A bet with my dad!
HI!
I hope Monday is treating you right! It has been quite a few hectic weeks. Guys, I am literally 4 days til my music major audition which will determine the course of my life, but no pressure!! I have also decided on a minor in Public Relations, and there’s a reason why I chose this minor but I will get to that later on. I have a huge surprise for my parents that I am bringing home after work today as well, but I will disclose that later on as well! Stay tuned… also follow my insta @bella_slifestyleblog to get more updates.
Ok, so onto why I used this title: this past week was a headache, I literally cried in front of my manager, she gave me a poppi and I kept working so we’re good! But seriously, I felt like I was in a fog and eventually broke down crying confused on why this constant mood was controlling how I was doing at work, with my family, with my friends that I decided not to respond to, with not calling to catch up with people and instead sitting in my car stewing over what went wrong in my day. Was there anything actually wrong? I wish I could say there was, it would be so so much easier to blame it on my circumstances, but my circumstances are still pretty great. So yah, it was honestly just last weekend that I was dealing with this Eeyore cloud but it’s gone now!!
The next morning though, (Monday morning) my dad saw me taking a picture of something, of course to post it! It’s like he knows me 🤯. He also decided to test me! “Hey Bella, want to make an easy $100?” As if I’d say no! “Give up social media for a week.” Just a week, sounds super easy! I have done it before, I used to do it all the time so this would be easy moneyyy! Ok so like in five minutes later I tried to hit instagram where it was on my home page and instead I had it deleted and it took me a step back. This literally continued on my drive to work, at work, even at church.
I kept being so shocked at myself when I would subconsciencly go to instagram or tik tok without even thinking about it! Let’s just say this bet was more eye-opening if anything. Now, am I saying I am completely getting rid of all social media, and down with the Metaverse, not necessarily! I am just saying that this week taught me the reality of being responsible with my time, and how much better I could manage and get more things done.
I noticed, I was more focused at work and not thinking about things that weren’t relevant to my day. I felt like I had all this time out of nowhere just by the fact that I wasn’t spending two minutes here and there in my day, and just solely focused on what was right in front of me. It was liberating to feel in control with my time management, and more conscience in planning my day.
I also saw how I wasn’t having as many doubts in myself, I wasn’t comparing myself to anything or anyone and just living my life. There are so many good things about social media, like staying connected to your friends who live on the other half of the world. But when you get so stuck on the negative outlook like I was, taking a step back is exactly what is needed. Taking a step back helped me see where I was wrong in my perspective and get my eyes back on how the Lord sees me, and how He is shaping my life and seeing someone else shouldn’t make me question what the Lord is doing in my life.
With all that said, I won the bet! I already have the freedom to be on social media and now it’s not as appealing to doom scroll like I was doing two weeks ago! I love being able to help others with social media, I love that I have made such amazing friends through it, I love that I can reach friends that I haven’t seen in years and we are still connected. It’s great when I use it for the right reasons! If you are struggling with this spiral of comparison, and frustration through social media, or maybe it’s something else that is having that effect on you, take a step back, cut it out for as long as you need to help you stay focused on the Lord and yourself!
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
-Philippians 4:7
Sincerely,
Bella <3
I am Isabella Dominguez but I am also…
Alrighttyyyyy!! I hope you guys are having a fantastic week! With all that has been going on it feels like a lot in the moment but, at the end of the day it’s the same old same old kinda stuff! I am so thankful for the time I get to spend with my family in between my two jobs and church activities that I have been helping with. With all that said the only LIFE UPDATE I have is that I just applied for the house waiver at my college to be able to live at home with my family! I am hoping and praying so hard that they will accept my living waiver since I am technically not meeting all the requirements it’s going to take PRAYER to get this accepted!
Now onto what I want to talk about which is my name! Yeah, I know I chose a very selfish topic, but I have a point to this just keep reading.
I am Isabella Dominguez. I am a Puerto Rican-American, who was born to missionaries who came off the field. I am a pastor’s kid now, living in Colorado where my dad was called to serve. I am a horse rider who showed in county fairs and enjoyed every bit of it. I am a violin player, because my mom and dad were willing to pour their money and time into taking me to lessons, and plan on continuing to study music. I am a runner that loves signing up for races, and beating my time.
I am a girl who had her heart broken a few times starting in high school by different boys she thought she would marry and continues to pray for the one who won’t break it. I am a girl who has been talked about behind her back, I am a girl who has lost some people she really cared about for reasons that she still doesn’t understand. I am a girl who has issues with how she looks and if she eats too much one day, she just wants to cry. I am a girl who has been injured and have lost races due to pain that took a while to heal. I am a girl who can’t take compliments because I either think they are just fake words meant to fill the awkward silence in conversation. or I believe I truly don’t deserve it because they haven’t seen the way I have failed. I am the girl who dropped out of Bible School. I am the girl who can’t keep a relationship to stick. I am the girl that is just MEDIOCRE and hasn’t accomplished much.
How am I looking to you at this point. Kinda bumming you out? It’s ok I just bummed my own self out. These thoughts are on a broken record that keeps repeating every night as I try to fall asleep. But before you think I am this depressed mess of a person, there’s some other thoughts that come to mind of who I am because I have been given a name that no one could take away from me! I am a born again, loved by Jesus, Christian! I am a girl who is Loved by the Author and Finisher. I am the girl that goes to God when she replays all those thoughts you just read in the previous paragraph. I am the girl that is confident because my identity isn’t in those failures, but in something that’s greater than I could ever imagine. I am the girl who is striving to find God’s plan for her life, not focused on what others think her plan should be. I am the girl that goes to ladies in the church to confide in and get Biblical advice and counsel. I am the girl that knows the fight can only be fought on my knees and surrendering everything to the one who is working all things for good.
