Dare to go.....

I went threw my first week of Celebrate Recovery this last week. No I have not dropped off the face of the earth. I just like so many others before me have had great intentions BUT fell as I walked out my path. Guess what?! I'm back up! Yep it left a mark alright gained 30 pounds back. I am realizing I have some deep rooted issues that need to be dealt with and removed to stop this weed from growing back! I will keep fighting. I will win. Stay tuned.......

God Is Still In the Miracle Business

This is Part 2 to my previous post. My bride Sandee wrote this to place on our church website.

God is so good and Faithful in everything. “Attend to my words….they are life…and health to all your flesh.” Proverbs 4:20-22.
Around 6 weeks ago God blessed my daughter with a car, our Aunt who is 92 Years old decided it was time for her to buy a new car and bless my daughter with her car that had very low mileage on it. Cary and I were excited that our daughter Aubrey would receive a more reliable car and that she and my grandson Caden would have air conditioning, as this summer, was so extremely hot. We decided she should drive my car till it cooled down some because little Caden would come out of the car seat just ringing wet with sweat. After picking up the car we brought it back to our house so I could clean it out. I thought we could save some money by me detailing it, because this is one thing that I’m really good at, cleaning anything. I only had about an hour to work on it because Cary wanted to take the car up to Sean’s Auto for some minor repairs, and we needed to drop it off by 6:00 P.M. So I hurried to get it cleaned out and in the process of cleaning it I decided I should take my wedding and 25Th Anniversary ring off so they wouldn’t get dirty. I had brought out a bucket of soapy water so I could clean mud off the door facings and to wash some change that Aunt Ercile left in the car. I took the rings off and had them in my hand, in my extreme hurry of picking up trash; I tossed my rings in with the trash. There was the bottom part of a Styrofoam cooler in the trunk so I was using that to throw the trash in, Cary then said its time to go, so I drove the car up to Sean’s and left it there. We came back home and I thought to myself, I’d better break down the Styrofoam cooler so I could close the lid on the trash can, so I flipped over the cooler and dumped all the trash into the can and as it fell I heard it clank but I didn’t think much about it until the next day in the afternoon when I started searching for my rings. I looked where I normally put them when I take them off, but they were not there. Then it popped in my mind; you took them off and put them in the pocket of your shorts. I knew the shorts had been washed and hung up in the laundry room since I was the one who had washed them the night before. I checked the pockets… No rings. So then I went to the washer and checked it…No rings. I thought to myself and even spoke it out of my mouth, Oh Lord; I hope I didn’t throw them in the trash. At this point I started to cry and I knew what had happened. I threw them away. Cary, being who he is calls our friend Chad and asked him to come over and help him look further into the washing Machine. He then called the city and ask where the city took the trash and if he could go to the location and look through the trash. By this time I had really started crying and was checking every pair of pants I had. Chad had arrived at our house and started to take the washer completely apart, all the way down to the motor…But, No rings. My heart just broke and I cried even more. Chad and Cary decided to check the dryer just in case something weird had happened and they were in there, but I knew that wasn’t possible because I hung my shorts up to dry. While I was crying in the living room, Chad stepped around the corner and said that the Holy Spirit kept giving him the word …. Check another pair of pants. Well I had already checked all my pants but I said I will check a second time just to make sure, but no rings. Cary prayed for me that evening and spoke Hebrews 1:14 over us. We have seen God do crazy, cool things in the past for others….why not us?! I just continued to nose dive because those rings were very special to me. After I cried and felt sorry for myself for about 3 days, I decided it was time to suck it up and just face it the rings are gone. I mean it wasn’t like I lost a person, I still had been blessed to have the man who gave these rings to me, and he could have been upset with me, but he was just concerned about me because I was so distraught about loosing them.
Month’s before this I had been going to visit my friend Julie Herron who has been battling stage 4 cancer. When she was diagnosed the doctor’s told her to go home and get her affairs in order because the most they could get her was about three year’s , if she was willing to take a combined dose of two kinds of Chemo, She was in a fight for her life. She started the treatments which made her deathly ill. Cary and I had run into her just before this at the grocery store and so I decided to call her and then I went to see her. I wanted to try and encourage her, and maybe help her if I could. I went to her house and spent the afternoon with her, just listening to all that had been going on in her life. She had been so sick and the devil had placed fear in her heart. She cried and told me “I just want to grow old with my husband Gerry”, my heart broke for her. That night I went home and prayed and dug up some books and a DVD that would help renew her faith. I went back the very next day and told her the Holy Spirit said she would make it through this, she would be snatched from the grip of death and she and I would stand and give a testimony of her miraculous healing. Yes cancer is a big deal but our God is so much bigger and she is healed! On the evening after my three day mourning period, as I said before, I decided to suck it up and start doing what God’s Word says I should do and just trust him. I started to pray and thank him for Julies healing and as I cried out for a miraculous healing for my friend, I asked him to reveal himself to me again and bring my rings back to me miraculously. I thought in my mind, there’s no way but I’m going to trust him anyway. A couple weeks later Cary and I took a day to walk the buildings at the fair and eat fair food, or as Cary put’s it graze. I decided to wear a pair of pants that I hadn’t worn in about two months. We walked around the fair and I had my hands in and out of my pockets all day long. I had put money in my pockets and gum because I didn’t want to lug my purse around the fair. I know those rings were not there!!! That evening after we got home I was standing in the office talking to Cary while he was on the computer, I was telling him something funny my sister had told me, when all the sudden I stuck my hand in my pocket and there they were….my rings, I started to scream and Cary and Haley turned around because they thought I had seen a mouse or something. I screamed my rings, here they are Jesus brought them back to me miraculously, all I could do was thank Jesus and praise his name. Two or three days later Julie called me and said she had been out with her friend Tobra and her little girl and asked them if they would mind going by Target. Tobra said sure, so they went in and started looking around when this woman she did not know walked right up to Julie and grabbed her hands and started to talk to her about everyday things and she never mentioned anything about Julie being sick. They talked for a few minutes and then she looked at Julie and said, you have a nice day and she left. Julie said she just knew she was an angel and a peace fell on her and she knew that God’s healing virtue had healed her. She started proclaiming to everybody she came in contact with, even strangers at the grocery store, what Jesus through this angel did for her. That next week Julie was scheduled to have her last round of chemo before the doctor started tests and scan’s to see where they were. She went to the hospital and they started prepping her for chemo , even though she new it was not necessary, the doctor came in and asked her if she would be upset if they just skipped the last chemo and started the tests and scans . The doctor said he had a good feeling. Julie then told the doctor all about her encounter with the angel. He smiled and said you mean if these tests are clear I don’t get the credit? NOPE you just played a part in it. They did all the test’s and scan’s and on Wednesday, October 20th 2010, the doctor came in and showed Julie and Gerry that the tumor wasn’t just a dead tumor but that the tumor was gone! Angels still walk the earth today! Jesus loves us and wants us to reach out in faith and speak to the mountains in our way. Remember God is still in the miracle business!

