze the toes together. Swim arms downward while lifting the lower body upward. Lower the legs, swim the arms back upward, then lower the upper body. That’s one rep. Do 12-15.
RECOMMENDED READING: BODY BY GOD written by Ben Lerner “Man’s ideas come and go, but God’s clothes never go out of style. After nearly twenty years in the healthy, happy lifestyle world, taking care of tens of thousands of patients of all ages, and working with Olympic and professional athletes, I have discovered one elemental truth: There is a creator of the human body and it is not me. This understanding has helped me not to create but to lead more people toward a better appearance, healthier body, and more peaceful outlook on life… God is not only the Producer; He is also the Executive Director.” ~Ben Lerner.
Organization, time management, and schedules, all these words can invoke fear or joy. Yet we all know that we need them in our day because ultimately it will produce good results. We, as women of God, choose to resist fear and move forward into joy because of the hope set before us.
Cristina’s Thursday TO DO LIST prepare crock dinner
For me, I prefer things to be tidy and in order, yet I have learned not to stress if things don’t pass the ‘white glove’ test. There are those who are happiest in a white glove house and those who are even more laid back in the organization of their home. Wherever you find yourself, know that we all are growing and learning to improve in our own attitudes and actions.
read aloud to children listen to boys practice return emails assign new monthly chores
I found this book at the library many years ago and it intrigued me simply by its title. Now I know the saying goes, ‘you can’t judge a book by its cover’, (which is more true than not) but in this case, the title captures the beauty exactly the way the author intended. I have many times over, checked it out of the library and continually say to myself, “I need to just own a copy”. So without further ado, I present to you HOME COMFORTS by Cheryl Mendleson. I want you to also meet Kim Brennemam and her blog LARGE FAMILY LOGISTICS. These women show us both in the small and full home, that we can have our house truly be a haven. Whether you are on-the-go or stay-at-home, your home can be that well-oiled machine that hums with delight as you find your rest and peace in God, who loves you and your house. Here’s what I’ve learned from Cheryl and Kim: “When you keep house, you use your head, your heart, and your hands together to create a home—a place where you live the most important parts of your private life. Housekeeping is an art: it combines intuition and physical skill to create comfort, health, beauty, order, and safety. It is also a science; a body of knowledge that helps us seek those goals and values wisely, efficiently, and *lovingly+ humanely.” ~Cheryl “Do not look around and be discouraged, you have . . . . . .
photoshoot for November
1 The LORD your God in your midst is MIGHTY; He will save and rejoice over you with joy!! ZEPHANIAH 3:17
3
2 Start writing in your Bible. Get colored pencils or highlighters and watch how much easier it is to remember what you’ve read.
4
Help for morning routine: set out your clothes the night before – tell your children to do the same..they DO like to see your good example.
Be sure that what’s on the dinner plate is COLORFUL!
I THESS. 5:16
JAMES 1:5
10 Have a candlelight dinner with your family. Make the evening important, taking time to live the love.
11
Fire up the crockpot today, and add extra so you will have enough for a leftover meal.
II TIMOTHY 3:17
12 Start a journal with your Bible reading time. As you read, write down what jumps out to you. Read in faith.
13 We are clothed in love today! It binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14
I THESSALONIANS 5:13-28
16 I will talk, say, speak, and even text of the goodness and majesty of the LORD God all this week!
6
Need help with the kids? Husband? Boss? Go to God FIRST! Saves time, money, and frustration.
DEUTERONOMY 11:18-21
II KINGS 18:3-7
9 The Word of God has it all and equips for every good work!
5
Fear no flu season! Instead, thank Him for the enduring victory. LUKE 10:19
17 “My defense is of God,” Jesus has washed all of you whiter than snow. God is defending YOU! II CORINTHIANS 2:14
JEREMIAH 30:2
18 Today, think on things that are true! Truth is found in the Word rather than what’s before us. PHILLIPIANS 4:8
19 DRINK WATER Being dehydrated can sap your energy and make you feel tired. ROMANS 15:13
20
The words I speak from the bible are alive and active, living and powerful! HEBREWS 4:12
7
8
Love covers a multitude of sin. God is love. Let’s remember not to repeat our husband or childrens shortcomings.
A happy heart is good medicine, and a cheerful mind works healing.
14
15
But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
PROVERBS 17:22
Today, everything I do is done in love. I CORINTHIANS 16:14
II THESSALONIANS 3:13
21 Invite a missionary to dinner. Sharing your family table infuses life & makes delightful memories. LUKE 10
22 I am not walking after my emotions or feelings, but after the Word of God ROMANS 8:1
PSALM 34:1-3
23
24
Take a class. Signing up for a spin or aerobics class at your local gym is obviously a great way to get into shape.
