Volume 29: October 2008
Inside This Issue:
Welcome
Who is New Beginnings
What’s New-
October 2008 Feature Article-
Monthly Fitness Tips
Team News/Prayer Requests and Praise Reports
What Have you Been Reading?
Book Recommendation
Book Blog
Upcoming Events-
Reminders-Church Link and Newsletter Signup
Word of Encouragement
New Beginnings Scripture for October
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?
What’s Your Pit?
By Angela Willingham
I just finished reading Beth Moore entitled “Get Out Of That Pit!” If you have never read it I encourage you to do so. In it she states that a pit is an early grave that satan digs for you in hopes he can bury you alive. That statement caused me to ask the question what is my pit. My first thought was bless the Lord, I am not in a pit at this present time. Normally, we think of pits as some type of sin, but does it have to be? It’s a place where I cannot see my vision has been obscured. It might be sin, but it might not. She said it doesn’t have to be a stronghold or sin, we just have to feel stuck, feel like we’ve lost vision, how about feeling like you’ve lost direction and not being able to see a way of escape.
We can either be thrown into a pit, we can slip into a pit or we can jump into a pit. No matter how we got in we have to first recognize what we are experiencing is not right and have a desire to get out. Okay now I go back and talk to myself about this pit situation and my pit becomes clear.
It is the pit of weight, being overweight. It’s not normal and I shouldn’t want to live here. I slipped in to the pit one pound at a time, one skipped meal, one eating the wrong thing, one skipped or missed workout at a time until now here I am, in a pit. Desiring to lose 75-100 pounds. Knowing it mentally, but unsure how to do it. Listening to the enemy say don’t worry about it, as long as you are healthy that’s all that matters. Not comfortable with it but excusing it away by my busy schedule and ministry situations. Excusing it away by not having time to focus on it. Guess what? It’s a pit.
Your vision of losing the weight becomes dimmer each day. You try but nothing happens so you try but nothing happens so you think this is how I am supposed to be. The devil is a liar! It’s a pit to keep you from the purpose God has for you. A pit to keep you from sharing with people that they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them (Philippians 4:13), a pit to keep you from telling people that nothing is impossible with Christ (Luke 1:37).
I answered the question for me. My pit is weight! What is your pit? Where does the enemy have you hemmed up and thinking that you can’t do what God has purposed you to do? Where does the enemy have you feeling stuck, like there is no way you are every going to be able to get out of this? Beth said to cry out to the Lord about it. Don’t just cry, cry out! Confess it, and consent to His will in your situation and in your life. If you are ready to get out, God is ready to get you out. After you get out remember how you got in and avoid going back at all costs whether you slipped in, were pushed in or fell in.
Learn from your pit experience, and give that to God for your protection, then follow His leading. Whether it is a weight issue like mine, a relationship issue, an issue from the past, an eating disorder, an addiction, a job situation or a family, no matter what kind of pit it is if you will identify it, decide to get out and submit to God’s will He is able to deliver you. Remember that nothing, including that think that looks like a pit, that thing that is trying to swallow you up alive, nothing can hold you when God has purposed you, so remember your deliverance is God’s priority and nothing is impossible with God.
This is the message Joshlyn wanted to add to this message:
We all find ourselves in a pit one way or another, financially, physically, or other wise. I believe the statement is made- When I want to do right evil is always present. Just one slip up can send us in the wrong direction. But if you have your feet on solid ground you wont slip. Jesus is the rock!!!
Monthly Fitness Tips-
Weight Loss Tip # 23 (Taken from the New Beginnings' Message Board)
Stay Off The Scale
This is something The Fitness Angel Tells me all of the time, however, in my effort to lose weight, I think I have to get on the scale, otherwise how will I know if I am being successful. He has told me repeatedly to just keep doing what I know I am supposed to be doing. Look for a change in the way my clothes fit or the way I feel, but I must say staying off the scale is difficult.
Why should we stay off the scale?
Everybody loses weight at a different rate. And sometimes you plateau for a while so getting on the scale every day will only discourage you and cause you to give up. Besides the number on the scale does not mean much. If you are exercising you are building muscle, which weighs more than fat. So you could actually weigh more and be thinner.
Isn't that what The Fitness Angel has been telling me all the time? Sorry Fitness Angel, I should have listened, but as a reminder to all of us-This only applies if you are doing what you are supposed to be doing. If you are cheating the scale may really be reflecting what you are doing.
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-
 The Fitness Angel is back and better than ever. In talking with The Fitness Angel, we have been advised that he has a new and improved website. Check out the new and improved site at www.myfitnessangel.com. The Fitness Angel has created a Fitness Community. It is a place where you can blog, update your own exercise videos, meet other individuals that are attempting to get fit just like you are, view his monthly fitness newsletter, recipes and much more.
You will need to create your own personal free account on the site, but it will be worth it to see the new videos, including a weekly encouragement video from The Fitness Angel himself that focuses on fitness. He is looking forward to your participation so come join in the fun. www.myfitnessangel.com.
 Angela’s Weight Loss Watch- We are continuing the collaboration between New Beginnings and The Fitness Angel on Angela's Weight Loss Watch. We have gotten off to a slow start as we have been dealing with upgrades to The Fitness Angel Site and making sure that everything is working so that you can join in, but we expect it to really take off in October.