Man she did a good job writing this. I am encouraged. I mean what I am battling is so minor to what Julie went through and God was there the whole way, for Julie and Sandee. I am pressing in and will reach my goal of 300!

We Win!

I had the opportunity tonight to see one of the best high school football games that I have seen in a long time. The Oologah Mustangs were playing the Catoosa Indians. The game was back and forth from beginning to end. The game literally came down to the last few seconds. As I was trying to explain the interesting turns of the game to my bride it hit me.....the people were going nuts. It was up for grabs to the one who wanted it the most. Have you ever been in a big battle in life? You are just about to win BUT discouragement tries to stop you. You think you are going to win, then the enemy hits you with a blow and sets you back again. BUT if you get back up and PRESS IN you score. I watched as the CRAZY band crew was jamming with all their heart, the crowd was screaming and one gentlemen had a blow horn off of an 18 wheeler. (Made my cow bell look like a wuss mama) Minutes remained in the game. They could have set down and quit...this is where you see what is deep in the heart. BUT NO they jumped up and gave it all they had. There may be minutes left in your battle, you could get down in the "mullygrubs" or you can get the eye of the tiger.....depending on if you are armed with the power you need (God's Word). The bible says praise stills the enemy! Paul and Silas were in the deepest darkest dungeon in the midnight hour (seconds left in the game) What did they do???? You got it.... they praised God with all they had! They didn't quit and they won! Guess what.... WE WIN! So many people QUIT in the middle of the storm. Did you know in the bible....every storm that was in the bible had a miracle on the other side. It looks like it's the year of the "Stang" they won 35 to 34. They did not quit and they won! So I ask you are you a winner?! I choose to be! I'll end it with this....My Bride bless her Big as Texas heart... she was cleaning out a car we had just got for our daughter and was in a hurry. In the process she did not want to get her rings dirty so she took them off, well as she took them off she began to pick up small pieces of trash and throw it into an old cooler in the trunk. Well she threw the cooler away and of all weeks for me to put the trash out on time it was this week. She realized what had happened and I was on the phone begging the city to let me go to the dump and search! They laughed and said no way you will find them. I had a good friend come over and dismantle my washing machine and dryer. They were not there. He said the Holy Spirit kept saying check the pants. So we checked all of her pants. She was devastated. One was her 25th anniversary ring and one was a one of a kind wedding ring that included and large diamond from my Mom's wedding ring. I was it fix it mode for the last several weeks. You know us guys, we think we gotta fix it, I even bought here two QZ rings that could get her by until I could afford the real McCoy. BUT my Bride would not quit .... she kept standing on the word in Hebrews 1:14. She came out of her grief and being knocked down and began thanking and praising and asking the angels to bring back her rings. Now think what you want...BUT I know the pants were checked personally multiple times! I'm sitting in my office and I her the loudest scream I have heard out of my little bride ever! She made the football crowd look like pansies! "My Rings thank you Jesus thank you angels" in fact I said are you sure.... They were in here pants! She didn't quit, and VICTORY was hers. She's a winner! What's this have to do with my battle, well I got knocked down BUT I am back up again!

