This week in Weigh Less we are cocked and loaded and ready to shoot forth in gaining back our health and wholeness. By the end of this week each participant will be eating right and moving more. Sound familiar? Who hasn't done this? It is the practical formula that covers a multitude of sins. After 17 years in the industry I have seen this formula in action and yes, it does work, but as people who live and breathe and move by the Spirit, we are called to go in a different direction for a different reason. Without the ability to see ourselves, outside of ourselves, we will easily fall into the suicide machine that is diet and exercise. When we do something for ourselves that appears to look right we can get into big trouble. The opposite of placing ourselves at the highest priority of life is humility, and in humility is where we have a chance of getting this thing called life right.

I had planned on writing this blog about balance. Because now that you are armed with a plan for diet and exercise application, without having a good sense of balance you will go off the deep end and do everything for all the wrong reasons. A good thing that was working for us can quickly become the master that we serve.  Remember, we are all serving someone or something. Either we are serving ourselves, or God. Yep. It's that simple. Serving ourselves will work. Don't get me wrong. It works, but eventually it will lead to destruction and an overwhelming sense of hopelessness until we find the next object of our desires to serve, and again, that will get us through for a little while, but then that too will fail. Round and round we go. The endless treadmill. When we chose to serve God in everything (yes, even in diet and exercise) you can bet that we are going to be put up against the measuring stick that says "yep, looks right", or "nope, need to ease up a little because you are starting to lose it." That is God's righteousness. God's righteousness is what all of us our in desperate need of ALL THE TIME so that we will have the right way of thinking, feeling and acting, and here's the catch, it is the opposite of your natural way of thinking, feeling and acting. We will never get it right on our own, never, yet God is not wanting your failure, but he is wanting your humility.

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble". (1 peter 5:5). Living a humble life , where one thinks less of himself does not sound that appealing on the surface now does it? This is so anti "me" generation. This is where many people stop getting on the Jesus bus, because everyone wants to know what Jesus is going to do for them, instead of what they have to do for Jesus. To be humble means to never get ahead of yourself, by thinking too highly of yourself.  The doorway of humility is the only passage way to you being a new creation. We must go down to get up. And then once we are up, we must never think we have arrived. The moment you think you have arrived, you have already lost it. It is a short distance to travel from humility to pride. But there is hope. Right there, squeezed between humility and pride, is grace. When we live lives that never forget the grace that has been given to us, we can be sure that we will be more resistant to taking up residence again in the prideful places. Grace is defined as good will, loving- kindness, by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps them, strengthens them, and increases them in faith, knowledge, affection, and awakens them to the exercise of the better way.  

To stay fit in body and spirit,  you will need to stay humble, receive grace and pitch pride.

This week in Weigh Less to Feed More we are going deeper into our purpose. Everyone needs one or is in the process of looking for one. You would have to be blind not to of taken notice of our current economy and financial state of affairs as a nation.  A lot of people, by no choice of their own, are being left to find a new vocation. Scary for most, but only for those who allow a job to define their true purpose in this life. 

Never forget, we are a part of a bigger story, a God story. God begins to tell us his story in Genesis, the very beginning. The first 5 words of the bible are a HUGE challenge, but yet oh so simple. "In the beginning God created...." (Genesis 1:1). Right there,  are you in or are you out? Because if you are in on a Creator, then there is great hope for you and this life. This Creator MUST  know something about you, his creation, not just physically (your physical attributes that are uniquely you), but mentally/emotionally (your thoughts and feelings based on your life's story) , and socially , because no man is an island unto himself. We are all looking to love and be loved. When life doesn't make sense, who do you ask? Human speculation can be good, but it is not God. Looking for a new career path? Try God. He is always looking to align the people he created with their purpose for being created.

In Genesis 1:28, God gives Adam his purpose. His job. His vocation. "Be fruitful and increase in number" or as some translations say "Be fruitful and multiply". At first look everyone is thinking," Well, best I get married, settle down and have some kids so that I can fulfill what I guess is God's purpose." Doesn't sound that exciting to everyone now does it. But once again, we are missing it. The is not just about procreation, but about what we create. To be fruitful is to produce something good. Something that is lasting and no matter how hard  someone or something tries to kill it, good will just keep coming forth. Anyone seen the movie Defiance lately? Oh my, that is fruitful. A people group that chose to live like human beings even in the face of death. Not to be taken captive by the way things seem to be going, but to chose a better way. You just can't kill that type of good. It is true and right and more of what God is looking for in this world. To be fruitful and multiply means that our purpose, our job, our vocation at the core of all of us is to connect with being good and doing good and then multiplying that good so that more and more and more springs forth into this world. God's good creation. But here is the catch. We can do our best to do good and be good apart from God, but unless we know the One who is good and the author of good,  then it will miss the mark. It might bring forth temporary improvements, but it won't be lasting.  Just like getting healthy is a good thing, but unless we are including and keeping God in on the plan, it won't be deep and lasting. Surface yes, but deep no. 

