Saturday, November 29, 2008

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. connie

Friday, November 21, 2008

HAPPY, HAPPY

WILL----Used to express desire, choice, willingness, consent.

WAY----The course traveled from one place to another, a series of actions, or sequence of events leading in a direction or toward an objective.

MY OBJECTIVE IS TO MAKE GOD'S WILL, MY WAY.


HAPPY, HAPPY!! EPHESIANS 5:20

"Giving thanks always for ALL THINGS unto God and the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

HAPPY--- FORTUNATE, ENJOYING WELL BEING AND CONTENTMENT; JOYOUS.

THANKFUL----CONSCIOUS OF BENEFIT RECEIVED, WELL PLEASED; GLAD.

I am feeling so happy that I just wanted to share some of it with you. I have been so blest in my life and I am so thankful for all that God has given to me. Undeserving, though I am, God is so very good to me. I look forward to these next weeks with so much excitement and anticipation.

There are many problems in the world today and many who are so unhappy but with the Lord as my Saviour, who am I to even think about being unhappy. I have everything because I have the Lord. I have a wonderful family, loving friends, a roof over my head and food on our table, clothes on my back with many to spare. Yes, Lord, you have given me everything.

I am so thankful that you, Lord, gave me the opportunity to be saved and to live for you. I can think of no greater blessings. I could have been born in a place where your name is not even known, I could have been born handicapped in some way where I would never have known you existed. Thank you Lord for making my life what it is and for all your blessings on me and please forgive me, Lord, when I get so unfocused that I do not see these important things in my life and so fail to thank you as I should. connie

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

TO FEEL ASHAMED

ASHAMED MEANS; Feeling shame, guilt, or disgrace; restrained by anticipation of shame ; inferior, or unworthy.

At church tonight, God used a good friend asking me a simple question that made me realize where I am at with my weight and causing me to question whether I am doing my best. The question was one that we all get asked from time to time but it has been some time since I had been asked the question. It took me back at first and I didn't want to answer. She was trying to give me some very good tips on how to get through the holidays. I heard her advise and will certainly follow up on it. She simply asked, "How much do you weigh?" To say it out loud would have been shameful to me because I felt guilt over weighing that much.

I know that my weight in on this blog for the whole world to see, if they are interested in knowing. There was something about that question being asked face to face, My mind swirled, I could only answer truthfully for the weight is there for all to see. But I had to look myself in the face and that wasn't pleasant even though it was needed.

I am sure that the Lord used her to help me. I have thougt of little else since that moment. If I am ashamed and feel guilt and unworthy then it is up to me to do something about it. I am so glad that it happened because now I have more motivation to get through the holidays without gaining not even one pound.

When the holidays are over and I have kept my resolve to meet the goals that I have set for myself, I will be sure to let this sweet lady know the part that God let her play in my victory.

My goal for now is just to get through Thanksgiving and then I will set one for the Christmas holidays and then for the new years holiday. When New Years is over, I will look back and see how far God has brought me to. Until then please continue to keep me in your prayers as I will you also. May the new year bring a new and more healthy you and me. connie

Monday, November 17, 2008

A DECISION MADE

At Weight Watchers last week a lady said that she had made a goal for herself during the holidays. It was a goal that would be carrying her through the holiday season. She was going to try to stay the same weight, These weeks ahead had always proved to be very hard for her. She felt that if she remained the same and did not gain then she would have succeeded. The Leader thought that was a good idea.

I have thought about this and prayed about it for the days since the meeting. I have come to the conclusion that, that is what I am going to try and do. Rather than worry about losing, I am making it my goal to just stay the same. I am hoping and praying if I get myself some liberty then I will not gain. I know my weakness. When our family gets together there is always lots of fun. We are a family who enjoy eating. So, I am thinking that what I have done in past years has not worked, I will try a new way. I will not put any pressure on myself to lose but just not overeat and then my weight will remain the same or who knows,God willing, I might even lose a pound.

