tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30839709611520627312024-03-13T13:04:46.332-05:00Potter's Clay...come with me on a journey of FAITH, fear, successes and SETBACKS! It's full of joy and discovery as I yield to GOD making me WHOLE: Body, Mind & Spirit!Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.comBlogger176125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-87032025468866460012013-03-30T14:12:00.001-05:002013-03-30T14:21:20.366-05:00"Head, shoulders, knees and toes!"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Head, shoulders, knees and toes<br />
Knees and toes<br />
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Eyes and ears and mouth and nose<br />
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Head, shoulders, KNEES AND TOES!!!<br />
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A couple weeks back I went to visit a friend in St. Louis and got to play volleyball with the young adults group at her Church. Anyone who knows me, knows that volleyball is my favorite sport to play and I jump at almost any opportunity to join a game.<br />
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I was having some problems with my shoulder that night, so I was attentive to not hitting the ball to aggressively and went for a simple set in which I jammed my right thumb! OUCH! This made playing quite difficult seeing as how I couldn't do much overhanded and now even underhand hits caused a considerable amount of pain.<br />
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We left not long after since I was feeling out of commission and I went to take a shower before bed. I go to unbutton my jeans...OUCH! This one injured thumb was making it quite difficult to do such a simple task - griping my jeans so I could unbutton with my left hand. We won't even begin to talk about how difficult it was to unhook my bra between the shoulder injury and thumb issue! The next morning, all is well until I go to brush my teeth. I'm sure I looked funny holding my toothbrush in the palm of my hand while trying not to apply pressure with my thumb. The day continued and Brittany and I decided to play a game involving cards. Everything is great and now it's my turn to deal, but wait...<i>I can't shuffle!</i> This poor jammed thumb felt so hurt and useless! Throughout the remainder of my weekend, several instances came up where I realized how difficult these everyday tasks were without the use of a <u style="font-weight: bold;">thumb</u>. Crazy, right!<br />
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Fast forward, last night I was standing with a group of friends in the kitchen, waiting for dinner to be complete and we were discussing my friends elbow injury. She mentioned how washing her hair, driving the car, cooking, all these every day tasks had become either extremely difficult and/or impossible for the time being. I said, <i>"Yea, it's crazy how such a small member of our body can be injured, yet it affects so much of our functionality."</i> As the words were leaving my mouth, I instantly thought of 1 Corinthians 12:15-26:<br />
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"Now if the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.<br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.</span> And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. <span style="background-color: yellow;">If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.</span>"</blockquote>
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This verse rang more true than ever with this realization last night,<i> "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it;"</i> This proved right with my thumb and likewise, it was true of my friends elbow. We were unable to accomplish things as efficiently without them - the rest of our body suffered due to the injury of these small, yet meaningful members of our bodies.<br />
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Simple enough right, anyone who has ever stubbed a toe, broken a bone, fractured something or even got sick understands this full well. God was not just giving us some anatomy lesson in these verses though, he was giving an illustration that shows how it is with us and the rest of the Church. When one person is hurt, we all suffer. When one member is honored, we should share in the rejoicing! How often do we consider this truth though? Regardless of us seemingly "feeling" it's impact - it's reality. The Church is not the same without the members of the body carrying out their functions.<br />
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YOU are valuable to the body of Christ and YOU have a purpose to fulfill as a part of it! Same for me. Our purposes may be different, but we <b><u>need</u></b> each other.<br />
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Do you look at your brother or sister in Christ and consider their worth? Their value? The fact that without them, the Church is missing something that she needs? Do we see them as a vital member and as such, they should be cared for, respected and mended when broken? When we see some led astray by the things of this world and desires of their flesh, do we even notice the loss of a limb? Do our hearts break? Let's take this one step further - in our Churches, do we neglect the poor, the single mother's the disabled, the widows? It says in these verses, <i>"On the contrary, those parts of the body that <u style="font-weight: bold;">seem</u> weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor."</i> Do we find ourselves esteeming those who benefit us most, but overlooking the ones who may not seem to have much to offer in return? These members are precious!<br />
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This convicts me!<br />
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I've been guilty of overlooking the thumbs and elbows. It's easy for me to consider the head, but what about the shoulders, knees and toes? We neglect the joints until they become sore and weak and realize that the leg without a knee can't run. The arm without an elbow cannot bend to move food that you've scooped up using your wrist to bend your hand to your spoon that is griped by your fingers that were curled by your knuckles and then lifted by your muscles to your mouth. Which then needs your teeth, your tongue, your throat (which is made up of four parts alone), your stomach, intestines and the list goes on just to move it through the body and be digested and the nutrients absorbed by the cells...<i>you get the point</i>! Each part of our bodies is valuable - as is true with each member of the Church.<br />
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My prayer is that with every stubbed toe, jammed finger or broken bone I have or hear of someone having - I'm reminded of the body and how each member is precious!Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-63076425358969766512013-03-21T13:35:00.002-05:002013-03-21T13:51:27.168-05:00GREAT article about weight loss!!Whew! It's dusty around these parts! I haven't posted in awhile, (more than awhile), but I thought this article was worth sharing:<br />
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<a href="http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/losing-180-pounds-really-does-body-8212-160-163900419.html">http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/losing-180-pounds-really-does-body-8212-160-163900419.html</a><br />
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I don't have much to say beyond this, because I think it says a lot!<br />
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What I will say though is, "I get it." I didn't have weight loss surgery, but my sister did, a cousin did and two friends did...they can attest to this being true.<br />
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I did however lose 160#'s without surgery and when I weighed in at 179, I was not happy because...<i>"I still had so far to go." </i>I never got to fully enjoy what I had done in that new body, because instead of seeing where I had come from, all I could see is where I still had to go and though my body outwardly "appeared" different, I had the same mind. I was confused in my own skin and STILL not happy. I look back now and wish I would have fully embraced "179# me" and together we could have made great things happen. But the truth is, the mind is where the battle lies. Not the weight.<br />
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For those of you out there on this journey with me, DON'T GIVE UP, it's worth it, but it's not easy. It's not just weight. Don't fall victim of the thought that losing the "weight" is what will make you happy and complete in life.Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-28712210466760143832012-10-02T12:08:00.003-05:002012-10-02T12:11:09.084-05:00Email from a friend: Prayer WORKS! Even for weight loss!So after returning from vacation, I received an email from a dear friend of mine, Cassy!<br />
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This encouraged and blessed my heart so much that I wanted to share it here for the blog world!<br />
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I hope it challenges and encourages you as it did me.<br />
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<b>READ BELOW</b>:<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">From:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Cassy *******<br />
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, September 28, 2012 9:57 AM<br />
<b>To:</b> Demesha R. Wright<br />
<b>Subject:</b> prayer...and </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p>weight-loss</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So
yesterday I was so tired of the crappy music on the radio so I turned way down
the dial and got some Christian talk radio station. They were talking
about addictions and how God can save us from them…and ourselves. At
first I was like “I am not addicted to drugs or sex or alcohol” and I was about
to turn it, and they said “it can also help women who are addicted to
food”. <u5:p></u5:p><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ears
perked up, I was listening.<u5:p></u5:p><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I
usually pray to bless my food…but not all of it. I mean, I don’t ask for
my snickers bar to be blessed. But meals, real meals…I always say, <i>“<span style="color: purple;">Our Dearest Heavenly Father, I am thankful for the food that is before me. I
pray that you will bless it to strengthen my body. In the name of Jesus
Christ, AMEN!</span>”</i><u5:p></u5:p><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This
radio show says that I should pray before any food. Before the candy bar,
before a piece of gum, before fried chicken. <i><u> Why would we ask God to
bless something that is not good for our bodies?</u></i> My body is a temple
right? When I think about a temple, I think about something that is
clean, and glorious, and shining, and full of beautiful, yet simple, things,
surrounded by blooming flowers and green grass, where I feel peace. I
treat my temple like a slum. I don’t want that crud in my temple
anymore. So now, starting last night, before I eat ANYTHING I pray and
darn it, it works. I listen for the spirit to speak to me…why should I
expect that God is going to bless a Deluxe Big Breakfast from McDonald's to
strengthen my body? That’s what I wanted for breakfast…but I drove past 4
McDonald's on my commute, drawing from faith to fight that craving and
rationality…and came to the <st1:place u4:st="on"><st1:placetype u4:st="on">county</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename u4:st="on">café</st1:placename></st1:place> here and got an
omelet, simply cooked, with veggies. and I said my prayer and added that
He would give my belly and mind the ability to know it was enough.<u5:p></u5:p><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I
ate my 2 egg omelet with veggies and that was 2.5 hours ago and I still
feel…full. <u5:p></u5:p><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I
have to answer to God NOW about my food. I don’t’ want to stand at the
beginning of eternity and have him ask me why I didn't come to Him for help in
the area where I needed it the most. <u5:p></u5:p><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last
night, I stayed up too late…searching the scriptures for inspiration and quotes
to get me through the days ahead, however many I have left here…and I found
some great ones. I wrote them down on a post-it and stuck in my bible so
that I could know right away exactly where I need to go when I need the most
help.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR REFLECTIONS, CASSY! :)</span></div>
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<u5:p></u5:p>Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-43147236874188320342012-09-14T09:37:00.002-05:002012-09-14T09:37:50.146-05:00Affirmations...I HAVE changed!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZJ-LK-nu8Nwz7uCN4OLPcHJPRJGnGI6BfwsOicxFACN2JyNGxvYVwIpdNhAQoZqzfhvjGuCWQjP5pTYz8dUxXvnhdhPBRYJXBEZ62sLbWQAH6MV9Zpofs4bZ_-eN7hWVAKC2dAmBqw/s1600/natasha_mirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZJ-LK-nu8Nwz7uCN4OLPcHJPRJGnGI6BfwsOicxFACN2JyNGxvYVwIpdNhAQoZqzfhvjGuCWQjP5pTYz8dUxXvnhdhPBRYJXBEZ62sLbWQAH6MV9Zpofs4bZ_-eN7hWVAKC2dAmBqw/s320/natasha_mirror.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b><i>When you look into the mirror, what do you see?</i></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #333333;">I'll be honest, for me it's been hard to not see "FAILURE" for quite some time. I see a double chill reappearing that had disappeared for quite some time. I try to button pants that don't fit anymore and put shirts on that fit much more snug that I'm comfortable going out in public in. I see me without clothes on. I see the stretch marks, cellulite and everything that disgusts me. I strategically plan what to wear that will best "disguise" my physical shame. Beyond the image that reflects back at me, I full </span><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">FEEL</span> </b><span style="color: #333333;">every emotion that floods my thoughts when I see "me." Worse than the outward appearance that I'm struggling with is the inner </span><b><span style="color: red;">FEELING</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> of utter disappointment. It quickly overshadows any success I may have had in the past and distorts my perception of my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual strength!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;">But yesterday</span>,</i> yesterday I was met with an affirmation that helped rearrange my thoughts once again.</span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"BTW...u look fantastic"</span></i></blockquote>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">That quote above is part of a post I received on my facebook wall. Seems simple enough, </span></span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">right?</i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> What's a generic compliment from an old friend anyway? To better understand you must see the angle from which this friends point of view comes. She found and added me on facebook and we haven't talked and/or seen each other since 2009, the same year in which I took my first steps towards losing weight and getting healthier. This friend knew me at my heaviest, but never was around to see me at my smallest. To this friend, she saw "Mesha," but smaller than the one she once knew. To this friend, I <u style="font-weight: bold;">DO</u> look fantastic compared to the one she saw regularly years before.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>I NEEDED THAT!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #333333;">That little comment meant so much to me! Even though at this point in time I do not always </span><b><span style="color: red;">FEEL</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> fantastic, </span><i style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold;">I HAVE changed!</i><span style="color: #333333;"> No, I'm not where I once was when I'd reached my lowest weight that I've known in my adult life, BUT, I am not where I started either! I </span><u style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold;">HAVE</u><span style="color: #333333;"> changed. I CAN continue to change.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #333333;">As much as it </span><i><span style="color: #333333;">'</span><b><span style="color: red;">feels'</span></b></i><b><span style="color: red;"> </span></b><span style="color: #333333;">like all is lost at times and my hard work was in vain, I'm still not back up to the weight that I began at, I'm actually still 50 pounds less than my beginning weight AND (some people may need to hear this), but <u style="font-weight: bold;">even if I had regressed all the way back to my starting weight or beyond, the fact that I did it once shows that I AM strong and can do it again if I am determined to make it happen</u>. The fact that I am even writing this today is something to be considered. The fact that I even still <i>care</i> is a testament of something. THERE IS HOPE!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: x-large;"><b>I WILL change!</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">**For an old post I wrote on relativity, <a href="http://rebornwright.blogspot.com/2010/03/blog-on-failing.html">SEE HERE</a>! Sometimes we all need to be reminded of the "relative" concept.</span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>REFLECTION:</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>James 1:2-4; 12</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">--</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trials, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.</span></span></div>
Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-45127516190364551692012-08-24T17:50:00.000-05:002012-08-24T17:50:01.446-05:00I got me one of THESE...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Not this one...</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrtcZ2l-YZRMqwla-5IuoMWBLIWIsf0N5u57Ze1a6y1xb472yzHyP0ity3CAF04qFTmuDPneXLwqu8ikawAeDpBm1AGafaeIuS0w5DTp08iVnLTnvfnyBZUGOCHak7vqAVHhcTEaxxA/s1600/bob-harper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrtcZ2l-YZRMqwla-5IuoMWBLIWIsf0N5u57Ze1a6y1xb472yzHyP0ity3CAF04qFTmuDPneXLwqu8ikawAeDpBm1AGafaeIuS0w5DTp08iVnLTnvfnyBZUGOCHak7vqAVHhcTEaxxA/s320/bob-harper.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
OR this one...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKz82Xdews-t2sNnbssi9SezMo2QtQEAcFK1KsKFGnzEwuncMgsWEUrZCENQAJjDEc8Qcl38erH16Pe4dvcw4JUNZSIoWV-B4bKxbaAgvuW5BAFkA3UAof0SLojdVXYW4k3zeprl2Kw/s1600/f61d9db23c9fc4d4fa268a486cd672bd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKz82Xdews-t2sNnbssi9SezMo2QtQEAcFK1KsKFGnzEwuncMgsWEUrZCENQAJjDEc8Qcl38erH16Pe4dvcw4JUNZSIoWV-B4bKxbaAgvuW5BAFkA3UAof0SLojdVXYW4k3zeprl2Kw/s320/f61d9db23c9fc4d4fa268a486cd672bd.jpg" width="264" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
...and boy do I wish it was this next one...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAQ6nI5hnetR24VrmijiDSPs_RWntkE_TgNPLNnTseh7Hd_rUe2JwsnwPhUcYQNoqd67pZuzQhSUrs0n2yn6Qu2nvGCw8svonLqV3uzJSqmq-g7uVR0v2KFLzn7fH64ixNSOuz-6NoQ/s1600/jillian-michaels-is-fit.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAQ6nI5hnetR24VrmijiDSPs_RWntkE_TgNPLNnTseh7Hd_rUe2JwsnwPhUcYQNoqd67pZuzQhSUrs0n2yn6Qu2nvGCw8svonLqV3uzJSqmq-g7uVR0v2KFLzn7fH64ixNSOuz-6NoQ/s320/jillian-michaels-is-fit.bmp" width="194" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
But, the point is, I loosened up on the pocket and invested in <b><u>ME</u></b>, by getting a personal trainer!!!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For now, I've only paid for 2 months (8 sessions), but here's to ACCOUNTABILITY and STRUCTURE!!!!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"The secret of getting ahead is getting started." - Mark Twain</i></blockquote>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>REFLECTION:</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>James 2:14-17</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD</b></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br />"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also, faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."</blockquote>
Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-11828145999984826322012-08-20T12:10:00.005-05:002012-08-20T12:10:46.260-05:00We're in this together...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Smiling faces BEFORE Sunday morning workout</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvGv-IPN7G3LO7uK6HYfKDOg9xFP-Ad5GFljUAK8U3mz9INatb5oKT9K9Ly63C_BCl9ZHuNbe4VXhbO7VljC52KEbLskhM8tOf6aHdJeVpxANzQ7KiQDpvF0ROwG7B08llqZD6v3MXw/s1600/Manicured2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvGv-IPN7G3LO7uK6HYfKDOg9xFP-Ad5GFljUAK8U3mz9INatb5oKT9K9Ly63C_BCl9ZHuNbe4VXhbO7VljC52KEbLskhM8tOf6aHdJeVpxANzQ7KiQDpvF0ROwG7B08llqZD6v3MXw/s320/Manicured2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>@ Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, MO</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoLu7hBNuCWW82nDLCDcP1i5irtKXbGZIaUkT0EDKIkkDfDb4vtteayexX4rx8W0FubcAvewCWxvXPW4rB6GUVAEJCpCYxIY0Npmc9-wOkcNBFOUpx9rIhZfOoGzWLjeAw6bzOS_ltw/s1600/Liberty_Memorial_Kansas_City_by_TThealer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoLu7hBNuCWW82nDLCDcP1i5irtKXbGZIaUkT0EDKIkkDfDb4vtteayexX4rx8W0FubcAvewCWxvXPW4rB6GUVAEJCpCYxIY0Npmc9-wOkcNBFOUpx9rIhZfOoGzWLjeAw6bzOS_ltw/s320/Liberty_Memorial_Kansas_City_by_TThealer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Sweaty, yet still smiling AFTER morning workout!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(How could you not working out at a place with a view like THAT!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPpYTTXtb35DjKubRelqW4UkwwCzx_NXm8aFALpOzlYP565TdSbzCjFNCaNEHhyphenhyphenEjbgZ5AlfvRegn8jObe8h4WfYpbJlZE0pqtl0hQAzoanTpvVtMgVsUFND1FcXxCj5rMyj_exrK5A/s1600/Manicured1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPpYTTXtb35DjKubRelqW4UkwwCzx_NXm8aFALpOzlYP565TdSbzCjFNCaNEHhyphenhyphenEjbgZ5AlfvRegn8jObe8h4WfYpbJlZE0pqtl0hQAzoanTpvVtMgVsUFND1FcXxCj5rMyj_exrK5A/s320/Manicured1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>If you are anything like me, exercising with a group pushes you harder and makes it FUN too!</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For an article on why group exercise is effective, <a href="http://www.active.com/fitness/Articles/3-Reasons-Its-Better-to-Work-Out-With-a-Group.htm">CLICK HERE</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">REFLECTION</span>:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Ecclesiastes 4:9-10</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"</i></div>
Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-3687426962119058172012-08-18T12:08:00.000-05:002012-08-18T12:11:14.800-05:00Looking ahead...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SHzD9_uH-bSuwzmwNEQ9MRtZoJxye7KDhqfMbAoEdT5Ghz2kAr0Z5U-Hah1JYNoE1IRF3dEfWcDo8Pvwzp6er8C4j6v8ACWqsPBmIkb62678jjWcTk-w3HXUJMchiqHNQAsSHT2uaA/s1600/183761_436185893090629_1595063947_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SHzD9_uH-bSuwzmwNEQ9MRtZoJxye7KDhqfMbAoEdT5Ghz2kAr0Z5U-Hah1JYNoE1IRF3dEfWcDo8Pvwzp6er8C4j6v8ACWqsPBmIkb62678jjWcTk-w3HXUJMchiqHNQAsSHT2uaA/s320/183761_436185893090629_1595063947_n.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Philippians 3:13-14</b><br />
<br />
13...But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal forthe prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-84645997176932589792012-08-17T09:47:00.001-05:002012-08-17T09:47:15.015-05:00Stepping up to the plate!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdd1RttqIDgGi9LenPo12TPmJ8iwTGvbX4FIRAt0diGFHiZytNqERidzjVoptPZXzGc98tSyMozP6bpqVK_1E_lXKQa41NXySAmgBO_jc2vta7x1HB6KI5sm8Ko-My1TPCFIwif1t5w/s1600/home_plate_bat_ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdd1RttqIDgGi9LenPo12TPmJ8iwTGvbX4FIRAt0diGFHiZytNqERidzjVoptPZXzGc98tSyMozP6bpqVK_1E_lXKQa41NXySAmgBO_jc2vta7x1HB6KI5sm8Ko-My1TPCFIwif1t5w/s1600/home_plate_bat_ball.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">BATTER UP!!!</span></b><br />
<br />
We can love the game, watch the game and critique the game all day long, but there comes a time when the talking must stop and YOU must step up to the plate for yourself!<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>What kind of life is lived on the sidelines?</b></blockquote>
<br />
It's time to gear up, leave the dug out, approach the plate, get in your ready position: <b>ALERT, ACTIVE, CONFIDENT, EXPECTING</b>.<br />
<br />
Take the greatest swing EVER at YOUR life and knock it out of the park!!!<br />
<br />
**In this game though, we don't believe in "strike-outs," just because what you took a shot out didn't get the results you wanted doesn't mean it's over and all is lost...In this game it's not you against the opposing team, it's you against yourself!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">#WIN!!!</span></b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vLAHjwewmJFg_8gDMZWRtwbQGN3nyv413Up_2FDG2Eou1INqFivBrWMuXaohEIfvu73Hiv5jktP4H4MkBFDsOUymTyISjJ_-Hm8VPqM5g1WkyOPZs7svfxxkgN0aRhoFYCLjZb8LcA/s1600/iStock_000013125388XSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vLAHjwewmJFg_8gDMZWRtwbQGN3nyv413Up_2FDG2Eou1INqFivBrWMuXaohEIfvu73Hiv5jktP4H4MkBFDsOUymTyISjJ_-Hm8VPqM5g1WkyOPZs7svfxxkgN0aRhoFYCLjZb8LcA/s320/iStock_000013125388XSmall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-55596326370278524022012-08-16T13:01:00.001-05:002012-08-16T14:03:31.260-05:00...dusting things off!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVprtTgvI2Wx-92l2POlDhawejdlnwQPp_AXb4mST85_alh0naZs-FTqNjU9Zp5rgWmExodJxB53QbDDtYN6-QVm-P5M2K6WOlhK6Zmek5i9V-ZukiO4deaMM1vB5R4k_vcxrmPVTsHw/s1600/cobwebs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVprtTgvI2Wx-92l2POlDhawejdlnwQPp_AXb4mST85_alh0naZs-FTqNjU9Zp5rgWmExodJxB53QbDDtYN6-QVm-P5M2K6WOlhK6Zmek5i9V-ZukiO4deaMM1vB5R4k_vcxrmPVTsHw/s320/cobwebs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm BACK (I hope!)<br />
<br />
There are a few things that have fallen by the wayside the past two years:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Eating SMART</li>
<li>Staying ACTIVE</li>
<li>Taking care of me, FIRST!</li>
<li>BLOGGING!!!</li>
</ul>
<div>
Today I'm so excited and I FEEL a sense of refreshment and renewed vigor to do what once gave me such JOY, peace and love for ME!!!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Ya know, a few years back it felt like my entire life fell apart all at once! A relationship. Church. Faith. Family. Work. Living situation. Finances. Health. Friendships.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Nothing was left unshaken.</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
As if all at once, the pot of my life tipped over and everything went pouring out leaving me feeling empty, lost, alone and hurting. Deeply, deeply hurting!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At that same time, I happened to be at the BEST physical shape of my life. I had successfully lost 163 lbs and led a very active lifestyle. When my slap of reality hit and the earth around me seemed to shake, damaging nearly everything that meant anything to me, my attention and care for physical health and wellness was the first thing to go to the wayside. Quickly following was my self esteem, positive attitude towards healthy living and encouraging others and confidence that I could continue on with this...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
...this state has continued on with a gradual, yet steady decline for 22 months now and TODAY I set it in my mind to stop it dead in its tracks, just shy of 2 years from the darkest point in my life to date!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here it is, out in the open, I've managed (without much difficulty) to pack #<b>96 pounds#</b> back onto this body that I at one time <i>"almost"</i> felt comfortable living in and I can't do it anymore! I cannot avoid friends who have continued on with great success anymore. I cannot erase that portion of my life (one of the best), in attempts to act as though it never existed. I cannot deny that "me" that I grew to once love and respect any longer!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>I WANT HER BACK!!!</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To those of you who have met me <i style="font-weight: bold;">AFTER</i> these significant life events, I love you for loving this "me" that you've met who has had trouble even loving herself, but I'm excited and hopeful to introduce you to the "me" I was beginning to find just a short while ago. To those who have been FAITHFUL friends and stuck by me before, during and after - THANK YOU! And to those who have left, chances are life wasn't meant to continue on at this point with you in it, I thank you for the season God gave us!<br />
<br />
It's time to get my life back in order, ALL of me!<br />
<br />
Emotionally.<br />
<br />
Mentally.<br />
<br />
Physically.<br />
<br />
Spiritually.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">I invite you,</span></i></b> whoever you are, yes YOU, the one reading this at your computer, on your laptop, smart phone or random tablet device, to strap on your seat belt and go with me on a journey.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><i>I ASK YOU</i></b>, to help me. I acknowledge, for me it's harder to walk this road alone. <i>Yes,</i> at the end of the day it's just me facing the mirror and I fully recognize that I have to be the one to do this, but I'm not to proud too admit that I need your help too!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Let's get together for workouts. Healthy meal preparations. Random Challenges. Fitness Events.<br />
<br />
Feel free to go all Jillian Michael's on me and KICK MY BUTT (Jillian, I know you TOTALLY follow my blog and facebook, so a personal butt kickin' from you is most certainly invited.....<i>What!</i> One can dream)! :-p</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Life truly wasn't meant to walk alone, and I'm thankful for those of you walking in stride WITH me!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So there you have it...I'm dusting things off and pulling out the running shoes, fitness bands and RE-utilizing this PUBLIC blog. No more crying in secret!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'll end this by quoting MYSELF, (I know, right...I'm choosing to remind myself of what I once held so firmly to)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">"Love and support has made a world's worth of difference in my weight loss, but </span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">at the end of the day YOU are the only one who can make it happen."</span></blockquote>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~</div>
<br />
<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="background-color: white; color: #5c1101; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;">
2 Corinthians 7:1</h3>
</div>
<div class="result-text-style-normal text-html " style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<div class="top-1 chapter-1" style="margin-top: 1em;">
<span class="text 2Cor-7-1" id="en-ESV-28901"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="chapternum" style="bottom: -0.1em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.8em; position: relative;">7 </span></i></span></span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Therefore, since we have these promises, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28918A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>dear friends, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28918B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28918C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>out of reverence for God.</span></i></div>
</div>
Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-17926997517506766782011-09-22T10:20:00.000-05:002011-09-22T10:20:03.863-05:00Decision Making Questionnaire<strong>I read this "Decision Making Questionnaire" the other day that isn't really written for "food addiction," but when I saw it I thought of how relative it is for anyone with an addictive personality, including food addiction. I've not actually written out answers to this questionnaire (<em>yet)</em>, but over the past couple days I've found myself mentally going through the questions before making food choices and/or going to particular restaurants. It's been INCREDIBLY helpful because lately it has seemed near impossible for me to <u>not</u> stop at a drive-thru when driving anywhere. CRAP food has become my 'main squeeze' and it's most definity made it impossible to SQUEEZE into any of my jeans. :( I've gone so far backwards on my journey that it's sickening and I'm thankful that I'm conscious and choosing to look at the reality now to get back on track, <em>but it's hard!</em></strong><br />
<br />
<strong>I encourage you, check out the questionnaire below and see if you could apply it to your own life (with ANY addiction), I highlighted the question that challenged me MOST in light of my food addiction, <em>WOW!</em>....</strong><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">----------------------------------</div><br />
When deciding if you should engage in a particular activity, below are some questions to answer. Be brutally honest as you answer them. Use another sheet of paper to write down your answers. This questionnaire is especially helpful as you develop your boundaries and your definition of sobriety. You may want to provide this checklist to your sponsor so she can ask you these questions as needed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>1.</strong> Look at that behavior in light of all your other addictive/destructive behaviors. Is this particular activity similar to those behaviors? How is it similar? How is it different?<br />
<br />
<strong>2.</strong> List all the reasons you think this particular activity is a healthy choice.<br />
<br />
<strong>3.</strong> Will doing this particular activity propel you forward in your sobriety or take you backwards?<br />
<br />
<strong>4.</strong> Will doing this particular activity propel you forward in your relationship with God or take you backwards?<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">5.</span> </span><span style="color: black;">If you did this particular activity <u><span style="color: red;">every day</span></u> for the next month what would be the result?</span></strong><br />
<br />
a. On your sobriety?<br />
b. On your relationship with God?<br />
c. On your relationship with others?<br />
d. On how you feel about yourself?<br />
<strong>e. On your weight loss journey (health, weight, physical ability)? (<em>I added this question</em>)</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>6. </strong>Are you creating a list in your mind of all the reasons it is okay for you to engage in this particular activity? Why do you think you are doing that?<br />
<br />
<strong>7</strong>. Are you feeling any anxiety/guilt/shame as you think about doing this particular activity? Why do you think that is?<br />
<br />
<strong>8.</strong> Would those who know you and your struggles consider this particular activity a healthy or unhealthy choice? Why do you think that is?<br />
<br />
<strong>9.</strong> Are you willing to pray sincerely about this particular activity in order to listen to what God is saying and to obey what you hear?<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>10.</strong> Are you willing to present the situation honestly to your sponsor [<em>or someone who knows your struggle</em>] in order to gain their feedback?<br />
<br />
<strong>11.</strong> Once you have made your decision, elaborate on why you choose to do or not do this particular activity.<br />
<br />
<strong>I hope someone finds this questionnaire useful as I have, it's challenged me.</strong>Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-15047671136612580762011-09-08T14:27:00.001-05:002011-09-09T15:54:20.991-05:00A letter to myself, from myself...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPcxNdI2eJHbyXb39ajG66Aw_9005uYt7lGdkNanLbFLuW6zo9og1pkASI5suAxhSAkqzuLe3hBnit9Ent-lMAzQHfGsqyr22FScBaXxn21vseow8uvDV4czMvVYNF0MU79RZUlhavQ/s1600/lettertome.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPcxNdI2eJHbyXb39ajG66Aw_9005uYt7lGdkNanLbFLuW6zo9og1pkASI5suAxhSAkqzuLe3hBnit9Ent-lMAzQHfGsqyr22FScBaXxn21vseow8uvDV4czMvVYNF0MU79RZUlhavQ/s1600/lettertome.bmp" /></a></div>Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-55079351730643979462011-08-01T11:59:00.002-05:002011-08-01T13:28:12.377-05:00It's better to "fail"<em>Let's start with a math 'outlook' equation:</em><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Finishing Dead Last > Not Finishing > Not Starting at All</strong></div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Y4XAq0wju-POsHGbGQX8JzBL7EFYDXX3EUDToBQKM0jfmbOP70T9xxtewbs2q5QTS9NaGTMBRahhCV4Rs_RJpqHLqNbaLUSahiH6zH8rdoVb42YwhTGAgJezudanG1aScRfI2glH3Q/s1600/WarriorDash_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="170px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Y4XAq0wju-POsHGbGQX8JzBL7EFYDXX3EUDToBQKM0jfmbOP70T9xxtewbs2q5QTS9NaGTMBRahhCV4Rs_RJpqHLqNbaLUSahiH6zH8rdoVb42YwhTGAgJezudanG1aScRfI2glH3Q/s200/WarriorDash_logo.jpg" t$="true" width="200px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Warrior Dash KC - July 30, 2011</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sometimes it's REALLY easy to lose perspective and not see the reality in tough workouts, races and challenges.<br />
<br />
This weekend, several friends and I completed an <strong><u><span style="color: #cc0000;">AWESOME</span></u></strong> obstacle course 5k, better known as <a href="http://www.warriordash.com/">Warrior Dash</a>! A 5k can be tough enough, now add about 10 obstacles in the middle of it and there you have what we just tackled. I'm talking CRAZY steep hills, tires, hay, balancing wood beams, climbing, cargo nets, river running, fire, mud, mud and more mud!<br />
<br />
I was with a diverse group of people from all different levels of athletic ability. For several, this was their first race EVER (crazy choice huh!). Others were runners, several were walkers and some don't really work out at all. We all had ONE common goal though, <em>to finish</em>!<br />
<br />
Well, all of us finished except for one who had to be escorted off due to an injury. Personally, I call that a "<strong><u><span style="color: #990000;">Badge of Honor</span></u></strong>." I've had a couple conversations with her since and she seems to be a bit discouraged and frustrated with herself for not being able to finish. That breaks my heart <strong><em>FOR</em></strong> her, because her disappointment is stealing the joy that can be found in the fact that she even started the race!<br />
<br />
Ya know, I found myself slightly frustrated in the fact that I may have technically "finished," but I was foolish for attempting it with a heel injury, almost no training and therefore I walked 3/4 of the course, skipped 1 1/2 obstacles and took about 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete this beast! That's not an official time that you exactly find yourself "proud" of or excited to share. I'm thankful for AWESOME friends who trudged through this 'muddy mayhem' with me though, because they continuously reminded me of how awesome it was that I was even out there doing it and that I at least did 1/2 of the obstacle that I backed out of (the other obstacle I would've more than likely got injured further if I attempted it).<br />
<br />
<strong><em>Point being...</em></strong>instead of my friend dwelling on "not finishing," or me bumming over "not finishing well," we need a new perspective. I could say I failed since I skipped some of the obstacles, but sometimes strength is knowing your limits too. Both of us are <strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">WARRIORS</span></strong> for even starting, that says we believed in ourselves! The fact that I wasn't willing to give up and was determined to finish is MIND over MATTER (and believe me, after slipping & falling about 5 times on the course and being in SEVERE PAIN, I wanted to take a seat on the side of the road and pass out in the piping hot sun). <strong>Not everything in life is about how well you finish, but the fact that you even started!</strong><br />
<br />
All of this reminded me of something my girl Jillian Michael's says, <em>"If you aren't failing, you aren't trying hard enough."</em><strong> </strong>In this misunderstood world of exercise, FAILING at something that you made the effort to TRY <em><strong><u>can be</u></strong></em> success!!! <strong>Stop the comparisions. Forget the haters.</strong> Who cares about the skeptics who say if you can't do "this" in "this," that you're not good enough...as long as YOU pushed to your personal best, then you've won! Not everyone can "win" the race, but life is much more than coming in first place.<br />
<br />
If you've ever started a race and seemingly "failed," whether that be because you were injured and had to quit, you were escorted off because of time or you finished with what you consider to be a "bad time," in my opinion <strong>YOU</strong> are strong because you went out and did it!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUw4ofsaHJQX5kZP-cKYda69oJ15e7mJoi2ZvT5b0Z3fTylPRBZYyYmrdDqi7ZgkalXqyUfllBvCEBezSGROvhtxsuotRICXl2zipJdVL4-aOSupZkGYmTw8_jPvc7ZxxmBfmzYYSHg/s1600/223978_144596308955437_100002152056772_273470_863417_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUw4ofsaHJQX5kZP-cKYda69oJ15e7mJoi2ZvT5b0Z3fTylPRBZYyYmrdDqi7ZgkalXqyUfllBvCEBezSGROvhtxsuotRICXl2zipJdVL4-aOSupZkGYmTw8_jPvc7ZxxmBfmzYYSHg/s320/223978_144596308955437_100002152056772_273470_863417_n.jpg" t$="true" width="213px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwC8LKGZ8TzPkVaa_1mckGg9hVchWk0IMD4blGySpxJqt78dF-FA6HnJTmxNtGts22ZRqW_OEc10ODqwt9a4Z-xaSsolXWLypZjr3moworyLBIfM03VDvSjXldjs6xQT_NykjoATPmVg/s1600/284867_144595908955477_100002152056772_273465_7556483_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwC8LKGZ8TzPkVaa_1mckGg9hVchWk0IMD4blGySpxJqt78dF-FA6HnJTmxNtGts22ZRqW_OEc10ODqwt9a4Z-xaSsolXWLypZjr3moworyLBIfM03VDvSjXldjs6xQT_NykjoATPmVg/s320/284867_144595908955477_100002152056772_273465_7556483_n.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>MAKE.IT.HAPPEN!</strong></div>Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-20801265643930379992011-07-30T20:16:00.000-05:002011-07-30T20:16:01.076-05:00Warrior Dash KC<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><strong>DONE!</strong></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUQDnMur0g1f0-LoOuNgWSSGh1i8L1RELNnWoGGuGbQah3Zl4ZiUJoaR2OfbcJI-QAXMTMO-GnyajG3wDuzCdSc1xh1rNVH0qU3M8d6coLdWtJsvTrmhz9pt5Xnp-VgskZPGgppZlWg/s1600/223978_144596308955437_100002152056772_273470_863417_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUQDnMur0g1f0-LoOuNgWSSGh1i8L1RELNnWoGGuGbQah3Zl4ZiUJoaR2OfbcJI-QAXMTMO-GnyajG3wDuzCdSc1xh1rNVH0qU3M8d6coLdWtJsvTrmhz9pt5Xnp-VgskZPGgppZlWg/s320/223978_144596308955437_100002152056772_273470_863417_n.jpg" t$="true" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_RhR9jwf9BMKcAouux2iQRycZkfyV3RvpWQPwr6H12gdQZ1fSGly8XzxxDC09F1Aft5EshO5qwEnlp6qaCZaqbqi2z69GZFeb-1PKveavtkovIXQ-gjUMNvLm8iNk-K7L0TYjxggVw/s1600/284867_144595908955477_100002152056772_273465_7556483_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_RhR9jwf9BMKcAouux2iQRycZkfyV3RvpWQPwr6H12gdQZ1fSGly8XzxxDC09F1Aft5EshO5qwEnlp6qaCZaqbqi2z69GZFeb-1PKveavtkovIXQ-gjUMNvLm8iNk-K7L0TYjxggVw/s320/284867_144595908955477_100002152056772_273465_7556483_n.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWfTtTXQu4JSJl9S7734UMo89zU1jS5AJXGK5YwUS_vxgUb1Q1i7IxSZYvmAoBSfrE_7LzflbAe_caZ8a12GA5mgxe-jghXO64wWMvf8PdDm6e0VaI4FdAloOLHoo-Ym7CgBb5gZEVw/s1600/285144_144596228955445_100002152056772_273469_1433459_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWfTtTXQu4JSJl9S7734UMo89zU1jS5AJXGK5YwUS_vxgUb1Q1i7IxSZYvmAoBSfrE_7LzflbAe_caZ8a12GA5mgxe-jghXO64wWMvf8PdDm6e0VaI4FdAloOLHoo-Ym7CgBb5gZEVw/s320/285144_144596228955445_100002152056772_273469_1433459_n.jpg" t$="true" width="213" /></a></div>Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-38530991973637549972011-07-20T12:09:00.000-05:002011-07-20T12:09:48.199-05:00OFF TOPIC: Masculinity at the foot of the cross<strong><em>"Following Jesus doesn't always feel natural to me...but isn't that the point?"</em></strong><br />
<br />
I read one of the BEST most REAL blog posts on <a href="http://rachelheldevans.com/blog">Rachel Held Evans blog</a> about what the Church has deemed as "masculinity" and how it's a contrary image than what we've seen in the Bible. Although I haven't read through all of her blog and don't know enough about her to know if I stand for all she represents and writes about, I really did love this post!<br />
<br />
Masculinity and identity as a man is VERY much needed in our society today as well as in the Church, however, what is masculinity really? <em>Is it big muscles, ability to hold your own in a fight and not crying?</em> <strong>Absolutely NOT</strong>! So why is it so hard for men to acknowledge being in love with a MAN - <strong><span style="color: red;">JESUS</span></strong>! Why is it so hard for men to display their emotions through tears and most soft-hearted, compassionate, emotionally sensitive and fair tempered men are considered "sissy's" or oftentimes much worse terms?<br />
<br />
I say give me the soft-hearted, emotionally inclined, compassionate, gentle man in LOVE with Jesus over the buff hunk who shows no sign of pain or weakness any day! Just my thoughts!<br />
<br />
Blogpost from <a href="http://rachelheldevans.com/blog">Rachel Held Evans</a>:<br />
<br />
<em>“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, </em><br />
<em>but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” – I Corinthians 1:18</em><br />
<br />
<strong>The disciples never liked the idea of the cross. </strong><br />
<br />
Peter, a former zealot, especially hated the suggestion that Jesus would suffer at the hands of the Roman Empire and the Jewish religious leaders Peter so detested. <br />
<br />
When Jesus predicted his impending suffering, Peter rebuked him, saying “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” Jesus responded by telling his disciples, <em><strong>“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” </strong></em><br />
<br />
Still convinced that Jesus would lead some kind of political uprising, the disciples argued amongst themselves about who would reign beside him when he became king. Time and again Jesus reminded the disciples that his kingdom belonged not to the powerful or the violent, but to the gentle, the peacemakers, and the least of these. <br />
<br />
But Peter fought against this idea until the bitter end. <br />
<br />
When Jesus was arrested in Gethsemane, Peter took a sword and began fighting Jesus’ enemies, even cutting a guy’s ear off. But Jesus stopped Peter, and in a truly subversive act, healed his assailant instead. <strong>It was at this moment that Matthew reveals “all the disciples left Him and fled,” leaving Jesus to face his execution alone.</strong> <br />
<br />
They were frightened and embarrassed. <br />
<br />
Jesus showed no sign of fighting back, no sign of returning violence for violence, no sign of “acting like a man.” <br />
<br />
Peter famously denied even knowing him. <br />
<br />
<strong>In fact, Scripture reveals that it was the women who rallied around Jesus during his crucifixion, and consequently it would be women who would first witness his resurrection. Because of their faithfulness, they were the first bearers of the good news.</strong> <br />
<br />
As the Apostle Paul would later write, “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.” <em><strong>The cross is counter-intuitive for all people, but it can be especially hard to carry for men whose instincts and culture reinforce the old way of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”</strong></em> Traits like gentleness, peacemaking, self-control, and non-violence are considered by our culture to be feminine qualities, not masculine ones, and so it should come as no surprise that the life and message of Jesus can be a turn off to men who consider such a lifestyle foolish. <br />
<br />
As we have seen this week, there is even a push among some Christian groups to make the Church more attractive to men by celebrating violence and purging from the church any qualities or people that might be deemed “effeminate.” <br />
