Thursday's Thoughts

I am writing this on Wednesday night, a bit of cheating. Wait, no, it's good planning! Yes! I like that much better.  Here I am, planning well, and preparing for a very early morning flight.  When I say early, I mean, I will be boarding a plane at a time most of you are not even rising up out of bed, you may be pondering it, but few of you are actually up and out from under your blanketed slumber.  In spite of my early departure, I am very excited about this trip.  I am heading out to help a good friend (whom I haven't seen since we graduated from high school) with an AdvoCare mixer!  WOO HOO!  We will be doing some one on one training, then Saturday morning, we are hosting a mixer.  Feel free to pray this goes well, many show, and there is a good response.  I would love nothing more than to see her gain a lot of momentum. 

This week has gone by entirely too fast for me.  In fact, this year is going by too fast for me.  I will be traveling alone tomorrow, and I am sure I will return to a little girl who appears more grown up, and I am sure her father will have aged a bit more too.  HA!  I guess cramming a whole lot into three days just shortened the week, who knows.

Thanks to BookSneeze, I have read Andy Andrews' newest work, "The Final Summit."  The book releases April 12, and I cannot blog my review until April 11.  I am dying to tell you all about it; it is so good!  I will also be giving away a copy (it's worth sharing!) so make sure to come back on the 11th for your chance to win a copy of this mind blowing, enlightening book.  Oh gracious, it's so so good.

I have more to share, but with the insanely early hour I will be rising, I must head on to bed now.  Happy Thursday blogland!

WLW: Heavy Lifting

What a great week this has been, in spite of feeling a bit of chest congestion.  Since my workouts are being shortened due to some traveling I am doing this week, I am cramming my three resistance training sessions into three straight days.  Today will be day three.  Someone please come lift me off the gym floor.

This week began Mesocycle 3 in the STS series.  High weight, low reps.  Oh man, feel the burn!  Due to time constraints, I am not getting in the amount of cardio work I would like, but such is life.  I would much rather be challening my muscles than doing nothing at all!

Last week, I realized I was eating out of stress and frustration, and that had to come to an end, quickly.  And, it has.  I am daily reminding myself to be conscious of my eating, what I am choosing to eat, and how quickly I am consuming it. 

This weekend, I will be conducting an AdvoCare mixer for one of my distributors.  Yes, I get to travel to speak about health, and how others can improve theirs.  Sweet!  Seriously?  This is what I choose to do for work?  I love it.  I hope you all are taking the time to move your bodies, challenge your muscles, and are choosing healthy, life giving foods.  Be blessed!

Lazarus Awakening

My Thoughts:
This book took me by surprise, as I was not expecting it to be as amazing as it is. With each turn of the pages, I fell more into this concept of Jesus wanting us to come ALIVE.  We have lived far too long in caves we do not belong, wearing grave clothes that God has been unraveling.  It is time, oh sleeper, to wake up, come out, and LIVE.  You will enjoy every moment as you walk this journey, as God reveals the areas of your life where you have been sleeping for far too long.  As you turn the last page, you will find yourself awake and keenly aware of the realization God has been calling out to you, from the beginning of time, and even in your darkest hour.

About the book: Lazarus Awakening
Getting God’s Love from Our Heads to Our Hearts

You believe that God loves the world…but sometimes you wonder if He truly loves you.

For many of us, moving the truth of God’s love from our heads to our hearts is a lifelong process. As we consider our inadequacies or grieve our shattered dreams, we find it difficult to believe that God cares for us personally.

In this life-giving book, Joanna Weaver shows you how to embrace the truth that Jesus loves you apart from anything you accomplish, apart from anything you bring. Just as He called Lazarus forth to new life, Jesus wants to free you to live fully in the light of His love, unbound from the graveclothes of fear, regret, and self-condemnation.

Love is calling your name.

Combining unforgettable real-life illustrations with unexpected biblical insights, Joanna Weaver invites you to experience a spiritual resurrection that will forever change your understanding of what it means to be the one Jesus loves.
Bible study and Leader’s Guide available here. http://www.joannaweaverbooks.com/books/lazarus-awakening/

About Joanna:
Joanna Weaver is known the world over for her transparent and life-changing books, Having A Mary Heart in a Martha World and Having a Mary Spirit. These two books have sold over a million copies and have been translated into several languages including Spanish, French, Dutch, Chinese, German, Korean and more. Joanna has appeared on a wide variety of nationally syndicated radio and television broadcasts. Past appearances include: The Harvest Show, At Home Live With Chuck & Jenni, Midday Connection, HomeWord, and Janet Parschall’s America. She is also a highly sought after speaker and shares her message at intimate gatherings and several high profile events each year. But Joanna's greatest joy is found in being a wife and mother and her role as a pastor’s wife. For more information about Joanna, please visit her website. www.joannaweaverbooks.com.