I AM FOUND
I AM FORGIVEN
I AM LOVED
I AM MADE IN HIS IMAGE
I AM A CHILD OF GOD
I AM HIS
Where do you place your identity? The only identity that is everlasting, is the identity of being found in Christ! My view of who I am has never been so clear, my goals have never felt so reachable, because they aren’t mine, they are given to me by God and I am here to fulfill His purpose. The burden of finding who I am is lifted because it isn’t up to me. it is up to Him!
Girl, if you are struggling with how you view yourself whether in relationships, or body image, or whatever else you are struggling with. Reach out to me! Being on this journey, the one thing that is so clear is that God gave us each other to strengthen and lift each other up in Him. We are in this together! DM me, email me, just reach out! I love all y’all!
“For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” -Ephesians 2:10 KJV-
Sincerely,
Bella <3
In the Middle of My Storm
Dear Jesus Freak!
I hope you all are having a wonderful day!! To be honest this week was very interesting, I definitely have had to fight with myself mentally and I am going to share it with you after some LIFE UPDATES: I am so excited to be accepted into Colorado Christian University! As many of you already know, I have been working hard in studying and test taking to get accepted. I also just turned 21 which is so exciting but does seem to have a part in why i have been struggling mentally with a few things.
Onto what I wanted to talk about with mentality this week! I was just having a rough day at the beginning of the week, I had recently been praying for a certain door to open in my life, and was so sure I would get it because after all, I am praying for it! I am going to God for it! But I knew that door was shut, like bolted, with nails, and that it wasn’t going to ever open. My heart sunk and that led me to take it out on snacking! I went to the store that day, got my favorite snacks, and went home and devoured the whole bag while crying. It is a VERY embarrassing moment to look back on already!
The next morning I did what any normal person would do after eating junk food late at night, I weighed myself. This led to more crying as i had gained 4 pounds literally OVERNIGHT! (Believe me, I don’t enjoy sharing this at all, but I am getting somewhere!) After two days of just feeling like swimming through peanut butter, with no energy, and just wanting to cry and sleep, I got mad at myself. How could I allow something that’s intended as a part of God’s plan to get me this low? I was mad that I had given power to the wrong person in a moment of frustration, I gave the power to the Accuser. He was speaking lies, and I didn’t refute them with the Word. He was saying “well obviously you aren’t worth loving,” “you don’t have confidence anymore,” “you aren’t pretty enough for anyone.” This was tearing me apart, and even now I am starting to cry with those terrible thoughts that were just replaying in my head.
The Lord knows who I am, He knows who He’s making me to be, and all the hard work He has already put into me, even when I am inpatient, or hard to work with. He didn’t leave me in these moments of defeat, I was walking away from Him, listening to the Liar. I had a much needed prayer on Wednesday, giving my concerns, my heartache, and my thoughts to the Lord. I needed to understand not being ok is ok, as long as I am giving it to God, and crying to Him. Bad days happen, but at the end of them when you are all alone, you aren’t. He is right there beside you!
Here are some verses that really helped me this week that I would read in devotionals and my Bible reading and it was just what I needed:
Luke 24:25-26~ His plan didn’t fail, we aren’t seeing it God’s way.
2 Timothy 3:14- Don’t doubt in the darkness what God has already shown you in the Light.
2 Corinthians 10:5~ Take every thought into captivity
Matthew 21:21~ Faith can move mountains
Matthew 14:14~ Jesus in his moment of sadness and depression was still compassionate for others and cared for them instead of dwelling in His sadness.
Proverbs 23:12~ Listen to His Word and not advice from others. Make it your final authority!
Psalm 78:41~ If i turned away from God and chose my own path I would LIMIT myself from what GOd will do in my life.
Genesis 39:4, 45:5~ It could be worse, and Joseph still served to the best of his ability for God. He knew God had a plan even when so much went wrong in His life that I couldn’t even imagine getting through myself.
Philippians 4:11~ As he is in prison Paul talks about being content in any situation he is in for God’s plan!
1 Corinthians 15:58 ~ God sees my labour for Him.
I hope that this could be a blessing to you today. Remember what you have heard a million times that you are fearfully and wonderfully made! It’s true, lean on God right now. Pray to Him, let Him take on your burdens, let Him take your anxieties, let Him guide you through them. He is working on you! Don’t lose sight of Him because He hasn’t lost sight of you!
Sincerely,Bella
My College Essay
Hey guys!
I hope you all are having a fantastic start to your week! Any day that I start with getting to be with the Lord and in His Word is always a great day! This week I submitted my application for CCU Whoowhoo! With that said, I had two essays to write for it and I wanted to share my first one with you all today. I was asked on how I trusted Jesus as my Saviour and trusted in Him, and also what my relationship with God was like. It was not an easy one to write to be completely honest, there was so much to say but also too personal to feel I couldn’t fully convey the impact God has had in my life. After some time and prayer this is what the Lord put on my heart to write, I hope it can be a blessing:
When I was 5 years old, I was sitting in a Wednesday Night Service listening to my dad preach to, at the time, 10 people that were in our congregation, about the difference between Hell and Heaven and the Eternal gift that God gave when His Son Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. Even though we deserve punishment for our sins, God gave us a way to be with Him. He chose to love us even when we don't deserve it! When I got home that night, I asked my dad how to receive this gift he kept talking about. We started going through the Romans Road, and I was very impatient after a few verses I yelled, "Dad, do you want me to go to hell? Then let me get saved right now!" He laughed and asked me if I fully understood and wanted to believe! After I told him I was ready, we bowed our heads together and I prayed the best prayer of my life and asked Jesus to come into my heart.
