MY SIXTY FIFTH YEAR

Tomorrow will begin my sixty fifth year of life. I don't think that I can remember a time since I have been in my pre-teens that I have not had some concern about my weight. In the early years mostly about how I looked but in the last three decades of my life, it has been as much about my pleasing the Lord in taking care of the house in which He gave me to live. I may go out of this world not having done what I would like to do in this area of my life but I pray that I will always be found trying.

Tomorrow as I go out to Cracker Barrel to eat breakfast with my husband, I will have to keep the important things in my mind. I know me, if I do not, then I will regret it in a few days. I am very thankful that God has given me these wonderful years. I have learned so much about Him and how I should be pleasing Him. I have learned things that I thought I would never see in a different way. But thought his grace and the wisdom He has given to me, I see things today that I was not able to see before. So I am looking forward to knowing my Lord even better in the years or days or moments that He still gives me.

I can not say that I have full control of my emotions yet but they are under much better control today than they were a couple of months ago. I haven't been faithful to exercise yet but I have not given up. I have not lost but I am keeping the weight under control with God's great help.

Sometimes, I wish that I had a body where I could just eat whenever I got ready and be slim and healthy as could be. I have prayed for such a situation for many years. I am afraid that for some reason it will never be that way for me in this life. Maybe if I were some slim "chick", I would not be what I should be for the Lord. I don't know what the reason ,but I do accept that this will be my fight for the rest of my life. I will continue to try and when I fail, I will try some more. If I were to give up, I know that my length of life would be effected. My health would be in great jeopardy. So, I will just trust God and continue trying. One day though, in heaven, I will be perfect and these things will not matter, but until then-----------may you find me trying. connie

"LIFE CAN ONLY BE UNDERSTOOD BY LOOKING BACKWARD, BUT IT MUST BE LIVED BY LOOKING FORWARD"

On New Year's Day, 1929, Georgia Tech played the University of California in the Rose Bowl. In the first half, Roy Riegels recovered a fumble for California, but he became confused about direction and ran the wrong way. One of his teammates tackled him just yards before he scored for the opposing team. When California tried to punt, Tech blocked the kick and scored a safety, which became the winning margin.During the halftime, the Cal players sat quietly, waiting to hear what the coach had to say. He was uncharacteristically quiet. Riegels put his blanket around his shoulders, stayed in a corner, put his face in his hands, and cried like a baby. Three minutes before playing time, Coach Price looked at the team and said simply, "Men, the same team that played the first half will start the second."The players filed onto the field, but Riegels did not budge. "Roy, didn't you hear me?" the coach asked.Riegels responded, "I couldn't face that crowd in the stadium to save my life." Coach Price put his hand on Roy's shoulder and said. "Roy, get up and go on back; the game is only half over." Tech men to this day will tell you they have never seen a man play football as Roy Riegels played that second half.copiedThose of us who have had gains in our journey to weight loss have got to look back and "SEE" what and where we went wrong. Then we must look forward and continue the journey to its completion.I will be the first one to say, I did cry like a baby the first time that I stepped upon the scales and they started going the wrong way and to such an extent. I allowed my self a time to wallow in my own self pity. I could see that was not getting me anywhere at least anywhere that I wanted to go. So instead of wallowing, I once again got down on my knees and ask my Heavenly Father to forgive me where I had failed, naming as many of those areas that I could bring to my memory. Then I still had to face all of you. I do take this responsibility as being very important. If I am going to try to help and tell you all what you might do then I sure have to be sure that I am doing those same things. It was not easy for me. Pride, you could say, shame was there also. I did not want to be responsible for any of you failing as I had. I put all that over and behind me and faced writing that first blog.God has given me such good encouraging friends. You were there to help me and I want to thank you all very much.I have lost two pounds and I have been getting off sugar and most bread slowly but on Monday, I will start back fully into my plan.I have bought me a stool that you sit on and do exercises. I can't really explain it. I am going to do that and walk in place. So , on next Saturday when I weigh in, I want to be able to be a good example to all of you.I am past "half time," but all of you are not. It is not a ballgame that we are playing. It is our lives that could hang in the balance and especially a quality life. So, come on , let's get out there and run the race until we reach the goal.If we have set backs well, we will continue to get up and try again until we finally accomplish that thing that we started. I am praying for each of you and when you are praying, I would appreciate you mentioning my name to the Lord. Thank you so much.

connie, your partner in reaching for the prize!

HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN

I can not say that I am glad to be back. I have dreaded this day for a few weeks now. I even thought very much about not coming back. I knew though that if I did not, I would then be a quitter. I do not want to be that. So here I am facing up to the last couple of months. I wish I could say that I have continued to lose but I can not. I wish I could say that I have not gained but I can not but here I am ready to start this all over again one more time.

The past weeks have been very busy and full of meals out, meals not planned, meals with others, bad meals, meals not good for me . I can not honestly other than a few times that I have over eaten but I just haven't eaten the right things. But the results are in and I have gained ten pounds. I know no other thing to do that forget what is behind and continue on pressing for the mark.

I hope all of you have done well, I would not wish these feelings of failure on any of you. But if you find yourself in my position, I do pray for us both as we try once again. I will not give up and I do believe if I continue to do it God's way and give Him my will then in His time I will get my weight down to a more healthy weight. So come on you all , let do this together. connie

I WISH YOU EVERY HAPPINESS!!!

Some happiness seems to be handed to us with very little effort on our part. But most happiness, like the view from a mountain peak, has to be earned by hard work on our part.
celia luce


I wish for each of you every happiness. I am taking a break from this blog but I will check in from time to time. You can always find me at my other blog, http://connies-thoughts.blogspot.com/ When I am able to get some things accomplished, I will try to be back here. Have a great life and I pray that your climb to your mountain peak will be a work that comes easily as you are trying. love you all, connie

A NEW DAY, A NEW CHANCE

A NEW DAY DAWNS

Another day is dawning
Another days begun
Another day to turn to God
And pray, "Thy will be done"

A day to slay doubt's dragon,
To know within your soul
That as you give yourself to Him
He'll bless and make you whole.

A DAY TO LIVE WITH PURPOSE
A day to show you care
when others turn to you distraught
Confused or in despair.

A day to share God's blessings
In quiet countless ways
That touch the heart with hope and joy
And brighten cloudy days.

IF WE MIGHT HAVE A SECOND CHANCE
TO LIVE THE DAY ONCE MORE,
AND RECTIFY MISTAKES WE'VE MADE
To even up the score.

IF WE MIGHT HAVE A SECOND CHANCE
TO USE THE KNOWLEDGE GAINED,
PERHAPS WE MIGHT BECOME AT LAST
AS FINE AS GOD ORDAINED.

BUT THOUGH WE CAN'T RETRACE OUR STEPS,
HOWEVER STANDS THE SCORE,
TODAY BRINGS ANOTHER CHANCE
FOR US TO TRY ONCE MORE.

A day for sweet rejoicing
For gratitude and praise
Because His love enfolds you
Both now, and all your days.
author unknown


PSALMS 121:1-2

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help? My help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."




Our help comes from the Lord and He can smooth out the rough times in our lives.

Sometimes the going gets rough but as they say, that is the time for the tough to get going. We can be tough , if we let the Lord strengthen us!! It is a new day with new chances. Let us make the most of each of them. Just one step at a time will give us one ounce at a time, and those ounces add up to pounds. I know sometimes it seems as if it will take forever. But today is the first day of forever. We will get there if we do not give up. It is a good thing, what, we are trying to accomplish. A body that is more healthy, brings a smile more readily. Each day that passes brings us closer to our goal. Just take that one day at a time and don't forget to lean on the Lord and look to Him for all the strength that you need. He wants to give it to us. We are told by the One who made us that we can do all things through Christ. Losing weight is one of those things that we need His help with, so let us start each day with a prayer asking God, to please give us that help and the determination to do what is right. God bless each of you and I am praying for us all. connie

THE FIRST STEP

A comic strip created by Charles Schulz addresses the need for each of us to make the most of the immediate present in our lives.

