Protein waffles are made several times a week. I make them in big batches and the family eats them in big batches with a family of five active members food goes quick. Mimi loves waffles and calls them waffle pancakes. Whether their pancakes or waffles they are called waffle pancakes and she asks for them daily. So, I like to keep them available all the time.
I used to make us separate waffles; mine protein and hers from the bag at Sam’s club. The main reason was the cost of protein. I figured out how to make a big batch that is family-friendly and my kids actually prefer them now. They actually will say, “Mom, what happened to the other waffles.” It’s funny how when you eat good food you crave good food.
This makes a really big batch so I often freeze them in separate baggies for an easy grab n go breakfast. It doesn’t take long and once you get into the waffle flipping groove you’ll wonder why you didn’t make your own sooner. Give this easy yummy recipe a try and let me know what you think of this cost-effective protein waffle recipe.
I find that people think eating healthy is expensive but I think that is just an assumption. If you broke down the savings from making your own, especially in bulk, you would save a considerable amount yearly. Eating healthy does not have to be expensive. That is why I really like to use Now Foods Vanilla Toffee Protein. It is affordable for families and the ingredients I can trust to use in for everything my family eats. When I buy protein I usually buy one for shakes and one for baking.
I love to top it with Lakanto Maple Syrup. I’ve told you in the past why I have switched to Monk Fruit Sweetener instead of sugar for my family’s baking needs and they have not noticed the difference in the least.
Protein waffles are really easy to meal prep and also to make in advance. They are also something that is associated with not being a diet food which is hard to get my Bible and Bootcamp Beauties out of the mindset of restriction. We cannot live our life on a diet but we can make better choices. These waffles are not as convenient as you just add water but the taste is worth the effort.
Copyright 2016 De Bolton Enterprises, All Rights Reserved
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Your Stress is Stopping you from reaching your goals.
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I have to say the number one factor that slows down my clients is stress and rest. I can create a perfect program and healthy eating guidelines, but I can’t make my clients go to bed or chill out. Despite their efforts in the gym or kitchen, the scale can be at a standstill if you’re stressed out. Holding onto weight is how our body protects itself when it is stressed.
For a woman, life can be stressful with the roles she fulfills, the relationships she maintains, professional responsibilities, and if she is a mother, add caring for other people’s needs to the list. All are equalling a stressed woman who eats well, exercises often, and still can’t lose those last 10 pounds.
Stress is a part of life, and although we may ignore stressful situations, there is no way to avoid them and their effects on our bodies. Stress is needed for change, either for good or bad it all depends on how you approach it and use it to achieve a healthier lifestyle. Let’s talk about the physical influence stress has on your life.
Does stress cause weight gain?
Stress is not just an uncomfortable feeling. It can cause the production of cortisol, a steroid hormone that regulates your metabolism and immune support. Cortisol is the “stress hormone” because it is produced when stressed, helps with protein metabolism, increases your blood sugar, and balances the immune system.
Hormones can wreak havoc on your waistline. Cortisol is a hormone that contributes to your inflammatory response. It’s not the cause of inflammation, but it responds to inflammation—higher levels of inflammation equal more elevated cortisol levels.
Hormones can cause weight gain.
Cortisol is good and bad for our waistline. Cortisol is released after intense exercise to assist in muscle repair. Elevated cortisol levels do cause weight loss difficulties and can also be associated with weight gain.
BUT- the cortisol hormones help with the breakdown of fats and other lipids by hydrolysis to release fatty acids known as lipolysis. Cortisol helps increase the rate of stored fatty acids released into the bloodstream into beta-oxidation, also known as fat burn.
Why is cortisol linked to stubborn belly fat and weight plateaus?
Because cortisol is not the sole culprit to your belly fat, it’s part of the problem but can also be the solution.
Your stress is hindering your weight loss.
Stress in life is unavoidable. Very few people live a stress-free life, yet some are stressed, and those who are stressed and overweight. What’s the difference? Have you factored in the type of stress? Some people have acute stress from day to day. Others suffer from chronic stress. For example, you are riding a rollercoaster. The adrenaline spike releases cortisol and engages your “fight or flight” response. In this scenario, cortisol increases your blood sugar and gives you the temporary boost to give your muscles the energy needed to react.
