Girl...Get up and do it again

Have you ever seen the fight scenes in a movie where the boxer is down, and his handler is yelling Get up! from the side?  Have you ever imagined that this is your life?  Knocked down and the referee is pounding the floor beside you counting out?


That was me this week.  I felt so down and out.  I am battling a cold and flu that I got from taking care of my grandson last week end. It was quite an effort to get up out of bed the last few days and to be honest, I had to succumb to its lure one of those days.  I just slept for hours having taken my meds and putting my CPAP mask I was out.


However, that moment of lying down was not a permanent pose for me, I got up.  That boxer sometimes defies all odds and gets up again ready to fight it out till the last bell has rung.  You and I can get up and do it again. 


We don't have to stay locked down, face down or even get down in the choices of yesterday.  We can get back up and yes, do it again.  So, you didn't exercise last week, last month, last year...get up and do it now.  So you ate that muffin, drank that sugary drink, indulged in the chocolate bars...get up from that down and do the right thing today.  Yes you can do it again.


So be encouraged as I am right now.  I look at myself and I tell you the truth, at times my eyes tell me all sorts of things.  It says girl, you still have not made it.  You are still heavy.  You are still.... you can fill in your own blanks.  So what is my come back to myself, the mirror and my world.  So what?  I don't have to stay here, I get the chance to get up and do it again.


So "here here" to everyone who decides that quitting is not an option as we strive to lose the weight.  "Hooray!" to everyone that struggles up from that downward knocked out position.  "Well done" to everyone that right about now has a made up mind and a can do attitude.  Take a bow and a pat on the back. 








Lord,
I know that I cannot do this on my own.  Father send me the help I so desperately need to lose this weight.  In the mean time Lord, I thank you for constantly reminding me that you are the hand that holds on to mine as I walk through life.  Though I fall I will not be utterly cast down for your hands holds me up.  Oh what a wonderful word.  thank you Lord for being consistent and true in my life.  I praise you now in Jesus name,


Amen.

God did not give me the spirit of fear

I am sitting at the park with my grand kids - son and niece. It is a rarity at this time of day on a Monday. It was a tough night and exhaustion was already my portion before going to bed last night. So I had already decided that I would not go to work. My productivity was already compromised from lack of sleep and a distracting load of laundry unfinished. So here I sit enjoying this moment.

The verse for today on my bible app has popped up from 2 Tim1:7. It tells me that God did not give me a spirit of fear.  It's no coincidence that at that the very moment I looked up to see my grandson. He was timidly looking at the swing my grand niece was swinging across. I watched him as he crawled on hands and knees to get to the slide. Afraid.

Yet, he did it. He slid down the very slide that he was afraid even to stand up and get on. In spite of what he felt he did it anyway. Power overcame what fear paralyzed. So he went on again. No one cheering him on but now he knows what is at the end of the journey...fun and thrills!

What am I saying? What does this have to do with my diet journal? Dear daughter don't you see? Everything.
Fear says don't bother to make the effort. Power says you know that if you do you will win big time. The benefit is beyond a few pounds. Health stands gleaming with its brilliance. Sound mind echos the promises of God. Self control is no longer just a dream. "Just do it" is more than a slogan for a shoe...it becomes a reality to be lived out.

So if you are reading this, here's the message. No fear is from God. Live in what He has  given to you; power love and a sound mind! That is yours.

Change begins with me

So I've been pondering this statement my sister made this month "Change begins with me". Why is that so important?

For someone trying to do the right thing and get healthy it changes my perspective. I like to think that I am absolved of all responsibility; of all actions requiring discipline and accountability. The reality is not as forgiving.

Truth always sets us free so in it I stand today. Change depends on me. It is I and noone else that must take actions that will give me the desired results. I choose daily what I will do and what I will  eat, and everything else. I choose how this journey ends for me...as far as dieting.


Father, what a reminder this has been to me...I choose if
change will happen or not on the scale. Lord I bemoan daily my weight as if this is my lot in life. Lord I didn't just wake up like this. I chose yesterday and today I eat the results. Help me Lord to be more aware of what I am doing. Help me to be the change I want to see in my own life.  Help whoever may read this post as well. Lord I commit us all to You in Jesus name. Amen.

Present help

I am sure many of us have been tempted to give up on something. Give up the diet, the work out and everything else that just seems so hard.

I've been here. In fact I am there. I would have thrown in the towel but for God's help. I have found Him to be my present help.

I asked Him for help and He has not disappointed. He has awaken me from sleep this week to exercise before the crack of dawn. He has helped me to resist the sweet temptation of sugar added to my tea. He has been the One to help this girl stay the course.

Father, I know that someone else will read this and be unimpressed with this. However I know that I have not given up because of you. So Lord please thank you for helping me. Thank you for helping stay the course to a better me, in Jesus Name. Amen

Glorify God In Your Body

I am the girl that has battled for decades with liking the person I see in the mirror.  I am a lot better than I was in yesteryears but still I have relapses of self-deprecating thoughts.  I know better, and I should do better. However, even after writing a chapter in the book  13 Seats – The Women  Who Dared to Testify (see link at the bottom), I am not over the struggle and so my journey continues towards hope in Christ.

 

 As I get older, I do realize that I have been able to like myself a lot more.  I have been able to appreciate and value the good and the bad about my body.  I thank God for doing that.  I believe that He has been the key to my success if any had been had at all.

 His word often re-routes me from the self-destructive thinking that sneaks up in mind.  Yesterday was such a day for me.  I saw in one of the books I was reading that we ought to glorify God in our bodies.  You may be familiar with the verse found in 1 Cor 6:19-20:

19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body [c]and in your spirit, which are God’s.