Okay Jesus people, brace yourself, because what I am about to say may cause some tension. Take a look around. What do you see? I see a group of people (not all, but a large majority) who proclaim to know and love Jesus and are ambassadors that represent Christ's goodness, but physically speaking (which we have all agreed by this point IS part of God's creation) we are doing everything else the world is doing. Eating, drinking and being merry to our own destruction. Sure we may be spiritually strong and healthy on the inside, but not bearing good fruit on the outside. Just like the seed of a fruit tree is good, but how that tree is fed and nourished even what a happens to it when it is pressed upon by the elements will dictate how good the fruit will taste come harvest time. Wouldn't you all agree that we do as we feel? If I am not feeling good, it is hard for me to do real good. I can say "For you Jesus" and muscle my way through it, but that is not how God wishes to show his power and goodness to a world who is dying for real people. That becomes more about us saying "look what I can do for you God." Instead of " because you are healing me and making me whole I can't help but want to be good and do good  and add more and more good for you!" For God is holy and whole and he is looking for bodies to be as he is and do as he does, but they too must be holy and whole always remembering that it is not  because we are better than, but because Jesus is the better way. Is your life like a flashing sign that says " Life and freedom this way" with an arrow pointing to Jesus. "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:36). Let me make this very clear by saying ABSOLUTELY that God does care more about what is on the inside of a man than the outside, absolutely. But as Christians we have become VERY comfortable with stopping short of the full life that God has for us in ALL areas of our life. God is looking to give us a lifestyle. A way of doing all things. It is the best job you could ever have, for his glory and your joy.

We live in a culture of consumption. Everyone is buying something, but most will be left looking for more. Only Jesus can satisfy.  Get this, the definition of a lifestyle is this; products (or a people group)  designed to appeal to a consumer ( those are people who are looking to be filled) by association (as disciples)  with a desirable lifestyle (who chose to be and do like Jesus). Are we offering people a peek into a desirable way of life? A purpose driven life is one thing, but a purpose driven LIFESTYLE where in ALL things you are a walking , living and breathing personal advertisements and an invitation to freedom!  "Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial.(1 corinthians 6:12). As Christians we must be saying yes to some things and no to others so that we don't fall apart, the opposite of being whole. 

So I presume that we all watched one of the greatest Super Bowls in all of NFL history this past Sunday. Talk about riveting! I am an native Arizonan, so this was a long, long, long time coming. I found myself beside myself. Sweating and tearing in sheer angst, anxiety, frustration and jubilation. It was a surreal experience. There was a moment that I though to myself  "So this is what it is like for people when THEIR team is in the Super Bowl. AWESOME!!" And it wasn't just some team, a team that has come from behind to blow the minds of many. No one really saw this coming. Even better!

Then there was that defining moment towards the end of  the second half where Fitzgerald scooped up the ball on an interception and ran for the TD line. His eyes as big as a child being chased by the boogie monster with the flicker of hope that said "This could be something HUGE, BIG!"  I am sure I am not alone when I say that the noise level was deafening and palpable as we screamed merciless at the T.V. We all knew that this was something so big. Huge! Pivotal even. And then Fitzgerald crosses the line and what is one of the first thing he does? Yes, the iconic pointing of the finger to the sky symbolizing that this HUGE thing that just happened had nothing to do with him, a mere man. That there was something or someone who Fitzgeral chose to direct all of that power, strength, achievement and beauty towards.  And in that moment Fitzgerald gave us all a view of God. 

The greek word for glory is doxa, it means view of, good opinion, honor, value or weight. In our pursuit to be living examples of the better way in ALL areas of our life (spiritual, physical, social, mental/emotional- biblical wholism), it is important that "whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do,do it all for the glory of God " (1 corinthians 10:31) We must be conscious of our doxa. I love how where it matters most for us, like how we are to LIVE, God makes it very simple for us. We can simplify our live by asking one thing, "Does who I am and what I do glorify the One who Is?" Glory is something we are given and we give, not something we do. Glory is a byproduct of the choices we make and a lifestyle we create.  In all things you are either giving good view, opinion and value to the Creator God, the One who is, or you are not. One way brings you lasting joy and fulfillment while the other will leave you feeling depleted and in need for another fix. This is why as disciples of Jesus, the one who came to show us a better way, it is crucial that we  stay correctable and humble so that in every part of our lives we are giving others a beautiful view of God.  God receives glory and you receive joy.

