True Story:
Standing in front of the mirror shirtless, I sighed and said to myself:
"You look like a big, fat tick." (With a "t" just to be clear).
But I also realized, I didn’t get here overnight.
My weight had been creeping up since my stroke in 2017.
I had tried several diets before (unbelievably including Vegetarian for a month or two) but nothing ever seemed to stick as good as syrup does to pancakes.
But that day in August 2023, something began to change.
I had one goal: To lose weight.
I was near certain I was likely beginning another failed weight loss attempt.
But I was never so wrong.
I became my own mind and body guinea pig experiment.
My consumption of personal development books was voracious.
Early morning trips to the gym began to form into habits. Habits began to breed other habits.
Things were somewhat improving until I re-learned an interesting fact: It is near impossible to out-exercise a bad diet. Exercising regularly was no longer a problem, but I was also not losing any weight. And then:
January 2024 - I hit my highest weight ever (even while exercising nearly daily.)
I felt terrible about myself. I thought: How did I let myself get to this point?
I knew all the drips of sweat in the world were not going to help me turn things around.
Enter - Intermittent Fasting. Things began to slowly click. My one goal in mind (to lose weight) began to happen in front of my eyes. I was now a little lighter fat tick (not a big fat tick, lol).
But then, like clockwork, motivation and willpower began to fade as the scale began to pushback on me.
As if planned at the right moment: Enter some faith-based mindset and habit change books.
God knew it was time to bring to light the secret ingredient.
All the prior personal development books, audios, and verses all came together to spark the desired change. It was like atomic particles colliding to cause a reaction in my brain. My previous diets, all along, had focused on the wrong thing. And instead of failing once again due to my limited capacity of internal willpower, I began to lean on God's power instead.
Fast forward to today. Over the past year, I've lost over 30 pounds.
Even more exciting than the physical transformation, has been the mental and spiritual transformation. I not only achieved my primary goal of losing weight, but what I gained (pun intended) on the inside was worth so much more.
Am I the only one who has struggled with this?
If you are a Christian over the age of 40 who feels stuck, tired, or frustrated with your weight, know you’re not alone. I've been there (and am there) in the Arena every day.
What seems like a physical battle (wanting to lose weight) is actually a mental and spiritual battle being waged in our minds. I have great news though!
You can win on all three battle fronts at the same time.
It is a battle worth fighting. You can lose weight. You can develop mental confidence that is unshakeable. And you can spiritually grow in places that were previously hidden to you.
I’m thinking about putting something together to help.
It would be for Christians do not want to fail at another diet. (It would especially be for you if you hate counting calories or hate giving up your favorite foods and snacks.)
It would be for you if you are willing to lean in and be willing to learn to become a better you.
If you are content living life riding off into the sunset, believing things are as good as they are going to get, then this would not be for you.
Also, if you are content with mediocrity (a lack of desire for self-improvement), then again, this would not be for you.
If this sounds interesting, comment “Interested” below or send me a message. No pressure— a conversation. Or if you know somebody who needs to read these words right now, please forward to them.
If nothing else, I hope this reminds you today:
Your Yesterday and Today, do not Define your Tomorrow. Only if You want it to. You are, what you believe you are. And you can be, what you believe you can be.
Proverbs 23:7 - For as a man thinketh in his heart, so he is.
Make it a great day.
Warning:
Men...Are you a "Good Man"?
Reflecting in the shadow of another Father's day passed.
I see soooo many "good men".
I hear their stories. I see their works, and I hear their challenges.
So many of them work, so hard, every day.
They tirelessly love and pour into their families.
Some, even drive themselves to be better physically (at least some of the time, anyway).
Financially, they want to provide more...you know, be the beacons for their families.
And Lovingly...to strive to be the best Dad's and Husbands they can be.
These are all "Good" things.
But they all miss the one key ingredient in they and their families lives.
They live with absolutely NO HOPE for tomorrow.
They strive to make a daily dollar. They live "no limits" lives...More doors, more dollars.
More dollars, more so called "freedom".
All of this, so they can put their biggest priority (usually supposedly their family) next in line...and if they are fortunate...they squeeze in a workout, or two, during the week with the smidgen of time they have remaining.
It's a recipe for disaster.
A life well lived...for nothing.
Generations being taught...work hard...love your families...and play hard. And... that's it.
Think of an iceberg.
Most people live their lives above the water. Money. Family. Maybe getting some workouts in. They tell themselves... there will be all the time they need to focus on their health when they retire.
Faith you wonder? Unfortunately, nonexistent for most. They don't need it, they say.
The sad thing I realize...
most do not even think, or realize, they are missing anything. Sunday mornings? Prime grass cutting or fishing time and having some "me" time away for the weekend.
It's what they've always been taught.
It's maybe what their Dad's taught them, If they had one.
It's generational.
For better or worse....we reap what we sow.
Here is the best part...that 90% of the iceberg that is beneath the surface....
That's the relationship with Jesus.
That's where the hope. the wisdom. the Truth. the JOY. the beginning of understanding life begins.
Unfortunately...most will unfortunately never see "what lies beneath the surface" of the water...The rest of the iceberg->That's where the waters are teaming with life.
