Indulge
December/January 2013
spirit|soul|body Kim Walker-Smith
Jesus Culture - A Love Revolution
Suzie Botross Give the Gift of Encouragement
Elissa Macpherson Once Upon a Time
Kelly Burstow A Definition of Beauty
PLUS
Our great ChristmasGiveaway
Christmas Gift Ideas, Sparkling Fashion and a Fun Christmas Tea Party With Love At Christmas xxx
Indulge | December/January 2013 | 1
Indulge eMagazine is part of the iluvthoseshoes Project which seeks to empower women in their journey through life by resourcing them, spirit, soul and body. Empower = make more confident; to give authority Resource = source of help; solutions to problems
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iluvthoseshoes Project www.iluvthoseshoes.com
Editor-in-Chief
Charissa Steffens editor@indulgemagazine.com.au
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Natasha Smith info@nspstudio.com.au
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David Steffens info@indulgemagazine.com.au
Senior Editors
Nicky Hurle Gina Hamilton Catherine Johnsen
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Barrie Nicholson Catherine Johnsen
The Cover
Cover: Suzie Botross Photography: Natasha Smith, NSP Studio Photography
Fashion Editor Tanya Epis
Food Editor Angela Frost
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iluvthoseshoes Project www.iluvthoseshoes.com
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Dr Cris Beer Suzie Botross Kelly Burstow Kirsten Cooke Nicky Hurle Elissa Macpherson Candice Schmidt Charissa Steffens
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All entries must be received by email before 5pm 20 December 2012 (AEST). The winning email entrants will be notified by email. Entries will be chosen by members of the Indulge Team based upon the best answers that fit the criteria requested.
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With Love At Christmas
contents
24
38
48
Spirit
A Revolution of Love {08} Kim Walker-Smith Interview
The Walk of Grace {18}
Body
Once Upon a Time {20}
Time to Sparkle {36}
Soul
Christmas Gift Ideas {40}
Charissa Steffens
Elissa Macpherson
Give the Gift of Encouragement {24} Suzie Botross
Christmas is a Time of Giving {30} Nicky Hurle
A Definition of Beauty {32} Kelly Burstow
Getting by with a Little Help {36} Charissa Steffens
Christmas Fashion
Spoil the ones you love
‘Tis the Season {42} Candice Schmidt
The Real Reason we need Holidays {44} Dr Cris Beer
What Motivates your Exercise? {46} Kirsten Cooke
Christmas Tea Party {48} Christmas Food Special
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Editor’s Letter
Wow! What a year it has been. These pictures
represent only a small proportion of wonderful Indulge moments that we will never forget. I hope you have enjoyed 2012 with Indulge as much as we have revelled in bring you our bimonthly magazine. I would love to say a enormous thank you to everyone who contributes to Indulge, you are a fabulous team and I am so blessed by your friendship, talents and gifts that you bring to this journey. To our readers, I have been continually humbled and in love with our wonderful Father in Heaven as many of you have shared with me how our articles impacted you this year. You give purpose to our process and I value each person’s journey that I am privileged to hear and share. 4 | www.indulgemagazine.com.au
This is a very special time of year for us as we celebrate Christmas and our second birthday as a magazine. We love to give at Indulge and in this spirit we have some great gifts for four of our readers. So make sure you join in. Most of all I wish you a very blessed Christmas as we celebrate the most significant present ever given to humanity, Jesus. My prayer for you is that this time of the year will bring you joy and love, and I look forward to sharing 2013 with you all.
Love Charissa
1
Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics
2
Jamie Oliver Cookbook
Giveaways...
3
With Love at Christmas
Christmas Music Hillsong
4
Wear n Him T-shirts
To celebrate Christmas (and our 2nd Birthday), you have the opportunity to be in the running for one of these four great gifts by following two easy steps:
1. Subscribe at www.indulgemagazine.com.au {It is FREE} 2. Send an email to info@indulgemagazine.com.au and share one of your favourite Indulge moments this year.
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Email must be received by 5pm AEST 20th December 2012 and winners will be notified by email
spirit
A Revolution of
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Kim Walker-Smith
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A Revolution of
LOVE
Words: Charissa Steffens Photography: Natasha Smith NSP Studio Photography
Kim speaking to the teenage girls at Designing Women 2012
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K
im Walker-Smith is front and centre of a revolution of love. As Jesus Culture’s worship leader, Kim spends her time travelling the globe, sharing about God’s never-failing love and ushering in His presence. This husky voiced, unassuming girl, from a quiet town in Oregon, USA, carries a beautiful strength within and she lives to love God and people. On a recent visit to Australia to speak at the annual Designing Women Boutique Conference at Nexus Church in Brisbane, I sat down with Kim and her husband Skyler and chatted about marriage, love and life.
This is your fifth visit to Australia, what are a couple of your favourite things about Australia? The weather! (laughing) We love that part! We travel so much and you never know what you are going to get with weather but we love coming here because most of the time when we have been here it has been great weather. Even when it is chilly it is really not that cold. Where we grew up there is just tonnes of snow and so here (Queensland) it is so mild and lovely.
they really do want to make that commitment. It helps them to really know a person because each of us do bring, for want of a better word, baggage to the marriage. Whether it is things from our past or the way that we were raised, we have different ideas about what marriage and family looks like. We have different core values; we see the world differently so it is really important to know the person and have an understanding as to why they behave the way they do and why they make the choices they do. Then we can make the decision to love the person knowing all of this about them. For example, I always tease Skyler because we had two totally different upbringings. He was raised in a Christian family and his parents have a good marriage, whereas I come from a family of divorce and it wasn’t a good upbringing. So coming into marriage I didn’t really have the best view of marriage. Skyler made the decision that he could love me in that and walk through that with me. We could make a new standard of what marriage and relationship looks like for us and be willing to jump in, not just in the good times but in the hard times as well. It is a big commitment so you really should know the person.