This past weekend everyone who is participating in Weigh Less on a local level were put to the test. They were pinched, pushed and tested to their limits of physical ability. It isn't fun to face the truth, but it is powerful when you are ready to go a new direction.  It is a way of saying to yourself "No more lies and no more shame. This is where I am today, but I am leaving this place and moving on to a new place." Which makes me think of an episode of the Simpson's that for some reason I passed by one night and homer was driving away in his car leaving some town that he had great disdain for. As he drove away he shouted out the window "So long Stinktown!", but I digress.  But that is what we are doing here. Saying so long to the stink in our lives. And isn't it its funny how if you spend enough time around a bad smell, you don't even smell it anymore. Testing is a big whiff of reality. It is meant to stir you to want to do something, to become an activist for a better way. But this time it will be different. You are not going about it in the old ways, this time it is God's way or bust!

We have already talked about the fact that as people who are choosing to go a better way, in the right direction, we are following the One who knows the way. We are pretty blind when we think we can see just fine. The reason this time this "weight" battle is going to be different is because you are not going to do it in your own strength. God is always extending his mighty arm fighting and battling on your behalf. We are going to let him battle this for us. His power! " That by HIS POWER, he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith."  (2 Thessalonians 1:11) This time you are fighting your battle by faith and the cool thing is that it was all you every needed! Ever. In all circumstances. God will provide the power and strength you need in order to go the better way. 

So this time don't work so hard. You don't need to just try harder. You don't have to say "I just need to be stronger." It's useless and pointless. It is purely self-focused and will lead you back into isolation, despair and stink. When you come to a hard moment, and rest assured you will, take a breath, get present, be centered and receive His power and His peace. It is a just a breath away. Your hopes and dreams are dependent upon His power.

I am encouraging anyone who is serious about a new approach to their new life, one that is healthy and whole, would please take a listen to the following podcast.

http://www.fh.org/uploads/0z/rx/0zrxt0ZQRe5DxJsruAF9Rw/029-ThePovertyofAbundance.mp3

You will get to know me a little more and, what God has been doing in me and what Weigh Less to Feed More is all about. I hope that it will shift your way of thinking about how things are now towards how things should be, as we embark upon this 8 week transformational development 

Be well,

Alisa

The challenge begins! If you are participating in the local program here in Phoenix welcome! If you are participating in this program from some remote place with a laptop and the internet as your connection to us, welcome! 

First thing is first. If you say you are in, are you in?? What I am asking you to do is count the cost. New year brings the rush of possibilities for new things. Great! We can work with that. But before you go jumping in make sure you have taken some time to get quite and ask God for his guidance and leadership. Maybe it has been a while since you have talked to God, maybe you have never really talked to him much about your health and asked some deeper questions as to what the "weight" is all about. Maybe you have never talked to God and you just want to sit back and watch this thing unfold. You are welcomed to stay, but I am asking you to hold a space for the possibilities of what God has to say about all of you. He created you, he ought to know best where all the parts go. I have a t-shirt that says "Jesus is my personal trainer." And he is! So take some time to get quite in this next week and slooooow down or just begin the conversation with God asking him to help you count the cost. In other words are you really ALL IN! 

In Matthew 14 Jesus talks about he cost of being a disciple. Now don't go old church on me here by thinking "Disciple? Me?Oh, here comes the holier than thou...Someone find my halo."  A disciple is not a perfect being. It doesn't mean you hold some secret membership into a a special club where you GET to be someone special. A disciple is someone who says they are choosing to do things differently. To swim against the current. According to the global statistic that more people are overweight and suffering from ill health than people who are hungry in the world says something as to the way things are going. They are going in the wrong direction. A disciple choses to put his/her foot down and stand for justice, love, mercy, grace, hope and creative possibilities that come from the Creator of all things. Jesus came to show us a better way. As disciples we follow Jesus. That's it.  And often times we will be asked to go the other way. The way that is opposite from the direction everyone else is going.  And this can be very uncomfortable.

In verse 33 Jesus says "any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." Giving up everything means we are all in!  And isn't that where we all start the new years, especially when it comes to making change. But as soon as we feel compromised or uncomfortable we say "It is just not worth it." And we turn back. We return to the old ways. So are you all in? Are you ready to follow a better way?  That is where I need you and more so God needs you in the next 8 weeks so that true and lasting transformation can begin to take root.  Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. On the other side of your discomfort is the better way. 

Questions to chew on:

1. What is weighing me down? (remember, this isn't a weight issue in pounds, but in burdens, hardships, hurts, pains, etc)

2. What has kept me from change?

3. Why am I ready now?

4. What price am I willing to pay?