After your body reacts, it will return to its normal state, hormonally, if you didn’t have a heart attack. I was kidding. But think of something that would cause you a sudden panic. That is acute stress. Stress helps our body defend itself against stress or attacks, physically or emotionally.
Now the stress that is attacking your waistline is known as chronic stress. Chronic stress results from a persistent or ongoing attack physically or emotionally on your body. Your body is always defending itself, stressing you out, and showing up in various forms, such as inflammation, emotional unrest, lack of sleep, energy, lack of appetite or insatiable appetite, mental clarity, or memory. All can be the result of chronic physical or emotional stress. This is when your cortisol remains at an increased level throughout most of the day. Never returning to homeostasis or neutral.
Chronic stress effects on the body
The association of cortisol and weight gain is the result of a chronically elevated cortisol level in your body, which can lead to the following side effects:
Weight Gain
Osteoporosis
Hormone Imbalances
Gastro-Intestinal Issues and Complications
Diabetes
Cancer
Heart Disease
Reasons you need to chill out to improve your waistline and overall health.
Chronic stress is not just from emotional stress, but physical stress can also result from not seeing results.
1. Overtraining can lead to Chronic Stress.
A surefire way you can cause chronic physical stress on your body is through overtraining and undereating. That’s why you feel like you’re doing all the right things, but the scale is not moving. You’re eating anything barely, training several hours every day, always focused on your results, and they’re not showing up on the scale.
Your body is protecting itself. That’s it’s a job to keep you alive, and if it feels like it’s attacking, it’s going to defend itself how it knows best. Holding onto fat in case you need it in “fight” mode. I often recommend a treat meal, off day, and good night’s sleep to my clients. Some have woken up pounds lighter. It’s crazy what happens when you give your body what it needs. It does what you want it to do.
It’s so much more than a good night’s sleep and a burger and fries to get rid of belly fat. I don’t want to oversimplify the process because it does take hard work to overcome chronic stress. They’re things you can do daily to avoid burnout, stress out, and frustration.
2. Chronic Stress Leads to Hormone Upset and Weight Loss Plateaus
Our bodies must keep us alive, and there are many functions set in place for us to live to our bodies’ full potential. Cortisol is a hormone that optimizes the breakdown of stored fat, which is called lipolysis.
Cortisol is known to store or break down fat in the midsection of the body, which is why it is correlated that chronically stressed people have more abdominal fat. It could be a hormonal reaction to your lifestyle.
Suppose your cortisol is left unchecked for too long. It can lead to diseases like insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia which can make weight loss slower or encourage weight gain or retention.
4. Chronic stress will increase cortisol.
Suppose you are in a constant state of stress, which means that your cortisol levels are frequently elevated. Prolonged elevated levels of cortisol can lead to muscle breakdown. This will also affect how your body utilizes protein to gain muscle and muscle-producing hormones such as testosterone. It will also slow down your metabolic rate. Cortisol is not directly responsible for your weight gain. It is a catalyst for how other hormones and body functions operate.
5. Chronic stress Increases appetite and can result in Weight Gain.
Stress can also engage another hormone in your body known as ghrelin, which tells you that you are hungry. And leptin hormones tell you when you are full, which are two hormones that either ignite or suppress appetite. Our brain becomes less sensitive to our leptin hormone when we are stressed. Leptin hormones are the hormones that tell you you are full. If your brain is not responding to your leptin hormone, this may cause you to overeat because you are never given the signal that you are full. Meaning you eat more, you don’t get full, and you may begin to consistently overeat unless you are intentional about your portions and food.
Elevated cortisol can cause your ghrelin to overreact and always tell you fully. It can also cause you to have no appetite, which can send signals to your body to hold on to the fact that it does have to survive. So, when your brain is less sensitive to your leptin hormone, it can cause weight gain and slow weight loss.
Our bodies are so different, even the way we respond to stress. The amount of stress each person can endure is also individualized. Despite our uniqueness, everyone has a threshold of stress that can affect our cortisol, leptin, and ghrelin response.
