I HATE THE SCALE!!!

I hate the scale!! I really do. It lies to me. It’s just a number, but it’s not THE number but it’s the number that most of us pay attention to. How often do we track our successful weight loss to what the scale says?  When I look at the scale, I get depressed! I am still 155lbs but have finally, gotten down to a size 6 jeans (thank you Lord, for spandex in our jeans! lol) but if I were to track my progress by my scale weight, I would have given up many, many months ago. That's why I love the BB programs, they teach you to track your changes by more than just the scale! The scale is a good tool, but not the only tool. there is so much more to take into consideration. Also, the key is that we need to be healthy and if that means we are considered "overweight" by a scale, then so be it. We are who we are and until we are confident and content and love us they way we are right now, today, we will never be happy with ourselves no matter what size or weight we are. until we deal with the baggage that is affecting our self esteem now, it will be with us when we shrink down. Trust me, this was a lesson I had to learn the hard way! The way I saw myself when I was a size 3 is the same way I saw myself when I was a size 14. Talk about a messed up sense of self!

Following Directions

Something donned on me Monday while Leo and I were trying to repair our washing machine and I was praying to the Lord to just fill my hear with overflowing love for this man. Something Leo said struck home. "Why are you taking steps that are not in the directions?"

Wow. Ok, WE KNOW the directions we are supposed to follow. God lays them out for us.

This was the situation. Our washing machine quit working. I went online and did a trouble shooting search and found a site that laid everything out step by step by step and even included pictures. Once God gave me the solution, I knew I could do it. As I started tearing apart the washing machine following each step thoroughly, Things weI thought re going well until step 3...For some reason, something on the washer I saw didn't seem right, so instead of following my instructions, i set out to do something on my own...thankfully, I didn't break anything to important, but as soon as I went back to following the instructions step by step and not venturing outside of them, things went smoothly. Leo was working off of my confidence. Because I said we could do it because we have the right instructions, he believed me. When i stepped outside that zone, Leo started getting cranky and frustrated as was I.

It was then, that I realized that I do this in life as well. I want to do what's right, I want to be the example. I ask God to fill me with his love and kindness and compassion and forgiveness. I ask him to help guide me through life's storms and crisses. He answer my prayers and provides me step by step instructions but when I get hurt or think I see something different, i venture off on my own. Rather than following the steps he gave me, I create a bigger problem.

Being able to fix my washing machine with my husband almost cost us our marriage cuz I got so angry and frustrated with him....but that's exactly what the Devil wants. he doesn't want us to have happy relationships, confidence, peace, and hope. When my washing machine broke (while in the middle of a large  load mind you,) I started panicking and worrying because we don't have the money for a new one, nor could we afford the repairs nor could I afford to go to laundry at a laundry mat. What could have easily runied the start to my New Year, actually became a lesson learned. God is great, he is faithful and if we follow his step by step instructions as HE lays them out, we can save time, money and continue to do laundry a different day!