Celebrate the Little Things..

I like to set aside time to stop and celebrate the little successes, not just the big ones. ;) So today is being dubbed "Success Saturday". Celebrating each little success fuels our drive to keep going and is a fantastic form of encouragement.

Today, I finally met a goal that I have had for a long time..

I got to take my kids to see a REALLY good Star Wars film in the theater! (Seriously, let's be honest, the 3 prequels weren't the best...)

So I guess that means I really got to reach TWO goals! :D

See... A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

Well, not really that far away, it was actually in this galaxy. BUT it was a long time ago, relatively speaking.

I was no where near where I wanted to be health/fitness wise. I was uncomfortable in my clothes and in my own skin. I was unhappy with the way I felt, the way I looked, and my ability, or IN-ability, to be as physically active as I wanted.

I bought this super cute Star Wars dress with the "dream" of "someday" being "skinny enough" to wear it and not look like the Michelin man or a lumpy tube of toothpaste.

 

I hung that dress up on the wall as a goal and motivation. Needless to say, it gathered a LOT of dust while I tried everything I could find to get myself where I wanted to be.

I tried pills, drinks, fad diet after fad diet and nothing got me any closer to my goal. In fact, I got further and further away from it.

UNTIL I found my awesome coach, Megan. I did a few of her quick workout videos and went back and fourth on whether or not I wanted to sign up for a challenge group.

Steve's health was the push I needed and a year and two months after I combined an awesome workout program with dense nutrition and a simply eating plan, I finally got to wear that little dress!!!

I was terrified when I took the tag off this morning and put it on. I was worried that I hadn't done enough work. I was afraid that because I'm not at my final goal, I wouldn't be comfortable in it. I was afraid I had failed. Big time.

But guess what? It wasn't as bad as I thought. I was super cute! Sure I can look at it and pick out the areas I still want to work on, but I am so happy with how far I have come!

It all started with the decision to commit to myself and a few simple changes that carried out daily got me to this goal. ^_^

Why did I share all that?

To say this: Don't give up! You can totally do it! :D

 

 

What Happens In the Waiting Room...

Have you ever been in life's waiting room?

"What do you mean 'life's waiting room'?"

It is a magical place of "need" where you have done all you can and now you must simply wait to see what God is going to do. Now, I know, the going advice is that if you want something you have to get out there and "make it happen". While I do agree that we have to do our part, making something happen isn't always possible. Sometimes, we simply have to wait. 

Sometimes circumstances are beyond our control. Sometimes we have done all that we can and there is nothing more we can do. Sometimes... what we need is a miracle.

We had recently been walking through a "valley", so to speak. We were facing circumstances that were far beyond our control. Meaning, we had done all we could on our part. We were applying all of the wisdom we could find and had taken all of the steps available on our end. We had come to the end of ourselves, that beautifully terrifying-yet-oddly-peaceful point where it was now fully in God's hands.

We were now waiting for a miracle.

It's funny how sometimes when God speaks to us, it comes in the most incredibly unlikely form. I had been stuck in a rut of disappointment and frustration with this seemingly immovable mountain. I had wrestled with the demons of fear and doubt and that insidious lie that maybe this was all there was for us. There were moments where I felt inclined to settle and just accept our "lot" in life, but I remembered God's promises for us. See, I know that He is faithful and He always does what He says He is going to do... it just might not be in our timing. ;)

In this situation, however, there was a time limit. Not one that I was giving Him, but one that the circumstances had imposed. So, I held on to my faith, and I did the one thing I knew how to do... I prayed. 

Okay, admittedly, "praying" might be a bit of a stretch, it was probably more like a child begging their parent for something they are in desperate need of.

Now, I know what you are thinking, why would I be "begging like a child" if I truly believed that God could and would provide? I'll admit it, sometimes I am totally "thee of little faith". Sometimes, the demons from my past like to crop their ugly little heads up and whisper things like "you don't deserve His provision"; "you have screwed up too much for God to bail you out again"; "you are getting what you deserve"; "you have earned this"; "face it, you failed again and now your family will suffer". While I can usually give them the one finger salute and valiantly tell them to "jog on", there are moments where I, in all my weak-glory, allow myself to think "what if?"... "what if it is all my fault and I am just reaping what I have sown?". Whether it be through foolishness and folly, or just blindly making the same mistake over again, what if it really is my fault and now my family has to live this out?

