Review: Stay physically & spiritually fit throughout the year
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 3, 2012
Kimberley Payne takes us through the year in her devotional e-book Women of Strength. No, that's not through the year as in 365 devotions, but through it in twenty-four, six each in sections devoted to the seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn.Each devotion is further divided into several parts. In the first, Payne talks frankly about some aspect of her life, relating her everyday experience to her spiritual journey and encouraging us to do the same.The next section, "Exercise Your Funny Bone," contains cute chucklers like: "The Best Vitamin for a Christian: B1" - (Kindle Location 108).In "You Asked" she answers a common fitness or exercise question."Faith Lift" is a prayer.In "Reflection" Payne talks about how she's putting her exercise and diet resolves into practice in everyday life--taking into account the season too."Top Tip" is a cautionary tip for readers. For example, the tip for the first devotional is to check with your doctor before making significant changes in your physical activity level."Bible Truth" is a Bible verse to read and/or memorize."Challenge" contains a diet or exercise challenge, e.g. "Drink one less caffeine beverage per day" (KL 125).And in the final part, "Praise Move," Payne describes a physical exercise readers can try, along with advice on what to avoid when doing it.I found this a great little devotional for several reasons. For one, Payne's writing style is warm, friendly and easy to understand. She often tells on herself, reassuring us that we're not the only ones that fall off the diet and exercise wagon.The seasonal aspect of the book gives us an opportunity to see Payne in action throughout the year. Especially in the "Reflection" part, we see how she deals with seasonal challenges like exercising outside in winter, the changing schedule of summer holidays when the whole family is underfoot, and incorporating exercise into days when her children need her attention.I really like her emphasis on living life in balance, which includes balance in exercise--she encourages a combination of flexibility, strength, and aerobic exercises--balance in eating, balancing the needs of family with personal needs, and balance in not allowing secular demands choke out spiritual life.I found the "You Asked" sections informative. And though all the "Funny Bone" jokes were amusing, several were really quite hilarious.This book would be great for personal use. I can also see it being a good resource for a woman's Bible study group in the way it brings up a variety of topics for discussion, deals with seasonal challenges, encourages healthy living, and has a built-in activity (exercise) component.You'll make fit ladies out of us all yet, Kim!