To buy this book, click here.

Joanna is celebrating the release of Lazarus Awakening with the Heart of God KINDLE Giveaway!

In Lazarus Awakening Joanna writes about getting God’s love from our heads to our hearts. We all know Jesus loved Mary – look how she worshiped. And we can understand why He loved Martha – after all, look how she served. But what about those of us who don’t know where we fit in the heart of God? Lazarus Awakening explores the tale of the third follower – Mary and Martha’s brother, Lazarus. We never hear him speak, we never see him serve. The only thing of any significance that Lazarus did was to die. And yet, the Bible is clear. Jesus loved Lazarus. And He loves you and me as well. Lazarus Awakening looks at different aspects of the story we find in John 11. We learn what it means to be a friend of God and begin recognizing the tombs we spend far too much time in. Find out more here.

 One grand prize winner will receive:

    * A Brand New KINDLE with Wi-Fi
    * Having A Mary Heart in a Martha World
    * Having A Mary Spirit
    * Lazarus Awakening

Joanna will also select two additional contest entrants to receive copies of her trilogy. Enter soon by clicking the icons below and then tell your friends. Hurry the contest ends April 16th. The winner will be announced on Joanna's blog on April 18th.

For more reviews on this book, check out the blog tour.

**LitFuse provided this book in return for my honest review.

WFW Proverbs 16:23-25

Proverbs 16:23-25:
23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction.
24 Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

There is power in words.  Words inspire, motivate, encourage, counsel, console, and comfort.  Words can bring life and hope as well as death and despair.  Words have power.   As I read the scripture above, verse 24 leapt out at me. Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.  Power.  Words can heal, and serve as a balm for the one being directed to.

What we say to ourselves matters.  The voices we allow to speak in our heads matter.  Choosing to speak life to another matters.  And I wonder, will we ever really understand just how powerful our words have been, how powerful they are?  Will we ever fully understand the depth of what we speak, more importantly, what God is speaking to us?  If ever words have mattered, they are the ones that have flown from the mouth of the Creator, "But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine."  (Isaiah 43:1).  And the words of the Almighty on the cross, "Father, forgive them."  


Words have always been powerful, and will always be powerful.  I challenge you to fill your mind, heart, and mouth with words of life, and hope, and love, and joy, and compassion. 

To enjoy more Word Filled Wednesday posts click here..

The Final Summit - coming soon!

I am not sure I can adequately express to you how excited I am to be a part of the blog tour for Andy Andrews' new book: The Final Summit! The blog tour is April 11th, so tune in that day! And, I will be giving away a copy of Andy's book! Seriously, life could not be even sweeter! Stay tuned. Until then, I am going to have to restrain myself from blogging about this book earlier than I have been told to. Friends, Andy is at it again, writing an unbelievably life changing book!

R2D2 and C3PO

Being the wonderfully nice daughter I am, when my mom asked me to join her at her robotics kick-off Saturday morning, I agreed.  Wait.  That's a lie.  My parents took care of our child Friday night, and I felt the least I could do was help my mom out in her time of need.  My mom is an amazing teacher, seriously, if every teacher was more like her our educational system would be ridiculously amazing.  How she puts up with elementary aged children 5 days a week is beyond me, but she does it, and does it well.  On top of her science teaching duties, she also started a robotics team at her school.

When she first started this program, I pictured robots much like those pictured above. She tried explaining it to me, that the kids had to program their robots to accomplish various tasks.  And friends, there are no remote controls involved.  I finally saw these little leggo like 'bots in action, and was rather impressed.


Saturday, I helped her set up and ensure kids were at the tables they are assigned to at the right times.  Seeing them in action was so fun, and watching their eyes light up when their robots did what the kids wanted them to was more than worth it.  There are many people in this city that would not expect much from "her kids," in fact, I am not sure the parents of the kids who participate in the robotics program really get it.  And, that is sad.