TAWANDA

Recently my bride of 26 years was kind enough to accompany me to a movie called "The Expendables". For those of you who don't know, this is a 99% all guy show. You know.....Rockem, sockem, shootem up kind of show. The kind you walk out of the show and "T" aroma is thick in the air. You feel like you could take anything on and win!



Well to be fair I have always (reluctantly at times) watched a movie of the female persuasion with my bride. Reluctantly because after all who wants to see a 300 pd man sniffing and wiping tear away acting like he has something in his eyes?! I confess "The Notebook" ate my lunch!!!



Well.....one movie I sat and watched with my bride (reluctantly the first time) I have now seen several times. "Fried Green Tomatoes" I must confess is a good movie. In short it is about an elderly woman reflecting on life's battles to a woman coming into her mid life crisis.. (Men we have them too!!) The reflections are on how she met the giants in her life and faced them head on as "TAWANDA" the determined person from within. I have two parts of the show I really like. One I like because deep down inside I have always wanted to do the parking lot scene. Watch the movie and you will understand. However, the scene I want to focus on is the scene where she is tearing down walls to move the "Bee Charmer" in with her and her husband. This is something she has determined in her heart to do. She has flipped her TAWANDA switch on and is tearing down the walls to remodel her house.



Sometimes we need to switch on our TAWANDA switch. When life starts to "eat our lunch" and throw big walls up in our house, then it's time to tear down those walls. The word says the bible is the our sword (or sledge hammer) The sword says in I John 5:4 that we are overcomers, it says in ROM 8:37 that we are more than conquerors, and it says in Phil 4:13 We can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us. Does it say some things? NO! It says ALL things, SO let's pick up our sword, get it in our hearts and be determnined to bust down those walls...TAWANDAAAAAAAAAAA!!



I dedicate this to my bride of 26 years who continues to stand by my side and nock down walls that are put up before us!

On The Road Again!

OK OK OK yes I took a break. I weighed at the doctor this week I am now at 365. So I am hitting it hard again for a few months. My goal this round is 325 by October. I am convinced of this. There is no "special" way to loose weight for everybody. I feel it is what God leads you to do after conducting research and setting your heart to the task. What I did find interesting is really when it comes down to where the rubber meets the road, the only ones you can count on to encourage you and be your accountability partner is God, your spouse, a FEW close friends, and yourself . I took a break for a couple months and had maybe one or two people bring it up or ask a question. You have to keep the fire inside burning in whatever way it takes for you. So I say burn baby burn!

The Struggle

You ever been moving along on a dirt road then hit a HUGE patch of mud and began to struggle to get through. You get bogged down. sometimes you need four wheel drive or even some help. Wellll I have hit that point. I am stuck...... I know what I should do but why don't I do it? So similar to my struggles in other areas of life. I know the answer is in the word BUT why do I not take time to get in the word like I should. What makes us draw back away from the people around us? I know others around me have there own struggles, so the season sometimes is lonely. Your accountability partners get busy. My bride posted something on Face Book that made me think. What is it that makes us think we have all the answers? Especially us as Men. We want to FIX it all and think we have all the answers. I gotta tell you. I don't have all the answers. I can't do this alone. I need Jesus, and my family, and my friends to make it through the struggle. Maybe just maybe a guy just needs an ata boy now and then, or as my wife said compassion. To my friends if I have ever seemed sharp or harsh I beg your forgiveness, and I promise you I will not judge you in any way in the future. I will challenge you in the spirit of a loving and caring attitude. In the meantime, I will continue the struggle and I will get un stuck!