<br />
<strong>But as Jesus tried to explain to his disciples, the cross is not about indulging oneself, but about denying oneself. Rather than conforming Christ to our notions of masculinity, we must conform our notions of masculinity to Christ. </strong><br />
<br />
And after the resurrection, the disciples did just that. <br />
<br />
According to tradition, Peter would be crucified upside down. <br />
<br />
Stephen was stoned. <br />
<br />
Paul was imprisoned. <br />
<br />
And Phillip not only welcomed the effeminate Ethiopian eunuch into the Church but also baptized him and sent him out to share the gospel with other people. <br />
<br />
<strong><em><span style="background-color: yellow;">As Dan has often said to me, “Following Jesus doesn’t always feel natural to me…but isn’t that the point?” </span></em></strong><br />
<br />
We all have our thorns in the flesh that make us embarrassed by the cross. We all have times when we want so badly to introduce other people to Jesus that we try to downplay the radical nature of his teachings. <strong>I am as guilty of this as anyone else, and the fact that I hate to lose an argument makes me identify with Peter more than I care to admit. </strong><br />
<br />
But Jesus never promised that following him would be easy. He only promised that it would be worth it. <br />
<br />
We are not charged with changing the gospel; we are changed with changing ourselves. <br />
###<br />
<br />
<em>So what’s your thorn in the flesh? What instincts and desires do you struggle to let go of in order to take of your cross and follow Jesus? </em>Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-49775948496889831862011-06-05T00:13:00.001-05:002011-06-05T00:14:52.720-05:00"Why I Do This..."<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">This blog could have easily taken on a different title, the other being "My Temple."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><em>"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body,"</em> (1 Cor. 6:19-20).</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">On Memorial Day, I'm thankful that I was able to go with my Church to Joplin, MO to help in the <a href="http://www.mercy.net/joplin/stories-of-mercy/45-seconds">tornado relief efforts</a>. It was a very humbling experience that gave confirmation and a bit of perspective once again as to <em>"Why I Do This?"</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><em>I don't do this</em></strong> to be a size 2.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><em>I don't do this</em></strong> to gain interest from guys.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><em>I don't do this</em></strong> to look better than other girls.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><em>I don't do this</em></strong> for attention or recognition.</div><br />
<strong>I DO THIS to honor God with EVERY area of my life and that includes honoring Him with this temple.</strong><br />
<br />
We can't be careless about how we care for our physical body and yes, our body IS the temple of the Holy Spirit, BUT, I don't believe for a second that we care for our bodies so that God has some "fit body" to dwell in, a size 2 to call home. <strong>No, for me, it's ministry</strong>. God dwells in cancer-ridden "shells" that are quickly fading the same as He does the marathon runner with less than 5% bodyfat. I don't believe that His main concern is so much in how "equipped" or "perfect" a body is, but rather in how we use it. For me, it's about the ability to GO for him and do things that I was otherwise inhibited to do.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQSO0bakU3pJdOplDnXjXpl0XM6jXnGqoNQEBgpIJEeMVVSi3eNgKB6_Idz1U_c_MjOBeKH2q8QH-c84uABv0NV3cZp-dVuHYeHp4TLQzz2IcsFzb96nT9jFjCS1D_uI1TatQKF5xbA/s1600/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQSO0bakU3pJdOplDnXjXpl0XM6jXnGqoNQEBgpIJEeMVVSi3eNgKB6_Idz1U_c_MjOBeKH2q8QH-c84uABv0NV3cZp-dVuHYeHp4TLQzz2IcsFzb96nT9jFjCS1D_uI1TatQKF5xbA/s200/Picture1.jpg" t8="true" width="176" /></a>On our car ride home, after a long day of HARD, demanding work, we all talked about our experience and got to know each other on a deeper level in our fellowship and conversations. I'm still fairly new at my Church and haven't established those intimate relationships that I had prior at my Church of 9+ years. When I got to sharing a bit on my reflections from Joplin, I couldn't help but get emotional upon realizing that "<strong><em>THIS</em></strong>" is why I'm determined to fight this fight of faith PHYSICALLY as well as spiritually. "<strong><em>THIS</em></strong>" is why I'm working to transform this temple into one that is fit and active. "<strong><em>THIS</em></strong>" is why I believe God wants to be Lord over every area of our lives, including our physical bodies. In that moment it hit me, two years ago, this was an area of "ministry" that I wouldn't have been able to perform as I did while I was in Joplin. That is an area of ministry I was physically limited in although it was completely in my control to strip away those limitations. I wouldn't have been able to lift my weight to climb in and out of a semi-truck countless times. I wouldn't have been able to walk the length of that 18-wheeler for 7+ hours like we did, carrying heavy loads back and forth without easily tiring and needing several breaks. This is all one missional opportunity that I would've likely missed or sat on the side-lines, very limited in how I was able to help and serve.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I held back tears as I shared my passion for this lifestyle God has called me to and remembered that it's not all about "me." To say I've been struggling lately is an understatement. I've had my eyes focused on "me" lately and that self-centeredness has led to nothing but discontent and seemingly unevitable failure. I lost sight of the TOP reason of <em>"Why I Do This,"</em> but Memorial Day was a beautiful picture as to <em>"Why!"</em></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQQPiMjSSXpIFMGkfeN8Lxgfwk25Z9GJOU0zKBkB-zgX0ob0efu-uPRpuQ-MDXTPZotw4qMj2JScduJbOhpa_CJWeSLMmJ1uuMTGlWYDcXJxYJaDzrsJTNIUqywMeZNeSmEtW3SN6BA/s1600/Loading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQQPiMjSSXpIFMGkfeN8Lxgfwk25Z9GJOU0zKBkB-zgX0ob0efu-uPRpuQ-MDXTPZotw4qMj2JScduJbOhpa_CJWeSLMmJ1uuMTGlWYDcXJxYJaDzrsJTNIUqywMeZNeSmEtW3SN6BA/s320/Loading.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm in the truck, lifting 24 packs of bottled waters</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>I do this to actively serve and glorify JESUS, my King!</strong></div><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><em>QUOTED TEXT FROM GOSPEL RAPPER, LECRAE...</em></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>"...</em><em><strong>1 teach, 2 teach, 3 teach, 4 teach, 5 teach, 6 teach, 7 teach more, this is what we've been commissioned, it's the reason why I write, so that you could hear the truth, not so you can say I’m tight whoa</strong>..."</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em></em><br />
<em><strong>"This is a lifestyle...I don’t do this for the money, I don’t do this for fame, I don’t do this so the industry can know my name, <u>I do this and host to glorify Yeshua the King, if you’re feelin’ me you know you should be doin’ the same let’s go</u>…"</strong></em></div></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmE_5otX2qK_dS2ftELNnJGwNOhut15QqPD3mOIRyXCYk16Q1oKQrsuxs2xgK_xB3elp1tJlj3CLyDu7nP4NI9BDJZivkU0qJVLOgdelo1ggwfvSZ8exVr_Ny_aFEY-uCSv6DvI_tjUA/s1600/FightforAir2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmE_5otX2qK_dS2ftELNnJGwNOhut15QqPD3mOIRyXCYk16Q1oKQrsuxs2xgK_xB3elp1tJlj3CLyDu7nP4NI9BDJZivkU0qJVLOgdelo1ggwfvSZ8exVr_Ny_aFEY-uCSv6DvI_tjUA/s320/FightforAir2.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not doing this <em><u>just</u></em> for "ME"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-30464043850674928482011-06-03T11:00:00.001-05:002011-06-03T11:19:12.757-05:00HOPE for JOPLIN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHQAtZto9FHFxAhZFRYfuk0cKxzEE89EbfHRNqfwZ5WXYCPcAT1nYKscHjoJWEnBFyMTTlWQFh_ntUOEuARFo27kHTV3bueKRURCpxgGkrscCaK3VE0o0Phh1Tn1UislcKhKvXWRfOA/s1600/joplin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHQAtZto9FHFxAhZFRYfuk0cKxzEE89EbfHRNqfwZ5WXYCPcAT1nYKscHjoJWEnBFyMTTlWQFh_ntUOEuARFo27kHTV3bueKRURCpxgGkrscCaK3VE0o0Phh1Tn1UislcKhKvXWRfOA/s1600/joplin.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><br />
<strong>Acts 20:35</strong><br />
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<em><strong><blockquote><em><strong>In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"</strong></em></blockquote></strong></em><br />
Thanks to everyone who has helped in some way either with my recent trip to Joplin with my Church and/or assisting through other organizations and ministries.<br />
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I’m thankful that we were able to go and offer HOPE to hurting people who I’m confident God can and will heal over time. I’m thankful that not just my Church, but the entire Kansas City community pulled together to help our efforts. This trip wouldn’t have been possible without the community. Two news stations covered the effort which increased awareness. A local rental van company donated a cargo truck to us and mentioned to our pastor as they picked it up that numerous Churches in the area have called with requests and they just can’t do it and my Pastor mentioned, <em>“You do know that we are a Church right?”</em> But for whatever reason, they donated the truck to be sent, that is so amazing! Over $4500 was donated in cash contributions in addition to a LARGE moving truck and one cargo van full of baby products, water, hygiene products, flashlights, food, dog food, toys, etc. I know this trip was a HUGE blessing to those who will benefit as well as all who were able to give and help if even in a small way.<br />
I’m so thankful that I was able to go along on this trip to Joplin on Memorial Day along with over 30 others. Ths trip made and impact and left an impression on our hearts and I know that it helped the people affected by the devastation in Joplin. The best way I can sum up our trip is “successful.” We went to serve and serve is what we did.<br />
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When we got there, you have to register and they send you where they see fit. We first unloaded our two truckloads at <a href="http://www.ignitechurch.tv/">Ignite Church</a> which is overseeing a lot of the relief efforts along with Convoy of Hope. The Church has completely destroyed their parking lot and removed everything that made them your typical “local Church,” in order to actively work and serve the community and I loved seeing that. What used to be a Sunday school room is now filled floor to ceiling with diapers. The entire back of the Church has become a storage area full of toilet paper, paper towels and dog food. What was a sanctuary is now a food pantry and they’ve driven huge metal stakes in the parking lot (literally ruining it, it’ll have to be redone when this concludes), in order to set up tents where they’re serving free meals, providing needed items to families and medical assistance. That really, really said a lot to me.<br />
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After unloading the items we brought, (and me getting a tetanus shot that I later found out I didn’t really need – I only add this because if you know me well, you know that I am TERRIFIED of needles…but I did it J), we were sent offsite in a neighboring city where we unloaded, sorted and reloaded 3 semis jam packed with stuff…I never realized how large a semi was until walking the length of one, inside the truck, repetitively, for hours with loads of items in my arms.<br />
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By the end of the day, we were all tired and exhausted but everyone responded in almost the same way, “I’m tired, but in a good way.” The dread is taken out of work when you know you are SERVING with a purpose, it becomes hard work that is well worth it. Our 1 day trip is nothing compared to what will be required over the next months to even years to rebuild and help those in Joplin, Mo. We worked non-stop for nearly 7 hours sorting donated items and organizing things and that’s 7 of who knows how many more.<br />
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It was easy to just consider it a normal work/serve day and forget what we were really there doing and whom we were actually helping until we drove through the devastation site before leaving. The best I can describe it is unreal! After spending all day in an area completely unaffected, it was easy to think that things just aren’t as bad as they were portrayed on the news until we drove through to witness the most unreal thing I’ve ever seen. In the car I was in, we all said almost simultaneously, “OH MY GOODNESS!” Then there was just a hush! It just seems unreal to grasp and really wrap your mind around. <br />
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Can you imagine, we live in the Midwest, tornado alley, where we are used to hearing tornado sirens regularly throughout this season. I was telling a friend that we’ve grown so used to it that it almost feels like the boy crying wolf. We hear sirens and don’t pay it much attention and honestly, as a Kansan, most of our initial responses are to either 1. Go outside to look, or 2. Get in the car to find the severe weather. We don’t take these things nearly as seriously as they are. So imagine them doing like most of us are used to doing, going to their basements half-heartedly and not really expecting much to come from it. In a matter of minutes, lives are lost, livelihoods are forever changed and nothing is the same. These people crawled up from their basements, through rubble, to find nothing left but destruction and likely images that will forever be embedded in their minds. Horrific sights. I cannot imagine.<br />
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Keep the people of Joplin and those who’ve lost loved ones in Joplin in your hearts. If you are able, I encourage you to help however you see fit. Easily, this could’ve been or could be us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtD2ti4QtK9x4Sr3gfFNJK_Fl6Kxh8YB84YOLfPxB7HtSAkHwzVHRRkaHFyyrksBjuRe_iNEnFIuieDhdFMyYMI9Lu_7cu5bU-Hkgk-OtAEUivkpTrc-uAJxR_R94zNzW439CxAuN6w/s1600/DSCN0916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtD2ti4QtK9x4Sr3gfFNJK_Fl6Kxh8YB84YOLfPxB7HtSAkHwzVHRRkaHFyyrksBjuRe_iNEnFIuieDhdFMyYMI9Lu_7cu5bU-Hkgk-OtAEUivkpTrc-uAJxR_R94zNzW439CxAuN6w/s320/DSCN0916.jpg" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loading a truck with donated items at Church</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTBiOhFIWo8LU47A5n1SWUBtialU3VgJet6BZDfRd2YR8Sn3gIoUQjVmrhnBtoqHK7VjxqyRHfxm_FEgBVBBMWNFbZKtBJaIRW6C6zzIqgegt23QtKL3igYIM1ihu-SqqAEZzsLQIsg/s1600/DSCN0955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTBiOhFIWo8LU47A5n1SWUBtialU3VgJet6BZDfRd2YR8Sn3gIoUQjVmrhnBtoqHK7VjxqyRHfxm_FEgBVBBMWNFbZKtBJaIRW6C6zzIqgegt23QtKL3igYIM1ihu-SqqAEZzsLQIsg/s320/DSCN0955.jpg" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unloading items in an assembly line at Ignite Church in Joplin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aVFPfBx22NxSZ4GhPzcmjjxdudHCQDAJOlWfzVpyrOFDj4thVbPXYDhu5r-4EYYsF8Ni-AuSc_8j7Q12_fziMec5dyf5nQQvGAa6FFTsFeZ48x4qRdyAMVHc5JF_YCKh6cEeK8M3uA/s1600/DSCN0946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aVFPfBx22NxSZ4GhPzcmjjxdudHCQDAJOlWfzVpyrOFDj4thVbPXYDhu5r-4EYYsF8Ni-AuSc_8j7Q12_fziMec5dyf5nQQvGAa6FFTsFeZ48x4qRdyAMVHc5JF_YCKh6cEeK8M3uA/s320/DSCN0946.jpg" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our group from Lifepointe Church that went to Joplin, MO for tornado recovery work - Memorial Day 2011</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkYu1trtEEtekGhPgu76dAbmox55kWeaVCAXGqkRV70eTLuVRxevnzgXrj7Bs5BSNFM9YqvuD4oNa_RXv-UouMUrQQeTweFK3aTRsPCTV6_aELTliWcsujyUFZRRvIfA8FzryC82ggg/s1600/DSCN0985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkYu1trtEEtekGhPgu76dAbmox55kWeaVCAXGqkRV70eTLuVRxevnzgXrj7Bs5BSNFM9YqvuD4oNa_RXv-UouMUrQQeTweFK3aTRsPCTV6_aELTliWcsujyUFZRRvIfA8FzryC82ggg/s320/DSCN0985.jpg" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just one image of the devastation caused by the deadly Ef-5 tornado that struck Joplin, Mo on May 22, 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-56089345074834088702011-05-18T23:04:00.009-05:002011-05-19T12:29:36.715-05:00Back to the Basics<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><span style="font-family: inherit;">I stepped on the scale today and saw a number staring at me that I NEVER wanted to see again, not even if I were pregnant....</span></em></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpb5w6iQ9JnfVigd-QnnAuJnIPJSKHmsDKiED6GvcqRNZLL841HRB0DOV38RZKOfexrOIbRgpG0VtGsDL2n1N3zts4I-9shqki5hpONOpZBGaH3FHU1kQdQBbsVTzCUCvMgHgFKLmLKQ/s1600/SCALE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="199px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpb5w6iQ9JnfVigd-QnnAuJnIPJSKHmsDKiED6GvcqRNZLL841HRB0DOV38RZKOfexrOIbRgpG0VtGsDL2n1N3zts4I-9shqki5hpONOpZBGaH3FHU1kQdQBbsVTzCUCvMgHgFKLmLKQ/s200/SCALE.png" width="200px" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Weigh-in on May 18, 2011</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As you can imagine, that was hard truth! The lowest weight recorded for me on this journey is 179...climbing back to 215.4 is depressing! Humiliating! Degrading! Demotivating! DISCOURAGING! (and just about anything else that starts with a negative connotation and ends in "..ing")!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was talking to my dear friend Val on chat about my weight gain and how hard it is to see that number again, I love what she said to me:</span><br />