We also love the Passionfruit here. We eat lots of it when we are visiting. It is so good here and we just love eating it. As a young married couple you have been working with Danny and Sheri Silk in the area of relationships. What advice can you give to other young people who are in search of meeting their partner? One of the key pieces of advice I would give is to really know the person you are wanting to commit to spending the rest of your life with. We did a course with Danny and Sheri Silk that is called Defining the Relationship. When we teach that course we have a lot of people who come that are just dating but are thinking ‘I might like to marry this person’ and it helps them decide if Indulge | December/January 2013 | 9
As a person who wears the mantle of worship leader, how do you define worship? I define worship as God pouring His love out on us and us responding to His love by pouring our love back out on Him. Worship is not defined by a talent or a skill, it is not defined by songs or dancing, or painting or waving banners. All of those things are an expression of that relationship but without intimacy and relationship with Him we would just be going through the motions. We are just singing words and making noise. It is that relationship with Him that gives power and purpose to what we are doing and the expression of that – the singing, dancing and the lifting our hands or however you want to express that relationship. Worship is an opportunity for us to come into His presence to encounter Him. I really believe that every single time we come into God’s presence we encounter Him and our lives are changed. We can’t stay the same after we encounter Him. That is just who God is. He is so multi-faceted and He wants us to be consistently growing in our relationship with Him. We get a new revelation of who He is and we grow in our relationship with Him. With the full life that you lead, touring, speaking, performing, writing – how do you maintain that love connection with Jesus to an overflowing level? It is a hard struggle; I had to learn that my relationship with Him had to evolve, just like my life was. Just like my external world was changing, that internal world had to change to keep up with it. What that looked like was that before all of the travel I had a bit more routine in my life; life was more organised. I was at work at the same time every day and I knew where my pockets of free time were, so I would always plan that those pockets were the time I would spend with the Lord. Then my life changed into what it is 10 | www.indulgemagazine.com.au
now, where we don’t have a routine, we don’t have a steady schedule, and things can just pop up all of a sudden. So I have learnt that I just take it where I can get it. If that means only five minutes or it means an hour, I will just take whatever I can. I have to remind myself that God is not limited to time like we are and He can do something so big and amazing in just five minutes. Whatever we can give, we just give, and it is a sacrifice. We do have to make that time some days and it can be a bigger sacrifice on some days. We do have to just clear things out to make that time but it is so important. God just loves that. He just loves when we take that moment just to acknowledge that He is there with us. It can change the entire atmosphere of your day just to stop when you are driving in the car or sitting in your office, to stop and say “Hi Jesus, Hello…” just to acknowledge that you’re here with me now. In that small gesture you can feel immediately the change, your heart just suddenly yields to Him and you can just have a precious moment with Him. It is important not to put the pressure on to have a rigid time, but just to understand He is real, right here and right now, like you and I, that we can talk to Him and have a relationship with Him. We can have a relationship with Him that is creative and out of the box. We can go on walks and talks with Him, soak in the bath and read our bible, just anywhere and anytime. Whether it is five minutes or an hour, just take it.
“I really
believe that every single time we come into God’s presence we encounter Him and our lives are changed.”
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You had a difficult upbringing, which left you with the burning question that plagues many people in life… “Why do the bad things happen?” How did you deal with that? This was something that I didn’t hear talked about a lot, especially from the pulpit. I think people get afraid because we don’t have the perfect answer. There were people in my life that would attempt to give me an answer. They talked about free will and all these things but the answers never really settled inside of me, they never felt satisfying to me. The only thing that ever did feel satisfying to me was Jesus and His presence. I realised that these questions that I had: “Why did the bad things happen? Where were you? Why didn’t you stop them from happening?” were keeping me from having the one thing that ever really came close to feeling like satisfaction in my life. They were getting in the way of me experiencing true and total freedom from this pain in my life; they were keeping me from experiencing joy and fullness in my relationship with Him. That was when I realised that I wanted Him more than I wanted the answers to those questions. Those answers had almost become an idol in my life because they were coming before Him. I was saying, “I can’t really come to a deep intimacy with you because I am demanding you answer this first”. Then, in a moment of desperation, I realised that He was the only thing that could bring total fulfillment and total satisfaction and total freedom from the pain attached to
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Photos: Jesus Culture Encounter 2012 Top: Kim, fellow worship leader Chris Quilala and the band Middle & Right: Kim leading worship Bottom: Sklyer Walker plays guitar in Jesus Culture Photos courtesy of Jesus Culture www.jesusculture.com
With Love At Christmas
these things - total peace. That was the moment I realised, “I have to have Him, I want Him more than I want those answers”. I chose to throw down that idol and chose Him first and that was when I finally experienced freedom from that situation. It was then that those questions didn’t hold any power over me any more. Now I look back at those circumstances and I thank God for what He has done. Those circumstances shaped who I am, and I am a stronger person and a better person and I know that the enemy tried to defeat me. He tried to take me out but he didn’t win because I surrendered to God and I chose Him. Some day in Heaven, Jesus and I will have really long conversations about all of it, but here on Earth this is the choice I have made and that has brought real freedom.
human nature tends to jealousy and insecurities, and we have this need to have an order and some one needs to be over another. However, here we have this ‘house’ where we have so many authors and musicians and teachers; many powerful people living under the same roof. There is no dissention; they all love and support each other. It is not perfect by any means. It is not easy but they choose to love and walk through life in relationship together and they are so commited to each other. That has been so amazing for me to see. Personally, that has been one of the biggest testimonies to me, even more so than all the amazing revelations that I have had. That is very rare and I love that about Bethel.
How important has your home church of Bethel been to you and having people like Bill Johnson, Danny Silk and Kris Vallotton speaking into your life? Well, it is kind of funny because I have been at the church for almost 13 years. When I was first there it wasn’t as well-known as it is now, or as big. Now we have so many visitors coming through and checking things out, and for a period of time I didn’t really realise how famous my (spiritual) ‘dads’ were. It wasn’t that I took it for granted, I had always recognised the greatness in them and what was happening in that place, but for me it has just been home. It wasn’t until I actually started going out to other places that I realised the revelation and what they [the pastors] carry. What they teach is so revolutionary and so different. In some places it is so contrary to what people have thought before or believed before and I have felt so blessed. I am very thankful to be in a place that is rich with so many amazing speakers and a wealth of resource. What has been an even bigger influence in my life is seeing so many powerful people living under the same roof. That is extremely rare as
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What is your favourite song? Kim: My favourite song is probably the same as a lot of people that listen to our music and that is “How He loves”. My friend wrote that song and the reason I chose to sing that song was because of how much it ministered to me. Skyler: I have a few older worship songs that will always be my favourite. “Holy and Anointed One” has long been a favourite one of mine. Who is your favourite biblical person? Kim: Esther. My favourite part about Esther is when her uncle is telling her to go before the King and basically save her people. Her reaction was like “Noooo!” She was totally terrified which is what most of us feel like. We can all identify with that, especially when we are asked to push beyond something bigger than ourselves and we question “Do I have what it takes?” or “Am I worthy?” and all the emotions that we feel. And then finally she makes this pledge of boldness and she says, “even if I have to give my life, I am going to do this” and it is this warrior woman coming out in her and I just love that. I love the whole story; the range of emotions that she shows. I love it! Sklyer: My favourite person has always been Jonathan. The commitment he had to David, the sacrifice of that and his own heart of worship has always been appealing to me.
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What do you desire to be your legacy from your life? For the longest time I would think of legacy in terms of leaving my mark on the world by what I do, what I accomplish, what I build. Lately, the Lord has been turning my heart around and [I have been] thinking about family. Your kids are your greatest legacy. We don’t have kids but I feel the Lord is turning my heart towards that and I think that your biggest legacy is the family that you have and the lives that you pour into. What I hope (if I have kids and for others that I minister to) is that they see me as someone who walked in love; that I loved fearlessly, and I loved with boldness and loved God with every ounce of my being. I hope that is what they say about me at the end of my life, not “she was an incredible singer” or “I loved her voice” but what I hope they will say about me is “She loved like I have never seen anyone love before”. That is what I would want people to say about me. Q
To find out more about Kim or Jesus Culture visit their website www.jesusculture.com
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The Walk of Grace
Words: Charissa Steffens Image: Painting by Liz Lemon Swindle 16 | www.indulgemagazine.com.au
I wonder what would have happened if she had said “no” to him? It possibly crossed her mind in the moments that followed his appearance. How could it not? She suddenly found herself in an astonishing collision between the known and the unknown; surely she questioned her own sanity. She possibly thought, “Is this real?” and shook her head to see if she was dreaming. But there he stood, a stranger – no, he was more than that. He was a messenger straight from the throne room of Heaven (Luke 1:19) and he wanted to including her in a cosmic
event.