Watch Out For the Little Fox!!!

Well gang, it has been a while and I have learned a few things. First I went through a fasting process. I was told by one of my daughters that I was addicted to facebook. God used the words of my child to open my eyes. Could I lay down facebook for a full week?! I decided to do one better and lay down my blog for a while as well. I did good for most of the week. Then graduation events started, and I thought weeeelllll one little cheat on food here won't hurt......then the next day mmmmm....man that cheesecake looks good. Then aaaahhhh a business trip for a week. Well I thought I would try a special place to eat and slipped. Boy isn't that something. Started out on a fast from something I was almost idolizing according to my daughter and end up sliding in my weight loss quest. In Song Of Solomon 2:15 It talks about that sneaky little animal called the fox that can spoil the vineyard. Well I had a little fox that tried to come in and get me off track. In fact slipping up on eating is my BIG FAT FOX. I am determined to shoot him! Do you have a fox....maybe the sneaky fox of thoughts or depression, or battles with porn or drugs. I know this it's those sneaky subtle "give in's" that add up and make us ask the question....how did I get here?! Join with me and slay your giant as I slay mine and snap the little fox in half!

Shalom

Water A Powerful Thing!!

So [Israel] came up to Baal-perazim, and David smote [the Philistines] there. Then David said, God has broken my enemies by my hand, like the bursting forth of waters. Therefore they called the name of that place Baal-perazim [Lord of breaking through]"(1 Chronicles 14:11, AMP)

Notice how David likened God's power to the bursting forth of waters. In other words, he described it as a flood. He was saying that when the God of the breakthrough shows up and releases His power, it will be like a flood of His goodness, a flood of His favor, a flood of healing, a flood of new opportunity.
Think about how powerful water is. Three or four inches of water can pick up a huge car that weighs thousands of pounds and move it all around. I've seen on the news whole houses floating down the river in big floods. Nothing can stop the force of that water! Anything that's in its way is moved!
Today, we may have difficulties that look extremely large, obstacles that look impassable, dreams that look unobtainable. But know this: when the God of the breakthrough releases a flood of His power, nothing can stop it. We need to get ready not for a trickle, not for a stream, not for a river. Get ready for a flood of God's favor, a tidal wave of His goodness, a tsunami of His increase! Dare to believe that God is going to overwhelm you with victory in every area of your life today!

Just like the reference above water is SO very important to success in washing away the giant of obesity! Basically it is really hard to drink to much water. The more you drink the more it washes out. Cold water is even better from some of the research I have done. It increases activitiy in your body.
I am so Glad I serve a God of Breakthrough!!

Building Your Team

As I get deeper into this process I have had a greater understanding of just how important it is to have a good team around you. Just like any sport it is important to get FRESH blood into the game to be at your best. I took a step today and asked someone very special to me to be one of my accountability partners. I called my cousin who is one of the BRAVEST people and GREATEST warriors I know. She has been battling one disaster after another now for the last several years. She has been a true OVERCOMER! She is battling with cancer at this time in her life and, as most of us do, she has "her days" as I have mine. We agreed together today to stand in the gap for each other and ask the hard questions, when nobody else will ask. To speak the TRUTH in LOVE. To pray for one another. I am excited to be on a team with Candy, and I know as we go through this and encourage each other to keep "The Eye of The Tiger" we will be better fot it! Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." Let the sparks fly baby!

You've Been Puncked!

