Pastor Jonathan “JP” Pokluda and Lisa Anderson talk about how single Christians can pursue dating in a world where the rules of romance have changed. At a time when cohabitation is on the rise, they explain why it’s critical for single Christians to pursue dating God’s way. JP shares his testimony of how becoming a Christian completely changed the ways he approached dating. JP now encourages people to find someone with godly character when looking for a spouse. He also offers encouragement to parents of young adult children who are hoping to see their son or daughter get married.

Welcome to shape by Faith. A special series led by health and fitness expert, Teresa Row. Get ready for an entertaining and spirit led adventure while learning ways you can become fit in your body mind and spirit. Now here’s Teresa. Hi, I’m Theresa Rowe and welcome to shape by Faith, where we shape our bodies and hearts for God’s purposes. I hope you enjoyed this total body stability ball workout along with scriptures on joy and happiness. You will only need a stability ball. So let’s go ahead and get started. As you can see I’m already seated. So as you sit down, just pull your navel to the spine, make sure that your posture is upright. Bring your shoulders back and let’s do some breathing exercises, inhale and exhale. Let’s bring the arms up over the head, let’s just reach and bring them down and let’s encourage one another and build each other up. Alright, I want you to get used to the ball. Okay, so just let’s just start with some gentle bounces just right here, nothing big, just general bounces and breathe. And so what I want you to remember is don’t be afraid of the ball. All right, don’t be afraid of the ball. Now, I want you to bring the bounce up a little bit more. Just bring it up a little bit more and as you go through this workout, kinda test yourself out and see where you’re at, this is great for the core and the posture it takes the pressure off of our back and spine. The word says a cheerful disposition is good for your health. So it’s good to be happy and the stability ball makes me happy. It sort of brings out that inner child within me. So let’s keep going now. You could, if you wanted to start to bring your hips up, it’s a lot of strength through the hips and the glutes. Great for the top of the legs, these quads, we’re getting ready to go up into a almost a standing position, our ball squat. Okay, so let’s prepare ourselves. Do you feel this right here? The top of your legs? Those quadricep muscles, the back of your legs too? All right, you ready? We’re gonna go up and reach. So do a few bounces in between and then reach up, just go at your own level and your own pace. Trust in him always. And pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Alright, how’s this feeling to your body? You can also do a little rest here, just keep bouncing, but I’m going to continue doing the bounce and then the reach, you can tell, it takes a lot of strength from the hips and the glutes. So if you need to stay low and just say right here, hey, that’s fine. But we’re gonna warm up these shoulders a little bit warm up the hips and the glutes and most importantly, have fun with it, have fun with it. Okay, alright, I am feeling the legs a lot here now, I’m gonna go back to that basic bounce. Okay, so arms actually you could do like a power walk position for your arms. You could also move them like if you wanted to do some biceps here, but that’s totally up to you. You do triceps as well, you make known to me the path of life and you feel fill me with joy in your presence. There’s that Kentucky accent right there. Alright, keep bouncing. Alright, you should notice that your heart rate has increased, right? So, if you want it to go higher, you can definitely lift the hips up more. But let’s just keep bouncing, kinda test yourself out here. You can do a few biceps here, then a few triceps. Alright, coming up next is some stability ball modified jacks. Okay, aren’t you excited? All right. I can feel this also stretching through the torso and the spine. Now, the start I’m just gonna tap out. You can see each foot is tapping out just to get the body used to this. I’m going to add those arms to modify the arms, you can keep them low just right here. You can also stay in place without the bounce if this is better for you. But if you want to keep up the bounce, go ahead and do that. The hope of the righteous will be gladness, Having that gladness in our hearts. Being happy and joyful that the joy of the Lord is our strength, right? It’s a great verse. Alright, so this is a modified Jack, If you want a progression, bring both legs out as those arms go up and then again, you can modify, you can stay still without the bounce. Alright, let’s go back to the ball, bounce. Either keep it low or bring it up again. You can work those arms in front of you, You can even go laterally if you wanted to do that, you can do some triceps happy. Are the people happy? Are the people whose God is the Lord? We should be happy. We should be walking around with joy in our hearts, even if we’re going through a rough time, we should know that we know that when we are with the Lord, that we should have happiness, we should have joy even in our