Just a little victory dance for the ever so glorious win! I started MediFast last tuesday and my weight in is on Monday's...so I stepped on the scale and got excited!!!
So I will track my journey with a heads up on my success. But losing 11 lbs in a week is great motivation for continuing on this path. Im eating great, I have tons of energy (in comparison to before) and I am encouraged. The same lifestyle as a gastric bypass but without the $15K and hospital time (not to mention the cutting of vital organs :)
I was driving yesterday and thought...'its like getting to live again.' Just think, the first 30 years you are figuring out who you are, and some times you wish you had made different decisions or perhaps what would life been like without this or that, or with this or that. Well, instead of wishing that I had had better health in my youth, the Holy Spirit dropped a way cool thought in my heart. 'If you were healthy then...you wouldnt appreciate it now and you certainly wouldnt be looking forward to the new adventure on the horizon. You would already just be.'
Oh yeah! A 'second life'...reality style.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Saturday, December 06, 2008
He is just AWESOME!
I just felt like saying something tonight. Should it spirtually profound? Funny? or Humility that this is like speaking to an empty room...being no one reads my 7 blogs.. LOL
But in a form of journaling, I just want to give an amazing account of yet another awesome church service in where the Holy Spirit shows up during worship. Two times in the last three services (that I attended) the Holy Spirit was so present you could feel and almost see Him (with your eyes closed of course.) Two weeks ago it was like if I reached over my head in this certian spot, I could just grap a peice of the heavens and then tonight it was like fog... fog surrounding us that was thick and full of Peace. We serve an awesome God, King, Almighty.
During worship tonight I closed my eyes, like I usually do, and i kept thinking if a mass of people were in a solitary place and worshiped with all our hearts, would God show up like he did for the Isrealites? I crave to feel His very realness all around me, a cloud, fire...fog :)
This of course was before the fog...I just now realized that..LOL
I felt like I was seeing nations of people worshiping God but it was less important that we were all in one place and more important that we were scattered among the earth. Worshiping just as strong as if we were a nation, yet being individually set among people who would not understand. How easy it is to pray at a meal when the whole room is christian....how challenging it is to bow your head by yourself. Am I the only one who feels that way? I think not.
I pray I stand as bold in a place with no believers as I can in a church full of them. I pray strength to shine as bright and not be tempted to down play my big belief because another might not "understand". I pray I am as tall in Christ, as intense in prayer and outwardly in love with my king as I could have ever been in secret.
But in a form of journaling, I just want to give an amazing account of yet another awesome church service in where the Holy Spirit shows up during worship. Two times in the last three services (that I attended) the Holy Spirit was so present you could feel and almost see Him (with your eyes closed of course.) Two weeks ago it was like if I reached over my head in this certian spot, I could just grap a peice of the heavens and then tonight it was like fog... fog surrounding us that was thick and full of Peace. We serve an awesome God, King, Almighty.
During worship tonight I closed my eyes, like I usually do, and i kept thinking if a mass of people were in a solitary place and worshiped with all our hearts, would God show up like he did for the Isrealites? I crave to feel His very realness all around me, a cloud, fire...fog :)
This of course was before the fog...I just now realized that..LOL
I felt like I was seeing nations of people worshiping God but it was less important that we were all in one place and more important that we were scattered among the earth. Worshiping just as strong as if we were a nation, yet being individually set among people who would not understand. How easy it is to pray at a meal when the whole room is christian....how challenging it is to bow your head by yourself. Am I the only one who feels that way? I think not.
I pray I stand as bold in a place with no believers as I can in a church full of them. I pray strength to shine as bright and not be tempted to down play my big belief because another might not "understand". I pray I am as tall in Christ, as intense in prayer and outwardly in love with my king as I could have ever been in secret.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
A Spiritual Journey & Softball; a dimension of teamwork (Part 1)
Who knew? (The depth of this message to me may resemble its length :)
Team work, seems to me, is developed once you become vulnerable to a team itself. You cant develop the real meat of what you can be to any team until you actually engage with one. Sure you can go to seminars – by yourself, you can read about team work – by yourself, and you can talk about what is needed from team work – sometimes to yourself…(?)
You never can really experience, grow, and flourish if you are not apart of a team. The key.. being the vulnerability and the potential of letting that team down.
