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A Story  of
grace  &  health


The Object of Affection Question

2/12/2016

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The other day I heard a catchy 80s tune on the radio and stopped channel-flipping. After only a few words filled my ears, my eyes were opened to the blatant difference between growing
up with pop music and the modern worship and Christian radio songs I now prefer today.  If
you were like me, and spent an adolescence and young adulthood caught up in pop music or
the latest hit country song, these songs might ring a bell.  Ponder these titles and even their
familiar lyrics for a moment:
 
We’ll start out with the song that stopped my radio flipping, and that was “Hungry Heart”,
which truly sums up mankind’s dilemma.  Then there’s “Owner of a Lonely Heart” which we can all relate to at times, of course.  Who hasn’t belted out “Total Eclipse of the Heart”, but again,
therein lies the issue within these lyrics.  Country gets a nod in this list with “I Cross My Heart”,
but I beg to differ that in the all the world you WILL find a Love truer than his.  And then we’ve got the ever-so-dangerous “Listen to Your Heart”, which, if you have followed that convoluted
compass, you likely experienced as much regret as I have through the years.
 
The difference I’m getting at with these songs is found in the object of our affection we’re
singing about. So much of mainstream music is focused on another person as the
be-all-and-end-all to our happiness. I know I was sucked into that lie for decades, until my
heart found the One it’d longed for since conception.  As the author in Psalm 139:13-16 speaks
to our Heavenly Father, our Creator, he reminds us:
 
“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have
seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained 
for me, when as yet there was not one of them.”
 
God made you… in great detail…and you are wonderfully made!  He’s written all the days of
your life and He longs to relate closely with you now!
 
Another verse that excites me about the Lover of our Souls is Zephaniah 3:17:
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love;
He will exult over you with loud singing.”
 
God is crazy about you.
 
Neither Valentine’s Day nor any day of the year with someone we love can make us feel
complete and fully loved as will the times we spend in close relationship with our Creator.  God is the only One who can love us truly unconditionally and perfectly, and He has loved us with
an everlasting love. (Jer 31:3) 1 John 3:1 states, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God.” 
A holy, perfect, all-powerful, all-knowing, creator of the universe loves us and call us His.
 
I encourage and I implore you to lay down the burden of chasing fleeting love, or in the words of Johnny Lee, to stop “Lookin’ for love in all the wrong places.”  If you’ve got a great spouse
or companion, cherish that wonderful gift, but let them off the hook if you’ve set them up with the expectation of fulfilling your every desire. Find freedom in offering grace for their
imperfections, and seek out complete fulfillment in knowing the One who created you with that desire for Him alone.
 
In closing, let’s reflect on who we’re turning to and who we’re singing about as the object of
our affection and fulfillment.  As Augustine spoke in the 1st Century to our Heavenly Father,
“You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in You.”

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Taking a Deeper Look at Exercise In My Life

10/28/2015

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How often have you paused to ask yourself why you're doing what you're doing, in terms of exercise, and how it's benefiting you? This is a spot I found myself in a few years ago and it's completely changed my focus on how I treat my body.

Having Type-A personality traits my entire life, I've always been an intense person no matter what activity I'm engaged in (case in point: I would push classmates out of the way to be first in line in kindergarten!).  When that drive and energy is channeled appropriately it can be a wonderful thing, but it has also pushed me to injure myself and isolate others.

To further describe what made me tick (full speed ahead, of course) is when I decided I wanted to take up running. Naturally I decided I ought to start with a marathon! After sharing this idea with my brother, an experienced runner, he suggested I aim for a 10K to start, and I took his advice.

One year from that inaugural running event, I did go on to train for and complete my first full marathon. It felt like a great accomplishment; however, that's where the injuries began and the isolation of others occurred.  Training for a marathon requires an immense dedication of time, which fed my already self-centered approach to life, as well as an immense physical demand that's placed on the body.  I did cross the finish line in tact, but it wasn't without strains and pains throughout the training and the race day. These were strains to my body as well as my family while I was out pounding the pavement so often.

My drive continued for the most intense classes at the gym and boot camps, which all took a painful toll on my physical body. It was time to look at the big why. Why did I feel the need to push so hard? What void was I seeking to fulfill? What was my body telling me?

The answers came one-by-one, revealed as God began to pull back the layers of pride and self-centeredness, and show me how I was trying to fill places that only He can fill in my heart. I believe that I was pursuing accomplishment with such intensity, but it was a futile attempt to find the identity and fulfillment that only He can provide.

Fast-forward to today, and you'll find that I still enjoy exercise, but it is in a much more balanced position in my life. I discovered the most amazing core strength exercise methodology that is challenging yet kind to the body. It's completely opposite of what I'd been doing and what's popular in the world around us, because it's not about pushing past your limits, and it's not about maxed out or rapid movements. We can gain the benefit without the beating! 

Today I also exercise a lot less and find I'm fulfilled a lot more. I channel much more of my energy into my relationship with my Creator, and that's where our true identify and fulfillment comes from; this leaves me filled up and serving others more.

​It's my privilege to now share classes with others and I would be honored if I could help you along this same journey. The core class mentioned above, along with yoga to the glory of God, is available online with me or in person in the Milwaukee, WI area.

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The Light and Truth Side of Yoga

12/5/2014

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Because this topic comes up fairly often, let's dive in and address it right away in this blog journey. 

Ask someone in the Christian church what they think about yoga and you'll find a divide in opinions.  Some feel strongly that we, as Christians, shouldn't practice yoga at all, some feel it's no big deal if it's just for exercise, and some are completely in the dark as to why there would be a controversy in the first place.  