How to Stress Less to help weigh less
How can you fix it now that we know the biological cause of weight gain from stress? You can take actions daily to lower your stress level and increase your body’s capability of regulating hormones that cause weight gain.
1. Add soothing or calming activities to your schedule.
When was the last time you read a book, took a leisurely walk, meditated, or even had a peaceful 10 minutes? Adding these activities can help alleviate chronic stress.
2. Exercise
It doesn’t always have to be high intensity. Moderate-high intensity exercise has been proven to help people mentally destress. The act of focusing on the task and not worrying about everything going on in your life can be a stress reliever. Try adding exercise that lowers your cortisol levels.
Such as:
Swimming
Cardio
Rowing
TRX
Skating
Walking
Yoga
3. Get more rest
Sleep is probably the most underrated thing you can do to care for your body. There are many benefits, but allowing your body adequate time to recover, recharge, and grow daily is essential to reducing chronic stressors. Lack of sleep can increase cortisol, so I recommend trying to get your 6-8 hours daily, if possible.
Setting up bedtime routines can help. I have found that NOW Foods Nighttime Tea is a fantastic addition to my nighttime routine. It sends me off to sleep peacefully without any sedatives, and I feel like I get a restful sleep at night when I have my NOW Foods Nighttime tea nightly. You can use FAITHFUELED for 20% off!
NOW FOODS Nighttime tea also has a peaceful sleep supplement you can take in the evenings. The herb mix helps to keep rest without sedation. The adaptogenic herbs promotes a healthy response to emotional, physical, and environmental stress.
Ashwagandha is a balancing ayurvedic herb that supports the relaxation of the body and mind.
4. Add adaptogens to your daily routine.
I discovered adaptogens about a year ago. I didn’t realize some I used regularly, and then I began to research what other adaptogens I could add to my routine to aid my wellness journey.
Adaptogens are plants and herbs that can help your body function and recover from stress. They have been used for thousands of years and are standard practice in Eastern medicine to ingest adaptogens to aid health. It’s hard to find quality supplements. Organic India has a full line of adaptogenic herbs and accessories to help people’s stress levels and health.
How can you reduce your stress to lose weight?
First of all, don’t stress yourself out; try to do everything to reduce stress. Take one thing at a time. Find the easiest thing to adopt, master it, and then work on the next. You’d be surprised how little switches can reduce your stress levels. Maybe start with a cup of tea at night, a leisure walk, a bedtime routine, or eliminate unnecessary stressors that are weighing you down. You can do it, and you will be surprised by the results. Less stress, reduced belly fat, decreased weight, increased mood, and better quality of life. So, tell me, where will you begin to reduce the chronic stress in your life?
Join me for 21-Day Project Stress Relief
I am coaching the 21 Day Project Stress Relief through Revelation Wellness. We will give you daily tools, devotions, audios, movement and so much more to help you learn new Stress Coping skills. I would love you to join us in this 21-Day Project Stress Relief challenge!
I learned within the last few years. I do not thrive when I am busy, so I am breaking up with Busyness. I also learned, and my motto is that you have to slow down to speed up. So, if you find yourself in a busy season right now? May I offer some suggestions?
Breaking up with Busyness
Self-care is not about massages and manicures but about doing the things that help you operate at your best self. For me, that means breaking up with Busyness. I used to busy myself caring about the wrong things. Despite my best efforts, my Busyness led to no results—just me running around like a nut holding onto Jesus by a thread.
The things I invested time in did not bring fulfillment, just increasing angst. My Busyness took away from other things far more important than worldly gain. Although I ddon’tlike the term “self-care.”Putting care into yourself is often needed.
Psalm 62:1 (NIV) Truly, my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.
What I knew
I was taught that “idle hands are the devil’s playground has stuck with me throughout my life. I was still busying myself with a task, some meaningful and some meaningless. Then, I became a mother and applied that to my children. I signed them up for classes, keeping their weekly calendar full of outings, play dates, and activities. Teaching them that they should always have something to do and not allowing them to have the time for rest or leisure. After rereading the story of Mary and Martha, I came to an epiphany- “need to break up with Busyness. Previously, I took pride in being an exceptional multitasker and exemplary at time management. I realized slowing down and taking time to “be still” was an admirable trait.
