|
Volume 28: September 2008
Inside This Issue:
Welcome
Who is New Beginnings
What’s New-
September 2008 Feature Article-
Monthly Fitness Tips
Team News/Prayer Requests and Praise Reports
What Have you Been Reading?
Book Recommendation
Book Talk Blog
Upcoming Events-
Reminders-Church Link and Newsletter Signup
Word of Encouragement
New Beginnings Scripture for September
Our Mission Statement
Welcome-
Welcome to the New Beginnings Holistic Fitness Ministries family. We consider it a privilege to support your fitness efforts. We welcome your suggestions and ideas, so please let us know if there is anything we can do to make your experience with the monthly newsletter, website, weekly messages or message board more beneficial. We can be contacted at contactus@mynewtemple.org. It is our prayer to bring you words of encouragement and inspiration to motivate you to become fit physically, emotionally, spiritually and relationally. This is your New Beginning and we want to make it an awesome experience for you. As you begin this new adventure we are praying for you.
Who are we?
New Beginnings is a fitness ministry established in 2003 to offer a holistic approach to fitness that includes mind, body and spirit. A fitness ministry also serves to help people help themselves through physical and spiritual exercise. At New Beginnings we believe good health is a gift from God and can be obtained by following biblical principles as we lead a balanced life physically, mentally, spiritually and relationally.
What’s New?
Make Wise Investments!
By Angela Willingham
The other day as I was doing my quiet time (spending time with God in prayer and study) the Lord spoke clearly to me, “You are an investment.” I had been working on some different projects for our various websites and ministry activities and the issue of valuing ourselves had come up.
If you are anything like me you never really think of yourself like that. You think more of others and their value than you do of yourself and you will spend your time, talent, energies, emotions and even your finance to encourage or invest in their future.
When we think of investments we think of stocks and bonds, but that morning God revealed to me the investments we make in people, our families, our relationships, our jobs, etc. We make investments of time, talent, money, our gifts and our emotions. Most of us invest in others easily but sometimes find ourselves disappointed or hurt when others do not make similar investments in us.
That particular morning God wanted me to know and to share with each of you that you are valuable. He has placed gifts and talents in each one of us. He has already invested in us and we are valuable to Him. We are priceless in His sight. God has invested a great deal in each one of us and He does not invest in junk. He invests in that which has value.
We should not just be investing we should also be invested in by those who surround us. While we are giving we should also be receiving.
When we invest in each other we are also investing in the kingdom. We are honoring God. When we invest in each other there will always be a return on our investment. In the financial world a return on investment is known as the ROI. If we invest positively we can expect a positive return, however, if we invest negatively, by our words, criticism, angry words and put downs, we can expect a negative return on the investment we made. Whatever we invest we need to invest wisely. Many of us have found ourselves investing in people that did not intend us any good. In those cases we made some bad investments. We chose the wrong stock to invest our time, talent, emotions and money in.
Be prayerful before you make the investments, because just like with stocks and bonds some of them will never yield a good return. The company or foundation that the stock is based on is not a good one. In your case you may be investing God’s time, talent, gifts and finance in someone that has not yet chosen to be obedient to the Lord. It may eventually turn around but you have to be prepared to wait it out. It may be the man or woman that goes against the word of God and chooses to become involved in a relationship with a non-believer, now contrary to everything the word of God says and everything that God is speaking in their hearts they have chosen to marry this person, ignoring all of the warning signs.
Yes, there will be a return on that investment. What it will be we cannot say. How long will it take for the return, we do not know. The question you have to ask is do I want to proceed with this type of investment, knowing that it goes against the will of God. One thing is guaranteed. Every investment will result in some type of return, whether it is a good one or a bad one. You may also find that you have taken that which was supposed to be invested somewhere else and use it in the wrong place, causing delay in reaching the desired goal or missing it all together. You know when you miss making an investment in a stock at the right time you never get that chance again. You look back in regret.
We have to remember when making the investment that the return may be slow so we have to be determined to stick it out for the long haul. Some stocks rise quickly, while others take a while, rising slow and steady. The ones that rise slow and steady are usually not the fly by nights. They will probably be around a while. Just like our relationships we want our stocks to have a solid foundation, so that when changes in the situation and circumstances come we know that they will be able to weather the storm. When we make our initial investment it may not look like much but over the course of time we begin to see the return. Those are the relationships and stocks we want to hold on to.
