Head. Heart. Hands.

A Newsletter

The Head, Heart, Hands Newsletter! Let's do this!

I've been meaning to get back here for a while. It's a joy and a privilege to connect with you all more meaningfully, aka off the Gram. Now that Live Well health coaching has launched and with my last book, The Body Revelation, in the rearview mirror of 2023, I've longed to get over here and write to you more consistently. Let's go ahead and call this my newsletter. I want to shoot you the healthy and whole news straight in hopes of keeping us all living free as embodied people who love God and others well. Not just brains on dry bones walking around bloated in the knowledge of God.

Jesus came in body, lived embodied, gave His body, and is now a body in heaven, interceding for us to live an embodied and empowered life by the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us and rests upon us, just as Jesus did. Everything I share with you back here is to this end: you living a fully embodied life where you can think, feel, and choose what's best for the new, breath-taking, one-of-a-kind creation you are and are becoming. 

Though I hope to write to you deep healthy and whole wellness dwellers weekly, don't tie me down. Deal? Deal. I'll do my best. 

Because I don't want to be overwhelmed or overwhelm you with ALL that is in my soul to share, I'm going to structure these newsletters into three simple parts:

1. Head - something to learn. I will share with you something I'm learning about health and wholeness that's rocking my world and I hope it rocks yours too. 

2. Heart—something to love. I will share with you things I'm loving that you might be looking to love, too. These could be as practical as a new massage tool, scrub, or face cream (you know your girl loves good skincare. Don't forget to wear your sunblock) or spiritual like my favorite Bible scripture breakdown or study tool. 

3. Hands - something to lean into. I will share something new that I'm trying out or practicing to keep growing in the love and goodness of God.

So, let's kick this embodied party off! 

(The following is how each newsletter from me will look. Simple and to the point.) 

Head - A friend of mine sent an article published last week in Christianity Today titled Theological Anthropology and no joke, tears of joy and expectation welled up in my eyes while I read. THIS! (And it’s not a complicated read. Don’t let the title fool you. :)

"What I'm really encouraged by is a trend towards paying attention to our bodies and not thinking of ourselves as just brains on a stick." Said Carmen Joy Imes, a Biola University professor and the author of Being God's Image. 

The Church has been acknowledging mental health, but until we find a proper narrative for our physical health, the Bride of Christ lies in pieces. She cannot truly heal.

The Bride has a languishing, hurting body and walks around with a big, fat, overinformed head. Information alone doesn't change a person. Applied information changes a person. The application process requires a body. And our bodies are what give us the ability. Our bodies are for ability, not vanity. Ability is not defined by how many squats or burpees one can do but by how capable a person is at hosting the presence of God who chooses to reside in their body. This is why we train - to have strength of soul to stay with God. 

Sixteen years ago, when God called me to begin Revelation Wellness, I had no idea what I was saying yes to other than to fulfill the need of truly helping my clients who wanted to lose weight and gain health. I knew their health struggle was deeper than learning to eat the right food and moving the right way (After all, who defines right anyway?) I sensed the Lord saying, "Alisa, I'm going to do this on the earth. You can come now or later, but I am doing this?" Like a little girl who didn't want her father to leave to go to work, after much reluctance, I threw myself at his feet and said "Take me with you! I'll go!" But I didn't know where I was going. I just knew He was going and wanted to see what He sees. I also didn't think it would take 23 years. (That's a story about patience, perseverance, and faithfulness for another day. Just know if God is calling you to it, He will do it. Say yes and go!) 

Heart - This one may seem silly, but I didn't know how much wearing this little $12 cross necklace on Amazon would mean. I like dainty jewelry. I like Jewelry that's barely there and floats. A friend wore this necklace recently. The shimmer of the little cross around her neck caught my eye from across the room. The little cross was calling to me. I weaved my way across the room to ask where her necklace was from. I prepared myself to hear the cost—perhaps a Benjamin or two. I was thrilled to hear, "I got it on Amazon for like $12". Five minutes later, it was in my cart and on its way to Arizona, while I was in Virginia.  

I love Jesus. I love wearing Jesus around my neck. At the gym. At the grocery store. At my favorite place to eat my usual produce and protein for lunch, I see people catching a glimpse of what glitters around my neck. 

There's something about wearing a cross. 

Hands - I crave silence. Who am I? The girl who grew up in a home with a TV always on. The girl who loves music, but it's only really an adequate volume if you can feel it rattle your soul. The girl who takes every opportunity to read a book, or listen to an audiobook or an educational podcast so I can continue to learn and share with others. This same girl has found herself longing for silence. Not sitting in silence and meditation but DOING things in silence. Instead of showering while listening to a podcast or audiobook, I do it all silently. And friends, I am thinking more clearly again! Ideas are returning (one of those being the simple format for this newsletter.) Inspiration is flowing, and my stress levels, measured by my Oura ring, are coming down. (My Oura ring is something else I love and will share in another newsletter to come) 

This week, consider how you can care for your embodied being, your Theological Anthropology. Remember the cross and Christ's sufferings. Replace a noisy moment with a quiet one. Initially, it will feel uncomfortable, but I promise that health will rise in your body, brain, and bones. 

I want to hear from you. What thing in your day will you try doing in silence this week?

And let me know what kind of things you would like me to learn, love, and lean into in upcoming writings.

Enjoy your weekend.

Peace.