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So since I’ve uploaded my “before” pictures, so many of my friends have been asking me, “What in the World did you do to lose so much weight??.”  If you haven’t seen them, I’ve lost over 70 lbs since those shots were taken.  As I explained some of the steps I took, the regular response was, oh, so you did it the way it’s supposed to be done right?

RIGHT!

There is a reason that’s the way it’s “supposed” to be done.  It’s not instant, its hard work  BUT I’ve learned so much about myself in the process and believe it or not, I’ve come to really enjoy physical exercise as a part of my lifestyle and daily routine.  Just like brushing your teeth or combing your hair, you really can get to a point where hitting the gym or going for a run is simply a part of your routine or, are you ready for this??? Something you actually enjoy and look forward to!

In so many areas of our life, we feel that no matter how hard we try, or what effort we put into it, we never get out what we put in.  We feel hopeless and disempowered, even depressed.  Whether these are internal circumstances, or things outside of ourselves, we feel that we can’t gain control.  With your body and well-being, you can be in control, and you, YES YOU, can start calling the shots, and getting out of it what you put into it!

So how?!?!  Well, I think it starts with why.

The first thing you have to do is decide why.  For everyone, it’s different.  Some want to get in shape to overcome illness.  Others want to contribute to preventing disease but for me, and most of you, it’s looking good in that little black dress.  Envision the situation where you have reached your goal.  Is it visiting a doctor and having them tell you that your condition is under control?  Is it showing up at that event and having everyone stare?  Is it crossing the finish line at a race you’ve always wanted to run??  You have to figure out why you want to lose the weight and envision what your life will be like once you get there.  Picture it.  Describe the emotions that are associated with achieving this!

Next, make a game plan - So how did I do it??  Just like you are “supposed” to – everyone has a different suggestion and theory so I want to share what little changes I made at first, that lead to big changes, and ultimately, a transformation in my life.

1.       Food is for Energy – so do you need energy before bed? No.  This was the first and most difficult change for me.  I love snacking late at night.  Especially when I am studying or in front of a show that I love.  But, the food you take in is truly for energy and if you are headed to bed shortly, you don’t need it!  Curb late night cravings with simple replacements like chewing gum or what your body probably really wants, a big glass of water.

2.       View your body as a machine – doesn’t really translate for me honestly… the only machine I know about is my car and where the gas tank is.  But I think despite having a mechanics license, you know what I’m getting at.  What you put out is what you put in.  Everything you put in.  Your body is masterfully designed to delegate the nutrients that you intake to prepare your body to perform.  If you aren’t going to run a marathon in the morning, you don’t need a giant intake of carbs for dinner.  Match your intake with your output if you want to see a change.

3.       Carbs early.  Carbohydrates are designed to provide energy to your body.  So the chips in front of CSI will most definitely go straight to your hips.  They are the first thing to burn off when you start working out or living life.  So take them in early in the day.  You are more likely to get rid of them through daily activity than you are before bed.  These stack up quick!

4.       6 small meals a day.  I get teased for always snacking.  Whether its at work or in pretty much every class, I always have a snack!  If you write out and prepare to eat 6 small meals, you will not only keep your blood sugar and metabolism up, but you will reduce your cravings for foods that aren’t good for you.  Apples are a great choice – they have natural hunger reducing benefits.  Yogurt (light & fit – watch for sugar content in other yogurts) can also be a great snack.

5.       WATER – 60-70% of your body is water.  Back to it being a machine, it can’t function without this.  Try running an engine without oil, it will blow up – TRUST ME! Made that mistake!  Seriously though, so many cravings in your body exist because you are dehydrated.  It makes you fatigued and makes concentration difficult.  I could talk forever about the health benefits of flushing your body of toxins and all of the other benefits of water but that 8 glasses a day thing is true.  It’s a hard habit to get into at first but before long, others will be hard pressed to find you without a water bottle by your side!

6.       Just walk a minute!  It’s hard to get into the routine, but when you spend the other 23 hours and 30 minutes standing around, sitting, or sleeping, don’t you owe it to yourself to get moving for at least 30 minutes??   When I first started, I told myself 15 minutes.  If I didn’t feel better after walking 15 minutes on the treadmill, I didn’t have to keep going.  But inevitably, I always did and was always glad I did.  Getting there was the hard part.  What’s going to drive you to go?

These are only a few suggestions to get started with.  Controlling your portions and deciding to make better choices are the first key to getting your weight under control.  Immediately followed is developing an exercise routine to match. So before I dive deeper into the many things I’ve learned over the years about what contributes to success in this area, try these initial steps!!  Once you cut carbs late in the day, increase your water intake, and start incorporating some exercise into your daily routine, you will be amazed at your results!!  Can’t wait to hear how it affects you and share the next steps with you!

