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.

Sweet Freedom!

Weighed today, down 122 lbs!! Praise Jesus!! The weight is still coming off!! Don't know where God wants me to be but so far I am still losing! I wish I could convince everyone to do this, but I have learned you can't force anything on anyone and all you can do is tell them and leave it up to the Holy Spirit to do the rest. I heard this song today and it so fit my feelings, it was "Finally Free" by Nichole Nordeman and here are the words "If the Son has set us Free, then we must be Free indeed, let the chains fall away starting today, everything has changed, I'm finally Free!!!  Here is a current pic of what God has taken off so far. If you want to be FREE too, Jesus is the way and I would love to share more with you on how this can happen in your life too!! Be Blessed!!

Still Going!

Weighed this morning and I am down 115 lbs since I started. Thank you Lord for setting me FREE. Lost 5 lbs during the holidays, even with all the treats laying around. I dont have to answer to food calling my name anymore, I can just simply say NO, I am not hungry, and when I get hungry then I will eat you. lol Thank you Lord for the Amazing Delieverance and Freedom I have in you!!!!
2 Corinthians 4:11
For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

Almost a Year!

I have been free from overeating and dieting for almost a year now and have lost 110 lbs so far! It will be a year Dec. 19. I am excited to say I lost 9 lbs just in the last month! Jesus is AMAZING!! How he can just set a person totally FREE is all the miracle I will ever need!! He gave me eternal life, salvation, saved my children , and set me free from addiction to food, if he never did another thing it would be more than enough already! I am blessed beyond measure and pray for others to get that freedom too!! 

Psalm 22:8
“He trusts in the LORD,” they say, “let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”

Freedom

I am down 101 lbs as of today and free from food addiction! Amen! Freedom is so sweet, better than food or any other outside thing. I want to shout it to the world!! I wish more people could hear me or would listen to me. Its so hard when you see people with this struggle and you have the answer but they dont want it. I want it for them so bad because it is the most awesome feeling in the world. Jesus is the key! The answer to all problems, all addictions, all things!! He can help you just as he did me! He loves us and does not want us to be in bondage! I pray and pray for people to see! I dont want it for them because I want them to agree with me, I want it for them because with this kind of freedom you cannot help but feel like the weight of the world is off your shoulders and you will not have to hurt over this problem anymore. I pray for you and I love you!

Before & Now

God's definately not done with me yet and I have a way to go but someone requested I post a before and now pic, so here it goes. I looked horrible but if this will help someone see what Jesus can do here it goes!

Sept 1 Weigh In

Time for my monthly weigh in and I have lost 90 lbs! I am so excited about what Jesus has done and is still doing in me! Since I have been set FREE he has moved so much more in my life! It's because he always wants to be 1st! I never knew how locked up I was until I found FREEDOM!! This is not about dieting at all, has absolutely nothing to do with food, it's all about letting God have control because you realize nothing you do yourself will ever compare to what he can to. It's not self control its GOD control. Our bodies are not our own they belong to God and are to be used for his purpose. 1 Corinthians 6:19 ¹⁹What? 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?
It's about God's Will not my will!

If you are tired of trying to do it yourself, give in and give it to GOD! Just watch the At Home Series at www.weighdown.com and make sure you watch all the videos not just some of them and get free. Freedom is not about giving up something and still wanting to do it, Freedom is letting it go and having no desire to do it anymore! That is where God has brought me! I don't even desire to overeat anymore and I am not a slave to food anymore!! John 8:36
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
I want this for everyone because I know how hard it is to lose weight and how helpless it makes you feel. I have been there, I was there for 30 years.  It's time to let go and let Jesus take the wheel!! Love you Guys!!

http://www.weighdown.com/

Focus Up!

These little videos are only 1 minute long, but are great tips to keeping us on our path!!!!

Goodbye Scales!!!

Goodbye Scales, I will not answer to you any longer!!! For awhile now God has been dealing with me about my obsession with weighing myself. I was running to the scales to confirm that this was working for me. That is not freedom, freedom does not consist of worry. So after much stubborn resistance I finally gave in and gave it to God. I laid them on the altar at church!! Jesus says bring me your burdens and place them at my feet, well that is what I did. I had to let go and LET GOD!!! That is the only way to be free!! I will no longer worry about weight, food, or scales! I will obey God and stand on his promises. Through obedience I am free, God will put me where he wants me to be, he will decide what weight is best for me and I will continue to be obedient and trust him and him alone!! I have been praying to be clean in his eyes, free from bondage in any form and this is where he has brought me!! Thank you Jesus for showing me the way!!! I wont know my weight or amount lost but Jesus will take the rest off and I will be right where he wants me to be!!!

