Fit, Fabulous, 40's Friday!

Hi Friends, remember me?

I know, that's not me, but didn't it make you smile?

Yes, it's true! A Post!!  Happy Friday!!
I've been busy with my children and my ministry at church and God is just doing so much right now.

Here are the Cliff Notes, sad if you even know what these are!!

In July, I get a call from an old friend Tracy, out of the blue, who works at church and says, "Janet, the person we thought was going to take over our Cross Fitness class can't do it anymore.
I prayed about it and GOD brought you to mind."

What would YOU say?
Well, knowing the reputation of this woman and the sheer respect I have of her...I told her I would pray about it.
I called my husband, (who is AWESOME-by the way) and he says, "I think you should do it".
Of course, part of me was wishing he said not to, because I've never lead group instruction. I had done some personal training, a little one-on-one, and this would be a risk for me, translation: I was scared!

20 minutes later I called Tracy to tell her that I would do it.

My first class, there were probably about 12-15 people. I was super excited and was doing this for the Lord, so I just went for it.

Last Wednesday's night class had almost 80! Crazy, right?

So, back to teaching my first class, I prayed.
I prayed for music, the workout, what God wanted me to do, say, EVERYTHING!!!
What a blessing it was, and slowly the class began growing.

2 months later, I was asked to support the other fitness classes on campus- Holy Yoga, Zumba, Stetch and Strengthen, Walk & Worship, Bootcamp. I immediately started praying for these leaders, their ministries and the community we were serving and continue to serve.

I remember meeting Tracy after a few classes and just feeling very dependent on God, not knowing why He had me there.

Tracy gave me this verse:
Romans 4:1-3

It didn't make much sense to me then, but boy, it sure does now!

(Basically, this passage speaks of how if Abraham was able to do what God asked Him to do, it would be an Abraham-story, and not a God story. If I was asking God to bless the things I was planning, doing and creating, then God would not get any credit, as I was able to do these things on my own energy, strength and ability.
But because Abraham entered into what God had for him by surrendering his plans and trusting God to take him to places and do things on his own, it became a God-story.)

Back to what's happening:
The New Year hits and Pastor Rick launches his new Daniel Plan book and we have a Rally and start the bible study, "Transformed".

Pastor Rick wants to shut down all the fitness classes on campus but Tracy negotiates for us and they give us permission to keep our classes going as long as we all lead groups, at which time, Walk & Worship, Zumba and my Cross Fitness Class are all on the same night so we decide to collaborate into one tent.

We have a medium sized group but are stoked that people come and groups are formed.

Shortly after we start the study, I get a call from Mrs.A, who says that the Daniel Plan is going to make some Fitness videos and she wanted to know if that sounded interesting to me.

WHAT? Ummmmm....YES!!!!

So, she tells me that I need to make a video and submit it as an audition and since I was going to have class that night, just video tape myself....
#1- I hate watching myself on video
#2- the videos she sends me to look at as samples are totally professional
#3- I'm not a professional
#4- I haven't been trained to act
#5- Did I say, I'm not a professional?
I will post it sometime...

So, all my stuff that the devil likes to shout at me, starts coming up.
I do it anyway!!!
I send it in.

I get a call, and the producer would like to meet me in person.

Her assistant meets me and takes pictures and asks me to jog in place so she can make sure I don't look like I'm twerking or something...
I'm going to be a "cast" member in the back, but I don't care. There will be 5 of us. I'm one of them!!!

A week later I get a call from Sony (actually a woman representing Sony) asking if I'm ok with the dates, the pay and some details.

Can I just say, "WOW"? God is creating HIS story.

So here I am, I got a call today about my sizes for outfits, I have 4 clients that I train regularly and love the place I am in.

I'm blown away. This is God's story...not mine anymore.
It happened when I said, "YES", to Him, with ALL that I have....EVERYTHING.

I know being a part of Mary De Muth's  book launch a couple of years ago, helped me on my journey to handing God Everything.....THANK YOU Mary, for trusting me and just for being a bright light in this world.

I know that being a part of Deborah's bible study at The Gate also helped. I grew this last year....the process is so slow you almost can't see it, unless you LOOK BACK. Thank you Deb, and ladies from that Bible study- Connie Bear, Janet T, Sue R.



I also know that my church and Pastor helped....a lot....and
spending time in God's word, the Bible, helped the MOST!

So, this is a small part, but the cool thing is that a year ago, I could not have ever guessed my life would look like it does, but God knew.
He was waiting for me to give my life to Him so He could use it.