I am praying that I have made the right decision. I feel at peace with it. I am just putting a rest on counting points and thinking about food all the time. I will just pay attention to my hunger and when I feel myself getting comfortable then I will stop eating. I will watch the amount of sweets that I eat but will not keep them out of my diet. A rest in music is a rhythmic silence. I will have a silence of making food my thought of the day during this time and will enjoy the peace and joy of the season with my family and friends. I still would like for you to pray for me as I will for you.

I will be back each week with news of that week. I will still be attending WW meetings and looking to God for strength to do what is right. I hope you all have a good week. connie

Thursday, November 13, 2008

SUCCESS WILL COME AT A TRYING TIME FOR US

WILL----Used to express desire, choice, willingness, consent.

WAY----The course traveled from one place to another, a series of actions, or sequence of events leading in a direction or toward an objective.

MY OBJECTIVE IS TO MAKE GOD'S WILL, MY WAY.

TWO FROGS

Two frogs fell into a bucket of cream
And struggled to keep afloat,
But one soon tired and sank to rest
With a gurgling sigh in his throat.

The other paddled away all night,
And not a croak did he utter,
And with the coming of morning light,
He rode on an island of butter.

The flies came thick to his island home
and made him a breakfast snappy.
The milkmaid shrieked and upset the pail,
And froggy hopped away happy.

THE PLAINEST MORTAL IS IN THIS RHYME
WHICH WE SHOULD AT ONCE APPLY:
SUCCESS WILL COME AT A TRYING TIME,
IF WE PADDLE AND NEVER SAY DIE!
unknown author

Sometimes, we fail because we just get tired of trying. If we want to succeed then we must keep trying. We can't have thoughts like, "well, when I go this week and eat right then I am going to have that thing that I have not been allowing myself to have." Or "when I lose this weight, I am going to eat all the cake that I want." That is just Satan trying to distract us and keep us from doing what is right. Eating all the cake we want has never gotten us anywhere except some more pounds and closer to poor health. When we get tired of trying we just have to remember all the reasons we have for trying and doing our best. Some of my reasons are: My family and the example that I want to leave them. My health to be better so that I can enjoy a good quality of life. Most of all I want my body to be that Temple that my Saviour is happy to have as a place for His Spirit to abide.

When the going gets tough, we just have to find within our selves the determination to keep "paddling." If we find that on occasion we have failed, we must not hate our selves and give ourselves reason to quit trying, we must ask God to forgive us of our lack of trust in Him to show us the way and then follow the way of escape He has provided. Next time, we can plan ahead more carefully, never get too hungry, don't allow our self the right to feel sorry for ourselves. We must always pray and believe God.

If we look around there are always those who are less fortunate than our selves. They have conditions that are much more complicated that, they can not correct within themselves. If we GO FORWARD with a heart of Thanksgiving, we will find our self pity non existent. Then God can use us to finish the job He is giving us to do. That being to take care of the "TEMPLES" HE has given to us during our time here on earth. I leave you with this verses and I pray that we each have a good week.

ROMANS 8:37

NAY, IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US.

PHILIPPIANS 1:6

BEING CONFIDENT OF THIS VERY THING, THAT HE WHICH HATH BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL PERFORM IT UNTIL THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST.

"KEEP PADDLING, DEAR FRIENDS, WE WILL MAKE IT." connie

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

This morning at weight watchers, I had lost four pounds. It was really too much but I haven't learned yet all about the points and food. I had a very easy week as far as the amount of food that I could eat and I did not get hungry. Being at the meeting, holds me much more accountable. This is exactly what I need this time. I will continue faithfully to go to the meetings and do my best eating the right foods. I am still having a problem drinking enough water but I will try to do better with that this week. I was never hungry. I am not able to sleep as much but I never can when I am losing weight. I guess I have used food as a drug for so long that my body is on withdrawal.lol That really is not funny, since I am sure that to some degree that is exactly what is wrong.