However, those kids did a great job!  There was one student who, in my inexperienced opinion, will do very well at the actual competition next month.  On one run, there were others standing around watching and saying, "wow, he did some cool stuff.  He really programmed his robot well."  Although the kid was concentrating intensely on the task at hand, he heard every word, and it caused him to grin from ear to ear.  One judge even said that this kid received the highest score he had seen all day.  Let me tell you, that young man walked out of their with a new confidence.  And that's what made the morning fun.

Let me be honest, I was supposed to be herding the students to where they needed to be, but I ended up being more of a team cheerleader.  Yes, I received a few sideways glances from the kiddos when I gave a round of high fives and shouted, "good job!" but that's ok, it was worth it to see them do so well.  It made me light up when they received high scores and when observers complimented them.  I cannot even remember their names, but I am so proud of them.  I am proud of my mom too because even when everyone else says these kids can't, she knows they can, and provides them a way to succeed.

Honesty and hope

Upon completing a chapter of a book a friend of mine and I are reading together, I came to the realization that I do not express many emotions outside of joy.  The other wide range of emotions?  Stuff 'em, leave 'em, ignore 'em, anything but admit and face them.  Strange isn't it?  I do not know at what point in my life I started choosing to go along my merry way, even if the way was anything but.  I do not know the point that set it all off, but I do know this has been a perpetual cycle of insanity for me.

I am pondering this more today and trying to determine the balance between honesty in where I truly am and the hope I have in Christ.  It is a tricky line for me to walk.  But I cannot tell you why.

While I want to be authentic and honest in my own struggles, solely in order to help those around me, I do not want to voice negativity and pollute the lives around me.  I want to give strength to the positive, the vibrant, the living, and do not want to hand any power to the negative forces in life.  I want to be honest, yet I want others to know that even on my worst days, God is still at his best.  I do not want to disappoint, let down, or have others feel like they cannot turn to me.

And if I appeared weak, then what?  What would happen if the trainer admitted she is still struggling with her own image issues and has days she does not practice self control?  What would happen if I admitted my frustrations in our business?  What would happen if I threw my hands up in resignation in any given moment, if only for a moment?  What would happen then?

Would everyone laugh?  Turn away?  Flee from me and my voice of discontent?  More than likely, nothing would happen.  At least, I do not believe these things would be the great stumbling block others would never recover from.  But I, I might be released from my own stringent standards, I might be freed from burdens that are not mine, and from chains that do not belong around my feet.  Though this honesty may have no affect on anyone else, maybe it would affect me, and maybe that is the lesson I need.

Rob Bell says this about hope:

"Ultimately our gift to the world around us is hope. Not blind hope that pretends everything is fine...but the kind of hope that comes from staring suffering right in the eyes and refusing to believe that this is all there is. It is what we all need -hope that comes not from going around suffering but from going through it. "

I am beginning to think the problem is not in balancing truth of where I am, but in being honest about any given struggle while infusing my words with hope.  How do I say that my day is not going where I desire and I am worn, and tired, and at the end of my proverbial rope while holding tightly to the promises of Christ?  Because, we I usually sway to one side or the other.  If I fall too far onto the side of exhaustion, then I have lost my faith.  If I speak too much of my hope, then I am living a fantasy. 

So where, and how, do we do it?  How do we manage to say "this is where I am at, and it's not pretty" while believing "this place is not where I will stay"?  And even more, how to we encourage that in one another?  If I utter the phrase, "How are you?"  I want to know the honest truth, as I share with you the honest truth. 

And when we are finished hacking away at the upheaval in our lives, I want the hope and peace of Christ to be clearly seen and sought after.

Psalm 71:14
As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.