I was not a kid who grew up playing sports. I infact.. was the kid not picked for the team or picked last. Don’t “awww” me… I was just a tree climber, not a runner. I was a Barbie player, not a ball catcher. I was playing tea and making mud pies, not pitching. This all catches up with the fact that, as an teenager/adult I loved to play lots of sports and I stunk at lots of sports. I always thought… I just wasn’t born with the talent and skill. What I did not know until a moment of Rama at my first practice was… even if you’re a natural, skill comes from practice and training. (Okay all you avid sports players… you may know this… but it took me 27 year to get this concept.)
Suddenly, I realized …. Oh my wonderful LORD! I can actually play one day and NOT STINK!!! Now the whole reason for this blog is to focus on the last statement… the words…”one day.” Ouch. Not now…”one day,” not tomorrow or the next week but “one day.”
You must endure the discomfort of learning. We will rarely, if ever, start out just ‘good’ at something. And even if we do…it takes years to perfect playing that instrument, drawing that picture or running that company. So between now and “one day” we must endure the discomfort of repeatedly crossing our comfort zone and do what we are currently ‘not good’ at.
And then… one day wake up and our music is more lovely, our art is a masterpiece and our businesses are thriving.
God showed me that the reason I never tried was because I didn’t treasure the value of achieving through failure. I stood in that outfield being terrified of a ball thrown in my direction. I repeatedly looked ridiculous and thought… why did I sign up for this embarrassment for? He quickly answered…every fear can drive us toward or away. So many times in my life I walked away or faded into the back ground because I didn’t want to disappoint, embarrass or expose my vulnerability. And this is one way the enemy keeps us from achieving our purpose and dreams.
It will be awkward! It most likely will be embarrassing! And you don’t show up knowing, you have to be taught! But afterward…EVERY MOMENT was worth it. How much He loves me, to let me learn this. And in every game, someone sacrifices playing so I, the handicap, can participate. Every fear; will they lose because of me? Will I fail them? Will they be disappointed in me, comes up. Yet with their incredible encouragement and continual sacrifice, I learn what a real team is and I stop living on the side lines.
To show up and be a team member, especially when its your first time at anything – everything becomes about humility. I'm not talking about the .. “oh your so humble” humility. I'm talking about the … “man I'm trying not to be humiliated” humility. Yet how can I actually play, throw, catch or run...if I don't learn, practice and look ridiculous first?
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Restoration vs. Removal
Acts 3:19-21
"...Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord ; 20. and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21. whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time...
I work for an awesome man of God who is a root canal specialist. If you've ever had a root canal, then you might know that it takes time and somewhat tedious. My boss was sharing his experience with a friend who needed emergency surgery. He was making a point on how the surgery, an appendectomy, only took the doctors an hour and half. (For those of you who are surgeons, its not making light of the amazing work you do! :)
The point he was making was that in his particular field, he stated, on a difficult case can take up to 6 hours from start to finish. (Don't be scared, THOSE appointments are broken up over different days :) I can attest to the degree of patience these procedures require. Tiny canals inside your tooth, viewed with a microscope, in an open mouth with the reflection of a mirror being your primary tool of seeing inside... get a complicated picture? Even for me, the few times I have assisted him, I am quietly ewwwing and aaahing behind my mask.
Whats the point?? He's restoring a tooth. Keeping something that is dying alive.
Sure, you can pull the tooth, throw it away and maybe never hurt again. But function is now gone, usefulness is gone, purpose... is gone. Not only that but the bone needs the tooth to grow/live properly. Without the tooth is slowly breaks down and apparently becomes porous. (ask your dentist for details, I'm just the help :)
Restoration restores life, function, usefulness, PURPOSE. That's why restoration takes 6 hours and removal takes an hour or two. So the next time you are wondering why it seems to take God so long to RESTORE what has been stolen, lost, or broken... remember it was just too valuable to be removed. He has life, function, usefulness and PURPOSE for the stolen, lost and broken things in our lives. Even His return awaits 'the period of restoration' that it takes for Gods PURPOSE for us to be played out.