After a brief moment of doubt and self-pity, I pick myself up by boot straps and turn to the One who has the answers. I have made it a practice to always begin with gratitude and praise for two reasons. 1. If I am not thankful for what I do have, how on earth could I possibly ask for anything more? 2. If I can’t praise Him in the valley, no matter how big or small, it will be meaningless to praise Him when I stand atop the mountain. So, what if it really is all my fault? This is what I come back to, I know that God welcomes back all of us “prodigal sons” (Luke 15:11-32) with open arms and a love that we cannot comprehend. I believe that when we repent, in earnest, for our mistakes/sins, our loving Father extends His beautiful grace and wraps us in his merciful forgiveness. While I know that sometimes we do have to walk out the consequences of our choices, and that we can pass on curses to our future generations, when accusations come, it is typically to dash our hope, steal our joy and crush our spirit. The enemy doesn’t pull punches when it comes to keeping us from our destiny in Christ. That includes our receiving the promises of our Father. So when accusations come, I ask the Lord to show me the truth about the situation; I ask Him to show me where I have been in err; I ask for forgiveness for my part; I ask for wisdom going forward and peace as I walk through the valley.

“Okay then, so in what ‘incredibly unlikely form’ did God speak to you?”

Well, one day I was driving my kids hither and yon, to and from their various weekly activities. Now, I am totally a music person. I LOVE music. Not just one particular style, but music on whole. I also really like to crank the volume up. I am of the "if it's too loud, you must be too old" clan. ;) This particular day I happened to be listening to a "classic rock" station. (I know that is not much of a surprise if you know me, but I hadn't listened to it in months and was totally down for some serious rock.) So, a song come on... You know that song, "Another One Bites the Dust", by Queen? Yeah, that one. I hate that song. I don't know why, but I just always have.

Anywho, here I was, beg-praying to God, rock blasting in the background and BAM. God speaks to me. Not in a "big thundering voice from the clouds" kind of way, but in that subtle, tap on the shoulder, mom-lowering-her-voice to get your attention because it is “detrimental to your health” that you hear what she is saying, kind of way. It was one of those quiet whispers that hits you like a Mack truck. Actually, it sounded remarkably like Freddie Mercury...

“Are you ready, hey, are you ready for this?
Are you hanging on the edge of your seat?”

Me: …”What?”

God: “Well, are you?”

Me: Well, yeah, I'm ready!

God: “Are you hanging on the edge of your seat with excitement in anticipation of the blessing I am about to give you?”

Me: … *sudden realization* "Well, no, I hadn’t really thought of it that way.”

God: “That's right. You haven’t. You have been begging, in fear of no blessing coming, instead of hanging on the edge of your seat with excitement in anticipation of the blessing that I have promised you.”

Me: …

Wow… Just, wow.

It was one of those moments where words failed me, but that tiny whisper brought me to the profound realization that I had been looking at it all wrong. Instead of celebrating the promise of the blessing to come, I was letting fear and doubt steal my joy and my peace. It’s funny how we can be so focused on one aspect of our circumstances that we lose sight of the awesomeness of God’s promises for us. When we are in that valley, waiting for our promise, why are we creating our own suffering by embracing the fear of “what if it doesn’t come” instead of being filled with His joy and peace that surpasses our understanding and shouting “I am so excited! I can’t wait to see how God does this!”?

This has been a rather long valley for us, but I believe that He can do anything and I believe that He will do what He promised. <3

So thank you God, for knocking some perspective into me, like a gentle, loving Mack truck that I never saw coming. Thank you for speaking to me in ways I would never have dreamed of, but that totally opened my eyes and showed me a better way to “wait”.

Thank you, Freddie, for such a wonderfully annoying song that the Lord could use at just the right moment to tell me exactly what I needed to hear. ^_^

Have a blessed day, y’all! <3

Ugh... Temptation.