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<blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Valerie:</span></strong> <span style="color: black;"><strong><u><span style="background-color: yellow;">so don't get back on the scale today</span></u></strong>! start at this very moment doing all the things you know you need to do to never see that number again. you know what to do. do it.</span></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><em>"So don't get back on the scale today!" </em></strong>There isn't anything EXTRA-ordinary about that statement, however, it really hit home with how "matter-of-fact" and immediate she said it. Without giving it a second thought she basically said, <em>"Well, stop wallowing over it and DO SOMETHING!"</em> Blunt. Honest. Truth! I'm so thankful for Val, she's a straight shooter and doesn't tickle my ears and pat my back, she ruffles feathers and says what needs to be said when it needs to be said! She most definitely is loving, compassionate and understanding as well, but not at the cost of catering to my pity party. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is no excuse or reason for my weight gain, the simple truth is I started back into old habits of instant gratification which is lack of self-control! I fell back into the habit of never denying myself anything, <em>"If I want something, I'm going to get it NOW!"</em></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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I used to go through this deep, drawn out thought process behind every set-back and weight gain, <em>"Why did I gain weight?"</em> <em>"What's going on emotionally?" "What triggered this set-back?"</em> I was always looking to pinpoint the "cause" that led to the "effect." Although I realize the importance of discovering what's behind our weight (emotionally, spiritually, physically, pshycologically), I'm also seeing the deception in how exaggerated it's become. Every time I gain, someone else on this journey gains or I'm trying to pep talk someone through their gain, it's like we look for this "one thing" to <strong><u><span style="color: red;">blame</span></u></strong>. Not that it justifies it, but it somehow puts a sense of "purpose" in the gain when we find something or someone to "blame" for this set-back. I'm gaining because of...XYZ! <strong>It's bogus!</strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We can either let our circumstances control us or we can control our circumstances. Some things really are out of our control: job loss, family trouble, economy, illness. But that's where the Serenity Prayer says it beautifully:</span><br />
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<blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">God grant me the serenity </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">to accept the things I cannot change</span>; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><u>courage to change the things I can</u></span>;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: cyan;"><strong>and wisdom to know the difference</strong></span>. </span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><strong>Want to know the difference?</strong></em> I cannot change the fact that a family member is dealing with medical issues or that some people who were once close to us are only in our lives for a season. You cannot change the fact that a loved one just passed away or your husband lost his job. But you can take COURAGE and continue making wise choices for healthy change in your own life rather than slumping into a pit of despair. You CAN change your eating habits, you CAN change your fitness level.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Val and I continued our conversation after the scale comment and we discussed some things that I believe are pretty relevant and noteworthy:</span><br />
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<blockquote><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Valerie:</span><span style="color: black;"> i think at some point in our journeys we all got a little bored and wanted to make it more exciting and bigger than it was, so we started doing things like...ahem training for marathons and trying to do cheetah flips (whatever that is) in order to gain more "respect" and in order to be more inspirational to others...aka to get more of an ego boost. maybe i am over generalizing, but i think that's exactly where i started falling apart. i just knocked myself down and started back on the bottom rung where requirements are lower (i.e. you don't have to run 20 miles to be working hard) and started counting calories.</span></span></strong></blockquote><blockquote><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: magenta;">me</span>: <span style="background-color: yellow; color: black;">"go back and do what you did in the beginning"</span></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Valerie:</span> <span style="color: black;">point is, sometimes greatness is achieved in the most meager of actions. we lost sight of that--at least i did. i quit celebrating the small victories.</span></span></strong><br />
<strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: magenta;">me:</span> <span style="color: black;">i agree i totally agree</span></span></strong><br />
<strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Valerie:</span> <span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">i quit celebrating my new body and my new life and i got lost in the grandeur of it all and lost my way</span> </span></span></strong></blockquote><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One conversation I've had a lot lately surrounds the concept of "go back and do what you did in the beginning." In the book of Revelation <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Ch. 2),</span> there is a letter written to the Church of Ephesus where they are acknowledged for all these wonderful things they are now doing, <em>"<span style="font-size: x-small;">vs 2</span> I know your deeds, your hard work and your perserverance." </em>but then they are rebuked because in doing all that, they lost sight of their "first love." They are admonished with the statement, <em>"<span style="font-size: x-small;">vs 4-5</span> Yet I hold this against you: You have foresaken the love you had at first. <strong><u>Repent and do the things you did at first</u></strong>."</em></span></span> <br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I feel the same rebuke on my journey. REPENT! Or more appropriately, <em>"<strong>STOP and CHANGE</strong>! Do what you did at first."</em> The name of this blog is "</span><a href="http://rebornwright.blogspot.com/p/411.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Potter's Clay</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">." I set down this road with a goal of glorifying God with my physical health as well as allowing him to mold me inside and out. In addition, I set out to start taking care of myself and loving "me" because how can I love others if I can't even love and care for myself? Third, I simply did what I knew to lose weight and was successful as well as loved doing it. Nothing extravagent. I was mindful of my eating habits and ate in moderation. I began living an active life and exercising, nothing extreme. I ENJOYED every day of the journey, good and bad. I loved learning more of who I am, how God sees me and saw others in a new loving and compassionate way as well. Of course, I never liked to see a gain on the scale, but I didn't let that stop me from living and learning and I just kept going. There weren't any of these binge periods followed by extreme food monitoring and insane workouts to offset the damage done. I've learned that when I go to the <strong><u>extreme</u></strong> it's great for awhile, but it's inevitably followed with EXTREME backtracking.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There isn't anything wrong with goals, I've loved goal setting along the way, but I lost sight of taking joy in the small things. My celebrations used to be over fitting in restaurant booths or keeping up with friends at the mall without losing my breath. I love going out with girlfriends now and actually "feeling" like a lady in cute clothes rather than men's XXL T-Shirts. My eyes would well with tears over the simpliest things and the small victories were enough to continually encourage me to keep moving. Now I've lost sight of the little everyday things my friends used to take for granted and I've found myself guilty of the same. Instead of remembering that I couldn't shop at a normal store before or fit on rides at the amusement park, I find myself constantly needing to run this race or 'compete' against that persons journey. It reminds me of a blog I wrote a few months back called "</span><a href="http://rebornwright.blogspot.com/2011/02/robotic-weight-loss.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Robotic Weight Loss</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">." It's this never ending road of pushing to the extreme, but forgetting the basics.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNRz6v_27KXYYBFkrIOkb072k40SBsGxIUV1q9j2P7meaDOHgoMw0VTLA1nTT682EHFlkXE-EhVkMTfR2WcBDg5Mt3-qX4qE5ZVBIFe9AG7gepEXN7kf9NETQhCXLF6lqIkCwJL8U0A/s1600/abc_blocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="193px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNRz6v_27KXYYBFkrIOkb072k40SBsGxIUV1q9j2P7meaDOHgoMw0VTLA1nTT682EHFlkXE-EhVkMTfR2WcBDg5Mt3-qX4qE5ZVBIFe9AG7gepEXN7kf9NETQhCXLF6lqIkCwJL8U0A/s200/abc_blocks.jpg" width="200px" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I’m learning, this isn’t a walk in the park anymore, making a LIFESTYLE out of this is tough. When you battle weight issues (whether addictions, disorders, self-esteem, medical conditions), it’s exactly that – a battle. I don’t know that the battle ever just “ends” one day when you’ve reached your pre-determined goal. Every day you have to make a conscious decision to continue supporting that healthy life and some days you’ll win and other days you’ll not play your </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“A” game, but a set-back does NOT have to be a failure!</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">One thing I'm starting to grasp though is the fact that I cannot forget where I've come from and when in doubt, <u><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;">GO BACK TO THE BASICS</span></u>!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sYBWVv_lLF_UAsoDWXKK7w3yvvrORDGYc6h3JICPeADV-hiTqJTvlgoeAChZf3KjaRSU-9gDyzzhzQ3v-kSGyKtJn4snN4Pa0AfUFfPtOWDDeezx-mEc64qo8C1dwBE5Mkmw2BTOPw/s1600/OldHeader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sYBWVv_lLF_UAsoDWXKK7w3yvvrORDGYc6h3JICPeADV-hiTqJTvlgoeAChZf3KjaRSU-9gDyzzhzQ3v-kSGyKtJn4snN4Pa0AfUFfPtOWDDeezx-mEc64qo8C1dwBE5Mkmw2BTOPw/s400/OldHeader.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div>Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-69633672254110311412011-04-20T12:54:00.005-05:002011-07-05T08:55:16.855-05:00RACE DAY: "Bib Number"<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyF7Dic6jXjg18Mn1KqkzXvYmzbPzOUGVtfkb31Fi7G7WgaJNPNimIWp5YzQgAPb0P7CXoKDSo-1BnPyp842_hI_f6ohUeHlRMUemUSLfr5EiVf2aQk-VuWjyaIS_oClvDQ0owCD2R6Q/s1600/IMAG0115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyF7Dic6jXjg18Mn1KqkzXvYmzbPzOUGVtfkb31Fi7G7WgaJNPNimIWp5YzQgAPb0P7CXoKDSo-1BnPyp842_hI_f6ohUeHlRMUemUSLfr5EiVf2aQk-VuWjyaIS_oClvDQ0owCD2R6Q/s320/IMAG0115.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bib Number for my FIRST 10k!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<blockquote><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"The biggest reward for a thing well done is to have done it."</span></em> -<strong>Francois Voltaire</strong></blockquote>I'm beginning to acquire a bit of an addiction for these roadraces. There is something about the atmosphere of an <strong>OFFICIAL, CHIP-TIMED, MARKED OUT</strong> race course that gets the adrenaline pumping and drives runners to play their A-game! There is something about waking up at an ungodly time in the morning to fuel with water, bread and peanut butter (which I don't like) as well as stretching for the BIG EVENT that makes that early start worthwhile. I can't describe the feeling of putting on compression pants that at one time you thought you'd never be caught DEAD in, followed by lacing up a good pair of running shoes (I'm not talking about a cheap pair from Payless Shoesource either! <em>No,</em> you pay a pretty penny for this high class form of transportation that is powered by none other than YOU). It's normally a bit chilly, but that doesn't seem to effect you much as nerves are running high which I'm sure increases the blood flow. Everyone is stretching, some are running BEFORE the run (not me) in order to warm up, others are removing layers to strip down to what resembles a babies shorts (that's about how long they are) and little tanks.<br />
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<strong>I encourage you, if you haven't yet, sign-up for a ROADRACE</strong>.<br />
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If you are like me, you go to "packet pickup" a day or two prior to the race as you don't need anything else to distract you from your mental preparation on race day. I mean, what if the line is too long and you can't make it to the start line? What if their fingers begin to scan the page, looking intently for your name, but it's no where to be found because there was some glitch in the system and your registration didn't transfer properly? That is the LAST thing you want to happen at the very LAST minute.<br />
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In this packet that you've picked up there are typically solicitations for various other upcoming races in the area, <em>you know</em>, these people are pushers and all knowing that most race runners quickly become addicted to this "roadrace high." There are two things that matter most in this packet though:<br />
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1. Your timing chip (to be laced to your shoe to track your official start/finish time)<br />
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<strong>2. <u><span style="background-color: lime;">YOUR BIB NUMBER</span></u></strong><br />