With Love At Christmas
This young country girl, from the small town of Nazareth, appeared to be an odd choice for this momentous task.“Wouldn’t God choose someone more powerful, better connected?” she possibly thought. Her heart must have been beating outrageously fast as the visitor told her “you are favoured of God” (Luke 1:30) and about to “bear a child – a son who will be great and who will reign forever.” (Luke 1:31:33 paraphrased)
one significant truth from her forefathers: fear makes our world contract and faith makes our world expand. Fear makes us stop and shrink back. It leaves us lacking and disatisfied; faith, however does the opposite. It releases us to soar higher, wider and deeper than we have ever dreamed possible. Faith expands and builds us in such a way that we begin to see circumstances as problems to solve and not as menacing tyrants that control.
It would have been oh so sensible for Mary to say, “No way, I couldn’t”. She had every reason to do just that. She was betrothed, promised to Joseph, but the marriage contract had yet to be fulfilled... this would mean disaster! When it was revealed that she was pregnant, Joseph, according to their customs, would have to divorce her. Her reputation, her family’s reputation and her way to survive in the world would be lost.
As this messenger stood awaiting her response, in her mind, she walked in the grace being extended to her, she knew that this favour was not based upon her abilities but it flowed from the One who had sent this messenger to her. In that moment she gave voice to her faith (Luke 1:38) and let the journey begin. I imagine that as she accepted, heaven cheered and Her Father smiled and then whispered, “That’s my girl.”
If Mary had taken the safe route, would Gabriel have moved on to someone else? Probably. I don’t imagine that God would have let Mary’s choice stop Him from fulfilling His plan to redeem the world. It would simply have been Mary’s loss and, at some point, she would have realised that she had missed the opportunity to participate in the event that would revolutionise and renew all of humanity.
Mary’s faith shines bright for us that follow in her footsteps. She is an inspirational trusting servant who was about her ‘Father’s business’ just as the Son she would bear would be (Luke 2:49). She was a woman who knew the value of faith over fear, a woman who understood grace before she even carried the giver in her womb, a woman who hosted the presence of Almighty God so that others could be saved.
In that moment, she needed to make a choice. Did she believe or would she doubt, and could she trust or should she flee?
As I read the story of Jesus’ birth this year I felt drawn to Mary in a new way. Pondering this moment in her life I was reminded that Mary’s choice is my choice and Mary’s walk of grace is my walk of grace too. Just as Mary brought forth the Saviour of the world, I am called to do likewise in my world, in my time. Let us be inspired to reveal Jesus the Saviour, the son who is called “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace and whose reign is eternal” (Isaiah 9:6) with the same confidence, trust and faith as Mary did many years ago. We too will change the world when we do. Q
As a young child, Mary would have been raised on the hero stories of her faith; testimonies of what God had done through her people. She would have recalled the choices presented to Esther, Moses, Joshua and the countless others that had gone before her. Now was her time; her time to believe in God’s word and that she mattered to God. He would work out the details if she simply believed. There were no guarantees and no promises that this would make for an easy life. She understood
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Once Upon A Time Words: Elissa Macpherson - Mirror, Mirror Images: Mirror, Mirror
Once upon a time there was a woman who looked in the mirror but could not see herself. She knew the mirror showed her hair, her nose, her eyes, her mouth but it did not reflect her. She looked in the mirror and frowned, displeased with her reflection. Something had been lost. Something had been hidden. Her soul was missing in action. Sometimes she caught glimpses of herself in her laughter, in a song, in a garden; but then it would disappear leaving behind a space, an echo. 18 | www.indulgemagazine.com.au
In the mirror, she saw an ugly duckling; a misplaced creature swimming in the wrong waters. She could see the pieces of her face but they were spiritually fragmented, like an incomplete collage. As if the mirror on her wall had been broken but the cracks and shards of glass were under her skin. Her innocence had been vandalised. Her beauty had been stolen. She didn’t know when or how. She had no memory, like spiritual amnesia. But she knew in the
deepest places where there are no words, only a knowing, that something was missing. She turned away from the mirror, scolding herself for being silly. She gave up fairy tales with wearing pigtails. She gave up mystery for a mortgage. She let her dreams fly away like a kite with a broken string. Responsibility and reality had cut the strings. Secret visions of castles and kingdoms were shattered with broken hearts and the cold, sharp slap of rejection. Long ago she had abandoned happily ever after for happy enough. If she kept busy enough she would not miss her hidden self. Her days were a cycle of paying bills, making meals, washing clothes, returning phone calls. Sometimes the cycle becomes a storm: a wayward child, an appointment with the specialist, a door slammed in anger.
With Love At Christmas
the beauty of the sunset. For there in the skies, like a huge mirror held at heaven, peeking behind the curtain of pastel painted clouds, she sees what was missing. The sun’s last dance and evening’s first stars pirouetting across the sky say in vision what she lacks in words. Beauty calls her to hope. For a moment she allows herself to believe she was born for significance, born to belong, born for beauty. Like Cinderella covered in cinders of loneliness and ashes of disappointment, she can get a glimpse of the castle in the distance. For the purity of the moment takes her to a place beyond reason and proof, it takes her to a place of an unleashed spirit, untamed skies and rampant imaginings. She gives up trying to capture light in her hands, she stops deluding herself she is in control of this force called life. Instead she opens her heart and flies into the unknown. For a
“Dear woman, let me tell you a story, humanity’s story, your story.”
At six o’clock each evening she wanted to close her eyes and cover her ears: another soldier killed in somebody’s war torn country, another earthquake destroys somebody’s home, another man arrested for abusing somebody’s child. She puts dinner in the oven and goes out to the veranda. She stares at the majesty of the stars, the splendour of the sunset, these remnants of Eden not destroyed in the crossfire and cannot reconcile why the glories of the sky do not match the poverty in her soul.
fleeting moment she dares to believe. Believe that stories of castles, glass slippers and ball gowns were not lost with her innocence and dreams. Believe that one day her prince will come. Believe there is rhyme and reason to the story of humanity. Believe in once upon a time.
For just a moment the sky is her mirror, its fireworks of colour and the leaping flames of light seem to capture the image of life itself. For a moment she sees the missing parts of herself in
“Dear woman, let me tell you a story, humanity’s story, your story. Rise up my darling! Come away with me my fair one! Look the winter is past, and the rains are over…Rise up my darling! Come
In this moment of belief she heard a silent voice from the heavens, she heard the divine whisper soak into her soul like drops of summer rain into dusty ground:
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away with me. (Song of Songs 2:10, 11, 13). Come away with me into the mirror of truth”. So the woman stepped into the mirror of the sky, like stepping into light, into the moment of belief, into the endless stars and infinite night sky. She soared like a diver leaping from the top of a mist shrouded waterfall into unknown depths. She soared and sunk into her once upon a time.
