Another Before & Now Photo

God's not done with me yet, I am still losing and have a way to go, but this is what he has done so far. I started taking the Weigh Down Basics on FB last week and God took off 5 more pounds already! So down 127 lbs total! I will being doing a weigh in once a week until the basics are over, then its back to once a month.

Conviction

Saw this on FB this morning and it really touched my heart and convicted me. Thank you Kelly for allowing me to post. Also to Gwen Shamblin and to God for giving Kelly this message and putting it on her heart to share!

Kelly Martin

something that really convicted me this morning ::
Numbers 11:: v33 But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. v.34 Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah,[d] because there they buried the people who had craved other food.
Here we have a people that have been saved from their oppression and God is feeding them supernaturally (manna), but yet they still wanted more, they wanted meat -- and what did God do? He gave them meat, AND THEY STILL CRAVED OTHER FOOD?!?!? Oh God have mercy on us when we grumble or complain or grieve over the food that you feed us. Deliver us from this focus on self and food, that we would give thanks FOR ALL things and IN ALL things, that food is nothing, and you are EVERYTHING! Let it be today that YOUR will is our food, and this physical food would just be what it was meant to be fuel. Oh God forgive us, that we might be a people born-again for your Kingdom!

You Can Overcome!

THE TRUTH about SIN!

In the last week or so God has really, really, really been pressing on me to share Weigh Down with others. I have been sharing off and on and posting and doing this blog but he wants me to help get the truth out there about SIN.  The bible teaches us that sin is sin and all sins are the same. In God's eyes, to hate is to commit murder and to lust is the same as adultry.
Matthew 5:28
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

God shows us by this example that sin is sin and all sin is rebellion against God. So that brings me to my next question, if all sin is sin, then why have we allowed some sin to be present in the house of God and in our own bodies and think its perfectly ok? For instance why do we not allow drinking alcohol or smoking in a church but we allow gluttony? Gluttony is a sin.
 Deuteronomy 21:20
And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 
 Proverbs 23:21
For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

Overeating is a Sin, God's word says it is so therefore it is. Overeating and Obesity causes heart disease, diabetes, high cholestrol, heart attack, poor circulation, fatigue, back promblems,  the list goes on and on. But I still hear all the time from others that its perfectly acceptable and not a sin to overeat, its allowed.  Where does it say in the bible that its ok?? 

Eve was tempted with food in the garden of Eden by satan she could eat anything in the whole garden but a desire for what she wanted overpowered her desire for God.
Genesis 3:6
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Esau sold his birthright for food. 

Genesis 25:29-31
²⁹And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

³⁰And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
³¹And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

Genesis 25:34
Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

God has shown me that Food Addiction is Satan's biggest LIE! Satan says go ahead it's ok, churches allow it and dont speak out about it, nobody talks about it because they are afraid they will offend somebody or hurt someones feelings, every commerical on TV is about indulgence in food, there are tons and tons of tv shows about food. Why is some sin acceptable? The TRUTH is all sin is bad in God's eyes and he doesnt want it in his churches and he doesnt want it in his children.
 Proverbs 10:29
The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

God tells us he wants us to turn from sin, we have been set free, we do not have to continue to purposely sin against God. I know this is a harsh message but God has really layed in on my heart to share. He wants his children free, he wants SIN recognized and not pardoned by man, men may disagree and say gluttony is not bad but we are not living by mans rules, we are children of GOD and we must live for him and what his word says! We cannot keep allowing Satan to control, munipulate, and decieve us, we have to stand up for what God wants.

God clearly tells us our bodies are his
1 Corinthians 6:19

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

We need to really open our eyes to what is going on, admit that this is sin, and stop trying to cover it up. If a drunk staggered into the church with a beer and asked us how could he get his life back on track would we not tell him about Jesus and also about giving up his sin? If a person got saved and they were a drug addict would we not tell them how Jesus can set them free from this addiction? So why are we not allowed to tell people about Food Addiction?

God instructs us on what to do if we see one of our brothers or sisters in sin 

 Galatians 6:1
¹Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

 One other issue is we not only accept it as ok but we actually entertain it in Churches. We have food at every function and people actually sit and brag about how they stuffed themselves, people laugh and smile about it, and make fun of the ones that don't do it, and all the while satan is loving it and God is watching. If someone came in with a beer someone would instruct them there is no drinking inside the church, if someone came in with a lit cigarette someone would instruct them there is no smoking in the church, but yet we entertain Gluttony. God does not want SIN allowed or entertained in his house.

