June…the last time I wrote in my blog was June? Oh boy! I knew it had been awhile, but six months? Whoa… Well, there have been some transitions in my life lately, the kind that take some extra struggle and effort to push through in order to stay on course. So, since it has been awhile, I suppose now is a great time to change the focus of my blog.
When I wrote in the past, it was usual randomness, but as
of today, December 1, 2012 I have decided to make major changes in my life as
the result of the struggles over the past year or so. For most of my life, I’ve
not sought direction for my life’s journey.
I’ve kind of wandered…letting life just happen to me. However, this past year has been a time of
recalibration resulting from encouragement and admonishments from a variety of
people, a journey to the other side of the world, and taking a class called
Perspectives.
The combination of all these things culminated in a decision
to make changes because I have growing clarity of not so much where I am going,
but who I am following. That is the
person of Jesus Christ. Before you roll your eyes and click out of this blog,
let me assure you I am not going to beat you over the head with religion or
religious mumbo jumbo. Rather, I am
going to share what is happening in my life right now and how my faith in God
has been the catalyst. It has nothing to
do with religion, but has everything to do with finally seeing the truth of the
ultimate purpose of my life… that is to glorify God in what I say and do.
The big question is am I bringing glory to God in my
life? Honestly, perhaps some but not to the degree of my potential! God gave me
a creative mind, a sense of humor, a flair for writing, a love of words, a
capacity to love, an ability to help, the need to collaborate, the enjoyment of
entertaining, an interest in other cultures, a heart consoled by music, a
passion for purpose which is the desire to have my life count for something…something
that matters…something that lasts. A
legacy that is eternal. Not for me, but
for God. But…I’ve settled.
Up until the past couple of years, I had settled for less
than God’s best for me, sometimes realizing it, sometimes not. Then for a
couple years glimmers of changes and glimpses of “maybe if’s” would pop up, but
they would not last. Then, I started working
as a homeland missionary. I had no idea
how my first year would be so challenging to literally everything in my life. In
addressing those challenges, I found many were interconnected and weaved into
my psyche and not so surprisingly into my constant battle with weight
issues. It seems to me the challenge I
need to address first is my weight. There
is so much I could write about which is why I am changing the focus of this
blog. 
My unhealthiness is as much of a spiritual
problem as it is an emotional and physical one. So, my blog is intended to
document my weight loss endeavor. By chronicling the spiritual, emotional, and
physical battles, my hope is to inspire and encourage others. Addressing the spiritual problems head-on, I
believe I can win the war against my weight. Bringing God into it only makes
sense because I already mentioned I want my life to bring glory to God. Right now, I do not do that by being unhealthy…very
unhealthy. Getting real with God is best way to get real about my weight.
As far as diets and exercise programs, there are tons of
them and there is a ton of advice. The
advice is as varied as the humans seeking it.
So, I am not following or promoting any particular plan or program for
eating or exercise.
This is my plan:
Pray…talk to God! The best counselor and physician I know
of. Pray…Thank God for my healthy food and eat it with a grateful heart
Pray before and if possible during exercise. Thank Him for protecting my heart and lungs
despite my destructive behavior so I am able to exercise now
Track it all… thank God for successes and failures. Treat
failures as learning opportunities.
Drink plenty of water…thank God I have clean drinking
water
Sleep 7-8 hours at night…thank God that I have a bed to
sleep on, a pillow for my head, and for a roof over my head.
Read my bible – research what the Bible says on health
and poor health. Thank God that I have
the ability to read and to own a Bible.
Find accountability partners willing to be tough and
speak truth in love. Thank God for these
people.
Form Online Community – dedicated to prayer!
Pray against the negativity that will come swooping in
Pray against sabotage, direct and indirect
Pray for strength to stand firm in my convictions
Keep my eye on the prize
Pray for the grace to run the race
Defeat negativity by remembering God’s goodness in all
things
Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness. Remember I am doing this for God and not for
me. My improving health is just a
by-product of my desire to bring God glory through my life and living it as He
intended me to live.
