Choose to lose

I can't believe it's Friday already!  This has been a good week.  Like I said in my last post, God had really been speaking to my heart this week.  Not all good things have happened this week, but I've been in the Word daily and I'm working on being thankful.  And there was one prayer request I had that God clearly answered that just awed me and renewed my faith even more.  I'm hoping to use this blog to keep myself accountable to do my bible study and continually rely on Him for TRUE STRENGTH!  I know not every prayer request will be answered the way I want it to, but I do know that God will answer every prayer request in His time and according to His will!  How awesome is that?!

Below is my daughter Naomi. Her and I are heading out tonight for Indiana for her last soccer tournament of the fall season.  I know we will have a great time and lots of bonding moments!  I thank God every day for her.  I grew up with 4 younger brothers, then my first born was a son, so to have a girl (even though she's a major tomboy) in my life, has been so  much more of a blessing than I could have ever imagined!  My husband will be home with the boys taking them to football and baseball games.

 Below is me with my Choose to Lose team from this past year.  I am a personal trainer and fitness instructor and have been for 15 years.  The last 3 years at the Y center where I work, we have done our own little biggest loser program.  It is hard work, but so rewarding!  Today we had a meeting with the 5 trainers and started planning for this coming contest that will start in January.  I want to start praying for who God picks to be on my team.  This is such an opportunity for me to minister to women.  

Every year has brought unique people and situations and I look forward to what God has planned this year.  This last year this group bonded so well, that we continued on after the contest, and set some goals.  The goal was to do a 5k, a 10k, a sprint triathlon, and a 1/2 marathon together!  Well, we have done all that except the 1/2 marathon which is NEXT Sunday in Detroit!  I'm so proud of them all, because some had never ran more than a mile when they started the program last year.  And it's not even about the distance, it's about setting a goal and having a support team and following through!

Sometime I will share my story of my weight loss journey and how God made a ministry out of fitness for me.  It all started with a program at my church called 3D and the verse Hebrews 12:11.  Unfortunately, I've also been through valleys where I think I can do it on my own and have veered from God's plan for me.  I'm kind of at the point right now.  I've not been being a good steward of my body and have a million excuses that I think should justify why.  But deep down I know there is no excuse.  I'm realizing this week that not being obedient with how I treat my body is affecting more than just my clothing size or my energy.  It's affecting my spiritual life!  I need to go back to the day I was 180 something pounds and decided I couldn't do this alone and that I truly wanted to change so that God could use me and I wouldn't be held back by physical issues OR mental issues from turning to food instead of God.  True strength comes from knowing I'm weak but knowing I have a God that helps me do all things through Him that strengthens me!

Have a great weekend!