I am now learning to LIVE!!

Follow Your Heart's Desires
by Joyce Meyer - posted June 17, 2011

Who is the man who reverently fears and worships the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way that he should choose. He himself shall dwell at ease, and his offspring shall inherit the land.
—Psalm 25:12-13

To enjoy your life, start following the God-given desires of your heart instead of the desires of your flesh. You may need to mature in faith before you can tell the difference between your flesh and Spirit-led desires.

One way to tell if you are following a desire of your flesh is that when you step out to do it, you will lose your peace and face a struggle. If it is not of God, you will feel like you are pushing a dead horse uphill. If it is a God-given desire of the Spirit, it will work like a well-oiled machine. It will flow, with what I call a "Holy ease." Start your day right, and follow your heart.

Finding comfort in God

God can make any pain go away if we believe.

I have learned that when I am feeling alone or like no one understands-God does.
He gives me comfort in spite of myself. He accepts me and loves me unconditionally and this my friends takes the FEELING of loneliness away.

Loneliness is a feeling

Loneliness is one of the scourges of humanity. It seems to affect everyone regardless of age or ethnicity. Whether you're a PhD or high school dropout, rich or poor, you're equally vulnerable. What exactly is loneliness? It is a FEELING that intimacy, understanding, friendship, and acceptance are missing from one's life. It is a FEELING of isolation or separation from others, a FEELING of being all alone. We need to realize that loneliness is nothing more than a feeling. After all, you are not your arms or legs, for they are just parts of your body. Similarly, you are not your feelings, which are just parts of your psyche.

Talk to God about this feeling of loneliness. Allow his love to envelope your physical as well as your mental

Be still and know that he is God all by himself.

Experience God's Presence Tonight!

My soul yearns for You [O Lord] in the night,
yes,my spirit within me seeks You earnestly.
— Isaiah 26:9

Have you ever noticed that in the quiet darkness of night there seems to be something special about the presence of God?

He is always with you, even during the daytime, and you can talk to Him anytime, even when you’re busy. But during the day there are many distractions that keep you from focusing on His presence for an extended period of time. And by the end of the day you’ve often experienced problems and frustrations that can cause you to feel lonely and needy. It is then that you can finally give time and attention to the one who is the answer to your needs.

When you yearn for God in the night, seek Him earnestly, and you’ll find He will minister to you in a special way. He will provide answers to any problems you may have, and He will give you peace and rest.


Taken from Joyce Meyers Ministry
From the book Ending Your Day Right: Devotions for Each Evening of the Year by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2004 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.http://www.joycemeyer.org/OurMinistries/EverydayAnswers/dailydevotionals/

Flaws in Life.....

Sometimes life can throw you a serious learning curve. When you learn things about yourself that must be addressed it can feel a little overwhelming. I realize somethings in me that are good and not so good, however, God is showing me that he loves what He sees because it is an opportunity to use me. WOW! I mean me he wants to use me. I feel honored. When a situation arises and I have to address it I take a look at me. Well, unfortunately I look at me a little to hard, meaning I don't give myself any slack. Yet I allow my clients and others to have flaws but I don't accept mine.

God has used a special person in my life to help me realize I, MJ must learn to love me flaws and all. No one is perfect... that's why pencils have erasers. Right? What I don't like I am giving myself time to change it. In all of this learning, I am falling in love with self. I thought it was selfish at first but then I realize it is not at all. It is a necessary fertilizer for my growth as a child of God.There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in.
Today I say to you if you are not accepting your flaws you wont be content when others truly accept you flaws and all. I find this to be apart of unconditional love.

Unless I accept my faults I will most certainly doubt my virtues

Making history!

I had no idea that history was being made. I was just tired of giving up. ~Rosa Parks Don't give up FitChiks4Life. We got goals to get. Let's get it!!

You never know what you are capable of until you are tired.  You never know how strong you are until you are physically weak.  One can go a long way when they are tired.  The human being is the most amazing thing God has created. Emotions, compassion, evil, love all these things that we display.  I am so thankful for what he is showing me at this moment.  Today, I say to you, embrace all that is coming your way. Hold your ground on what you believe to be true.  Never, let anyone take from you or convince you from what you believe.

