Volume 2 Issue 2

Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and
quiet spirit, which is of great worth in Gods sight. 1 Peter 3:4

Inside this issue

Ladylike for the Lord
Your Body: The Temple
of the Holy Spirit
Healthy Habits
What Does God
Reveal To You?

Silver Threads: A Tribute

From Me to You
Karen Rogers Smith

Founder of GSA magazine

Photography by
Suzanne Brewer Photography

Greetings sisters,
First, let me start by thanking each and everyone of you for your support, prayers, advertising and encouragment of Gals Set Apart magazine. When the Lord laid it on my heart so long agoand when I finally
answered His calling to begin this publicationI never knew it would be such a blessing to many, myself
included (myself most of all!)
The first issue was mailed to my family and friends who I knew loved the Lord and would possibly enjoy
such a publication. That original mailing list consisted of roughly 65 womens names and addresses. By the
third issue, that list had grown three times! I was amazed, to say the least. Today, we print/distribute/mail
250+ magazines. I dont know more than half of you ladies on the list and yet I love you all dearly and you
hold a special place in my heart. I have been praying for you with the mailing of each issue. This is the 6th
issue in 18 months. Wow! Thank you Lord! And, thank you ladies for spreading the word. (I say we did
this because great, big God is the one behind this and my family helps so much too!)
This is the first time my Editors Letter has been in the front of the book. I never planned to be front or
center of this project for God. The From Me to You has always been paginated at the end of the book.
Due to space constraints, it just needed to be here and I do have something very important to share while
you are stopped on this page.
My first emotion to announce this is saddness. I am sad to report that this may be the last printed GSA
for some time. Since GSAs inception a lot has happen in my professional world. At the time I began this
magazine, I was working a full time job in my home office. I simply had a little more time on my hands to
dedicate to a personal project. I also was very busy with my side business. The jobs that I did through my
freelance business provided the funds to pay for the print and postage. What a blessing! With my new full
time job, not being at home as much and not being able to keep up with as many freelance jobsI am not
able to keep up the magazine. My time now at home is much more precious than it ever was. My time in
the evenings is limited and as you can imagine, I would like to spend it with my family.
I have been in prayer over this matter and I was talking to my 12-year-old about it one day. She could
hear the heartache in my voice as I explained considering the idea to fold the magazine. She said to me,
Mama, maybe it doesnt have to go away forever. Maybe just for a little while. And, talking to a friend
about it, she noted, why not start a blog online and keep it going that way until you are able to pick it back
up again, in print. I like their ideas. No need in making it so official. Through all of this I am personally
learning some tough lessons on how to balance my time. Sister, can I get an Amen? Ahh, I see you agree.
Balance. Such a perfectly symetrical word in such an assymetrical world. That would be my own fault,
though, if I feel imbalanced. God never intended for me to feel stretched too thinHe deserves so much
more from me. He deserves my undivided attention in every season of life. And, He also expects for me to
be His daughter first, Scotts wife second and mom to my girlsa writer and publisher of a small printed
publication can waitfor now. My priorities are not wrong, they are just misaligned with His will for me
in this particular season.
Priscilla Shirers book titled Resolution for Women offers a wonderful illustration of what balance should
look like. The chapter on glass boxes is very helpfulI encourage you to read it and do the exercise on
filling up your boxes. One of the lines from the book reads, Balance is not when the boxes are equally
filled but when we are free to fill only those that are important for now, without feeling guilt over the ones
that weve left for another time and place. This is balance.
Gals Set Apart if one of my boxes that I need to leave for another time and place. It doesnt mean its not important and certainly I can say that it has served a wonderful purpose and has been a blessing in so many
ways. But in this season of my life ... I need to put away this box and focus on other areas.
God first! Always! That is key here, sisters. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, maybe youre
even feeling burned out... this doesnt mean that any of your boxes are bad items on your to-do list, but
maybe they need to be placed on holdfor now.
Check out GSAs website for my new blog! I look forward to hearing from you sisters!
galssetapartmag.weebly.com
In His Love,

{OUR ADVERTISERS...
past and present}
Rhodes Brothers Trucking
Carolina Building Systems, Inc.
Outlaw Mobile Homes
Southern Roots Boutique
Parnell Psychological Services
KRS Digital Designs

{Special Thank Yous}

Various Contributors

Scott, Allison and Abby Smith

Gail Sparks
Rev. and Mrs. Chris Watkins
Sherry Rogers
The County Press - Benson, NC
Letitia Lee
Anita Mitchell
Carla Pearce
Bonnie B. Outlaw
Casey Pearce
Anita Mitchell
Heather Ballance-Brown
Lea Edmondson
Jada Rhodes
Tara McLamb
Grace Massengill
Helen Smith
Kerin Cornett
Angie Wheeless

{VISIT US ONLINE}
www.galssetapartmag.weebly.com

{SOCIAL MEDIA}
Find us on Facebook
Search for Gals Set Apart

WINTER 2014
VolumE 1 IssuE 1

Come near to God and He will come near to you. James 4:8

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received
the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father.
ROMANS 8:15

SPRING 2015
Volume 1 ISSue 2

no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. later on, however,
it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Volume 2 Issue 2

The time has come, he said. The kingdom of God has come near.
Repent and believe the good news! mark 1:15

SUMMER 2015
VolUME 1 ISSUE 3

Volume 2 Issue 1

Hebrews 12:11
Volume 1 Issue 4

Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and
quiet spirit, which is of great worth in Gods sight. 1 Peter 3:4

InsIde thIs Issue

Romans

Featured Gal:
Casey Pearce

12:2

And do NoT be conformed to this world,

but be TRaNsfoRmEd by the renewing
of your mind, that you may pRoVE what
is that good and acceptable and perfect
WIll of God.