30
I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might Ephesians 6:10
31
25 Be aware of the fruit your tongue is producing. Let it be fruit of life! PROVERBS 18:21
26 Send your children a letter of encouragement through the mail. (even if they are still at home) Watch them smile! JOHN 18:26
27
28
29
God loves feasts. Begin preparing your heart for the holiday season.
Sing along to some good praise and worship music this morning, then make it your tune all day long. EPHESIANS 5:19
Time to rotate the toys. Help your little one enjoy their treasures by rotating toys every 3 months.
LUKE 6:27-49
PROVERBS 29:17-18
A few of CHAIMs favorite things: Cristina Curt Meghan Emily
green trees, fresh flowers, knitting, and listening to our children recount their day. sitting outside reading my Bible, clay shooting, buffalo wings & BBQ making beautiful, healthy meals for my friends and family, and many, many outdoor adventures photography, old movies, and spending time with friends
Our favorite things have a lot to do with what is around us on a daily basis, and are tangible – things that we can see, hear, smell, taste, or touch. The most favoritest - favorite of the staff at CHAIM is salvation. Maybe you would say, “Well, yeah, that would be my favorite, too.” What we want to share with you is why the children of the Most High God should rank salvation as their all time favorite thing. And that ranking is not only because salvation through Jesus Christ is our ticket to heaven and the sweet byand-by, but we rank it high for its tangibility, and usefulness in the here and now.
When we think of salvation, we usually think of heaven. We remember the wonderful decision we made to give our lives to Jesus Christ, the One who could save us and bring us into an eternity with Him. Salvation means we were saved by the death and resurrection of Jesus. Saved from the consequences of our sins, and saved from eternity away from Him. We could stop there, because that in itself is amazing and wonderful! But there’s more good news. Although many people have a singular definition to the meaning of the word ‘salvation,’ God packed the word with much more meaning. The original Greek word of salvation is “sozo.” Sozo is a one hefty, promise-packed word! Sozo is full of so much goodness, it will give you an even clearer picture of how much our God loves us. Sozo means to save, yes. But sozo also means ‘to rescue, deliver or protect (literally and morally), to heal, preserve, prosper, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.’ The word “sozo” is used 103 times in the New Testament. In the book of Matthew alone, we see all of the different meanings of salvation. Let’s take a look at the multiple meanings of this amazing word. The word in bold is the original Greek word sozo. MATTHEW 1:21: “And she (Mary) will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Here, sozo means to rescue or deliver. This is our most common understanding of this word: the ‘eternal/spiritual rescue’ by Jesus so we can spend eternity with Him. MATTHEW 8:25: This is when the disciples are in the boat with Jesus. Jesus is sleeping while a storm is about to capsize the boat. “Then the disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing.” Sozo in this context is the literal meaning of rescue or deliverance.
MATTHEW 9:21-22: This is the woman who had the blood disease for 12 years and had touched the garment of Jesus. “For she said to herself, ‘If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.’ But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, ‘Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” In this context, sozo means to be made whole, or healed. These verses just scratch the surface of the glorious promises God has for us! There are 99 more scriptures in the New Testament with the word “sozo!” Go ahead, do a word study! It will bless you and flood your eyes with light. Just remember: when we see the word salvation or saved, it is the sum of these meanings: saved, to be made whole, made well, healed, delivered, protected, or even rescued. Conversely, when we see the word healed, made well, delivered, prospered, protected, preserved, or rescued, they are from the exact same word “sozo.” This means that each promise isn’t one or the other: salvation is ALL of these things, the SUM of these words! Jesus is salvation. You see, we have a better promise. We don’t have to touch the garment of Jesus, or have Jesus sleeping in our boats to receive salvation. We have Jesus in us! He gave us those examples to show us the power of the Holy Spirit in us is Jesus Christ Himself. When we receive salvation unto Him, we receive even more than eternal life! We receive wholeness, deliverance, wellness, healing, health, protection and provision. God wrote this in His word so that salvation would mean all of these things to us! Many people think of salvation as only the saving of their souls. While it does mean this, God has promised us so much more. He never intended for healing, wellness, or protection for only a chosen few. God never intended for these promises to be separate from or independent of the original meaning salvation, or “being born again”. If you’ve received the gift of salvation through Jesus, you have received Him and His entire meaning of the word! He loves us so much He wants us to be able to walk in victory while we are here on earth. The sum of salvation is amazing. Eternity with Him. Prosperous. Healthy. Whole. Protected. Rescued. Provision. And it’s yours through Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!