"Now faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

Lift your head through the sandstorms, close your eyes but continue to walk

Today make history in your life.  Whether displayed to the world or just between you and God, make the change to RISE RISE RISE.

Today I am being still and knowing that God is in control.

Checking in, with an update!

Hello to you all. I hope you had a succesful week. I am checking in. This weeks workouts where ok and I got my cardio in but I did miss one.  Sorry.  I did legs yesterday and I was able to do 360lbs for the first time since last July. I was stoked. YEAH!!!

Remember fall seven times, get up eight!

As promised here are a set of progress pics.

21wks to go. Grrrrrrr

You put fourth the effort...

OK, so I am 24 weeks out till shine time and right now I am about to hit some cardio.  It has been a long week. I had some gains in this leg workout, praise God. Many of you know about my back injury and I have not been able to leg press, lunge or do free weight squats (using Olympic bar) for about 3-4month now. Well, Wednesday I did. I had 95lbs on the bar I went slow and me and God where connected at every single rep. It was awesome. I did 8 sets and I was beaming all the way. That's not a lot of weight for me, but it was a step in the direction I thought I would not be able to go.  I am so grateful. Legs have been the area that I have had the most challenge with in the sport of bodybuilding.

So I will take my time working legs, in doing this I have been able to make the mind to muscle connection I need to, instead of just focusing on the heavy weights I used to push. God has his reason for everything.  Now, last night my back was extremely painful. I stretched, soaked, prayed. This morning it's tight BUT God. OH yes, it's feeling much better. This goes with the saying my clients and friends here me say: 

You put fourth the effort, God WILL do the rest.

I am a living testimony of this.  Just remember each one of us effort, measures differently, depending on our capabilities. God knows what we are capable of, he just wants us to know what HE is capable of.

Remember to join us every Monday night at 9pm EST for TALKING FIT! Live discussion.  You got questions, we got answers. Certified trainers and Professional athletes will chat with you live. Join us at http://www.facebook.com/fitchik4life?ref=profile#/pages/Fit-Chik-4-Life/113043952329?ref=ts Monday at 9pm


Have a blessed and fantabulous weekend my friends
MJ, FitChik4Life

No worries, I'm OK! Let's set a goal

OK. After the last post I think you all are a bit concerned about me. Thanks, but let me clarify I am depressed sometimes. NOT always. So what I am saying is I am focusing on the solution not the problem. After all I already know what the problem is, right?

So let's move toward achieving our goals.  Stepping on the giants.  My first giant is I get a lil weary in well doing. The bible says let us not grow weary in well doing.  I am trying to remove what gets me weary. I find it is the long term grind of it all. See when I am dieting down, trying to stay focus on the goal of building these legs and presenting a better package, ya know, life happens.

When life happens it can really derail you.  You'll find that stress is a culprit the enemy uses to cause us to fall short. Making us tired and weary, is his goal to wear you down. My friends I say this., WE MUST stand our ground when life is happening. NO MORE of the old way of everything take precedence over our fitness. NO! I am learning to commit to MJ this time and I want you to commit to you too.

Friends, it's not selfish but it may take a little more planning when you have another commitment that is the result of life happening.

Here is an example. Last week, we lost a loved one. So there was a funeral to plan.  I offered to do the program and obituary for the funeral. This means the layout, editing, printing and such.  As a family we needed to save and doing it ourselves was the best way to do it. It was a very hard task not just on managing my time with all my other projects but it was an emotional challenge too.  See my Dad past away in 2005 this very same time of the year, January 7th to be exact. My normal days are long and get hectic as the day goes by. So instead of putting my workout off till the evening, each morning I had to get up earlier to ride my bike to stay on track and it helped me manage the stress of my emotions better.

One of the main things it did was helped me have a sense of accomplishment before the day got started. Because though life was happening, I was doing what I had planned to do in spite of.

My friends don't let the normal occurances of life stop you from your goals.  We sometimes give the enemy to much credit. Come on enough is enough.