Heart of God International is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping missionaries.  They also have a wonderful ministry called Soldiers Bible Ministry.

Heart of God International is seeking articles for their fabulous online ezine.  If you have a story you would like to share with Heart of God, please send it to: JEANICE@JOURNEZINE.COM

Subjects to write about:

October 09
Persecuted Church, Missions, Evangelism, Witnessing

November 09
American History, First Thanksgiving, Family Traditions

December 09
Isaiah 6:9, Luke 2, Peace, Joy, Mercy

I just recently began a Bible Study called, “What Happens When Women Walk In Faith”, written by Lysa Terkeurst. As I read through the introduction and first chapter of the book, I found myself saying, “That’s me!” I felt elated, yet unsure, as I continued to read, trying to process everything I was taking in. Things that were a “secret” part of me; things I had not even talked to God about were right there in front of me in black and white, jumping off the page, and there was God, telling me “It’s time to confront this. It’s time to stop pretending. It’s time to step up and start living for Me. It’s time for you to start carrying out the plans I have for you.”

That feeling of elation kicked in again, along with that of excitement, followed closely by fear. I have pulled away from God for so long; not intentionally, but through various choices I had made, actions I had taken, bad habits and harmful temptations I had allowed myself to fall into. It had been a long, dark, winding road to the place I found myself currently in, and I had no idea how to find my way back… But, then, there was God. I’d thought for sure I had wandered too far from Him. They always say that if you feel like you’re far from God, He’s never the one who moved, and you can always find Him right where you left Him, but I figured out today that that statement isn’t entirely true. Yes, I was the one who moved, but God didn’t stay where I’d left Him, allowing me to walk away and get lost. Instead, He stayed right there with me… He was there through it all… All the bad choices, the temptations, the hurts, the anger, the sadness… He was there, arms wide open, just waiting for me to LET Him catch me every time I fell. But I, unfortunately, kept choosing to let myself just fall to the ground. I kept dodging His outstretched arms, choosing not to see – choosing to not acknowledge His presence. Out of guilt, out of shame… I knew I was the one who had walked away. I knew I was the one who stopped allowing Him to be a part of my life. But He never left. He spent all this time waiting quietly on the sidelines for me to grab hold of His hand and say “get in the game! I want You on my team!”

Why has it taken me so long to say that? Why did I allow myself to be fooled into believing that I had done too many things wrong; made too many wrong choices; walked too far away; etc… for Him to still want me and love me? Why did I fool myself into thinking that I was too far gone for Him to ever be able to use me? I’d convinced myself that I was a failure, so I’d better just keep going to try to make the best of the mess I’d made of my life. But, God said “No. I want better for you. I have better for you, and I want to show you that I am sufficient; I can pull you through – I can lift you out of this darkness and I can use you to glorify Me, if you will only take My hand and say, ‘Yes, Lord’. I have been waiting for you for too long. It’s time.”

There is a song called, “From Nowhere To Now – Here” by The Kin. It’s not a Christian song, but I happened to hear it playing softly in the background as I was reading through my Bible study and I heard God’s voice in the lyrics of the chorus…

“Take this love
Calls your name
No need to walk alone
From nowhere to now here
Change has come
Well come in
No need to walk alone
From nowhere to now here”

I listened to those words over and over again. I kept replaying the song, and I realized that it described my relationship with God. God is offering His love to me – still. I got Saved over 9 years ago, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am His, but as I explained previously, somewhere along the way, I got lost and pulled away, distancing myself from Him – or so I thought. But here He is, right beside me, offering His unconditional love, despite all I have done, and all I have not done. He is calling my name, and telling me He is with me, willing to walk with me from this place – my “nowhere” – to get me to His “now here”.  He wants to take me to where He wants me to be. He wants to walk with me and pull me out of this dark void, the middle of nowhere, and show me the specific “here” where He wants me to be; the place I can be nourished by Him, by His Word and grow. The place He can use me for His glory.