Welcome to CHAIM’s brand new feature: Travel the World. Where we highlight men and women of God who give their lives to fulfill the mandate of Jesus from Mark 16:15 “To go into all the world and preach the gospel, ….” Each month, you will travel the world with them and hear firsthand reports of the goodness of God. Connect, communicate, pray, and even financially support their good work. We would like you to meet Alan and Jennifer Church, founders of ADDICTED TO JESUS INTERNATIONAL. CHAIM: Hello Alan, tell us your story. ALAN: Addicted to Jesus began when I was about 14. That is when the 'addiction' started. When I received the Holy Spirit at 14, a fire for God and His word was ignited in me. I had a new desire to see people bornagain, and the flame has only grown brighter and stronger over the years. Little did I know that it would lead to all of this. It wasn't until I turned 16 and lost my mom to cancer that I really started growing spiritually. It was in that dark place that God sent a man of God into my life by the name of Mark Boer who began the process of discipling me. It was on a short-term mission trip to a Navajo Indian reservation in the summer of 1996, that a ministry to the nations was born. I knew God called me to "full-time" ministry on that trip and I didn't look back. After graduating from the missions group at RBTC in 1999, I returned to Twin Falls, Idaho and began to serve the very man whom God used to disciple me — Mark Boer! In September of 2001, I moved to Boise with Pastor Mark and his wife to help them start Life Church. I served in many supportive roles throughout the years. In order to pursue the vision God laid on my heart when I was 17, I stepped away from my role at Life Church in August of 2010. God brought me my beautiful wife, Jennifer, while serving at Life Church and we married the summer of 2005. Since then we have added two more boys to the family and have been pursuing the call of God together. We look forward to a lifetime of serving the Lord in the fields that are "white for harvest." We are 'HOOKED' on Jesus...what about you? Get "hooked" today!
CHAIM: Where are you headed? ALAN: We are eventually going to be moving to Central Asia/Middle East. I believe the Lord is going to have us start in Azerbaijan, but anywhere in the region would probably suffice. CHAIM: Is your family going along with you?
CHAIM: What is the most rewarding part of your ministry? ALAN: It is fulfilling the will of God. Knowing that I’m going to get a “well done thy good and faithful servant” in the end is worth it all. Pleasing the Master brings me so much joy and seeing people translated from darkness to the Kingdom of His Son does something in me that nothing else will do. I’ve never been a “druggie” but I can imagine what it’s like. I get the same high seeing people born again.
ALAN: We will all eventually be going. At this point, I think we are going to let Ethan finish High School here in the states. By the time we move, the little ones (Lincoln and Jackson) will just be at an age to enter school overseas, and hopefully able to pick up a second language very quickly. In the meantime, I will be taking regular trips to do ministry. Ideally I’d like to move us all tomorrow, but it’s a little more complicated than that! It’s one step at a time and eventually the big move will happen.
CHAIM: What are some testimonies from your ministry? ALAN: The best story thus far has to be the hundreds we saw born again in Nepal. One particular salvation was special to me, as I was able to lead a man belligerent toward the gospel and Christ to heartfelt repentance and tears in about 20 minutes. It’s an anointing, that’s all I can say, because again and again, the Lord has used me to reach people who are “hard” and for some reason they hear me. Praise God, the anointing works! The next best or first best story is the Muslim guy who I was able to minister to while we were in Portland. I was able to lead his wife to Christ. Still working on the man, but I believe God is breaking down the barriers in his heart. It’s my confident expectation that one day, before he takes his last breath, this man will bow his knee to the risen Christ. CHAIM: Jennifer, how is your role in the ministry changing as you grow and move forward to reach women around the world? JENNIFER: As I meet women from all different walks of life, we all seem to have the same things in common. We want to be better moms and wives, better at keeping a cleaner house, or perfecting our cooking skills, we want to make more time to work-out and maybe lose those extra pounds of pregnancy weight. We look for the latest trend to make ourselves feel prettier, or maybe it's the newest anti-wrinkle cream, or the perfect shade of lipstick. What I hope to be able to do is show people (women in particular), that God loves us just the way we are. He gave up His only Son so that He could have a relationship with us. What a great love story that is, and it's completely true! As I continue to understand how great His love is for me, I am so amazed! My sisters in Christ need to be reminded that He is the only one that truly matters, and we only need to get our validation from Him. And for the ladies that don't yet know Him, I want them to hear the good news, so that they too, can be set free in their lives and in their thinking and find the peace that they have been searching for.
VISIT our website at www.atoj.org BECOME A PARTNER WITH ATOJ STAY UPDATED EASY ONLINE GIVING We’d be blessed by your partnership and I know you will too as God multiplies your seed back to you.