Well today was a VERY different service in church. So different in fact I am going to go off subject for this post. BUT stay tuned....Today of course we honored the Mom's since it was Mother's Day. Osama Ben Saved Interviewed people about Moms before service. It was fun. Got a lot of great comments about Moms, then we called the Moms up front and gave them precious flowers and a cute bookmark, then prayed blessings over them all. Then Pastor Ro had a word pertaining to healing of the soul.....WOW BIG response! Then Pastor Mark continued his sermon on the B Attitudes.....BUT little did everyone know....there was an undercover plant in the midst of us this day! Thats right... You may have seen punked...or undercover boss.... well I contacted an old friend of mine who was one of my A team drama memebers at a previous church. I asked him if he would help our Pastor with a sermon on truely showing love and compassion. So Kenny stopped shaving 3 days ago.....began wearing the same clothes everynight working in the yard. Then last night started a leaf fire and stood in the middle of it so he would smell REALLY SWEET today. To top it off he poured some beer on his clothes. He showed up VERY early today and appeared to be hanging out behind the church. He infiltrated the fellowship hall.... once one of the members saw him wandering around outside the doors. He ate a lot of donuts and drank coffee. BUT was off by himself........the occasional do gooder would feel bad enough to stop for a second and say hi then leave. Very few said more than a quick hi. I stirred the pot some by making comments about "being sure to keep an eye on this guy" and yes that person got mad....BUT did they act?.... Pastor even asked some to go talk and spend time with this "homeless" person......Yet some of those even walked the other way!!!!!! But many were going around giving hi 5's and hugs to them and theirs..... WOW.....WOW .....are we nothing more than a social club while at church????? Are we a bless me club??????? Are we REALLLY willing to die for Christ, pick up His cross and follow Him?!!! We say we are BUT when it gets down to where the rubber meets the road.....are we really serious???? So many points and lessons were brought out in todays experiment. The question is will it produce fruit????? Would you have spent time really trying to meet a need in this individual????? Would you REALLLLLLLY be willing to die for Christ?????? Many of these today I'm sure have said yes to that question.....BUT when it came down to it....they either did not recognize the need......or saw the need and chose to ignore the need, or just plain FROZE up.......or is it a too good attitude???? I can't speak for any of these people..... BUT I do know what I learned through this process, I learned that people can really stink! Physically BUT also spiritually.

Kenny was incredible, he was SOOO believable. At the end of the service Pastor Mark revealed his plant. He allowed Kenny to speak and one thing that broke my heart was this.....I was welcomed by a few, BUT I did not feel the love......If I was thinking of committing suicide when I came in....I most likely would have completed the act after leaving..... WOW! I took this very personal due to some recent events in my life.

I wondered to myself ...how would I have responded? Would I have been judgemental? Would I have been Joe supper Usher and escorted him out of our church? I can't say without a doubt, I can say moving forward I have a whole new look on our purpose. I AM NOT at church to be in a social club, or a bless me club, or a look at me club....... I am not at church to be entertained, Lord knows there are pleanty of other churchs I could go to for that! I am at church to study His word so I can seek and save the lost. I want to make a difference in life. I am now purposed more than ever to destroy the workes of the Devil and be the Devils PERSONAL NITEMARE!

The Wall comes down!

Well I have been in a bit of a struggle. I hit a wall! YES a big wall. BUT I stood my ground and began to read about the walls of Jericho in Joshua chapter 6. I saw first of all that Joshua heard God and obeyed. I know I heard God and He has sent me on this passage. I know in my heart it is so! He promissed me He would deliver this gant into my hand! God gave me my instructions through prayer, gaining knowledge, and using wisdom. I have found that as I got into this area of the wall that I had to TRUST God and so I did, I continued on. A good friend of mine has always said, if you don't know what to do....just keep doing what you know! So I marched on. I spoke to the wall and commanded it to go. Then I began to praise God for what He had already done! Wooola about 7 days later the wall fell and I was on my way again. Now this I know. The enemy will most likely continue to put up walls to try and discourage me....BUT The Truth is I will WIN! I will pocess what I have been promised! Will you take your land as I take mine? Let's knock down the walls and run our race!

Shalom,


Cary

Nuggetts

Here are some nuggetts to chew on:

• Water, water, water, the more the better.
• Call someone if you are fixin to blow it.
• No full meals after 7PM
• Pick out scriptures and write them down, keep them in front of you.
• Have week moment foods.
• Beware of fried foods.
• Beware of sugar.
• Don't go to long between meals.
• Start your engine in the morning....DO NOT skip breakfast!
• Learn to say no!
• Get pleanty of sleep.
• Must get rid of the "dieters" mentality. It's a lifestyle change.
• Must take responsibility for my health.
• It doesnt matter what I know....Bottom line what matters is what I am doing!
• I can NOT do what I feel like doing and STAY in victory! I CHOOSE to do what's right.

So chew on these nuggetts and watch God work on your behalf!!!!