This weeks goal accomplishment

#1: Don't get weary in well doing.

For each day is a new opportunity to get closer to accomplishing your dreams.

So set a cardio goal for the next 4weeks.  Allow nothing to stand in your way of this. If mornings are less stressful then do it then. MAKE TIME FOR YOU!



My goal: is to do cardio every morning M-F this means I cant sleep in and Tue and Thur have a 6am client so I will have to do it when I am done with her at the gym.

May God bless you this week. Stay focused-MJ FitChik4Life

2010-Better than I've been!

Happy New Year to you all. Today is new day. New beginnings and I must say 2009 was a very interesting year. Many learning curves for me. Teaching me more and more about myself. The good the bad and the ugly.(smile)
I am learning to put me (MJ) first and not feel guilty about it.  I have embraced some injuries that have helped me better understand what some of my clients are going through.  In addition, I am going through something that many people are going through; depression. Yes, I am admitting it and some of you need to. We all go through it and some of us stay in it longer than the other. It really hit me last year.  Many ups and downs but don't get it twisted. God was there the entire time.

Now this blog today is not for those who got it together. Ya know those that everyday is a great day. Nah this ones not for you. This is for my brothers and sisters who have gone through and are still. This is for those that want to be better than they have been. This is for those who have some giants that need to be stepped on and kicked out.  If that's you, then read on. 

I always ask God to use me and he has sent many in my life to help me and for me to help. He also allowed me to see those that where there to harm me too. Had I not experienced the trials I had in life I would not be able to really help others.  I mean lets face it. It is hard to ask a dog about being a cat, right? Well if either the cat or dog answer you, you have more going on than depression. (smile). No worries a psychiatrist can help with both issues. lol

What I am saying is depression is a natural thing and you can learn from it. I have and still am learning that depression, many times, is a way to show you your faults or weakness within your emotions.  I mean much of my depression comes from the fact that I fear failing. I am a perfectionist. I except others faults but not my own.

Well, God keeps reminding me that inspite of I am still in his book and my friends that's a wonderful unconditional love I just can't live without.

Though last year was rough and seemed like a set back or let down, my faith tells me that this is the beginning of my set up.

A set up for blessings and forward movement in my life. I have not let go of my faith therefore ,I will not grow weary in well doing.  Because God has told me that my set back was not that at all. It was a set up for the awesome blessings he has in-store for me.  I will be talking about this more because I am amazed at how many of us are dealing with it and are acting out through other things due to the depression.  Let's break free from this together. Lets stomp that giant on the head and get fit, get financially healthy, repair our relationships, get that promotion or job we want. 2010 using your giants to step forward.

I say to you all don't get discouraged don't drop your head. Weeping endures for a night BUT joy does come in the morning.  May today and everyday of your lives be filled with the richness that can't be earned but was bought for you and me by the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior my King of Kings, my heavenly father Jesus the Christ.

Remember your set back may just be a set up! Oh taste and see that the Lord is so so good.

Remember you can leave me a comment anytime good or bad. Gods is teaching me things through all of it

Being used...not always a bad thing

Too often we underestimate the power of the truth, listening, a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

The holidays are upon us and many are worried about their finances. To often the worry is, how am I going to pay for Christmas? Well, I'm concerned about my finances too, but I'm not worrying about paying for Christmas. My friends, when are we going to realize what God is showing us and allowing to happen. Economical times have people losing there minds and depression is at an all time high.  For years we have been losing sight of Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Getting caught up in stuff and it's easy to get caught up in it the way our society is today. This is a time of memories, joys, fellowship and giving.  Not giving because you have it but giving because you want to give and when you don't have.  We can all give in some way regardless of our finances.