The woman in the mirror listened intently to the story; its unravelling plot enabled her to start piecing together the puzzle of her shattered soul.Q
Once your soul lived in the castle of creation, where waterfalls were the tapestries adorning the throne room. Once fields of flowers were your carpets, blossom trees your canopies, sun and stars your chandeliers, and oak trees were your pillars. Now you are a spiritual slum dweller, creating a shack from the wreckage as a home for your soul. Heaven whispered to the woman in the mirror: “You are Eden’s refugee. Where once you lived in the palace of paradise, you are now exiled in a spiritual desert.” The voice from the stars and sky continued to speak into her heart. “Now you must drink from the polluted waters of pride, pretence, perverted materialism and petty dramas. These temporary pleasures tease you with memories of the rapturous tastes of Eden, where pleasures flowed out of the rivers of selfless love and God’s unbridled generosity. You can now only sip from the shallow puddles of tainted pleasures, disconnected from the flow of God’s love. These sips only increase your thirst for pure living waters and leave you spiritually dehydrated. So you have learned to live with dirt and grime engrained on your heart and it becomes normal. Life is pieced together from the leftovers, moments of pleasure and meaning are patched out of the scraps and you tell yourself this is all there is. Memories of original glory, of beauty and pure love have become the stuff of legends and childish fairy tales.”
Mirror, Mirror is avaliable at www.lavishpursuits.com.au and at Koorong Bookstores.
Elissa has been married to an amazing man for over 20 years and has three gorgeous children. She lives on a vineyard in rural Queensland. She has been actively involved in youth ministry, women’s ministry, music worship ministry and preaching. Elissa’s first book, Beautiful - Lavish Devotions for Women, was an outstanding success and her recently released second book Mirror, Mirror will once again take readers on a transforming journey.
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Suzie Botross
SOUL 22 | www.indulgemagazine.com.au
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GIVE THE GIFT OF ENCOURAGEMENT THIS CHRISTMAS Words: Suzie Botross Photography: Natasha Smith NSP Studio Photography
Have you ever experienced frustration when trying to find that special, creative and affordable present for the family and friends on your Christmas gift list - without spending the first twenty four days of December at the shops? There is one gift that will cost you nothing, but it will be worth the world to someone else... the gift of encouragement. Encouragement is not just about warm and fuzzy feelings. Encouragement is not just about the rising up of an internal strength and confidence. Encouragement is not just about the tingly feelings of being accepted and appreciated. Encouragement is not just about feeling good about yourself. Encouragement can be life changing! Encouragement can be defined as believing in and inspiring others with courage or confidence, stimulating others through belief and approval, as well as advancing or spurring others on. Encouragement builds our confidence and brews a ‘can-do’ attitude. There are certainly enough
people in our world telling us that we can’t and that we shouldn’t. Why don’t you join me this Christmas and give the ultimate gift. Be someone who says, “You can and you should.” The Bible tells us to encourage one another DAILY (Hebrews 3:13). The opposite of encouragement is discouragement. In fact, have you ever considered that the absence of encouragement is also a form of discouragement? Have you ever known what it’s like to be put down or to be told that you don’t have what it takes? Or have you ever expected to be encouraged but instead you’ve received silence or a two word sentence - “Well Done” which didn’t seem to satisfy your craving? If you have ever been part of a workplace, a marriage, a family or a community that didn’t instil and believe in encouragement, you probably know that it is pretty hard to thrive in that type of environment. In Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, a widely accepted motivational theory that looks at a pyramid of human needs, we see that encouragement is a basic psychological need. So, if encouragement is not a luxury, and if it takes people to greater heights, what is it that prevents us from encouraging others? Let me share a few honest truths (I know you can handle it!): 1. Our self-centeredness or our insecurities: We can get so caught up in our own need for encouragement that we become too busy trying to find it. Or perhaps we may feel insecure about drawing attention to other people’s strengths for fear of them ‘stealing our thunder.’ 2. Our egos: We can feel too important, too high up some invisible ladder or too polished to encourage other people.
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3. Our perceived service to society: We can justify our lack of encouragement as our contribution to saving society from one more ‘big-head’ and one more ego problem. 4. Our inability to see good in others: We may fail to see praiseworthy traits in other people. Some people are certainly harder to encourage than others but have you ever considered that they may be harder to love and encourage because they are deprived in this area? 5. The fact that it doesn’t feel natural: For many people, giving encouragement may feel unnatural. That is understandable but learn to push past the barriers and break that cycle. You can do it. You will get hooked. People in our world should not have to wait for us to learn the art of encouragement. As mums, daughters, wives, sisters, employees or friends, we can resolve to be women of encouragement. You have the power through your encouragement to mobilise people and stamp a smile on their hearts this Christmas. Are you in? In Acts chapter 4 we are introduced to a guy by the name of ‘Joseph from Cyprus.’ Most Bible readers commonly know this man as Barnabas, yet Barnabas was his nickname! Barnabas is translated as ‘Son of Encouragement.’ Barnabas didn’t earn his nickname flippantly. He was a master encourager. In fact, he was the very reason why the apostle Paul was able to pursue and live out his destiny. Barnabas’ encouragement of Paul essentially engineered Paul’s success. We can only imagine what would have happened to Paul if Barnabas had not come alongside him. Barnabas’ investment in this one man had the greatest impact on the spread of Christianity throughout the entire world! Has it ever occurred to you that the hero behind Paul’s incredible influence and success was an inconspicuous and silent legend by the name of Barnabas?
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Who is God sending you out to today? Whose life can you impact today through simple encouragement? Your encouragement may very well be the launching pad for a history maker, or visa-versa. One of the incredible rewards of encouragement is that it functions like a boomerang; it always comes back to you! Can you do with a little more encouragement in your life? Start by giving it first! And then sit tight and wait for encouragement to invade you. The following ideas will help you do this: 1. Give praise genuinely. Intentionally observe what people are good at and give praise genuinely as often as you can. 2. Be timely and specific. Your encouragement is best when it’s timely and specific. Giving someone specific encouragement may very well be the thing they need to hear to assist them in deciding whether to pursue a dream or to dismiss it. 3. Compliment effort. Compliment people’s efforts, not just their performance or outcomes. Don’t forget that the journey and the intermediate milestones are just as significant and praiseworthy. 4. Be intentional. Even go as far as to diarise encouragement to remind yourself to encourage at least one person each day.
Suzie Botross is a gifted communicator who loves to inspire people to be everything they were created to be. Suzie is the author of ‘She Will Run’. Written specifically for women ‘She Will Run’ has seen incredible success since its publication in 2010. By combining her professional understanding of practical, hands-on learning and development, with her passion for God’s Word, and the life lessons that are bursting from the seams of scripture, Suzie delivers a very unique experience for Christian women either through her messages or her workshops. To find out more about Suzie visit her website www.botross.com.au
5. Pray. Ask God to give you His heart towards people so that you may continue to develop in this area. Present your insecurities to God and believe that as you lift others up, God Himself will elevate and mobilise you beyond your wildest dreams. Go ahead and give the precious gift of encouragement this Christmas. Change someone’s life with a shining star that will flicker in their heart and ring in their ears for years to come. And I pray that same gift into your life too. Happy Christmas! Q Indulge | December/January 2013 | 27
Words: Nicky Hurle Photography: istock
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Christmas is a time of giving Stockings hung with care, Hearty feasts; indulgent living Tree laden with ornaments fair. Presents opened and paper flying Children laughing, adults chat, Sated revellers on couches lying: Tis’ no better season than that. Outside in city streets it seems That Christmas is obscene, As homeless, poor and friendless live Where hunger reigns supreme. No gifts or feasts or family joy Surround the needy few, No thought for those who go without; But for the soup van queue. Then there are those who live quite well But so alone are they; They dread the Christmas season for It’s just another day.