Thursday's Thoughts

• It is nice and windy outside today.  Blech.  The one drawback from living where we do.  If you have never experienced a wind storm that turns the sky brown, you are missing out, really.
• I never did go back in for a visit after my gallbladder scan with my doctor.  Based on past experiences, she wants to bring patients in for every little thing and as many times as possible.  I don't have the time, don't want to spend the money.
• I have decided to go to another type of doctor and request some things being checked out.  No big deal, just need to rule things out.  (could that be any more vague?)
• Thanks to a very hard leg workout yesterday, I am SORE!  Whew!  But, it felt great, especially when the workout was over.
• A friend's mother in law has cancer and told her family she only has a few weeks to live.  That news breaks my heart, and though I rejoice over the fact she will soon walk through Heaven's gates, I am mourning with her family as they prepare for this temporary break in fellowship with a wonderful woman.
• "Life Without Limits" by Nick Vujicic is a must read.  There are so many great "snippets" of wisdom.  I could quote him all day long.
• My child went to school in big girl panties yesterday, and stayed dry, all day.  Well, until we got home anyway.  Luckily, she was standing in the my bathroom when her accident happened, and she kept saying, "I do not like how this feels!  I do not like it!"  Why does she do so well at school and not home?  That is the mystery.
• I no longer train in the evenings, and I love having dinner with my family every night.  I had been praying about it for a while, and then the group decided, since so few were coming, to attend group classes on their lunch hour instead.  Interesting way of receiving an answered prayer, but answered it was.
• We are praying for a great increase in AdvoCare, and have seen some growth already.  I am ready for it to really soar however, and help others do the same.

Resistance training anyone?

My body is sore people, very sore. While I have been working out, rather hard, using these videos, I opted to take the workouts to the gym this week.  I simply printed out the workouts, skimmed through the videos to make sure I knew what was going on, and off to the gym I went.  And let me tell you, having the barbells to use and a wider assortment of dumbbells rather than my limited adjustable weights, made the workout a bit tougher.  Monday I did chest/triceps/shoulders and then came home and took care of our lawn (it was a big hot mess).  Between the morning workouts and the lawncare, I burned 933 calories, and was pooped at the end of the day!

Yesterday, due to soreness and tiredness from the day before, I chose to do a kickboxing video.  This allowed me some cardio work, without too high of an intensity.  And today, I went for a 20 minute jog early this morning, then a friend and I did a very challenging leg workout.  At the end, as we were finally able to breathe again and our hearts were no longer beating right out of our chests, we wondered how our walking abilities would be affected.  We are now shuffling rather than walking, thank you.  But come on, I love it!

With Andy being gone all last week, I headed to the gym Saturday morning and stayed there for about two hours.  It felt so good too!  It was nice to have some "alone" time, and the harder workout was just what I needed.  Now, I need to work on sleeping better.  Although, that has typically been a weak spot for me. 

Be blessed friends, and to link up with WLW, click the picture above.

WFW 1 Cor 5:17

Holding on
Originally uploaded by chelled.

2 Corinthians 5:17:

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

I love newness. That is probably why I love Spring and Fall, the new colors, new growth, changes all around. More than anything, I love that God can, and does, take the old and make them new. He purifies, redeems, restores, and basically, does a redo. Lucky for me.

As the new year approaches, I look forward to what God has in store for me, for my family. I wait with eagerness to be drawn closer to my Savior, to continue to be made new, to learn, and to grow. I wait, looking out the window, seeing the year behind me and feeling blessed, while looking ahead in quiet expectation of what is to come.

To enjoy more Word Filled Wednesday posts click here..

**This was orginially posted in December 2008

Now I'm a princess

Sunday morning, upon getting dressed for church in her new dress, my daughter walked in and said, "Look at my beautiful dress Mommy!  Now I'm a princess!  Isn't it wonderful?"  I could not help but allow a giggle to escape my lips as I watched my sweet daughter spin in circles, admiring her new dress (not the one in the picture might I add). 

My child has become fascinated with princesses in recent months.  Most nights she reminds me, "Daddy's the king, you're the queen, and I'm the princess."  At least we have the monarchy ordered properly.  She spins, she dances, all the while saying that she is doing so "like a princess."  As I reflected back on these moments, my heart wanted to tell her:

A dress does not make you a princess, nor does the world's perception of your beauty.  The right shoes, the right clothes (as agreed upon by our society), the perfect hair do, none of it, not one single thing can make you a princess.  The captain of the football team does not even have that power.  Nothing on this earth can grant you the rightful place of heirship, not one single thing.  No, you are a princess because God has called you to it.

In fact, Romans 8:16-18 tells us, "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."  


The prayer of my heart, my desire for my child is that she will know beyond a shadow of a doubt, know in spite of what the bullies of life tell her, that she belongs to the One True God, the Creator, The Lord, the King Eternal.  I want her to know that she has already been given a crown of righteousness, a garment of praise, and the ashes of the world will be turned to beauty (Isaiah 61:3).  I want her to be so sure of these things that she finds no value in the riches of this world, its beauty, or fame.  No, I pray that she grows, knowing she is a princess, beautiful, gracious, kind, compassionate, loving, and merciful because of her assuredness in who God is.  I pray the authority of God in her life is so real and so evident that every decision she makes flows from his calling. 