There is an intro clip on youtube for the Weight Loss Watch and there is a written article as well as a podcast on the New Beginnings website. You can check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAcBVa5e_qs and watch for more information on the New Beginnings website www.mynewtemple.org and also on The Fitness Angel site.
You can join Angela in this endeavor as she has decided that at the Lord’s leading she must lose between 75-100 pounds. She does not know how long it is going to take. That is not her concern. Her only concern is to be obedient to God and to make some lifestyle changes to support and maintain the loss. The goal is to lose the weight but more importantly to teach and to learn something in the process to become a healthier person. Check out her blog on the site. She is blogging everyday, what she eats, how she works out, her questions, her struggles and her feelings. She looks forward to you reading the blog, but more importantly, to you joining her in the weight loss watch as we take the weight off together. Join her and let’s do this together www.mynewtemple.org. Check out last months newsletter for more details.
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
Get Out of That Pit by Beth Moore
The back of the book cover says:
What happens when we invite God’s Power into our pain?
Don’t give up on the purpose God has for your life. Embrace it!
This book focuses on Beth Moore’s deliverance and her desire to see each and everyone of us set free as well.
Her journey out of the pit has been heart-rending. Her focus is taken straight from scripture. The book says it is her most stirring message yet of the sheer hope, utter deliverance.... and complete and glorious freedom of God. This month’s feature article was written based on Minister Angela’s reading the book and identifying her own pit.
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 making changes that will make it easier to post. Feel free to write about books you have read or to comment on the ones the New Beginnings Team suggests by going to our message board.
Upcoming Events-
Bill and Yvonne Smith
This month we had the opportunity to interview Bill and Yvonne Smith. They share their story of love and God’s power to connect you to the one that He has for you if you get out of the way and let him. Yvonne said when she wasn’t looking God sent her Boaz. Bill said he found his Angel. Ladies if you are looking for a mate, stop. Let God put you in the right place at the right time the way that he did with Yvonne and Bill. Gentlemen, if someone tries to tell you who she is based on what she does, Bill will help you to know you don’t need to receive that. Find out who she is really, not what her title is or what she does. Don’t miss it because of a title. You will also find Yvonne’s personal testimony “Walking in Truth” on the Woman’s Faith Stories Site. www.womensfaithstories.com.
Meet Larry and Shelley Reichenbach-
 www.thecrushedrose.com
Watch for our video cast of Larry and Shelley Reichenbach. They will be coming to you in four very distinct segments to tell you their story. Check out last month’s newsletter and the January 2008 newsletter to get more information on them. Shelley Reichenbach the author of The Crushed Rose.
Meeting with Shelley and her husband, listening to their hearts as they spoke from a place of total transparency was a true blessing. We often hear these types of testimonies from the wife’s perspective but to hear from a couple and also to hear from the husband who admits he made a mistake is rare. Publicly in our monthly newsletter we want to thank both Larry and Shelley for spending their Saturday afternoon sharing with us from their lives and from their hearts.
We want to encourage you to watch for their story. Shelley shares how through a 5 year, not 5 months, not 5 weeks, not 5 days, not 5 weeks or 5 hours, she stood for her husband and for her family in prayer. How she warred on behalf of him and how he came home.Larry shares the revelation that he was taken in because he was just a compassionate guy who wanted to help. He thought he was in love but now realizes it was never love. How many men and women alike can relate to their story, but their marriage did not end in divorce because God had another plan.
Watch for the upcoming videos later this month on the New Beginnings website and also an audio of Shelley’s testimony on the Women’s Faith Stories Website. If you don’t find yourself in a place where these two people bless you, I encourage you to pass the information on to other married couples and singles that might be blessed by it. Minister Angela is not married but she was blessed by the testimony and it spoke to her spirit in some very special ways, we pray that it will also impact your life and the lives of those around you. We encourage you to visit Shelley’s website www.thecrusedrose.com and order a copy of the book for yourself, your sisters and your brothers. It was just that profound. You can even write to Shelley and Larry at shelley@thecrushedrose.com and larry@thecrushedrose.com. Even after you watch the video, we can promise you that you will not get the whole story. You have to get the book.
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. September has been a busy month with trying to get The Fitness Angel site ready to receive your profile information and also trying to get the Weight Loss Watch going smoothly, so we still owe you these success stories. Hang in there with us they are coming I promise. These are real people.
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)-
Walking In Truth-Reverend Yvonne Smith
Yvonne shares God’s leading for her to deal with her past and walk in truth. If you have ever given a child up for adoption you can relate to her story. It is our prayer that it will bless you and cause you to stop beating up on yourself, stop hiding the truth and to walk in truth, whatever that is. For you it may not be an adoption, it may be a financial disaster, a criminal act, an abortion, a divorce, a bankruptcy or a combination of a lot of things. Whatever it is trust God and know that you can begin walking in truth today.
Watch later this month for the podcast of the testimony of Shelley Reichenbach, author or The Crushed Rose.
We promise you will be blessed by both of these ladies.
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-
This month we want to encourage you to identify and then get out of whatever pit you find yourself in. Angela said her’s was weight and she is working to climb out of it. Maybe yours is emotional, financial, relational or spiritual. Maybe it is a pit of the past that does not want to let you go. Whatever it is time is up and you need to put your feet on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ and climb out. If you look up you will see some light. If you keep looking down into the pit it will look murky. Look up to the light of Jesus Christ.
New Beginnings Scripture for October 2008
Luke 1:37:
37 For nothing is impossible with God.[a]”
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.
|