If you are not financially able to give monetary funds, I am sure you have some STUFF around the house just collecting dust. Ya know, one mans junk is another mans treasure. If you have already spring cleaned your house and you don't have any extra stuff, how about your time.  Yes, your time is priceless. Take an early Saturday and go to your local homeless shelter to aid in serving those that are much less fortunate than you.  Please never think yourself  better than a homeless person. Some of us are only one months pay away from being homeless and those that have a bit saved well what if something happened and you could not work for the next 6 to 7 moths and your back up savings is now used on monthly expenses. Now what? Yes, I know the people you see on the street some say can get a job. Well have you seen the current job market and have you looked at your monthly expenses.  It's tight for many and businesses are hurting too, so pay is not to high these days. If you could only get a job at Walmart or McDonalds would that minimum pay cover your families expenses? Your mortgage, your car note. Hmmm, I dont think it would. I am not trying to scare you BUT we should never judge the other man or women unless you have walked in their shoes. A guy was talking to me about the economics of our world today and he said "I don't understand homeless people, MJ. I mean the bible says God helps those who help themselves" My response was maybe the God in you is suppose to be the help from God.  He said yeah yeah it could be. Some peoples thoughts blow me away when they speak out loud.

God uses people on a daily basis to fulfill His work. You may say why me? Well, why not you?  Giving back to someone is a feeling that can't be bought it is priceless. So today or within next two weeks would you meditate on helping a local charity or someone in need. They are everywhere, from battered womens shelters, children that are left behind, those that have lost love ones or incarceration of a parent, perhaps our American soldiers families could use a little love from you. Nursing homes are another area around the holidays can be sad for our elderly some have families that don't care you can be that vessel that makes the difference. Look around your town, I know there is someone that would appreciate your helping hand.

You are a vessel to be used for good however, God gives us free will and it is your choice to choose to take action to care. I'm telling you it will warm your soul when you do.

Have a wonderful week my friends

Being an inspiration is good for the soul

Example is not the main thing in influencing others.  It is the only thing. 

Many times we are complimented on our physiques, but I find the best compliment is not physical at all for me. When someone tells me that I inspire them it is a blessing to my mental and spiritual. See life is short and those we meet on a daily and interact with really make up our lives.  Sometimes, a smile you give a total stranger can make the biggest difference to you both.  Please understand I am not a bubbly person 24/7. Life happens to MJ and it can get rough. But I have found out how to inspire me and in return it inspires all.  I thank God for that. He inspires me to rise daily. To press fourth to live each day.  He is my therapy.   I pray that this week you all find something that inspires your inner spirit, to rise. Whether it be for your diet, workout, job, school, marriage but rise above all the economical sadness.  For we are entering into a season that is to filled with thanksgiving and joy.  Blessings to you all and have a fantabulous week
BTW Campain FitChik4Life is in full force- more info email FitChik4Life@gmail.com

Upcoming Events:

Figure and Bikini Presentation/Posing clinic in Jan. 2010 Fayetteville, NC

Fit Chik 4 Life goes Red  FITNESS FOR THE FIGHT!

AIDS/HIV Boot Camp Fitness Workout Comming in 2010 
Fayetteville, NC and Charleston SC 
want us in your city email FitChik4Life@gmail.com

Things

Life is to short to stress over things-
in the end what really matters are not things at all!

So what really matters. Well, sometimes that depends on the individual, but I have found that it is the time we take to let someone know you care. We live in a fast paced, texting, sexing, forward the email kinda world and nothing is better than that of a human voice the vibrations of the soft tone of I love you or can I help you. Taking that hour lunch or just taking a drive with a friend allows us to share, vent and exhale just how life really is. If you find you have know one to do this with or for, my best suggestion is to talk with God.

Spend a moment with him in the morning. Turn the TV off in the evening and thank him for all he has done for that day. If you think about it, every second someone dies. My friends if you are still reading this blog you are blessed. See that seems so easy but it is not because it is truly his grace that allowed you to continue to read. I am so thankful for the breath he gives me daily. As you talk with him for that moment your relationship with him builds and just like a friend your moments become longer and longer. The most wonderful thing about this relationship is he WILL NEVER forsake you. He is a rock that will always be there. I know for myself.

Talk to him about all the THINGS you are stressing about. I am and it is a calming response he gives me that softly says I got you MJ-
hmmmm What a mighty God I serve.

If you are gonna pray then no worries. If you are gonna worry then just don't pray. Believe that He's got you.

...because he does.

G'night-MJ FitChik4Life