My heart's desire is that my child looks at herself in the mirror and knows she is beautiful, not because of a worldly standard, but because of an eternal throne.

A healthy spin on breakfast favorites

 First of all, I take no credit for this waffle recipe.  My friend, RT sent it to me.  He's the waffle master.  I also pureed strawberries and blueberries to use on top of the waffles instead of syrup.

Waffles:
1 cup raw oatmeal
1 cup special all purpose baking mix (Arrowhead Mills Gluten Free)
1 cup whole grain brown rice flour (Bob's Red Mill)
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1-2 tsp olive oil
5 small eggs (I used 3 large and 2 tbsp egg whites)
1 cup milk
**I also added 0.5 tsp of vanilla and 0.5 tsp of cinnamon
I mixed it all with a hand mixer.

Oatmeal Pancakes:
Ingredients
• 2 1/2 cups / 600 ml dry rolled oats
• 6 egg whites
• 1 cup / 240 ml milk of your choice
• 1 Tbsp / 15 ml ground flaxseed
• 1 Tbsp / 15 ml safflower oil
• 1 tsp / 5 ml baking powder
• 1 tsp / 5ml vanilla
• 1 tsp / 5ml cinnamon
• Cooking spray
Preparation
1.  Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend the mixture for 20 seconds. The resulting mixture should be smooth. Spray a griddle or skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Pour 1/4 cup of pancake mixture on the hot surface. Cook until the panckes are dry and bubbly on the edges. Bubbles should appear on top, as well. Turn and brown the other side.
2.  Try using unsweetened applesauce or mixed fruit to top your pancakes as an alternative to maple syrup.
The website with the pancake recipe is: http://www.eatcleandiet.com/food_and_recipes/clean_recipe/oatmeal_pancakes.aspx

Grooving on a Sunday Morning

I fully enjoy this song. And, even more, I fully enjoy the fact God loves me as I am, yet desires me to be more. He accepts me where I am, yet still asks me to be about holiness. I am thankful that when I felt rejected by those around me, God has always accepted me. Enjoy.

Lessons

My dear husband arrived home safely last night.  Seeing our daughter scream, "Daddy!" and run into his arms was one wonderful moment.  We are both happy to have him back with us, that much I am sure of.  The past week has been so fun however, regardless of how tiring it was.  In all actuality, there was only one day that was rather tough, and that was a direct result of my child waking up at 5:45 am and not falling back to sleep.  This past week also taught me quite a bit:

1. My daughter and I are much better off  when Daddy is around.  His presence offers security and love that no one else can bring.  He's pretty important.
2. My husband is a great father.
3. Our child is a rather funny and witty child.  She loves to laugh, and to get others to do so as well brings her great joy.
4. Our child is loquacious, and I need some non-talking/listening time everyday.  One of her love languages is defnitely words of affirmation, and she feels connected to those around her while involved in conversation with them.  At the end of a day with no breaks, my ears are tired, yet she still has a need to be met.
5. Talking about, discussing, or blogging about my child's sleep patterns are destined to bring about a sudden disruption in said patterns.  It is a recipe for a sleepness night and a fussy day.
6. Single parenting is tiring and difficult.  I have a great sympathy for those who are raising their children alone, especially those who do not have a strong community of support around them in order to grant the parent some down time, time alone, and time to recharge.
7. We laugh often in this house, and the laughter only increases when all of us are here together.
8. God is so good and continually meets our every need, and has granted me joy I could not ever imagine on my own.

Life Without Limits

My Review:

Nick Vujicic is a man living beyond the confines of his "disabled" body.  He writes well, and honestly about his own struggles being born with and having gone throughout life minus arms and legs.  For all he has encountered and had to endure however, he manages to write with a tone of grace that is compelling.  He says he has a physical disability, but in many ways has had it easier than most.  Nick is able to look beyond his own circumstance to write of a message of amazing, unchanging hope, rather than asking his readers to feel sorry for him.  He is not trying to find out who has it the hardest, but he is writing to show we all have potential outside of our current struggles.  I love this book.  While Nick writes with great honesty, he matains a voice of assuredness he's found in his faith in God.  You will be inspired, and encouraged by Life Without Limits, and while you read, you will find yourself feeling hugged by a man with no arms.

