Walking.. Not running

You may know that one year ago this week I started an intense weight loss program. The first 17 weeks i ate no food - only drank the shakes and ate the bars that were part of the program. I joined the gym. I started to lose weight.. and i lost quite a bit of weight during that 17 weeks.

Once we introduced food again .. well that was a little more difficult.. and so I have somewhat struggled the last 6 months... i have put a little of the weight back on and finally, now am starting to take it off again.. slowly... I have learned a lot about eating.. what i eat... and why i eat..

I started off riding the stationary bike - and did so faithfully for the better part of 6 months. I have since started working out with a trainer - and actually found that i like that workout style very much. I enjoy it much more than I ever thought i would.

But tonight - i went old school. i just went out for a plain old walk around the neighborhood.. i left my phone at home. i went by myself. and you know what? it was kinda nice... no one around except a neighbor here and there in their yards. I wasn't listening to music or any podcast. I just walked. And smelled nature. And i found that there are very pretty smelling flowers not far from my house.

I thought about all the times I have walked while being distracted and haven't smelled nature around me. Haven't taken the time to enjoy God's beauty around me. And it is there - in the trees, in the bushes, in the sky. I even thought I saw my mom watching me walk tonight.. there was a distinct face in the clouds and it followed me all the way home. Smiling. I know mom is proud of me for working on losing the weight.

I know one day I will get to jump for joy when I reach my goal and that mom will be smiling from heaven, cheering me on and being super proud of me for persisting - even when I want to give up.

until next time I'm
~just being me

If We Loved....

From my quiet time this morning ...

“I wonder what would happen if we decided that, with God’s help and in His strength, we are going to love like we’ve never been hurt. Instead of withholding affection, staying bitter or seeking revenge, we love.”

I imagine, no, I know the world would be a much kinder place to be.
If we loved instead of bullying.
If we loved instead of not speaking to someone
If we loved instead of (you fill in the blank)
I imagine Jesus would be shining more through each of us
I imagine the smile on Gods face would be seen throughout the world.
I imagine.....
If. We. Loved.

My Story Is Not Unique

My story is not unique... It is one that is told a thousand times a week, by someone, someplace to someone new (or someone who has heard it before). But it is how my story plays out that will be different from other stories told by people like me.

My story begins in Jeremiah 1:5....."Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose" and continues in Jeremiah 29:11 when God says.... I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. (The Message). 

Who I am is being determined on a daily basis...... 

I can say I am 

A Daughter

A Sister

A Friend

An Aunt

A Wife

A Mommy

A Memaw/Meme

but most importantly, I am a child of God - a sinner saved by grace - a gal who is learning daily and striving to be more like my Heavenly Father. He is the one that is writing my story - I am just the vessel being used. God is the author of my story - and it may not always be an easy story, even though it wasn't promised to always be easy. But I know that when times get rough, when I think I can't go on... that is when my Heavenly Father will carry me through - literally. He will pick me up and carry me across all the junk that is surrounding me and put me down safely on the other side - maybe not untouched by the junk, because that is helping to mold me, but at least safely on the other side, ready to start a new chapter in the story.

Here is where my story will unfold... day by day, week by week, month by month...

Until next time I'm...

~just being me

I Got Saved...

I used to think quite often "Why don't I have a miraculous testimony like so-and-so who was saved from such a life?"

I have been a church going, Bible believing, Jesus loving, Southern Baptist all my life who was fortunate to live in a Christian home, raised by loving, Christian parents, surrounded by loving, Christian aunts, uncles and cousins. 

Then one day it hit me.. i do have a miraculous testimony! 

Since then I walk in forgiveness
All of my guilt was erased
The chains of the past
Are broken at last
I got saved
Oh, I got saved!

I was never a jean wearing, motorcycle riding, gang member who spent my life running around with the wrong crowd, making choices that could (and most likely would) alter my life as I knew it. 

But it is only by the grace of God that I wasn't. 

I'm undone by the mercy of Jesus
I'm undone by the goodness of the Lord
I'm restored and made right
He got a hold of my life
I've got Jesus
How could I want more?

(please hear me here .... I am NOT saying all jean wearing, motorcycle riding folks are gang members... there are PLENTY who are not...) 

I very well could have been that jean wearing, motorcycle riding gang member. There is nothing about me that is that different from jean wearing, motorcycle riding folks making wrong choices. 

I've received nothing but goodness
I've tested and tasted Your grace
I was so lost, 'til I fell at the cross
And got saved
Oh, I got saved!

But at the young age of 7 I heard a voice asking me to accept Him. To let Him in my life and be in charge. To allow Him to be the Lord and Savior of my life. 

And. I. Listened. And. Obeyed. 

My life could have turned out so differently if I hadn't listened and heeded the call.
~the call that changed my life.
~the call that influenced Every. Single. Decision. I have ever made.
~the call that causes me to take a moment before deciding if I am going to do something and pray about it. 
~the call that gives me peace when going through difficult times in my life. 
~the call that leads me down a different path and heads me toward heaven instead of where I deserve to be, in hell. 

The love of God
Gave me His pardon
The love of God
Won't let me stay the same
The love of God
Pulls me up higher
His will is stronger
That's why I got saved!

I'm undone by the mercy of Jesus
I'm undone by the goodness of the Lord
I'm restored and made right
He got a hold of my life
I've got Jesus
How could I want more?!
I'm undone by the mercy of Jesus
I'm undone by the goodness of the Lord
I'm restored and made right
He got a hold of my life
I've got Jesus
How could I want more?

On this Easter day, I reflect and think about how thankful I am, how grateful I am that God loves me enough that He sent His ONE AND ONLY SON to DIE for me. To take away my sin and guilt so that I might live and be set free from the bondage of sin and shame. And that I KNOW that on the 3rd day, HE ROSE! for me! 
And because of this, I know that I will live in Heaven one day and see my Jesus, Lord and Savior face to face. 

lyrics: I Got Saved Jennie Riddle & Corey Voss