SAYING GOOD-BYE

Today was a tough day for me. A tough choice had to be made. I had to end a relationship that I have had for many years. It was not going well. She was the kind of person who always told me what I wanted to hear. She would come over whenever I asked. Unfortunately in our relationship, my problems kept growing & hers (well I don't even know what hers were). It was time.


Today I switched from Denise Austin to The Biggest Loser Workout videos.


I know- shocking.
Especially since I commented how good she made me feel. Unfortunately that was counter productive. It was doing me no good. No challenge - no motivation to grow. So now I have Bob & Jillian & some blonde girl (can't think of her name right now- sorry blonde girl). I feel they will be a better fit for me. From what I can tell - Bob is encouraging - Jillian will be a backside kicker, and I don't know about the blonde. I could be wrong but it looks good so far.

Got me to thinking about my other relationships, especially at church. How many of us want those friends that tell us how great we are all the time? Yes, we need to hear it, but we also need to be challenged in our walk with the Lord - both from the pulpit & from the pew. How sad would my walk be if I never was challenged in what I believed, in how I lived. I don't mean confronting everyone & being as the kids say "messy" ( nosey & in everyone's business). But I need those men & women who will gently challenge me, pose questions to me, and I need to be that for them. One it makes me dig deep into the Word to find the answers, a spiritual workout of sorts. A little cardio for my heart. Second, it makes me stronger in the Lord. My spiritual muscles aren't going to get any stronger if I don't put some weight on them. Left up to me, I would use the lightest weights I could. My friends are the ones who pack on the heavier weights. So I thank God for the men & women in my life that push me to be more than I am. That make me dig deep into my relationship with the Lord. They are my personal trainers of sorts.

And in the end, the enemy will be the Biggest Loser!

I STILL GET TO CHOOSE

Having one of those days where I am lamenting the poor choices I have made recently. Not about spouse or kids, let me say that up front. Poor choices about me. Poor choices in my relationship with Christ Jesus. You know - one of those days when you ask yourself how did I let it get to this? A friend of mine sent a comment that said " rebellion is the root of all passivity". I gotta say that I think that is where I am today- seeing my rebellion. I know what I am supposed to be doing and yet I have chosen to do nothing. That is rebellion. And I think my rebellion is coming from fear. Fear that if I am not in control it won't work out right. Now I know better, I know better, but as Paul says sometimes I do what I don't want to do. I know that what Christ has for me is far beyond anything I could even think of, yet my flesh really wants to control stuff. Even last night a situation arose that well I could flat worry myself in to a darn good tizzy about. But even when I was trying to worry- kept feeling in my Spirit - what are you going to add to it by worrying about it. So as much as my flesh wants to get all worked up and have a major meltdown about it, I am going to choose to rest in the assurance that my God is still in control. Scared to death - yep. Tears even now if I would let them fall, and a good cry may be required before the day is over. But the choices I make can be different today. Today I will choose to repent for my rebellion and passivity. Today I will choose to rest in the assurances my Father has promised me in His Word. Because as much as the enemy would like to convince me that all is lost, I still get to choose.