Lamb of God

Mom Knows Best

Featured Gal: Bonnie B. Outlaw
economic equality
Common Bond:
Womens Favorite Scripture
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Bible study Ideas

Silver Threads: A tribute

america needs a spiritual

shift through goDs Discipline

BethS
BAllet

The modern born-again Christians have focused so much on Gods

love that they have largely forgotten that it is bound up with his judgment and righteousness. The LORD has stated categorically that he
will come and defend his people. The church is uncomfortable with
the Messiah in his role as King and Conqueror. They confuse the
meekness of Christ in his First Coming with the judgment of Christ
in his Second Coming. They find it hard to accept that the Lamb will
dispense bloody judgment on a truly grand scale.Walid Shoebat,
former Muslim converted Christian

InsIde thIs Issue

15:8
By this My Father is glorified, that you
bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Reporting
for Duty

Challenges
of Being set Apart
surprising statistics

silver threads:
A tribute

John

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and

appointed you that you should go and bear
fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that
whatever you ask the Father in My name
He may give you. John 15:16

travel talk

Lamb of God

the dance

ALSO InSIde thIS ISSue

A Gals to-do List
Featured Gal: Kerin Cornett

with our spirit, that we are the children

in the DeSeRt

Battle of the Bibles

Silver threads: A tribute

Dessert.
iS the

the Spirit itself beareth witness

of God. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs withgalssetapart
ChrIst...
1

Romans 8:16-17

Do not conform to the pattern

of this worlD, but be transformeD
by the renewing of your mind.

Romans 12:2

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krsdigitaldesigns@yahoo.com

Do you send the lightning

bolts on their way?
Do they report to you,
Here we are?

MAYBe ...

InsIde thIs Issue

Ladylike for the Lord

JOB 38:35

AlSo in thiS iSSue

Featured Gal: Angie Wheeless
Dealing with Frustrations
Mere Mention of Music
A Tribute: Silver Threads

Corinthians

6:2
... now is the day of salvation.

{CONTACT}
Karen R. Smith

2
1

InsIde thIs Issue

Personal Bible study
Featured Gal: Carla Pearce
Reporting for duty
silver threads: A tribute

galssetapart

galssetapart

Your Body: the temple

of the holy spirit
healthy habits
What does God
Reveal to You?

silver threads: A tribute

919.631.0093

Ladylike

for the

Lord

As I was reading an article on ladylike traditions by Elegant Woman, I noticed that their checklist of how to be a lady could actually
preach! The writer had not noted scripture, but I was picking them out in my head as I scrolled through. Since Gals Set Apart magazine is
obviously, well... for gals, I knew you ladies would like these handy reminders. But examining them through Gods eyes. Lets take a look...

A Lady...
keeps her word and
is dependable

God always keeps His word, and He expects for us to do the same. You know, that
whole being Christ-like thing isnt for
show. We are to exercise those traits.
When you make a vow to God, do not delay
to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill
your vow. It is better not to make a vow than
to make one and not fulfill it.
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5

never brags

I think this one might get us all kicked off

of social media from time to time.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not
know what a day may bring.
Proverbs 27:1
Let another praise you, and not your own
mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
Proverbs 27:2

Never Rushes
Or Is In A Hurry

I struggle with this one, so I have to medidate on this one myself.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests
to God.
Philippians 4:6

is Gentle

This such a great trait to hone in on when

someone tends to get under your skin.
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The
Lord is at hand.
Phillipians 4:5

IS not rude

Oh my! Never be rude! It is plain common

courtesy. Your kind spirit is precious in the
Lords eyes.
...with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle
and quiet spirit, which is very precious in
the sight of God.
1 Peter 3:4

She is Tasteful In Speech

Girlfriend, you know what this means. Not

only does it mean no curse words (I know, I
didnt need to tell you that) but also no gossiping, no trashing others, no tearing down
your husband or friend. God is telling you
to exercise grace through your words.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out
of your mouth, but that which is good to the
use of edifying, that it may minister grace
unto the hearers.
Ephesians 4:29

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A Lady is Always
Presentable

Low cut tops, clevage showinga lot of

Christian women are wearing clothes that
are not very modest.
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom
you have received from God? You are not
your own; 20 you were bought at a price.
Therefore honor God with your bodies.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

A Lady Takes Care

Of Herself

The idea is that your body may prosper

and be in good health as well as your soul.
Drink your water, eat your veggies and a
brisk walk will do the body (and your soul)
some real good. See pages 4-9 for more
health and fitness tips.
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good
health and that all may go well with you,
even as your soul is getting along well.
3 John 2

your

BODYis a
TEMPLE

Holy Spirit
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By Tara R. McLamb

Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as
healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. 3 John 1:2, NLT

So how do we honor God with [our] bodies

when societys view of health & fitness may
not match up to Gods idea of it?