We have to be careful that when the ups and downs of the relationship hit us just like the stocks we don’t cash in to early and miss the real return, if we know that was the investment God wanted us to make in the first place.
The company I work for went through some major financial difficulties. Some of the employees that were forward thinking and realized it was just a phase and that the company would come out of it and turn around were insightful enough to buy some of the stock when it hit rock bottom. Unfortunately, I did not think about it. Well they were correct in their investment and everything turned around. The stock is back up and they each made a huge return on their investment, buying for $1 per share and selling for $30.
They knew they were making a wise investment. The fact that the company was struggling with financial problems did not rule it out. Our relationships are like that. Don’t bail out at the first sign of trouble, that may just be the market shifting to see who is really serious and who just jumped in because it looked good. If you know you made a good investment, a God investment. You felt good about it from the beginning and you know it was God directed, hold on and wait to see how the market/life and circumstances turn around. It will take faith to hold on when everything is beginning to look bad, but if you have the faith God has the power.
However, don’t let pride cause you to hold on to something that was not a God investment in the first place. God told you not to invest anything in that stock and you did it anyway, the foundation is not God it is sin and the return on the investment will not be what you want or desire. That stock will come up short.
One word of caution or we will call it wisdom. When choosing your investment, invest in God first. Pray and ask Him to give you clear direction in which stocks and situations to invest in. He is the best Stock Broker you could ever have. If He told you to invest in that stock, do not sell until He tells you to, because He knows exactly when the stock will rise and He knows that there will be shifts in the market and your circumstances, stuff to get you to give up or sell to soon. If you really believed in what you invested in hold on, don’t give up to soon and miss your ROI (Return On Investment).
Remember that you are an investment also. Invest in God first then invest in you. Let other people invest in you, even greater than that expect people to desire to invest in you. Whoever makes the investment is going to get a great Return On their Investment as well, because you are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of Christ.
Monthly Fitness Tips-
Tip 1-Make your physical fitness changes lifestyle changes. If you know that you are not going to be a vegetarian for the rest of your life we encourage you not to use that as your weight loss method. Use a method that you know you will be able and willing to sustain.
Tip 2-Watch your salt intake.
Tip 3-Check out the New Beginnings Message Board for more tips that will benefit you under the Physical Fitness Category. www.mynewtemple.org. If you would like to add your own tips and suggestions please feel free to do so. If you have forgotten your password submit a request to have it sent to you or reset through the message board sign in screen.
As always we encourage you to see a physician before beginning any exercise program. Take the first step by getting up and doing something to take care of your most valuable resource, Your Health.
New Beginnings Team News-
Minister Angela has completed her counseling coursework for the Marriage Works curriculum of the American Association of Christian Counselors and will be receiving her certification over the next couple of weeks. Thank you for your continued prayers for her and for this ministry as she works to become equipped in the areas that God has chosen for her. Please continue to be in prayer as she has one more course to complete to finish what she started in the area of counseling.
Prayer Request-
This month we are asking you to pray for something other than New Beginnings related issues.
Please be in prayer for the upcoming presidential election and also for the people in New Orleans who are being hit by another hurricane. Please be in prayer for those that are struggling financially due to the high price of gas and food. Be in prayer for those who are losing homes and struggling in their relationships.
Please be in prayer for your relationships. After you pray, praise God that it is already done.
What Have You Been Reading?
Many of you have read some awesome books that have really ministered to you, spiritually, emotionally, relationally or physically. Let us know what you have been reading by writing to us on the message board. Your recommendations might help someone else. Please let us know if you have read some good Christian fiction as well. Many of those books have awesome messages contained within them and we want to encourage people to grow spiritually any way they can.
The Ministries’ Monthly Book Recommendation-From The New Beginnings Team
"The Journey From Pain to Purpose" by Charlyn Singleton
The back of the book cover says:
Destiny implies a future destination, but purpose is a process that takes place as we journey through life. On your journey you will always encounter pain, disappointment and delays. But the Journey from Pain to Purpose is designed to help you sidestep the obstacles and stay in the fight.
Don’t give up on the purpose God has for your life. Embrace it!
