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Recently Sophia and I attended a dance class in NYC. It was unlike any other dance fitness class either of us had taken. This one wasn't for the tight of hips - if you know what I mean. As the DJ lights flashed, and the music filled my chest with beats while under the influence of an NYC professional dancer by night and fitness instructor by day, we were putty in her hands. I found myself performing moves I would never have thought to do. Not because I don't like to move, but because these moves I had only seen on TV, or social media feeds of people looking to shock and awe.

Surrounded by women who signed up for the sweat and the shakes, and as an enneagram eight who sees life through the lens of challenge, I don't scare easily.

I was a good student.

She led.

I followed.

And I had a blast.

Sophia had a blast too.

Afterward, at breakfast, basking in one another's sweaty afterglow, I plopped my phone down on the table. I pressed record to document what Sophia, mostly introverted with tendencies towards extroversion, had to say.

The above audio recording is what we get.

Listen to the audio recording to hear what this 51 year- old, Gen-X fitness dinosaur thought of this fitness class with a side of sexiness, as well as what Sophia, my 19-year-old Gen-Z has to say.

She'll make you smile, think, and feel a part of our family.

Leave your words below on body, sexuality, and sexiness.

(Our breakfast tent, in the rain, on Madison Ave and 30th street, in NYC)

Maybe you grew up in a home (like mine) where discussions around sex and sexuality felt scary, dirty, and distorted by sin. Yet, in a world SHOUTING louder and getting bolder on its definition of gender, sex, and sexuality, it's best we ready ourselves with God's grace and truth for our minds, souls, hearts, and bodies.

Shame can't stand in God's presence.

There's nothing He doesn't welcome us to talk about with HIm.

I hope you feel the same way when you come here.

Leave your thoughts below.

Peace.

Mama Keets (Alisa)

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Just got back from icy cold NYC and wanted to pop this update into your feed before the week before Christmas madness kicks off.

I hope you are all making the most of the chaos and are not falling for the lie that things have to be perfect for you to be present. Just practice being present to each and every moment without judgement. Once I learned to do that more in my life I went from one who lived easily frustrated by everyone around me to one who saw a chance to find out what God was up to and partner with Him in His kind of fun.

I started getting mentally healthy on the inside, not just looking the part of healthy on the outside.

If you could this kind of kindness and freedom in your approach to food, one that will put to death diet mentality, once and for all, I invite you to join the Food Is Not The Boss of Me (FINTBOM). This 21-day food freedom and body-esteem program is now enrolling over at Revelation Wellness. We will kick off this training program together, as a community, on January 9th!

And exciting news! If you sign up for FINTBOM and could use some deeper time of coaching with me I have that for you too! My small coaching class is now open! For three 60 minute sessions I will be giving a small class of you the best that I’ve got to go along with the FINTBOM program.

Listen to the above audio for more details or click on these links to enroll in either FINTBOM or my coaching class or both.

PS. I closed out the audio cast teasing you about the next post I have coming your way. You will be hearing from my hilariously wise 19 year old daughter, Sophia. She will share her interesting and insightful views regarding women and sexuality. Yup. From the mouth of my babe you will hear what some in her generation deem as truth. Stay tuned!

Let me know if you have any comments or questions below.

Peace,

Alisa

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Jane said, “It’s been almost a year and I have yet to be consistent with any kind of work out or body movement. As a born again believer of Jesus why does the mental part of me keep pushing away what I need to do?”

My reply to Jane was as follows;

“My gut says because it feels like a chore. Punishment. Not enjoyable. We stick with things we enjoy. Perhaps there is shame and a feeling of obligation attached to it.

Work on loving your body as is. Not moving your body to love it.

If you couldn’t move your body today, or get out of bed, you would probably love more than untying to get out into the fresh air and move your body.

We were meant to move with a sense of wonder and joy attached to it. Not duty.”

Listen to the audio recording to hear more on this topic.

And, this just in! My new creative project just released over on Revelation Wellness. It’s called Food Is Not The Boss Of Me! If you know, you know. And you probably need to learn a new way to know. Come join me over there. We start January 9th, 2023!

His love,

Alisa

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Hey Friends,

This post is a little different than the ones you've received from me so far.

A few weeks back, I saw a theme forming in our little community. People called to speak are battling all kinds of fears. Trust me when I say I get it. My stomach has done more flips and turns than an Olympic gymnast since 1991 when I stepped out of my favorite spot as a student in a step aerobics class, moved to the front, and led a bunch of unsuspecting peers through a very MESSY and BUMPY fitness class.

Public speaking in spandex. How's that for fear?