I watched in horror as the muscular trainer performed these jumping jack-burpee-crunch thingys with ease on my TV and expected
me to do the same. It was the first time Id gotten serious really
serious about my health. Between college, several abdominal
surgeries, getting married, and suffering through infertility treatments, Id gained 60 lbs since high school and I was miserable. Not
just because I was unhappy with my appearance, but because I felt
horrible. So I had purchased the workout program and followed it
to a T. And found myself asking what in the world was a burpee? and who decided to name it that?!

1 Workout your spiritual health first.

If your heart is empty, God says that superficial beauty is
equivalent to the Pharisees, who were like whitewashed
tombs--beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with
dead peoples bones and all sorts of impurity (Matt 23:27).
If youve gained 6 pack abs but lost your soul, is it worth it?
Proverbs tells us Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

I lost weight with the program. But fell right back into my old habits as soon as I quit the program. And wouldnt you know itthe
weight fell back on too! Where had I gone wrong?

2 Hold each idea against the standard

of Gods Word
The world says, Youre not beautiful unless youre a size 2.
But God says you are fearfully & wonderfully made (Prov.
139:14), and that His idea of beauty is not outwardly but inwardly, unfading, and of a gentle & quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:34). Weigh each notion from society upon the Lords scales,
not your bathroom scale!

The health and fitness industry is a $26 billion industry, as of

2015 in the U.S. alone, according to the website Statista.com.
And its only growing; in fact, it has more than doubled in
just the last 15 years! Interestingly, over 30% of Americans are
obese (Statista.com). It seems, as in many things, that we are
a people of extremes. Weve all heard that our body is a temple
(1 Cor. 6:19). So why do we abuse it at either extreme?

3 Examine, and be willing to change,

your own presumptions and cynicism
of the fitness industry.

Romans 12:1-2 says Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice,
acceptable to God, which isyour spiritual service of worship.

Health and fitness does NOT have to equate to sexuality or

immodesty. Consider that becoming your best self, within
Gods context, does not mean you cheapen your value to
the Christian community or diminish your witness to others. You increase your ability to be used by Him through a
healthy, thriving temple for His glory. As one of my Christian role models in the fitness industry, Kim Dolan Leto, has
said, God has invested way too much in you for you to be
okay with settling for less.

Our bodiesoffered up as an acceptable, living, holy sacrifice to

God resulting in worship as our spiritual service. Our bodiesa
temple of the Holy Spiritare not our own and actually belong
to the Lord. In the Bible, a temple was a place of worship. It was
not the object of worship. We often fall into two extremes when
our bodies become the object instead of the place of worship
either by indulging in junk food, laziness, and lack of spiritual
fitness or by religiously going to the gym or becoming obsessed
with thin thighs or 6-pack abs or anything vain and superficial.
When we shift our focus from our bodies as the object of worship to a place of worship, our motives and attitudes about our
bodyand how we treat itchange too.

4 Make it about Him.

So maybe you have a hard time buying into the notion of
putting aside time each day not only to work out spiritually
but also to work out physically. As women, we tend to put
others before ourselves. Have you ever flown on an airplane
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Continued from previous page

and the stewardess is giving the pre-flight instructions and

reminds you to place everyone elses oxygen mask on first,
and yours last? No? Mine either. But we have a hard time
prioritizing time for ourselves, right? So make your health
about Him, not you. So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians
10:31)

We often fall into two

extremes when our bodies
become the object instead
of the place of worship
either by indulging in junk
food, laziness, and lack of
spiritual fitness or by
religiously going to the gym
or becoming obsessed with
thin thighs or 6-pack abs or
anything vain and superficial.

5 Change, your mindset from willpower

to Hispower.
2 Timothy 1:7 says, For God has not given us a spirit of
fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. In
our own strength, we are unable to say no to the doughnut
and yes to the oatmeal. We are unable to get up at 5 a.m. to
spend 30 minutes in the neighborhood running, in our own
strength. But in His strength, we can do all things. ALL
things, yall! Now, we have to do our part by planning ahead
and saying the Nos and the Yeses but pray for the Holy
Spirit to empower you to get up 30 minutes earlier, or to
help you plan your meals for the week so you make healthy
choices not rash, last-minute desperate choices.

Tara McLamb

6 Look at the root of the problem.

Photography by The Looking Glass | Goldsboro, NC

Are we too tired to work out, run, etc. because we are running ourselves into the ground in general? Many women
may be shocked to know this secret, but it is okay to not say
yes to every invitation and obligation. Choose your time
wisely. Your kids are watching and learning. Or perhaps we
truly feel we cannot push back from the table until we are
almost sick, or we eat because we are sad, mad, worried, or
even happy? As Kim Dolan Leto so aptly & simply put it,
Instead of turning to food, we need to turn to God.