This book focuses on the life of Joseph from the book of Genesis in the bible. As I have gone through my own personal ups and downs over the last few years on my way to purpose, I have found great comfort in Joseph’s life story. Joseph received a vision from the Lord of his future and he had to endure a lot to prepare him and take him to the purpose God had for him. It has been said that Joseph went from the pit to the palace. (Check out his story in the book of Genesis chapters 30-50.) Many of us have experienced pain while trying to do what we believed was God’s will for our lives. This book provides encouragement for anyone that believes he or she has been purposed and found themselves in a dark place on the journey.
Check it out and let me know what you think.
We would love to hear from you. What have you been reading? Let us know by writing to us on the message board http://mynewtemple.org/aMessages.html or sending us a message at contactus@mynewtemple.org.
Monthly Book/Bible Study Blog
The book blog is on hold for this month while we focus on the new Weight Loss Watch. Check it out in upcoming events.
Upcoming Events-
Angela’s Weight Loss Watch- We are about to embark on a new opportunity. New Beginnings and The Fitness Angel will be working together again on Angela's Weight Loss Watch. You may be asking what that is? There is an intro clip on youtube and there will also be a clip updated on the New Beginnings site soon. You can check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAcBVa5e_qs and watch for more information on our website's home page www.mynewtemple.org.
Repeatedly, God has challenged Angela to post her stats on the website with some pictures, a daily blog and to do all that she has to do to lose the weight in public, on the web, in view of anyone who might be looking and repeatedly, she has ignored Him and operated in disobedience. She ignored His request because it was not comfortable for her. She did not desire, nor was she comfortable with being put on blast that way or the focus it would bring to her. When you mess up in private, nobody knows. You can hide it. Angela was operating in a spirit of rebellion and disobedience and she wondered why she couldn't see any progress, no matter how much she walked or how regimented she was in her eating. Beginning September 2, 2008 we will begin the Weight Loss Watch under the direction of The Holy Spirit. The measurements and weight will be posted as requested. Check out the weekly article and podcast for complete information related to the watch or e-mail New Beginnings and we will send it to you. You can e-mail us at contactus@mynewtemple.org. We will be glad to give you whatever information you desire including goals, measurements and supporting scriptures she will be using.
Some of you may be asking Angela, why did you wait until the end of the year to do this and the answer is simple. She is being obedient. The number eight in biblical numerology is the number of New Beginnings, so we need to do it in 2008 or at least get started so that we can reach the number of Divine Completeness (which is what the number nine represents) in 2009. I just got excited thinking about divine completeness physically in 2009. If you determine that this is something you want to do with her, we encourage you to do it. E-mail a picture you would be willing to have us post on the website and your measurements to contactus@mynewtemple.org. If you are not ready for all of that then take a picture, take your measurements and just keep them for yourself until you are ready to share them with others. Get started whether in private or on blast like Angela to reach your level of Divine Completeness in 2009.
Pray for Angela, pray for The Fitness Angel as he works with us in this endeavor, pray for the New Beginnings Team and pray for Terry our Webmaster as he tries to get all of this to come together on the web for us. Know that we are always praying for you.
Meet Shelley Reichenbach-
 www.thecrushedrose.com
In August we had the awesome and blessed opportunity to meet Shelley Reichenbach the author of The Crushed Rose. After several months of e-mails and getting to hear and know Shelley’s heart meeting her in person was a real blessing. Shelley has become one of our beloved sisters and a good friend of Angela our CEO. If you remember from January 2008’s Newsletter, The Crushed Rose is her own story and personal testimony. After her husband betrays her by having an affair and then leaving her for another woman. Shelly describes her prayerful journey in visits to various ‘rooms’ that God takes her thru and tells about how the pain of this destructive event in her marriage is turned into joy and restoration by faith in the power of God thru prayer. Shelly describes the torrent of emotional upheaval she experiences and how she leaned on and put her faith and trust in God alone for his direction and guidance in bringing her thru this trial. Her obedience to God results in victory in her life and the full restoration of her marriage.
