G. Sherman

Society seems to have a renewed interest in being healthy. However, many health programs encourage physical health for the purpose of being physically pleasing to others. The Christian Care Health Initiatives Restore Program is different. This program encouraged physical health for the purpose of being physically AND spiritually pleasing to God. This program placed as much importance on the health habit of 1 on 1 time with the Lord as the physical activity of aerobic exercise.
Participating in a program that encouraged me to be in God’s Word and be obedient to God’s Word has been wonderful. I have been encouraged to be healthy, not for me but for my Creator. Angela Dodson, my personal consultant, repeatedly reminded me that being healthy was not all about me. She would often quote 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the spirit of God dwells in you?” Because I have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, my body houses a most special treasure, the Spirit of God. Being healthy is my gift to Him for such a special treasure. The incentive to be healthy must come from within. I must desire to be healthy because he desires me to be healthy.
This program is an example of brother and sister in Christ encouraging each other. Encouraging each other, first to have a healthy relationship with the Lord, and second, encouraging each other to do good works. The good work of lowering my cholesterol has been accomplished. By using the Daily Health Tracking Chart, I learned how to identify the foods that contributed to my problem of high cholesterol. I was able to choose foods more wisely. During the six month Restore program my cholesterol dropped 43 points.
As I graduate from the Restore program, I have found two Scriptures that I know will encourage me as I continue my journey to be healthier.

1 Timothy 4:8, “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”
To really be healthy, I must make God’s Word my first priority. Knowing and obeying Him must always be first – but I must also remember exercise is also beneficial.

1 Corinthians 10:23, “Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible but not everything is constructive.”
There are many choices of food and it is okay to eat anything I want. However, I must remember that not all food is beneficial or constructive toward good health. Making wise choices will keep me on my journey to good health and my goal of being a pleasing temple for the Spirit of God.

I am grateful for a ministry that encourages and expects Bible-based lifestyles because that is what God expects.
I am grateful for my new friend, Angela. Her friendship, encouragement and support were a true blessing.
I am thankful for the opportunity to participate in the Restore program which encourages physical health for spiritual reasons.
I would encourage anyone interested in a Bible-based health plan to participate, if given the opportunity, in the Restore Program.