I love that God is so personal and that He desires a relationship with every individual. He wants me to talk with Him. I love that time in the morning to wake up and just speak with Him and spend time in His presence.
As a pastor's daughter, I have taken advantage of this amazing opportunity I have been given. I grew up attending every church service, at every church activity, and helping with any ministry that needed the help. There were moments when I struggled, especially during high school, because I wanted to fit in and have friends that I related to instead of being seen as the awkward religious homeschooler. Then someone special came into my life, one of my closest friends, McKennah Carter. I was amazed at her passion for her faith and her close relationship with God. It made me want to strive to have that same relationship as she had. She was a soul winning, Jesus loving warrior, that God decided she was so special that she got to go to Heaven earlier. After years of fighting cancer but still praising the Lord through the fight, she was ready to be with her Savior. She changed my whole way of thinking about this opportunity. I thought of it as a chore growing up and something that separated me from having a social life than from what it really was, an opportunity! An opportunity to grow closer to God. An opportunity to be a blessing, an opportunity to minister to other girls who don’t have a good Christian family that prioritized God!
God has been with me my whole life, even when I haven't wanted to be close to Him. I know that time is short on this Earth and with this time I have, I want to make a difference for God and show others the love He has poured out on me. I pray that at the end of my life, I look back and see that at least one soul, if not many more, will be touched because of my walk with the Lord and being willing to be a chosen vessel for Him.
"For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."
-Philippians 4:11
Sincerely,
Bella <3
Bitterness in the Way of Blessing!
Hiii!
Happy Saturday!! I hope you lovely human beings are having a great start to your week! First off, LIFE UPDATE: I was so stressed this weekend. And the crazy thing is it was all great stuff but just overwhelmed with it all! First, I had a very extensive interview with ASRevival, a Christian workout clothing store, for a weekend position. I was so nervous and the questions she asked were so deep that it took me a lot of stressful thinking. The most encouraging part of that interview was the fact that she said how much she could tell I was strong about my faith and about Jesus. I know you guys are dying to know if I got the position, and I did!! This girl is full time and part time now <3. Besides that, I have been studying really hard for my ACT test which is only 2 weeks away :0. Also practicing audition pieces for CCU! Yah, it’s been pretty hectic, but good hectic!
Want to jump in today because let me just say the Lord has been showing me so much in all of this, and even in the unanswered prayers right now. As many of you know based off of my previous blog, I made a prayer board a few weeks ago. When you are building it and seeing it, and it’s reminding you to pray it is so encouraging right?! I actually felt the most discouraged this week when I looked at it, because I looked at the answered prayer envelope, seeing that it is still empty. I had a very hard moment yesterday with this…
I have been asking God to answer so many things not just for me and my personal gain, but for others, and when the prayers or dreams seem to slowly fade and go the opposite way, I am left questioning why even try. I am currently reading a devotional book that has helped me see things a lot differently then what my flesh leans into doing. In My Lowest for His Highest, Katherine Shultis says “ Satan’s goal is to make you bitter and make you forget the hope you have in Christ. Because if he can make you bitter, he can keep you from the blessing God has for you and the blessing you could be to others.” That was so so needed, with this feeling of shut doors, and frustrations there is a whole plan that I am not seeing, a whole life ahead that I can’t control the outcome but giving control to the Author and Creator makes that fear and frustration go away!
If you are going through an unanswered prayer, or a full on shut door, PRAY even harder! Allow yourself to cry but cry to God, I realized even though I am so thankful for the support system that I have with my friends, after crying to them doesn’t make me walk away feeling the void actually filled compared to taking it to God. There’s this overwhelming peace that just really takes that burden away. And maybe it will take it away for a day, then you wake up hoping to see a text from someone and when it’s not there you feel sad again, take it to God. He doesn’t get tired of us coming with the same issue. Even though He came to Lazarus’ grave knowing he was going to raise him from the dead, He weaped with Mary and Martha, because He sees your hurt and has open arms ready to mourn with you and to help you get through it!
If you are at all struggling, even if it’s just one bad day! Seriously, DM me! Reach out! Send me an email, I am here to “mourn with them that mourn, and rejoice with them that do rejoice.” God gave us each other in bad days, and good days to be there for each other! I hope this was a blessing to you! Praying for everyone who reads this! ☀️
Make today a great day!
Sincerely,
Bella 🤍
2025 Prayer Board
If there’s anything that I learned from 2024 is that nothing is really in my control, and when I try to control it the outcome is not in my favor and usually is a bigger mess than I intended. With that said, everyone writes down goals, and dreams that they want to accomplish at the beginning of the year, and while yes I have a lottt and I will definitely share, there’s a reason that I have changed it from a vision board to a prayer board.
God can change anyone’s plans! Last year my goals matched where I wanted to be, which was in Idaho with the school I was at. I had to allow God to alter my plans and my ego to be able to feel like a failure, leave Bible school, and go back home where God wanted me to be at. It was embarrassing and hard, but God brought me back for a reason and it has definitely brought me closer to Him and more willing to follow His plan over mine. I have plans, goals, and ambitions but I am ok with God stepping in and changing the things that aren’t pleasing to Him, or the ones that aren’t a part of God’s plan.
One thing that we usually miss when focusing on God’s plan for our lives is coming to the realization of if I am willing to follow in a big step, am I also ok to walk away from it? My dad taught me that a while ago when it felt like the Lord opened a door for me to go on a mission trip, just to get a positive covid test in Chicago and have to fly back to Colorado. I was angry and spent the whole time in the airport crying, asking God why I wasted time saving and planning just to have it taken away. What I didn’t realize was the fight of willingness to go, I didn’t want to go it was something my parents wanted me to experience before I graduated so I just found a good one to join but I wasn’t excited to serve the Lord. On the day before I flew out, I prayed to God as I was packing and I told him I am willing to go and be a blessing. The frustration of being willing but having the door shut was something I needed. The next year when the trip came around, I wasn’t just prepared when it came to packing, my heart was prepared and ready. Sometimes, that’s what it takes to follow God’s will.
