Category: motivational

Delightful Tidbits        

** Aging is inevitable, but losing my filter is not.
** Keep running. This is neither the time nor the place to give up.
** Jesus is a burden barer & heavy load carrier.

Tidbit 1 Humor Time
 
****How to politely tell someone that they are stupid: Wisdom has been chasing you, but you have always been faster.

****Some seniors have no filter as they grow older. I went to sing at an assisted living facility. One of the residents came up to me afterwards. This was our conversation.

Resident: Is that a wig?

Me: Yes, it is.

Resident: I thought so, because most people don’t have that much hair.
(True story )

Lord, as I get older, please let me keep my filter. Aging is inevitable, but losing my filter is not. 

****During Gladys Aylward’s harrowing journey out of war-torn Yang Chen, during the Communist take-over, she saw no apparent hope of reaching safety. A 13-year-old girl tried to comfort her by saying, “Don’t forget what you told us about Moses in the wilderness,” (referring to God’s promise of his presence) to which Gladys Aylward replied, “Yes, my dear, but I am not Moses.” The young girl replied, “Yes, but God is still God.”

Tidbit 2  Keep Running

We are 6 months into 2024. Time is just flying by. Did you set any New Year’s resolutions for 2024? Did you think you would be further along on your healthy living quest?  Have you become complacent?  Did you start out running and now you are walking? Wherever you find yourself, I want to encourage you to keep running.

Yes, I get tired sometimes, but giving up is not an option.  After years of exercising, I still have to make myself exercise.  I still have to make myself eat raw veggies. If I stop my healthy living quest now, it won’t be pretty. I would get stiff. I would get fatter. Who knows what else would go wrong?  So, let us keep getting some form of exercise in, eating those veggies, staying hydrated, taking those vitamins, getting enough sleep, etc. Let us keep, praying, seeking the Lord, reading our Bible, etc. It may be difficult but never impossible. Keep doing better! Keep running!

 Tidbit 3 My Yoke Is Easy

Kid: I didn’t know Jesus put eggs on people in the Bible.

Mom: What are you talking about?

Kid: Well, in Matthew 11:29, Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you ..………                   

Matthew 11:25-30, NKJV
At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

I don’t know about you, but I have had plenty of heavy burdens in my lifetime. Some have been so heavy that I just wished Jesus could come, crack the sky (the Rapture), and beam me up.  Some have been so heavy that I just wanted to die and go home to be with Him. Some have been so heavy that I just wanted to take a bottle of pills. The one thing that kept me from doing so was that I probably would have ended up in a nursing home in my right mind, but paralyzed for life.  I might have lost a limb or two, been disabled and lived with regret for the rest of my life.

Burdens weigh down our hearts and lives. We carry some of them daily: having to always be right, trying to live up to the expectations of others, inferiority, death, loss, financial hardships, guilt, relationship tension, etc.  I don’t have to allow any of these examples to weigh me down, unless I choose to do so. I must remind myself daily that I am a part of God’s team. This means that in every game of life, I win, even when it doesn’t look like I’m winning.

In our reading for today, Jesus extends an invitation for us to come to Him with our burdens. He didn’t say we wouldn’t have them. He said He would make them light. He cannot and will not lie. It is totally possible to live freely and lightly and just rest in Him. What an awesome place to be! I’m not there. I may never get totally there but every day, I’m working on it.

The information that I have shared with you is intended
for informational purposes only.

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? 
If you wait, it could be too late.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting live (John 3:16).

If you have already accepted Him, He wants you to get to know Him even better.

Bye for now. Thanks for visiting. Don’t forget to click the Follow button.

Sources
https://barbararainey.substack.com/p/the-barbara-rainey-podcast-growing
https://pixabay.com/vectors/burden-heavy-man-overworked-people-1296754/

Disclaimer of Advertisements
Please be advised that the ad links and cookies attached to the pages of Happy & Fit for the Master’s Use have nothing to do with my ministry and have nothing to do with this blog. They do not reflect the ministry’s interest or endorsement in any way.

October Tidbits

**“When things are difficult, smile by faith. Don’t wait until you feel better.”– Joel Osteen
**When you eat at least 3 hours before going to bed, your body says, “Thank you! I have a lot of work to do tonight.”
** God’s house is a house of prayer for ALL people.

*** Tidbit 1  Humor Time

Sunday Fish Tale

A boy came late to Sunday School. Knowing he was usually very prompt, his teacher asked, “Johnny, is there anything wrong?”

