Day 9 - Recovering exercise and Abundances

Yesterday's energetic spurt brought sore legs today, so today's exercise began with a deep-tissue massage (which speeds up the metabolism at the core level) and time in the sauna.

Exercise?  The Sauna? It's been said that a 30 minute sauna creates approximately the same amount of perspiration as a 10 kilometer run.  Besides the body detoxification from sweating, the immune system is strengthened as it fights the rise in body temperature, the heart works harder to boost circulation, and many experience weight loss.  The muscle pain is also gone, enabling me to move on to stretching and walking.

Breakfast: French Toast, Cherries and sausages.  I don't really care for bread, so even though this was yummy Ezekiel raisin-nut bread, I doubt I will have this meal again.  I much prefer the creamy breakfast foods. At the last minute I tossed the cherries back into the pan with the sausage, thinking it would lightly flavor it, but whew - it enhanced whatever spices were in it.  If you like spice - try it!

Lunch: Abundances from yesterday turned into a new recipe. (I dislike the term 'left-overs' and prefer to think of them as pre-cooked abundances.)  Chicken pieces and 3 sausages, casings removed, were sauteed with Lemon-Caper sauce.  Cut vegetables from yesterday were added and the mixture served as lettuce-wraps. Recipe made 4.  I ate the 3 I prepared but it was a bit much for me.  I will make this again, but serve two at a time in the future. Can also be made with chicken only, green onion, & mushrooms with toasted sesame oil for a more Asian flavor.  A favorite.

Dinner:  Lentil soup.  Very high in protein (red lentils have 65g of protein in a cup!) Very tasty too. 


Dessert: Unusually wonderful.  Plum-Pecan Custard with Meringue (yes, I love dried plums also known as prunes!) Cover fruit in water, cook a few minutes to plump, add eggs and maple butter, top with chopped pecans, and bake 20-30 min. till set and nuts are toasted.
One taster said it was so rich he thought it had chocolate in it.  I'll hold that thought for next time.  Dark chocolate covered bits of prune is a favorite, and prune lekvar (prunes and water cooked to thicken) makes a great shortening replacement in brownies and other baked goods, so why not try chocolate here too. I had an abundance of egg whites from a recipe for tomorrow, so added the meringue, again sweetened with 1 packet of stevia and 1 tbsp. of agave nectar which has a very low insulin impact.



The verse of abundance is John 10:10. It says  “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly. "   When I think about nutrition that is only addiction driven, as I've had in the past, this verse explains the consequences and the benefits so well.  What does the thief want to steal?  Whatever belongs to God - including his adopted children if possible.  How does the thief do that? By killing my appetite for the things of the Lord, for then I will look only to self-satisfaction and the lusts of my nature and what will that do?  Destroy my body, God's  temple so I would be removed from God's work and from bringing glory to God.  


Christ is the difference - he comes instead to bring life - resurrection where there was no hope and a heartbeat for God where there was none.  Then not just alive but abundantly so.  This thought resembles the difference of eating live food and dead food.  When I eat live food, it brings life to the cells of my body, but when I eat processed food it not only does not give life, it steals energy, health, and actually can shorten my life.


I choose abundance!  Just like the abundances in my refrigerator can be looked on as proof that I've been blessed, and as opportunities to create something delightful that will add life, those emotional, spiritual, mental and physical tidbits that make up my life are also proof that God continues to care for me and to provide abundantly.  Remember in Psalm 16:6 when David was running from Saul and could be killed at any time?  His reaction as he reviewed his situation was surprising because he said "the lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yes, I have a goodly heritage."  Guess I'm saying to count your blessings like David did.  Instead of focusing on his physical heritage which was short term with every sunrise bringing him one day closer to death, he focused on his spiritual heritage so each morning brought hope and one day closer to life.  How is your personal battle?  Can you react like David did, recognizing your abundances? Go ahead - make a list , but be sure it includes not only what you have, but what you don't have.  Then be encouraged.