I'll be posting my exciting ventures while in rehearsal and the filming, if I can.
Stay tuned!

Oh, and here is my Cross Fit Devotional and Recipe for the week:
Inspired by the Bible Study I'm currently doing, "Faithful,Abundant and True",
Speaker of the week: Priscilla Shirer

Verse:”The disciples believed in Him”  John 2:11 (NASB) 

This passage tells of the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine. His disciples were there, they saw the whole thing, and it tells us of their reactions to what they saw- The disciples believed – only after they saw this miracle.

It tells us that it is possible to be a disciple and still not believe God.

You can pray, talk with God, serve Him and walk with Him, but still not trust God with your life.

I can relate to this story. For years, I had lived as a Christian, going to church, praying, having a very deep relationship with Christ, however, I wasn’t trusting HIM with my WHOLE LIFE, and it showed up when I went through my father’s death. I fell into depression and sin, and was in the biggest pit in my life. I was even contemplating leaving my husband.  I was angry at God even though at the time I would not admit it. Luckily, HE gave me enough sense to seek counseling and go to my small group of women prayer warriors, who prayed for my heart to change when I couldn’t pray for that myself. Through my husband’s unconditional love and forgiveness, and a lot of time….I was able to see what I had become and that I was holding back from God.  I questioned, “how could this happen to me, I’m a Christian?”, but I realized that although I had asked God to come into my heart, I didn’t allow HIM to have ALL OF IT,  just MOST of it.

That changed when I surrendered ALL of my control and MY entire life to loving and serving Christ. I stopped asking God to bless my life and the things I wanted and started asking God for guidance and to seek His journey instead of asking Him to bless mine.

Think: What is the difference between belief and trust?

Ask: Am I trusting God with my life? With EVERYTHING?

Look: Where am I still trying to control my life and even my spiritual life?

Pray: Father, Thank you for all that you have given to me. Help me to see where I am still trying to control this life you have blessed me with and help me to be courageous in having YOU control it ALL. 
Help me to be obedient in where you will guide me, 
help me to be brave when I know I should do what you want me to do and 
help me to hear your voice above the noise and chaos of my life.
I love you, Father, and want to surrender EVERYTHING, all of my life to you.

In Jesus’ name- Amen

Oh, and a healthy, yummy recipe from http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/

Chocolate Chip Quinoa Cookies

Category: Healthy Cookie Recipes  

▪                1/2 cup minus 1 tbsp quinoa flour (52g)

▪                1/4 tsp baking soda

▪                1/8 tsp salt

▪                2 packed tbsp brown sugar or coconut sugar (22g)

▪                2 tbsp white sugar or xylitol (20g)

▪                2-4 tbsp chocolate chips, optional

▪                up to 2 tbsp milk of choice, as needed

▪                1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

▪                1 tbsp plus 1 tsp vegetable or coconut oil (15g)

Go to her website for instructions! She Rocks!!!

Be blessed and covered in love~

"BLESSED" Women's Retreat

Thank you to the women of Mission Hills Community Church!

WOW-

saying that was an amazing weekend doesn't even describe the depth of 

love,

support,

transparency 

&

connection

that I was able to watch and experience 

through these beautiful women.

When I first arrived,

I was overwhelmed by the beauty and creativity that I saw all around the room.

You talk about gifts-

these women have many!!!

Here are a couple of shots of the entry way.

SO gorgeous!

There was a bag FULL of swag!

The FIRST time I was the Keynote Speaker-

and I was so humbled by God.

God has really worked a miracle in me:

My first memory of being in front of people was traumatic!

In Kindergarten, our class was on stage to sing for a Winter Program-

 I ran off the stage crying.

In Middle School I attempted to face my fear and competed in our school's 

Speech Contest 

and I think I won-

reading Martin Luther King's famous speech,

"I Have a Dream".

I actually memorized the whole thing.

Nowadays, 

I'm lucky if I remember what I went to the grocery store for!

Anyhow,

just a really wonderful weekend with these women.

I shared most of my life,

specifically some of the 

"not so glamorous"

parts.

I shared the good, the bad, and yes,

the ugly.

I shared how this little girl grew up thinking that she had to be perfect and 

could not let anyone down.

And because of the pressure she had put on herself,

she made many, many bad choices.

I've referred to some of my many mistakes here.

BUT...

what I was reminded of this weekend and shared,

was that we have ALL sinned.

We have ALL made mistakes.

What matters is what we do with them.