“No, ma’am, not really,” he said. “I was going to go fishing, but my dad told me that I needed to get on up and go to church.” The teacher was very impressed and asked Johnny if his father had explained why it was more important to go to church than go fishing.

“Yes ma’am, he did,” Johnny said, “My daddy said he didn’t have enough bait for both of us.”

Q: Why did the man give up being a taxi driver?

A: There was too much talking behind his back.

A preacher was giving a sermon to a full church when all of a sudden the devil appeared. He was menacing and threatening and the entire congregation started to flee the church except for one old man. When the church was empty the devil went up to the man and asked “aren’t you afraid of me, I’m evil incarnate, the most horrific being in the universe and will most likely torture you!” The man replied “You don’t scare me, I’ve been married to your sister for 35 years.”

*** Tidbit 2 Eating Before Bed

Do you eat before going to bed? How soon before going to bed, do you eat? Are you eating the right things before going to bed? How much are you eating before bed? Health professionals tell us that we should avoid eating before bed, but that isn’t always easy. There are times when, for whatever reason, we find ourselves eating the wrong thing, eating too much, and eating it too soon before bed.

Health professionals suggest eating 3 hours before going to bed. This gives the body time to digest the last food you ate so that it won’t disrupt your sleep. Circadian rhythms are 24 hour cycles connected to your body’s internal clock that tell your body when it’s time to eat, sleep and wake.  Your body works hard when you sleep and you interfere with that work when you eat too close to bedtime.

Another reason that eating late is not good for you is, that’s when you might make less healthy foods choices.  Nighttime is when some people relax with all the unhealthy stuff – chips, cookies, ice cream, etc. Snacking late into the night increases the chance of weight gain, obesity, and cardio metabolic diseases. You can also experience heartburn and indigestion.

If you just have to have a late-night snack, here are some options that provide your body with protein and healthy fat.

  1. Hummus with raw vegetables.
  2. An apple or banana with a tablespoon or two of nut butter.
  3. A half cup of low sugar, high-fiber cereal with milk.
  4. A half cup of berries with a few almonds.
  5. Nut butter on a slice of whole-grain bread.

The list can go on and on. Do you have a favorite healthy late night snack? If so, please share it with us in the comment section.

*** Tidbit 3    A House of Prayer for All People

Isaiah 56:4-8, NRSV
For this is what the Lord says:

“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant—
5 to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever.
6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant—
7 these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
8 The Sovereign Lord declares— he who gathers the exiles of Israel: “I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.”

A black minister shared a personal story that happened years ago: A white friend of mine invited me to his church. I went and enjoyed the service. Later my friend came to me. He was upset. He told me what members of his church said to him, “Look, we have to share our schools with them. We have to share our grocery stores with them. We have to share our hospitals with them. The church is the only thing we have left and we are not going to share it with them.” I could see the pain in his face as he spoke those words. I told him that I understood. He didn’t have to worry, I would not visit again.

Eunuchs, the Gentiles, foreigners, were considered second class citizens. They were outcasts. They were not welcome in the congregation. God sent the prophet Isaiah to provide encouragement to them. They were not damaged goods. They belonged just as the Jews belonged. The eunuch would be rich with family, even though his reproductive organs had been removed. All would be welcome to worship.

Here we see the mercy, grace, justice, and favor of God. All who accepted His invitation to live a righteous life, keep the covenant, and maintain a repentant, humble and contrite heart would experience His blessings and enjoy access to His presence.

Today, no one who desires to serve the Lord and keep His covenant will be left out. No one is excluded because of race, economic or social standing. God is still calling for more people to come to Him. He hates sin but loves the sinner. They may vote differently, look funny, think differently, etc. It’s our jobs as born again believers to do our part, to bring as many people as we can, into the Lord’s house, the house of prayer for all people.

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?  If you wait, it could be too late. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting live (John 3:16).

If you have already accepted Him, He wants you to get to know Him even better.

Bye for now. Thanks for visiting. Don’t forget to click the Follow button

The information that I have shared with you is intended for informational purposes only.

Sources
Church Jokes: Clean and Hilarious Jokes for Pastors – Ministry Voice
https://funnyeditor.com/joke/why-did-the-man-give-up-being-a-taxi-driver
https://unijokes.com/joke-9209/
http://clipart-library.com/clipart/6TyXjqM7c.htm

Lively Tidbits

*You look so much better when you smile!
* Psalm 121 – My help comes from the Lord.
* Have you heard about the sitting disease? Sitting too long, up to three to four hours at a time may increase your risk of disease.