Another sad reminder of The ones that they have lost, The broken down relationships For which they count the cost. But once upon a midnight clear A couple ventured forth, To a town called Bethlehem; The place of Joseph’s birth. At census time the Inns were full Not one room could be found, So in a stable all forlorn They slept on straw-strewn ground. Shepherds in the nearby hills Heard from the host above: A Saviour has been born this day To show the world God’s love. You’ll find him in a manger bare Go now to worship him. So leaving sheep they rushed away To find the new-born King. There were no fanfares, feasts or fun When Jesus Christ was born, Nothing clear to honour him His birth was unadorned. The magi came to worship him When he was two years old; They brought him precious gifts of myrrh And frankincense and gold. He lived a life of simple means No pillow for his head. No property or riches, he; Just God’s word for his bread. He taught the people all he could Then headed for the cross, He gave his life that we could live And counted naught as loss. When Jesus came he spent his time With worthless and forlorn,
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He never let his personal wants Distract from why he was born. He came to set the captives free To bring us true forgiveness, To bless the poor in heart and soul To be about God’s business.
So as you celebrate this year Spare a thought for those Whose Christmas lacks a festive cheer Because of many woes. Give a little charity; A gift for those without, Be Jesus to those needing help And let His love shine out. And when your time is ended And you see him face-to-face He’ll smile and say “Well done my child, You gave others my boundless grace.” The greatest gift we can ever give Is God’s eternal love, So make it your aim this Christmas To represent the Lord above. Nicky is a talented and passionate educator who has taught in both Primary and Secondary school in a career that is a vocational calling. She has a Biblical Diploma and a recently completed Masters in Gifted Education. Her involvement with young people spans more than twenty years in various roles including youth leader and mentor. Nicky is currently a House Parent at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra where, with her husband David, she is responsible for looking after the welfare of residential athletes. She is presently writing her first novel and loves reading, movies and music.
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A Definition of
Beauty Words: Kelly Burstow Photography: Misho Baranovic
It was more than their smiles that captivated me. Yes, it was much more than that. It was beauty. I think it struck
me because I recognised their essence as different from the fabricated forms of beauty I am bombarded with on a daily basis. I’m not really talking about Photo-shopped images, never ending pouts and sexy poses. It’s more that the idea of beauty in our modern society is increasingly focused on outward appearance and less about carriage, attitude and expression. Before I go on further in my story of India
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and its women, I need to acknowledge the challenges faced by many who live there. Gender discrimination is very present in India and I pray for equality for all women. That is a different story to tell. This particular story tells of a group of women I met while travelling in India, whose deep beauty made me think. I sat under the colourful tent in rural Central India. It was a cool refuge from the sun. I was travelling with a team of four bloggers, reporting on World Vision’s various community programs
in both urban and rural India. The trip was both inspiring and confronting. Inspiring for the hope I saw in the eyes of those part of the World Vision programs; confronting because of the need. There is so much need and suffering in India that often goes unnoticed like dust under a rug in this fast developing society. I sat under the bright tent, and looked out to the sea of colour. This was the day I met an inspiring group of women whose beauty shone so brightly, it made me stop and think; to wonder. I like that: when something hits me so hard, my mind is driven to thought. These women I’m talking about are part of an established Women’s Self-Help Group. This particular World Vision project brings women from a village together and empowers them to support each other, save money together for emergencies, and even do business together. And together, these women are amazing. My heart sang hearing of the changes they made, not only to their own families, but the entire community. In their village, alcoholism was rife due to the illegal production in the surrounding area. So, together, the women went to the authorities, and subsequently alcohol was abolished. With this came education for the men who were gambling and drinking, causing violence and abuse in the homes. But no more. One lady said their village is now peaceful and productive. This is just one of the many changes because of this group of women. After the welcoming and the sharing of stories, there was this one lady. She sang a song for us. Her brown, cream and green sari draped elegantly to her body as the rhythmic words flew from her mouth. I didn’t understand the words, but I felt them as she sang. Later the translator told me about the song and what it meant. He smiled before he told me the meaning. “Oh, it’s a beautiful song!” he began. This woman, she sang of hope, of determination, of courage. She said, in her song, that –“ like the river, that flows; forging through and always moving – so
must we be.” It was a song of living life with purpose and joy. As I listened to their stories and looked at the array of elegant, colourful saris -- as I watched the women move, and dance, and sing -- I felt a keen sense of beauty I hadn’t seen for a long, long time. It made me think about what it is to be a woman, and what true beauty is all about. The beauty of these women was in their quiet confidence, their courage and their ability to overcome. I saw beauty in the graceful way they held the saris; the colour; the community care; the smiles; the laughter; the meaning behind the songs and dance. And beauty was there in kindness, in hospitality and graciousness. A unique combination of humbleness and strength was evident too and I was reminded of the verse in 1 Samuel, 16:7 that says, “God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward
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appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Does my heart radiate such beauty? That day, I was an honoured guest, bestowed with many short bows, applause and a necklace of yellow flowers. I was there to encourage these women, and yet, I was the one most blessed. I left India, challenged to be beautiful, truly beautiful; not to get caught up in false beauty that fades, no matter how heavy it weighs in our society. Be confident, yet humble; foster change and care for one another; overcome with quiet, yet sure strength; feel, dance, sing; live joy like a river, no matter what the challenges. The beauty of the women I met in India stayed with me because it’s the kind of beauty that carries over ocean and seas. This is a definition of beauty worth aiming for.Q
Kelly is a mum to four amazing children and wife to her childhood sweetheart, Matthew. Kelly writes regularily on her blog “Be A Fun Mum” where she shares fun and creative ideas that inspire many parents. Her family’s mission is to be amazing in the moments they have and to delight in all the wonders that are in them. Kelly was raised in PNG, where her parents served as missionaries. She loves her local Baptist Church and serves on the Children’s ministry team. To find out more about Kelly you can visit her at www.beafunmum.com.
World Vision fund many different community projects, like this women’s self-help group, in countries all over the world. This Christmas, consider giving a gift that changes communities and gives hope to many.
Call 13 32 40 or visit worldvision.com.au
Please help save the lives of children and families in West Africa. Donate to World Vision’s West Africa Food Crisis Appeal today.
Masatoura, 17 months old, in Niger.
© 2012 World Vision Australia. ABN 28 004 778 081. Ref # 6954
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© 2012 World Vision Australia. ABN 28 004 778 081. Ref # 6954
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was only a teenager when she discovered she was pregnant. She didn’t know who to turn to for help. Amy’s fear of rejection and the uncertainty of her future are two of a myriad of significant issues that young women in this situation must face. Many find themselves without the emotional, social and physical support that is required to raise a child.