Whether it’s a relationship ending, or a career that was taken from you it’s hard but also a blessing because it’s clear that God removed it from your life for a reason! I pray for you in this year, with all the trials, all the blessings, all the heartache, and all the answered prayers, that you will see God in it and lean on Him because He mourns with us in times of hardship and He is there when no one else is!
Love y’all! Make it a great week!
Bella <3
God’s miracles
Happy Monday!! It has been a little while since I posted a blog, I am so happy to be back here writing to you guys! LIFE UPDATE: So these last few weeks have been full of festivities surrounding the holidays such as, my little siblings birthdays, work parties, and ministry activities in church. I was so beyond blessed to help plan and work on the Ladies Christmas Bible Study with our church and got a great message on Mary which I will talk about later.
The Lord has really placed it on my heart to talk about just all that He has done and give Him some praise today! As we are getting closer to this amazing time where we remember the Reason for the season, I have just been so blessed to enjoy the celebrations. Also, I love that this time of year so many more people are willing to hear about the Lord and what He did for us. I have been in the Book of Luke every morning reading a chapter a day on top of my own Bible devotions, and seeing all the great things that God did, definitely is so inspiring!
Luke 7:25 - where is your faith?
This verse was so needed while in devotions. I have been praying again for answers on what the Lord wants for me in the next year and how to set my goals. I have wanted to apply for colleges, or look into other passions but the Lord has just not given me any confirmation on it. The other day a friend encouraged me to fast with her and take the time to really seek God. That day, even though I didn’t get any answers or clarification, my heart felt light for the first time. Knowing that all the anxiety and pressure that I put on myself is not of God, He has a plan, He has a path, and even if this seems like a slow time in the path, He is still with me.
Take the time to ask God before any decision, no matter how small it is. Even if you don’t get an answer or the answer you wanted, there’s an immediate peace in just knowing you did what the Lord wanted you to do in that moment and in that decision.
I’ve been also dwelling on TRUST! It’s something I have always struggled with, and not in the typical EMO ( I don’t trust anyone) way, but more of the opposite. I am so easily trusting with people that I share too much and it gets me into a mess, or if I have been hurt by that person even if they apologize I don’t want them in my life at all (harsh right??) My parents mentioned how I have always been an all or nothing person which can be good but also not be the best! In Luke 3, God really spoke to me on this:
Luke 3:27-28, 32:
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. …
For if you love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
It’s not just about myself in relationships, it’s about others who are struggling and have flaws and instead of allowing what they do affect me, I should love on them. That doesn’t mean sharing everything that I would only trust my closest friends with, but it means that cutting others off when they have lost trust won’t benefit the ministry. Even though it’s hard to move on from a situation like that, I am not the main character of the story, God is. I can always trust Him, He has never failed me, He has never left me, He is the author of this story and I am the side character that is there to be support!
I hope this was a blessing to you! Stay close to God this week! 🤍
My Favorite Breakfast Recipes
Hiii!
I hope you all are having a wonderful week! This week has been crazy snowstorms and working from home. With that said, it’s actually given me more time to cook and bake some really cool new recipes I want to share with y’all. Especially, with all the friendsgiving/thanksgiving events. These holidays are literally centered around food! So here are my top favorite recipes around this season!
Protein apple oats breakfast:
1 diced apple
1 tsp of cinnamon
Sprinkle of lemon juice
Oat topping:
1/3 cup of oats
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tbsp. maple syrup
2-3 tbsp. of water
Placed the diced apples, cinnamon and lemon juice into a microwave bowl and mix. Heat it in microwave for one minute.
Add all the oat toppings to a mixing bowl and mix until combined. Add it to the top of the apples, and heat for another minute.
Top with yogurt and enjoyyy!
Protein Banana Bread:
3 medium bananas
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1 egg
1 cup gluten-free flour
3/4 cup protein powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 325 Fahreinheit and spray a loaf pan with non-stick spray.
Mix bananas, yogurt, coconut sugar, and vanilla.
Add coconut oil and egg. Mix well.
Add flour, protein powder, baking soda, and cinnamon.
Bake for 45-50 minutes.
Holiday season
Hiiii!
I know it has been a bit, and to be honest, it’s just been so busy
with our church moving into a new building in a week. It is so
exciting to see all that the Lord has been doing in our church and
even with my family. He's been answering prayers and teaching me to
say goodbye to old things, while embracing a whole new chapter.
With that said, the holidays are coming up, and some might consider me
"one of those annoying holiday people" since apparenty, I inherited my
father's habit of listening to Christmas music as early as September.
And now we are only two months away from it....I am seriously going to
be decorating early this year!
If you are like me, however, you are probably seeing so many Christmas
recipes and desserts on your instagram feed which causes me to obsess
a bit about sugary foods and make a false connection between having to
eat a certain way and the holidays, which can eventually lead to me
being hindered from reaching the same goals that I was achieving in
the summertime. It's "a thing" for a lot of people when it comes to
the holidays seemingly conflicting with their health and fitness
goals. The best way I know to get through it all in order to still
enjoy myself, not be a "bahumbug", and stick to my goals, is to learn
to make replacements and healthier alternatives. I love that we have
soooo many options today to eat what we love but still enjoy
nutritional value,without sacrificing our health.