Malachi 3:6 “ I AM THE LORD, I CHANGE NOT.” Yes, God still speaks today. And He speaks to you and me…not just a chosen few…and especially if you are a born again Christian, then the Almighty God speaks to you. That could be exciting or daunting. I choose exciting! Let’s get rid of the “Christianese” and religious talk and take a look at how we can actually HEAR the voice of God. When I was a new Christian, I heard the adults talking about how to hear the LORD and I wanted to know, too. The prevailing teaching was that God didn’t really speak in an audible voice anymore and that you had to listen for that still small voice on the inside. OK, fine. So I strained to hear the still small voice, and was continually challenged, even vexed, with the thought “how do you know if it’s God, myself, or the devil?” I don’t remember ever hearing a clear answer from any preacher I’d ever sat under or read. I wasn’t satisfied with the uncertainty. I kept doing my part and had my own ears and attitude pointed to the LORD, with my heart yearning to HEAR HIS VOICE. In the Bible we read over and over and over…”thus saith the LORD”, “and God said”, “hearken unto the voice of the LORD”, and “Jesus answered”. “Thus saith the LORD” is in the Bible 430 times. Hmmm…so if God is talking, why do the people of God behave as if we have a hearing problem? Really. There is nothing wrong with God’s voice. Don’t take on any condemnation here. We are searching out the truth of God’s Word so that we grow, have understanding, and victory. Amen? Amen! The voice of God is the stronghold of faith.
Turn over to JOHN chapter 10. Actually, hold your finger there and go back to PSALM 23. Read verse one: “The LORD is my shepherd…” Key word = IS: there’s no room for uncertainty in the word IS. The LORD told Moses “I AM THAT I AM.” As a born again, child of God, we say “The LORD IS my shepherd”. See also EZEKIEL 34:31 And In JEREMIAH 7:23 the LORD said, obey my voice, I will be your God and you shall be my people OK, now go over to JOHN 10 beginning in verse 3 through 5 “To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” I have to say that I read have these verses dozens of times and did just that … read them. I didn’t SELAH: stay there and think about, ponder, or meditate day and night on them. I had been for years seeking to hear the voice of God and there was the answer all along. So that day, I SAW IT! I mean “the eyes of my understanding were enlightened” (PHILLIPIANS 1:17) I had known PSALM 23 like the back of my hand – superficially. But now I ‘heard’ PSALM 23 – the LORD is my shepherd, that makes me His sheep and because I am His sheep then JOHN 10 is stating truth about my relationship with God Himself. – I (the sheep) HEAR the shepherd’s (JESUS, who is God) VOICE. –continually!! What JOY! What CONFIDENCE! Yes, confidence in what God says is true – all the time – He is the LORD and he changes not. There are three ways we (those who are born again) hear the voice of God 1. Directly. God Himself speaks to us AUDIBLY. God spoke aloud From Genesis 1:3 to Matthew 3:17 to Revelation 1:10 Yes. God does still speak with voice heard in our ears as we hear sounds. Since HE is the same yesterday, today, and forever (HEBREWS 13:8) and we see throughout the scriptures where God has spoken aloud for many to hear. We can expect Him to speak to us. Today. 2.
Through His Word: the BIBLE Look at ISAIAH 34:16 “Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.” JOHN 1:1 “In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with God and the WORD was God” II TIMOTHY 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
3.
By the Spirit JOHN 16:13-15 “ Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you” JOHN 6:63 “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Too often we are looking to hear the voice of God through another person. God does speak to us that way, but He wants a direct relationship with us: one-on-one conversation. (God used a donkey to talk to Balaam. Let’s not act like Balaam NUMBERS 22 &23 .) When we look to someone else BEFORE we talk to the LORD, we are out of line. The devil will use any means possible to get us out of that direct communication with our LORD and Savior. I have listened to the devil’s lies and wondered if I really could hear God. But now I know better. Friend, we have our answer direct from God. He is our Good Shepherd and we are His sheep. We believe God’s report. He said we hear HIS VOICE and a stranger’s voice we will not follow. Maybe you have followed the stranger’s voice. God’s mercy covers that! Because of Jesus, we get to start fresh right now!! OK, so I hear God’s voice. How do I make that very important connection that will help me to live that abundant life I am supposed to have? What is the connection to God’s voice that will keep me out of uncertainty, insecurity, and ultimately fears? We will answer those questions next time. Until then, begin by BELIEVING GOD – His WORD! READ the Bible with eagerness to learn. Expect Good – all day, every day. Jesus said He would never leave you or forsake you. HOW HE LOVES YOU!!