Tidbit  1   Gotta Smile

Donation:  Father O’Malley answers the phone.
“Hello, is this Father O’Malley?”     “It is” 
“This is the IRS. Can you help us?”        Reply:  “I can.” 
“Do you know a Ted Ryan?”                       Reply:  “I do.” 
“Is he a member of your congregation?”    Reply:   “He is.” 
“Did he donate $10,000 to the church?”      Reply:  “He will.” 

The Sunday School teacher was just finishing a lesson on honesty. “Do you know where children go if they don’t put their money in the collection plate?” the teacher asked.

“Yes ma’am,” a boy blurted out. “They go to the movies.”

Are these plates clean? John visited his 90-year-old grandpa who lived way out in the country. On the first morning of the visit, John’s grandpa prepared a breakfast of bacon and eggs. John noticed a film-like substance on his plate, and asked, “Are these plates clean?”

His grandpa replied, “They’re as clean as cold water can get them. Just go ahead and finish your meal.”

For lunch, Grandpa made hamburgers. Again, John was concerned about the plates, as his appeared to have specks of dried egg on it. “Are you sure these plates are clean?” he asked.

Without looking up, Grandpa said, “I told you before, those dishes are as clean as cold water can get them!” 

Later, as John was leaving, his grandpa’s dog started to growl and wouldn’t let him pass.

John said, “Grandpa, your dog won’t let me get by!”

Grandpa yelled to the dog, “Cold Water, go lie down!” ~ Joke by Jonathan P., Chicago, Ill.

Tidbit  2    I Will Lift My Eyes to the Hills

Psalm 121:1-2 reads,I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. The New King James version changes the punctuation and puts a question mark after the word help. One interpretation of these 2 verses is: David is not looking at the hills as a source of help, but as a source of threat or harm. He asked himself where his help would come from.

He wrote this psalm after he became king. He was facing new challenges. He looked up to those hills where he had faced many challenges and problems, because he was hiding from King Saul. He remembered how God had delivered him out of one tight spot after another. He then answered his own question: My help is coming from the Lord. When you look up to the hills, (the problems and challenges) that you are facing, know that God is waiting to help you. He’s the only one who can help you. Turn to Him, not from Him.

Click on the video link below to view the oral presentation of this blog and hear my version of Richard Smallwood’s song, Total Praise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fZFCzkn9r8

Tidbit  3   The Sitting Disease

Have you heard about the sitting disease?  Sitting too long, up to three to four hours at a time may increase your risk of disease. These diseases include: diabetes, cardiovascular disease like heart attack and stroke, and increased risk of death. It can contribute to obesity and blood clots.

God created us to move. So, what we should not do is sit for long stretches of time, even if we’re active at other times of the day. Experts have found that people who move just a little bit –even fidgeting or getting up from their desks on a frequent basis to get a cup of water, or taking a flight of stairs – significantly improved their health.

The solution: Stand up, sit less, move more, and more often. The following suggestions may help you (at home or at work).

** Set a timer; stand up every hour and stretch, bend or walk.
** Walking during commercials when you watch TV.  
** Stand or pace when you talk on the phone.
** Alternate between sitting and standing.
** Stand up for 1 to 2 minutes, and give God a praise dance.
**  Squat up and down 5 to 10 times, while thanking God for a strong, healthy body and the ability to move.

The information that I have shared with you is intended for informational purposes only.

If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, now is the time to get to know Him even better. If you don’t know Him, accepting Him as your Savior will be the wisest decision you will ever make.

I am so glad that you stopped by. Thanks to those of you who let me know that know you enjoy these blogs. Until next time, don’t forget to smile and/or laugh at least once a day!

SOURCES
https://www.stewardshipoflife.org/jokes/
https://jokes.scoutlife.org/jokes/long-jokes/page/2/
Is Sitting The New Smoking? – The Heart Foundation
Why Did David Lift His Eyes to the Hills? A New Perspective on an Old Question | Here’s the Joy (heresthejoy.com)




Challenging Tidbits

**Don’t forget to smile and/or laugh today! Humor does a body good. **Do you wanna be fit for the Master’s use? God wants you to be fit for His use. **Your body needs a constant, daily supply of water. Are you drinking enough of it? If not, take the water challenge.