If you’re needing an accountability group and one that can help you
continue your nutrition goals, feel free to send me a DM on instagram,
and I am happy to show you what my mom and I do with a group every
week where we talk about the successes others have had, provide real
life situations and stories, and discuss what we can work on to keep
growing. Also, if you just want some good go-to recipes for this
upcoming holiday season, I have a few and some that you can find on my
next blog post.
A Healthy Mentality
Hiiiii!! I hope you guys are as excited as I am to tackle this week ahead! LIFE UPDATES: Nothing is new!!! Seriously though, this past week has been work, pickleball nights, and hanging out with my mom and little sister. Praying for my family (my dad, and younger siblings) as they are only one day from getting back from their mission trip to Mexico. The house has felt so weird with them gone, but seeing pictures of all that they’ve been doing for the Lord and helping the missionary there is such a blessing!
On today’s topic… having a healthy mentality with fitness. I know I have already talked so much on things that apply to this exact topic, but really wanted to dive deeper into it. In the past month I had gained four pounds and have had a terrible thought life with body image and what these four pounds must make me look like. To be honest, four pounds doesn’t do a whole lot except get inside your head and make you believe you are a failure.
I instantly spiral to, “I shouldn’t eat today”, or “maybe I should run a few miles and see if that burns enough calories so I can eat but still lose weight.” Yah, I know what a two-faced liar I am, here I am telling people to take care of their body the right way and not for a number on the scale and yet here I am having these negative thoughts. The pressure of looking perfect on socials and the constant comparisons that we are dealing with is so real! I mentally couldn’t watch a reel without questioning why I wasn’t seeing the results as another fitness girl.
After a week of that mentality, I started reading this book called Soundtracks by my favorite ever author Jon Acuff. He talked about how a study was constructed where there were two groups of college students in separate rooms given words that they wrote sentences for… the catch was one group had words that made you think of being young, like fun, crazy, energetic. The other group was given words about being old like Florida, bald, grey. When the students walked to another room they noticed that the first group were walking at a good pace whereas the second group was walking significantly slower. This just shows how our mind can subconsciously turn us into what we keep telling ourselves… If I am constantly saying in my head “I’m not as skinny as her, I am just the fat friend>” Guess what!! I will eventually accept what I have told myself for so long.
Let’s switch the narrative, this is a never-ending journey, so what if I gain a few pounds, if I am still eating healthy foods and working out I will eventually lose it or see muscle replace fat. Instant gratification is instant, but permanent is long lasting! I hope you guys have a fantastic week and seriously would love to hear what you guys are up to with your fitness goals!
Sincerely,
Bella <3
God is the best Comforter
Happy Monday!! I took a week off from my blog and social media in general pretty much, last week due to travelling, and moving, and a ton of craziness all happening at once! I am so thankful for the time I was able to spend with all of my amazing friends in Florida, and for my car only breaking down once on the drive back to Colorado. I am still adjusting to life back in Colorado and only have two more boxes to unpack before I am officially a Colorado girl again!
I have had a lot of change and transition, and a lot of hard feelings towards God’s plan for me… I know that sounds really wrong to say, and it feels wrong saying it, but it’s honestly the truth. I knew what I was doing, I knew what my life would look like based on my decision to move to institute in Idaho. I was that typical girl that assumed God’s plan was for me to go to institute, serve in the church there, and meet a man that wants to serve the Lord with his life that I would then marry and be a home keeper. But that isn’t what happened, and the more I pushed for it, the more it only hurt me and made my relationship with God weak and not my top priority.
Now, after making this tough decision it has put me in this place that feels like isolation. I was talking to one of my friend’s in Florida on this, and he said something that stuck out to me “Maybe the Lord is trying to isolate you in this transition period to grow closer to Him and not others.” Literally so true! I am so thankful for my family that I am surrounded with and get to spend time with, but at night when thoughts start going and I question decisions I have made, and question what the Lord is doing in my life at this point, it is so hard to shut my head off. It’s caused me to not rely on others for comfort, but to lean on the Lord when those thoughts and feelings come in. Isolation requires me to need the close relationship with God!
Prayer has become the hugest comfort in those moments of loneliness, it’s like this feeling of the Lord covering me when I feel vulnerable and unsure. “ Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4) who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” “Wait on the LORD: Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
Going into another new chapter, the one thing that will help me is remembering all the amazing promises that God has given those who are trying their best to serve Him and follow His will for their lives!
Sincerely,
Bella <3
What God has shown me this month.
Hi!! I hope you guys are having a great start to your week! This was the most thought through blog post yet… My Life Update is the blog post and it’s because I have had a lot going on and the Lord has been working and helped me make a lot of tough choices recently.
I am terrified of change! I despise it with a passion, and for the first time I was so excited that I knew exactly what to do after high school. I planned to go to a Bible Institute, and the one I originally planned didn’t work out, but there was another one that just seemed so perfect. It is such an amazing school with such great teachers that spend a lot of time in prayer and studying to teach us what God wants them to. I assumed that I would be here in Idaho for the whole three year program, but the Lord had different plans. After one year, I went back to Colorado summer and it was like the Lord was trying to show me I needed to be back in Colorado again, but I wanted to believe it was just the fact that I was so comfortable with my family and lifestyle there and still adjusting to living on my own was a struggle. After more time back in Idaho it became so clear that God was telling me to move back. Sooo I am really sad to say goodbye to friends and excited to see what the Lord has planned as I am heading back to Colorado in one week from today.
One of the things that one of my counselors told me as I was telling him my biggest fear is looking like I failed God, he said “You only fail God when you stop serving Him.” That was something that just completely spoke to me because wherever I am, as long as I am truly serving God I cannot fail Him. People’s opinions come and go, and if I chose fear of man over fear of God, I wouldn’t make this decision to move back.