 My body is a temple where the Holy Spirit dwells!  My body – flawed and imperfect is a place where my God has chosen to reside.  With that in mind how can I look badly at this body?  No.  I am choosing to see myself as God intended.  This body will glorify God in Jesus Name!

 

Prayer:

Lord I thank you for the revelation of truth.  I stand in it today and will not allow the mirror to rob me of it.  I pray that whoever reads this will be encouraged as well. I pray that lies will be annihilated and truth will prevail in their hearts.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Resource:

https://www.amazon.ca/13-Seats-Women-Dared-Testify-ebook/dp/B07KXQXFN7/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=13+seats+the+women+who+dared+to+testify&qid=1552074596&s=books&sr=1-1-spell

I Did It!

I was so tired tonight.  I really didn't think I would do anything. 
My body said go to bed.  My mind said go to bed.  My heart said try for just 20 minutes.

Well the wrestle was on and I really didn't know which one would win.  Heart beat was weak.  Body was telling me all things about sweet sleep and early morning will bring new strength.  Well from my post title you know what happened.  I did it!

I was already dressed in the work out gear.  The lap top was before me.  I got up and I got it done.  Thirty minutes later and I can happily mark this on my calendar as a workout day.


Father, I cannot tell you how grateful I am to You.  Truly I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Lord, I know that I cannot walk or run or do anything without You.  Tonight was just another example of this to me.  Thank you Father again for showing up and pushing me beyond my flesh.  In Jesus' name, amen!

Another Day

It's another day and I decided it was a great time to keep going.  Do you know how many times I just wanted to give up.  I wanted to throw in the proverbial towel and just be content with me as I am right now.  Truth on the page today.  It's for me really, so that I can be free.  The truth, it is written, will set you free and believe me I am not trying to be bound.

So today I am at it again.  Where I live it is cold and getting to the gym is a bit more challenging.  However, I realize that I have resources at my finger tips.  So I am using the available videos as my personal trainer.  I just completed one tonight and I must admit being proud of myself.  It really does make you feel good when you do what is right. 

I say to you, my one reader who may very well be me, keep going.  Another day is a blessing and we can do better than the day before.  Walk in the mercies that are renewed daily for us.  Yes, it is still about doing and making healthy choices, but be not dismayed when you fall down.  Get up again.  Get up and begin again in your new day of mercy.

Father,
sometimes it gets so hard to stay the course.  So I really thank you for every new day that you give me a fresh start.  Lord, please help me and all others that are trying to be their best selves.  You are the only One that can help us.  Father please help us through each day.   In Jesus name, amen.

To eat or not to eat

It has occurred to me that I have choices. Yes. Some of you might be saying some snarky sarcasm laced comment right about now. I don’t blame you but bear with me. My discovery is not a cure for anything I do admitt. However if certainly puts things in perspective when one is trying to excercise self control.

Questions like do I eat this or that? Do I use this much or that little? Do I sleep in or exercise? By now you have gotten my drift. The point is in case you are still in a fog of confusion we have a choice to make everyday. We choose whether today will be a win or lose day. We choose victory or defeat. Not what I wanted to hear but it is what I needed to hear.

I’m reminded of what Joshua told the people Choose who you will serve....
He gave them the choice between God and Mammon. That choice sits before us today as well. It spills over into everything. Do I live without control or do I choose to be disciplined and reap the rewards? So I ask myself, to eat or not to eat? The choice is mine.


Father, I love to think that I am completely innocent and all that happens to me is outside of my doing. I know that the truth tells a different story. Lord forgive me for the choices that I made that led me to this state of weight over load and all it’s entrails. Forgive me for choosing to stingy my lust for this or that when another option was always available. Lord today I don’t sit and bemoan but this is me being self aware. Tomorrow is another day and once again choices will be there to be made. Help me Fther to choose wisely. In Jesus Name, Amen.

I’m still in it

Got up this morning.

Really struggled with that.

Wanted to stay in bed a lot longer. The weather outside was frightful and for me that was not delightful. Got up anyway.

Made it out the door and I the car. Drove to the gym.

And the rest is history.

I’ve done it. It’s off my list. Goal accomplished and now I can move on.

I thought to myself, Lando girl you are still in it. This battle is about those who will endure.

I’m still in it! I celebrate this week and applaud the God who has enabled me to do what I could not do in my own strength. So yay God and yay me! This week I have a win!

Father thank you for helping me this week. I know that fighting against myself has been intense but God you have been my present help. Thank you Lord for being my trainer in this exercise routine I am trying to stick with. God I give you the glory in Jesus name!

Oh this flesh!!!!

I have discovered something about myself. I can exercise discipline. I proved it to myself the other day when I had to do a fasting blood test after work. I made through a full day of working without eating anything. I never cheated. Never yielded to temptation that was presented before me. I stayed true to the course that I set before me.

So then I thought why then do I not do the same thing in other areas of my life? Why then do I fail again and again at sticking with the plan for health? Is this not worth the time and effort, the sweat and pain? I find it remarkable that this lack of discipline is pocketed to only certain areas of my life.
I wanted to make better choices and my flesh literally rose up in combat against me. My nose sniffed out the McDonalds dries blocks away. My eyes saw every sign for fast food I passed along the way. My flesh screamed out for sugar in my tea. Is this not crazy? This is not the me that is to continue on into this year.  So I have resolved that it’s time for a change.

Father, I don’t want to continue on the path of insanity. I am asking you for help. Help me to exceeding the discipline needed to exercise and eat right. This is not a diet but a life style change that is needed. Lord, I’m committed to change by your strength in Jesus name. Amen.