Since 2009
THE PRAYFIT DEVOTION
He Remembers
"For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." --Hebrews 8:12
A documentary recently left me drenched in a flood of tears. Hosted by Maria Shriver, the short movie was a touching look at Alzheimer's, and the devastating effects the disease has on the sufferer as well as the family. From grandchildren, to children, to spouses, the idea of forgetting and being forgotten is nothing short of a nightmare. As the credits rolled, I found myself calling my wife and mother. Please don't forget I love you, was the only thought I had as I dialed.
And then I found myself thinking of the Lord. Friends, aren't we so glad He remembers? Affectionally, He remembers when He made us. Faithfully, He remembers when we first spoke His name, and thankfully He remembers ours. The only thing He doesn't remember is our sin.
That -- gracefully -- He remembers to forget.
--Jimmy Peña
SLEEP & ALZHEIMER'S New research reveals startling risk of being underslept
How well you sleep at night may be an indicator of you risk for Alzheimer’s Disease. A new study out of the American Academy of Neurology showed that those who spent less than 85% of the time in bed asleep were more likely to have Alzheimer’s. While it’s important to note that about half of the subjects had Alzheimer’s somewhere in their family tree, the risk remains alarming.
Need more motivation to get your z's? Disrupted sleep can interfere with muscle recovery and the regulation of hormones that are critical for muscle-building, fat-burning and metabolism. Try to get 7-9 hours of sleep per night to reduce risk of Alzheimer’s and to keep your fitness goals on track.
TO HIGH HEAVEN
November 18, 2010Read: Matthew 18
"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.'" --Matthew 18:21-22
Our sense of smell is pretty remarkable. Did you know that we can recall something we smell with 65% accuracy after one full year? Even more impressive when you consider that after merely three months, we can only recall 50% of what we see. From the sweet to the foul, one whiff and we might as well be time travelers. Let's face it, the nose knows.
Our hearts have similar olfactory characteristics. Maybe not for grandma's kitchen cupboard, but each heart has a nose for remembering the good, bad and the rotten. And at times, the ugly scent can linger longer than the others. After all, it stinks to get hurt. Especially if it's by those we love. And even though we try to forgive, something can trigger a memory and the aroma of the old moment fills the air.
Aren't we glad that when we go to Jesus, our past doesn't leave a stench? Oh Lord, thank you for completely forgiving and completely forgetting. Please help us do the same.
--J.P.
FITNESS TIP: Better Arms
Looking for better arms? Then take a seat...literally.
Typically during a barbell biceps curl, you seldom exhaust the upper portion of the curl simply because you failed to move the bar past the parallel point. However, the strongest portion of the curl is the top half. Reason being, the first half of a curl is predominantly brachioradialis, not the stronger biceps brachii. So why not spend some time up high where the biceps brachii can be fully activated? Therefore, practice seated barbell curls at the end of a bench, allowing the bar to touch the tops of your thighs. This will emphasize the upper portion of the biceps curl.