So. I did the burpees. I figured out what they were, but still to this
day do not know why for the love of all things they chose to call it a
burpee. But I tell ya, they work. I am so glad I found running and
fitness. They have saved my sanity, given me confidence, helped me
become stronger, and allowed me to keep up with my little boy in
the backyard on summer nights. But more than that, honoring my
body has taught me that its not about me or my body at all its
about Him & His temple. Choose today to honor Gods temple, one
baby step at a time.
GSA

Tara McLamb is a nurse practitioner, practicing in gastroenterology. When not at work, she is busy coordinating group
runs, half marathon training groups, tailoring training plans, and managing the social media presence for Neuse River
Running Company, which she co-owns with her husband of 11 years, Justin. She enjoys offering fitness, nutrition, &
running advice. An avid runner, she usually keeps a big race on the calendar at all times to keep her motivated and
accountable. Justin and Tara have a 5-year-old son, Zane, whose sense of humor keeps them constantly laughing.
In her free time, Tara enjoys doing anything outside - hiking, searching for waterfalls in the mountains, tending to her
flowers, or just spending quiet moments listening to and watching Gods creation. She loves the beach, road trips,
comedy movies, singing at church, shopping for antiques and vintage items for her home, eating Mexican food, and
chasing sunsets.

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How To Make Health a Habit

You are now hopefully convinced that having a healthy body is important. How do you get there
from where you are? I am not a personal trainer, but from my experience as a nurse practitioner and
my own personal journey, Im here to offer some practical ways and almost imperative steps to make
health & fitness a reality and a daily habit for you!
Tara McLamb
Stop giving up too early. Fitness and health takes time! It took me over
4 years to lose 40 pounds because I would get impatient, or lazy, or lost
motivation, and would backslide otherwise known as QUITTING. Life
would just simply get in the way and Id give up. One day, someone told me,
If youre tired of starting over, stop giving up. That really stuck with me.
I could have lost the weight in 6-12 months but it took me 8 times as long
because I gave up too early. Quit quitting.
Pay very little attention to the scales. Sure, a drop in pounds can be
evidence of weight loss. However, it is not the end-all-be-all. A better measure of your improvements includes progress pictures and body
measurements. Measure yourself & write them down. Measure your
bust, waistline, lower belly, bicep, and thigh. Take photos of yourself
exposing your abdomen and any other areas youre hoping to improve.
You dont have to show anyone! Keep them safe, but every 4 weeks or
so, take the same photo in the same lighting and essentially the same
outfit. Your measurements and your photos, if you stick with your plan,
will shock you every month! And theyll serve as a motivating factor
to not quit!

Limit your sugar to 35 to 45 grams per day. This is going to be a challenge, because it will SHOCK you when you realize how much sugar is
in everything! However, excess sugar causes all sorts of harms to include
excessive insulin release from the pancreas, resulting in weight gain from
fat deposition.
Dont be afraid of bad foods. Not all fats or carbs are bad. Not all proteins are good. Consider food as your circle of friends.
Protein is the family member you cant go without. Its the mama, the
daddy. It is necessary for weight loss & usually not called upon enough.
Most people do not get enough protein in their diet. It is the macronutrient
that feeds our brains and builds lean muscles, prolongs satiety (the feeling of fullness), and helps to avoid overeating. Good sources of the pro-

Do simple math. Thats all weight loss isexpend more calories than
you take in. However, that does NOT mean limit yourself to 1000 calories per day and exercise for 60 minutes every day. It means make
weight loss smarter, not harder. Calculate your resting metabolic
rate plus determine how many calories you typically burn per
day in normal activity. Determine your goal weight. Then figure out how to get there. I absolutely love the free app on most
smartphones (and can be accessed by a computer too) called
MyFitnessPal. You plug in all the information and it
gives you your recommended calories per day. You
enter your food intake (every single thing!) daily.
Youll be surprised at how much you eat in a day
(or how little!) and how much you need to change. Youll begin to
recognize patterns with food and/or beverages (Starbucks, anyone?!)
that you need to alter. This program is a must to determine your current eating habits and how to change them FOR GOOD. A couple of
suggestions however:
Change your ratios of macros (macros are macronutrients, specifically
protein, carbohydrates, and fats). Most of the time, MyFitnessPal sets generic ratios for macros that most fitness experts would disagree with. You
may have to play around with your macros/ratios or speak to a physical
trainer, but the ratios that seem to be most effective are 40% protein, 30%
carbohydrates, & 30% fats.

