"Always the ‘before' picture….. finally comes my ‘after'!!"

There is too much to my story to start at the beginning… so let me start from today, and work backwards. My coach tells me that I need to get her my pictures – you know my before and after pictures. Well, the first problem with that is that I didn't take a "before" picture. In my head, I was still skeptical, thinking that this whole program would be like the others I had tried, and either not work at all, or not do the job completely, and certainly not to the extent where I would ever need a before picture to go with an after picture!! So now I am being asked for before and after pictures? What? That was always for other people, but never for me! In fact, my Grace and Strength sisters gave me a pretty hard time when after three full weeks on the program I had yet to take my ‘before " pictures or measurements. So, last night I had my husband help me and we scoured old files trying to find pictures suitable for "before" use. Most of what I found were pictures of me standing behind someone or shielding my full length with a child or two (or four) in front of me so no one could see just how fat I was!

A physical transformation is possible, and of course is one I am proud of, but the transformation of my heart is even more exciting!

Weight has been a struggle for me for nearly 30 years. Let me say right up front that just because I have reached what we like to call "goal", I am going to be on this "journey" for the rest of my life. Each day will be a choice I make to do what is right for my body and bring honor to the one who breathed life into my flesh, or to indulge my own selfishness with what I want… what I think will bring joy and fulfillment. Knowing the truth and acting in obedience are two very different things. My heart and mind know what is pleasing to God, what honors Him, and what brings life and healing to my body, yet in my sin, I so often choose what I want or what I think will feel good at the time. I have learned the hard way not only over many years, but even over the last 8 months, that indulgences on anything other than God and His word always leave a void that no person, no food, no drink, nothing can ever fill. I have prayed the prayer to Him many times over this season of my life for Him to plant within me a passion for Him and a desire to be in His word, and be filled with Him.

Just last week when I was thinking about I was finishing up one part of this transformation, and getting ready to jump into the next phase, I was really focusing on just how far I had come, while still knowing I had so much more to learn, more to do and even more to accomplish.

I was reminded that Phillipians 4:12 tells us that …"I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things, or that I have already reached perfection. But, I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing… forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize, for which God, through Christ Jesus is calling us." (NLT)

I hope you hear in the message that lies there— that we don't reach perfection here on this earth, and certainly not on our own, but that we are still called to try. Believe me, many mornings, I awoke with the thought on my mind that "His mercies are new each day" for me, and how thankful I am for that truth.

How freeing it is for me to know that while I may have a before and after picture to post and yes, even be proud of that accomplishment, the truth is for me, and for those who are believers in Christ – our "journey" here is never complete. A physical transformation is possible, and of course is one I am proud of, but the transformation of my heart is even more exciting!

Grace and Strength is a tool that I have to help me achieve not only my goal of weight loss and re-gaining my health, but it has also been instrumental in helping me achieve a success that matters long after what the final number on the scale may be. A healing of not only mind and body, but of my soul and spirit is what I pray brings God the glory… for it is all due to Him and for His kingdom.

I encourage you to check out The Grace and Strength Lifestyle! There are so many on staff that will not only walk you through this, but walk alongside you to your finish line! It doesn't matter how far you have to go, where you are starting from or how many obstacles you see littering the way… it can be done!

~Robin

Robin, Here you are…YOU DID IT! With everything the devil threw your way, God intervened. As you embrace this new season in your life, I pray you will always remember to smile and find peace in knowing that you, too, are one of God's favorites! Congratulations Robin, I'm proud of you! ~Coach Anna

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* Individual results may vary.