"...Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord ; 20. and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21. whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time...
repent
ChristI work for an awesome man of God who is a root canal specialist. If you've ever had a root canal, then you might know that it takes time and somewhat tedious. My boss was sharing his experience with a friend who needed emergency surgery. He was making a point on how the surgery, an appendectomy, only took the doctors an hour and half. (For those of you who are surgeons, its not making light of the amazing work you do! :)
The point he was making was that in his particular field, he stated, on a difficult case can take up to 6 hours from start to finish. (Don't be scared, THOSE appointments are broken up over different days :) I can attest to the degree of patience these procedures require. Tiny canals inside your tooth, viewed with a microscope, in an open mouth with the reflection of a mirror being your primary tool of seeing inside... get a complicated picture? Even for me, the few times I have assisted him, I am quietly ewwwing and aaahing behind my mask.
Whats the point?? He's restoring a tooth. Keeping something that is dying alive.
Sure, you can pull the tooth, throw it away and maybe never hurt again. But function is now gone, usefulness is gone, purpose... is gone. Not only that but the bone needs the tooth to grow/live properly. Without the tooth is slowly breaks down and apparently becomes porous. (ask your dentist for details, I'm just the help :)
Restoration restores life, function, usefulness, PURPOSE. That's why restoration takes 6 hours and removal takes an hour or two. So the next time you are wondering why it seems to take God so long to RESTORE what has been stolen, lost, or broken... remember it was just too valuable to be removed. He has life, function, usefulness and PURPOSE for the stolen, lost and broken things in our lives. Even His return awaits 'the period of restoration' that it takes for Gods PURPOSE for us to be played out.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
a movie moment...
After months of searching for a location for a special event that my company is hosting...the few options I had were less than desirable. The locations might have been nice, but the expense was more than a non-profit can afford. After months of doors closing, but having high hopes... I settled into a chair to encourage a resident about their struggles.
Having just shared the "updated' situation with my boss, he walks in and hands me an envelope, he adds "try this..."
Pulling a brightly colored, holiday themed letter out of an envelope, the first line read..."Need a location for your Special Event?" I suddenly felt like Jimmy Stewart and wanted to look over my shoulder! Yes, Yes...I do!!! I just started grinning as I read the rest of the page. I showed the paper to the woman sitting across from me, which gave such a grand opportunity to prove how much God IS involved in our lives.
After my meeting, I called the number on the page and after a few attempts I received a message, in return, left one. Today... I received a surprise visit. The very person, who sent me the letter, not only received my message but decided to visit me!!! After an honest conversation about my situation, and sharing that her letter was like a light from heaven, we made arrangements to see the building tomorrow!!!
GOD IS GOOD! Later I got to share this amazing story with a friend and tell them about Gideon. Just earlier today before my special visit, I knew... if God didn’t show up...It was not within my ability to make this happen! And God showed up! Although there are still obstacles to overcome, He has given me more hope and faith to press in and know that He is watching.
I want to remain unable, so that all my blessings are to HIS Glory! Like my pastors say... Dream Big...Bigger than you can accomplish by yourself!
Having just shared the "updated' situation with my boss, he walks in and hands me an envelope, he adds "try this..."
Pulling a brightly colored, holiday themed letter out of an envelope, the first line read..."Need a location for your Special Event?" I suddenly felt like Jimmy Stewart and wanted to look over my shoulder! Yes, Yes...I do!!! I just started grinning as I read the rest of the page. I showed the paper to the woman sitting across from me, which gave such a grand opportunity to prove how much God IS involved in our lives.
After my meeting, I called the number on the page and after a few attempts I received a message, in return, left one. Today... I received a surprise visit. The very person, who sent me the letter, not only received my message but decided to visit me!!! After an honest conversation about my situation, and sharing that her letter was like a light from heaven, we made arrangements to see the building tomorrow!!!
GOD IS GOOD! Later I got to share this amazing story with a friend and tell them about Gideon. Just earlier today before my special visit, I knew... if God didn’t show up...It was not within my ability to make this happen! And God showed up! Although there are still obstacles to overcome, He has given me more hope and faith to press in and know that He is watching.
I want to remain unable, so that all my blessings are to HIS Glory! Like my pastors say... Dream Big...Bigger than you can accomplish by yourself!
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Chick Night!!!
Wow, let me tell you how awesome Pricilla Shirer is!!! Talk about delivering truth and impacting your world!!!