Here’s a familiar scenario in my household: I am driving home from work, wondering what I will make for dinner with an empty fridge and on an empty stomach. Because I haven’t planned well, we either order dinner through a window (we all know how lessthan-healthy that is!), or snack incessantly when I walk into the kitchen still deciding on the dinner menu.
Planning meals one week at a time will save us time and money. Did you know grocers make their money off ‘add-ons’ from our shopping list? When we prepare our lists beforehand and eat before we head to the grocery store, we’re more likely to stick to our lists and choose healthier options. Things seem to run smoother in our households when we are a step ahead of our meal times. Here is a suggested way to plan a week. Take a day, let’s say Sunday evening, and write your menu for the week. While you write in your meals for each day, add the ingredients to your shopping list. On the days you know you’re going to be the busiest, make that day your crockpot meal, or plan to use your leftovers. On the day you have your food, you may even want to make some meals in advance. We never regret it when we plan ahead!
4 frozen chicken breasts 1 jar of salsa Can of beans; chili or black Can of tomatoes Purple Onions Taco Seasoning 1 cup of water *Optional - green chiles 1. Add all ingredients into the crockpot. (Doing this on your busy day? Do this step in the morning, and it’ll be done by dinnertime.) Cook on low for 6-8 hours. 2. Shred the chicken. Drain if needed. Add additional salsa if needed. 3. Build tacos 4. Use leftovers for taco salads for a meal the next day.
2 Cups Rice (I prefer brown) ¼ Onion - chopped 4 CUPS *Chicken Broth a Healthy “pinch” of fresh Cilantro - chopped ¼ CUP Sugar or 1 ½ TSP Stevia *Optional – use water instead of chicken broth RICE COOKER VERSION: Put all ingredients in a rice cooker and cook away! STOVE TOP VERSION: - Combine broth or water, onion, sugar in saucepan. - Add rice and cilantro. - Bring to boil - Reduce heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes
Crockpot Chicken leftovers Romaine lettuce Tomatoes Corn Peppers – green or red
Sweet Rice Beans – chili or black Cilantro Avocado Salsa
Assemble all ingredients. Top with salsa for dressing. Want a creamier dressing? Mix a dollop of ranch to the salsa. *Watching Carbohydrates? Use rice OR a tortilla. Rice is great with a salad, tortilla for a traditional taco.
Whether it’s a tailgate party or a mid-afternoon munch, snacking healthy increases our energy levels and can actually keep us from over-indulging at our next meal. Snacking doesn’t replace meals, but if we think of our metabolism as a small fire, we add fuel to the fire with our snacks. Sometimes, if we don’t snack, we end up overeating at our meals. A good snack isn’t a candy bar or a soda, but rather a piece of fruit, or a handful of veggies or nuts. Make sure the quality of your snack is of high caliber—think of it as putting premium gas in your tank! Here are some you can add to your grocery list this month: Homemade Nut Mix Cashews Pistachios Dried Cherries Raw Almonds Pumpkin seeds (from your harvest pumpkin) The great thing about this mix is you can add any nut or dried fruit you like. It is your own masterpiece! I make enough for a gallon-sized bag, then that is my healthy snack for the week. Caution: Add small amounts of chocolate and/or pecans if added to mix. Steer clear of smoked almonds as they add unnecessary amounts of sodium. These 2 tips will keep you snacks healthier. Grilled Zucchini Zucchini, sliced lengthwise Garlic, fresh cloves or powder Balsamic vinegar Parmesan cheese *Optional Slice the zucchini lengthwise. Place on the grill. Season with garlic and balsamic vinegar. Flip and season again. Add the parmesan cheese. Serve immediately. Protein Shake 1 c. almond milk (vanilla flavored is good here, too) 1 banana 1 Tbsp of peanut butter 1 scoop of chocolate whey protein powder Handful of ice 1 Tbsp flaxseed* *optional. Why flaxseed? One tablespoon can have 10 times the omega 3’s than a serving of fish! Great source of fiber, too.
