In the Beginning

This whole blog really had two beginnings of sorts. The one that initially started when I wrote a blog post after reading "Kisses From Katie" by Katie Davis. If you have not read this book as soon as your are finished reading this post go buy a copy, you won't be sorry. (Well you might be if you are enjoying your comfortable life and don't particularly enjoy God speaking to you.) But the second beginning of this blog came when I realized what it was truly all about.

"Kisses from Katie" ignited something I had never felt so strongly before. The stories really got me thinking about how I was living my life. From there my heart began to soften to allow God to begin molding it. As time went on and the journey continued I began to dig deeper into God's Word, deeper than I had ever dug before. During that time I felt God leading me to take my first international mission trip. This mission trip changed my life in unexpected ways, and the changes began a year before we even left. (You can read about last years trip here -Captivated.)  The year prior to our trip was when I began to understand the need to take better care of my body.

So, regardless of what actually counts as the beginning of this blog, serving God, obedience to God is clearly what it's all about.  In what I believe is obedience to God, one week from today Devin and I leave for another trip to Santa Elena, Belize. A community that completely captured my heart last summer. I'm not sure how many times God will allow us to experience this trip, but we will go every chance He allows. I am looking forward to seeing all of those faces I met last year, and hoping some will remember me. I am excited to share with those we meet about a Savior that loves them so dearly. This is the fourth year a group from our area has partnered specifically with this local church (Faith Tabernacle and the Armstrong Family). Although a group only visits once a year, there are ministry needs being met year round. I ask that each one of you would pray for us next week as we travel and minister in Belize. We covet your prayers and rest in knowing that God is in control of all that happens during this week leading up to our departure, our time in Belize, our return home and our lives as we process the trip after our return. Some special requests I have are as follows:

Saturday- Travel/ Visit to an orphanage
Sunday- Church/ Community Prayer Walks and Home Visits
Monday- Minister to community/Vacation Bible School starts today!
Tuesday- Minister to community/Vacation Bible School continues
Wednesday- Explore/Vacation Bible School concludes
Thursday- Travel to Caye Caulker
Friday- Travel home

Other prayer requests include the Armstrong family, Faith Tabernacle, Octavia Waight Nursing Home, the people of Santa Elena and the children enrolled in the Scholarship Program.

If you wish to follow our trip, click here (the link will not be live until Saturday, August 1).

If wish to commit to praying each day for our trip please comment on this post here or on my Facebook page and I will message you a prayer guide for the week.

Thanks in advance!

Last year's team

Octavia Waight Nursing Home 2014

Sunday Church 2014

Kevin!

David :)

Melvin :)

I have an announcement!

It's been so long since I've written anything and I've got so much to say... But I'll save all of that for another day and get straight to the point today.

I did something today that I swore I would absolutely, positively never, ever do. I became a Beachbody Coach. Before you write me off let me explain.

I started this journey to get healthy over two years ago. I started this journey because God made it abundantly clear to me that there were things He was going to ask me to do that I could never do in the shape I was in. I began making small changes and I am down 85 pounds to date, with 50-60ish more to go still. I have dreamt about a way to help other people get healthy. I've thought about leading a small group geared towards fitness and/or nutrition, or just accountability (and that's still not out of the question). However, I feel that Beachbody coaching could potentially (be a big flop ;) ) or lead me to help people I would never have the chance to help any other way while encouraging those I already know as well. While Beachbody workouts have been a great tool I've utilized during this weightloss journey, my God has been even bigger source of strength.

I promise to never push products on you, but will gladly share about them if you ask. I promise to be honest and never mislead you and get you try things I would never try myself. My ultimate goal in this is to help people get healthy, however that looks for them. Whether people choose to use Beachbody products or not is not important. I want to inspire, encourage and lead people to better understand the importance of taking care of the only body God gave us. A body that is to be used for the purpose of sharing with others about Him.

Don't misunderstand, I am far from having it all figured out yet. Having you be a part of this journey, seeing your successes, hearing your desire to want to make changes encourages and inspires me more than you know. So the way I see it, it's a win - win for all of us!

So here I go following a new path on this journey. Trying not to let that punk named fear hold me back. Don't let the fear of failing keep you from getting started either.

P.S. You can read about how my journey started here, and lots of other posts between there and here.

P.P.S. If your interested in following my journey, getting fitness and nutrition tips and some daily encouragement will you like my new Facebook page here? And if you are ever interested, you can check out my Beachbody page here.