So on that note… I wanted to talk about fear, fear of people’s opinions, of new seasons, and the fear of what next?? I am feeling this one so much right now!
My dad put fear of man and compared it to the fear of God and here were some key things that really spoke to me: Fear of man: is focusing on temporary, whereas the fear of God is focusing on eternal. Fear of Man is looking at it the carnal way, and fear of God is looking at it spiritually! God has a plan for us and letting other people dictate how we feel or handle those plans is not the right outlook because no one else can know what God’s calling for you is except for you in prayer.
Fear of a new season: This one is really hard and can kind of be combined with what next, because there’s so much uncertainty. Right now, even though my family’s church that I am helping when I get back will have a Sunday school class for me to teach, and a lot of projects in our new church building that will keep me busy. But what about college, what about Bible institute, what about my future life? I am so scared to be completely honest to fail in the place that God has me… I want to leave a place better than I came and I hope that this season back will show that’s my main mission. I don’t know God’s calling on whether I am called to a mission field, or if I am needing to get a degree and career. I have a lot of I don’t knows, but one thing that always stuck out to me during these times is something my dad told me: “Do the last thing God told you to do, and He’ll show you in His time.” Even though I can’t see so far ahead as much as I really want to, I can do the right thing right now.
Anyways, all that to say, God is who to lean on when fear creeps in. Prayer and time spent with Him will reveal the truth in the anxious moments.
“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
-Psalm 56:3 KJV-
Sincerely,
Bella <3
Best Fall Version of you!
Happy Monday!! I have had a lot of change recently which I will definitely catch you up on in upcoming blog posts, but oh my lanta!!! I got so much from the message this Sunday. Mr. Tim brought a sermon on having FAITH, and the importance of it, which is exactly what I needed with so much unexpected change and uncomfortableness that has just felt so overwhelming. But… I will talk more about that in later blogs because I am so so excited for fall! Even though it is still 90 degrees outside I have pulled out my sweaters. and have enjoyed seeing all the fall decorations around the house again.
Here are just some of my favorite Fall self-care items that I absolutely stock up on:
🍁 This is my favorite, around the house brown sweater and short set from Amazon. It is so simple and cozy for those fall mornings waking up and reading my Bible! https://a.co/d/78quVQA.
🍁Ok, I know all the toxins are in fragrances but smelling good is not something I am willing to compromise and Bath & Body is for all those broke college girls like myself so here is my favorite scent to get during the fall season: Bath & Body Marshmallow Pumpkin Latte. I usually will try to stock up enough to have it last as long as possible, because it is the perfect cozy smell and I literally get so many compliments on it!
🍁 I know that the Uggs are pretty pricy but also super cute, I love these knock-offs called cloud slippers by Altar’d State: Cloud Slippers! They have such cute options!
🍁 I don’t know how it is for you but with fall coming up, it is going to get cold and out in CO it is especially dry. I always bring this out during the fall/winter months to help with my dry face. It is a really strong moisturizer that helps repair more than just feeling wet on my face. https://a.co/d/bSZxHE2.
🍁Ok, final thing and honestly I get these all year round, but I really enjoy taking notes in sermons or in daily devotions and I get a lot of requests on the different tools I use for it. I go through one brand called DiverseBee on Amazon. I usually get their felt pens, see-through sticky notes, and highlighters. https://a.co/d/2qUj0T4 .
Just wanted to give you a few things before the fall kicks off. Make it a great week!
Sincerely,
Bella <3
Being Content Where God has you
Welcome Backkk! Quickly before jumping into the deep convo, LIFE update! - So I survived my first week of school, and yes I did say survive. I honestly got on the airplane to Idaho sad to leave my family but also confident because I had already completed a year and was no longer considered the new girl. It has been really fun, and it is so nice having so many friends here making the transition easier but when it comes to my actual classes, that’s a whole different story… On the first day I walk into what has always been second year classes, and it’s a whole different class and they informed me they changed the whole system this year. Next, I was so proud of myself for completing a whole semester’s worth assignment over the summer, and in the middle of class the teacher let me know that he changed a few rules and I would need to redo it to match the new standards. And finally, over half of the classes I am taking, I am the only girl (yes, it’s a pretty small school). So it’s been hitting me a little harder than I thought.. Which leads me to my topic! Being content where I am 😩
I have been doing the comparison game for forever, I think it started around 13 years old when I so desperately wanted to look like Anna from Frozen and it just continued into more and more insecurities as I got older. At age 15 is when it really started to hit me, I wasn’t happy with how I looked, and I became obsessed about it. I was always comparing myself to other girls, asking why God didn’t give me their naturally high metabolism, asking God why he didn’t give me blond hair, why I was the only girl that wasn’t getting any guys to asking for my number at summer camp… (we all have our phases, people.)
Now, looking back at that time and also the years that I followed this same pattern of thinking, I realized it wasn’t a matter of just comparing myself but also being discontent with how God made me. It took me years to find the happy medium of improving on my health, but also enjoying the way God made me. This feeling of not sure if you are good enough, or at the place you should be at, doesn’t really go away. Now I am 20 years old and I would rather be anywhere than where I am at some days, but it’s where God has me. My dad told me this one day after calling him crying after a tough class, “Bella, you continue to do the last thing God told you to do, until He gives you the next thing.” Sounds simple enough, but this is not what I want to hear in these times. When those tough moments hit, I want to be done with the character building uncomfortableness and run home. I don’t always feel content here, but it doesn’t mean that I need to change my circumstances, but change the way I look at them.