WEEK OF ----------------------
B
Snack reakfast
L
Snack unch
D
inner
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
-
Frozen chicken breast Salsa 2 Cans of chili or black beans 1 Can tomatoes Purple onion 1 pkg taco seasoning Tortillas Avocado Cilantro Cheddar Cheese Rice (brown or white) Chicken broth Romaine lettuce 1 Can of Corn
Zucchini Fresh Garlic Balsamic Vinegar Parmesan Cheese Pistachios Raw Almonds Pumpkin seeds Dried Cherries Almond milk Bananas Peanut Butter Whey Protein Powder Flaxseed
__________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ _________
__________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ _________
You know it's fall again when sports, school, and busy schedules abound. Parents begin to feel the pressure of the time crunch. Time to get organized! Remember YOU CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens you! (Philippians 4:13) Homework can be a challenging routine to get some children into. With some minor adjustments, homework time can be more productive and peaceful. How do children spell love? T-I-M-E. Yes, they want Mom or Dad to pay attention to their homework and give hints and encouragement. The most common misconception is that children should do their homework in their bedroom by themselves (where it is quiet and easy to concentrate). Parents are often frustrated when they check after 30 minutes and their child has made little or no progress. KEY: Homework is a time that must be supervised and modeled if children are going to be successful. Kids do not know how to make homework time productive, they must be shown. Spend the time while your child is young and by the time they are in middle school, they will need less supervision. Establish good habits early. It’s never too late to start fresh. Start today. There’s an old saying that says, “pay now or pay later” that applies beautifully here!
KEY: Study your child's learning style by asking the LORD first. James 1:5 You already know a lot about your child's style, maybe you just haven't really thought about it.
(See
Do they need to see the directions? Do you have to go over the directions orally with them so they can hear them? Does your child have to repeat directions orally to understand them? Do they like to figure things out on their own? Do they sit or stand on one leg when learning? Do they need a drink or a snack when studying?
KEY: Don't try to figure it all out at once, but do pay attention to the nudging of the Holy Spirit. You will be surprised what you will learn about your child. Once you have some ideas about how your child learns, help them to set themselves up for success. Here are some suggestions for success: Let them stand if they are a stander. Let them read orally if they need to hear directions. Ask them to explain to you what they are doing.
If they like to move, have them sit on an exercise ball instead of a chair. Play instrumental music in the background if it helps your child remain focused. It is extremely empowering to students when they learn about style and help them learn how to best help themselves. Where should your children do their homework? The kitchen table or counter tends to be a good spot. It allows the child to be monitored while the adult can be preparing dinner or completing another task. Avoid hovering over your child; let him/her complete several tasks and then check to see the progress. Allow them to process out loud as you listen to see if they are on track. Encourage small successes. Give mini goals, like, “As soon as you get to number 10, you can have some more juice.” (Some children actually learn better if they are drinking or snacking.) Try this, too: “When you read 5 pages, then let's talk about the part that you thought was the funniest/most interesting.” KEY: Help your child make a connection with what they are learning. If they are a reluctant reader, suggest that they read a page and you read a page. This does not have to continue for the entire year, but if you put in a few good months at the beginning, it will make a huge difference. Keep in good communication with your child's teacher. He/She can offer suggestions and insights into your child, as well. Trust that they want what is best for your child, too. KEY: Trust the LORD, He created you – your child’s parent. He has also equipped you. You are your child's primary and most important teacher. You play a big part in helping them become a successful learner. Set the stage for success and watch your child blossom into a capable learner.
Kathy pictured here with her husband and daughters. (L-R Dennis, Kathy, Katy, Meghan) Kathy Goodheart is a retired teacher of 37 years and currently lives in Billings, MT with her husband of 36 years. If you’d like to contact Kathy, please email us info@chaiminc.com, or write us P.O. Box 190464, Boise, ID 83709.
A place of adventure and imagination, the Treehouse is where CHAIM readers will discover the beauty of loving and training our children. Trees have such amazing delight: providing fruit, shelter, shade, and comfort for both animals and people moreover, our God hath made them all. And just as trees have many aspects to enjoy, so do these pages have articles, activities and helpful tools for parents and children alike. Enjoy the time under the cover of this canopy. Remembering that it is God’s doing and marvelous in our eyes.