Tidbit 1   Humor Time   

MARRIAGE AND COFFEE 

Shortly after tying the knot, a young married couple started arguing over who should make the coffee. Being a good Christian woman, the wife went to the scriptures for her answer. She said that the Bible specifically stated that men should be the ones to make the coffee.

Puzzled, the husband asked her where in the Bible it said that. Very confidently, the wife opened up her Bible and said: “It’s right here—HEBREWS.”

ADAM & EVE

After having children, Adam and Eve started getting a lot of questions from their kids about why they no longer lived in Eden.  Adam had a simple answer for this: “Your mother ate us out of house and home.

A boy asks his father, “Dad, are bugs good to eat?” “That’s disgusting.  Don’t talk about things like that over dinner,” the dad replies.”  After dinner the father asks, “Now, son, what did you want to ask me?”  “Oh, nothing,” the boy says. “There was a bug in your soup, but now it’s gone.”     

Tidbit 2   Fit 4 the Master’s Use Health Ministries

I founded Fit for the Master’s Use Health Ministries in 1998 (under the name “Smart Choice“).  I taught healthy living classes at my church.  I began to be invited to speak at other churches. My first social platform was this blog. As I share here, on my radio broadcast and on other social media platforms, I get encouragement from 1 Corinthians 3:6 which reads, I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  My job is to inform, encourage, motivate, educate, and challenge.  I leave the outcome up to you and God.  I include you because you have to decide if or how you use information that I share.

[Click on the video below to hear the oral presentation of this blog and to hear the theme song that God gave me.]

Tidbit 3   The Water Challenge

Are you drinking enough water? Drinking enough water is one of the most important steps you can take to improve and maintain your health.  You lose water every day through your urine, bowel movements, breath, and perspiration.  Because your body does so much, it needs a constant fresh supply daily.  It needs water to continuously flow in, through and out of the body.

Among other things, water:

  • softens your stool and can help keep you regular.
  • is essential for carrying poisons out of the body.
  • is the best treatment for fluid retention.
  • lubricates your joints and organs.  
  • transports nutrients throughout the body.

Joint pain, arthritis, high blood pressure, digestion problems and asthma may be signs that you need to drink more water. Lack of water can lead to dehydration. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired.

Linda was an elderly lady who lived by herself.  A neighbor, who came to check on her every day, noticed that Linda began to forget things.  One day Linda just walked right into the ocean that was near her town.  There were people around who rescued her.  Her son, who lived out of town, put her in a nursing home and Linda was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

Long story short – Somehow they discovered that the only thing wrong with Linda was that she was dehydrated. They began giving her liquids through an IV.  She slowly recovered and returned to her normal self.

If you’re the person who knows that you get a sufficient amount of water throughout the day – I applaud you.  Keep up the good work!  For those of you who know you need to drink more water – I have a challenge for you. 

Most of us need to drink between 8-10 cups (as a general rule of thumb) of water per day.  For some people, fewer than eight glasses a day might be enough.  But other people might need more.

I challenge you to drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water every day for 30 days.  I want you to get an accountability partner or partners. You decide when you will begin.

Here are some ways to get that water in.

  • When you get out of bed in the morning.  Your body has gone all night long without any water.
  • With each meal and between meals drink water.
  • Before, during and after exercise.

You may say, “If I drink all of that water, I’ll have to go to the bathroom too much.”  Well, what comes in has to go out. You’ll just have to get used to it.  Just be happy that you’re doing something to contribute to your health.

Change requires commitment, consistency, and determination.  Make up your mind at the very beginning that you will complete this challenge.  Visualize potential obstacles.  Visualize yourself overcoming those potential obstacles.  Go ahead and get sources that will motivate you to keep going like, Bible verses, CDs, DVDs and books. Remember to check in with your accountability partner.

When circumstances get difficult or it seems useless to continue, remind yourself that you made up your mind at the very beginning.  It’s a done deal!  If you’re a born again believer, you can do all things through Christ!


If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, now is the time to get to know Him even better.  If you don’t know Him, accepting Him as your Savior will be one of the wisest decisions you will ever make.

Thanks for stopping by.  Feel free to share any tips or positive thoughts. 
Until next time, have a blessed day!

The information that I have shared with you is intended for informational purposes only.  Check with your physician if you have health issues.

Sources
www.churchtechtoday.com/2019/05/06/7-clean-hilarious-church-jokes/
www.laughfactory.com/jokes/clean-jokes/2
www.clipart.com
www.agelessinvesting.com

Merry Tidbits

SMILE! It’s hard to smile and be sad at the same time. What do you say about a Christmas gift you don’t like? Have you jumped off the “healthy living” wagon? It’s not too late to jump back on. Make a plan and finish strong in 2020.

