Not in Ourselves.

So week one is done. We did it! My mom did great with her week! She met all her goals...I on the other hand...had a hard time for some reason. This weekend was a big rough for me, we had a couple parties & a baseball game to go to & those types of environments don't lend themselves to a healthy eating situation. I did however meet my goal of work outs, so that is something good. So yeah week one is done & I think I will strive to work harder this time, be more strict with my eating. Mom, Great job! You did it! So proud of you!
This next week i think I will focus on a chapter from the Abiding In Christ book by Andrew Murray.(Amazing btw, if you've not read it, pick it up today!)
this chapter is talking about losing self for the sake of Christ. Its based of this verse: Galatians 2:20 "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." This will be our theme for this next week...Christ in me. I can do this because I am NOT the same person! I am choosing to be who Christ says I should be! Let this encourage you Christian.
Here are some quotes from the book that really stood out to me:

"The greatest enemy int he abiding life is self. First it refuses to give up its will; then again, by its working, it hinders God's work."

"Am I prepared to say that my old self will no longer have a word to say?"

"It is in the slaying of self that the wonderful powers with which God has fitted you to serve Him can be set free for a complete surrender to God and offer to Him to be accepted, sanctified, and used."

"If you are willing to entirely give up self, and to allow Jesus Christ to become your life within you, inspiring all your thinking, feeling, and acting, in things temporal and spiritual, He IS ready to take CHARGE."

It is time Christ Follower to die to self, once and for all! Stand up, fight back, take your self & your self will hostage to the grace that Jesus offers. Surrender to Him. Fight everyday to make HIM number 1 & self to be #2!!

**REMEMBER**
Self that seeks to serve God is more dangerous than self that refuses to obey God.

Losing All

So Today is really day one of our 4 week journey my Mom & I started. I think its going to be really important to focus on Christ throughout this process because He is the only one who will give us the strength for a new day & to keep on going. So today's verse is going to be:

Philippians 3:7-8
"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things."

I think this verse is perfect for the journey we've just started....losing all for the sake of Christ. Isn't that what this whole thing is about anyway? About Him? How we can do this life for Him & serve & love like Him? It takes a lot of 'losing of self' to continue on a journey of being healthy. Its a sacrifice daily to say...OK Lord, I'm going to lose ALL for the sake of you, even if that means giving up an old way of eating, or an old routine, or a routine not filled with physical exercise. Its a NEW life, a life of losing all for the SAKE OF CHRIST. Whatever was to my profit (insert whatever filled you up) I now consider a loss for the the sake of Christ.

Stake your claim now! Claim that you ARE different because of Christ. Claim that you no longer have to live like a prisoner to self! He has changed you from the inside out & HE is making you into a new person.
What will you "lose for the sake of Christ" today?

A Life of Honor

So as most of you know the Lord has had me on a journey of honoring him with ALL of me. This was a journey that started back in 2004 & has manifested itself all throughout my life the last 5 years. One consistent theme though has been the area of Honoring Him with my physical health. The Lord has challenged me & pushed me to get up at 4:50 every morning (m-f) and work out at 5:30-6:30 as an act of worship to Him. Since July 21, 2008 I have been going consistently, apart from the vacations & the occasional 3 or 4 day work out weeks. But all in all I would say with 90% certainty I have been honoring him with my health. I started the Body For Life program on January 2, 2009 to serve as the way I base my meals. I have come to a plateau and I'm ready for the next challenge. I think the Lord is so sweet in how He knows where we are & knows what we need right when we need it.
Enter the phone call from my Mom today. She asked me to pray for her because she had just got done working out & asked that I would pray that she continues this journey.
So for the next 4 weeks I am going to partner with her in this journey. Praying, working out, and eating healthy I am going to do this with her! I have included our goals in this blog, see below.

Philippians 4:13 will be our theme!
13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

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Janna & Joan’s Work out Plan
May 26, 2009 – June 29th 2009

For the next 4 weeks we will stick to our plan, we will be accountable to each other. We WILL NOT cheat (except on our cheat day) & we will call in every Monday to do a summary of our week.

Janna’s Goals:
To pray every morning that I give this over to God & that ultimately it is HE who is in control of my weight loss. As long as I honor Him with the goals I set, I will not be a disappointment.
To lose 2 lbs a week
To work out 5/6 times a week for one hour sessions
To continue eating 5 times a day, one carb, one protein & 2 veggies mixed in there
To have a cheat day or meal at least one time during my week

Joan’s Goals:
· Give workout/weight/food to God every morning! Say a prayer that he would help you to be mindful of what you put in your mouth & that everything would Honor HIM.
Work out a minimum of 3 times a week
Eat healthy every day
Don't forget your cheat day!!

Fruitful branch-life

"The God who has chosen me and planted me in Chirst as a branch has ensured that I will in every way be worhty of Jesus Christ." Andrew Murray