If you don't believe in God, 

you hope no one finds out and you go on 

living your life,

hiding your mistakes with shame and guilt.

That takes a lot of energy.

(I know)

Shame and guilt are like shackles,

they are bondage that keep us from living a completely JOY filled life,

a life filled with peace and happiness.

BUT,

if you believe in God and TRUST him with your shame and guilt,

by surrendering them to him,

he will BLESS you for it.

You are FREE from that bondage

that shame and guilt keeps us in-

I asked the women if anyone had ever been skydiving-

not one in the room,

except for Moi.

Yes, 

I have been skydiving and shared how 

when I was at the door of that airplane getting ready to jump-

it was THE single scariest moment of my life-

I jumped and screamed with everything I had- 

and kept screaming until the "professional" that was strapped to me tapped my side 

to remind me that I had to pull the chord so the parachute would open-

I pulled-

and as the parachute was opening, 

I was pulled upward as the parachute opened and then-

silence

and

beauty 

ALL around me.

Trusting God is kind of like jumping out of that airplane:

scary.

But when you do, 

you receive all the benefits of living a faith filled life:

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness,goodness

and 

self-control.

And,

you get the REAL "professional" strapped to you-

He will never leave you or forsake you-

I heard this song and love the lyrics-

no matter what mistakes I've made and/or continue to make,

I have a GOD who forgives me,

values me

and

loves me, 

NO. MATTER. WHAT.

Do you?

(turn it UP!)

         

I'm so grateful that His mercies are new EVERY morning!

Let Jesus lift you up today-

Let him fill you with his spirit-

let go-

Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013!

Goodbye 2012-

Hello 2013!

Imagine that-

a new blank page.

Ahhhhh,

whatever happened in 2012 is gone.

Still remembered, 

but gone.

I love the thought of a new year.

Yes, I usually do this every year :

and I've done it already with 2013 in mind, 

but this year will be different.

How?

Well, I think goals are important,

however,

I believe what is MORE important

is the process and journey that we are in and on to achieve our goals.

I believe that giving God the glory for each and every goal set and achieved 

is 

what's important.

I believe that as we strive to deepen our relationship with God,

we change,

we become stronger,

more able,

through 

HIS strength

and

HIS power.

By our surrender to HIS strength and power,

we are allowed access to it.

My #1 goal for 2013 is to grow in a much deeper, 

closer, 

more intimate relationship with God.

When I do that first,

then I truly believe that my goals will 

be achieved with much more 

JOY 

this year.

My list of goals:

#1: Growing in a deeper relationship with God

through daily prayer/meditation,

memorizing a verse each week

# 2 : Continue to prioritize my relationships w/my spouse

and children through quality time w/each member, each week. 

#3 : Write daily

500+ words a day

(gotta start somewhere)

#4 : 2 or more 1/2 Marathons,

beating my own times.

#5 : Maintain my fitness routine

through 5 days @week workouts

#6 : Count my blessings each and every day!

What are your goals and priorities for 2013?

Don't have any?

Still thinking about them?

Want to join me and my friend, Mary DeMuth and 

work on a 

new heart 

for

 2013?

How can I pray for you?

"Everything" Blog Tour

Welcome Friends!

I couldn't be more excited to share some new insight with you today regarding

  Mary DeMuth's new book, "Everything".

I am also very excited because I got to hear Kay Warren (Pastor Rick's wife) speak at our High School Ministry this weekend, and some of what she said really resonated with me, 

especially because it was a confirmation to some of the things that Mary states in her book.

Now, before I get into sharing my ONE BIG THING about "Everything", I have to share with you what has been really going on in my life that I have admittedly been hiding from you all.

Yes, I have been hiding something from you.

Please don't judge or hate on me,

I'm just like you, 

or maybe, some of you!

This summer, when Mary let me be a part of this book launch, 

she had no idea that it came at the exact time I needed it. 

I had been wrestling with God, like Jacob, not just for one night, 
but for most of my Christian life. 

Reading Mary's book actually took me to a place where I had to look at 

MY LIFE, MY FAITH, and MY HEART 

and ask myself, 

"Have I really, truly given Jesus EVERYTHING?"

Tears well up in my eyes even now as I am reminded that my answer was,

"NO,

 not everything. 

I hadn't given Him my heart, in it's entirety, 

maybe 90% of it, but that was enough, wasn't it?"

Then I justified it....

