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Through "Live Well!," Darlene Schacht reveals to women how the spirit influences our soul, and how our souls greatly influence the choices we make for our bodies and lifestyle. By feeding and nurturing our spirit and soul, we free our bodies from the captivity of sin, bringing glory to God and peace to our lives. "Live Wel!l" offers freedom by empowering women with one easy solution: In order to successfully make change and to recapture that which God intended for us, we need to tune into a new channel—and to begin to channel His strength.
Darlene's articles have been published through local newspapers and in her own book The Mom Complex. Darlene has also been published in print through the magazines: Emphasis on Moms, Beautiful One, and Celebrating Life. She has been published in several online publications such as, "WT Online" and "Christian Worldview Network." Darlene is a contributing author in both, Grace Givers: Amazing Stories of Grace in Action (Thomas Nelson), and Life Savors for Women, (Tyndale Publishing). Her writing talent and design skill, combined with determination has placed Darlene at the hub of this rapidly growing online ministry, as founder and editor of CWO. Christian Women Online has brought about a new wave in the ability to reach out to people both to share faith and to minister to them.In addition to writing "Live Well!," Darlene can be found at her website, DarleneSchacht.com __________________________ Note: We advise that you always consult your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. __________________________ _______________________ send this page to a friend: _______________________ Living in Freedom
Living in freedom from the bondage of food is not as far off as it seems. Picture the Israelites for a moment. They finally fled Egypt, leaving a life of slavery behind them—and before they could say, “see ya’ later subjugator,” Pharaoh was hot on their tail! Why was he so eager to catch them? The answer is found in Exodus 14:8 where it says, “The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.” Imagine it this way: Say you make a decision to live well today. You decide that you’re going to start eating well, and with it, you plan to walk 30 minutes/day, starting first thing tomorrow! You’ve decided that you’ve lived in bondage to food far too long, and you want to leave it behind in search of the Promised Land. A land flowing with milk and honey, where you are free from the pull of the fridge door, where you treat yourself well, and where you have peace with yourself. So you wake up in the morning, energized, and ready to take on the world, but before you do, your nose leads you straight down the hall. That’s where you discover that junior threw up last night’s lasagna on the living room floor, and his serving of upside-down cake, is right-side-up, along with it. You put your sneakers aside, start to clean up the mess, usher the little one toward the tub, and throw his jammies in the wash—then the phone rings. “Hi, it’s me,” your husband says, but his voice doesn’t have the same jingle it usually does, in fact there’s discouragement in his tone… And the problems begin to accumulate, throwing your day into a spin, and your plans along with it. That’s when you just might decide in your heart, “I didn’t expect to deal with all of this right now—it’s too much. I’m tired, I’m stressed, and all I can think of is sinking my teeth into the nearest loaf of French bread, while zoning out on the couch. I’m better off returning to the bondage of food, leaving the thought of exercise behind, and returning to the life that I had. After all—it was never really that bad.” This thought has been echoed throughout the ages, starting way back as far as Exodus 14, when in verses 11&12 the Israelites asked “What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians?’ It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" If you are in that desert of testing ladies, stay strong. Before turning around and heading straight back to the bondage you’ve lived in for years, pause to listen to the promise of God found in verse 13&14: “Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.’" Be still. When you are standing in the desert of testing with your back to the sea and all you can see in front of you is the enemy closing in—be still. Stand firm, and you will find deliverance. Have you ever stood still long enough to witness God performing His work? Have you ever stood still in His presence and let Him fight your enemy? Be still. Because when you do, God will triumph over your enemy, release you from your stronghold, and you will know that He is God. God hardened the heart of Pharaoh so