I recently was talking to one of my favorite people, a lady from the church who I go to for counsel. We got coffee and I just started pouring my heart on the matter this year of how I don’t want to be here, how it would be easier to go to Colorado and help my church there. The problem with this idea is that right now, God has been silent when I ask on that specific thing, and she told me a quote that I have heard many times but never applied into my life, she said “Don’t question in the dark, what the Lord has shown you in the light.” And that very night the pastor was preaching on a passage in Exodus and he said that God has his perfect timing and if we get ahead of God or think we know what to do rather than listen to the last thing He told us to do, then we can make some mistakes that alter the rest of our lives. To sum it all up, the Lord is showing me so much about this time of just doing what He told me to do without questioning, and even if I am not feeling content, I am satisfied knowing I am right where God wants me, on the good and bad days!
You know those questions that people ask in interviews just to intimidate you… “Who is Bella?” Well, recently I have been asked a similar question that stems from the root of all my symptoms. My teacher asked me to write a 2,000 word page on Why am I a Christian…. I sat there dreading that question, wondering what to say. At first the thought was I am so thankful that I grew up being given a Bible at the age of 2 and having my parents be strong christians for me. But when am I going to be a strong christian for myself?
I am a Christian because…
Next week’s blog post!!! Stay tuned
Sincerely,
Bella <3
Is self-care prideful?
My morning routine!
Dear Child of God,
Ok, this seems like a pretty controversial topic so this will be fun!! But first, I want to start off by saying how thankful I am for your support, and hearing from so many of you literally means the world to me!
I just got back to Idaho last Thursday, and it has been a busy weekend of catching up with friends, as well as getting my office and room set up for another year of college life. I am so excited to be sharing this blog with you guys because it is something I am very passionate about so let’s jump right in.
So let’s dive into the deep end. Self-care is a term that sounds pretty selfish and prideful. What is pride though? It is “inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one’s own superiority.. which manifests itself in lofty airs,…and often contempt of others.”, said best by Webster himself. So basing the term self care after that definition doesn’t really seem right. Pridefulness is taking what God has given you and thinking that YOU made it happen, not God. It’s where you think you are better than what God has in store for you, and taking matters into your own hands. Also, if you’re prideful you aren’t often kind or considerate to the needs of others.
I have struggled with this topic so much, because during a few months last year, I began to care less about what the Lord thought when it came to my fitness and a lot of this was reflected on how I managed my socials. I was posting so much about self care in a negative way…. it was ALL about me! I was showing all that I was doing, and not what God was doing in my life. The misapplication of “self care” made me see it in an exclusively negative light, and like many who want to “right the ship”, I just went toward the opposite extreme. Not taking care of myself led to me gaining weight, getting sick more often, and feeling lethargic all the time. That wasn’t the Lord… THAT WAS ME! In both instances, and in both extremes, it was all me!
I then realized, it was a balanced outlook that was missing the whole time. And sure enough, I switched from making socials all about me, and focused on God and what He is doing in my life and started sharing and just wanting to talk more about Him in every day life. I actually get more excited to talk about what the Lord has done, and let me tell ya, it puts me in a way better mood.
He deserves the glory. At the same time, I do take care of my health, with my morning routine, workouts, and running. I haven’t been sick in the last three months, I have lost 15 pounds now, and have more energy throughout the day. All because of GOD! I am so thankful for God and seeing HIM work through my life, not just merely in the physical achievements, but in the emotional and spiritual balance He provides!
Sincerely,
Bella<3
My Morning Routine
My morning routine!
Dear Child of God,
Happy Monday! Starting off strong this week. LIFE UPDATES… I am so excited to be heading back to Idaho this Thursday for my second year of Bible school. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t scared, and sad especially because I am having to leave my baby sis again… But I am also excited to make the best of this year, and focus on what the Lord is showing me through this season.
With me getting ready to move, it led me to really want to talk about my morning routine. For those who don’t know, last year I was a second grade teaches, and it was great! I loved the kids that I worked with and the memories I made in the last year, but my lifestyle wasn’t sustainable. I was going to sleep at 11pm since that’s the earliest I could with Bible institute at night, to wake up at 5am and feel worried about prepping classes that I wouldn’t get a workout in and rush to work to prep and make sure I was ready for the day.
This year, I am working full time as an executive assistant/recruiting support coordinator remotely to focus on my schooling and get the most from Bible Institute while I can. With that said, my dad always says failure to plan, is planning to fail. I have been able to keep a consistent morning routine since the beginning of summer, and here’s a list of some things that i plan to keep doing in this school year:
🌸 NO SCROLLING!- When I hit the alarm off, I leave my phone on my nightstand and grab my Bible. The other day I caught myself scrolling after hitting the alarm… and then I saw a post from a friend. It made me upset seeing that they were hanging out and didn’t think to invite me or anything, which made me wake up in a bad mood! Don’t scroll, it just makes you start off your morning with negative thoughts instead of having a positive attitude.
🌸Morning devotions- Spending my first 30 to 40 minutes in prayer and my Bible is a LIFE CHANGER! It has been something that I look forward to. If you need to, the best advice I got was from a Pastor’s wife, Mrs. Katy told me to set a timer for prayer and another for Bible reading. It sounds wrong, at least it did for me, but I started with a five minute timer for prayer and a ten minute timer for Bible reading, then I built upon it from there. If you are struggling with making it a habit, the timer makes it so so easy to get it into your morning rhythm. I seriously can’t imagine not doing my morning devotions now, it will make or break my day!
🌸Face routine- Not super complex, I just have a basic cleanser and moisturizer that I spend less than five minutes doing.
🌸Workout- If you want to feel awake, this is the thing to do! If I only have twenty minutes it is still enough time. Feel free to DM me @bella_shealthjourney and I can show you what apps and schedules I use to stay consistent and see results.