I had served for years, in Women's Ministries at church, speaking for MOPS, volunteered, taken meals to friends, encouraged, inspired and even lead others to Christ,

 and yet, 

at the very bottom, the pit of my soul, 

I realized that I could "DO" what Jesus wanted 

and

 I could "BE" the type of woman Jesus wanted me to be, (on the outside)

but

 I did not "GIVE" what Jesus was asking for ....my WHOLE heart.

Pretty big realization after being a Christian for more than 35 years and really serving in ministry for the last 12, wouldn't you say?

Pretty big to me.

Well, of course I began praying and asking the Lord for 

wisdom, clarity and the courage

 I needed to really discover why I hadn't given Jesus everything, 

and it came to me.....

what has always been my ONE BIG THING- 

FEAR.

I was born a scaredy-cat!

I was a shy, timid, scared child.
(I'm sure those who know me would really be surprised by this)

I don't know why, and that doesn't even really matter. 

What matters is that at some deep level, I have known that, 

and I have worked Oh, soooooo very hard to overcome many, many fears, 
so much so, 

that I am someone who has done things many others haven't- 

to overcompensate for my fear.

I'm not afraid of snakes, I actually like them.

I will kill spiders with my bare hands.
I'm not afraid to hold bugs, reptiles or other yucky things.

I have had my belly pierced, shot a handgun and have gone skydiving.

I've spent 24 hours alone, on a small mountain with nothing more than a sleeping bag.

My largest obstacle has been to learn how to stop my eyes from watering (a subconscious reaction) when I speak to large groups.

And although I have overcome most of my fears, 
I had not given my heart fully to God because of 
that same fear.

In "Everything", 

Mary says,

"We think we can manage on our own, so we reject the help that God readily supplies. 
We fear that if we let Him be in control, 
He’ll make us open up to people, risk ourselves, do scary things,

 or let go of the sins we cherish.

He wants all of us, all the time, our minds and hearts deeply engaged with His so we will joyfully follow Him toward every single adventure He plans for us."

Adventure?

Kay Warren went on "God's Adventure" when her heart broke for children

orphaned by AIDS.

I was afraid of THAT kind of adventure.
What about you?

"But Jesus says we’re not to live like every- one else. 
Our lives should be different, 
marked by
fearlessness and bold belief.

He asks us to abandon our control so that He can reign in our lives and grow us.
We would rather live a lie than come to the Truth Personified, Jesus, 
and let Him show us our hearts.

 To follow is to give up our lives, 
particularly our expectations of how our lives should be. 
We need to let go of our presumptions about the life we should have 
and 
let Jesus dream a new dream for us. 

A dream where others are changed through the Holy Spirit in us. 
A dream we can't even fathom."
Mary DeMuth

Because of the words in this book,
I have released FULL control of my life
and 
ALL of my heart.
Yes, ALL.

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, 
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 
For whoever would save his life will lose it, 
but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it." 
Mark 8:34-35 ESV

Mary gave me a gift, by including me in a group,

 that I questioned why I was there every day,

by allowing me to read her book, process it and talk about it with other readers.

I had a lot of time to chew on it and really think about what I was reading

 and how it applied to my life.

Thank you, Mary!

God used Mary to truly and deeply bless me 

through this book.

I absolutely believe that when you read it,

you too, 

will think about how it applies to your life,

your heart, in your head and in your hands,

and my prayer to you 

is that YOU 

will bravely and courageously

  look honestly at yourself 

to see 

if

you truly have given 

Jesus 

everything.

And if you have, get ready for your adventure!

I AM!

Saving faith is not just believing that Jesus lived and died. 

Faith that saves is the confident, continuous confession of total dependence on, 

and trust in Jesus Christ to meet the requirements on your behalf 

to give you entrance into God's Eternal Kingdom. 

It's the surrender of your life in complete trust to Him to do what you cannot do.

You're my Everything

Rendered speechless by Your beauty
Lord, I'm blown away
With everything that's in my heart
A million words could never say all there is to say

Chorus 1:
You're more than just a song, You're more than just a whim
You're more than just a passing fantasy
You're my Everyday
You're my Every Way
You're my Everything

Verse 2:
If I could see forever
In just one moment I would say
These todays are worth tomorrow
When I will see You face to face

Chorus 2:
I want to be with You
I need to be with You
I long to be with You, precious King
So with every day, Lord, in every way
You're my Everything

Bridge:
You're my Everything
You're my Everything
You're my Everything, Oh Jesus
You're my Everything

Ending:
You're my Everyday
You're my Every Way 

What do you think it means to give Jesus everything?

Have you given Jesus everything?

Why or why not?

Have a beyond wonderful week!