One Night At Church can Change Things...

It's been an odd day for me today... I had today off as a comp day for working this weekend, but I was still up bright and early at 430am this morning to head off and teach Bikini Boot Camp :)  It's impossible to dislike being up so early when you work with such an amazing group of women...  So after boot camp it was back to the house, where I conquered my workout and then fell into a very lazy (much needed) day.  I took multiple accidental naps, ate simply, and for the most part spent the day in quiet solitude.

I didn't get a thing accomplished that I'd put on my potential to-do list for the day, and I am very much at peace with this.

And although I didn't get many "tasks" done today, I was able to get in a lot of quality quiet time with myself, with plenty of reflection, self-honesty, and peace.

This will be a bit of a disjointed blog post, as there are several topics/events that are sitting on my heart right now.

It all started with Saturday night... As I was working this weekend, I was going to be unable to attend church on Sunday (and not attending church always puts me in a funk -- not having that praise/worship/study/learning time makes a big difference in my life), so I decided to try out another church who offers Saturday night church services.  I'd never been to this church, nor had I heard anything about it. So I went with an open mind and a curious and hopeful heart.  The worship was not my style, and the preaching was a bit too much on the pentecostal side for me (a lot of yelling into the microphone, spitting, and such).  However the actual lesson (when you could ignore the style of delivery) was quite good -- he was discussing how to pray.  And one of his points really struck me.  He discussed needing to evaluate and shift your priorities.  Which really sent me into an investigative and observational mode regarding my life.  And turned up a couple of interesting realizations.

The first realization I had after this sermon was that I am entirely too dependent upon television.  I've lived without cable and TV before, and I'm perfectly fine with it.  However, when I do have cable television, it literally rules my life.  I have to see my shows.  And I can't get anything else done until I'm caught up on my DVR...  I can't read until my shows are watched. I can't find time to do my Bible studies but I find time to make sure all my shows get watched.  I am addicted to television.  And it's disgusting.

So to spend today with so little screen time was really refreshing.  To shift and realign my priorities away from television has been very freeing these last couple of days.

And in having less screen time, I've been able to do more "paper time" reading and catching up and making some progress with a few books I've been generally neglecting.

One of those books is Made to Crave by Lysa Terkhurst.  The BeyondFit Physiques Life Group is reading this book this month, and the power of suggestion to read along couldn't have come at a better time.  I've reached the heaviest weight I've ever been, I'm miserable, and I feel stuck in a never ending cycle.  So to have the time the last couple of days to spend reading, reflecting, and being full of hope and encouragement in this area of my life has been so nice.

Although I am at peace and at acceptance of my body, it's not the body I want. (Yes, you can love where you are and still want to make progress to something different)  And the shift in my priorities has helped here as well.  Realizing what poor choices I've made and that I'm not doing as well as I lie to myself.  Being encouraged to make some changes.  Literally feeling my body craving the healthy changes -- it is so amazing to feel this hope and motivation for the first time in so long.

And then to have Daniel call me Saturday night (after church) and together as a couple discuss how unhappy we are with our physique and physical health and agree to be ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS for our workouts?? It was more than I could handle. I nearly cried with joy, relief, and appreciation.

So that sermon at a church that I will probably never attend again served it's purpose. I got the message God was trying to give me -- the slap to the back of the head telling me to let go of the TV and enjoy LIFE! And to reach goals! And to change.

My body hurts tonight. But it hurts in a rejoicing manner -- it hurts because it's being challenged with new workouts. It hurts because it's in the very beginning stages of changing.  And it's wonderful.

My heart is full tonight. Full of gratitude for my blessings.  Full of hope and encouragement.  Full of confidence that I can find my way through my misery and find my way to happiness and health.

If you feel like life is overwhelming, and nothing is getting accomplished, and you dislike where you are or what you look like or how you feel, start by examining what your true priorities are. You will more than likely find what's standing in your own way -- your poorly ranking priorities.

Don't Let the Sun Go Down...

Today was a "Surprise Day." One of those days that don't go at all how you expect it to -- but in a good way.  I had to work today, and was dreading going "into the office."  Yet when I arrived I was greeted with a VERY abbreviated day.  And by abbreviated, I mean I spent only 2.5 hours at work.  Now the paycheck is going to stink, but what a gift of a surprise!!  I suddenly found that I had almost my entire Sunday back.

I was able to get in a run on the elliptical, pick up some vegetables at the grocery store, make progress on planning my wedding quilt, and then found myself wasting a good portion of the time that I had suddenly been gifted with.

And then came that nagging... I was supposed to be doing something with this time I was surprised with.  But what???

Then it dawned on me... I was supposed to be catching up on my Bible studies and sermons!  So in I dived... Listening to the podcasts of the sermons I'd missed recently and taking notes... Catching up on my reading in The Story for Bible Class tomorrow night and answering the questions in our study outline ahead of our meeting... And then, catching up on Ladies Group homework.

While the rest of the church is studying The Story, Ladies Group is doing a study on Ephesians.  Which brings me to one of the verses from this weeks assignment...

26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. - Ephesians 4:26-27

At first read, I thought about the age old wisdom given to newly-wed couples about not going to bed angry.  But with further thought, these verses took on a deeper meaning.

In this passage, Paul is encouraging us to settle our disputes quickly so as to not let issues fester and grow and provide a way for the devil to enter in and rule our heart quickly.