Getting By With A Little Help Words: Charissa Steffens Photography: Natasha Smith NSP Studio Photography
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Naomi’s journey was similar to Amy’s. “I was only 18 when I found out I was pregnant… it was the scariest thing I have ever had to deal with in my life.” Naomi felt like all the dreams she had for her life had just come crashing down around her. The hardest thing for Naomi, as a young mother, was “not having the life experience behind me… I didn’t know how to budget, do housework and even just being organised with Amy with her daughter Kassandra nappy bags! I remember being so down on myself “I knew I was going and thinking that no one would love me this way to be a mum and I just didn’t know how and I kind of felt secondhand.” Looking back on I was going to do it.” Amy’s words are echoed by her experience Naomi feels thousands of young women that the biggest need for each year who unexpectedly young mums is family and discover they are pregnant. community support. “To find out I was pregnant, After many years of it was very scary for me. working with women All my thoughts went to such as Amy and Naomi, how my family would Ruth Knight, founder of react,” Amy shares. Amy Lifehouse Project, saw the
desperate need to shine a light on the areas of housing and support for young mothers. With a background in nursing and social welfare, Ruth is passionate about helping to break the cycle of poverty and abuse in which these young women, and their children, often find themselves trapped in. As a way to create dialogue and establish solutions, Ruth recently published a report entitled The housing and support needs of young mothers on the Gold Coast: Statistics and Stories, which she hopes will encourage all sectors of the community to address the immense needs of disadvantaged young people. Mr Robert Molhoek, member for Southport and the Assistant Minister for Child Safety in Queensland, agrees with Ruth. In his speech at the launch of the report, Mr Molhoek called upon those in attendance to “find our voice for the future children of Australia”. “I have heard some very challenging stories, stories I wish I had not had to hear since coming to this portfolio,” states Mr Molhoek, “We, as a society, need to ask what are we going to do about these issues of homelessness and abuse… what sort of Australia do we want?” The findings of the report revealed a genuine need with approximately 200 young mothers facing homelessness per year, just on the Gold Coast. With no crisis accommodation for under 18 years olds and many simply unknown to the official channels, the support services are not keeping up with the growing problems these young women face. Often the mothers have to go into temporary accommodation and be separated from their child/ren. Ruth’s desire is to establish “affordable, appropriate and accessible housing and support that will ensure that young mothers and their children do not experience long-term disadvantage and homelessness.” An immediate strategy that Ruth believes will work and that has been
With Love At Christmas
established in the United Kingdom is known as Nightstop. This utilises community volunteers to provide crisis accommodation for short periods of time. Families take in young parents for up to three weeks to give them a safe place while longer-term transitional accommodation arrangements are being made. Ruth believes that this is a great opportunity for church families to extend a helping hand to the community. Naomi, who now works for a community organisation, agrees and would like to see the establishment of a scheme where a family can sponsor a young mum and mentor her. “Many young people, in these circumstances, have not had a healthy upbringing so they don’t know what a healthy family looks like. If they could be involved in one first-hand, and witness how to interact in a healthy way, there is no better way to teach them and this will break that cycle. I believe young people can be amazing parents if they are in the right environment to flourish,” says Naomi. The Lifehouse Project Report can be viewed online at www.lifehouse.org.au. If you would like to know more or volunteer please contact Ruth Knight at admin@lifehouse.org.au.
Naomi with her two children
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Time to sparkle
BODY
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Metallic Stripe Dress in Watermelon Ally $39.99
Little Black Dress Kmart $25.00 Gold Necklace Diva $19.99 All Sort After Green Jacket Valleygirl $39.95
Models: Sarah Smith Rhiannon McCathie & Andrew Nicholson Photography and Styling by 38 | Natasha www.indulgemagazine.com.au Smith NSP Studio Photography
Shine bright at this year’s Christmas Party!
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Gift Ideas for Christmas
Fresh flowers from Blossom & Twine
Order a floral wreath for the front door, a posy in a vintage jar or a centrepiece for Christmas Dinner Appointments and orders can be made via phone or email on 0448 317 530 or tegan.swanborough@gmail.com or you can find us on facebook!
Home is where the heart is at Signature Homewares
Rebecca has many beautiful items that would be loved by your family and friends. From cushions, to glassware and decorative items you will find a special gift to give. Find Signature Homewares on FB at http://www.facebook. com/SignatureHomewares?fref=ts 40 | www.indulgemagazine.com.au
A gift that counts - Justice Bags by Gifted Hands Order online at www.giftedhands.com.au
When people purchase Gifted Hands products, all profits go to charities that we are supporting such as Collective Shout, Priceless Life Centre, and many more.
Fashion accessories by Runway Culture
For that bit of sparkle every girl loves, visit Runway Culture at www.runwayculture.com.au and check out their fabulous fashion accessories. From scarves to earrings, clutches to braclets you can browse and buy online in a matter of minutes.
For those you love
Lovers of literacy will enjoy a great book like Elissa
Wear n Him have great t-shirts for the man in you life.
Charming with a purpose!
Hillsong Music have release two brand new albums just in time for Christmas.
Macpherson’s Mirror, Mirror. Come and join ‘Princess’ as she encounters a life transforming journey. Mirror, Mirror is available at www.lavishpursits.com.au and at Koorong.
At www.lisellie.com you can purchase adorable necklaces that contain a message of purpose. Necklaces can also be custom made and $5 from every “loved and vauled” necklace goes to the Hope Foundation.
You can view their entire range for men, women and children at www.wearnhim.com.au Wear n Him uses organic cotton and all their products are Australian made.
We have a Saviour is a mix of traditional and new songs that will bring Christmas to your home and Forever Reign was recorded in the magnificent Hillsong Chapel. Both are available at www.hillsongmusic.com
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…to be Festive… Decorating the tree, putting up the lights, visiting the Christmas exhibits, singing along to the carols, eating candy canes, Christmas lunch and trifle are great opportunities to put the merry vibe into Christmas! …to Celebrate a year gone by… make a family movie with video clips from the year, or a photo book with all the favourite pics or type up a newsletter detailing the highlights of the year for each member of the family. You can send it to family and friends and keep a copy for yourself as a great keepsake.
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…to Plan ahead… Do you look forward to a Christmas of fun, food and frivolity? Or does the anxiety start to creep in as you anticipate the stress of stretched finances and family conflict? Plan ahead to maximise the good times and have strategies for those foreseeable challenges.