Why is Busyness Applauded?
Many people are always on the go until they reach exhaustion. Busyness is considered tremendous, and stillness is deemed to be lazy. We can hear God, be closer to Him, and use His guidance when we are still.
Mark 6:31-32 (NIV) 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.
Are we valuing our relationships?
Being busy also keeps us from having meaningful relationships with others. We are so wrapped up in the go-go; that we aren’t fostering our communities and fellowship, which is very important.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and ball the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Are we meaningful and present in our significant relationships, like our spouse or children? Are we filling our time and presence with stuff and activities? Is it worth the stress and isolation to be task-oriented?
Five Ways I plan to break up with Busyness.
Say “No” more. I often say “”yes” before thinking about how it will add or take away value from my life. I plan on saying “Not Yet” and “no” more and see if the situation or task will take away from my life.
Get over FOMO. I often say “yes” because I don’t want to miss out on anything. I have always been like that, but I realize I don’t have to be part of everything, which is okay. Age brings you wisdom, I guess.
I know my Why. If I stay focused on the “why” I am doing something, then “that” I am doing will either have more or less meaning—being rooted in my “why” will help me discern the things that are meant for me.
Setting Up Boundaries, one thing that I need to do is to make time for devotion. Five minutes a day is not going to cut it. Recently, I have let that be a mindset, but I need more time with God.
The story of Mary and Martha was an epiphany for me. I discovered I wanted to fellowship and devote more time to God and my family and friends. Have a more meaningful and present relationship with the people in my life.
It allowed me to slow down and reduce to be more like Mary. Planning for my children is a memorable experience versus expertise in activities. I spend quality time in the Word with my husband daily, my family, and my dog, and my stress level is low.
I live the lifestyle and enjoy the moments instead of calculating my time. So, in the last part of the year, I will be doing less and wanting more. This life was not meant to cram as much as we could into every hour but to enjoy every hour. TThat’sthe plan. LLet’ssee if I stick with it.
More Confirmation on leaving Busyness behind
Another Aha- Moment I had in Sunday service during the message. The pastor said something pivotal—those who wonder why their world is crumbling never had it on a strong foundation, to begin with.
It was like a light bulb.
If it had happened to me years before, my world would not look as hopeful as it is today.
You aaren’texempt from life as a Christian. IIt’sjust how you choose to live it and whom. The Word, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus can bring clarity and peace.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
Creating Stress Management Coping Skills and Tools
We are so much stronger in the community and they can help and guide us to be better than ourselves. I am partnering with Revelation Wellness for their 21-Day Project Stress Relief. For 21 days, the Revelation Wellness ministry has created a guided 21-day program to help you retrain your God-given ability to live well in light of the stressors that life can bring. In this program, you’ll learn how to stay on track and faithfully live the healthy and whole life God desires for you.
Learning how to cope with our stress has many benefits:
These coping tools will create new rhythms that
Embodied peace and strategies to cope with stress
Decreased stress, anxiety, and depression
Better sleep and more quality ways to rest
Less pain both physically and emotionally
Increased energy and stamina
Lower blood pressure
Improved digestion and inflammation in the body
Boosted immune system
Less muscle tension
Better decision making
Improved relationships
Why do a 21-day stress relief challenge?
September is typically stressful for me and produces a lot of anxiety. With new schedules, responsibilities, and roles as a mother. Each year September and October are a challenge for me to adjust. Stress is all around us and everyone feels its effects. God knew we would experience hard times. He didn’t say we might have trouble; He said it would happen. Through Project Stress Relief, you will learn how to harness the positive effects of stress and combat the negative ones. If you are looking for tools to reset your mind and body back into the design God intended, this challenge is for you! I love to do things in the community because it holds me accountable, and I would like to invite you to join us. You can begin to sign up for this challenge on August 23rd. Put it on the Calendar and get into this program.
What is Included in the Program?
Daily emails leading you to your website content
21 daily devotionals
21 daily video teachings (about 5-8 minutes each)
21 daily practical, experiential activities
Audio or video recordings to help you put into practice what yyou’velearned each day.
FB Community Group and I, alongside other Revelation Wellness Instructors, will coach you through.