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The second one is what I'm going to talk a bit about. <em>Ah</em>, the BIB NUMBER. Call me crazy, but one of the most exciting parts about the entire experience for me is this "BIB NUMBER" (apart from actually FINISHING the race). <em>Why?</em> I love securely fastening my BIB NUMBER to the front of my shirt on race day because of it's symbolism. This "number" is what sets me apart from those who are just in the crowd cheering, and those who <strong><u><span style="color: red;">RUN</span></u></strong>. This "number" silently SHOUTS that I'm no longer a spectator; I'm not on the sidelines watching everyone else live their lives while I stand going no where. This "number" labels me as someone who is IN the race, running, BELIEVING in myself and my ability.<br />
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Attaching this number floods my mind with so many thoughts and emotions. It reminds me not only of my physical run, but my fight of faith with scriptures like: <em>"I can do ALL things through CHRIST who strengthens me." </em>and<em> </em>"<em>Greater is HE that is in me than he that is in the world,"</em> the one who tried to steal my life through obesity and how the GOD who lives in me is strengthening me to FIGHT against that work in my life. I remember when I struggled to walk to my car in the parking lot at work and how I used to hate if I had to park further than the first 3 rows at the grocery store because of how far it was from the entrance. I am now a participant IN an official race and I'm perservering. I might not be the fastest runner out there, and by no means do I think I'll be winning an award any day soon, but what means the most to me is:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><em>I START<span style="color: black;">.</span> I RUN<span style="color: black;">.</span> I FINISH<span style="color: black;">.</span></em></span></strong></div><br />
Now they are giving a 10-minute warning, alerting you that it's time to begin making your way to the starting line to wait for the gun to sound.<br />
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<strong>ANXIETY HITS.</strong><br />
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<strong>THEN NERVOUSNESS.</strong><br />
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<strong>NOW THE FEELING THAT YOU HAVE TO GO THE BATHROOM REALLY, REALLY, REEEALLLY STINKIN' BAD.</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqd1vvGUIAkWx82f69GchG-8yO1DppAWjc78lZvEIHLxLOY63Yb0OaLN_qgRoSGqp3-wZmzwpUKpNGtW8JP9fM5ziwZ3r-GSsQXT6Dy4E79mbwcAcvB76mWYVVi8mkZJTg8UKHqTNgA/s1600/79331-447-027t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqd1vvGUIAkWx82f69GchG-8yO1DppAWjc78lZvEIHLxLOY63Yb0OaLN_qgRoSGqp3-wZmzwpUKpNGtW8JP9fM5ziwZ3r-GSsQXT6Dy4E79mbwcAcvB76mWYVVi8mkZJTg8UKHqTNgA/s1600/79331-447-027t.jpg" /></a></div>You learn a lot through running. You have to be disciplined, self-controlled, you have to listen to your body and fuel properly. So much of that directly correllates with this awesome journey of <strong>FAITH</strong>. As believers, we are called to be self-controlled and alert in our actions, disciplined in our lives, listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit living in us and we are nourished through reading the word of God, time in prayer and worship. You endure through hardship and pain, things that we all face in life. You keep fighting the good fight of faith through trials and temptations. I'm reminded of this especially during the points of a race where you are so tired that you just want to quit. You are tempted to just stop in the middle of the road and bend over with your hands on your knees to surrender to this uncomfortable and at times painful exhaustion. But through it all, <em>you just keep running!</em><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqpBpiLY3v6TlpcqfEm0dbPZI0KIx9SZQ1xGSRYKAkC_UeQP8E_nModnhsFvR9BUwqfv36jT_NL-Mxu16QCPing-fn-AGZdSfLftoIuRWahmzrDWStV0FVf7fb0rQvvYr1j3DXA10eQ/s1600/IMAG0124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqpBpiLY3v6TlpcqfEm0dbPZI0KIx9SZQ1xGSRYKAkC_UeQP8E_nModnhsFvR9BUwqfv36jT_NL-Mxu16QCPing-fn-AGZdSfLftoIuRWahmzrDWStV0FVf7fb0rQvvYr1j3DXA10eQ/s320/IMAG0124.jpg" width="213px" /></a>I still can say without hesitation that I am <strong>NOT</strong> a fan of running, <em>nope</em>, I'm not one of those girls who claims to love it. But ya know, what I do love is what I learn about life on these runs. Some hard truths, some mental battles, but ALL of them become worth it when I've <strong><u><span style="color: red;">RUN</span></u></strong> my race and <span style="color: red;"><strong><em><u>FINISHED</u></em></strong></span><span style="color: black;"> the course marked out for me</span>!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You might think I'm crazy, but I bet some of you know exactly what I'm talking about. <em>For me</em>, it all starts with the "BIB NUMBER."</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><strong>1 Corinthians 9:24-27</strong><br />
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<em>"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. <strong><u>Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training</u></strong>. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. <strong><u>Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air</u></strong>. <span style="background-color: lime;"><strong>No, I <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YmwVDCYqQZg95ZcM9FMf2d25AGReWFTysTYU-Srvq0v1IMJlpyGS-7XEZjS2uCiGtLbjxfuVsTpwQYH8oo2N274FKs1XeZ-EdWz5b7awLiY5j3SKS0tE8kujR6eODhoX5dWFM3URNA/s1600/IMAG0137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YmwVDCYqQZg95ZcM9FMf2d25AGReWFTysTYU-Srvq0v1IMJlpyGS-7XEZjS2uCiGtLbjxfuVsTpwQYH8oo2N274FKs1XeZ-EdWz5b7awLiY5j3SKS0tE8kujR6eODhoX5dWFM3URNA/s320/IMAG0137.jpg" width="213px" /></a>strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.</strong></span>"</em><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Hebrews 12:1-3</strong></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. <u><strong>And let us </strong></u></em><span style="color: red;"><u><strong>RUN</strong></u></span><u><strong><em> with perseverance the</em> <span style="color: red;">race</span><em> marked out for us</em></strong></u><em>, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."</em></div><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div>Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-19533863387271116802011-04-13T16:08:00.000-05:002011-04-13T16:08:29.621-05:00You were a flower...GREAT GRANDMA!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicf2MM2FJMWFNQA9hKSqXdn45FAndxaKtYUyvGXKHCbSp-4lVaJcYnjPjg45maIFHATxy-VHBq9SHPHu90WRHqXd5GpPBNEciIDNOs66YQ6KXQpY4jFEAQCyXnJZTk7DlrR9hRZ7VWdQ/s1600/Gma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicf2MM2FJMWFNQA9hKSqXdn45FAndxaKtYUyvGXKHCbSp-4lVaJcYnjPjg45maIFHATxy-VHBq9SHPHu90WRHqXd5GpPBNEciIDNOs66YQ6KXQpY4jFEAQCyXnJZTk7DlrR9hRZ7VWdQ/s320/Gma.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
On Friday, March 25th my Great Grandma passed away peacefully and with family in a hospice home. I'm thankful and Praise God that she knew and had a relationship with <strong><span style="color: red;">Jesus</span></strong> and the peace and comfort that came from having that confidence. I'm thankful to have had a Great Grandma in my life and to have enjoyed that relationship for the 25 years of my life. Great Grandma was 89 and she was ready. One thing that fills my heart with <strong><span style="color: purple;">JOY</span></strong> and I will always remember is how the last day she was fully coherent, my Gma said she spent about an hour just talking to God, praying and singing old songs as though He was right there in the room with her. She would tell Him how she was ready and ask Him to help her with the pain and she just didn't want to leave behind her babies, she wanted to know that her children and grandchildren would be taken care of and be alright. I don't really even shed tears over the fact that Great Grandma is gone, because I know she is well now - <em><strong><span style="color: #660000;">sin and death are defeated!</span></strong></em> But I well up with emotion thinking that in the final days of her life, her one remaining concern and anxious thought would be that of a mother for her family. WOW! She had 11 children and I can't even count how many Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren and even some Great Great's that she had, but it just blesses my heart to know that in that state of life, her thought wasn't on fading away, it was that we would be okay. :') The experience of being there with her the final 2 weeks of her life, back and forth from visiting hospice, God used it to teach me so much about life. I understood more of how these bodies we live in really are just temporary homes, we move on though. I understand more of how in this fallen world, we are forced to give so much of our attention to things that never satisfy yet are necessary for life on this earth (like food, water, shelter, clothing, etc), but at the end of life you start thinking in the eternal and those things mean less and less to you and being in the presence of the Lord means more and more. I understood more about death being defeated because in this flesh we daily are at war, but that war is no more when we finish this race of life. In the word it says our life is like a vapor and literally, my Great Grandma lived 89 years, but at the end of life, I'm sure 89 years seems like a blink. She was born, she lived, then she died...<em><strong>all like that</strong></em>. We all do. There are so many things in this world that jock for our attention and some of which we just have to tend to while living <em>"this life,"</em> but there is a life to come - PRAISE GOD! The funeral services were beautiful for Great Grandma and I was thankful for the boldness in witness my cousin, Great Uncle and Great Grandma's pastor had in preaching the truth to our family at the funeral. It was GOOD! I think about a flower and how a flower's pollen blows and takes root and produces other beautiful flowers like itself and I started thinking about my Great Grandma like a flower. <strong><span style="background-color: yellow;">She loved Jesus.</span></strong> Going to the funeral I could look around and see these precious and sporatic flowers scattered within my family that are growing and blooming to love and serve the Lord. <strong><span style="color: #e69138;">AMAZING!</span></strong> It blessed my heart so much and I was filled with even more hope at the thought that it's not it, there are more flowers in the works, just waiting to bloom and turn their faces to Jesus!<br />
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<strong>John 12:24</strong><br />
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<blockquote><em>Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.</em></blockquote>Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-31813821368929946772011-02-16T13:37:00.002-06:002011-02-23T14:38:40.224-06:00Pivotal Choices<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7CHi7tTIoUoC59sndBboCPDy14zm319dPmkFsZyfVPpSuMUTRGE_LxXaRGxY85GaAYOWMbsUNpiYAWP_oRFhjYeyepP4PERLkHe_eZowe3R58B3KS4IN1biGOYw3qSq1mPaixCNVCQ/s1600/wood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7CHi7tTIoUoC59sndBboCPDy14zm319dPmkFsZyfVPpSuMUTRGE_LxXaRGxY85GaAYOWMbsUNpiYAWP_oRFhjYeyepP4PERLkHe_eZowe3R58B3KS4IN1biGOYw3qSq1mPaixCNVCQ/s200/wood.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small choices makes <strong><u><span style="color: red;">BIG</span></u></strong> impacts!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Have you ever noticed that sometimes it's the "small" choices that we make which don't seem that drastic at the time that end up having a tremendous impact down the road? These are pivotal moments that set us in motion down a path which holds the potential to change our entire lives!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>I think every single one of us encounters several "pivotal moments" where we have to make a choice that literally molds a part of who we are (whether for the good or bad).</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>This past weekend I had an epiphany that really had me digging deep. It's funny how something simple can usher you into a thought process that blows your mind. So let me set the stage that led to this "epiphany" if you will. I was cleaning out some old papers in my car on Sunday morning when I came across a referral note from my doctor dated 12/16/08. It had a business card attached to it for a local weight loss surgeon. The referal note read, <em>"Pt has BMI 58 will be unable to reach healthy BMI in next year."</em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ovJft3Ff9CXLT1TpaTp6HZYKjfCm9a_yKq2hgq_hYMswNYI7UGbiTwQlITcoIfRXT9sr9Cmmpb0rdXD5LEOVlVB7UKnNq17C3PG47too3ceX2rPYLYwiXBeJyFPdHkwToYGgoFivHQ/s1600/DrNote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ovJft3Ff9CXLT1TpaTp6HZYKjfCm9a_yKq2hgq_hYMswNYI7UGbiTwQlITcoIfRXT9sr9Cmmpb0rdXD5LEOVlVB7UKnNq17C3PG47too3ceX2rPYLYwiXBeJyFPdHkwToYGgoFivHQ/s320/DrNote.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Finding this note in my car was like striking gold!</span></em> I remember when this note was written. This note was written after one of the FEW times I ever reached out and openly sought counsel on the condition of my weight and I really felt like change was impossible. This note was written at a point in my life where I didn't believe in my own ability to lose weight so for good reason, my doctor didn't either. This note was written after years of office visits where my weight steadily increased with each check-up, but all my vitals returned "normal" so I'd convince myself that I was "OK" and would just continue on with life as I knew it: Overweight, <em>UN</em>healthy, insecure and <em>UN</em>happy.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>The more I looked at that note, the more my heart was filled with joy as I was reminded of "who" I was and where I am today. As you can imagine, it was hard to wipe the smile off of my face on Sunday morning. Furthermore, I began to ponder the date: mid-December 2008. In mid-December 2008 there was nothing in me that believed in myself. Now fast-forward (but not too far). The end of January 2009 is when I stumbled across my first episode of <u><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The Biggest Loser</span></u> and got inspired! February 2, 2009, I gave God my inability and started seeking Him for His ability to help me gain my life back. In 1 1/2 months I went from a mental state of hopelessness and disbelief to FULL of <em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">hope</span></em> that I could change! This was still only a <em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">hope</span></em> for change though, not a full assurance and KNOWING that it would happen...</strong><strong>Now, back to present tense and onto my epiphany. Later in the day of re-disovering that doctor's note, I also found myself in the drive-thru of Taco John's for a poorly planned fast-food dinner (not thinking much about the note anymore). As I pulled through the drive-thru, there was a severly obese man working the window. IMMEDIATELY, I was taken back to that note and really felt a deep sense of compassion for that man. A flood of emotions rushed over me as I realized that "he" is who I was. The only difference between me and him is one small, uneasy and personally <span style="color: red;">pivotal choice</span> that set me in motion down a path with the potential to change my entire life...AND IT HAS!</strong><br />
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<strong>My weight had robbed me for countless years of JOY, peace, confidence, boldness and even my identity in Christ. That day I made a seemingly small choice that was VERY pivotal. That day I chose a path that would take some work, but I also believed it'd lead to a better life. I really didn't have much insight or vision of what the future would be like that day, it was really a moment of living in the "here and now" because everything else was still so unimaginable. I had no clue where it'd take me, what it'd be like and honestly didn't even have the full-confidence that I'd really succeed, but I still took those exciting first steps.</strong></div><br />
