Recently God has prompted me to locate my child hood friend Debbie Mintz. I’ve looked on Facebook, Google, even MySpace. I have even sent messages to one person on Facebook. As I have learned to reflect on my past to help me on my journey, her friendship to me was the beginning of my spiritual journey. You see Debbie was my neighbor when I moved in kindergarten. Her mom Janice invited my mom to church over and over. They eventually invited me to sleepover on Saturday nights having me bring a nice dress to wear to church with them on Sundays. I am thankful that my friend Debbie did not give up. I gave my life to Christ when I was a teen at youth camp. A youth camp I attend with my church and my friend Debbie.
My story is one of friendship and obedience. The margins of my teen bible are filled with mature thoughts. However when my parents divorced when I was 14, I walked away from God. I tried to quiet the convicting voice within me with many different things to numb the loss I had experienced. I’d seen my parents smoke cigarettes for years. My mom had quit to set a good example for us. My dad however was smoking 2 packs a day up until his death at 69 from multiple issues related to his cigarette and alcohol abuse over his lifetime.
At 14 years old, I started to smoke cigarettes to hurt my mom. I remember distinctly thinking now this is going to make her mad. I ended up living with my dad and step mother at age 15 because my mom was not able to care for us due to a multitude of reasons. Moving in with my dad and step mother, opened up a whole new world of obstacles for me. See I was the fortunate teenager to live in a house where smoking marijuana was as acceptable as drinking. At 16, I was allowed to drink and get high. We were responsible with our use of drugs. It was made clear to me that I needed to hold down a job, do well in school, AND I could smoke and drink whenever I wanted at home as long as school and work did not suffer. So, I learned early on from my dad how to be a functional in the world while still abusing alcohol and drugs. He was my example.
I got good grades in High School, I was in the Honor Society and did well on my SATs and was off to college. Most people would be shocked to know of my high use of drugs. I was accepted to the University of Maryland in College Park, one of the bonuses it was the #1 partying school of the time.
My college years were a bit harder for me to function at the high level. The Drugs and Alcohol were available wherever we went. I ended up being placed on Academic Probation and even dismissed from University of MD after 3 semesters. However, I wrote a letter to the college begging them to give me one more chance. Thankfully, I was reinstated and focused more on my studies and less on my partying. Still I was smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day, as well as experimenting with drugs like speed and cocaine to heighten my awareness and counteract the numbing effects of the pot I continued to use.
God continued to bless me during these dark times of my life. I met my husband Vince during my sophomore year and I graduated from college with a Bachelor’s degree. When Vince and I were dating, he told me that I would have to quit smoking if we ever got together. Over the 10 years I smoked cigarettes, I quit 3 times. The last time worked. I had my last cigarette on my wedding day in 1984. I am blessed to say that Vince and I celebrated our 27th anniversary in September.
I also was able to give up smoking pot at the same time. I did party one more time in 1987. I was at a wedding shower with one of my college room mates. However I also had my then 9 month son with me. I remember recognizing that here I was higher than a kite and I had my son with me. It scared the crap out of me. I realized then, it was just not worth getting high anymore. I didn’t need it. The only problem is that I replaced my abuse of cigarettes, alcohol, drugs with a new found drug, food. By the time I was 30 I weighed over 200 pounds, at 40 I tipped the scales at 274.
I lived a blessed life, a wonderful husband, 2 sons, and a successful career in health insurance. I am thankful to have a husband who loves me just as I am, thin or fat, he loved me. Still, something was missing. I moved to Pittsburgh in 1998, my friend Jane invited me to church over 8 times over a 2-year period. I finally came to Crossroads with her and that was it, I found what I was missing. I needed Christ in my life.
I began a new life in Christ in 2000. I started attending small group, serving in multiple places, and seeking my purpose in Christ. As I looked for that purpose, God started calling me to lead a Christ based weight-loss ministry called First Place ministry at Crossroads. My sister Cyndi, who lived 240 miles away in Eastern PA, had started a First Place group in her home. She shared how Christ was changing her through the program. I remember saying to her, “Not me, I am fine just as I am. I have already done so many things; doing nothing at all seems to be working just fine.”
You see I earned my life time weight watcher status when I was 24 in time for my wedding. Then as life progressed and I lost control, I returned to weight watchers, Protein Power, over then next 20 years I have gained and lost 40-50. Each time I would end up heavier than the first time. So, I truly believed I was better off at 274 pounds. Thankfully God had a different plan. Slowly over the next year, God was gently nudging me. However, I was not listening. I entered a winter season for my spiritual life. I was serving at church, leading a small group. However, I still was not listening! I knew there was something, but I just couldn’t hear.
In the spring of 2006, while doing my devotions, a question asked, "What is God calling you today that you are not willing to take action on"? Bam! I realized that I needed to be leading First Place at my church. Finally, I was willing to hear God, loud and clear. I immediately sent an email to our pastor asking what I needed to do to get approval to start First Place at our church. In September 2006, I held my first orientation at our North Fayette campus. I prayed that God would send at least three people. He sent 24. I heard repeatedly how thankful people were for the program. They shared how they had been praying for months to have a Christ Centered health program. I was humbled. I stood before the first group at orientation and honestly shared. I am starting this group because I need it, this obese woman standing before them. I told them I was learning right along with them.
Now 5.5 years later, I have lost 116 pounds, I have been working hard to maintain since July of 2010. I am praying for all those that God is calling to surrender this weakness to him. 2 Corinthians 12:30. If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. Yeah that I was able to turn over my weakness to God. I boast in the miracle he has in my life. I almost missed one of my purposes. I now spend my time listening to God, relying on him for temptations are constantly closing in on me. I take care of my body because it is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I have been transformed inside and outside.
My bible verse that has helped me stay the course is Deuteronomy 30:11: Now what I am commanding you is not to difficult or beyond your reach. This bible verse came to me when I was approaching my 50 pound lost mark. In my mind I was convinced that I couldn’t do it. I’d lost 50 pounds before and gained it back. I was stuck. I heard this bible verse, and it was as if God was talking right to me. Of course I realize, he was. This is my verse. I repeat it whenever there are times I want to give up or do not believe I can do it. God is commending us, it is not too difficult (it is difficult mind you. Some days its seems almost impossible), and it is not beyond our reach. It sure seems like it, but God tells us that it is not beyond our reach. Therefore, it is true.
There is hope for each of us. I know now, that my life with Christ is the only way. When I try to eat healthy, exercise, and be mindful with my body I have to do it for Jesus. When I am doing it for my husband, for my kids, for me, for anything else, I fail, I give up. When I am doing it for God, I am doing it out of love for Him. I am taking care of my body and my temple to show God how much I love Him. He gave the ultimate sacrifice for me and you.
God loves you just as you are. He died for you and me, loving us despite all our ugliness, ungodliness, our sin. Each of us has the opportunity to accept God’s forgiveness. It is ours, we only have to acknowledge his sacrifice for us, accept that he is Lord, and ask him to take over as the Lord of our life and turn from our sin.
I am thankful that he takes us just as we are. I challenge you to look at yourself as God sees you.
Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.
Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life. Thank you Lord Jesus. Amen.
I am blessed to have this opportunity to share with you. I am very thankful for all the friends God sent to me. For their obedience to reaching out to me. I do my best to be obedient when he calls. My challenge to you today is to answer God’s call. To be obedient. When we get out of the way and DO just what he calls us to do, AMAZING things happen!