Last night was a Chick Night at HPC and we had Pricilla as a guest speaker. She talked about the things of this world that God is calling us away from in order to take full rest in Him. In order to run to the Father, we are running away from things...
Those things were:
- Come away from temporary circumstances. John 11:2
- Come away from doubting God.
- Come away from being caught up in customs.
- Come away from gambling with Gods grace.
Allow God to come in and renovate, when you invite Him in!
Check out www.priscillaspeaks.com & Be blessed!!!
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Birthday Blessings!!!
Unbelievably, as of the 14th, I am now 25 years old. Wow...it actually feels different. As the last few years have been a blur, I understand the amount of wow that friends have tried to explain in previous years. As silly as it seems even my approach to the day was more bold and vocal.
As life is just beginning, I have reflected on the "growing up" factor the last few years...still in amazement that we are just not 17 anymore. I decided to blog these thoughts because the day brought a multiple amount of spiritual blessings and I want to remember the Gifts God layed before me.
Authority. A bold word...not just by font adjustments either :)
We are given the authority through Christ to affect not only our day but the day of the lives around us. How much do we embrace that authority? I, myself wish I was much more devoted to the pulling down of strongholds and the calling upon Gods grace, however I find myself frustrated with my flesh.
This authority isn't because we deserve it. It's gifted to aid us in the walk that is laid before us, like tools for a journey mapped out by the Father.
Will I exercise this authority in obedience by claiming healing, life and grace for Gods people?
Rebellion.
No matter how much I submit, God continues to peel another layer of definace from my flesh. A year ago, I didn't feel defiant or rebellious. I saw my struggles and "lack of discipline" as a short coming or thorn in my flesh. Yet as I prayed for truth and light, and I began to confront my commitment to dicipline, the more evident truth came out. I have been rebellious. I have been rebellious to change from a long time comfort, companion, dare I say friend? Justification.
I hear repeatedly that if you aren't changing, then you don't want it bad enough. When will that time come? When will I want it bad enough? When do I win? I am claiming that all my weaknesses will be my strengths in Jesus name!!!
Truth.
OH BOY does it hurt! But I will not shy away from it! I will continue to pray that truth be made known to my heart and that I will embrace its blade that cuts away at my flesh, even if in tears, Lord make me strong in your discipline. For God says He disciplines those the loves!!!
I will leave it there fore now...I actually wanted to write a specific word that God showed me, but in my procrastination I waited a couple days and now cannot remember. I pray this is a lesson to remind me to write when God speaks. I hope to add to this, it was a pretty awesome word.
As life is just beginning, I have reflected on the "growing up" factor the last few years...still in amazement that we are just not 17 anymore. I decided to blog these thoughts because the day brought a multiple amount of spiritual blessings and I want to remember the Gifts God layed before me.
Authority. A bold word...not just by font adjustments either :)
We are given the authority through Christ to affect not only our day but the day of the lives around us. How much do we embrace that authority? I, myself wish I was much more devoted to the pulling down of strongholds and the calling upon Gods grace, however I find myself frustrated with my flesh.
This authority isn't because we deserve it. It's gifted to aid us in the walk that is laid before us, like tools for a journey mapped out by the Father.
Will I exercise this authority in obedience by claiming healing, life and grace for Gods people?
Rebellion.
No matter how much I submit, God continues to peel another layer of definace from my flesh. A year ago, I didn't feel defiant or rebellious. I saw my struggles and "lack of discipline" as a short coming or thorn in my flesh. Yet as I prayed for truth and light, and I began to confront my commitment to dicipline, the more evident truth came out. I have been rebellious. I have been rebellious to change from a long time comfort, companion, dare I say friend? Justification.
I hear repeatedly that if you aren't changing, then you don't want it bad enough. When will that time come? When will I want it bad enough? When do I win? I am claiming that all my weaknesses will be my strengths in Jesus name!!!
Truth.
OH BOY does it hurt! But I will not shy away from it! I will continue to pray that truth be made known to my heart and that I will embrace its blade that cuts away at my flesh, even if in tears, Lord make me strong in your discipline. For God says He disciplines those the loves!!!
I will leave it there fore now...I actually wanted to write a specific word that God showed me, but in my procrastination I waited a couple days and now cannot remember. I pray this is a lesson to remind me to write when God speaks. I hope to add to this, it was a pretty awesome word.
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