Many women that this ministry has come in contact with have experienced the same pain that Shelley experienced. Unlike Shelley many of them were not as prepared to walk through or I should say to pray through the pain. Many of them struggled and lost the battle for their marriages. In the upcoming months you will see and hear from Shelley and also from her husband. Yes, that’s right her husband has agreed to share as well. We are anticipating at least 4 segments to the series with them, but we are also planning to have a long a fruitful friendship and relationship with them and the ministry God has given to them. Watch for the upcoming series where Shelley will tell the story from her perspective. The second segment will have a group available to ask her questions. In the third segment we will hear from her husband and in the fourth and final segment that has been planned we will hear words of warning and encouragement from both of them together. If you would like a copy of the book visit her website or let us know and we will see what we can do to get it to you.
Other Weight Loss Success Stories-Watch for the upcoming pictures and story from Lindsay, who started her weight loss journey in January of 2008 and by the end of August 2008, she has already lost over 105 lbs. We will hear her story and find out what caused her to do it and what she did. Watch for Burt who lost over 40lbs walking 10000 steps per day.
Watch for the Why Do You WorkOut Question to be answered-We were thinking it might be fun to get some snip-its from people in the park or at a gym to find out why they work out. Why do the personal trainers do what they do? What kind of satisfaction does a personal trainer get out of your success?
Watch for Health Tips-As part of our desire to help individuals become holistically fit we are presently working to incorporate health tips into our website. This information will assist by giving individuals basic information on such topics as diabetes and high blood pressure. These segments will be short but informative.
Relational Focus-Watch for upcoming podcasts and articles focused on our relationships, beginning with our relationship with God. If we get our relationship with God right our other relationships will also be better.
Divorce From the Male Perspective-What do you say when you think everything is okay and your wife comes home and asks for a divorce? . What do you do? Normally this is the story we hear from women. We blame it on a man’s midlife crisis. This time we are going to hear it from the side of the man. The series will allow a man to share his feelings and struggles
New Beginnings Reminders-
ChurchLlink-
Is there a church near you that does an outstanding job of promoting spiritual, emotional, relational and physical fitness? If you're looking for a church, check here to see if our members have recommended one near you. If you know of a church that should be on our list, please add it to our list.
If you want to ask for additional information or would like to have some one from our team contact you regarding the churches on our church link contact us at churchlink@mynewtemple.org.
Newsletter Sign Up-
If you are receiving this message you are currently signed up on our New Beginnings message board. We have set up a new E-mail program for the New Beginnings and Women’s Faith Stories sites, and it will be necessary for each of you to click on this sign up button and complete the informationor go to the website www.mynewtemple.org home page and click on the button at the bottom of the page. This will allow us to keep in contact with you in a more efficient manner.
Women’s Faith Stories (WFS)-
Check out the new podcast-So You’re In It Now What?-Mother Helena Washington
We are still collecting pictures and stories for our Women That Have Gone Before Us Quilt. In an effort to honor her grandmother who passed away on January 11, 2008, Angela has decided to create a quilt. If you would like to submit a picture and brief tribute on behalf of a woman that meant something to you and helped you get to where you are today send it to us at contactus@womensfaithstories.com. Include their birth date and date of death. Maybe it was your grandmother, a school teacher or a female family member. It does not matter who she was, we would just like to take this opportunity to honor them. Check out last month’s newsletter for more information.
Contact us if you have a woman’s faith story you would like to share for the Women’s Faith Stories Website www.womensfaithstories.com. Send your comments to us at contactus@womensfaithstories.com.
Word of Encouragement-
Check out your present level of physical fitness. If you are not where you should be join us in the Weight Loss Watch and start not just watching your weight go up, but start watching it come down.
New Beginnings Scripture for September 2008
1 Corinthians 6:19-20:
19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
Our Mission Statement
Our Mission is to draw individuals to Jesus Christ through the Ministry of Holistic Fitness and to see the Body of Christ become fit in all areas by providing tools and information to empower you to succeed. New Beginnings is dedicated to helping you gain personal, spiritual, physical, mental and relational fitness by developing the courage and confidence necessary to set and achieve goals based on biblical principles. Most people encounter difficulty reaching goals, sticking with a diet or completing a task by trying to make an outward change without having made any inward spiritual changes. In other words, all improvements in your life begin with a change in your mind and spirit.
New Beginnings Contact Information-
Mailing Address: 5130 W. Baseline #117, PMB# 224, Laveen, AZ 85339
Contact us at contactus@mynewtemple.org or on our message board http://mynewtemple.org/aMessages.html.
|