trials, even in difficulties, we should still have that joy. Alright, we’re almost finished with this one and then we’re gonna go into some crunches. So, if this is your first time working out with the ball, I’m so glad you’re here with me because you’re gonna learn a lot and we’re gonna learn together. Alright, let’s go ahead and position the ball out there on your floor, Take a seat on it and then slowly you can put your hands back here as you walk down. What you’re gonna do is either put the arms in front of you or place the hands back behind you. Okay, so more of a modification right here, let’s go back. You want to keep the ball in position? So you’re doing the work from your core. So on this one, you’re not rocking the ball, you’re just holding it in position, rejoice in the Lord. Always again, I say rejoice, isn’t that a good one? Alright, keep going. We’re getting used to the ball here, feeling the strong through our core. Now, remember the breathing, that’s really important, we’re going to inhale as we go back and exhale as we come up. This next exercise if you want, you can keep your arms in this position, you come up and you rotate and you go back and rotate. You can certainly do that, but you can also place the hands easy, so you’re not pushing against the head back behind you as you come up, exhale rotate, blessed are the peacemakers right? For they will be called Children of God, so as we speak. And as we bring out the message, we also need to carry the peace of christ in our hearts, right, carry that piece and speaking, love be a peacemaker. It’s not that you’re conforming to the world, right? But as you speak, there should be a peace and love that comes from you alright advancing this. You can keep your hands here on the ball as you walk out. Now, I want you to place the head on the ball, lift your hips up, make sure your head’s on the stability ball, bring your arms straight up. All right, So what we’re gonna do is rotate to one side and then come up and rotate to the other side to the person who pleases him. God grants um wisdom and knowledge and listen to this happiness that is so good, wisdom, knowledge and happiness. So Lord, that is our prayer today, please grant us that all right, keep going so side to side, breathing, last one, bring the arms down, place the hands on the stability ball as you walk back. Nice. Now we’re gonna do some standing exercises so hold onto the ball, press the palms into it. We’re going to go out into a lateral lunge and then just reach the ball out, bring it back in the same thing on the other side, delight yourself in the Lord, I love this first and he will give you the desires of your heart, delight yourself in him. That means I know all about, jesus raise the word, know who he is, no God’s promises. Alright, lateral lunge, reach working the legs and the thighs and those shoulders, how are you liking it so far? Just keep moving and breathing. Having joy in our heart in happiness. All right now we’re going to bring the legs out wide, bring the ball down and then reach way up over the head or bring it down and bring the ball out. So inhale lower, exhale, lift those who plant in tears. will harvest With shouts of joy. God sees our tears, he sees us when we mourn with other people and we’re compassionate towards others, right? We need to be compassionate towards others and when they’re mourning and crying we need to be there for them, crying alongside of them in comforting them. All right, fill this in the thighs and in those shoulders, breathe two more of these. This one feels great. One more and then bring the ball back down. Step your feet in. We’re going into a squat. So as you squat bring the ball down, then chop it across and alternate Side to side. So this one really focuses in on the obliques, those muscles that make up the waste and also the upper body. With the arms inhale lower, Exhale Nacelle those legs. The joy of the Lord is our strength. Right? Say that to yourself. The joy of the Lord. It’s my strength, enjoy the Lord is my strength. So work out in the Joy of the Lord. Do your daily living And the joy of the Lord and it doesn’t have to be a warm fuzzy feeling or oh I feel so good. It’s a knowing that God is with you directing your steps. Okay now we’re going down to the floor so carefully lower yourself down and this is called a rollout. So what we’re gonna do? Place of forms on the ball, Roll it out, feel that stretch through the core and then bring it back. Let’s do that again, keep that belly pulled in extra tight on this one for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but it’s righteousness and it’s peace and it’s joy in the holy spirit again. Feeling this pretty strong in the core, especially the low core below that belly button. Also feeling that stretch through the hip flexors now on this one, make sure the shoulders are positioned down. Okay, so those shoulders are down, Notice your breathing pattern in this one. One more. Very nice. Now, if you’re good with this, you’re gonna go back to that same position and here’s a modification right here, it’s just a modified forearm ball plank If you wanted to progress this, let me position the ball over here. What you’re gonna do is press down into the stability ball shoulders