“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD:” PSALM 127:3a
a plan for taking care of the mess and this is it. When you have a plan, it kills discouragement. This is a quick fix and will not take care of the root problem but it can be a starting point. After this day of cleaning, you will need to start implementing daily cleaning times, make chore charts, and instill the habits of putting away what you get out.” ~Kim
The first thing to key to organization is . . .ask the LORD! Yes! It works. JAMES 1:5 “If any lacks wisdom let him ask of God!...” MATTHEW 6:33 “Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” God’s way of doing things applies to our entire day. When I applied these 2 scriptures to even my housekeeping, wifey, mama stuff – WOW! God is there to lead, strengthen, and supply every time! Countless times in running our home, homeschool, businesses, and ministry, I simply ask the LORD and expect the answer. He is faithful! And things run smoothly. Second is to be willing and cheerful. A willing heart attitude will accomplish much more than a clean room, or getting to work on time. Attitude is more than half the battle of disorganization. Keeping ourselves from frustration and aggravation at the start of a project or new habit ensures a quicker victory. Expecting good = hope…Hope is along side of and works hand in hand with faith and love. (See I CORINTHIANS 13) I’ve heard it said, “Fear tolerated is faith contaminated.” In the same way, complaining, whining, murmuring will contaminate our plan to improve and grow. Let’s keep our heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life. PROVERBS 4:23 Third is make a plan. As it is written in PROVERBS 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Another great resource for planning or scheduling your day’s activities comes from MANAGERS OF THEIR HOMES by Terri Maxwell. It was designed for homeschoolers but has found its way into many homes because of it’s wealth of practical application. I learned SO much from this scheduling know-how book. There are a plethora of time management books and resources available, apply yourself to using the tools the LORD has set before you. It is not time for excuses but time for growth. The household of God must be the expert and example in this area. To cement the new plan of action for your day is to be consistent. The Bible word for that is FAITHFUL: Unchanging, steadfast, reliable, dependable, and continual. Keep-on keeping on…Do not grow weary in well doing. GALATIONS 6:9-10 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Read also I TIMOTHY 3:11 and MATTHEW 25:14-30) Consistency provides repetition that strengthens connections in the brain. This one simple point is an integral part of our day. The more we remain consistent and walk in God’s way of living life, the better we can expect things to be in their proper place and order, producing peace all around. Truly making our home a haven.
Well, it’s time to get back in shape. Too many DQ Blizzards, too many filet-O-fish sandwiches, too many potato chips and sour cream, and just plain too much food has led to this 5 foot 11 inch frame to be at least 50 pounds overweight. But thanks to Fitness Together in South East Boise, a lot of this fat is going to get burned, and in its place will be lean strong muscle. So far I’ve had four workouts with my very own personal trainer Brian Redtfeldt. Brian and his wife Corinne are the managers of Fitness Together on a quaint street, with a business district that makes you think of Sun Valley. Several restaurants offering outdoor terrace dining, the all important bicycle shop, and a veterinary clinic are just some of the businesses you’ll find in this little niche close to the Boise foothills. One of their mottos is “One Client, One Trainer, One Goal.” This is good for me. My reasons for working with a personal trainer: 1. Because of the expertise they offer in their field. Yes, I could read books (and I have) that would show me what exercises to do; but, because of their high level of skill, a personal trainer can move you seamlessly and quickly from one exercise to the next, making sure your technique is correct. Just this benefit saves a great deal of time and energy and gets results more quickly. 2. Using a personal trainer takes most of the thinking out of it for the one being trained. Keep track of sets? Nope. Keep track of how much weight to use next? Nope. How many reps? Nope. All done by the personal trainer. 3. A personal trainer will push you harder than you will push yourself. Much harder. At home you might do ten pushups and decide that that’s all you need. Not with a personal trainer. He knows you are capable of doing a significant amount more than you would do yourself. Now before you think it might be lazy to not do it all yourself, consider this. On what are you willing to spend your time? I’m a big believer in that if you’re going to do something, get the maximum results and productivity for the input being spent. For me, the choice was easy. My mandate and assignment in life is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. At least in this season, spending any precious mental energy on the workout plan, the sets, the reps, the weight etc… is just not something I’m willing to do. But I also want to lose 50 pounds and build muscle. Solution? Personal Trainer. By the way, this was heaven’s solution for me. Yes, I asked Father what to do about this dilemma, and this is the answer. I love it when a plan comes together! It was also important for me to work with and promote a Christian trainer. As soon as we met and talked for two minutes, it was evident that Brian and his wife are Christians who love the Lord. You can workout to any music station carried on the XM satellite feed, but Brian and Corinne’s favorite is the Contemporary Christian station. Wow, it’s mine too! I’m excited, because in November’s issue of Chaim, I will have before and after photos that I believe will show a significant amount of change in just a month and a week of workouts. Until next time, eat something good and begin changing the inner image inside of you using God’s Word. We always come back to the image of us we hold in our minds. So make sure your image of you lines up with God’s image of you. -- CURT
Ever wonder why killing yourself in the weight room, buying the latest greatest diet book, or waking up early to get your morning run in may help you feel like you're getting in better shape - but still falls short? That’s because you need the right strength, cardio and nutrition approaches all working together. Our proprietary systems work in harmony, utilizing the most current science for a complete fitness solution: Fitness Together is national franchise businesses helping all ages get in the best shape of their lives. As their name implies, Fitness Together specializes in personal training. SCHEDULE YOUR CONSULTATION TODAY
fitnesstogether.com/southeastboise In the Boise area: 3132 S Bown Way, Boise ID (208) 336-8348 or a location near you FitnessTogether.com
We offer many online features to be a blessing to you and help you in your day. Subscribe to CHAIM magazine via the internet by going to ChaimInc.com and click the CHAIM magazine tab. You will find options to obtain your own digital or print copy. YOUTUBE: Watch our broadcasts at your convenience and as many times as you’d like. To watch simply go to YouTube.com and type the title of broadcast into the search bar or go directly to the YouTube channel listed below. YouTube channel: HAWKINSMINISTRIES Faith to Overcome with Curt & Cristina Hawkins. Faith to Overcome is a weekly program designed for you! You will discover how God's Word overcomes fear and how to put the principles of faith into action – real, tangable, practical, breakthrough living YouTube channel: CHAIMINC Meghan & Me: hosted by Meghan & Cristina. This series is an on-the-go encouragement for women. Covering helpful tips to keep ladies connected with the power of God for their day, Meghan and Cristina talk about things that are important to women. Topics include: thought life, relationships, healthy living, time management, and parenting.