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tein family include lean ground turkey, lean steak, lean ground beef, chicken
breasts, fish, eggs, beans, & nuts. Now, there are always the family members
we try to love from afar (dont act so holy, we all have them! Haha!)these
represent those sources of protein we need to only have on the rare occasion,
such as hamburger from any restaurant (they use the fatty hamburger because
it tastes great and keeps you coming back), fried meats (hello fried chicken or
fish), & anything other than lean pork loin (ahem, dont hate me but barbecue is not on the list of healthy proteins).
Carbohydrates are the best friend. They make us happy and we go to them
for everythingwhen were sad, happy, mad often they are good for us, but
pick the wrong best friend and they can be harmful. In terms of weight loss,
you need carbohydrates but not like you need protein. If you follow the 30%
carb rule above, you will see how challenging it is and how we are generally
carbaholic people! Simple starches like refined flour are easy to break down by
the body (therefore less calorie burn in digestion) and are metabolized (broken down into) sugars. Whatever sugar is not immediately used is stored away
for a rainy day as fat. So pick your best friends wisely.
Bad starches/carbs include white bread, white potatoes, white rice, anything
made with refined flour (read ingredients pancake mixes, biscuits, cakes,
pastries, dumplings, and so much more!). Also, in general, corn as a vegetable
is not a great carb it has a high glycemic index (meaning it breaks down into
a lot of sugar) and has very little nutritional value. Use it in moderation.
Good starches include complex carbs that take more effort by the body to
metabolize, thereby increasing calorie burn. Ideally it is best to get your carbs
from foods that also offer a multitude of vitamins, minerals, & fiber. They
include whole grain bread (limit your portions), quinoa (hint for preparation:
cook in chicken broth and add chopped veggies & spices), brown and/or wild
rice, sweet potatoes, red potatoes (in limited quantities), and vegetables like
green beans. There are even excellent options for high protein pastas now that
I love to use, and taste the exact same.
Fats are the other friends. Maybe the fun-loving party animals! Without
them, our lives are dull and boring, but too much of them can lead you astray
from the work to be done. Fats are essential, and are not to be feared but held

in healthy respect. They help with many functions of the body and provide
satiety. Choose foods low in saturated fats and high in monounsaturated fats
if possible. Most of us know these good versus bad fats avoid the cakes,
cookies, candies, etc. Consider dairy, small pats of real butter (not margarine),
Greek yogurt, avocado, and nuts. If you stick to the ratio rule above, youll
realize just how much or how little fat you need when you start keeping track
of it in MyFitnessPal!
Timing is everything. Dont load up on carbs at dinnertime youre starting
to wind down from the day and so is your body, and instead of burning those
carbs, your body will store them away.
Consider eating something high in protein, particularly casein protein, before bedtime. An excellent example is low fat cottage cheese. This helps to
maintain steady glucose levels through the night & provides amino acids for
snoozing muscle repair while you sleep.
Eat every 2-3 hours while awake. Your portion sizes will need to be smaller,
but eating something (preferably with protein) every 2-3 hours maintains a
steady state of glucose and avoids spikes of insulin, which causes hunger and
binging. Also, spikes in insulin levels prompts your body to store MORE fat!
So if youre trying to lose weight by simply skipping lunch youre doing more
harm than good.
Drink half your body weight in pounds in WATER. For example, a 180 lb.
woman would need to drink 90 oz of water per day.
Cut out wasted calories! You want only the healthy foods & beverages entering your body and youre paying extra attention to how much goes in. So
why waste your numbers for the day on empty calories that do nothing for you
except causing you to be hungrier sooner rather than later?
Avoid alcohol. It has very little nutritional value and is a calorie bomb.
Ditch the soft drinks. Yes, even the diet ones! Studies have shown that diet
drinkers often are more obese, and although theyre not sure why they think it
is related to the glucose your brain THINKS its going to get and the insulin it

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releases in response to that anticipation. Remember, insulin = fat.

Determine what has to stay and what can go. For me, I couldnt lose the
morning coffee each a.m. And truthfully, black coffee is pretty much free of
calories and has been shown in research to have many excellent health-boosting properties such as liver health, decreased colon cancer risk, and lower risk
for dementia. But I swapped the sugar and creamer for Stevia and almond milk
and never really noticed the difference.
Cut the mindless snacking and be honest about your intake when tracking. I
used to cheat with little Hershey kisses (every. single. day. Dont judge.), and
when I began being honest with myself, I realized THEY were causing me to
unknowingly exceed my sugar limit every day, therefore sabotaging my efforts!
JUST SAY NO. Politely. Say no to all junk for at least 2 to 4 weeks. You can
do anything for a month! It takes your body that long to develop new habits,
and in that time, if you allow yourself to cheat just a little bit then youll never
really develop healthy habits and will never truly know how to say no to any
harmful food. Youll always find an excuse well just a bite wont hurt
Ive had a bad/good day & I deserve this it just looks/tastes so good! If
you constantly allow little cheats, your willpower will not gain steam. After 2
weeks of no cakes/cookies/ice cream brought in by the stream of drug reps in
my office, I found it ten times easier to avoid those things when faced with them
after that point!
Get moving. Find an activity that you like and start doing it. Be creative. It
doesnt have to be expensive. Two programs I love that are 100% free online
are FitnessBlender.com and ToneItUp.com. You can do the programs at home
with very little equipment and very little experience. However, they offer a
challenge to you gals who are ready to take it to the next level!
In the beginning, physical activity may be tough for you your body will
fight it. Dont give up. Take baby steps instead of attempting to run 2 miles
straight, just walk briskly! Work your way up to walk-jog intervals, and so on.
You WILL get there, it truly takes time and patience.
Currently, research is showing more and more that High Intensity Interval