down and hold right here. Very nice. Just hold and pull in so you do not see him now, you trust him, right? And you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. Oh God is so good. He’s good all the time and he is so awesome all the time. Keep holding, we’re almost there, breathe nice. Alright, so coming up next, we will continue working with the stability ball on, shaped by faith. Alright, let’s go ahead and transition all the way down to the floor, hold the stability ball, I love this one, it’s called the ball pass, bring it over the head and then as you bring it up pass it to your feet and bring it down and arms over the head. I have told you these things so that you may be filled with my joy. Alright? The Lord has given us all. We need to live in joy right? And it’s up to us to choose to live there or not or to have that peace in our hearts or not. It’s a mindset as well. Right, so let’s ask the Lord to renew our mindset today through him. Alright, I’m feeling this a lot in the hips and in the core and of course that upper body and lower body. Alright, one more this time. Leave it down there by your feet and place your feet on the ball. Let’s try out the bridge arms at your side, you’re gonna bridge up lower down, then do an ab crunch, so bridge lower down and then a nice ab crunch, keep going. Honor and majesty are before him. Strength and gladness are in his place, we should honor the Lord in everything that we do. And that also includes as we exercise right? Alright, bridge and go ahead and crunch. So doing a little combo exercise here and exhale on that lift and a few more, we’re gonna go into the hamstring muscles. Alright, lift up and crunch good, go ahead, extend the ball out. Alright, reposition yourself, I always need to reposition myself, press the heels into the ball Now your hands can come back behind the head where you can lie down completely, okay, it’s totally up to you so I’m gonna bring those legs in and then back out, rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. So maybe you have someone in your life that’s going through an amazing time. Be joyful with them, you know, thank be thankful for them and and tell them that you are so encouraged by what they’re doing or or how they’re living their life for christ and then you may know someone that’s going through a really rough time. Well weep with them, be sad with them and at the same time, encourage them in the ways of the Lord. Right, alright, feeling this in the hamstring muscles, one more, bring that ball in again if you need to reposition, just use your feet. Now we’re going up into a one legged bridge. If you’d rather just stay in your basic bridge, that’s fine too. So your basic bridges up here and then down one leg, just bring that leg up, flex the foot lift and lower when trouble of any kind comes your way, consider it an opportunity for joy. Have you thought about that a lot of times? I don’t think about it like that, but when trouble comes your way, depend upon God right, lean into him and your joy is knowing that God knows all about it and he’s right there with you and he’s gonna help sustain you through it all alright? Again, pressing through the heel, Reach up and lower down one more and come all the way down. Nice. Okay, we’re switching legs out, shoulders, stay down opposite leg goes up, lift and lower or do your basic bridge. Okay. The fruit of the Spirit is love and it’s joy and it’s peace, patience and kindness, goodness and faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. So, think about the fruits that you are displaying and maybe those fruits that we need to fertilize a little bit more right, and work on just a little bit more and asking the Lord’s help in all those things and patients might be one of my big fruits that I need to work on. Alright, keep going self control and discipline. Disciplining your body for God’s purposes. One more nice stress those legs out a few seconds and we’re going into leg lowers. Now this one is a little advanced, so if you want to do it without the ball, that’s fine. So you’re going to bring the ball up between your feet and your ankles arms down. Now your hands can be positioned underneath your hips and glutes, you’re gonna lower down, just start a little bit and then back up, just go down a little and see how you’re doing or if you want it, you can lift the head up. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace and believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope. God is the God of Hope, there is always hope regardless of way things may look right now or the way things maybe turning out and God is the God of hope. All right now, bring the ball up if you wanted to modify, bring the ball down and place your legs over the ball, go ahead and crunch and then lower, exhale and then inhale for God, so loved the world. Oh God loves us so much. He loves you so much that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him will not perish but will have eternal life. You know, you can accept the Lord into your life right now as you’re doing this ball crunch, I mean you really can, that sounds silly, but God will beat you right where you’re at. Maybe it’s right now as you’re doing this exercise, God will meet you right there