So, here I am, Lord. I am ready to take Your hand. I am ready for You to lead me out of this place I find myself. Ready for you to guide me forward – not back. I am ready to walk with you. Guide me, Lord. Nourish my heart, my mind… Teach me what I need to know, so that you may use me to honor You. Hold me tightly, Lord, so that I may not wander from You again. I need You, Father, because in all my wandering I have learned that I cannot make it alone….. Thank You for not letting me go… In Jesus’ name… In Jesus’ name… yes, Lord…

 

Tonight as I finished watching Pride and Prejudice something deep within my heart was awakened -- a full consuming hunger to be romanticized. My heart is overwhelmed, not by a sadness as most women as well as myself in the past would see it when thinking of romance and the lack thereof. But with a full burning desire of love -- no, passion. I believe we too often search for this romance or love within a man, when in fact this is short lived. This is not to the discredit of our men and the wonderful strides they make to please us. This is not what I am talking about at all. I believe if they tried with all their might, there would still be this longing for more. I'm not saying they should stop, because I do love the effort of my husband very much.

This longing is more than a worldly passion; it is a hunger I believe that was placed within our feminine hearts to draw us ever closer to our Lord -- the lover of our soul. I believe He created this spot just for Himself and He address this area in Scripture, Isaiah 43. If you looked in my Bible, you would see that I’ve drawn hearts all around several of the Scripture verses in Isaiah 43, much like a school girl infatuated with her first love. These verses reach deep into a hidden place that I so often try to keep buried, in an effort to protect my heart from hurt, which in fact still hurts. God draws me to Himself within these Scriptures as if He is holding me close to Himself, whispering sweet nothings in my ear… “Because you are precious in my eyes and honored, and I love you” (Isaiah 43:4). Wow! I love this; it is exciting to know that my God loved me (and you) enough that He spoke these words of endearment.

I encourage you to go and read Isaiah 43; let the Lord romance your heart once more. Open you heart to love again whether you are disappointed, hurt, weary, lonely, anxious, or just scared. There is a God who longs to love you in a way no man could ever fulfill. He waits for you, His love, so open your heart to be loved again.

Completely and Utterly His,

Carmen

Power of a Praying Wife devotionals for Chapters 4 and 5

His Sexuality and His Affection

 

These subjects can be very personal, embarrassing or down right frustrating.  Please read and pray for your husband.

 

Chapter 4 His Sexuality

 

Mark 10: 7-9

 

⁷'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,^{[b] 8}and the two will become one flesh.'^[c] So they are no longer two, but one. ⁹Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

 

Hebrews 13:4

 

⁴Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

 

 

Songs of Solomon 2:16

 

¹⁶ My lover is mine and I am his;
      

 

 

from Focus on the Family

My lover is mine and I am his. Song of Songs 2:16

These are words of belonging, words that for an engaged couple can generate tender imagining and anticipation of what life together will be. Lived out by a married couple, these words can hold together in intimacy what much of the world seems to determined to break apart. Intimacy in marriage, sexual and otherwise, was created by God and is to be fought for, delighted in, and fiercely guarded.

To yield to one another sexually in marriage is to step into God-created intimacy that takes us out of ourselves and into places where the walls can crumble and we can be tenderly vulnerable and real. There is peace and expansiveness of heart that come with this intimacy; one that offers such glorious contrast to the confusion and momentum of the world.

We must be willing to fight for intimacy in our marriages and to fiercely guard it. We fight for it by being attentive to each other’s hearts; by yielding to God in a way that allows us to more easily yield to one another. We guard it by be intentional, considering what pulls us from intimacy and stepping away from those places, considering what brings us life and stepping deliberately into those places.

My lover is mine and I am his; we long to belong. Marriage, as a coming together before God, offers a sense of belonging that mirrors our belonging to the Father. While the vulnerability that intimacy brings is sometimes hard or scary to step into, it is such a wonderfully holy place that God gives us, a place of delighting in one another that echoes of the Father’s delight in us.

Father, forgive me the places where, although I long to belong, I rebel under your covering. Forgive me the places where I choose not to yield. Let me delight so much in You that I can delight in the one you have given me in marriage, that together we might be Yours.

Copyright © 2008, Focus on the Family. All rights reserved. International copyright secured.

 

1 Corinthians 7: 3-5

 

³The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. ⁴The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. ⁵Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer.

 

 

Chapter 5 – His affection

 

Love is important in showing affection, First Corinthians 13 has been called the love chapter because of its powerful description of love. However, as I am reading this passage keep in mind that its easy to talk about love, its much harder to do the tough work of living it.  Love as God intended it is more than just passion, romantic feelings, or sentimental expressions.  It involves commitment, sacrifice, and service – the kind of things that benefit both the giver and the receiver.  Think about these things as you read

 

 

 

1 Corinthians chapter 13

 

Love

 ¹If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,^[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.

 ⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 ⁸Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. ¹¹When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. ¹²Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

 ¹³And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

 

Think of how we were as children.  Running to those we loved for hugs and kisses to let them know we loved them.  We showed them affection.  Don’t you still crave that affection?  I know I do.  And if we do, don’t you think that our husbands still do also?  All of this love that is there to give and receive, starts with accepting Christ’s love for you, and then committing yourself to expressing that kind of love in your life and relationships.

 

Philippians 2: 1-3

 

¹If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

 

 

We need to make time for our husbands, give them encouraging words, touch them, hold them, kiss them, and above all else love them unconditionally.

 

Yesterday while my DH and I were driving to pick Drew up, we spotted a huge rainbow. I have never seen one that vibrant. You could see every color vividly. I looked in awe at the beauty God created. It started us talking. How can anyone say we are not created when they look around? The rainbow is a perfect arc, the way God created it. Do you ever think if it's just the sun reflecting off the raindrops, then why isn't it a "wallbow" ? Why isn't it like a sheet of reflection?? It is an arc....the rain doesn't fall in an arc, it is a sheet of rain. Otherwise we could definately not get soaked as it pours! We could dodge between the drops! :) I know some may try to tell me there is a scientific explanation for the rainbow, there are certain angles, yada.. yada.. yada.. Just like the scientific reasons how we came to be, or how the Red Sea parted for Moses. BLAH!! I KNOW my God created me. I know He created the rainbows. It didn't just happen...

Another thing I've been pondering is, do you think Noah got scared the next time it rained? Do you think he got scared when he took his eyes off the rainbow? We get scared when we take our eyes off God. He promised us He would never leave nor forsake us. But how many times have we failed to see God's rainbow for us?? Sometimes I think of some of the prophets as, I don't know...not perfect, per say. But maybe not having the same battles we do. I know, that's silly, they are human, just like us. Looking at that rainbow elightened me. Noah now seems more real to me, not just a "Super Hero" of the bible. Not just a person in a story.

I had the immense pleasure of interviewing Jolene Philo, wife, mother, blogger, writer and motivational speaker. Most importantly of her titles is "Christian woman." She was a joy to talk with, and I am sure her insights, advice and wisdom will bless anyone with a child who has chronic or severe medical conditions.

You can find Jolene's blog HERE. 

I would also encourage caretakers of wounded warriors to listen in on my interview with Jolene.  Click to listen:

Betty Lou had her very own seat in our car:

Most mornings, Betty Lou and I had a cup of coffee together. Betty Lou loves coffee. I think some of that has to do with the fact that she was "born" at Carly's house. :)

Betty Lou, hubby, and I took a trip up to Louisville. She helped us find our second car!

Betty Lou seemed rather fond of cookies, so I shared mine with her.

Hubby decided to give her a fortune cookie:

Her fortune said this:

"Beauty will surround you - open your eyes to see it."

Betty Lou and I went to Kristen's garage sale. We even got to meet Kristen's hubby and girls!

Betty Lou liked staying in our guest bedroom...although I think the bed was a tad big for her.

Betty Lou enjoyed a service at our church:

We took Betty Lou to a park in town.

Here she is finding her place on the map:

She took a swim in the river:

Betty Lou and I stopped to smell some wildflowers:

Betty Lou got into a little bit of trouble...

Us laying out and getting some sun...

Betty Lou and I sharing another cup of coffee:

Betty Lou is enjoying our Bible study.

Betty Lou helped me plant some mums in our front yard:

After a long and fun week, we had to send Betty Lou on to Mandy's house.

 

(p.s. I took a lot more pictures...I'll be uploading those to Betty Lou's group page.)

 

Conquering Home Schooling Myths
By Dana Chaffin

An estimated 2 million American children are home schooled, and that number grows each year. There are many reasons why so many parents choose to home school their children and just as many myths about why others do not. It is time to shatter a couple of those myths and to introduce one of the many options available to home schooling families so that you can make the best decision for your child's education.

Socialization
One of the most common reasons people give for not home schooling is that students who are home schooled are not properly socialized. This does not have to be the case. There are many organizations designed for home schooling families. These organizations offer a variety of extracurricular activities and outings such as field trips and prom. Students may even participate in organized sports such as baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, and cheerleading.

People are socialized by learning the values, attitudes, and characteristics of the group with which they associate. One of the key purposes of home schooling is to allow parents to dictate the groups and activities in which their child is involved. In this way, parents can avoid much of the negative socialization that children can be exposed to, including drug and alcohol abuse, sexual immorality, and violent behavior. If this is an important issue for you, home schooling may be an option to consider.