… to make Memories… Family traditions can be passed on to generations. Some ideas include buying a new decoration for the tree each year – you can help the kids start their own collection. Make a gingerbread house, watch Christmas movies, sing carols, have BBQs in the moonlight, early morning swims at the beach or a birthday cake on Christmas day. Let the kids associate Christmas with fun family times spent laughing together. In our household, we have a special time with the kids on Christmas Eve with lit candles where we read the Christmas story together, eat Christmas treats and drink grape juice. We also share what we love
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about each other and what we are thankful for in the year that has passed. … to see Family… As crazy and challenging as our extended family can be with their quirky comments and likes and dislikes, being with family is special and usually better than being alone. Healthy boundaries are so important. We can’t control the behavior of others but we can control our reaction to it. Focus on the positive and make a decision to let the negative comments and irritations bounce off you. Have a line that says we can continue this conversation as long as it is respectful and honouring of each other. Make sure you have time with your favourite people and see others because you choose to, not because you “ought to”. …to have some Rest and Relaxation… You have worked hard all year and need some sleep-ins and fun times. Make time this holiday to read a book, catch up on your sleep, watch a funny movie or do something you love to recharge. … to be Generous… We know Christmas is about giving, not just presents, but of our time. Giving need not cost a lot of money and it is good to give outside family and friends. You could give gifts of homemade fudge and rocky road for the neighbours, or pool some money together to buy a gift such as a chicken or seeds for a needy family through the organisation “Compassion”. You could donate toys, clothes or food to a charity or a shelter. Generous giving could also be by writing a kind word in a Christmas card to your colleagues of something you appreciate about them or you could use your gift of hospitality and have some families visit to try out that new board game. …to Spend wisely… in a culture with lots of amazing items tempting our kids and family to spend too much money, it may be worth chatting to the kids about
taking a different, leaner approach this year. For the kids, a guide could be – Want, Need, Wear, Read – they get something they want, something they need, an item to wear and a book to read. Toiletries and stationery for school are great fillers too. Do they really need alot more toys? Maybe a family pass to a theme park or the extended family could put in money for a bigger present to get something they really want. With colleagues or the relatives, “Secret Santa” is fun whereby each person buys a $10 or $20 gift for one person which is given anonymously so that everyone gets a gift. There are some cool Secret Santa games too where a dice is rolled and whoever gets a “6” first chooses a gift. Then the next person who gets a “6” can either choose another gift or “steal” the gift from the first person, and so the game goes on. …to put Christ in Christmas… Christmas is a time to celebrate Jesus, who came to offer us the ultimate gift of eternal life and a relationship with Him that brings peace, joy and freedom. His salvation is a perfect reason to celebrate and live, laugh and love this Christmas. Happy Christmas to you and your loved ones, Candice xx
Candice desires to see people thrive in every area of life. She has been married for 17 years to a Paediatrician and they have lived in South Africa, New Zealand and Canada but have called the Gold Coast, Australia home for the past five years. They have four children between the ages of five and 13. Her passion is to “Live well, laugh often, love much”. She has a Degree in Psychology and a Diploma in Counselling. She loves to help people live to their full God-given potential spirit, soul and body. She enjoys counselling and watching God bring healing and restoration. She is a trained facilitator of 'Toolbox Parenting' which offers families hot tips on parenting well. Indulge | December/January 2013 | 43
The Real Reason We Need Holidays Words: Dr Cris Beer Photography: istock
So it is that time of year again when festivities are at their peak. Christmas is
just around the corner and for many families the promise of a well-deserved break is realised. Yet many of us do not really appreciate the importance of holidays, let alone take enough of them throughout the year. We work hard, busying ourselves to the point of exhaustion, only to find that the next year rolls around as quickly as the last. So this year I thought I would take the time to reflect on the reasons we need holidays. Some of the reasons are health-related but, surprisingly, this wasn’t the most important grounds as to why we need holidays. Reason #1 Physical Restoration The importance of holidays for physical restoration cannot be overstated. We live in a fastpaced society where work days are long and rest periods are short. It seems that more and more individuals are even working after hours at home
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to complete never-ending tasks. This long-term demand on the body’s stress hormones can lead to a host of ailments including chronic fatigue, insomnia, recurrent infections, weight gain or an inability to lose weight, fluid retention, premature aging, digestive problems, heart disease, and a host of other degenerative conditions1. In fact, when researchers from the State University of New York at Oswego surveyed 12,000 men aged 35 to 57, they found that those who didn’t take at least one week-long holiday a year boosted their risk of dying from heart disease by 30 per cent during the course of the nine-year study2. Taking a holiday, even for a short period, gives your body a chance to recover and for stress hormone levels to reduce. This in turn gives your heart and blood pressure a break, allows your body’s usual functions to return to normal, and permits healing and true relaxation.
Reason #2 Physical Relaxation A great benefit of holidays is to be able to get some much needed sleep. That is, of course, unless you have small children! But even in this case, one family I know offered some advice whereby each parent takes turns in accompanying the kids out for a stroll or swim in the pool whilst the other has a lie-in. Interestingly, in one small New Zealand study, researchers found that holiday-makers slept about an hour longer than they did at home and benefited from three times more deep, rejuvenating sleep than they had before their time off2. Reason #3 Emotional Restoration When stress runs high so do emotions. One major benefit from holidaying is, coupled with a drop in stress-hormones, an increase in the brain’s ‘feel-good’ hormone serotonin3. This hormone is often depleted in our society leading to the epidemic proportion of anxiety and depression sufferers. Taking the time to truly unwind has the added benefit of being a natural anti-depressant. It is amazing how good we can feel even after a short break. Reason #4 Reflection When we’re running full-steam ahead in the ratrace, personal reflection can certainly be pushed to the side. But psychologists have proposed that actually taking the time to reflect on our current feelings, life-goals, and personal desires can be a great stress-reliever. Often holidays are the perfect time to do this. The satisfaction of having a window of mental clarity to articulate our personal needs can be just the boost we need to make some much-needed changes in our lives. Reason #5 Memories This last reason is truly the most important. A dear friend once proposed that the real reason we take holidays is not so much for ourselves but rather for the memories we create for those we love. After all, everyday would be just like every other day without the punctuation of time away spent with treasured family. I am certain the old
adage ‘families that play together stay together’ is a testament to this. Finally, how much time off for holidays is actually needed? Often I’m asked this question and, although the answer needs to incorporate an individual’s needs and decision-making, I advise the following plan. Ideally, we need at least two weeks holiday every six months. One week simply isn’t enough. It takes the average person around four to five days to unwind. Two weeks allows time to do so and still enjoy the above benefits from our holiday. I also advise people to take a short break away, say for a weekend, every two months in between their longer holidays. At least one of these should ideally be without the kids. Many couples could bolster their marriages just by this simple act of focussed togetherness. Hopefully the above reasons can convince us all to prioritise holidays in the New Year and find the much-needed time to recharge our batteries. 1 Dr Libby Weaver. Rushing Woman’s Syndrome. Little Green Frog Publishing 2011. 2 Reader’s Digest. The importance of holidays for those with high stress lifestyles. http://www.readersdigest.co.uk/ health-home/day-to-day-pressures/the-importance-ofholidays-for-those-with-high-stress-lifestyles 3 Dr Don Colbert. The Seven Pillars of Health. Siloam 2007.
Dr Cris MBBS (hons), BBMedSci, ACNEM Primary Course, P.T. As an expert in nutritional medicine Dr Cris specialises not just in the prevention and treatment of illnesses, but in the attaining of optimum health. She believes that this state is achievable for anyone and passionately shares this message as a media personality. Dr Cris believes a person can develop resistance to illnesses by employing simple strategies. Dr Cris has compiled these simple strategies from her broad studies in medicine, biomedical science, integrative and nutritional medicine, health coaching, as well as personal fitness training. She holds recognised qualifications in all these areas. For more information visit www.drcris.com.au Indulge | December/January 2013 | 45
What Motivates Your Exercise? Words: Kirsten Cooke Photo: istockphoto.com
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Let’s face it, most people dislike exercise. Or at least they think they do.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer for motivation, since different things motivate different people. Try the following 7 reasons on for size and discover what motivates you:
They say it takes up too much time, they don’t like to get sweaty, or maybe Reason #1: Health they’re so out-of-shape that The long list of health exercise hurts. benefits attributed to exercise should be enough I think that anyone who motivation for anyone. says they don’t like exercise Physical activity helps is really saying that they you achieve and maintain don’t have any motivation. a healthy weight. It also helps lower bad cholesterol, Motivation is what gets you triglycerides, and blood to stick with an exercise pressure, while improving routine—even when it’s the amount of good the last thing you feel like cholesterol in your body. doing.
