Why I'll Go Bare & Bald!

Do you ever pause to remember and think about how your passion got its start? Did you go into the arts because of a teacher? Did you become a mechanic because you liked to take things apart as a kid? Did you personally witness something that made you want to go into a particular profession or fight for a cause? What were the things that inspired you?

This year's  t-shirt!

I often think about these things when remembering why I'm so passionate about the sanctity of life. My earliest memory was hearing my pastor preach about the truth of abortion when I was a teenager. I don't think I remember truly knowing much about abortion until I heard that message. I was stunned and brokenhearted! It horrified me and angered me that this kind of thing actually occurs!

The burden on my heart to fight to make it stop only grew the more I learned about it and how to get involved. It was the book "Answering the Call", by John Ensor, that really drove it home for me (as well as "Gianna: Aborted, And Lived to Tell About It" by Jessica Shaver Renshaw. My own daughter, Gianna, was named after her). I remember crying and feeling completely broken after seeing one of the images of severed baby body parts on one of the pages. That devastation I felt when I first saw those pictures comes rushing back every time I see one of those recently released videos; you know, the ones in which Planned Parenthood's evil and barbaric practices of butchering and selling aborted babies for profit get exposed. Yeah, those! I just can't fathom how anyone can watch those and NOT be outraged and moved to do something!

I normally wouldn't be posting an entry like this on my fitness blog, but I just had to make sure that the word was getting out in case you hadn't read about it on my other blog! My family and I will be participating in the Heartline Walk for Life this Saturday (so yeah, that's fitness related lol! There's a 5k too if you want to sign up for that!). I also wanted to post on here because I haven't posted anything for "Media Monday" in a while and this song has been on my heart. It's a song by Kathy Troccoli called "A Baby's Prayer". This was also one of those things that sparked my passion for fighting for life and I even sang it for church. Please, watch this video and listen to the words. It's such a beautiful song!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I am hoping and praying that in these final days before the walk, my family, friends, and readers will help me meet my goals! As I mentioned, I have promised to make a lot of personal sacrifices to encourage you to donate (even a dollar will help! Can you PLEASE donate at least a dollar?!). I have vowed to go a week without makeup and post a no-makeup selfie each day (this is kind of a big deal for me lol). I've also offered to giveaway a Piyo workout program (the same program that Chris and I have been doing) as well as a bag of Shakeology! My husband has also offered free computer tune-ups. And....the big one.....I will SHAVE MY HEAD if I raise $5,000 or more! I'm serious...I'll really do it (and you know how much my hair means to me lol). Do you want to see/make that happen?! Donate something and not only will you be helping to save lives (and your donation is tax deductible, by the way) but you'll also be getting a chance to win this stuff I'm offering and possibly see me go bald for babies! :) Please, our crisis pregnancy centers need your help more than ever!!! Please, donate SOMETHING and share this post with your friends on social media! Contact me if you have any questions about anything! Be infused! God bless you!

Beast Mode: How to Defeat "Gaston"

It's hard to believe that Chris and I are already on our third week of Piyo. We're nearly finished with our first month, but you can still workout right along with us at any time (in fact, Piyo is on sale this month!). It hasn't been easy, but we are feeling stronger and more flexible. It's so worth it and I highly recommend it! Chris says he already has more room around the waistline of his pants and frequently likes to flex his growing arm muscles. ;) I do not mind this at all lol! I'm so proud of him/us and very grateful to God for getting us through it!

There have been many days where I have felt so tired and sore that I have wanted to just skip a workout or abandon this workout program. I pretty much feel like this every time I start a new routine but I stick with it because I refuse to give up on myself. Yes, there are times where I barely get through it, but I say my prayers and push on through!

This may sound odd, but for quite some time, there is a particular scene that plays out in my mind every morning when I wake up (and a lot of times when I'm struggling to get through a workout). In case you didn't know, I struggle with chronic pain; the doctor thinks I likely have fibromyalgia. I usually feel terrible when my alarm goes off in the morning and I often battle with finding the will to get out of bed. That's when I hear the words of Gaston, from Beauty & the Beast, mocking me: "Get up! Get UP! What's the matter Beast?! Too kind and gentle to fight BACK?!" There I am; lying there trying to convince myself to start the day. I know that I have a "beast mode" deep inside, but it would just be so much easier to lie there and give up. However, while I am a kind and gentle person, I am not a sissy that is going to just stay lying down and refuse to get up and fight for myself. Like the Beast, I always find my reason for living again and rise up strong; taking my enemy (Satan) aback. I find my "beast mode" by praying for God's strength and motivation. I remember that He is my reason for living and that He has given me responsibilities that I must fulfill for my family, my job, and everyone I encounter each day. Unless I am ridiculously sick, I get my booty out of bed and "Gaston" has to shut up for one more day lol. Satan is relentless, but my God is stronger! Jesus is the only reason I keep getting out of bed (or get up off the floor when I have done one too many reps). Beast mode.....HEAR ME ROAR!!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope this encourages you to engage your inner beast and that these fairy tale parallels can help you relate in a way that is beneficial to you (this isn't the first time God has brought Beauty & the Beast to my mind)! Ask yourself, "What is my focus? What makes me rise up courageously and ferociously to accomplish what I need to do?" Share your thoughts and comments about these questions in the comment section below this post! :) I encourage you to pursue your passion and purpose ! Ask God to reveal it to you if you don't already know. Rely on Him to be your strength and motivation and you too will defeat "Gaston" every day no matter how much he taunts you or tries to lead the charge chanting "kill the Beast"! No one can kill that Beast inside you because if God is for you, no one can be against you! ;) God bless you!

Fiery Love

Yesterday, when the kids and I were visiting the Vineyard church, the worship band played the song "Fiery Love". My boyfriend (who plays the drums in the worship band) has often told me that it's his favorite song to play. Not only does he like to completely let go and rock out when he plays it, but he always puts his heart and soul into playing for the Lord. He's always told me that he plays with "reckless abandon"; remembering he only really has an audience of one. When members of a worship band play with that heart and attitude, it shows. It enables you to connect with God that much more because their hearts are lining up with God's heart; making it about Him and not the music/performance itself.

Apparently, Chris's aunt also noticed this. She remarked later that while she was observing Chris play, the guitarist had stepped in a way that blocked her view of him. She was wanting to continue to watch Chris, but God was urging her to stop and listen. It was then that she said she could feel the passion and the intensity that was being put into the song. God had told her that he was playing the intensity of His (God's) heart. What a beautiful thought!

The video below is the song "Fiery Love". There are no drums, no Chris, no worship band, but the man who is singing and playing his guitar is singing with deepest sincerity and passion. You can feel it in the beautiful lyrics of the song. That's how it should be. When we worship the Lord, it's not about the music, the people singing it, or anything else. It's about passionate and sincere hearts praising and honoring the Sovereign Lord. Think about the words as your prayer to Him and sing it from your heart!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! May we all be inspired to give our hearts over to God in adoration and worship in all we do; experiencing the wonder of his fiery love for us! Be infused! God bless you!