that He would pursue the Israelites, but when he did, God not only rescued His people—He also sabotaged the pursuit of the Egyptians by removing their chariot wheels, and finally covering them with the sea. Can you hear the sound of the Israelites rejoicing at the sight? Can you hear the sound of your own voice rejoicing when you press on in faith and let God destroy the enemy that you leave behind? “That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. And when the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.” - Exodus 14:30-31 I love reading the stories from the Old Testament, because there is so much to glean from them. The events that they lived through typify our walk with Christ in so many ways. SO MANY. Whether they are about the slavery in Egypt, the time spent in the wilderness, crossing the Red Sea, or entering The Promised Land. Those stories teach us lessons that we can apply to our lives today. Paul writes, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” - Romans 15:4. “Hope,” ladies. Did you read that? That we might have hope! There is a desert of testing--yes. It will be hard, before it gets easy. If it wasn’t we’d all be model thin and run two miles a day. Life isn’t that easy, but that’s ok. Let that thought sink in for a minute: “Life isn’t easy, but that’s ok.” In fact it’s better than ok, when we consider the maturity that it brings to our soul: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” ~ James 1:2-4 God desires to triumph over our enemies. He desires to rescue you from your stronghold. He desires to lead you to The Promised Land; will you let Him? Let’s start by getting back to patience—a characteristic most of us lack. Two weeks at a gym, and women are discouraged that the weight isn’t coming off. Even a slow computer can get some of us in a tailspin. Life takes time—remember that—it takes time. If you give up and return to Egypt at the first sign of trouble you’re missing out on the blessings that God has to offer. You’re missing out on the promise He gives to trample our enemies under His feet. “With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.” ~ Psalm 108:13 What happens at the second sign of trouble—if you plateau for a week, two weeks, or a month? If it rains just as you plan to go out for a walk—every time? Will you—like the Israelites—grumble once again, longing for the day when you ate all of the bread that you wanted? That’s what they did. Even after experiencing the crossing of the Red Sea, a miracle we can barely imagine let alone feel beneath our feet, they wanted to return to slavery, because they were hungry, and too impatient to wait on God for their food. Sound familiar? If I've learned anything from past mistakes it's this: we need to take that step of patience now—not tonight, not tomorrow—right now. Push the food to the side, today. Why? Because as I've mentioned before, living a life of sacrifice is an “act of spiritual worship.” Some might say, "It's just food—get real!" But no—it's not just food, any more than gold is just gold. When your life molds or shapes it into something that you idolize, or use to tranquilize, it becomes your golden calf. Consider the Israelites in Exodus chapter 32. They were free from slavery, as God pointed out in verse 7, "Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt.." He goes on to say, "They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.'" (verse 8) How it must pain God when He frees us from addiction, whether it be to food, alcohol, smoking, porn, binging, purging... whatever our stronghold is, only to find us returning to it once again, hoping to find tranquility; excusing the struggle we have with our weakness so we can worship and cling to the golden calf once again. God doesn't always provide the easy way out. He doesn't promise that life will be easy or free of temptation; in fact temptation is something we can always expect. But what He does provide, and promise to us is this: He'll always provide a way to escape. There's always a way out—a better way to escape from our pain—and with a little soul searching and determination, a way to leave the golden calf behind. 1 Corinthians 10:11-13, “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (Scripture from the NIV) ©2008, Darlene Schacht *We advise that you always consult your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. ______________________________ Weigh in on your progress each Wednesday at: _______________________________ Attention Ladies: mail to: editor@christianwomenonline.net You may also post the “I'm Choosing to Live Well” button in your sidebar if you wish, so that others will recognize it and find this page. Just copy and paste the code from the box below.