Charlie Brown is seen at bat. STRIKE THREE. He has struck out again and slumps down on the players' bench. He says, "Rats! I'll never be a big-league player. I just don't have it! All my life I've dreamed of playing in the big leagues, but I know I'll never make it."

Lucy turns to console him. "Charlie Brown, " she says, "you're thinking too far ahead. What you need to do is set yourself more immediate goals."

Charlie Brown looks up and asks, "Immediate goals?"


Lucy responds, "Yes. Start with this next inning when you go out to pitch. See if you can walk out to the mound without falling down."
copied

Do you ever feel like Charlie Brown? I know that I do at times. It is then that I have to remember that I can do nothing without the Lord. I can not boast of what I may do today or tomorrow because I do not know what a day may bring into my life. I can say though with much assurance, If it is the Lord's will then I will be able to accomplish the goals that I have set for my life.

When I start feeling like Charlie Brown the I must remember that we are told that, "Nay, in ALL these things, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." As Christians we can be assured that even in the matter of losing weight that we can be more than conquerors through Him because He loves us and wants what is best for us. To have a healthy body is God's will if it is not, then He will make it know to us. He used Paul in a mighty way even though He had a thorn in his flesh.

I do know that the first step in making tomorrow a success is what we do with today. If we continue to take the right steps they will become a habit and it will be out of the ordinary for us to choose the wrong things to eat.

So take one step after another in the right direction today and let us, let tomorrow take care of it's self.

I have remained the same this week. I could let that get me down or I can be thankful that I did not gain a pound. Which should I do.??? To do the right thing will take me farther down the road of success and to do the wrong thing by getting down on myself will hinder me on my way. So----I am thankful that I did not gain this past week and I will do my best to lose for next week and God willing, I will. connie

I WANNA BE A HEN

I wrote a post on my other blog once and I want to share a part of it with you.

Hard work means nothing to a hen. Regardless of what business prognosticators say about the price of eggs. . . . . . regardless of what others expect of her. . . . . . she keeps on digging worms and laying eggs.

If the ground get hard, she scratches harder.
If it's dry she digs deeper.
If it's wet , she digs where its dry.
If she strikes a rock, she digs around it.
If she gets a few more hours of daylight in the barnyard, she digs a few more hours.
Have you ever seen a pessimistic hen?
Have you ever seen a hen cackle in disgust at the prospect of her job?

Did you ever hear one cluck because the work was hard, the conditions were poor, and some of her eggs were taken from her before they hatched?

NO.

Hens save their breath for digging. They save their cackles for the eggs that are laid.
copied

I have decided that I want to be at least like the hen. Regardless of how hard it may get to get these pound off my body, I will just try all the harder. If something fails then I will try another way. If I get tired of no sugar then I will make up my mind that it want be forever, then when I get my eating emotions under control and can control my desires then I will be able to have something sweet and not let it rule me but be glad that a little will satisfy my need. If the pounds come off more slowly then I will add a little more activity and fewer calories to my diet. I will be determined 7 days a week, 24 hours a day and not just now and then. I will not feel jealous when my thin friend is able to eat all she wants and not gain an ounce. I will just be more determined to keep on trying until I succeed. I Will do my very best not to complain but be upbeat and cheerful about what I can eat. Most of all when things do not go like I think that they should have gone , I will be thankful to the Lord for all that He is doing through me and my trying to please Him.

I hope that you are encouraged in your trying and do not let Satan win even one battle that you have to fight. All it takes for him to win is for you to get discouraged and QUIT. We are not quitters anymore we will be victorious with the help that God so wants to give us. Do you want to be a hen or a quitter? I wanna be a hen? Can you hear me cackling? connie