<strong>There are so many people out there who don't even realize that it's just one, small, <span style="color: red;">pivotal choice</span> that will change the rest of their lives. Ones who, like me, can't even imagine what their life will look like down the road, but are willing to take those exciting first steps to discovery. WOW...</strong><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAp-qVnnek87Ny7TrEnX3-QitrU9UiZE3mE8FVRzuJoS-g5MbqXWRg8lFzeBzDVZg_Dw3UiiF_Z-jiC_Zk8LgipDIGUTkPiduoZWWa5iGxCYACFY6ZYfT2b75vm6M56F58-NwUhpH4A/s1600/blogsplit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAp-qVnnek87Ny7TrEnX3-QitrU9UiZE3mE8FVRzuJoS-g5MbqXWRg8lFzeBzDVZg_Dw3UiiF_Z-jiC_Zk8LgipDIGUTkPiduoZWWa5iGxCYACFY6ZYfT2b75vm6M56F58-NwUhpH4A/s320/blogsplit.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st photo was in January 2009, less than a month before making a <strong><span style="color: red;">PIVOTAL CHOICE</span></strong> that is changing my life!</td></tr>
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<div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ICING ON THE CAKE</span></em>: When I found that doctor's note on Sunday, it was right after reaching yet another "milestone" on my journey. Not even 30 minutes prior, I had just finished a 6.5 mile training run (non-stop) in preparation for my first offical 10K race! I'M DAILY AMAZED!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>ALL OF THIS CAME FROM ONE PIVOTAL CHOICE!</strong></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Check out my FIRST blog entry on this journey here: <a href="http://rebornwright.blogspot.com/2009/04/12-week-competition.html"><strong>http://rebornwright.blogspot.com/2009/04/12-week-competition.html</strong></a></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Check out my 411 page for my weight loss story: <a href="http://rebornwright.blogspot.com/p/411.html"><strong>http://rebornwright.blogspot.com/p/411.html</strong></a></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><strong>Robert Frost (1874–1963). Mountain Interval. 1920.</strong></div><div align="left"><br />
<div align="left"><strong><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><u>The Road Not Taken</u></span> </strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
</strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood, </em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>And sorry I could not travel both </em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>And be one traveler, long I stood </em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>And looked down one as far as I could </em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>To where it bent in the undergrowth; </em></span></strong><strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Then took the other, as just as fair, </em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>And having perhaps the better claim, </em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Because it was grassy and wanted wear; </em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Though as for that the passing there </em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Had worn them really about the same, </em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>And both that morning equally lay </em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>In leaves no step had trodden black. </em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Oh, I kept the first for another day! </em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Yet knowing how way leads on to way, </em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>I doubted if I should ever come back. </em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>I shall be telling this with a sigh </em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Somewhere ages and ages hence: </em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— </em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>I took the one less traveled by, </em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>And that has made all the difference. </em></span></strong></div></div>Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-42823914976670167482011-02-06T16:20:00.000-06:002011-02-06T16:20:42.313-06:00Robotic Weight Loss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZ8Yv8O5AFvJ0VoIuHfPmMpebOBScut32IBkjD2D5KN6m8mZVESIMZ84394XUjinnr6Epe4v7ypIi3axLCS_8QF9zifuV53qVDwvf7rTwYm6gPIG-ECBMTMkXt6XOQgHt_DRLqkVHgg/s1600/robot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZ8Yv8O5AFvJ0VoIuHfPmMpebOBScut32IBkjD2D5KN6m8mZVESIMZ84394XUjinnr6Epe4v7ypIi3axLCS_8QF9zifuV53qVDwvf7rTwYm6gPIG-ECBMTMkXt6XOQgHt_DRLqkVHgg/s320/robot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<strong>Galatians 6:4-5 (NLT)</strong><br />
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<em><strong>"Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct."</strong></em><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>~ ********** ~</strong></div><strong><br />
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<strong>It's been awhile since I've written a real "post," but after reading some verses the other day, I had to share. :)</strong><br />
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<strong>I called this post "Robotic Weight Loss" because it seems that in the community of weight loss there is a lot of comparisons made and hurt feelings when we aren't able to do the same thing someone else did:</strong><br />
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<ul><li><em><strong>"Well, she lost 8 pounds in one week, why couldn't I?"</strong></em></li>
<li><em><strong>"How is it that she lost 100 pounds in 8 months and it's taken me over a year now?"</strong></em></li>
<li><em><strong>"Those people on the TV show burned 6000 calories in one day, what am I doing wrong?"</strong></em></li>
<li><em><strong>"When you ran that 5k you did so well, I dont know if I can ever be a runner."</strong></em></li>
</ul><strong>It's almost like we expect to be these little programmed robots that perform the same tasks with the same precision and speed. If we don't, there is surely a short-circuit and we're broke - <em>right?</em></strong><br />
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<strong>It's not wrong to set goals or be inspired by the accomplishments of others, but I see a lot of negative tension that develops when people are motivated by trying to meet or beat someone <em><u>ELSE'S</u></em> personal record. If we do meet/beat their record, we miss a very special part of personal accomplishment for the simple fact that at the core of our excitement - it's about what someone else did! <em>Are you following me?</em> Yes, you were able to do it too - but the unit of measurement was "Billy Jo Bob." On the flip, when we are unable to meet or exceed that goal, oftentimes we feel as though we have failed. <em>"Why is it that they were able to do this and I was not?"</em> Discouragement sets in and people begin to dishonor themselves and discredit their OWN accomplishments. There is a good reason they call them "PR's" in the athletic world - it's because they are supposed to be PERSONAL records.</strong><br />
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<strong>If you've read much of anything on my blog, you've probably noticed that I try to glean from scripture and revelation from God as it applies to my life as a whole - <em>including weight loss</em>. For awhile I'd somewhat lost perspective, it's easy to look at the world around you and quickly paint a picture based of what "seems" most desirable and commonly accepted. <em>"I'd love to be her size, lose x amount of weight quicker than she did, abs like hers, run faster than that chick, get a HUNK of a man at my right side by looking like her..."</em> and the list goes on. All of these with the common denominator of "How I compare to the next person." Can "I" do more than <u><em>they</em></u> can? What do "I" look like next to <u><em>those</em></u> girls? Am "I" more successful???</strong><br />
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<strong>We've all probably heard someone say, <em>"You shouldn't compare yourself to others,"</em> but have we really taken that statement to heart and thought about WHY comparing ourselves isn't beneficial and oftentimes tears us down more than builds us up? One of two things often happens by comparing ourselves to others:</strong><br />
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<strong>1. We are discouraged because we don't "add up" to the life or accomplishment of the person we are comparing ourselves to.</strong><br />
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<strong>2. We boast that we are somehow "greater" than the next guy and exalt ourselves higher than we should.</strong><br />
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<strong>When we compare ourselves to others, we subconsciously try to duplicate or improve what others have already done or have. As long as I'm looking around to everyone else, I will NEVER be satisfied with my own work and will rob myself of certain elements of joy that come from being original. Our reflection becomes dependent on someone else. What would be the point of looking in a mirror and seeing my neighbors reflection? I wouldn't even know what "I" look like.</strong><br />
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<strong>Think about an original piece of art, whether it be a painting, song or creative writing. There is something special about sharing this original piece of artwork. That is a reflection of the talent God has placed in you and it's not in light of anyone else's prior work or achievements. AWESOME! Now think about someone who paints a duplicate or remixes a classic song. They may very much so still have creative talents and abilities within themselves, however, there name will always come after the original artist is recognized. This wasn't inspired in and of themselves, it isn't the "work of their hands," it's a copy of someone elses.</strong><br />
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<strong>Now back to the verse this is all inspired from:</strong><br />
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<strong>Galatians 6:4-5 (NLT)</strong><br />
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<em><strong>"<u>Pay</u> careful <u>attention to your own work</u>, for <u><span style="background-color: yellow;">THEN</span> you will get the satisfaction of a job well done</u>, and <u>you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else</u>. For we are each responsible for our own conduct."</strong></em><br />
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<strong>Instead of always looking over at our neighbors results, we need to focus on what "I" am doing? Am "I" working hard? Am "I" being the best "me" that I can be? Like I said, this is more than just weight loss. I'm talking in our jobs, in our relationships, in our finances in everything that God has given us to be a good steward over, are we paying careful attention to our own work and finding satisfication when it's well done?</strong><br />
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<strong>If we don't get past this damaging mindset, there will <em><u>always</u></em> be "someone" else out there to compare ourselves to and we'll <em><u>always</u></em> be striving, yet never finding, that place of satisfaction. If we just look at our own work, satisfaction truly DOES come from knowing what YOU have accomplished and what YOU worked hard to do. You can take pride (not sinfully) in what you've worked hard at doing and see the end result of it paying off. AMAZING!</strong>Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-63802028521354325152011-01-21T17:03:00.000-06:002011-01-21T17:03:20.748-06:00Biggest Weight Loss Challenge OVER! :)<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GF_Psm6Se2I?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="425" height="344" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-25686611177471144282011-01-18T12:11:00.002-06:002011-01-18T15:12:25.850-06:001 mile, 5k, stair climb...WHAT'S NEXT?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpi7JFkBXiQDW3ukzIQL5CaItWMVHMs_LsvfY50VxLaRZZXsCgtmjWGe5QeuTNYrt7jU0INlrs-g95QoGC7v2VcXjH2njXtuWdP_ILDP2qixD-I9T86L6X1clQVzOnyaMWjDPGxAgiA/s1600/rock_the_parkway_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpi7JFkBXiQDW3ukzIQL5CaItWMVHMs_LsvfY50VxLaRZZXsCgtmjWGe5QeuTNYrt7jU0INlrs-g95QoGC7v2VcXjH2njXtuWdP_ILDP2qixD-I9T86L6X1clQVzOnyaMWjDPGxAgiA/s320/rock_the_parkway_logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">10 K</span></strong></div><br />
<strong>Why they feel the need to measure these popular races in a unit of measurement that isn't often used within the States is beyond me - 6.2 miles sounds hard enough, but 10k sounds TERRIFYING! Needless to say, I set a goal to work towards that will encourage me to stay active and moving - I'm OFFICIALLY registered for the 2nd annual </strong><a href="http://www.rocktheparkway.com/"><strong>Rock the Parkway 10k</strong></a><strong> event to be held April 2nd. <span style="color: red;">SCARY!</span></strong><br />
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<strong>I haven't even begun to train and weather outside is so yucky, but I'm determined to do this! I cannot wait to push my limits once again and proudly finish my FIRST offical 10k race. I highlighted the best feature of this race, lol, check it out:</strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Get ready to rock!</strong></span><br />
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<strong>After an incredible inaugural event last year with more than 4,000 participants, the 2011 Rock the Parkway will once again take place along Kansas City's famed Ward Parkway, one of the most beautiful tree-lined routes in the country — and all six lanes are reserved just for you. This regal parkway features historic statues and sculptures, beautiful mansions, classic gardens, and gorgeous fountains — <span style="color: red;"><u>a long, downhill finish just might propel you to a personal best time</u></span>.</strong><br />
