Vegan? Vegetarian? Ovo-lacto Vegetarianisim? Pescatarian?

(Photo above is a depressed man) Since March I have decided to enter into a change of lifestyle which included seeking deeper intimacy with God, readying more, incorporation of a sabbath day, picking back up hobbies, really allowing my purpose to be defined and really to simplify it I just feel the nudge on my life to be the best me! I lived a year in 2011 that was really hard it was hard to take care of myself. The most important things for me to nurture of course was my spirit. I was hardly doing that and let alone doing horrible with my natural eating and really just became addicted to foods and beverages. I gained excessive weight quickly and grew out my hair not to have a different look but because of the depth of the depression. I had no drive to get a hair cut or even really cared about it. Fast forward to June 23, 2012 I have been 54 days living as a healthier person. I have lost 22 pounds (with out exercise). I realize I have a purpose out of the hell endured in 2011 that needs to be lived out, I am finding my self to yearning more for intimacy daily with the Father, I have picked up more reading, I now listen to pod cast to grow, I even have a dog i enjoy, and lastly picked up hobby of going to a salsa class in a dance studio. These things I share because its my journey to loving me rightfully. The title was chosen because part of this journey has involved implementing vegan meals to get on a healthier path and raise up my energy and immune system since last year I was often sick for long periods of time because of the lack of zeal for life. Ive had many people during this journey of me loving myself and one of those ways is eating mostly vegan foods ask "Are you a vegan" or "Vegans don't eat that". Also in a restaurant setting ask across the table is that a "vegan meal" or "Hey Chepe can you eat that? Some comments such as "Vegans don't eat eggs or honey"! There are time where I can sense the purity in the comments and I may laugh cause its funny or I may take time to educate from the little I know and other times I feel defensive because the questions/comments I can sense the sarcasm and maybe even mocking of my current choices of eating. Now mind you in 2011 I had already to learn to "suck it up" and keep it moving when I received harsh comments about my grieving process so its easy to do it again. Im not so caught up on the title of what I'm deciding to do with my eating. Others seem to be and for there sake here is a plane definition and a word for you to call what I am doing for the next several months. "Ovo-lacto vegetarianism" An ovo-lacto vegetarian (or lacto-ovo vegetarian) is a vegetarian who does not eat animal flesh of any kind, but consumes dairy and egg products. In contrast, a vegetarian who consumes no animal products at all is called a vegan." My goal is to eat this way until december and then I will pray and seek ways to continue to eat healthier really for the rest of my life. Im motivated by the death of my sister to share the news of Hope and Healing but also of healthier choices. I don't want to have a disease and I do want to live a long full life so this is one of my many methods I'm choosing of fighting of the chances. I don't pretend to know it all about food, I do love to learn though and nor do I expect everyone to jump on board but please, please, please encourage what I'm doing and don't make it a joke or think I'm on a fad because its really something that I want to live by and its deeply rooted in what I feel God is leading me to change in my life in order to love myself the right way. I hope that all you readers continue to do what the Father leads you to and I encourage you to be the best you that you can possibly be. Why not? You only get one chance to live on earth you might as well make it worth while! This is my prayer for you 3 John 1:2: "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers." Here are some tips to loving yourself that I have been implimenting Seven Health Needs 1. Exercise 2. Simple diet 3. Sunshine 4. Rest 5. Pure Water 6. Clean air 7. Daily Communion With all my love Chepe

Honor Testimony

Whasup Fellow Bloggers!

I am excited to share a small testimonial about honor today. Yesturday a friend of mine taught a bible study on what it means to honor those who God places in authority and it deeply convicted me. My friend taught on how God has a full reward in store for us. Idont know about you but I want to get a full reward not a partial or even no reward from God.

Sure enough test came the next day. Today I woke up 45 minutes late to work. IM NEVER LATE! I was tempted to call out, because it would count against me as a call out any way. I decided that I would go in to honor my boss.

Then tonight I go eat at bentos and then to a wounderful play and I get back to my car feeling all blessed and BAM! Im giving the lady my parking validation given to me by the restaurant I ate at prior to the play and she said "I need to have the original ticket and the validation." So manager comes and says if it's lost thats a $30 fee. Imediatly I start sweating of anger arm pits wet and neck red lol...you get the picture. I tell the manager I dont have the money and its a rediculous cost. He caught an attitude so I end up telling him ok please give me the ticket you need to write and I need your card or someone higher up to complain about this crazy price. I get all that from him and im off. I said "God today I strived to honor you by honoeing my boss and going to work and I honored that manager by not getting nasty with him and this your money I can't be having it thrown away like that, If you helped a man yesturday find a girl in the woods after 4 days and I lost this ticket minutes ago you can help me find it, You know where it is God guide me." So I retraced my steps in my car driving slowly saying "Jesus Jesus Jesus" through downtown and BAM a shinny white parking ticket on robinson street! GLORY TO GOD! That's a small miracle and I believe it's because Im getting my FULL REWARD because Im Honoring!

Understanding God

I just had an awesome day by the pool since it's hot again in Florida. I read the 1st chapter of Crazy Love. I was taken back and in awe of God creation after reading the 1st chapter. I listened to the laughs of friends and thought how unique of God and creative that he would make that laughter different and so unique than others. What an artistic God I serve. Im being ministered by the Holy Spirit in a new way. I love books that cause me to be hungry for the word and drive me to just worship my creater. I let it resignate in my spirit that God is BIG , soverign, and creative! Stop and think, look, and touch..taste and see that God is good. Seriously do it. Drink water, look at your finger prints, touch a leaf, look in the mirror..what a creative God we have! Allow your self to engulf in that..GOD YOU ARE SOO BEYOND WHAT WORDS CAN DESCRIBE!

The Irresistible Revolution "im not there yet"

I purchased this book on Sunday after a few friends recommended I read it and it's been enhancing thoughts that I have already been developing about Christianity. I find that this author Shane Claiborne is challenging me through his personal relationship with Christ to be a Jesus follower and not a church goer.

Reading this book has been helping me to be more aware of desires God has put in my heart and has been motivating me to make plans and work towards what God wants me to do. Jesus had dirty feet and we are so far from having even our hands dirty.

He accounts some radical and untraditional things he has been doing since he went off to college and the dude even had the opportunity to work along Mother T!

There is alot that of dares in this book to do more for Christ with what we have and one thing that he shares that I have heard before but sat different with me today in Chapter 3 is "We are not called to be successful but to be faithful"

So you mean at work I should just be faithful? Faithful to the duties and the clients I encounter? Not worry about being successful? That means I dont have to keep up with the Jones's and It doesnt matter if I have a degree and It doesn't matter what I wear or where I live. It matters how FAITHFUL I am.

I have to confess IM not there yet. I need to be born again AGAIN!

Sunday Light Bulb*

Today was a long day, at church I had a light bulb moment. I just was thinking ""God was always and will always be there"" Yeah our parents and other friends may have been there for a large part of our life but God was always there. Even in our low moments. Our parents and our friends will not be there forever. We will separate because of different destiny or even death. But God will always be there and never changes. I always heard this but today I believed and understood it. Im realizing im starting to love God more with my mind. That element was missing.

After church I spent most of the time after church with friends doing some window shopping and coffee @ starbucks. In conversation one thing that came up was how my friend had to do a project where she was asked to have 10 of the closest people to her tell 3 things that are good qualities and 3 that are not. I took the challenge to answer my own. Here they are

Good Bad

Faithful Judgemental

Goal oriented Spend to much money

Forgiving emotionaly moved