🌸Fuel yourself- I am pretty weird and stick to eating the same exact thing every morning which is paleo waffles and green beans. Yes! It sounds weird but here’s why… I love carbs and could make that my meal for all three meals every day, but the problem with that is especially towards the end of day your body cannot break down the carbohydrates and actually makes your body store the extra glucose as fat which we don’t want that! I make it a priority to have a low sugar carbohydrate to help fuel me at the beginning of the day, and green beans are the perfect veggie for morning (that is absolutely my opinion), and I try to have two cups of veggies in each meal… I don’t always stick to that but it is the goal. Veggies help you feel more full quickly, and helps your metabolism.
🌸 Get ready for work!
This list takes me about two hours so I wake up roughly around 5:15-5:30am. So curious to hear from you on this blog, and what you do for your routine. feel free to send a quick DM or email! Have an amazing week. 🩷
Sincerely,
Bella <3
The Power of Peace
It all begins with an idea.
Dear Child of God,
Ok, so I actually had a complete blog draft ready to be posted, but the Lord really put this on my heart. I don’t know who is going to read this that really needed it today, but if God only had me write this for just that one person who needed it that’s enough for me!
Everyone wants peace. Peace is the calm but what is always missed in this aspect is peace comes after war. In Webster’s Dictionary peace is described as a state or period in which there is no war or the war has ended.
The hardest part of life is feeling like you are constantly in a battle, because to be honest as Christians we are fighting the greatest war, the war inside of ourselves. The devil will use lies and confusion in our mind to tear us away from the Lord. I am a naturally anxious person, and I am easily brought into my thought life to think the worst scenarios, and I allow those to dictate how I act. When I do that, the one thing that I know I am not doing in those moments is leaning on God, and being a witness for Him.
God is not the author of Confusion, so in the middle of your storm there is only one that is trying to attack you. You crave peace in these storms and that’s when you decide to rely on God. If He says to cast your burdens on Him, why wouldn’t you? You can’t control the storm, you can’t control the outcome of the storm, you can’t see what the end result of the situation you are going through is going to be. I have struggled with this a lot in the past, a situation comes up and I try my hardest to fix things my way, I want to see that I resolved it. But… I can’t. I have been in a few tough situations and one of my bestest friends was talking to me about how we are in this time where we have to make tough decisions and be put in hard situations for the sake of working towards a future life where we can serve the Lord because we made the right decisions, and we kept leaning on God for peace in our storms.
There are going to be moments in life when you just want to curl up in a ball and lie on the bathroom floor until the storm passes, there are moments when you want to take a pitchfork to that storm and right the wrong. The best thing to do, and I am preaching to myself as I write this, is to give it to God. Because God says in John 16:33 ~ “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” We know who wins in the end, and who will bring justice to this world so why not serve Him and stay close to Him in your storms. You got this Christian!
I would love to hear from you guys! Head to the Testimony sharing and prayer request page and feel free to share what is on your heart… Make it a great week!
Sincerely,
Bella <3
A living temple
Faith Filled Fit Girl!
Dear Child of God,
I am so beyond excited to be sharing my first ever blog post! If you
have followed me on Insta & Tik Tok, you know what I’m all about:
Taking care of my health and fitness, not merely for the sake of
appearances or other superficial reasons, but most importantly, in
order to serve my Creator.
For those who don’t know me yet, my name is Bella! I'm a 20 year-old
fitness gal that loves my overpriced coffee and hitting the gym in my
free time. I love running, spending time with my golden retriever,
trying out virtually any new sport, and nature hikes.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed with feeling like you aren’t enough? Or you aren’t as pretty as other girls? A little about me and my WHY: I started off my fitness journey with the wrong goal... I wanted to be "skinny like the girls in the
movies". This led me down a destructive path of constant comparison
and never feeling like I could be "ENOUGH"... "fit enough", "good
enough", etc.. It became an unhealthy obsession, and honestly, it
interrupted my growth in other areas of life, including the most
important, my walk with God. Eventually, I allowed the fear of what
others thought and how others perceived my value, to take control
instead of my insecurities, rather than me seeing my value through
God's eyes. At one point in my life, I even became bitter at the Lord
for making me who I am, and I began to see His design, His work… as a
failure.
When you live by comparison, which is an unsustainable way to live
your life, you will always "feel" that you weren't born with certain
things that you wish you had or that you wish you were, but I
eventually realized that some of the things I "didn't like", were the
very things that God had used to make me, "ME"! If I hadn’t gone down
this journey, I would have continued to find other flaws and continued
just "wishing" I were "better". I would have friends who I would look
at that are still "prettier" or "better" in other areas, and I would
still be doubting His creation… and with every passing year, I have
come to learn I am not the only girl that has struggled with the wrong
way of looking at life, and at the Lord's work in our lives. The
great thing about this is knowing that it’s ALL in your head! When my
mental focus changed, my WHY changed. I can never be enough by the
world’s standards of beauty, but knowing that in no matter what state
I am in, there’s a great God who loves me the way I am, and I can
find CONTENTMENT and JOY in this!
You are ENOUGH in God’s eyes! And that is all that matters… So to
recap, I’ve experienced the pain of self-image insecurities, and I am
here to let you know you are not alone. I want to use my story, my
experience, and what God has shown me in the past few years to help
you. With the Lord’s help I want to share with you how to overcome
those battles and to lean on Him, and YES, FITNESS can be a part of
it, but the right way, and for the right reasons! Join me!
I want this blog to be all about you! Send me your testimony through the Testimony Page, and I will add one to each blog every week. <3
Excited to hear what God has done for you,
~Bella