Training (HIIT) combined with strength training is the best route for success
when it comes to exercise for weight loss. Not only does it accomplish calorie
burn during the workout, it also results in an afterburn that period of time
hours AFTER the workout where your body remains in calorie burning mode.
Change it up. Your body is smart and will plateau when it reaches a certain
level of physical fitness. It constantly needs variation, just like our brains! Dont
do the same thing day in and day out expecting the same results. Eventually
that same thing will stop working.
Dont be afraid of weights. Strength training boosts calorie burn tremendously as building lean muscles burn calories much more effectively than fat. Lifting
weights will not necessarily make you bulky like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Use
high repetitions (10-20) of lower weights for 2 to 3 sets (2 to 3 times).
One last note: Ive recommended calorie & macros counting throughout this
guide. However, once you become more aware of your eating and know for
sure what foods, combinations, and restrictions should occur, feel free to take
a break from counting. If you feel youre plateauing, go back to tracking to see
where you might be going astray. Also, if you find youre become obsessed with
tracking, or have health conditions such as diabetes or eating disorders, I would
recommend first getting your primary care provider or a nutritionist to weigh
in with their expertise on your specific dietary needs.
Remember, health doesnt come easyyou must work for it. God did not give
us these bodies to trash, but to treasure with reverence. It will not work for us
unless we work for it! It takes diligence, determination, and a change in focus
to see lasting results and success. And its always a work in progress until the
Lord comes! Remember, little ones are watching and learning from you!
GSA

Or do you not know that your body

is the temple of the Holy Spirit who
is in you, whom you have from God,
and you are not your own?
1 Corinthians 6:19

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What doesGod want

to reveal to you?
I

have a small jewelry box that my mother gave me years ago. It

is very special to me, not only because she gave it to me but also
because of the things I keep inside of it. As you can imagine, I
keep some of my cherished pieces in that box. My larger armoire is for everyday
jewelry but this small box is for my most-prized possessions. You know, the
pieces that were handed down to me from my grandmothers, or special items
that my mother has given to me throughout my life. These are things that only
my children will inherit, no one elseall for my children.
If I were to hold it up in front of you and ask if youd like to see inside, you
would react one of three ways:
1) Be eager to see inside and share in my joy and hear me talk about the special, sentimental stories behind each piece inside;
2) hesitate because you may feel as though its not your place to see what
inside my special box as you are not the child who will inherit these pieces, or;
3) throw your hands up and completely reject my invitation to look inside
because you simply could care less. I mean after all, the only people who will
benefit from whats inside are my children.
Sitting in a chapel service one day that held great discussion among brothers
and sisters in Christ and someone posed the question, If we are not supposed
to know everything anyway, then why try to learn more about God?
I took a gasp of air, kind of to myself OH! How could someone think this
way? They seemed to blow off wanting to know our Creator. And, yet at the
same time, totally getting what they were trying to convey. Gods Word is truth
and His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts {Isaiah

55:8-9}, how then, can we fathom the idea of learning more? It seems impossible if you were to just stop there on that one scripture.
Thats one of the marvelous, intricate beauties of Gods Wordthe Bible. It
is tightly woven with each thread playing its own unique part yet coming together for the greater good that we are all to encounter, share and enjoy! Those
threadscreating the bigger pieceare like a warm, comforting blanket that
protects us and we can easily wrap ourselves up in it. you know, the scriptures! Dont stop at just one. Keep reading sister!
More than seven hundred years before Isaiah penned the Book of Isaiah,
where God tells us how His ways are not our ways, dear ol Moses gave us some
equally as interesting information about Gods character in the book of Deuteronomy. We learn something quite fascinating about God in chapter 29, verse
29. I will let you go read it now its fun for us to all be on the same page, isnt it?
Did you read that sister? The secret things belong to God. Hmm, God possesses secrets? Of course He does. He tells us in John 16:12 that there is much we
do not know; we just can not bear to know it all! Makes sense to me.
Keep reading my sister. God goes on to tell us that He reveals certain things
and those things belong to us and to our children, forever. He gives us much to
cling onto so that we may follow Him.
What if you only peeked inside my special box and saw one thing. Sure, you
would see that one special item and maybe even enjoy the story behind it. My
children on the other hand, will not only enjoy the story, they will know they
get to inherit such a sentimental piece. But there is more than one special piece.
There is more to the Bible than one scripture. One book. One story. One topic.
The more we reach deep and grab what is ours to inherit, the more we learn

Discover how the Holy Spirit can ...

Help you ..............................................Romans 8:26

Strengthen you.....................................Isaiah 40:29

Renew you............................................ Psalm 51:10

Guide You ...............................................John 16:13

Pray for you........................................ Romans 8:26

Produce fruit in you ................ Galatians 5:22-23

Teach you.................................................John 14:26

Prophecy ...............................................2 Peter 1:21

Give you gifts.............................. 1 Corinthians 12

Speak to you.....................................Romans 10:17

Bears witness to the truth............... Romans 8:16

Lead you .................................................John 16:13

Reveal to you............................ 1 Corinthians 2:10

Bring you joy....................................Romans 14:17

Convict you ..............................................John 16:8

Instruct you.............................................John 14:26

Bring you freedom............................Galatians 5:1

Empower you .........................................Joshua 1:9

Testify of Jesus........................................John 15:26

Help you to obey ................................Hebrews 5:9

Unite you................................. 1 Corinthians 1:10

Comfort you........................................ Psalm 147:3

Call for Jesus Return..................................John 14

Seal you .....................................Ephesians 1:13-14

Call you........................................ Romans 8:29-30

Transform you................................... Romans 12:2

Give you access to the Father...... Ephesians 2:18

Fill you.............................................. Ephesians 5:18

Live in you ............................... 1 Corinthians 3:16

Cast out demons ...........................Matthew 12:28

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed
belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

