Weighed in the balance - Amos 7:7-8

Good morning friends! This week has been eventful to say the least. I worked with 2 of my 3 new trainers this week. I have to admit that during my boxing workout on Friday I actually had MORE fun than my usual boxing workout and man did it make me sore!!! Tim had me chasing him more and staying up on the balls of my feet - really made my calves hurt! He also is showing me how to shadow box, use the heavy bag and the double ended bag - I feel silly shadow boxing and hitting the heavy bag makes my arms sore but I just love boxing so it is all good. Too, I noticed this week that I have been burning 150-200 more calories per workout - I think maybe I had just gotten a bit too comfortable in my old workouts. Change is always hard and often very painful but God is in control and HIS PLAN IS PERFECT. I do praise Him that He can take ALL the circumstances in my life and use them to make me into what He desires me to be. It amazes me sometimes that He can use even the bad things that happen to us and work them for our good.

Amos 7:7-8 says this "Then the Lord made me see this sight: there He was, standing beside a wall with a plum line in His hand. Then the Lord said to me, 'what do you see, Amos?' And I said, 'a plumb line.' And the Lord replied, 'see, I test my people Israel by the straightness of this line, and I will not relent again.'"

God's standard of holiness is absolute. His requirements of His people are set in His word. They are expected even demanded and yet they are not burdensome when you understand His reasoning. A life of holiness is in line with God's perfect peace - God's perfect peace bring joy and contentment. I have been reminded this week to examine my life and to look and see if i am living a holy life - am I being Christ to those around me? Am I showing God's love to ALL those I come in contact with or only those I find it convenient to love? Jesus never wavered in His love - He even loved His enemies - I must love everyone I come in contact with regardless of whether I feel they deserve it or not. We are all created by the same loving God and each of us brings differing gifts to this table of life - our responsibility is to love everyone as He loves them, to see the potential in each soul that He sees. Live a life of holiness and love unconditionally. The purpose of my life is to serve God with a life of holiness and serve my fellow man with an unconditional love. Then my life will measure up to God's plumb line. Albert Einstein said this, "only a life lived for others is a life worth living." Friends, what have you done for someone else today - this week? What have you done for the Lord? Is your life one marked by holiness and love? It is my prayer that God will continue to bring forth these qualities in greater measure in my life - may it be true for us all.

Love and prayers, Kari

It IS well with my soul

Today was a hard day for me. I am going to stop training with my old personal trainer and try out another for a while to see if it perhaps jumpstarts my weightloss again. This makes me sad and a bit frightened because I'm not convinced it is completely the best thing but it is worth a try. I do know this - nothing is allowed to happen to me that God does not allow. And with all things He never lets go of my hand and will walk through this new venture with me just as He has been walking with me this past year. I may even work with two different trainers because I really want to continue with my boxing and there is a trainer at the gym who I think can teach me more.

At any rate my surgery is in less than 6 weeks and I still feel afraid about this. I worry about the recovery time and how hard it is going to be to get my strength built back up to where it is now. Again though, I know God will be with me and rarely does anything go wrong in these surgeries so I should be okay when it is all said and done. And, even though I am scared I am also excited to see what muscles might be visible with the skin removed.=-)

I went to see my psychologist this week in Tulsa - he said some interesting things and one that made me laugh. We were talking about the weightloss and how I feel if I could do it anyone can do it and he said I am wrong in my thinking. He said I brought things to the table that not everyone has and he listed, determination, strength and then he said "and too you are obviously atheletic" - does that not make you laugh? I can say I have never thought of myself as athletic - nor would I ever in a million years. And I'm not so sure about the determination part either. He says by thinking that everyone can do this I negate my worth and that my self-image does not fall in line with my own theology if I believe we were all created in our mothers womb by God and that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I will just have to try and wrap my head around where my personal theology and my self-image don't match.

I do know that we all have worth, we are all loved deeply by a creator that desires a personal relationship with us and that we all have a purpose. We are called to love Him, serve Him and serve each other. May I never lose sight of that.

Have a blessed week! Know that He loves you and so do I! Kari

Good News!

Good morning friends! I pray that everyone has a good Sunday and good fellowship in the Lord's house!

