Defining moments—they change the course of our life. In 1981 our family had a defining moment when Roy and I decided to focus on fitness for our whole family. At that moment, we chose a path to be faithful to take care of our health, to exercise and to eat wisely. Roy started jogging, and we put the kids in soccer. Then he said, “Jeannie, you love to dance—why don’t you join an ‘aerobics’ class?” I did just that, and immediately they asked me to teach. The Body & Soul story begins here. Not long after this, my friend Nan asked me to lead exercise for a special “Body & Soul Day” at our ..read more

“Don’t be afraid; don’t be paralyzed. It’s time to live; we’ve got nothing to hide. We’re going out tonight. We are the light and we’re shining bright … in every city and every town we’re on a mission for the lost to be found. Light it up like a wildfire. Can you feel it now—God is alive!” Sometimes we get so busy or so lazy or so preoccupied with life’s challenges that we forget why we are here. We were meant to shine—to light up our world with hope and let our love burst out to the world like a wildfire. We need to reignite our faith and trust God with our schedules and our plans, then go o ..read more

“When I feel my hope about the break I will cling to Your unchanging grace. Let the waters come and the earth give way. My feet are on the Rock. I can see the morning light. I can feel the joy on the horizon. Here my faith is found. I stand on solid ground. On Christ, the solid rock, I stand. All other ground is sinking sand. So stomp your feet and clap your hands; our feet are on the Rock.” Are you standing on solid rock or sinking sand? There are times in life when we feel strong, rock-solid, like we are king of the mountain standing on our own personal rock. But most of the time that feeli ..read more

“I’m a wavewalker. I’m dancing on water. When the devil tries to shake me I just pray harder. Even in my darkest hour, got Holy Ghost power. When I keep my eyes upon you, Jesus, I’m a wavewalker.” This song is a faith-filled proclamation that we all need to sing along with and shout from the rooftops. When we keep our eyes on Jesus, we can live a “wavewalker life,” a life of faith and trust no matter what storms come our way. One day at a time, one storm at a time, we need to be strong and not look down at the swirling water at our feet. When the “devil tries to shake us” we need to do what t ..read more

What’s your favorite Body & Soul song? You know how music gets “stuck” in our minds—we wake up in the middle of the night and there it is playing in our head; we hum it unintentionally while cooking dinner or driving carpools. Sometimes it’s a tune we’ve heard over the loudspeakers in the store or at a restaurant and we wish it would go away. Has that ever happened to you? On the other hand, what about the great music that we exercise to in Body & Soul? That is the music we want to have filling our minds! Do you have a current favorite song? Maybe you leave class humming the tune? Do y ..read more

“They say that people never change, but I don’t really feel that way. Everything’s redeemable. The God I know is capable, and this is a new day. It’s not what you’ve done; it’s what His love is doing. It’s not who you were; it’s who you are becoming… Hey, love has conquered all your shame. I know you’ve got things you regret, but your story isn’t over yet…Have you heard that he makes all things new. I believe that his love’s not done with you.” God’s love is so big that it can rescue us and restore all of us. It is so wide that it reaches all around the world to each and every person. It is so ..read more

This could be your best year ever with one simple decision – you change your name. I’ve never wanted to change my name. I’ve always liked Vicki Rhea Hensley Heath. I do remember though, as a teenager I started calling myself by another name. In high school, I never felt like I measured up. “Less than” was a name I started using. And then as a young pastor’s wife I felt many days my name should be “inadequate”. When you look at yourself in the mirror what name do you call yourself?Failure? Lazy? Ugly? Loser? Pathetic? Unhappy? Hopeless? Too old? Too tired? When you introduce yourself to someone ..read more

Some women enjoy sitting in a comfy chair to meditate for their quiet time with the Lord. Not me. I either get distracted thinking about all the things I should be doing or I get sleepy. I enjoy walking and talking with the Lord. I start by stretching and taking deep breaths, thanking God that He’s given me another day to be alive and fully functioning. Drinking in the beauty of the towering trees, inhaling the aroma of wildflowers, feeling the breeze caress my face, I commune with God outdoors during my walk in a way I never could otherwise. As I walk, I talk to Him about five things: Adorati ..read more

“I breathe the air of freedom in knowing my life is better off in Your hands. The past is gone, what’s done is done, now I’m alive and I’m never gonna look back. I can never be free without You. I can never be me without You. This is the sound of chains breaking. This is the beat of a heart changing. This is the song of a soul forgiven. This is my freedom hymn…who the Son sets free is free indeed.” What is your personal “freedom hymn?” Are you still feeling bound up in chains in some area of your life? Do you need to lay it down before the Lord and ask him to set you free? In this song Austin ..read more