It comes in so many forms. It is different for each of us. Sure we may face being tempted by some similar things, but we all struggle in our own unique way.

When I started trying to live a more healthy, fit life, I struggled. (Heck, I still do. The desire of the flesh is a beast.) I struggled with the temptation to be lazy and just eat whatever was easiest to make (or buy). I struggled with overcoming excuses and making workouts a priority. I struggled with feeling like I was "missing out".

What I had to come to terms with was that even though it "felt" like the temptation was more than I could resist, that wasn't the truth. See the Bible says...

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13

We all face temptation of one kind or another. When it comes to food, I think most of us have our weaknesses. ;) The good news is that not only does God not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear...

Wait... What?! Hold up! 

If we aren't tempted beyond what we can bear, why do we give in? The answer is simple, the weakness of our flesh. 

"Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:8-9

So how do we overcome the weakness of our flesh? We seek God. See, knowing that we would be tempted, and that we are weak in the flesh, He has also made a way out so that we can endure it!

Did you know??? Tempted, in Greek, also means tested. What is the purpose of a test? Sometimes it is to measure our "ability", others it is to see how we put into practice that which we have learned.

When temptation comes, take heart that it is not more than we can bear, we have a way out... Jesus and a helper... the Holy Spirit. When you feel like you are facing a temptation that you don't see a way to overcome, pray. Contend for your "way out". Ask the Holy Spirit for help. Don't give up. You aren't doing battle alone. <3

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:11-13

 

Why Do We Go To Church?

Do we go to give or to receive?

Are we there to "see and be seen"? 

Do we go to feel good about ourselves? 

Are we there because we have "got it together"?

I have found that people have all manner of "reasons" for attending church. I wanted to know, what does the Bible say about going to "church"? First, I suppose, I should begin with "What is Church?".

You may have heard Christians say that "The church is not a building where we gather. The church is the people who gather in Christ's name." 

We, believers, are the body of Christ.

"For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." - Romans 12: 4-5

Christ is the head, the leader, of the body.

"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy." - Colossians 1:17-18

Who is part of the body?

We all are! 

Everyone that declares with their mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believes in their heart that God raised him from the dead.

"Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." - 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

So, why do we go to a building called a "Church"?

For many reasons. 

The building is a place for us to gather, as believers...

1. That we may be encouraged to live out our faith. 

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:24-25

2. To be together in the presence of God.

"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." - Matthew 18:20

3. To learn and build relationships.

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." - Acts 2:42

4. To build our faith by hearing the word of God.

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." - Romans 10:17 

5. To be strengthened.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." - Proverbs 27:17 

6. To be equipped for service. 

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." - Ephesians 4:11-13

7. To be able to stand firm in our faith.

"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ." -Ephesians 4:14-15

8. For accountability.

"See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness." - Hebrews 3:12-13

9. To worship together.

"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God" - Psalm 95:6-7

What is worship?

Yes, it often involves music. Sometimes it is loud and upbeat, others it is soft and reverent. It can be fun and it can be difficult. Those are components and attributes, but they are not what it is. It is much more than the sum of it's components.

It is a sacrifice, or gift of praise.

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name." - Hebrews 13:15

It is singing to God with a thankful heart.

"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." - Colossians 3:16

So why, then, do I come to "church"? Why should you go?

To give or to receive?

Perhaps a little of both. 

• To give love, support, encouragement, accountability & kindness to one another. 
• To humbly offer a gift of praise to our Father who loved us even in our sin, and sent His son to die in our place, that we might be set free.
• To receive love, support, encouragement, accountability & kindness from our brothers and sisters in faith.
• To be built up and receive the instruction of the word from our pastors so that we may be equipped to do the work of the Lord. 

To get "attention"; to be seen by others so that we can boast in our "goodness"; to feel that we are better than those that did not attend or even the person sitting next to us?

No. 

We are part of the body, we have unique gifts/talents that are needed to perform the work of of the Lord, but not one part is more important than the other. 

"so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." - 1 Corinthians 12:25-26

Good works do not purchase our freedom from our sins. 

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9  

We do not come to glorify ourselves, we come to be prepared that we might glorify Him.

Do we go because we "have it all together"?

