I AM DONE!

This morning at the gym, I put my ipod on shuffle and set off on the treadmill.  This song came on and gave me a wake up call.  It is my new anthem.  I am done with the negative self talk.  Done believing the lies of Satan.  Done with worrying about what others think of me.  Done with judging myself for failures. Today is a new day.  There is a new fire in me and I will finish what I started.

Now I know some of you are thinking that Pink is not a good role model, but listen to the words!  As I walked on the treadmill this morning, I had tears rolling down my face(yeah, got some weird looks).  It is as if I could hear God saying, "Mary, you are perfect to me".  For we are God's workmanship...Ephesians 2:10  or how about You are fearfully and wonderfully made ..Psalm 139: 14.

If you haven't heard anything else that I have said in the last five months, please here this:  God didn't make a mistake when he created you.  You are his workmanship.  You are worth more than those voices inside your head are telling you.  We have to stop listening to and believing the lies of Satan. 

With that said, today I will focus on the amazing things that I have accomplished through Christ in the last 5 months.  First and foremost, I have gotten a handle on my addiction.  Through Christ's strength I have not had any of my old "comfort" foods in 5 months.  Every day I remember this truth.  So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!  No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.  Therefore, my dear friends, flee.  1 Corinthians 10:12-14  I know that my God is bigger than my addiction and every day I stand firm in that knowledge!

Secondly, I have lost 66 pounds and 44 inches.  It is such an amazing accomplishment, that I still can't get my head around it.  I sometimes want to listen to the voice in my head that says I only did it because of my surgery.  But no, my friends, my surgery was a tool to help me.  I have accomplished this.  Every day I a make a thousand choices that have brought me here.  Through God's guidance I take a step at a time toward my goal.  It is my victory in Christ and I will claim it.

Finally, I have begun to live life again.  Doing things that once I couldn't because my weight wouldn't let me.  Taking a hike, swinging with my daughter, dancing with my husband.  You see, I am worth living my life to the fullest.  I am getting a glimmer of what life used to be and I am excited.  God has great things in store for me. 

So, today I will finish what I started.  I have a little over 50 pounds to go.  I will conquer this.  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:37-39  God loves me enough to take me to the finish line!

Sorry this was so long today!  Here are some pictures I ran across.  The first one was taken in January and the second just last week.  What a difference, huh!!!