Iron

Prov 27:17 talks about a friend helping another friend. Well this is all categories of friends. Including family. As I continue in this adventure I can proudly say I have an incredible support group, my facebook friends have been so encouraging. If you are not on facebook I would encourage you to check it out. Then comes my brother and sister in law who played a big part in my kickoff and continue to encourage me to this day. My Mom and Dad have been great. The men at church, dudes thanks for being REAL! My daughters .....my oh my what a blessing you all have been in this process. Most of all my bride of 25 plus years, you my dear are my hero. So I end with this ....any giant you face.....make sure you surround yourself with those who will stand with you all the way through! Then get ready for the rewards!!!

Application

The points I shared at the beginning and the 5 stones,as well as the points I will share in the future can be applied to any giant you may face in life. God's word is true, powerful and alive. Take His word and the points I bring out and apply them to any battle you face in life and watch things begin to turn. One thing is critical. YOU must pray and know YOU are READY! Get a plan together and implement it. Keep your focus, push in to what God has for you!

Stone #5 - Trust

Psalms 32:10 talks about trusting God. I must trust my God for I need grace! In whom or what will I put my trust? Who or what am I dependent on? See I have found it is OK to put my trust in accountability partners, BUT only after I have put my trust in God first. See I trust my God to work through those He has showed me to have as accountability partners. As a partner YOU also must be trusted by your partner. This is critical for the process to work properly. You both must have clearance to speak the truth in love and allow each other total access. You must also trust that the scripture is true and ALIVE as a part of your life!

Stone #4 - Truth

John 8:32 is a sound verse to hold onto in my process. Truth is so important. We MUST KNOW the truth. The word is my primary source of Truth.

Food Truths

#1 - I must balance my intake of food with my output of energy
#2 - Starvation IS NOT balance (stimulate my metabolism 5 times a day)
#3 - My body needs 4 hours of exercise each week!
#4 - Believing the truth will save my life, my dreams, and my ministry!
#5 - Spirit filled living is better than slef control. If I walk in the Spirit I will not fullfill the lusts of the flesh! GAL 5:16

I need to seek Truth when the giant presses me! Freedom comes from the Knowlege of truth and it always provides an escape to safety. Knowledge is power, I must ask questions if I don't know! If I put my spirit over my flesh I will have success. My long term achievment is worth the short term sacrifice.

Another source of truth in my process is research for scientific information, reading all labels, talking to others who have been successful, and reading books.

To conclude, I attended Noah Evan Felts Life Celebration today. It was the most amazing funeral I have ever had the honor to attend. It truely was a celebration. WOW! There were hundreds in attendance and during worship the alters were full of teens worshipping God. I saw one of my best friends get up and speak about his son, BUT in the process David spoke the truth as well as the pastors who made comments. My MY I must say I was in AWE as I watched the Holy Spirit annoint Davids lips and minister to those present. I was so proud of my friend, he is like an oak. Will he have hard times?.... yes...BUT he will not fail! He may fall BUT the bible confirms he will get back up! The truth is we have an enemy and the bible is clear it is the devil and he seeks those he may kill or steal from or destroy. The other side of the truth is there is only one way to heaven. That was presented and many were bron again today because of truth! As we fight this giant together and our individual giants, know this....SEEK Truth and the truth shall set you free!!

Blindsided

This has been a VERY Difficult week. Our very good friends David and Cheryl Felts lost their youngest son who took his own life. I did not sleep much last night praying for the family and hurting for them and feeling their pain. As I went through this process I realized I am an emotional eater. I wanted to head for the kitchen and find comfort food. As I was made aware of this I turned to God and my wife. The bible says the Holy Spirit is my comforter! I put a plan into place and set my eyes on my race. During these times I will eat something on my plan and pray before doing so. Asking am I REALLY hungry? Drink a full glass of water, pray then re-evaluate. The key is hearing God's voice and obeying. Also KNOWING my body and when it signals true hunger. Another big key is community. I saw how important community is as I watched all the loving gestures, emails, calls and visitors to David and Cheryl and family. God did not design us to do life on our own. I am so proud of them especially David. He is the rock of his family. His roots in Jesus are deep and he will weather this storm. He is determined to go on with the things of God. Eye of the Tiger! David and Cheryl I love you and am praying for all of you.