No.


Instead, we go with a humble heart, knowing full well that we are broken, that we have sinned and that we fall short of perfection. We are confessing to all that we need help; we need encouragement; we need support; we need teaching; we need direction; we need accountability; we need love; we need to belong and above all we need God. 

We go seeking a safe place... a place to be loved, a place to be welcomed, a place of forgiveness, a place to belong.

Through Jesus we receive grace and forgiveness with a repentant heart. Through His sacrifice we are set free from our sins, we are given a purpose, we are given a special place in the body (church), we have hope, we have support, we have encouragement, we have strength when we are weak, we have joy in times of sorrow, we have gratitude in times of lack... we are NOT alone. 

Don't miss out on this great gift that God has given us for the promise of something less that will only tarnish over time. 

If you do not know Jesus, if you want to know Him but don't know where to start, email me @ blesswitheachbreath@gmail.com I would love to pray with you! <3

Bless and be blessed, y'all!

 

What Do You Want to Experience in Life?

This is something I have really been learning since I started my health & fitness journey. It has been a difficult lesson, but it has been incredibly freeing and rewarding!

Have you ever noticed that when you are in a bad mood you attract more negativity?

When our hearts and thoughts are consumed with negativity, anger, hurts, failure, rejection, bitterness... it shows in our faces, in our mannerisms, in our actions and reactions. You know the saying "misery loves company"? That is what we will find. Company. Like minded people and more of those experiences.

It is practically a law of life, that what we put into the world is what we get back. We reap what we sow, but it isn't just in acts. It is in attitude, thoughts, feelings...

Coming from the belief system that I was destined to fail, to be nothing, to do nothing and that I was always being judged and rejected, that is what I found everywhere I went and in everything I did. Even when people were looking out for me, trying to help me, expressing their love for me in concern, I saw only judgment, failure and iniquity.

As I poured through personal development book after book, sought God's heart in these areas and reached out in our church, I discovered that what I was experiencing was in large part because I expected it!

It is funny how we can want one thing, but chase after another. I desperately wanted to be loved, accepted, to make a contribution, to help others, to be good enough... but I was defining my life completely the opposite. I was restricting my potential and my experiences because of faulty programming. I was hurting myself.

What you put out comes from within and if what you are putting in, or even holding in, is negative, negative is all you will express and in return it is all you will see, because it is all you are looking for.

I had to really passionately pursue God's heart for me, I had to reach out to others and share my story, I had start filling my thoughts and my heart with new, healthier, BETTER information, so that I could begin to see things differently. Only when I could see things differently could I dream differently. I can believe for BETTER things! I can reach higher, smile bigger, laugh more often, love more deeply, forgive quicker, and receive... when you are positive you will find positivity!

Before, self-doubt, self-hatred, insecurity, expectations of failure and rejection would have kept me from ever dreaming of seeing God's plan actually happen in our lives, no matter how much I wanted it. Now, it is happening, and not just the things I longed for, things I didn't eve know I wanted!

Like coaching! I would have never looked at myself in the mirror, believing all the hatred I heard on a constant loop, and thought "I can do this, I can help other people live healthy lives!". If I hadn't learned how to tear down those old walls, reject those old lies and start living a new belief system filled with hope, joy, love and expectation of GOOD things, I would not be any closer to living out God's plan for me, and I would be missing all of this JOY! <3

That is not to say you won't still meet bitter people, you won't still be told those same old lies by people you encounter, but how they impact you, how you respond to them, that will be totally different!

I want MORE out of life than pain, hurt and loneliness... I want to encourage people, I want to build them up, I want to see them succeed, I want to cheer them on and celebrate with them. I want to give my husband and children the BEST I am capable of! I want to live out God's plan for my life! I want to bless others. I want to be financially independent and I want to see the world with my family! I want to be the person that smiles at everyone, not the person in the corner, arms crossed, scowl on their face, daring anyone to come close enough that I can bite their head off. I want to welcome them with open arms!

What do you want? What is the experience you want out of life? How do you want your life to impact others? What do you want to give to the world?

Start putting in "good" so you send out your best! <3

Be blessed, y'all!