Tidbit 1   Christmas Humor

Things To Say About A Christmas Gift You Don’t Like

  • If the dog buries it, I’ll be furious!
  • To think — I got this the year I vowed to give all my gifts to charity.
  • I love it — but I fear the jealousy it will inspire.
  • Sadly, tomorrow I enter the Federal Witness Protection Program.

“Keep your friends close, your enemies closer, and receipts for all major purchases.” – Bridger Winegar

“Christmas is the season when you buy this year’s gifts with next year’s money.” – Author Unknown

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On the Sunday before Christmas Reverend Billy Graham was walking down Highland Street in Mt Holly, North Carolina on his way to see a parishioner. However, he wanted to post a parcel urgently so he asked a young boy where he could find the post office. When the boy had directed him, Reverend Graham thanked him and said, ‘If you’ll come to the Church this evening, you can hear me telling everyone how to get to heaven.’

The boy replied, ‘I think I’ll give your sermon a miss. If you don’t even know your way to the post office, how will you lead me to heaven?’

Click below to view a special Christmas PowerPoint presentation.

Tidbit 2   Finish Strong

There’s something in the air from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day that makes you want to indulge in ALL the holiday treats. Something that makes you say, “I’ll start doing better next year.”  There’s something that makes you want to forget about exercise, forget about calories, etc., etc. There are the treats that you only get during this time of the year like egg nogg, Christmas cookies, fruit cake and pumpkin pie.  Some people simply jumped off the “healthy living” wagon because the temptations were too great.

I don’t know about you, but I can do a lot of damage between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day if I don’t keep myself on track. So I know that I can’t just let myself go crazy and forget about my health goals.  I can’t afford to say, I’ll start all over again in January. If I go two days without doing some form of physical activity, it’s hard for me to get started again. If I go two days without any type of raw vegetable, I just don’t feel right. If I went from Thanksgiving until January without working on my goals, I don’t know if I would ever get started again. It would definitely be much harder for me get started again.

Have you jumped off the “healthy living” wagon?  Well, it’s not too late to get back on.  Start thinking about the things you can do today, then start planning. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.  Keep moving forward and finish 2020 strong!

Tidbit 3   Anniversary Time

This is the 10th year that the Fit 4 the Master’s Use radio broadcast has been on WNCA 1570AM, Siler City, NC. Prior to 2010, I was a guest on my sister, Pastor Charlotte Bryant’s broadcast. I thank Pastor Bryant, Praise Tabernacle and the Lord for that beginning.  Many times, I have wanted to throw up my hands and quit.  Many times, I wondered whether or not I was making a difference. It takes time and research to produce those little 15-minute broadcasts.  Sometimes I wonder what in the world am I going to present next.  What topic is left?  Then God steps in and gives me something.  He has been and continues to be faithful.

Years ago, I began this healthy living quest because I was dealing with a health issue.  I had no idea that I would be inviting others to come along on this quest with me.  I haven’t done and still don’t do everything perfectly.  I eat too much sometimes.  I eat unhealthy foods sometimes.  I am a work in progress.  I’ll continue to be a work in progress until the day I die. 

I’ve shared many times before; my goal is not to live to be 100.  I just want to feel good, with no pain, or as less pain possible, while I live. I want to be able to drive myself around.  I want to be able to care for myself.  I don’t want to be so sick and tired that it negatively affects my ability to do what God has called me to do.  We all have a destiny to fulfill. We all have gifts.  I hope you will continue to join me in 2021 on this healthy living quest.

I hope you enjoyed these merry tidbits.

If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, now is the time to get to know Him even better.  If you don’t know Him, accepting Him as your Savior will be one of the wisest decisions you will ever make.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a blessed day!


Sources
http://www.you-can-be-funny.com/CleanChristmasJokes.html
https://www.keepinspiring.me/funny-christmas-quotes/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/419116309057910306/
Free Jingle Bells Clipart, Download Free Clip Art, Free Clip Art on Clipart Library (clipart-library.com)
http://clipart-library.com/clipart/66828.htm


Health – Giving Tidbits

Have you smiled or laughed today? Humor does a body good. The Bible proves that God is the one and only true mastermind. If you have any doubts, start by reading the 1st chapter of Genesis. Have you stretched today? There are many benefits to stretching on a regular basis.