Live coaching calls on the Healthy & Whole FB page
I am a #NOWWellness Influencer. In this post, I have included an affiliate link to this post that I receive a commission from purchases, and I am compensated for my post. All my opinions are my own.My full disclosure policy
How can children stay healthy?
Supporting your children’s immune system is something we should do all around. Now is a great time to begin. I have so easy ways you can support your family’s immune system!!
Your immunity is your body’s defense mechanism, and supporting your immunity is essential. In the past, I have shared ways to support your family’s health, but I wanted to share how you can specifically support your children’s immunity and health.
I am sure you’re already doing a few without realizing it!
1. Encouraging daily joyful movement
Our American Society needs more movement. With our lifestyle today, there is less and less movement and more sedentary moments. This needs to change to help support your child’s immune system. One way to begin making movement part of your daily routine is setting up a scheduled time to move as a family. Also, let kids play without rules or expectations. Children don’t play anymore, and developmentally, it’s good for children to play outdoors. Whether after a dinner walk or Morning Stretching, starting these habits with your children can become habits they will continue for the rest of their lives.
Walking to local places instead of driving can encourage movement. Try taking visits to nearby parks if available and encouraging your kids to play. Too often, children are on their devices and sedentary. Riding bikes, skating, or outdoor play for 20-30 minutes can be beneficial to supporting your children’s immune system.
2. Hydration
Water is boring!
I get it, but it is needed for all living creatures to survive, and proper hydration can help support your child’s immune system as well as start a habit that will continue into adulthood. Kids who drink water become adults who drink water. I’ve shared the adverse effects of moving dehydrated for adults. Check out my post Are you working out dehydrated?
According to Healthychildren.org, Depending on the age depends on the amount of water a child should consume. Infants are recommended to drink 4-8 ounces of water a day. Toddlers ages 1-3 years need about 4 cups of liquid beverage per day. For children between ages 4-8 years old, it is recommended about 5 cups per day. 1
But water is boring, so what are some ways to get your kids to drink water?
Try “eating” your water with fruits and vegetables that are high water content like cucumbers, iceberg lettuce, celery, tomato, watermelon, cantaloupes, strawberries, oranges, etc. grapefruit. Adding some of these high water content fruits and vegetables to your plate is a great way to “eat your water” and add some powerful vitamins and nutrients to your children’s diet.
Or you can infuse your water with some of these high water content fruits and vegetables.
Add fruit to your ice cubes; it’s a great way to entice your children to drink more water.
Try Coconut Water popsicles which are great for hydration and a great cool treat. My kids love popsicles. Try the Coconut Water Slender Sticks
3. Nourishing Well
Another challenge is nourishing your kids when you’re combating C.R.A.P Food (Carbonated Beverages, Refined sugar, Artificial Colors and flavors, and processed food) which tastes good. It is heavily advertised to our children, and everywhere it’s hard to encourage your children to eat F.O.O.D.
My girls will choose fries over roasted potatoes any day. But encouraging F.O.O.D ( Fresh fruits and vegetables, Omegas 3s and 6s, Organic or Natural Protein, and Drinking Water) as alternatives every chance I get is sometimes a victory, and sometimes it ends in defeat. Still, I continue to offer them better options despite the challenge.
Another thing that I do to encourage my girls to eat F.O.O.D is to include them in the meal planning, shopping, and preparing. Initially, it takes patience, effort, and time but taking the time when they’re little produces kids and teens who can make meals. And I’m grateful when my girls make dinner.
Kids are more aware of keeping their hands clean, but they can always use a reminder.
5. Rest Well
Rest is how our bodies recover and develop. Children need an adequate amount of rest because their bodies are developing. Keeping a sleep schedule that has 9-15 hours a night (depending on thier age) helps your child recover, develop and support their immune health.