About This Book 

Life Without Limits is an inspiring book by an extraordinary man. Born without arms or legs, Nick Vujicic overcame his disability to live not just independently but a rich, fulfilling life, becoming a model for anyone seeking true happiness. Now an internationally successful motivational speaker, his central message is that the most important goal for anyone is to find their life’s purpose despite whatever difficulties or seemingly impossible odds stand in their way.

Nick tells the story of his physical disabilities and the emotional battle he endured trying to deal with them as a child, a teen, and a young adult. “For the longest, loneliest time, I wondered if there was anyone on earth like me, and whether there was any purpose to my life other than pain and humiliation.” He shares how his faith in God has been his central source of strength and explains that once he found his own sense of purpose—inspiring others to make their lives and the world better—he found the confidence to build a rewarding and productive life without limits.

Nick offers practical advice for realizing a life of fulfillment and happiness by building trust in others, developing supportive relationships, and gaining strength for the journey. He encourages the reader by showing how he learned to accept what he could not control and focus instead on what he could.

“I do believe my life has no limits! I want you to feel the same way about your life, no matter what your challenges may be. As we begin our journey together, please take a moment to think about any limitations you’ve placed on your life or that you’ve allowed others to place on it. Now think about what it would be like to be free of those limitations. What would your life be if anything were possible?”
—Nick Vujicic, from Life Without Limits 

Purchase the book:
Amazon.com or WaterBrook Multnomah.

Check out Nick Vujicic's website
http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/.

Join Nick on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/NickVujicicFans.

**I received this book from Blogging for Books in return for my honest review.

Thursday's Thoughts

• I am ready for Friday night!  My dearest hubby has been out of town for work this week, and I am tired!
• I have to be honest, I was dreading this week and it being 24/5 with me and my girl.  However, we have been having some fun around here.
• My child seems more grown up to me this week, or maybe, I am just noticing more.
• The advantage of being the only one here is that I have been sleeping really well.  I am still getting up to workout in the mornings, then hang out with the kid all day.  I do not recall when I have ever slept so well.**
• Single parents are amazing.  Truly.  I do not know how you do it, I applaud you.
• HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!
• I entered the Fitness Magazine Face of Fitness Contest.  Feel free to vote for me here.  And know that your votes are very appreciated!
• I am happy to report that my child adjusted well to the time change.  She's going to bed around 8, and hasn't been waking up until 9:00 or so.  She's also been napping for at least two hours.  Hmmmm, maybe she's having a growth spurt.**
• What is happening in Japan is so devastating, and it is breaking my heart.  However, if the news keeps reporting on that followed up by a certifiably crazy celebrity, the NCAA Final Four, or anything like that, I may lose my mind.  In light of how lives have been so extremely altered, do celebrities really need such attention?  I do not think so.  And this is where I end my thoughts, on Japan, the people, the country, the lives forever changed.

**I should have never written those statements last night. I could not fall asleep, until around 12:30 am. And, my child woke up at 6:00 am and never went back to sleep. Double serving of Spark, here I come, and yes, we will take an early nap.

WLW: Step it up

Since a friend suggested I enter this contest, I have a great desire to seriously step things up in my own fitness.  Although I  already have a great before and after story, I know I can make further improvements.  I am not trying to obtain some insane physique or fitness level, but I am fully aware that I, even as a personal trainer, have areas of my body that could use some extra TLC (in trainer speak that equals lots of sweat and work). 

My schedule has changed recently, so there are two days in particular during the week that I will have even more time to devote to this goal.  Summer is soon approaching, so there's not time like the present, right?  Regardless of what I feel I need to work on, I am thankful that I have a body that works, that can run and jump and lift weights, hug my child closely, and so much more.  Even my legs that I feel are too big are strong and have completed a full marathon and 5 half marathons.  I appreciate what my body is capable of doing, of the improvements I have already had.  Now, I just want to see it reach its full potential, what God intended for it.

And, I am thankful for this product, which is helping curb my afternoon and evening snacking habits.  And, I am thankful for the WLW group that is encouraging one another, holding one another accountable, and expecting more from one another.  God is good, and his designs are wonderful.

WFW Hebrews 12:9

Hebrews 12:8-10
8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 

This is a special day; it is my father's birthday.  What better way to celebrate him than using a picture of him for WFW? My dad, where to begin describing this man?  No matter how many times I post some Props for Pops, it will never seem like enough.  He is an extraordinary man; he loves God, he loves his family, he cares for other people, and he does all of that well.  It has been such a joy to live right down the road from him, to be able to harass him in person rather than over the phone, and to attack him with bear hugs and kisses (as pictured above). 