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With man this is impossible, but not with God;

all things are possible with God.
Mark 10:27 (NIV)
Lets face it, a pineapple is only sweet to eat if you know how to get inside it! For years I didnt have a clue
about how to cut up a pineapple. I would walk by the produce aisle looking at the fresh pineapples with
such longing. I wanted what was inside it; I just didnt know how to get beneath its tough outer skin. I had
visions of me slicing and dicing, dripping with sticky juice and so completely mangling the fruit that not even
the dog would be tempted to partake.

By Karen R. Smith
about each piecetherefore, the more God reveals
to us. He cant reveal things to us if we turn away,
dont make time or even peek a little. I am not
even suggesting to peek a lot. I am suggesting to
dive in head first. Honey, drown yourself in His
Word. Explore and discover ALL of the wonderful things your Creator has given to you, wants to
reveal to you and was made especially for you.
There is much to know. Once you are beyond
the surface and deep into His Word you really begin to tune into the Holy Spirit on levels you never
knew existed. Once you have applied your heart
to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge {Proverbs 23:12} your spirit will know things
it never knew before. But he who is joined to the
Lord is one spirit with Him. {1 Corinthians 6:17}
The Holy Spiritthat lives in a believergets
to enjoy so much comfort in the special box of
the His Word, His Truth! What an awesome gift to
His children. That is our gift! To keep in our hearts
forever. A truth that is only revealed to those who
seek it. Dont quench the Spirit. You will miss out.
(See sidebar on page 10.)
Wheew! I think that might just be enough to
want to dig a little deeper, look a little farther and
discover a little harder all the things God wants
to reveal to us. Sure there are things He keeps for
himself as we could not bear to know it all (John
16:12) but honey, Id say this is a-plenty to get
you started!
So, goright now...to your very own sentimental box of the Bible and see what God wants
to reveal to you today. After all, you are His child.
You get to inherit these cherished things. I can assure you with all of these things God has to offer through His Holy Spirit, you could spend an
entire life-time discovering the things he wants to
reveal to you. Dont stop looking. Never stop looking. How cool is that? As a believeryou get to be
privy to the things He wants to reveal! Be eager
to dive into scripture and share in the joys God
wants for you to behold! It rightfully belongs to
you. Reread Deut 29:29. GSA

But one day I watched a friend accomplish

what I thought impossible. She didnt miss a
beat as she sliced and diced a pineapple with
ease. First she cut off the top and then the bottom. Next, she sliced the cylinder into four
equal pieces. She then slid the knife along
the back edge to cut off the skin and along
the pointed center to cut off the hard core.
Laying the long wedges down on the cutting board, she chopped them into bite size
pieces and viola! Fresh cut pineapple was
served. Watching her gave me courage to try it
on my own. And, finally, I was able to help myself
to the yummy fruit.
This might sound strange but learning to cut a pineapple became a real life lesson for me. More than just
the skill of wielding the knife around a tropical fruit, I
learned that I had bought into the notion that there were just
some things I couldnt do. I was challenged by the thought that
I might be missing out on a lot in life simply because I had
talked myself into thinking it was impossible.
Mark 10:27 reminds us that with God all things are possible.
When we ask for Gods help, we dedicate our endeavor to Him. We
admit that in our strength this would not be possible but we proclaim
that God can accomplish anything through someone who is willing. We
put Gods courage into our heart with His truth. We retrain our minds
by taking the words I cant out of our vocabulary.
What is blocking your path to a victorious life with God? Do you
sometimes struggle with being a good steward of the time and
money God has entrusted to you? Do you struggle making healthy
choices with diet and exercise? Maybe your struggle is your temper? Whatever it is, the first major lesson can be found inside this
pineapple principleno more I cants! Everything about our lives
should proclaim, With God all things are possible!
Oh, and the next time you see a fresh pineapple, buy it! Cut it open
and let its fruit inspire you that there is sweet victory on the other side of
every conquered challenge.
Lysa TerKeurst | Proverbs 31 Ministries

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Silver Threads

For the wages of sin is death; but

the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23

LIDA M. ROGERS
This piece is a reprint from Silver Threads,
a home-missions newsletter originally
published in April 2000, written by the
late Lida M. Rogers. She began her
newsletter in the 1990s. Issues included
encouragement, prayers, Bible studies,
a collection of her poems and, of course,
loaded with scripture references.
FUN FACT: Lida Rogers was my paternal
grandmother. Born in 1925, she lived
her entire life dedicated to the Lord and
gaining souls for Him. She was a licensed
minister in the Pentecostal Holiness denomination and preached more than half
her life. She entered the gates of Glory
in 2005. I have been extremely thankful
that this section of GSA has been a tribute to and a revival of her home-missions
newsletter.