6. Eat more fermented foods or probiotics.
Adding fermented foods to your children’s plates can be a challenge. NOW® Probiotics chewable BerryDophilus™ is great because it combines several probiotic bacterial strains that support gastrointestinal health and a healthy immune system. It also creates an ideal gut flora for nutrients to be absorbed, and there’s no sugar. It’s sweetened with xylitol so that it won’t cause harm to your teeth. Fermented foods are still a great addition to feed the probiotics. BerryDophilus™ is a great “insurance” they have happy guts!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
7. Supplement wisely
Supplements are a waste if your kids won’t take them. They need to taste good, but they also need to have high quality. When looking for children’s supplements, check out this post on what to look for in your children’s supplement company.
There are so many recommendations for supplements to help support your immune system. What you take is important but where it comes from is more important.
If you’re looking for quality, trustworthy supplements to help support your children’s immune health. I would check out NOW®, whose quality standards are above and beyond and a reliable company for your family’s needs.
Some extras that you are probably already doing without knowing are the behavior, you model.
8. Model Healthy Coping Skills
Children observe what we do and how we act. Modeling healthy coping skills is a great way to set up the foundation for your children to navigate their own emotions. Also, having open dialogue so that children can express their feelings and sort them out is excellent for them to feel supported and loved.
9. Love, Support, and Positive Feedback
The basic need of our children is to feel love and secure; creating structure, stability, and nurturing your child looks different for every child. It is a way to support them in their wellness and health. Our environment and social setting have everything to do with our wellness.
10. Participate and set the example
Don’t just say it! Do it! When children see their parents joyfully moving, nourishing well, setting boundaries, coping, and resting. It’s an example for them to follow. So, support your health so that you can support your children’s health and make it a family affair. We are so much stronger together.
Supporting your child’s health is as unique as your children’s and an ongoing job. It may change as they get older, but these are some foundations for you to begin.
Check out my NOW® Immersion post where I visited the manufacturing facility in Illinois and saw firsthand the testing and quality that goes into every bottle and product NOW distributes to their consumer.
You can find many supplements and check out their children’s. Use the code FAITHFUELED to receive 20% off your purchase at www.nowfoods.com.
Which tip did you find the most helpful?
Reference
Choose water for healthy hydration. HealthyChildren.org. (n.d.). Retrieved October 1, 2021, from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/Choose-Water-for-Healthy-Hydration.aspx#:~:text=To%20stay%20well%20hydrated%2C%20children,8%20cups%20for%20older%20children.
I haven’t done a FaithFueled™ Friday in a long time it’s been so busy with school that writing is the last thing I want to do lately. After a phone call with my friend I had to dust off the keyboard and share my thoughts. The other day I was speaking to a friend who just moved to a new state. She is having a hard time making new friends and thought the Church that her family decided to attend would be a great place to look.
The other day I was speaking to a friend who just moved to a new state. She is having a hard time making new friends and thought the Church that her family decided to attend would be a great place to look.
Why wouldn’t she believe that people of the same beliefs would want to fellowship?
She has been there for a few months and has made lots of effort to be apart of the Church community only to find there is no such thing as Church community at her Church at least not how we would have it defined.
“No one hangs out with anyone at Church they come on Sunday’s to worship and then go about their lives,” After she said that; it made me think my Church is very similar. We worship together on Sunday and then don’t check in until the following Sunday unless you’re in Bible Study. It’s kind of like out of sight out of mind which isn’t a real relationship but more of an acquaintance. We know very little about the people we worship with other than surface things. There is no longer that sense of community that the Church once brought to families and towns.
I have been attending my Church for four years and have only been invited to three families homes outside of a Church function; (and I include a Direct Sales party) if not, it would only be two invites in four years, and that’s just sad. Or is it? Is this commonplace? When did the Church stop being a place for believers to fellowship and do a life and a place to just check in every Sunday?
“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:46-47
The church isn’t what it used to be!
In Biblical days churches, temples and synagogues were the epicenters for most towns. It’s where the taxes were collected, food was given, functions were held, and people gathered together daily to fellowship. Your Church family was like your extended family and the fellowship didn’t end on Sunday you saw these people in your life on a daily basis.
The Church is no longer an integral role in society. It’s not a place where people come to every day but usually on the day of worship. Then we go off to our own lives, friends, and families. The bonds that we uniquely share in our love for Jesus and place of worship is where it ends.
