Sun Goes Down

This week was the part 2 of Steven Furtick’s Sun Stand Still message (The one where he compares LifeChurch.tv to the 1990’s band Nirvana and Kurt Cobain!).  In it, he address the “What if the sun DOESN'T stand still” side of things.  The haters that get in your way, your own doubts that become obstacles.  The nay-sayers, the gossips, the Debbie Downers!  My favorite quote from the beginning of the talk was “If you want to do something that has never been done before, maybe it’s because God has left it for YOU to do.”  Just because SOMEONE is telling you no, doesn’t mean GOD is telling you no.  Pastor Furtick tweeted “Not a single #1 in the Final Four. Don't let anyone else's ranking define who you are or what you can do.”  This was from Sunday night – referring to the fact that not a single #1 seeded NCAA basketball team made it to the Final Four of the end of season tournament this year!  That rankings and statistics and numbers don’t always hold true to what is happening in our lives.  PREACH!

One of the points he made about obstacles that really stuck with me was when he talked about the “Why Bother” attitude.  He used the passage from Mark 5:21 – 43 where Jairus was taking Jesus to his sick daughter so Jesus could heal her, and Jesus was detained by another woman seeking healing, and the daughter died while they were waiting for Jesus.  One of Jairus’ close advisers told them Jairus’ daughter had died.  Saying to him “Why Bother?”   Why bother the teacher anymore?  It’s useless – she’s dead already… I find myself sucked in to that attitude A LOT sometimes.  I get discouraged with how poorly my kids listen to me, so I give up and say “Why Bother?”  I diet and exercise and the pounds stay right where they are so I give up and say “Why Bother.”  But Jesus said, “Don't be afraid; just believe."  

Towards the end of the talk, Pastor Furtick references a Journey Song (recently made popular again by the TV series Glee  - another of my favorite topics) encouraging us “Don’t Stop Believing.”  But not to hold on to the feeling, but to hold on to our FAITH!  Faith that God will do greater things.  Faith that just because we can’t see the end result, yet, to keep up the work.  Faith in God’s promises for our lives. Acts 20:24  says “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace.”  (This is my husband’s life verse, BTW)  We have to “tune out the doubt” (as Pastor Furtick says) and hold on to our faith to see us through. Don’t be afraid. Just believe. Don’t stop believing!

I think one of the reasons I look up to Pastor Steven Furtick so much, is that he was the guest speaker the first time I ever stepped foot on a LifeChurch.tv campus in the fall of 2008.  It was week 3 of the Kaleo series, and Pastor Craig Groeschel introduced him as a pastor from North Carolina that has a 2 year old church with 4,000 members.  (Little Stevie Furtick with is BLOND hair! And already referencing Sun Stand Still! I remember saying to my husband "If this guy is a friend of the pastor at this church, I want to go HERE!") When he was introduced last week, Pastor Furtick’s church is now 5 years old and I can’t even remember the HUGE number of people it influences!  This guy is the real deal! Don’t stop believing in the BIG THINGS God can do when you just let Him!

And as an aside, it was weigh in Monday at my house today.  I am down 1 pound from the last time I weighed 2 weeks ago!  Small victory, but I won’t stop believing! 

(And because it’s funny, every time I see the title of my post a little Kenny Chesney song goes through my head!)

Lent (Sacrifice)

My favorite definition of sacrifice is “giving up something you love, for something you love MORE.” I think the first time I heard this was a couple of years ago in a sermon by Craig Groeschel, and since then I have heard the same sentiment said a few different ways. So, as we start this season of Lent, I am choosing to make a sacrifice. I am giving up Diet Coke (caffeine/dark cola), in order to feel better.

You see, I love (LOVE) Diet Coke, but I love NOT feeling like I have for the last 2 weeks even MORE. I’ve done it before. Given up the DC. For LONG periods of time, even. I gave it up for 5 years while trying to conceive, then conceiving and breastfeeding twins. Then again when I was pregnant and breastfeeding my son. And then for 21+ days at the First of this year when I participated in the Daniel fast. And I know I have done it for Lent in the past as well. So, I know it can be done, and I know I can do it. And to help me along my way, I have also started a new bible reading plan designed just for Lent at youversion.com. To keep me on track and to remind me WHY I am sacrificing this tiny thing when Jesus gave it ALL!

So, the blog has been neglected the last 2 weeks basically because I have failed at my commitments. My commitment to working out, my commitment to losing weight, and my commitment to this blog. Once again, LIFE got in the way. My parents (who are part of the VILLAGE that helps raise my 3 children) were out of town for a few days, so our schedule was wacky, then I started not feeling well, only to find out that I had strep throat! 2+ days of being totally miserable, then 2+ more days of just feeling bad, and things were REALLY behind. Add to that, I think I had a mild reaction to the antibiotics I am on (Can I give THAT up for Lent? Antibiotics?) which left me feeling foggy and groggy and with a headache, which turned into a migraine on Sunday, and yesterday, I finally started to feel almost normal again. I have ONE MORE pill to take this afternoon and I will have completed my 10 day course of antibiotics! I am WELL again! So, this season of sacrifice is a good day to start over, I believe!

On the upside, during ALL of that, I MAINTAINED my weight again! For that, I am grateful! It’s nice to start out in the same place I left off, instead of having to take 2 steps (or more) backwards! So, here’s to SACRIFICE! What are you going to sacrifice this season?

Two Weeks

So, obviously, the last time I wanted to start blogging again, it didn't really happen. But, now I have purpose again. I am determined to lose some weight! So, I am going to chronicle that journey here... I got new Nike Shox for Christmas. No more excuses!

Two weeks ago, I started my new routine. I set 2 alarms on my new (Samsung Impression) phone with the fun ring tone of "Walk it Out" (You Tube) to get me excited about getting up and moving. It plays at 10:35 and again at 3:35. That allows the halls to be clear(er) of students. And I have not missed a walk yet.

Here's the scoop. I work on the Oklahoma State University campus in the Engineering department. My office is on the first floor of a 5 story building. There is a stair case at the north and south ends of the building - my office is almost dead center on the first floor. So, I go out my door, head north or south (depending on my mood), and go up the second floor, then across to the opposite stair well, then up, and over, up and over. Once I complete the hall on the 5th floor, I start down doing the same thing. I haven't missed one trip (twice a day) since I started on January 4!

I already feel so much better and stronger! I don't get short of breath doing it any more, my knees don't creak as bad, and my posture is better. I have gotten MUCH faster at it, and it almost seems "easy" now. So, today, I am adding a new twist to the afternoon jaunt. A second "rep!" I am going to go up, then down, then back up and down again. I am going to do that for a week (or so), then add another "rep" to the morning walk as well. Hopefully, that will keep the challenge going as I decide what other exercise to add in.

Today is also the first day in the 2nd step of my plan. Shakeology! My old friend Stephanie Richardson (we worked together BACK IN THE DAY when I was in the Dallas area) is a coach for Team Beachbody (www.funfitmom.com), and she introduced me to the meal replacement shakes and sent me a sample pack to get me started. I am going to replace lunch for a week and see how it goes!

So, wish me luck on this journey, and check back often for updates!