A year ago today I started working out. It was the first time since high school that I stepped foot in a gym. The athlete that I had once been was a bit scared and timid to walk into a fitness class or lift weights...I wasn’t that person anymore. I was 15 years older, had given birth to four children, and assumed that my days of being athletic and fit were behind me. I did it mainly to be an accountability partner for a friend. I also thought it couldn’t hurt...as far as giving me more energy and helping me to be healthier. After my first workout class, I couldn’t walk down the stairs in my house without the railing for A SOLID WEEK. I felt 90 years old! Once I got past that point, I didn’t want to give up- as I knew that starting was the hardest part. I had to keep moving forward and improving...any step forward was progress!! Little did I know twelve months ago, that this year would be the hardest, most trying year to date of my life. But God knew. Exerci...
“Oh Give Thanks to the Lord, Call upon His Name. Make Known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him. Speak of all his Wonders. Glory in His Name. Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.” 1 Chronicles 8-10 It’s Thanksgiving Day. That Day in America, where we all gather around the table with family and friends and list off what we are thankful for. I have always loved Thanksgiving because it causes us to focus on gratitude versus discontent. It causes us to stop for a brief second and have perspective of how incredibly blessed we are. And it causes us to give thanks to God for sustaining, blessing, and bringing us through another year. However, this year Thanksgiving and the idea of being “Thankful” is more impactful. This year I am learning that Thankfulness is not only gratitude and a positive attitude. Being thankful is not an emotional response to good situations. It is a commitment to obey and trust God….and God blesses us for having a...