Check in at Church
Now, I have to be fair in the four years that I have been at my Church I have not done my due diligence to grow and foster relationships. In the first two years as I attended my Church I would reach out often. I had IF gatherings in my home, bible study walks. I tried everything to find some Christian friends and invite them to my home. The experiences were great but never really made connections; not long lasting.
Why? We have lives outside of our Church Identity. In our busy society, most of us are too busy for friends much less to deal with people in our Church that we barely know. We get caught up so much in our things to do that we don’t reach out to connect with each other. Not just at Church but in all of the society.
This is another way for the enemy to attack he makes us think that the people at the Church are wrong and we don’t need the Church for our salvation. We do! We need the accountability, reminders, and direction. People can be judgemental, but if you “don’t have any sinners who attend your Church, you may want to find a new Church.” That is why we are their for our redemption we are not perfect we are people we all have our struggles. Jesus loves us all the same and wants us to be together in His kingdom one day.
I can no longer justify other peoples actions affecting my church attendance. I don’t attend my Church for the weekly check-in but to get some time to praise, worship and honor God. Although, I don’t feel community there I still attend because of the Message. Recently, God has been pricking my heart on this subject I can’t continue to be like others and not followup. It’s one of those situations it’s never the job it’s always the people. There will always be people but if you expect people to treat you like you’d treat yourself you’re going to be disappointed. You must show grace to fellow members and even sometimes mercy.
Above everything, love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins.
1 Peter 4:8
A lonely society
We are living in a lonely world. We can be surrounded by people but disengaged on our phone. We can stand in a crowd but feel utterly alone because we as a society are isolating ourselves. Filling our time with things to do instead of meaningless relationships when we are all seeking a meaningful relationship. We were meant to be with each other, lead each other, teach each other and do life together. The sad part is most of us feel alone yet we won’t reach out to each other to fill the loneliness.
“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
1 Corinthians 1:10
Disconnected Community
It’s also apparent with the amount of time spent on Social media to fill our need for relationships. I am very guilty of that after I went to countless Bible studies, events, and opportunities to fellowship. I would leave each time knowing that the connection ended there so, I went to the internet.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Romans 12:16
Need more than a Virtual Relationship
I am intentionally (and unintentionally) in lots of Facebook groups for all of my interest with the common motivator for joining is to connect with like-minded people. I have also been in Virtual Bible Studies, Mentorships, Accountability Groups and we all were there for the same thing companionship but if you were to get us in a room together not one of us would exchange numbers. Or, actually, follow up to get to know the person better.
I feel we are all living surface lives just doing enough to touch the surface never really getting to know someone. If we did if we followed up with connections, made phone calls and not text or emails. Sat down in person one on one and got to know somebody we may find that best friend that we crave.
So, what is keeping us from continuing these connections?
Get Up and Do Something
Effort and energy we have become such a lazy society that we don’t want the work of building and maintaining relationships we want surface friends. You can log on and log off when you want. You can only share the good and never the bad. There is no threat of if they’ll like you for who you are because you give them the who they want to see. The same goes for Church you show up dressed nice, proclaim your hallelujahs, make small chat before and after church and never follow up. Never put the extra effort or work it takes to create a community.
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ, we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
Romans 12:4-5
Why not start now?
We need to unite people and not just over what hot political topic there is but we need to unite amongst ourselves if we are going to be God’s army. The enemy wants us to live separate, be surface and vain. He is trying to make us think “we’re connected” through our disconnected online relationship, but we are fooling ourselves. God has told us to fellowship together, sharpen each other and prepare to do battle together.
One day at Church invite someone over for brunch, get to know someone a little better than Sunday chit-chat. Reach out to them for coffee or a park date to learn and possibly grow in Christ together. Behind the screen, connections can be valuable, but we need to be with people in real time and do real life.
Don’t wait for the next Church function to reach out to your brother or sister in Christ. Although, the Church is no longer the epicenter of our life. Christ is, and we need to love each other as Jesus loves us. We need to know each other because we need to be prepared to unite and stand up when called. We must mend the brokenness of our Christian communities and keep the tight-knit and secure. The way we do that? You, start today and reach out to someone in your Church. Let’s start living a life of a real community.
How do you maintain community in your church? Do you find it hard to maintain relationships?