This reprinted issue of Silver Threads was

the very last one that my grandmother
published. Therefore, I thought it was
appropriate to use in this last printed
issue of GSA. But dont worry, I do plan to
publish more of her writings in my
upcoming blog. Check it out at:
galssetapartmag.weebly.com

By Lida M. Rogers
April 2000

ARE YOU READY?

ur subject lesson for this month its so wonderful and

instantly I found myself drawn closer to the Lord. We
are leaving in times of change and we must except the
change ONLY if it be rooted and grounded in Gods word.
The Holy Spirit has given me the opportunity to write on
the return of Jesus Christ known as the rapture yet the
Holy Scriptures do not contain the word rapture however,
there are many phrases and words which indicates its definition.
Throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, I find the
return of Christ is a personal matter for his people known as
the bride of Christthe churchits amazing as to how the
Scriptures renew themselves each time we read them.
Lets discuss some things that need to be considered and
accomplished before one can be ready for the return of Jesus
Christ. In the book of Amos we find it recorded, Prepare to
meet God. Amos 4:12
In making preparation for school, a profession, a vacation
or even a fishing trip, one has to prepare ahead of time for
items they will need while enjoying themselves. We must do
the same in preparing ourselves for the return of our Savior,
Jesus Christ.
Since we cannot flee from God we need to be concerned
about preparing to meet him and, therefore, he gives us warning that we must prepare. He makes knownin more ways
than onehis justice against unrepentant sinners and the
thought of good toward those who DO repent.
All of us have read Matthew 25 and pondered over it many
times. I think God for knowledge and understanding that this
parable was Christ farewell discourse and reveals the caution
to watch be also ready for in such an hour as you think not
the Son of Man .He urges all of us with upmost care and diligence to get ready for His coming back!
The bridegroom is our Lord Jesus Christ, the virgins are
those who profess religion and the business of the virgins is
to meet the bridegroom. Yet we find them having a different
character, five of them were wise and five were foolish. The
evidence of this character was in the very thing which they
were to tend to. Five virgins prepare to meet the bridegroom
by taking extra oil for their lamps while the other five were
careless as to think they can get by without making preparations.
Many in our day have asked, Why prepare? I have plenty
of time. But beloved, one day with the Lord is as a thousand
years and a thousand years as of one day. He is not willing
that any should perish but all should come to repentance. 2
Peter 3 : 8-12. Christ, to many, seems to tarry but one day
the time appointed will be reality. And what will it mean to
those who have no oil in their lamps (hearts)?
Christ has a greeting to those who are prepared. His first
coming was without any observation except for a few people
so shall it be when Christ comes for those who have prepared for his coming. Many are called but few are chosen.
Matthew 20:14
Every person will give an account of himself, for he cannot
get another to do it for him. Those and those only will go to
Heaven here after, who are made ready for Heaven here.
There are those who seek admission into Heaven when
it is too late. Lets think about this parable, the 10 virgins
therefore keep watch. Our duty is to watch, be awake spiritually because it is a good reason to watch for our Lords
returnis very uncertain when it shall happenwe know not

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the day nor the hour. Matthew 25:13

We are to prepare for Jesus coming in the rapture and to
understand how important it is that we take it heart.
We wait anxiously for Him and welcome the deliverance
out of this world of trouble. We feel like John, Even so, come,
Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20. The Bible clearly teaches the
rapture and in John 14: 1-3, Jesus said, I go to prepare a
place for you and if I go away I will come again and will receive
you unto myself that where I a.m you will be also. [Praise
His Name!}
What about those who have expired (died) before the rapture? Paul referred to the body only as having fallen asleep.
When the body dies the spirit part of the Christian departs to
be was Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:18 2. Sleep has its waking;
death has His resurrection. Praise the Lord.
Those gone before us in Christ, we will meet again. Even
death cannot prevent this from being a reality. What a consolation! They will appear with Jesus in His manifested glory
in his kingdom. Colossians 3:4 Read Romans 8:35-39, you will
see how we need not fear death or the feature because Christ
is in control.
WHO IS THE LORD COMING BACK FOR?
The Lord is coming in the rapture, For a glorious church, not
having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should
be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:27.
He will return like a thief in the night!
For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come
like a thief in the night. 1 Thessalonians 5:2
The Dead in Christ shall rise first!
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a
loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the
trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:16.
When the trumpet sounds its going to be a glorious time
for believers. Our journey started with the forgiveness of sin
and receiving salvation from Jesus, however to meet him
in the rapture marks the beginning of our eternal association
with Him (and loved ones who were saved who had gone on
before us)
Those still alive will be
caught up in the air with the Lord!
We who are alive and remain shall not prevent them which
are asleep because they will rise first and, After that, we who
are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them
in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be
with the Lord forever. 1 Thessalonians 4:17
CHAOS!
While people are saying, Peace and safety, destruction
will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant
woman, and they will not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:3
______________________
He made us a promise and that promise our Savior will keep
at the appointed time. The rapture is our way out of this
world. I will work in the morning while thinking that perhaps
He just may interrupt my work and begin his own. We are
not looking for death we are looking for the rapture.
Are you ready?