June 1 Weigh In

As of June 1 God has taken off 64 lbs and still going.  I am so thankful.  It gets easier everyday and the desire to overeat is completely gone.
I have seen several shows on TV lately about overeating and weird eating habits. My heart breaks for anyone suffering from any kind of addiction. Jesus is the answer. He can set you totally free. Yes, diets, counseling, can help you lose weight but if you were anything like me you will gain it back and then some extra. That was me, I could lose it and I could gain it but the desire not to want food was impossible until God showed me the way. God took the desire to want to overeat away, how awesome is that?! God wants us all to be free from slavery and bondage to addictions. Christians live in bondage too, not just lost people, but God wants freedom for his Children!! If you truly want this cycle to be over of dieting then binging take the step! Watch the videos for free at www.weighdown.com and let God set you free!!! I truly believe the videos are anointed because everyone I try to explain this too doesn't really get the conviction from God until they see the videos, but once they do they get it!! I am so happy to say several people have joined me in this and they too are losing weight and being set free!!! We serve an awesome God who wants the best for us, in obedience we receive blessings and freedom!! Don't wait start today!!!!

Galatians 5

¹ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

May 1, 2011

One month since weighing and down a total of 58 lbs!! The Lord is working this miracle in me! Freedom from food addiction! Thank you Jesus for showing me the way. Give it all to him today, this is not just for me but for anyone with any kind of addiction, there is freedom in the Lord. Lay down your life and give him all of you, that is what he wants, not just certain parts but your whole life. That is for sure one thing I have learned in all of this.

I am not sure when I will post again but it will most likely be before a month this time. I want to track my progress and I want for others to find the answer in all of this too. I want to see others be set free just as I have been. One of my friends started a week ago and praise the Lord he took 10 lbs off of her the 1st week. Thank you Lord for showing us the way, holding us accountable, convicting us, and setting us free!!!

Here is a link to the Weigh Down Workshop http://www.weighdown.com/ and also you can find the videos free on youtube just search Weigh Down at Home. Don't wait! You can do this, with Jesus we can do all things!!!

Acts 13:39
Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.

Letting Go!

I didn't post on Tuesday because I have been dealing with a few things and God has shown me, I haven't been letting go. I have been losing weight and started off truly putting it in God's hands but lately I have been taking it back and trying to do it my way. What I mean by that is I find myself trying to keep up with what I am eating, counting calories or trying to figure out how many calories I am having, and also longing to get on that scale!! This is still bondage, not freedom! I realized I have to totally give up and give it all to Jesus!! Yes, I have been losing weight but God wants more than that from me, he wants my heart to fully trust him, FULLY!!! I keep trying to take control and it's not about self control, it's about God control!! Yes, I can still count calories and lose weight but that is not Freedom. Complete freedom from this addiction is turning it all over to God and trusting him 100% to take care.  This is my dessert of testing and I have to keep my eye on the promise land, which is total freedom. No more counting calories, no more thinking about calories, no more weighing once a week and depending on the scales to let me know if I am doing right.  God has been dealing with my heart and preparing me to totally let go and has shown me that this week. I will give it to you Lord!!

I have decided for now to only weigh once a month, this is gonna be hard for me, so please pray for me! I will try to do it on the 1st of the month and post my progress unless God shows me that is still too much.  I am excited because I know God will be in control of this from now on and I don't have to worry anymore I just have to be obedient. The truth shall set you Free, and I am Free indeed!! Free in the Lord and there is nothing better than that.  Please friends pray for me that I can stay strong in the Lord and stand on his promises. Thank you!!

Galatians 5:1
 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Less of Me and More of You, Lord!!

Weighed this morning and I am down 4 lbs from last week for a grand total of 43 lbs so far!!!! Thank you Lord!!! His way is the best way, it not only helps us to shed the extra weight, it also brings us closer to him! I feel like he is cleaning me both physically and spiritually, LESS OF ME and MORE OF HIM!!! That is my desire, to please him! To have him drain me of all my sin and short comings and to fill me up with what he wants me to be!  Lord, take away my sinful desires and open my heart to what you would have me to do! Let me fulfill your purpose in me!! Amen!!!

Ephesians 3:7-9 

 ⁷ I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. ⁸ Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, ⁹ and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

Excited

I am down 39lbs as of yesterday but didn't get around to blogging yesterday! Down another pound and I will take it!! It's coming off and I am excited about it, but most of all I am excited about what God is doing in my life. Dealing with my addiction to food and realizing accountability and being set FREE has opened up my heart to let the Lord's Will take precedence over my own! It's not about my wants, my needs, my desires, it is about letting him transform me into a new creation and wanting to please Him much more than I want to please myself. Thank you Lord for loving me, disciplining me, and changing me into who you want me to be!! Lord,I live for you and your purpose alone!!!

Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.