The meeting this morning was very encouraging. I even said a few things.lol The leader liken losing weight to playing football. We have coaches, a plan, fumbles,goals, etc. Not in that order and I don' think that was all that she used. She quoted several great coaches such as Paul W. "Bear" Bryant who said, "IF YOU BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND HAVE DEDICATION AND PRIDE-AND NEVER QUIT--YOU'LL BE A WINNER." This is very shallow thinking as far as I am concerned. I know that without the help of the Lord in this area of my life, I am sure to fail. I have tried it the other way and here I am again.

She did say something that I think will be a help and that was that we should remember a time in our life that we have succeeded at something. Go back and rethink all the reasons why we were able to accomplish our goal at that time. Then use some of those same things or others to help us once again to get to our goal.

"The goal is not the important thing, it is the day to day accomplishing of that goal that is the important thing," she says. We are to set small goals that can be accomplished, then move forward as we meet those goals. It is very difficult to think of losing 250 pounds or more or less but to lose one pound at a time is not so hard.The pounds then add up and make that goal we are trying to reach.

This brings to my mind the verse in Hebrews 12:1b that says, "LET US LAY ASIDE EVEY WEIGHT, AND THE SIN WHICH DOTH SO EASILY BESET US AND LET US RUN WITH PATIENCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US." This is not about losing weight but I am using it to help me in this area. We are to lay aside every weight(burden or pressure)and sin (an offence against God,misdeed, fault, transgression of the law of God. We can get rid of our weights and sin in only one way and that is to ask forgiveness of God and do them no more. Go forward with a clean heart. These are things in our life's that sometimes get us way off tract,overeating, eating things that aren't good for us, laziness, gluttony etc.The verse says that these things so easily beset (trouble or harass) us. Is is then that we are to have PATIENCE. There is that word again. It seems to me that God is telling me to be patient. Have patience. A clean heart and patience will help us to run the race to our goal. In this instance it is our weight loss goal. It is there, before us, we have to reach out to obtain it.

I hope that this has been of some use to you, I did learn somethings today but I know that when I have victory it will come from God and he just uses these other things in my life to help me to accomplish what we wants me to do. Have a good and blessed week. connie

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

PATIENT, SIMPLE PATIENCE.

PATIENT------Bearing pain or trials calmly or without complaint: Manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain: Not hasty or impetuous: Steadfast despite opposition , difficulty or adversity: Able or willing to bear.

ECCLESIASTES 7:8

"BETTER IS THE END OF A THING THAN THE BEGINNING THEREOF: AND THE PATIENT IN SPIRIT IS BETTER THAN THE PROUD IN SPIRIT."

As I begin this additional way on my journey, I have to remember that the end of a thing is better than the beginning. Oh, yes, I have been very excited to have found a new hope of help in my human weakness. I am very excited today as I have lost a couple of pounds. I have to keep uppermost in my mind that it was God who enabled me and gave me the patience needed to go slow. But I know that this is just the beginning of this way, I have to keep my heart from being proud and realize that I could have done nothing except that the Lord gave the victory. I know many times I went to Him this week and asked for help. Asking for strength to do what was right. For help to just get me throught this day. He answered all those prayers and more.

The group that I meet with are very nice. I only know surface things about them now but I feel comfortable and not out of place. So that is certainly an answered prayer. I am learning some new things and ways along with renewing some good things that I already knew but had put out of my mind. Such as eat only when you begin to feel hunger and then eat until you begin to feel comfortable. Do not wait until you feel like you are starving nor until you feel stuffed.

I did lose two pounds this week. But I have lost pounds before. I have to be patient and stay committed to going to the meeting, eating the right food, and practice saying,"NO" to that extra bite, piece or plate of food.

So, here we go for another week. Hope all of you are following your plans what ever they are. Just remember that God is there and He wants to help and direct us all. We just have to take one moment at a time, one foot in front of the other, only one bite instead of the whole piece and the passing of time. We will make our goals and with God's help we will do it with patience. connie