Educational Quality
In the past, a home school education has been unfairly viewed as inferior to a public school education. Not anymore. When compared on an equal basis, home school and private school students, on average, consistently perform at a higher academic level than public school students.

As the number of public school students per classroom grows each year, teachers' ability to give students much needed one-on-one attention diminishes. And even if students fall behind in certain concepts, teachers must often move on to the next concept rather than making sure every student fully understands the subject material. Home school parents are able to spend more time on the concepts in which their child needs special attention and make sure their child actually learns the concepts. Home school parents understand that their child is the most important student in the "class." Another bonus to schooling at home is the absence of many of the distractions that students may experience in a traditional classroom setting. Children with a desire to learn do not have to wait while a teacher deals with other students or discipline issues before moving on with academics. Because of this, many families find that their child is able to complete their school work at home in a shorter time period than in a regular full school day. This frees up time for extracurricular activities or even part-time jobs for high school students.


So what do you do if you decide to home school your child but you don't know where to start? Help is available.

Faith Central Christian Academya great resource for home schoolers
Home school resource centers like Faith Central Christian Academy's Home School Service Center are an excellent alternative to the public school system and to traditional home education. FCCA's Home School Service Center can help parentsespecially working and single parentsmake a smooth transition from public schooling to home schooling.

FCCA was founded by Thomas Foley. A vision was birthed in Foley to begin a Christian school. A construction contractor by trade, Foley continued to design and build homes to help fund the school. In fact, he himself built the building that would house the new school. In 1989, FCCA opened its doors and began operation as a private school. The home school division, Home School Service Center, was added in 1992. Each year, an average of 12-22 students graduate from FCCA .

Home schooling through an organization like FCCA is not what most people think of when they hear the term "home schooling." The Home School Service Center at FCCA offers a structured Christian-based curriculum. When students enter the program, they are given a diagnostic test which pinpoints areas in which students excel or in which they need more attention. Based on the results of that test, an individualized program of study is designed for the child. The parent is then instructed on how to administer the curriculum at home. Faith Central Christian Academy is accredited through the National Association of Private Schools (NAPS), and its academic requirements meet or exceed Oklahoma state public school academic requirements. Parents administer the curriculum at home, but students take final tests at the Center on a weekly basis. The staff at HSSC keeps student records and serves as a resource for parents when they have questions or concerns about home schooling. Private tutoring is also offered through the center.

Joshua David, administrator of FCCA, firmly believes that education must be based on and begin with the Word of God, as stated in Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Success in life as outlined in Joshua 1:8 is obtained by putting the Word of God first place in your life. This is why FCCA also offers Bible coursesone of which is an extensive study of the book of Proverbsin addition to the required academic subjects. FCCA also offers many Christian teaching books, CDs, and videos to assist students and parents in their walk with God.

FCCA has a full graduation and awards ceremony each year. The school also offers assistance with ACT and SAT college testing. FCCA has produced many successful graduates over the years. Alumni have become registered nurses, business owners, administrators of missions organizations, models, professional musicians, and ministers, to name a few.

Home schooling may not be for every family, but there are lots of options and resources out there that can help you make an informed decision regarding your child's education. Whether you decide to use the public school system, a home school resource center like FCCA, or even to educate your child at home with your own curriculum, the decision is an important one. Do your research and find the best match for your family's needs.

If you would like more information about Faith Central Christian Academy, call (918) 446-1901, or write them at 6025 South 33rd West Avenue Suite F, Tulsa, OK 74107. You may also check out their website at www.faithcentralonline.com.

Dana Chaffin is a Christian freelance writer who is now a member of CMW.   cajd34@netzero.com

Beatitudes for Parents

Blessed are those parents who make their peace with spilled milk and with mud, for of such is the kingdom of childhood.

Blessed is the parent who engages not in the comparison of his child with others, for precious unto each is the rhythm of his own growth.

Blessed are the fathers and mothers who have learned laughter, for it is the music of the child’s world.

Blessed and wise are those parents who understand the goodness of time, for they make it not a sword that kills growth but a shield to protect.

Blessed and mature are they who without anger can say "no", for comforting to the child is the security of firm decisions.

Blessed is the gift of consistency, for it is heart’s-ease in childhood.

Blessed are they who accept the awkwardness of growth, for they are aware of the choice between marred furnishings and damaged personalities.

Blessed are the teachable, for knowledge brings understanding, and understanding brings love.

Blessed are the men and women who in the midst of the unpromising mundane, give love, for they bestow the greatest of all gifts to each other, to their children, and—in an ever-widening circle—to their fellow men.

Marion E. Kinneman
(1895-1985)