The most heavily debated topic is the fact that Hindus used yoga poses in their religious practices.  Because of this, they have been credited with creating yoga. Unfortunately, this is a hasty generalization that needs to be unpacked.  First and foremost: Yoga is a methodology and not a theology.  Yoga pre-dates Hinduism.1 There is a huge misconception that yoga is grounded in Hinduism. It is not. In fact, Hinduism's religious structures formed much later.2 

Yoga is a tremendously beneficial form of exercise to strengthen, stretch, and increase balance in the body.  While Hindus did use aspects of the exercise for their religious practices, this does not mean yoga is inherently Hindu.  Many good things exist on earth that have been used for selfish or misguided purposes. However, the earth and all that's in it belongs to the Lord.3 Nothing is inherently evil since God created everything and He is only good.4  Corruption comes when humanity enters the picture. The hearts of humankind can take any good thing and use it for unethical or immoral purposes.    

There are so many physical benefits to the practice of yoga. I believe these are a gift from God for healing and restoring our bodies.  The physiological benefits cannot be denied.5 To me, this points back to our bodies being intelligently designed.  For example, when your forehead makes contact with the ground (such as in Child's Pose), your body is calmed.6  When we invert our bodies (bring our hips higher than our heart), we strengthen our immune system, balance our hormonal system, calm the nervous system, stabilize the digestive and elimination systems, and regulate our respiratory system (among over 15 other specific health benefits!).7  I think this clearly shows that the physical methodology of yoga supports how God designed our bodies. With the degree of stress in society today, it seems more important than ever to restoratively care for our bodies so they can function as purely as God intended.

Engaging with the culture around us is inevitable.  In fact, as followers of Jesus, we are called to meet people where they are at, while still modeling His grace and honoring God. Check out the biblical recount of Daniel interpreting a dream for the king. It was a practice of non-believing pagans to try to interpret dreams, yet Daniel, who lived in purity while surrounded by sin, stepped up and took the job of interpreting a dream for the king. Daniel didn't make his own personal assumptions or look to gain fame from interpreting the dream. Instead, he consulted God, Who used the opportunity to draw the king to Himself. This resulted in the true God of the universe being worshiped instead of unfulfilling, man-made gods.8  

Any job can be a ministry. All work can be sacred when embracing a biblical worldview. It is not our role to judge others in matters that are not black and white in Scripture.  Instead we are to offer grace and show mercy.9  Each person is accountable to God and will answer to Him alone, not to you or to me or to any other person on Earth.10 

It is our hope to have the chance to redeem yoga and glorify God in what we do. Most people have no idea how good they are designed to feel or how their bodies can be restored after even 45 minutes on the yoga mat.  It is our privilege to help you on your way in a yoga journey that honors God.

Thank you to my beautiful friend and former business partner, Tallulah Caulfield, for collaborating on this crucial statement of our beliefs.

1, 2. http://www.americanyogaassociation.org/general.html 
3.   Psalm 24:1, Deuteronomy 10:14, Psalm 89:11
4.   1 John 1:5 & 1 Timothy 4:4
5.    http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/the-health-benefits-of-yoga
6.    http://www.active.com/health/articles/pose-of-the-month-childs-pose
7.    http://yoga.isport.com/yoga-guides/how-to-do-legs-up-the-wall-in-yoga
8.   Daniel, Chapter 2
9.   Romans 12:9-10, Ephesians 4:2 & Ephesians 4:32
10.  Romans 14:4-13 & James 4:12



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an unveiled Introduction

11/21/2014

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Well, this is my first ever blog, so I'll start with an introduction and give you a snapshot of the basic bio facts: Age 38 as of this writing (11.13.14). Wisconsin native from a small town north of Green Bay. Living in the Green Bay area now. Married since 2000.  Recipient of God's grace and forgiveness, navigating life with Him since 1998.  Proud aunt. Advocate for natural health. Instructor of yoga to the glory of God.  Peaceful.

My hope is that through this blog you are encouraged, brought comfort and hope, and led closer to your Creator who loves you indescribably.  

The fact that I am in a career that puts me in front of groups of people on a weekly basis, and gives me access to caring for others' hearts, is nothing short God's hand displayed in my life. When I reflect back on the first half of my life I cringe at the picture of a very self-centered and rather shy girl.  There was a dichotomy of rarely speaking up for myself outside the home, yet dominating to selfishly get almost anything I wanted inside the home, coupled with a disregard for others' hearts.  

I came into a saving relationship with Christ in 1998.  This was the beginning of a process of saving me from myself, my sin, my past, and all my future sin.  I've spent many years trying to fill that void with things and people in the world, and the fact is that nothing and no one can bring the joy, peace, and complete fulfillment that a dynamic relationship with the One who created you can.  We were made that way. In the wise words of C.S. Lewis, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” 

It's been an amazing journey of refinement for over 16 years, where God has used my sin and failures to sift out pride, fear, apathy, and to bring about a change that, as Ezekiel 36:26 describes as "removing the heart of stone from your flesh and giving you a heart of flesh." 

I plan to expand on stories and lessons from all these areas of life in future posts, so if you're interested in digging deeper, join me on the journey. :)

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    Sara Pasterski

    God. family. 
    natural health. 
    yoga. outdoor fitness. bowhunter. upstream-swimmer. authentic. hopeless without Christ.

    Sara has changed to writing for a personal blog, which you are welcome to follow at www.HandsUpWorriesDown.com 

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