Additionally, exercise strengthens your bones and muscles, lowers your risk of cancer, decreases stress, helps you battle depression, and even improves your sex life. Reason #2: Making Progress When it comes to exercise, many people find it helpful to track their progress so they can see where they started and how far they go over time. Seeing improvements reminds you that your hard work is worth the effort. Perhaps you were only able to walk a km, now you’re able to run two! Maybe you weighed in at 85 kg, and now you’re down to 79! Track your progress using a regular journal, phone app, or fitness website. This is a great way to stay motivated and to remind yourself that while you may not notice your progress, you’re making progress every day! Reason #3: Convenience Many people don’t stick with an exercise routine when it becomes inconvenient for them. Whether you face a schedule change or don’t have time to drive to the gym, it’s important (and possible) to find a time and place that work best for you and your busy lifestyle. Just remember to be flexible! If you’re too tired at the end of the day, try waking up a few minutes early to fit in a workout. Reason #4: Enjoyment If exercise is a bore for you, find a way to make it fun. Everyone likes doing things they enjoy. You might hate running but enjoy swimming or riding a bike. Perhaps you don’t like being alone and would rather be social. So join a team! Or maybe you don’t like the idea of driving all the way to the gym and exercising with a crowd. Find out when your local gym is least populated, and hit the weights then. Do what’s most fun for you and you’ll be less likely to stop. Reason #5: Goal Achievement If you’re just getting started in the world of exercise, a good place to start is by setting goals. How much weight would you like to lose? How far would you like to run? Working towards a goal is a great motivator. However, don’t set up for failure by striving after unrealistic goals.
Do this and you’ll soon feel overwhelmed and give up altogether. To avoid this, set realistic milestones. When you reach them, enjoy your accomplishment and then set new goals to take your good health even further. Reason #6: Increased Confidence If you’re out of shape or overweight, it can take a lot of courage to start an exercise routine. Remember to be confident in who you are, no matter what size or shape. Don’t compare yourself to the skinny, toned figure strutting her stuff through the gym. Keep your eyes on your goal and don’t expect perfection after just a week of exercise. Strive to have your best body—not someone else’s. Reason #7: Rewards Rewards are a great motivator. In fact, much of what you do in life is motivated by a reward of some kind, whether intrinsic or extrinsic. When it comes to exercise, a good reward probably shouldn’t be an ice cream sundae, but it may be that new pair of jeans you’ve been eyeing, or perhaps a facial. Maybe for you, weight loss and lowered blood pressure are reward enough. Just know that your hard work is paying off and deserves to be rewarded.*
Kirsten is the owner of Brisbane based Personal Training and Lifestyle Coaching Business, Kirsten Cooke Fitness. With over fifteen years experience in the industry, Kirsten has developed an expert level of knowledge in the fields of Weight Loss, Stress Reduction, and Productivity. As a wife and mother of two beautiful (and full on) boys under 6, Kirsten understands first-hand how difficult it can be to find the time and motivation to exercise, eat well, and take care of yourself. Kirsten’s main focus in her business is to inspire people to get the most out of life, by helping them to make gradual and easy changes to their lifestyle. By empowering them with the necessary skills and knowledge to change their life, her clients are able to improve their health, vitality, selfesteem, energy levels and overall quality of life. Kirsten can be contacted on kirsten@kirstencookefitness.com, or 0420 302 494. Indulge | December/January 2013 | 47
Christmas Tea Party
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Food Editor: Angela Frost Photography: Tanya Epis Models: Jordan, Xavier and Jorja
Indulge | December/January 2013 | 49
Sparkling Christmas Cookies
Prep 10 mins | Chill 30 mins | Cook 12 mins Makes approx 40 140g icing sugar 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 egg yolk 250g butter - cubed 380 g plain flour To Decorate 2 1/2 cups of icing sugar Food colouring - your choice of colour Coloured cachous - silver balls 1. Heat oven to 1900c. 2. Place the icing sugar, vanilla, egg yolk and butter into a food processor and pulse until well combined. Add the flour and mix to a firm dough. 3. Shape dough into two discs and wrap in cling wrap . 4. Chill for 30 minutes. 50 | www.indulgemagazine.com.au
5. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. 6. Roll out dough on a floured clean surface. Using shaped cookie cutters, cut out shapes and place on lined baking trays. 7. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until lightly golden. Place biscuits onto a wire rack to cool. 8. Mix icing sugar with a few drops of cold water to make a thick but still runny icing. Add food colouring and then spread over each cookie and decorate with silver balls.
Marshmallow Teacups 1 pkt iced biscuits 1 pkt pink and white marshmallows 1 pkt musk Life Savers 1 pkt Freckles 1/2 cup of thickly made icing 1. Place iced biscuits on a tray, spread a small amount of icing on the bottom of a marshmallow and press onto the biscuit. 2. Top the marshmallow with a freckle using a small amount of icing. 3. Cut the lifesavers in half then dip into icing and secure to the marshmallow.
Indulge | December/January 2013 | 51
Baby BLT Bites Makes 12 | Prep 10 mins | Cook 5 mins 6 slices of bread 6 slices of thick bacon 6-8 small baby Roma tomatoes 1 leafy lettuce 1/2 cup of mayonnaise 2 tbsp fresh basil - finely sliced
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1. Toast 6 slices of bread and with a small 4cm round cookie cutter, cut out 4 rounds per piece. 2. Cut bacon into small bite size pieces and fry until crispy. Cut each tomato into slices. Tear the lettuce into small pieces. Mix the mayonnaise and basil together. 3. Assemble - on a bread round spread some of the mayonnaise, top with lettuce, bacon and then tomato. Top with another bread round and secure with a fancy toothpick.
Indulge | December/January 2013 | 53
RASPERRY JELLY CHEESECAKES
Makes 12 | Prep 15 mins | Chill 2 hours 90g butter - melted 250g Butternut Snap Cookies 135g Raspberry Jelly Crystal 200mls evaporated milk - chilled 200g cream cheese - softened 1 pkt fresh raspberries 1. Line a twelve hole muffin pan with patty cases. 2. Place the biscuits in a food processor and pulse until fine crumbs form. Add melted butter and mix. Divide crumb mixutre among cases and press firmly down with the back of a teaspoon, then chill. 3. Place jelly crystal into a small saucepan and add 100mls of boiling water. Place over a medium heat on stovetop to ensure jelly has completely dissolved. Set aside to cool.
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4. In a large bowl whisk the milk until light and fluffy and doubled in volume. Whisk in the cream cheese until smooth, then add jelly and mix well. 5. Fold through 100g of fresh raspberries (use the remaining raspberries to garnish). Divide mixture among cases and chill for at least 2 hours. Garnish with fresh raspberries.
Merry Christmas xxx Indulge | December/January 2013 | 55
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