But our issues aren't just relegated to arguments with others.  They include gluttony, greed, laziness as well! And any other issue -- sexual impurity, carelessness, a quick temper, a sharp tongue, etc.  But for the sake of this post, and my life, and my issues, I'm applying this verse to my struggle with weight.

I must settle my issues with gluttony, laziness, despair, frustration, lack of self worth, and self confidence.  Replace "anger" with any of those issues...

• In my laziness, do not sin: do not let the sun go down while you are still lazy, and do not give the devil a foothold.

Whoa.  Lightbulb!

This verse is not just about anger or arguments between people.

It's also about each of our individual and unique struggles.

For if we let our struggle rule over us, we will sin and the devil will have a very unlocked door through which he may enter.

"Do not let the sun go down while you are still ___adjective/issue__..." Reminds us that each day we must make sure to win the battle.  "Do not let the sun go down while you are still lazy" reminds me that I must be productive, that I must do something active each and every day (ran three miles thanks to this reminder!), that I must tackle something on that to do list (cleaned the shower and sink thanks to this reminder!).

My mind has been opened to a whole new understanding with this verse.  And I'm so grateful that this verse was a part of my homework this week, as I'm working to invite God into this struggle.

I'm not going to let the devil rent space in this heart!  I'm raising the rent and kicking him OUT!

How are you applying this verse?  What adjective are you filling the blank with?

The Struggle is Real (and Never Ending)

This week has been a week of realization. That my half-hearted efforts to lose some weight/inches are not working.  In fact, the opposite is occurring.  I'm gaining weight AND inches.  So much so that I had to move up in scrub pants AND all my other clothes.  Talk about heart breaking and frustrating and depressing.  I feel so defeated.

So it's time to face the music and get real and stop pretending.  It's time to let this failure fuel my future....

David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished. -1Chr 28:20

Do you not know that your bodies are temples 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 bodies. -1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Solomon was in the midst of planning to build a large and beautiful temple to honor God.  David  was giving his son Solomon some advice about building that temple.  But remember, we are temples of God too.  As we work to honor and improve our individual temples, it would behoove us to follow this same advice.  We must be strong and courageous, in our faith, in our declarations, in our decisions.  We must do the work -- we must dutifully study the Word to better know God, we must dutifully pray to improve our relationship with God, we must be sure to honor God with our words and actions, and we must do the physical work to keep our temples strong and functioning.  This includes making sure we stay active, and that we're eating a healthy diet.  David reminds us to not be afraid or discouraged, which is so easy when we hit a road block or a speed bump, we must remember that God is with each of us.  And not only is he with us, he will not fail or forsake us!  He will not leave our side ever, because the work for the service of the temple (our individual temples) will never be finished!  He will always be with us, working in us and through us.

He shall say: "Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies.  Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them.  For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. -Deut 20:3-4

Oh my goodness.  Although this passage was written about the Israelites entering the Promised Lands and facing foes, this passage is completely applicable to todays world and our individual lives!!  Today and every day we go into battle against our enemies.  We each have different enemies, and the enemies may differ from day to day.  Your enemy may be junk food, depression, anger, or discouragement.  Regardless of what the enemy is, it's there and it's very real.  He reminds us not to be scared, because God is with us even in these fights -- he goes with us into these battles (if we invite him in and allow him to -- remember, He lets us have free will, so if we choose to kick him out of these fights, he stays out) and gives us victory.  Invite God in and you will beat that enemy and win that battle.

One more note -- this passage talks about individual battles, and not the war.  Which means you have to repeatedly and intentionally involve God in each individual battle (improving your relationship at the same time).  If food is your enemy (like mine), you have to ask for God's help for EVERY craving.  You will win the war if you do this, but that requires you to be consistent and devoted to God above your enemies.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 

- Matthew 11:28-30

When the struggle is too much, and the burden is too heavy, (for those days will come) you are not without options.  Once again, it all boils down to inviting God into your life, regardless of how petty you think they are.  When the struggle is too much for you, ask God to take it from you.  And he will!  When you earnestly invite God into that moment and give it to Him, you will instantly feel lighter.  You will instantly feel some relief.

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. -Galatians 6:2

This verse basically tells you that you NEED a support system.  Finding a group of people who are going through or have overcome the same struggles  are crucial in your victory.  In the world of fitness, this encourages group fitness -- you're going through it together, helping each other, encouraging one another, providing accountability.  You've got shoulders to cry on when needed, and arms to help hold you up when needed.  This creates a network of support, of unity, which is part of the law of Christ -- to work together, NOT alone.  Don't be afraid to ask for help or to vent.  Help each other in love, because remember, the greatest commandment is to love.

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love.  But the greatest of these is Love. -1 Corinthians 13:13

These commandments extend throughout lifes situations.  But for the sake of this blog post, I'm only going to talk about how they relate to fitness/health. You must have faith that your good choices and efforts will pay off (this also relates to patience).  You must have hope, and be positive in your thinking, your mindset, your attitude.  And love.  You must love yourself, your qualities, your talents.  You must love the progress.  You must love others around you who are working towards their own goals.  No more judgement of others, or "fat shaming" (yourself OR others).  No more!  LOVE must prevail.  Be the change in the fitness/health world, starting with LOVE.