Scripture: 3 John 1:2
“Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.”
Supplies
Pre–made bagged salad. Try to get some with various greens—kale, spinach, cabbage. Canned tuna/chicken, light mayonnaise, avocado, lemon juice, Doritos®, utensils and paper products.
Set Up
Mix the bagged salad before the women arrive. Take out any croutons or bread chips. Only use 80% of the dressing provided in the bag. Drain the canned tuna/chicken, place in a separate bowl, and mix it with a small amount of mayonnaise. Slice the avocado, add a hint of lemon juice and set it on a serving plate. Crunch the Doritos® into small pieces and pour them into a bowl. Have the serving utensils and paper products easily available.
Decorations
Decorate the table using colors and decor that inspire health and wellness. At each setting, place a note card with the Bible memory verse from 3 John 1:2. Print out inspirational quotes/posters and place them around the room. We want the women to feel inspired.
Activity: Did You Know?
Did you know that…
- Kale is one of the healthiest and most nutritious plants on the planet?
- Kale is a member of the cabbage family?
- To ingest 3 grams of protein from kale you would only be eating 35 calories.
- Many powerful antioxidants are found in kale that have numerous beneficial effects on your health.
- A cup of raw kale has more vitamin C than a whole orange.
- Kale can help lower cholesterol.
- Kale is one of the world’s best sources of vitamin K, which is critical for blood clotting.
- Adding kale to your diet can help prevent heart disease and osteoporosis.
- Kale is believed to have protective effects against cancer.
- Kale is a good plant-based source of calcium.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-benefits-of-kale#TOC_TITLE_HDR_12
Program
It’s a new year. A perfect time to set new goals and adopt new habits. Would you expect your car to work without gas? Obviously not, so why would you expect your body to function at its best if you weren’t putting in the right “fuel.” Our fuel comes in the form of water, healthy food, exercise and connecting with Jesus.
Try to implement an exercise routine that you look forward to and establish healthy eating habits with food that you find tasty. When these factors are aligned, you start to see mind benefits, soul benefits and physical benefits. Once you see this for yourself, your perception on how these are connected will be changed forever.
We are all busy, so at first, set small goals. Once you attain that goal, set another and then another. Experiencing the victory of a small goal will motivate you to set more. Adopting healthy eating habits is easier said than done, but once you get moving and see the fruits of your labors, you will naturally want to eat healthier. Together, let’s create an easy, healthy and delicious salad that you “Kale Get Enough of”!
Let’s Dig In
Grab a bowl and fill it up with salad. Add half a cup of canned tuna/chicken, avocado and a splash of lemon juice. Sprinkle with a small pinch of Doritos for crunch and flavor and enjoy.
Healthy in Body
Imagine being greeted the way John greeted Gaius in 3 John 1:2: “Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit” (NLT).
The year 2020 presented us with spiritual and physical challenges. As Christians, we sometimes forget that God cares about the whole package—not just your spirit, but your body as well. Having a healthy lifestyle was something I always desired. Sometimes I did great and at other times it was hard to keep motivated. What I’ve discovered over the years is that when my health is prioritized, my worship and service to God as well as my relationships with family and friends are elevated. These connections benefit from a healthier me.
After my youngest daughter was born, I tried to go running with her a few times a week. The trail by my house sat along a beautiful ridge of mountains and every so often I stopped in awe of God’s masterpiece that He created for us to enjoy. I always knew it was a beautiful view but enjoying it with the help of the endorphins pumping through me seemed to make it even more spectacular. In those moments I felt so connected and close to my Creator.
We all experienced the turmoil of the Covid pandemic in 2020, leaving us feeling anxious, defeated and perhaps far from enjoying a peaceful life. Our physical selves have taken a huge toll. If this is you, take a deep breath and say this verse with me, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28, NLT)
When I was out jogging with my daughter, this verse often popped into my head. When it did, I paused my podcast and allowed the sounds of God’s creation to speak to me. Visually I could experience God and His beauty, audibly I felt connected to Him, and physically I felt that a weight had been taken off my shoulders from the rest He gives.
In 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 Paul says, “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, for God bought you with a high price. So, you must honor God with your body” (NLT). Our body is a temple for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit takes up residence within us, making our physical bodies a holy space for His dwelling. We are God’s masterpiece. He dwells within and He created us for a purpose. We each play a role in His big story. While physical temples are built by masters skilled in their area of expertise, our bodies were created by the ultimate Master. Have we been neglecting our bodies? We are His temple. So, let’s honor Him by honoring the place where He dwells.
The theme verse this year is 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV), “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” Let’s make this verse vibrant in our relationships. Let’s cheer one another on so that we can see those fruitful mind benefits, soul benefits and physical benefits played out in our life.