PODCASTS: Listen using iTunes on your computer or mobile device. To subscribe to these podcasts, open your iTunes program [or download iTunes now –free] 1. Go to PODCAST tab 2. Type podcast title in search bar 3. Click subscribe 4. Listen now or later Search - Friday Night Church: Join Curt and Cristina Hawkins as they share keys to breakthrough through the Word of God helping you know that God's love is REAL. Search - Women’s WordShop Led by Cristina Hawkins, is changing lives, one woman at a time. And the foundation of a successful life comes from knowing, believing, and doing God's Word. Each week, women come together to grow in God's Word, make lasting friendships and become strengthened in their daily walk with God. PAYPAL: Secure online. You can DONATE and order your copy of CHAIM magazine. If you’d like to pay with your debit card or credit card, sign up with PayPal. (PayPal is a free online service) With PayPal you can send donation to email address: magazine@ChaimInc.com or CLICK and follow the links to order.
FITNESS TOGETHER
HACHRES.COM
One-on-one personal training Encouraging, strengthening, and reaching your fitness goals of nutrition and exercise
FitnessTogether Boise Location
Although it’s common, it’s not normal to be sick. It was God’s great design for our bodies to be healthy. But every day, toxins, free-radicals, artificial additives, pesticides and preservatives enter our body from the foods we eat.
208.336.8348
personal training studio
By sharing God’s original nutritional plan in Genesis 1:29, the information and vast knowledge we’ve gained with others, we can help you restore, rebuild, and transform your self-healing body!
MANAGERS OF THEIR HOMES TITUS2.COM Step-by-step instructions and a unique Scheduling Kit make setting up a daily schedule easily achievable for anyone.
LARGE FAMILY LOGISTICS Read step-by-step procedures and easy to understand organizational advice, tips and hints for managing efficiently in a God-honoring fashion. Get beyond survival mode and thrive!
In the much anticipated follow up to the best-selling book “Who Switched Off My Brain?” Dr. Caroline Leaf shows how men and women have been created to compliment one another through their own unique strengths.
The Bulk Herb Store BULKHERBSTORE.COM Providing our homemade concoctions, our experiences, and the tested wisdom of others. We want to do more than sell quality herbs. We want to teach you what we know and inspire you to learn and research beyond that.. Happy herbaling!
In stores now! Or visit eNEWLETTER | VIDEOS | BOOKS
Read more about Addicted to Jesus article found on page 24
DRLEAF.COM
atoj.org
BODY BY GOD is the ultimate body "owner's Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar BRAGG.COM How to use the powerful cleansing and healing qualities of Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.
manual," full of tools for protecting, maintaining, and strengthening our divinely designed bodies. In the human body, God created a perfect design, equipped with all the organs, tissues, and cells necessary for health, production, and reproduction.. Our bodies are "fearfully and wonderfully made." With the help Of Body by God, readers will learn how to achieve the highest level of performance from God's handiwork.
REVIVE OUR HEARTS Through Nancy's teaching ministry Revive Our Hearts communicates a message of personal and corporate revival. Believing God for a reformation in the hearts of Christian women, Revive Our Hearts is helping women live lives of freedom, fullness, and fruitfulness in Christ.
WE PRAISE GOD TOGETHER!! Yesterday, Today, Forever by Ryan Stevenson RYANSTEVENSONMUSIC.COM
E H Photography emilyhawkinsphoto@gmail.com Photos for CHAIM, Inc. by Emily Hawkins PHOTOGRAPHY
Watch Faith To Overcome on demand Overcome fear. Live by faith. VISIT: FaithToOvercome.org YouTube Channel: HAWKINSMINSTRIES