Living, breathing animals nobody ever sees. Whale and dolphins gliding along and living their best lives. Schools of fish teaming together for protection.
Under the surface currents carrying aquatic life that has no boundaries.
Suppose you are one of those folks who know that faith is the missing ingredient:
Faith is believing in that which cannot be seen...a God who loves us.
90% of the best that life can offer...is below the surface!
That's where life is found!
That's where Freedom, joy, peace, patience, love, self-control, and faithfulness are found.
If you are interested in following along, join my newsletter at https://t.co/lvROGHWQw6
We are going to prepare for battle together everyday.
Warning though: You will be pushed. In your Faith. Family. Fitness. and Your Finances.
We need strong Dads. Strong Moms. Strong Grandparents. Strong Aunts and Uncles. And strong children being infused with the Word...not just once a week.
Don't get me wrong...Sundays worshipping are amazing and good, however.
We need to wage war daily. Soldiers do not have the luxury of taking a day off.
We'll hold Nehemiah 4:15-18 close to the vest.
We'll work and build walls, keeping our families close and defending them, while at the same time, holding swords in our hands being prepared for battle.
Not everyone who disagrees with you:
-is a bigot.
-hates you.
-has a phobia.
-is toxic.
-is oppressive.
-is intolerant.
-is dangerous.
Often, people are just willing to disagree with you and share truth, because they actually love you enough to do so.
I’m fighting for a western civilization where none of them had to die.
We’re not fighting red vs. blue.
We’re fighting good vs. evil.
Darkness vs. light.
We must win.
"I want my kids to be able to feel safe to voice their opinions as long as they’re not harmful"...
Amanda Seyfriend in @foxnews article.
Isn't that pretty much all @charliekirk11 ever wanted and did? He wanted to engage people with words and conversation to help think and see Truth?
The hypocrisy is baffling.
https://t.co/pozXYGUXLU
working on evaluating a new chunk of ground for self storage... @ChatGPTapp is doing a pretty amazing job pulling in topo maps and proposed subdivision maps to evaluate the idea. pretty impressed. yes, it still stinks with it's math sometimes...but...it's coming along well.
@colin_dunlap Yikes. just read the article. So sad...reminds me, Hitler also knew that indoctrinating young minds was the key to ruling the future. It's also not coincidence Delaney is batting 1000% with his 3 children...if that's not telling about "environmental" effects...not sure what does.
Thanks @HawleyMO !
Amazing how @MLB so easily wants to make people forfeit their freedoms of religion! Also, I understand uniforms and uniformity, etc...I served in the military. However the moment the Baseball commissioner requires people to make statements that go against their moral compass and their faith...that's a hard No.
Completely backwards.
Beat writer for the @TheAthletic belittles Christians for taking a stand BECAUSE the Giants chose to make baseball about people's sex choices.
To not take a stand, one could possibly (maybe, even in error) think one were in approval of the message you may be being forced to wear by an organization, even if it violates your belief system.
Also... "A night meant for inclusion" is a bit dramatic. Are you seriously telling me the other 181 games out of the year, that there is "exclusion" occurring somehow? That people with certain sexual lifestyles cannot purchase tickets, or feel like they attend a game without being ridiculed?
Several Giants players wrote Bible verses on their caps to respond to Pride Night.
The gesture echoed a familiar pattern: making a night meant for inclusion about something else entirely.
Read more for free, from @GrantBrisbee: https://t.co/roBLix4N1B
Meet Ryan Delaney, the Council President for Plum Borough, PA. He claims he's "not a man or a woman" and encourages children to secretly discuss their gender with people other than their parents, including himself.
"I urge you to find trusted adults to confide in... Sometimes it might be your weird aunt or uncle, it might be your school counselor, and if nowhere else, you can find an alley right here serving as your council president."
Major red flags 🚩
Our tax dollars pay his salary.
You can contact him here and let him know what you think: 412-795-6800 ext 4102
Why is @gohighlevel doing a live sales "workshop" at noon on a Memorial day?
Please help it make sense... It feels like a total disrespect of our country and those who gave everything for it.
Powerful: Steelers star WR Michael Pittman Jr. got baptized and committed his life to Jesus Christ.
Michael and his wife, Kianna, got baptized together.
A role model on and off the field ❤️🙏
We run to stay in shape and to win trophies and prizes.
We are to train our minds and bodies to get a prize that will last forever…everyday.
Not just on Sundays.
Satan doesn’t take the week off from waging war on our minds.
I loved @ericchurch speech and UNC the other day.
Absolutely crushed it. And for a moment...
I thought he was going to hit the 4 string banjo of "Faith Family Fitness & Finances"...but knew he had 6 strings!
Anyway...Eric, I loved the speech. You Nailed It.
If you aren't living your life utilizing the 4 F's... and....I might add...In that order, then you aren't living life like you were meant to live.
Faith.
Family.
Fitness.
Finances.
In that order.
I've lived that prioritization for over 25 years...and I can tell you. It works.
If you'll let it.
I have some things coming out over the next week or two.
Give me a follow.
Let me know if I can help.