________________________________ The Rewards
This month, we’re talking about self-discipline: the nitty-gritty business of controlling our actions, that most of us would rather ignore than put a microscope to. In scripture after scripture, the Bible stresses the importance of controlling our bodies, our tongues and our thoughts, by exercising just that: self-discipline. To get a biblical example of discipline in action, let’s take a closer look at the self-disciplined side of the woman personified in Proverbs chapter 31:
Do some of those characteristics speak to you? Have you refused to work out because it would mean getting up a little earlier? Do you grab something quick to eat because you don’t want to take the time to get your food from afar? Do you waste too much idle time on the computer or television when you could be enriching your mind? Are you clothed with strength and dignity, or do you throw on a ball cap, slip on a ratty old t-shirt, and head out of the door praying that no one will see? Self-disciplines when applied to our life not only bring self-respect, they also bring respect from others around us:
When self-discipline is called for, many of us step back immediately, and although we may not outright admit what we’re thinking, what we’d like to say is, “Uh—no. I’m not going to sign on to anything that requires sacrifice on my part, I’d rather wait until an easier plan comes along.” And so we wait for the next quick fix that promises weight loss at no cost—perhaps it’s an all you can eat soup diet, or licking the pounds away on an ice cream diet—but we fail time and time again, because a quick fix doesn’t set the stage for tomorrow, it satisfies and gratifies the body today. Losing weight is simple. There’s no rock that hasn’t been turned, no magic pill that waits to be found. If you struggle with weight gain and a lust toward food, then it’s a battle that needs to be fought; the only question remains “Are you willing to fight?” If you stop for a minute to find an excuse, you’ve hesitated too long. If you put it off until tomorrow, you’re waiting too long. Romans 12:1, tells us that living a life of sacrifice is an “act of spiritual worship.” Some versions call it, “your reasonable service.” Reasonable. There’s nothing unreasonable about bringing our bodies to the point where they yield to the Spirit. I don’t suppose that the Proverbs 31 woman particularly enjoyed getting up while it was still dark, or lighting a fire while the others remained warm in their beds. And I don’t suppose that it will be easy for you either, the first time, you pass up a bag of potato chips, turn down some chocolate, or settle for water instead of a pop. But I do believe with no uncertainty that in time you will be happy with the changes you’ve made. Perhaps the key portion of that verse, which speaks to our heart and moves us to obedience, is the word, “worship.” Imagine that—being able to worship God by giving up a part of yourself. Being able to give up the bondage that you have with food, as an act of worship to God. All things die that we might have life. Nearly every bit of food we put in our mouth is a sacrifice in some way or another. Beef, chicken, pork, fish, lettuce, carrots, berries, nuts, and the list goes on; all once living things that have died so that we can live. Nature itself typifies the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, bringing glory to God. Dying to ones self is an act of worship because each time we do, we reflect the passion of our Lord. And with each part we give, we reap peace in abundance. Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?"
_____________________________________ ©2008, Darlene Schacht *We advise that you always consult your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program.
__________________________________________ 5 Ways to Be Content
For the last few months, our focus has been on weight loss. That’s usually the case with Thanksgiving, Christmas and especially New Years! Once all the figgy pudding is put aside we ask ourselves, how can I take off the weight? It’s tough, but I’ve witnessed many of you putting your plans into action, and I’m excited to share in your journey—so press on! But this month, as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, I’d like to shift us in a slightly different direction on our journey to Live Well. In my book The Mom Complex, I encourage women to “wade through the toys in search of the joys.” I urge them to search inside themselves, so that they can discover the path that God has placed their feet on. It’s important that we see that path today—not tomorrow, because God has already begun a work in us that’s waiting to be uncovered, dusted off and embraced. We can start by putting aside the “ifs” and the “buts” today: I’d be happier if this house was bigger… There’s a proverb that says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” ~ Proverbs 23:7. So don’t think for a minute that the discouragement you wear in your heart won’t show on your face. Happiness is one cosmetic that’s God given and free for all. I want it—don’t you? Of course we do. I’d love to wear a smile 24/7 if I could, but even more than happiness itself, I want contentment--true joy with the peaceful knowledge that God is in control. Yes—I’ll still have dreams and hopes which will point me in one direction or the other, but ultimately when I lay my desire on the alter of worship where I trust God for my life, I’ll allow God’s grace to power each step. That’s what contentment does, and it's learned by patience and practice. The apostle Paul said, "for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." ~ Philippians 4:11b, KJV Let’s look at five ways to find contentment in your life today:
©2008, Darlene Schacht *We advise that you always consult your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. __________________________________________ Develop a Game Plan