Tidbit 1   Humor Time

“Inside me there’s a thin person struggling to get out, but I can usually sedate him with four or five cupcakes.”– Bob Thaves

A Backyard Neighbor Funeral

Mr. Green peered over his fence and noticed that the neighbor’s little boy was in his backyard filling in a hole. Curious about what the youngster was up to, Mr. Green asked, “What are you doing, Jimmy?”

Tearfully, little Jimmy replied, “My goldfish died, and I’ve just buried him.”

“That’s an awfully large hole for a goldfish, isn’t it?” Mr. Green said.

Patting down the last bit of earth, little Jimmy replied, “That’s because he’s in your cat!”

Asking Her Age

A young mother had been too busy to visit her elderly neighbor who was ill.  She said to her small son, “Johnny, run over and see how ‘old Mrs. Smith’ is.”  Within a few minutes, the boy was back.  “She says it’s none of your business how old she is.”

Tidbit 2   Mastermind Is He

A mastermind can be described as a brilliant thinker with original ideas (a chess mastermind or a criminal mastermind).  Inventors, intellectuals, and famous geniuses can also be called masterminds. 

The Bible proves that God is the one and only true mastermind.  If you have any doubts, start by reading the 1st chapter of Genesis.  God created the heavens and the earth from the very beginning.  He just keeps on showing off His outstanding self throughout the Bible.  Look what God has done, mastermind is He!

Click on the video to view the oral presentation of this blog and listen to my song Mastermind Is He. (© ℗ 2006 Annette M. Harris. All rights reserved.)


Tidbit 3   Stretching

Have you stretched today?  Do you stretch on a regular basis?  Some people don’t realize the health benefits of stretching.  Stretching is completely adjustable.  No previous experience required.  It just gets better the more you do it.

Here are some benefits of stretching before you get out of bed in the morning.

1.  Stretching in the morning can help improve the range of motion in the joints, as well as stiffness that often accompanies being inactive or overweight.  Decreased flexibility in the joints may increase your likelihood of developing arthritis or having poor balance, which could lead to injury.

2.   It can dramatically improve blood circulation.  A quick stretch when you wake can energize you to get out of bed.  Proper circulation helps you move and function throughout the day. 

 3.  It can help relieve stress and tension and help you to face the day more positively. 

Before you take on the daily pressures and demands of job and family, allow yourself a few minutes to stretch and breathe.  Before you do those stretches or even put one foot on the floor – acknowledge the Lord.  Give Him a wave offering, a “Thank you Jesus”, blow Him a kiss, give Him a scripture verse, tell Him good morning – acknowledge Him.  Then proceed with your stretches.

You can lie on your back, on your bed and just stretch your whole body & wiggle your fingers and toes.  Some other movements include: Knees-to-Chest Stretch, Spinal Twist, Seated Forward Bend, or you can just be creative.


Stretching before going to bed gives you a chance to transition to quiet and let go of any negative thinking.  Listen to some scripture verses, or soothing music.

  1. Breathe slowly and deeply, stretch lightly and be relaxed. 
  2. Stretch in a smooth movement, without bouncing, only as far as it feels good to you.  Bouncing as you stretch can injure your muscle and actually contribute to muscle tightness.  Don’t worry about how far you can stretch. 
  3. Hold each stretch position steadily for about 30 seconds to give your muscles time to lengthen.

With your body relaxed, you should be able to fall asleep quicker and sleep more soundly.  Your goal with a bedtime stretch is relaxation, to reduce muscle tension that has built up from the day’s activities.  So take a few minutes tonight and stretch before telling God good night.   

Stretching anytime anywhere is a great way to take a break from your busy day to recharge and strengthen your body and your mind.  It does not need to be time consuming.  If you take a few minutes out of your day to stretch and try to do so at least 2-3 days a week you can achieve the most benefits.  If you stretch on an irregular schedule, your body will not be able to maintain a consistent range of motion.  In other words, if you don’t use it, you lose it.

What are you waiting on?  Get started today!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope enjoyed these Health-Giving Tidbits.  This presentation is intended for informational purposes only.

If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, now is the time to get to know Him even better. 

If you don’t know Him, accepting Him as your Savior will be one of the wisest decisions you will ever make. Have a blessed day!

Sources
https://www.stewardshipoflife.org/jokes/
P. 197 (1001 Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking) Michael Hodgin  Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan  1992, 1994
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mastermind
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/mastermind
http://clipart-library.com/stretching-cliparts.html
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/5-minute-wake-up-workout/