and I’m praying that he does and that he will, if anyone out there needs the Lord jesus in their life Today’s the day, one more, bring the ball down. Okay now on this one, arms down and place those shoulders down because sometimes they get a little tensed up, we’re gonna lift up then we’re all back down going into that bridge for a few few seconds here, this is the day the Lord has made, right, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Now take the ball in your hands and bring it over the head and you’re going to go into a nice reverse crunch with or without the ball. Okay? Take your time and breathe, exhaling, inhaling. Alright, good job feeling this below your belly button if you want, you can lift the shoulders off the floor. one more of these. Now take the ball down there by your feet again and drape your legs over the ball. Alright? I need you to engage your quadricep muscles and place the hands back behind you and then just do a basic crunch flex those feet to keep your leg muscles engaged feeling this through the core. You have given me greater joy then all those with abundant harvests of grain and new wine. Now the Lord gives us he is the giver of all joy. He is our joy giver in every circumstance, and maybe you’re not physically feeling it, but God is there, he’s right there with you to give you his joy and in abundance. Alright, feeling this through the ribs, that’s your obliques, filling that low below your belly button, one more. This next set, we’re gonna come up and rotate and bring it back down alright? And at the same time we’re going to bring the ball out. So as we come up and rotate, I’m gonna bring the ball in and then bring it right back out, okay, for you shall go out to enjoy and go forth in peace. So maybe that’s how we should say our goodbyes when we’re leaving somewhere we’re going out the door. Maybe we should send people out in the peace of the Lord. Right? And in all joy instead of saying goodbye, right? All right, keep going. Alright, Feeling this again through the obliques and all through the core and that rhythm of your breathing and legs back out. Good. This one I call the wipers alright? You can either modify bring those legs back and forth just like this or bring the ball in arms extended out and go back and forth. All right. Or you could hold the ball up there between the feet and the ankles and go back and forth. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice right? Lord, help us to have that joy in our heart that your word speaks of father. We desperately need you and we desperately need your joy. Father fill us today, Lord with your joy by your holy spirit, in the name of jesus. We pray amen. All right. Now take the ball in your hands. We’re going into a setup. So I’m going to bring the ball back over the head inhale to prepare, exhale, come up and then I’m gonna rotate and rotate and lower back down. You know, a person finds joy in giving, I mean really have you ever given And I’m not necessarily talking about financially, although it could be, but a person finds joy in giving an apt reply, right? A person enjoys giving of themselves in their time. And just listening to someone. When you give someone a timely word, you give them that word, it lifts their spirits And let’s lift up on this one. Now we’re just gonna rotate back and forth. Just take it at your pace and your timing just back and forth, filling this in the obliques. The word tells us to rejoice always and the pray always and to give thanks always in all circumstances because it says this is the will of God in christ jesus for each one of us. So pray for joy to enter your heart to enter your home, your work environment. Lord help us wherever we’re at to maintain our focus on you because you are our joy, You are our strength, you are our happiness, right? Feeling the shoulders and the obliques gentle stretch through the spine. Great, okay, to our last exercise, I absolutely love it. So flex your feet to connect with the top of your legs, you’re gonna bring the ball in towards you and press into the ball as you bring it out and then bring it back in, spine stretch forward. This is so good for the spine in the back and then bring it back in, exhale as you bring it out. Everything you speak to me is like joyous treasure filling my life with gladness. Are you a good listener when it comes to listening to the Lord? Do you hear him speaking to you? Because he is Ask the Lord to help you to hear his voice. Ask the Lord to grant you discernment as he speaks to you and the meaning and the revelation of his word and then bring it back in good job. I hope you liked that workout today. I love working with the ball. Thank you so much for allowing me in your home and I hope you’re motivated to continue preparing yourself to be the best that you can be as we continue exercising and praising God together, he will bless our bodies and hearts for his purposes. It is God who made us and breathe just spirit in us so that we can encourage others to live for him until next time. Friends may the Lord bless you, keep you safe, healthy and strong in your spirit, mind and body tune in next time as we continue shaping bodies and hearts for God’s purposes with Teresa row as we all become shaped by faith