Shalom

Stone #3 - Conviction

With Easter this last weekend it reminds me of RESURECTION Power. Just the word resurection stirs me. So goes conviction......Eye of the Tiger! Confidence consumes cowardice when you are convinced of victory. Doubt is heavy baggage to carry into war so you need to be convinced that self control wins imeasurable rewards! David was convinced of the truth when he faced the giant. I must have a conviction that this time when I take on the fat master I am going to succeed! The enemy will try to weaken your constitution by reminding you of your past. We also MUST stay focused. I am reminded of the movie "Last of the Mohicans" when the main character charges across an active battle field puching, hatcheting, and shooting with his eyes focused on his love who is in parrel. He WILL get to her and save her. WE must have that resolve in our hearts!Motivation will define my purpose-Understanding will fortify my stance against the enemy-conviction will give me the fortitude to fight until the battle is over!

Stone #2 - Understanding

STONE 2 - UNDERSTANDING-Motivation was enough for David to enter the battle BUT his understanding was the power to win! I SAM 17:25. I understand God does not want me to be a slave to food! PROV 4:7-9! PROV 19:8! I understand how my culture impacts my eating habits. I MUST develop good times without the wrong foods. I... am dissassociating food from fun! I understand the difference between the two. The battle goes on........

Stone #1 Motivation

My first stone is Motivation.I want to be here for my wife and kids and grandkids. I want to help other whip the giant of obesity. I want to go on a mission trip. I want to get off my medications and c-pap. I want to have a better choice of clothes.I want ubundant life. I wish to present my body as a living sacrifice G...od is more glorified by living sacrifices, than by shortened lives! ROM 12:1-2

My Five Smooth Stones

The battle is being won! I am down to 360 thats 45 pounds so far. 350 here I come! Just like David in I Sam 17:40 I am using 5 stones to kill my giant! Here they are: 1- Motivation, 2-Understanding, 3-Conviction, 4-Truth, 5-Trust. In the weeks to come I will share information about each stone.

Catch Up

I was asked to begin this blog after beginning this process on facebook. So I am putting my postings to date on this section to help catch you all up. Here they are:

I have been praying and seeking God on what to do for quite some time. The cool thing is He is showing me scripture and reference which I will share as we go along. I say we because Sandee is also in this life style change with me. I know this is where we are suppose to be and what we are supposed to pursue with all of... our heart! My central thought is this : We need to face our giants. I Sam 17:1-51

I will be sharing thoughts as I go....for example, I disassociate eating from fellowship....My weapon is my faith in God! I will kill the giant quickly!... I eat to live I DO NOT LIVE TO EAT.....

New Day ...well today one of my best friends Joe D'Amico is coming into town. We are chow hounds. Here comes the first BIG test, as I said I do not associate fellowship with eating! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

My source DOES NOT live in the refrigerator...it lives in GOD! Where there is no investment there is no committment! It's NEVER 2 late 2 change my habits and strengthen my life! God's word builds me up mentally & spiritually while attacking the lathargic part of my life style!

Heb 12:1-2 I am running and am determined!I shall not live by bread alone BUT by EVERY word of God! I refuse to be slain by a slab of B-Q ribs! It's getting easier! I actually did mazzios today and did good! Thank you sugarbuns for running this race with me! Weigh in is tomarrow...,...

Food IS NOT the joy of my life!!!! Jesus is the joy of my life! Stomach of mine I AM in control! Wellll the 1st week weigh in came in pretty good! 389..... 39 to go for first goal! I have 4 goals 350, 300, 275 and maintain for life. Soon work outs will kick in and help me as well. I see myself at the size I want to be!... I'll have what I say when I believe what I say will come to pass! Press IN!

Eye of the Tiger baby! I'm remined of the movie Rocky he had to find the eye to connect with his heart and win the fight.....I have found it! I will win! Man I am finding some cool stuff to share with you all. More to come!

I'm taking back control of my life! I am calling my giants bluff! He is NOT big comparred to the spirit of God inside of me, and he will not devour me! I weighed today and hit 370 pds!!! The scriptures for this week are John 10:10, 6:35,63 I John 5:4, James 2:17.

The Battle Begins

I am sharing an journey with all of you to help me from an accountability standpoint. I am facing my giant in life. I started the Adkins Life style three weeks ago. I hope a year from now to weigh significantly less. My starting wieght is 405pds. I am going to weigh once a week, work out 3 times a week, and incorporate the word of God and prayer into my plan. I appreciate support and look forward to slaying my giant!