I didn't realize there were techniques and skills involved I needed to learn. Thank goodness for the woman who ran the rec center at ASU, who saw something in me and pulled me aside to teach me the skills and techniques for me to learn and practice.

Since I am passionate about making healthy disciples who make healthy disciples, I know that public speaking is a part of the deal. With that in mind, this past week's “office hours” (a once-a-week time to meet with me, hang out, ask questions, pray together, and be prayed for), I decided to share my best practices for facing a crowd and using my voice to speak.

I recorded the teaching and am sharing it here for those who wanted to attend but couldn't make it live.

Take a listen if this is a felt need for you.

Share anything below about your feelings or tips and tricks about speaking.

Also, leave any questions below that you would ask a friend. I'm listening. It may be the next thing we discuss next time we come here to meet.

His love,

Alisa

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What's the difference between gossip and processing?

1. Processing is to be done with a person who is committed to leading you towards unity in the Spirit and a bond of peace with others. A person you can process with doesn't need to know what's going on with you to feel connected to you. They love you because you are wonderfully you and want what God wants for you and His people. They know that gossiping isn't that! People you can process with want no part of the gossip game. They are QUICK to walk away when that destructive dragon rears its ugly head.

2. Gossiping occurs when a person needs to know what's going on with you to feel important and connected to you. They sometimes masquerade in the church as prayer intercessors. True intercessors don't need to know what's going on with you to be close to you. They keep their hearts close to God and only want what He wants, and that's always unity and the bond of peace.

Look for people who are quick to walk away or shut down a conversation when it turns towards gossip. They are your processing and prayerful people. And if you haven't seen one of those people, BECOME one. Start today!

How do you know when processing has turned into gossiping? Comment below.

And if you want to hear more about how I’m managing the gossip game listen to the short podcast episode link above.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alisakeeton.substack.com

"Simon, your wife is hurting. What she needs is safety. It would be best at this time if you moved out of the house, so she and the kids could move back in. The first step in reconciling a broken relationship is safety.", said our first-ever counselor, who loved the Lord, and was helping us fight for our marriage.

This post is not about the testimony of my marriage. I don't feel called to go into all that right now. If you know, you know. If you're a Revelation Wellness Instructor, you know. It's definitely a story for the history books of God. Our marriage was very broken, and by God's grace, we remained faithful to our vows with the choices we made. For better or for worse. Through faithfulness, God is making us whole.

What I feel compelled to write and talk about is safety.

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When someone is hurt, they will only take steps towards a new way or a new life once they sense they are safe. First physically (food, water, warmth, shelter), then emotionally.

If you're reading this, you are most likely physically safe. Let's talk about emotional safety.

My working definition of emotional safety is this; feeling confident that you can express loving or hurtful thoughts and feelings with another without fearing further relational harm to yourself or causing harm to another.

Right now, in your life, how emotionally safe do you feel?

OH my goodness. What the world needs now is SAFE people. With so many people hurting, wading through an ocean of loss and pain, the first step to regaining ground is safety. The world needs more safe people.

I hope and pray that I am a safe person. I hope and pray that those I have the honor of disciplining are making it their goal to be safe people. I hope we all aim to be safe people who can stand with the hurting, not wag a finger, tap a toe or fold our arms in judgment and disbelief. Safe people default to love. Love at all times because they know THAT THEY KNOW they are deeply loved. And those who know they are deeply loved are safe. They do not fear. And they especially do not fear man. Because they know they are loved by God, they know they are here to provide love and care for mankind, just like Jesus did.

People who know they are safe are as bold as lions. They go to war for the care and freedom of others. Safe people are like first responders, EMTs, who know they are equipped and trained to step back onto the battflield - the very place where they took a wrong step and got their face blown off. They looked to God to save them. They looked to God for their safety. In seeing Him their faces were restored by a radiance without shame. Safe people are purveyors of peace. Safe people know where their help comes from. They are agile and ready to run into the fire to save another, even if it costs them their own lives. They refuse to step back into the shadows to stay safe and protect themselves. Safe people fear God only and have no fear of man. When offended by another safe people have no fear. When wounded by a weapon of the enemy, that isn't people, the only thing safe people fear is not going to God first when injured. Then when stuck in a trap of unforgiveness, without fear, they go to the other person who the enemy used to hurt them. They do not fear hurting the other person or disrupting friendship because they want to stay free and set the other free from the ongoing use of a weapon or a trap of the enemy. Safe people know they are safe so they don't fear conflict.They go low and kindly to another and they bring the safety of heaven with them. Remember our working definition of emotional safety "safety is feeling confident that you can express loving or hurtful feelings without fearing further relational harm to yourself or causing harm to another.