In The Ultimate Weight Solution: The 7 Keys to Weight Loss Freedom, Dr. Phil McGraw writes, “Because I have counseled so many overweight patients, I can tell you with absolute certainty why some people stay fit and others do not. If someone is successful in keeping weight off for five, ten, twenty, or more years, they have carefully planned, thoughtful goals that they hold to and live by.” The Bible also reminds us to carefully consider our plans before we set out to build: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’” - Luke 14:28-30. In that passage, Jesus was pointing out the cost of being a disciple. Life will offer us a thousand and one reasons why we shouldn’t follow Christ, but those who have built their faith upon conviction won’t give up because they have counted the cost before hand and their eyes are fixed on the goal ahead. As the apostle Paul wrote, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:13, NIV. I often refer to Paul’s writing to the Philippians since he so vigorously writes about the pursuit of God. Can you imagine the excitement that letter brought, when by the hand of Epaphroditus it was first delivered? Rejoice in suffering! Stand fast in the Lord! Press on in faith! The refreshing and empowering words can revitalize any life when we put them into action. And the same action can be applied to all things that we set out to do. As Solomon wrote, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might!” - Ecclesiastes 9:10, NIV Therefore I'll ask--do you have a recipe for success? Have you carefully considered your weight loss goal, and detailed the means you’ll take in getting there? If you haven’t taken that very important step, I urge you to grab a pen and a paper—a pretty little journal if you have one—and answer the three following questions in detail:
The ability to envision our goal and the means of getting there brings us that much closer to achieving it. Once you have decided exactly what your final goal will be, we can start breaking it down into smaller attainable pieces. For example, if you want to lose 50 pounds this year (lets make it easy and round it off to 52 pounds in 52 weeks) we can do a little math and conclude that your focus for each week will be 1 pound. That’s it—1 pound per week! 100 pounds? Then you’re still only looking at 2 pounds/week--which is an easy enough goal to achieve--if you have counted the cost and are willing to adhere to the plan. Too often dieters will say, “I want to lose weight, so I’ll start cutting back.” And that’s pretty much the end of the plan. Believe me, if our sweethearts show up with a box of chocolates this month that we mindlessly munch on as we're watching TV, “cutting back” may not hold the same definition that it held the day before. Without a set plan to adhere to, we tend to negotiate a bit too much with the stomach, and when that happens we all know who wins out! If we accept those chocolates with the foreknowledge that a small treat after dinner is in line with our plan, we don’t have to negotiate, we can rely on knowledge rather than impulse. Two chocolates come out the the box, and the rest are put into the cupboard until the next day. This doesn’t mean that we have to start counting calories, it could mean envisioning the size of our meals and the frequency of them before hand, then sticking to the plan. This is where wisdom takes over and willpower takes a back seat. The same thing can apply to exercise. The familiar line, “I plan to exercise more often from now on!” What does that mean? “More often” can mean once, or it can mean daily. If you leave that choice up to whim, chances are you’ll opt for the minimum rather than the maximum workout experience. Be concise. Develop a plan that you will stick to. For example, if your plan is to walk for 45 minutes five times a week, map it out by deciding ahead of time when you’ll schedule your walks in, where you’ll be walking (treadmill, outside, etc.). And if you can find a partner, then jot down whom you’ll be with. By scheduling a time we move it into our life and begin to shift things around it, rather than trying to squeeze it in where it fits. Priorities have a way of squeezing out the less pleasant activities, unless we make it a point to prioritize them. In a recent interview with Larry King, actress Ricki Lake, famous for losing over a hundred pounds and successfully keeping it off for over a decade said, “It’s all in moderation; I think it’s being consistent; I think it’s being conscious of what you put in your body. There’s no magic pill, there’s no secret—it’s hard work and being consistent.” She added, “Any diet works, I’ve done them all. If you stick to it, they all work. But you have to stick to that plan.” The “plan” makes us conscious and aware of what we’re putting into our bodies and how we are taking care of them. Till next time ladies, stick to the plan, and Live Well! ©2008, Darlene Schacht *We advise that you always consult your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. __________________________________________
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"Live Well!" inspires women to reshape their body and life, by moving faith to the forefront, making healthier lifestyle choices, and finding our worth in the eyes of our Father.
About Darlene
Do you hope to lose weight but fail time and again? Do you lust after food, and lack self control? If so, you're not alone. Results from the 200
By now most of us have heard that those who persevere are the ones who finish the race, but the question remains, what race are you running? It’s one thing to have a goal in mind, but if you haven’t mapped out a specific plan to get you there, the odds are stacked up against you, before you even begin. 