It is because of him that I understand God's discipline.  I do not always like it, and sometimes I do not understand it.  However, because of their love for me, I know it is out of love that discipline is handed down to me, that boundaries are set firmly around me.  Love corrects, disciplines, and keeps us safe.  It is out of love we are told "no," and that our best laid plans are thwarted.

I am thankful for my earthly father, thankful for how he shows me my heavenly father so well.  I am thankful I have a father whom I respect, deeply and fully.  I am thankful I know what it is like to have the strong, steady arms of my father around me because I know the day I stand face to face with my God, his embrace will feel so wonderfully familiar.

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Vote vote vote

At the suggestion of a friend, I entered the  Face of Fitness Contest.  With that being said, I need your help, immediately!  What do I need you to do?  Vote of course!  Don't worry, it is really easy.  All you have to do is click here and click vote button below my picture and story.  See, very easy.

You can help further by passing this on to others and asking them to vote.  Please.  And more importantly, thank you!

The Price of Obesity

This morning I received an email from Jane, the author of this blog, concerning a post she wrote entitled, "How Much Does Being Fat Cost Us?" Much of her information is from The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services Department of Health Policy, and it is rather shocking. The graphic she uses, which I have posted below, is a great summary of this information:

You see, it is not solely about wearing a certain size or a number on a scale, being healthy involves every aspect of life.  This is why a company like AdvoCare exists, to help people break out of the bondage of obesity as well as financial debt.  This is why we have the 24 Day Challenge bundle, and why Ron Reynolds developed the Debt Buster Program.

If you are often heard saying, "I am so tired, I am always sick, I have got to lose weight."  AdvoCare can help.  If your excuse is usually, "I just don't have the money," AdvoCare is for you.  Stop making excuses and start making changes.

What I'm Missing

Job 22:27-28

Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God.   You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows. 

In a rare, and not often interrupted, moment last week, I was able to speak to my friend Christine.  We do not have a habit of talking on a weekly basis, via the phone, but when we do, I love our conversations.  I should not be surprised however, considering the strange energy we have always had around one another.  In between bites of lunch, redirecting our children, and repair men showing up, we were able to have another wonderful conversation.

As we shared what was happening in each of our lives, changes we were making, lessons we were learning, we came to a few profound, if I do say so myself, conclusions.  For starters, there is blessing in obedience.  You knew that, right?  There are moments in life, like little children, we kick and wail against what we know God is desiring of us.  And even in our disobedience, somewhere in our minds, we know that obedience will reap its own reward.  It is safe to follow where God leads, it is beneficial to say "yes" to what He calls us to, and we are stronger when we are walking in obedience.  Even so, we have moments we choose to act like spoiled little children, all the while knowing what our heavenly Father wants for us is better, and healthier, and wiser, and filled with rich blessings.  The same attitude we see in our almost 3 year olds, we ourselves still have, on occasion, towards God.  Ironic isn't it?

I mentioned that I believe we will see what we have truly missed upon entering Heaven's gates.  Although God may say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant," I told her I sometimes believe his next sentence will be, "but look at everything you missed in the moments you did not listen, in the times your vision was so narrow."  As beautiful and bountiful as our lives are, I think we, in our humanity, are missing a huge portion of what God has for us.  We view the world through a limited scope, and often with shades of yesterday.  We know what He is calling us to, yet our mind's eye does not conceive, in full, what that can look like. 

We are, well, I should speak for myself here, I am in God's way.  I think I get it, I think I understand, but my life is just a vapor, I am merely an image of the Creator.  Can I know the mind of God so fully?  Know him well, yes.  Know him intimately, yes.  Know the twists and turns of his every plan?  No.  Understand the reason for  moments of unabashed joy and gut wrenching sorrow?  No.

I know God.  I limit God. 

But that cannot be right because the creator is not bound to the confines of the created.  No, I limit myself and what God can do in and through me because I am so short sighted, narrow minded, and earthly bound.  Oh to know in full what I only know in part!  To put on the fullness of his glory, that is what my heart longs for.  I want to see the full magnitude of his glorious display, the depth of his colors, the vibrancy of his life and works.  I want to be there, alongside of Him, not missing one single thing.