The Challenge: The Heart of the Challenge

Thursday, August 27, 2009

The Heart of the Challenge

One of my favorite songs is called "Hosanna." There is just something about it. There is a part in it, towards the end, that says something that has stuck with me a long time. I listen to it daily. When I say listen to it I mean I turn it up on like number 30 in my car, roll down the windows, and sing as loud as I can! Yes, I have been stared at before but that's ok. I'll never see them again :)

The past few weeks I have been trying to pinpoint why I started the challenge. People ask me all the time and I kind of have an answer, but often times it is hard to put it into words. I usually say....

"I wanted to help people, I want people to feel good about themselves, and I want their lives to be more fulfilled."

Or something like that. Well today while I was listening to this one part of Hosanna I realized that the words are why I started the challenge. These few sentences are my heart, and the desire I have inside me to do this challenge. After I realized that, I sang that part of the song differently. I want God so badly to break me so that I can continue to live for Him and I want my life to have meaning. I want my life and my actions to do something for His kingdom, and I feel like The Challenge is doing that.

Here are the words. This is what I pray for my own life so that I can be the kind of leader for you Beauties that God wants me to be. I feel very strongly about this and I want to continue to grow as a person so what you see is always Godly. When you look to me for answers, I want you to have faith that God is behind this Beast. Because He is.

"Heal my heart and make it clean,

Open up my eyes to the things unseen.

Show me how to love like you....have loved me.

Break my heart for what breaks yours,

Everything I am for your Kingdoms cause,

As I walk from Earth into Eternity."

I want God to heal me from my hurts from the past so that I can be whole and available to help each of you.

I want God to open up my eyes to the things that I don't see. I want him to open my eyes to your needs, your weaknesses and your insecurities so that I can say the right things to help you grow as a person.

I want God to continue to show me how to love like He loves. I want that love to pour out of me.

I want God to break my heart for the things that break His heart. I don't want to be numb to those things. I want to feel, and to cry, and to have compassion for each of your situations.

And last I want Him to use me here on Earth and continue to use me each day until I go to Heaven.

That is the heart of The Challenge. That is my heart. And those words are why I started this challenge. I will pray these things daily so that I can be the best leader that I can be for you. I want this Beast to be backed up by the BIGGER BEAST!! And that is God.

1 comment:

April S.August 27, 2009 at 6:31 PM
LOVE that song! i love the Hillsong United version! That is the part of the song where I, too, turn it up all the way and sing at the top of my lungs.
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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is considered a "cheat?"

Soda, anything sweet (ice cream, candy, cookiest, etc), any fried foods. So if you eat cookies, you use a cheat. If you eat french fries, you use a cheat.

2. Are the 100 calorie snack packs ok?

One day is ok. I would not take advantage of them. More than one a day will hurt your progress in weight loss.

3. Is diet soda considered soda?

Honestly, in the past it has not counted as soda. However, the more I read about it, the more I understand that it DOES NOT help you in your journey at all. WATER is what you need to fuel your muscles and body for weight loss. If I were you, I would count diet soda as soda and stick to less than 12 ounces a day.

4. Is coffee a cheat?

If you drink coffee INSTEAD of soda then you are good to go. Stick to less than 2 cups a day. If you drink soda and coffee, you are hurting your journey as well.

5. Is it important to measure your inches?

Some rounds we measure and turn in inches, some we don't. However, many women lose inches first (before weight) so it is much more encouraging to keep up with inches and measurements. It really depends on your preference and how much weight you need to lose.

6. When do we weigh in?

You weigh in on Friday mornings. Just get into the habit of weighing in first thing Friday and turning your results in by Friday evening. I will post results either on Saturday or Sunday, but it helps me so much to have the results by Friday night.

Make sure to weigh yourself at the beginning of the challenge so you have an accurate starting weight. And use the same scale each week, it matters!

7. Do I need to make cheat cards?

I would say FOR SURE. If you create tokens or little cheat cards then you will keep up with your cheats much better and you will take the challenge much more seriously. I think it is super important.

8. Can I do the challenge if I am just maintaining my weight?

Of course. Many girls do this just for accountability since they have met their goal through the past challenges. If you choose to do the maintain program then be sure to tell me that. You get double the cheats if you are maintaining.

9. Can I view others results?

Yes. I will send out a link during the weekend that you can click on and you are able to see everyones results. We do not put our weight on the sheet, but you can see pounds lost, etc.

10. How do I quit the challenge?

I would just appreciate an email saying that you need to drop out. I promise, its ok! There are just some times when it doesnt work out to be in the challenge. It just helps me a lot to know you have dropped out instead of just not hearing from you.

11. How much water do I need to drink?

At least 72 ounces a day. The more overweight you are, the more water that your body needs. It is important that you drink your water THROUGHOUT the day and not all at once. That is not healthy for your body.