Let's Celebrate Good "changes"-come on!

Hope everybody had a great 4Th of July! We went and enjoyed watching fireworks last night in a town next to ours. Above is a photo of the night sky. Who did you choose to celebrate with?

We choose to celebrate this year with family, a smaller celebration than last year. However still fun and enjoyable. (Above is a photo of Grace-our youngest princess sitting on her Daddy's lap watching the fireworks)

(above is my sister, my Daddy, and my sister's boyfriend - notice that my Daddy is sitting in between them.

My youngest had so much fun blowing bubbles waiting for the firework show to begin. She did not even seem to notice that it was 96 degrees outside. Bless the young!

Above is a photo of the other 2 princess in our house- Kaylee and Paige.

As I thought through out the day how we celebrate the 4Th of July, and why. I first was very thankful that we live in an amazing country that gives us so much freedom! That made my thoughts go down the path how do we celebrate the other good things that happen to us in our lives. On my weight loss journey - I have victories that are not just a change of the number on the scale.

I have had several this last week. So I thought I would Shout out with Glee on my blog some of the victories I have had this last week.

1. I went shopping for a new shirt -I had a great coupon from Fashion bug store. Fashion bug is a store for women's clothing that is divided in half where half the store has juniors and misses size, and the other half has women's plus size clothing. (Last year I went in there in May and purchased a bathing suit for vacation which was the biggest size I had EVER bought, and yes I looked longingly at the other side of the store and dreamed about one day losing enough weight to get to shop on "the other side of the store". (insert a deep sigh here). Notice the picture below and how the store is divided with a divider wall down the middle of the store.

Well guess what?!?! I got to shop on the other side of the store!!! Woo Hoo!

2. I went for a "walk/jog" the other night for the first time this year - and guess what? I jogged (now keep in mind this term is used loosely!) around an entire block!! Wow! I am growing stronger and more in shape. Progress!

3. I only had 1 (one) hamburger for dinner the night of the 4Th! (last year I had 2/3 yikes!) Some victories are small, but it is important to recognize the changes that you are successful at making and stay positive!!

4. When I leave body pump class now, I am tired and sweaty - However I am now recognizable! I am not drowned in sweat where I have no make-up left on my face, and my hair looks like I have taken a shower. (I still am sweaty but I now appear to glisten, not drenched!)

5. I now can do 16 girl push ups in a row!!! (Baby steps!!)

6. On the squat portion of the class (I take body pump 2 times a week) I went up in weight to a 10 pound weight on each side of my bar bell- Yeah!!! (I started with a 5 pound on each side - back in March.)

With all the above reasons for me to celebrate this week. My two favorite sayings for the week are:

*IF you change nothing,

nothing will change!

*You can bike ride, swim, run

no matter how slow you go,

you're still lapping everyone

on the couch!

What victories have you had this last week or two in your life?

Are you recognizing them? Are you celebrating them? I would love to hear from you!! I will celebrate with you! Positive, healthy changes add up! Keep on Keeping on!!

Can you be good without God?

USA Today website reported yesterday that the Freedom from Religion Foundation is taking 4Th of July as an opportunity to publicly proclaim their presence in the United States. Their group mailed out over 15,000 "happy human" pins to it's members who are atheist. Encouraging them to wear them on the 4Th to promote conversation about their motto: "You can be good without God". As a christian God fearing woman "I AGREE" you can be be "Good" without God!

The bible (I know shocking isn't it) says in Luke 6:32 & 33 "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much!"

Isn't that interesting, the bible says that doing good to those who are good to us is in our very nature. However, the Bible radically challenges Christians to do more, go farther in their actions - put love into actions that is so radical that it goes against our nature, and what makes sense to us in our thinking!

It states in Luke 6:27&28 "But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you."

Say what? You want me to nice to the lady who just almost ran me down with her shopping cart at the Walmart? You want me to be nice to the lady who makes fun, of me & my husband that we go on "date night"? You want me to be forgiving and kind to the lady who is never nice at the gym? You want me to be kind, to the lady who always grumbles and complains? You want me to be nice to the mom who does not encourage her children to be kind to others, in fact I have heard her praising them when they have been behaving with self centered actions? You want me to be nice to the lady who invited a bunch of women out to eat but did not include me? You want me to be nice and kind to a kid who makes my child's life miserable at school? You want me to be nice to the lady at the pool, who mocks people who are struggling with weight issues? Lord that is asking a lot from me, from anyone!

God that is a lot to ask! How can I even begin to do the things you want me to do. To love the unlovable, to be kind to the unkind. When in my nature I just want to cross my arms over my chest, take my toys and go home! I only am able to love others, be kind, when I realize how much God loves me, and see others how God sees them, and how much God loves the unlovable, unkind, prickly person standing next to me at the store. (1 John 4:11 & Colossians 1:8) I can not do this on my own! No matter how much I want to be "good"!

I am afraid more of us christian do not put that love in action, so the Lord of Lords does not get the praise and credit that is due to him. If I would not be so worried about "my rights", "my feelings", and more worried about loving others for God, he might get praised!

1 John 3:10

This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.
1 John 3:9-11 (in Context) 1 John 3 (Whole Chapter)

Wouldn't it be so amazing if Christians "really started loving people" who were unkind, unlovable, difficult, prickly people -so much so, that people were just awe struck! Then God would be glorified, and he would get all the credit, and how would good really measure up against love then?

I hope everyone has a wonderful 4Th of July, and I hope you take some time to ponder if you are "good" or are you showing Christ's love to others?