Breathe

For this I flew 1200 miles to Texas

 then drove another 250 more miles to Dallas. 

 Breathe.

For this I stressed and dreaded being the 

oldest, fattest, flabbiest, most out of shape woman there.  

Breathe.

For this I was going to ask my body to do things it doesn't want to do. 

 BREATHE!

The event was Jesus at the Core.

Up to now, I had done some Holy Yoga a couple of days a week, 

but honestly, 

I liked wearing yoga pants better than 

actually exercising.

(You know.... If 60 is the new 40, 

then yoga pants are the new double knit!)

I sat on my mat and looked around – and yes,

 it was just as I suspected 

– they were all younger, thinner, and fitter – than  me.

This awesome daughter of mine reached out to steady me

 when I wibbled and wobbled while trying to balance

 on one hand and one foot. 

 Breathe. 

 When I came short reaching for the floor,

 she handed me a foam block to lean on that said,

 “Steady the weak hands

 and make firm the feeble knees” 

(Isaiah 35:3 American Standard Version). 

That's the reason I am doing this, right?

 I tried to focus on those words

 instead of the ice pick in my heel,

 my grinding ankles,

 and angry knee.

  Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.  

BREATHE! 

And I got through the first session without passing out on my lovely pink mat. 

 I DID IT!  

exhale…… whew!

Then we came back the next day … for more…..torture. 

I was ok until they said we’d be doing some cardio

…as in moving a lot

…sweating

…heart attack for sure.

“Just do what you can do,” she said, 

so I got on the back row when the music cranked up. 

 I didn't know the snappy-jazzy songs, but I heard Jesus 

all through them.

And I moved. 

Ok. 

 I did what the instructor said to do.

  Good so far. 

Then I realized that I wasn’t just moving and dancing, 

I was actually smiling, then I was laughing and breathing.

  This was loads of fun and it didn't hurt….today!

During our next break, one of the leaders stopped me and said, to me….

drum roll….are you ready?

“You were ROCKING out there!”  

Me? Rocking?  Flabby old granny???? 

 Yee Haw!

It was so much fun that I bought two dvd’s 

and told my man back in North Dakota to clean me a place in the basement!

It was an excellent week-end.  

Our spirits were ministered to when we worshiped

 with a music team from another church – 

at the beginning of the event and again at the end.

 Our souls  were transformed and encouraged by Bible Study,

and anatomy teaching about aches, pains, and cores.

And with our bodies, 

we worshiped and strengthened our spiritual cores.

 Actually, we worshiped with our whole spirits, souls, and bodies.

"And the very God of

 Peace 

(harmony, security, safety, prosperity)

Sanctify

(separate and purify)

You

Wholly 

(complete, perfect)

And I pray God your

Whole

(entire)

Spirit 

(disposition, influence, breath)

And Soul 

(feelings, desires, affections, not dissolved by death, also breath)

And Body 

(physical body, that which casts a shadow)

Be preserved blameless unto the coming

 of our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Thessalonians 5:23

I have been tending to my soul and my spirit pretty well,

but not my body - I've not been whole.

I've been out of balance.

(and consequently, I can't balance).

So if you are in the same place I am, 

there is hope for us.

We have to keep moving

and get strong!

For more information on Holy Yoga – click here

For more information on Revelation Wellness – click here

If you live in Midland, Texas

 – you can find Stretch Connection (Holy Yoga) classes at Stonegate Fellowship

or Holy Yoga at Art and Soul.

 “Energize the limp hands,

 strengthen the rubbery knees.

  Tell fearful souls, ‘Courage! Take heart! 

 God is here, right here, 

on his way to put things right and redress all wrongs.  

He’s on his way!  He’ll save you.’”

 Isaiah 35:3-6 (The Message)

and ....

Breathe.