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<strong>Participants in all three races — the half marathon, 10K and 5K — will receive a great event shirt and the opportunity to enjoy live music and delicious food and drinks at the event plaza after the race at the Burns & McDonnell world headquarters, 9400 Ward Parkway.</strong><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong></strong><strong>~~~~~~~~~~</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Sounds fun, huh? I'M PUMPED! If you've never done a road race - they are addicting. I highly encourage you to sign up for one of these events in your local area, rally some friends and family with you - go for it. Most of these races raise funds for local charities or organizations so you are not only challenging your physical limits, but you are being generous and giving to others in the process. Not to mention, you get to collect race day T-Shirts like trophies. :) I know that half the joy is picking up <em><u><span style="color: red;">MY</span></u></em> shirt and <em><u><span style="color: red;">MY</span></u></em> bib number and attaching it the day of the race. Wearing that race number sets me apart. It is a marked distinction saying, "<em>I'm IN this race</em>." It means that I'm no longer sitting on the sidelines watching everyone else push their limits and reach their goals - I've set out to accomplish something too. <em>I'm running, I'm winning!</em> I normally finish quite a bit slower than most participants, but I WON because I did it. I didn't allow myself to be held back by fear or limitations. I DID IT!</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">I wonder:</span></em> Am I running <em><u><span style="color: red;">MY</span></u></em> race that God has mapped out for me with perserverence while overcoming obstacles that try to hinder me. Is there a marked distinction about me that says I'm <em>IN</em> this race, testifying of the goodness of God and not simply on the sidelines observing? Do I fight the good fight of faith with JOY?</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>There really is something about these races that not only challenges me physically, but mentally and SPIRITUALLY as well. <span style="color: red;">PRAISE GOD</span>!</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>To find events near you, visit websites such as <a href="http://active.com/">active.com</a>.</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><u>Verse of Encouragement</u>:</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Acts 20:24 (NKJV)</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><em>But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, <u><span style="color: red;">so that I may finish my race with joy</span></u>, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, <u><span style="color: red;">to testify to the gospel of the grace of God</span></u>.</em></strong></div>Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-75046948681477476542011-01-04T11:10:00.001-06:002011-01-04T11:11:57.674-06:002010 Workouts/Events Collage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">An <em><span style="color: red;">ACTIVE</span></em> 2010</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rRN1SMFIchM2KRNRfNVa_7FA3iokk7vGEfM8Q9zM8Y2g5yDOR7VDOjq10PN5ZZSRXM6D6QlJZ8M7gR-67tj8oQVvX7ItJEmdcdQBSvzZ_Xql7G-HhOVIyKUgljtwLmCTAljueQv-BA/s1600/2010.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rRN1SMFIchM2KRNRfNVa_7FA3iokk7vGEfM8Q9zM8Y2g5yDOR7VDOjq10PN5ZZSRXM6D6QlJZ8M7gR-67tj8oQVvX7ItJEmdcdQBSvzZ_Xql7G-HhOVIyKUgljtwLmCTAljueQv-BA/s400/2010.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">HIGHLIGHTS</span></u></strong></div><ul><li><div style="text-align: center;">Round II of Workplace "Biggest Loser" Challenge</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Celebrate 142.2 lbs lost on 1 year anniversary</span></strong></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;">"Walk to Work" Blogrimage</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;">Start of Walking Club</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;">Workplace Daily challenges</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong>Mass Street Mile - 1st Roadrace</strong></span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Run for SIDS 5k - 1st 5k Roadrace</strong></span></em></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;">Sylvester Powell's Biggest Weight Loss Challenge</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Won 2nd place in Kansas City Fitness Magazine's "Kansas City Weight Loss Challenge: Round 3."</span></strong></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Said "Goodbye" to 200's</strong></span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Liberty Memorial Friends of KCFM "Bootcamps" Began</em></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;">Trip to Georgia - Completed 7 miles</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;">ALA Fight for Air Climb</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;">Thanksgiving Day 5k</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;">Santa Run 5k</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;">It was a year of a lot of UPS and downs and struggles with weight due to stress and some heartache, but overall, it was memorable and full of a lot of great challenges, new friends and FUN!</div>Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083970961152062731.post-2674623477885774612010-12-27T17:23:00.008-06:002011-03-29T13:11:14.183-05:00I can READ!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Yep, that's right! <span style="color: red;">I.CAN.READ</span>.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em>Let's backtrack though...</em></strong></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>I have been a bit M.I.A. here on my blogspot lately as it's hard to blog about "weight loss" and healthy living when you're, well, not losing weight or living healthy! I know, I know, <em>"The road isn't always easy and we learn so much through the struggles and successes and a 'setback' isn't failure."</em> I've preached it with the best of them, but I was set in such a whirlwind that finding that wholeness my blog encourages (body, mind & spirit) - it's been TOUGH!</strong></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>A few months ago I began attending a new Church and I was quite apprehensive at first. My apprehensions are partially self-induced by my own poor decisions in life as of recent and some of the apprehensions come from undeniable wounds that were caused by others, but needless to say - they are there. SO, stability in a Church home seemed lacking, stability in my living situation was turned upside down and stability in my physical home, this body, FLEW out the window with the rest of it. It's safe for you to make the obvious assumption that spiritual stability in my walk with Christ has absolutely been tested and tried as well. WOW, can I say it's been a year and I'm shouting BRING IT ON 2011, I don't hesitate in bidding farewell to 2010.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em>Now, onto the "<span style="color: red;">I.</span><span style="color: red;">CAN.READ</span>" portion of this post...</em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>My lack of blogging isn't an indication that I've given up completely on healthy living or rejected what I've spent so much time sharing and encouraging others about. Instead of so much writing though, I've been <span style="color: red;">READING</span>. For me, this is HUGE. My entire life I've despised reading of all kinds but have absolutely LOVED writing. For someone who writes as much as I do, you'd think that reading would go hand-in-hand, but nope, I've always felt like I have ADHD when it comes to required reading. My mind wanders off in a thousand different directions OTHER than processing the words on the page.</strong></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Not so much the case anymore. I'm so thankful that some friends have given and/or encouraged some very meaningful books and resources into my hands that are helping me tremendously through some emotional, mental, physical and social issues. I'm thankful for <span style="background-color: yellow;">HIGHLIGHTERS</span> too. :)</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pGvn-_81ErM9punUJlseuBqt7mMYcyMB5_LL8aBxAf9kg66YsNOYG_IH0ywsWlfRzuXyOPNFga9elaHcEYmky25T3jGR8cniI71OYdU3-2TpJGgttOo7rSDfSllQID256cV58phIIA/s1600/Bible.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pGvn-_81ErM9punUJlseuBqt7mMYcyMB5_LL8aBxAf9kg66YsNOYG_IH0ywsWlfRzuXyOPNFga9elaHcEYmky25T3jGR8cniI71OYdU3-2TpJGgttOo7rSDfSllQID256cV58phIIA/s1600/Bible.gif" /></a><strong><em>First off,</em> the Pastor of the new Church I've been attending has been presenting the word in a way that without even consciously thinking about it, causes me to hunger and crave more of the word and God's truth once I've left the building. I find myself throughout the week, just jumping in and <span style="color: red;">READ</span>ing more and digging deeper. He's been on a series called "I Love Fruit" coming out of John 15 on abiding in Christ. These messages are absolutely transforming my thought process and although I can't say I've mastered the "art of abiding," my walk with God is changing from one of performance and standards to one of joyful, expectant relationship and communion with Him. I'm incredibly thankful for this new Church body that I keep jokingly saying that I'm "97% sure I will start calling home." Again, I'm still working on laying down apprehensions, but that's another story.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>A LOT of my Bible <span style="color: red;">READ</span>ing lately has come from a translation that I used to have a closed heart towards: <em>The Message</em>. I still love my NKJV, ESV and AMP, but I've been gleaning from the way The Message delivers the word of God. It is challenging me. Encouraging me. Correcting me and instructing me. I find the first thing I do most mornings now is pick-up my cell phone and open my Bible app rather than facebook, text messages or emails. I want the first thing I <span style="color: red;">READ</span> and set my thoughts on in the morning to be the WORD.</strong></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>The second book I'm <span style="color: red;">READ</span>ing was given to me as a gift by a dear friend is called <u>A Course in Weight Loss: 21 Spiritual Lessons for Surrendering Your Weight Forever</u> by Marianne Williamson. This book is not a "Christian" book per se as it moreso touches spirituality in general regardless of your religious background, but the Biblical principals that are presented in this book become obvious as a Christian reader. I've found myself highlighting, underlining and writing scripture references in the margins of this book as well as relating it directly to my temptations and struggles with sin as well as weight loss. So far, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK. I've found it touching areas of my thoughts and emotions that have brought tears streaming down my face, but a release in my heart that I didn't even know I needed. A couple exerpts from the book:</strong><br />
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<blockquote><strong><em>"Awareness is the first step in healing. Part of the benefit of pain is to get our attention, to help us make the connection between when we suffer and why, so we can make choices that are a lot more fun and healthful."</em></strong></blockquote><br />
<strong>"...I may be able to pressure you into changing your diet, but sooner or later (usually sooner), some part of you will rebel. (Remember, "Don't eat the apple" didn't work, and that was God talking....)</strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong>And willpower is just another way of saying you're forcing yourself to do something, and pressuring yourself to do something is not sustainable. Again, what's sustainable are love, joy, pleasure, and freedom."</strong><br />
<br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>"On your own you might have changed your conscious thinking, but you alone cannot change your subconscious. And unless your subconsious mind is enrolled in your weight-loss efforts, it will find a way to reconstitute the excess weight regardless of what you do."</strong><br />
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<blockquote><strong><em>"When we forgive others, it doesn't excuse their actions; it frees us from our own stress and suffering."</em></strong></blockquote></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT14hV33qxQUiuoYIy5Vft8YDYMukzcmXxY3xGAEyJ7wDaMvMzSzOvNXCiG8PoK0_5yqd6ow0MN6iD1G-7V6X0Q7aHjIFJPFBiTgRPHg6jbR2JDDeZSLfLjhvmTsoK_fm3iQj6ViynQ/s1600/BookCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT14hV33qxQUiuoYIy5Vft8YDYMukzcmXxY3xGAEyJ7wDaMvMzSzOvNXCiG8PoK0_5yqd6ow0MN6iD1G-7V6X0Q7aHjIFJPFBiTgRPHg6jbR2JDDeZSLfLjhvmTsoK_fm3iQj6ViynQ/s200/BookCover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>The books that find themselves making friends with my hands don't end there though, I happen to be multi-tasking in my <span style="color: red;">READ</span>ing adventures and I recently picked up a book that I could not ignore any longer called <u>Boundaries</u> by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend. Everywhere I turn nowadays, I hear someone speaking about the importance of boundaries in our lives and relationships. One of my best friends has been encouraging me to download some podcasts by Joyce Meyer's on boundaries as well as reading various resources that teach on how to establish those boundaries. A support group I've been attending frequently stresses the importance of setting boundaries in friendships and a coffee date a couple weeks ago was the icing on the cake that made me surrender to this obvious coaxing that I believe to be Gods inspiring. In the midst of a deep conversation, my friend said to me, <em>"I feel like I need to tell you something about Boundaries...."</em> then he proceeded to talk about the importance of setting and knowing my personal boundaries in life. That sealed it, I went onto Amazon.com and bought the boundaries book and received it today. Just in the first couple chapters of <span style="color: red;">READ</span>ing, I already see the necessity to learn these lessons and apply them to my life. An exerpt from the inside cover of the <u>Boundaries</u> book:</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><strong></strong><strong></strong><br />
<blockquote><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><em>"Are you in control of your life? Do people take advantage of you? Do you have trouble saying no? Christians often focus so much on being loving and giving that they forget their own limits and limitations....Boundaries are personal property lines that define who you are and who you are not, and influence all areas of your life.</em></strong></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Hds8LzvvTKoPXrxsRS9wtc_NEbbDPhMncYdsplBmERoTH2FFWOPxpVIgf04B_O4A-MeB-HjDMW31wUFPtZ1yJq5eCJOhPSQz9yVgzKFG2SYcvBNXaXZpRdFL2ilUfeSzxX8COSGsqg/s1600/BoundariesBook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Hds8LzvvTKoPXrxsRS9wtc_NEbbDPhMncYdsplBmERoTH2FFWOPxpVIgf04B_O4A-MeB-HjDMW31wUFPtZ1yJq5eCJOhPSQz9yVgzKFG2SYcvBNXaXZpRdFL2ilUfeSzxX8COSGsqg/s200/BoundariesBook.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Believe it or not, the books I "coincidentally" happen to be <span style="color: red;">READ</span>ing all at the same time have been a recipe for releasing some deeply rooted issues in my life. Going from not reading much at all to <span style="color: red;">READ</span>ing these particular books in conjunction is serving a purpose in my life for this particular season I'm in. I'd think it'd be confusing keeping up with them all, but they are all fitting together beautifully. I'm thankful to have these books fall in my hands and I'm excited to stay in the word to align these new thoughts an ideas with God's truth (and/or dismiss it if it doesn't align) and apply it to my life for effective and lasting CHANGE.</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Since we are talking about <span style="color: red;">READ</span>ING, I'm excited for the book that is next on my list, <u>Get Out of That Pit</u> by Beth Moore. This is a book that has caught my eye but not much of my attention numerous times over the years. I remember purchasing this book for a friend through a incredibly rough time in both of our lives and hearing about how it really helped her through it. I have another friend who was recently given this book and read its pages and has began applying even it's painful truths to her life and is seeing gradual change. I went ahead and took the step of purchasing the book last week, I'm excited to <span style="color: red;">READ</span> through it as I continue to allow God to free me from some deep, dark pits I've dug in my life.</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdCDtV37ZlRbXkIrWnALgDN84RxCepIGlVvBTr7mF4hLX2jqXCTOH4bSSSR_LfbARh1U4o04ikf6pHUDrBdAco1C1JAkUerTTe6ZQfmF40pxMXl4RKTxm1SDk0tLZ0k17y0OvA2MuVQ/s1600/PitBook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdCDtV37ZlRbXkIrWnALgDN84RxCepIGlVvBTr7mF4hLX2jqXCTOH4bSSSR_LfbARh1U4o04ikf6pHUDrBdAco1C1JAkUerTTe6ZQfmF40pxMXl4RKTxm1SDk0tLZ0k17y0OvA2MuVQ/s200/PitBook.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Well, I'm sure I just gave YOU a fair share of <span style="color: red;">READING</span> with this blog, but if you've made it this far, thank you for taking the time to read and I'm going to ask that you PRAY for me. I've been dealing with some struggles that have proved much more difficult that "working out" or "eating right" for me. I've been acknowledging them for what they are am actively dealing with them. Some days are easier to surrender all over to God and others I find myself picking it all back up in an attempt to manage it in my own hands. I appreciate your love, support and prayers!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Thank you!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><u>Verse(s) of the Day</u>:</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em>Ephesians 3:20-21 (The Message)</em></strong></div><strong>God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.</strong>Meshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17369633273834498488noreply@blogger.com3