Winners win!

Well, I did great exercising until my birthday... Then I don't know what happened... I can tell you what didn't happen, I didn't make it to the gym.

Note to self and my readers too... Write down your goals, and visit them frequently, it helps if you get off track to get back on track.

So here I am, at the gym on the bike. I'd love to run but the truth is my foot is bothering me and the winter retreat is coming and I need it to be In Good shape for that. 

I could have given you a million excuses why I couldn't go. I am so busy right now with youth ministry stuff, it snowed, my house needs cleaned... Blah blah.

Here's one good reason:

Me

And winners don't win by talking about winning they win by doing. 

So here I am, at the gym. 

I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it. (Philippians 3:12-16 MSG)

Thinking about the person who said to me (in the sweetest most well meaning way) "just because you're bigger doesn't mean you shouldn't look nice", thinking about going to New York City. Thinking about trips to Haiti, thinking about smaller sizes. Thinking about how my insides and my outsides should match.

Match?

Yes. My insides say I am free! But my outsides say that I am still someone who struggles. And if I look like I always did or like everyone else, why would anyone want to have what I have? Jesus!!

So here I go, one step or pedal at a time, one gold eating choice at a time.

The path of right-living people is level. The Leveler evens the road for the right-living. We’re in no hurry, God. We’re content to linger in the path sign-posted with your decisions. Who you are and what you’ve done are all we’ll ever want. Through the night my soul longs for you. Deep from within me my spirit reaches out to you. When your decisions are on public display, everyone learns how to live right. If the wicked are shown grace, they don’t seem to get it. In the land of right living, they persist in wrong living, blind to the splendor of God. (Isaiah 26:7-10 MSG)