Mark 11:15-16

¹⁵And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
¹⁶And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

I know no one is perfect and we all sin, but we don't have to live in sin. Grace is not a license to sin, its freedom to overcome sin. If the bible says Gluttony is sin, then why do Christians willfully and purposely continually keep saying its ok and keep sinning against God?   To mess up and sin is one thing, but to say I know this is wrong and still do it is another, it's purposely being disobedient to God. 

Hebrews 10:26

²⁶For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

  Most people say they are not convicted and they think its ok, but if God's word clearly tells us it is sin then how can you argue with that. God doesnt change his mind or his word.

We say we want to be different and bring more people to Jesus, this would be a good place to start, what better way than to not be conformed to the world's way and to stop entertaining sin, and not be afraid to speak up about getting in out of our lives. We have to open our eyes and our mouths, we cannot keep letting satan dwell in the house of God or in our own bodies!
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

When I am asked what keeps me focused and what helps me to remain in control my answer is always the same "No one will know if I cheat, but I will know and most importantly God will know! He is always there every second of everyday watching every move we make, I will not purposely, knowingly, willingly sin against him! It's his will not mine! It's his desire for me, I have to put an end to my sinful desire."

I can do this because Christ within me is greater than self!!

1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

The good news is there is help there is freedom, there is a way to overcome! Jesus can and will set you free if you will allow him to work in your life and seek help from him! Go to www.weighdown.com  and watch the free videos called the Weigh Down at Home Series, it will explain everything you need to know about getting free and staying free!
1 Peter 4

¹Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; ²That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. ³For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: ⁴Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: ⁵Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. ⁶For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. ⁷But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

Scars

I have been thinking alot lately about the scars I have from being overweight. It's hard sometimes to look at certain places of my body because there is a  stretch mark or maybe loose skin. I have seen much worse than what I have but sometimes I have gotten discouraged over them. I have been thinking about it lately and it came to me that I abused my body, those scars are a result of the damage I did to myself when I was living in the sin of overeating, God didnt put them there, I did. Then I thought about Jesus, he wears the scars of our sin on his hands and feet, not his own sin because he never sinned, but mine and your sin. If he can carry my scars and the scars of sin of the entire world as a reminder of his sacrafice for our sins, I should not complain about having to carry my own scars of my own sin as a reminder that I am free and I never ever want to go back.  Thank you Jesus for showing me that I dont have to be perfect to be loved by you, and that I should not worry about the scars because they are a testimony and a reminder of how you set me Free.

Total Surrender

The past few weeks I have been feeling God pulling on my heartstrings, letting me know I need to give it all to him. I have been holding on to some dieting mentality that has creap back up and rationalizing it and telling myself it would be ok to keep doing it. That is not Total Surrender! I have been giving God about 90% and still trying to hold onto that last 10%. God wants it ALL!!! I had to lay it at the feet of Jesus this morning and admit I have been wrong and let God have total control. The minute I admitted it God gave me a peace and comfort and lifted that burden off of me! I don't want to think about food anymore, I just want to only think of eating when my stomach growls and not try to control when it does. I had completely gave up overeating from the very start but the dieting mentality just kept finding its way back in. No longer will I eat lighter so I can eat more times a day, no longer will I think I have to have something sweet after every meal, no longer will I try to plan out what I am going to eat. GOD I SURRENDER TO YOUR WILL!!! You are 1st!! My heart desires YOUR WILL!!! I will put an end to my selfishness!!! Thank you Lord for CONVICTION!!! And bringing me TOTAL COMPLETE FREEDOM once and for all!! Thank you JESUS!!!

I have a shine today!! A brighter light a bigger smile because its all in God's Hands!!! I AM FREE!!!

1 Peter 1:13-15

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹³Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
 ¹⁴As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
 ¹⁵But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

Before & Now Photo

Found a better pic of my before so I decided to post, this was in May 2009 and me now. I actually was bigger than that when I started weigh down but I dont have any pics because I didnt let anyone take pics of me at that time because I felt so bad about myself.