Friends, every human being will fail you, but God never will. Your safety is found in Him and Him alone. To become a lighthouse, a city on a hill, a city of refuge, a place where hurting people can come, let us grow in the knowledge of how safe we are in the Lord.

Let us become so confident in the Lord that our safety in Him drives us to a boldness where we can declare, "To live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21)

Living in this WILD and Free safety will change our hearts and ultimately change the world.

Listen to today's podcast above for a little extra on what we can do to grow in the knowledge that we are safe and so we are bold in the Lord.

Do you have safe people in your life? If so, or not, share below. Tell me more.

.

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Before I left for my sabbatical, I asked you all for a list of your favorite fictional books. I'm not a fiction reader. I really enjoy nonfiction. I like to learn. I like reading things I can put to practical use. But I know that reading fiction is good for the creative brain, and it sounded like something one should do when taking a break from the usual daily routine. So, I asked you all for a list, and you all came through strong. 

Friends, guess how many fiction books I read while on my sabbatical?

Zero. 

Absolutely none. 

(But I did finally watch the movie Redeeming Love. I read that fictional book years ago. Does that count for anything? J I thought it was really good, even though I know there's a lot of hoopla in the church over some of the physically intimate scenes. Once again, when it comes to our physicality, the churched can easily be triggered and freak out. We carry wounds regarding our body, what we've done to it, and what's been done to it. The future of my mission and call to the body of Christ regarding their body is secure.)

For the first few weeks, when I wasn't sleeping, all I wanted to do was spend time with God. After all, the main point of my sabbatical was to spend time with God. To simply be His. And the best way I know how to spend time with Him is to start by reading His word. 

I became consumed with His word and by His word.

Having no time limits to reading His word felt like an extreme luxury. I can't remember the last time I was obsessed with the word of God. I was like the third-grade version of me who couldn't get enough of the fictional books by Judy Blume. 

Superfudge

Blubber

And every pre-teen training bra-wearing girl's manual for life in the 1980s Are You There God It's Me, Margaret

But I can tell you this with great assurance; Judy Blume has NOTHING on the word of God. 

The word of God is not fiction. It is true. And reading it gives us life and instructs us in life. It gives us life by stripping us down and building us up. It removes things that don't belong on us or in us, like the lies of Satan, the world, and our flesh. It builds us up by putting in us the Love of God and on us the holiness of God, which helps us live whole. 

The word of God makes us over. It dresses us for life. After all, this life is a dress rehearsal for the Kingdom of God that is here now and is to come.

God's word is not just active, alive, and makes us over; it's also wild and free. It beckons us to follow Him wherever He goes, to come away with Him to get real rest, and to live an adventuresome life where the best fictional tales told get their storylines.

Reading God's word helps us to know Someone who can feel like fiction. The Creator of the universe is Someone we haven't seen with our own eyes, yet he is Someone our hearts and mind need to be true because he made us for Him.

When we read God's word, we read recorded stories of people with faith who wrote songs and poems about God and faith. We learn about people who have gone before us, and we feel galvanized to do the same. 

God's word dares us to take our make believe, thoughts like "I wonder if I could actually slay this giant of body shame?" into a non-fictional story we can tell others or write books about how God has set us free from body shame. 

Consuming the word of God takes a make-believe Christian, a person who get stuck living and dreaming about what could be, into active followers of Jesus who take risks, acts on faith, remains patient, and makes belief in God seen for people who cannot see. When we've been fed and filled by God's word, we can walk out into the world looking for Someone to feed. Instead of playing make-believe with God, we go out into the world, act on His word and make belief! 

God's word contains the best stories. 

Jesus is the best storyteller. 

And everything in God's word stirs our faith to partner with God to take things that feel more like fictional nightmares or dreams into a non-fictional reality that pleases God's heart and gives us victory over our enemy and joy to our hearts. Stories stored up in our hearts come to life through risking obedience to God's word and acting upon it in faith.

So friends, keep reading all the fiction and nonfiction books if you so well please. But I challenge you to watch the clock. Pay attention to how much time you spend investing in a fictional world (Facebook, Instagram, Netflix, Amazon,…etc.). You will never, ever, ever regret spending more time with God in His word. He wants to make belief with you!

Do whatever you need to do to be more in the word and to get more of His word into you! 

Listen to my podcast this week for the reading of this post and three practical things you can do to get more of God's word into your busy life starting today! 

What's one thing right now you know you can do to make more room for the word of God in your life? 

His Love, 

Alisa

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