My week has been a good one for the most part. I found out Wednesday that my insurance is going to pay for my surgery. Amazing! I didn't think they would but they approved it at THQ. Now I just have to wait to hear about the sick leave. My surgery is scheduled for November 1 and pre-op is October 31. Seems appropriate after this year of change and weirdness that Halloween be the last day in this costume!=-D Not sure what the new one will look like but it will be a bit different. My fear is that people are expecting too much change and will be disappointed in the outcome - especially those at the gym. I think the only really visible difference will be in my arms - I've been able to hide my stomach skin well so I don't think they'll see a difference there. We'll see. I will never be thin but this will help with mobility allot and I'll be able to do things better like sit-ups and crunches and jumping jacks and well everything.

I decided this week too that most of my goals this past year have dealt with weight and who I am is not what I weigh so I wanted to make some goals that were totally different from weight goals. My trainer helped me come up with a few to try and do before my surgery and then we will have to set new ones to get me back up to speed. For right now we have increased the treadmill speed on the Warrior Workout, we are working towards running at 8 degree incline and 8 mph. Friday I made it 7.5/7.5 - it was very scary for me! I think I'll get better at it though. I also want to be able to do at least one pull-up and one dip (holding your body weight with your arms and lowering yourself down and back up). I'm not so sure I will be able to do those - my arm strength is pretty weak.

My blood sugar has been doing some weird things this week as well - pray for me that I'll get it figured out. Friday evening when I got off work it was at 68 - pretty low for the end of the day and I'm pretty sure it was way low at the end of my workout Friday. I think I need to find a better balance of Carbs and Proteins - I had eaten allot of proteins Friday but not many carbs so that could have been the deal. I've been wanting to get down to 190 before my surgery so I've been playing with my diet a bit to try and get there. I've got 45 days too try and get there - we'll see what happens.

I sorta get the morning off today since it is Men's Sunday and Major Watts is coming to do the service. It will be nice to sit and listen again. I still need to do a couple of things before the service so I better go get busy!

I love you all and will be praying for each of you today. Kari

Surgery Scheduled!

Well, I did it - today I went and scheduled the surgery! November 1, 2007 at 7:30am. I cried after I did it - although I want to have it done it is still very scary! I even cried during my workout today - I didn't really expect it to hit me like this but it did. I've gone through a lot of change this year - what's a little more? Right? Anyway - please pray for me as I try to wrap my head around the fact that it is going to happen.

Thanks! Kari

My Chains Are Gone

Good morning friends! I found a new song this weekend that has really spoken to me about how complete God's provision for us is - even in the hard times! It's called "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" by Chris Tomlin.

Amazing graceHow sweet the soundThat saved a wretch like meI once was lost, but now I'm foundWas blind, but now I see'Twas grace that taught my heart to fearAnd grace my fears relievedHow precious did that grace appearThe hour I first believed
My chains are goneI've been set freeMy God, my Savior has ransomed meAnd like a flood His mercy reignsUnending love, Amazing graceThe Lord has promised good to meHis word my hope securesHe will my shield and portion beAs long as life endures

My chains are goneI've been set freeMy God, my Savior has ransomed meAnd like a flood His mercy reignsUnending love, Amazing grace

My chains are goneI've been set freeMy God, my Savior has ransomed meAnd like a flood His mercy reignsUnending love, Amazing graceThe earth shall soon dissolve like snowThe sun forbear to shineBut God, Who called me here belowWill be forever mineWill be forever mineYou are forever mine...

Listen to it if you can, it really is beautiful.

Things seem to be progressing well regarding my sick leave. Hopefully by the end of the month it will be approved. My surgery is to be the last week in October - I'm a bit frightened but excited at the same time. One of the things the song reminded me about is that I don't have to go through this all alone - He has been on this journey with me all along and will continue to be with me or what is left of me when all is said and done.=-D

Friends, I pray that your holiday weekend was blessed and restful. Know that He loves you so much and longs to take you to new levels of intimacy in your relationship with Him. Dive in - let Him remove the chains and set you free to love and be loved. I'm praying just that for you today! Kari