Weigh-In Wednesday: A Challenge

Weigh-In Wednesday: Challenge Day

Weight leaving the hospital (10 weeks ago): 164 pounds

Weight as of last week: 124 pounds

Weight as of today: 122 pounds

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This week I have heard from many of you with questions concerning nutrition, work-out ideas and even requests for sample grocery lists. I had planned on writing a post directed at all of you who asked these questions. I am thankful that you trust me enough to ask. So trust me when I tell you that for today, God had a different plan.

Stop whatever you are doing right now and imagine with me a scenario that will break your heart. Imagine your child-the child whose eyes you look into daily, the one that you prayed desperately for, the child that you love so intimately-imagine that very child being a world away from you. Imagine that sweet, innocent, precious child being cared for by someone other than you. Imagine that the only thing keeping you from that sweet child was the money to bring he or she home.

That is the exact scenario that is facing my dear friend, Tiffany's family. You can read more about their journey on Tiffany's blog at: http://www.amomentcherished.blogspot.com/ and I really encourage you to do so. Tiffany, her husband Jim, and their 2 small children are in the process of adopting their sweet baby boy from Ethiopia. God laid adoption on their hearts not long ago and has provided every stitch of money that they have needed thus far to make this adoption a debt-free process. God is weaving their lives together from one country to another.

Tiffany is a mother whose heart yearns for this precious boy. Her husband Jim is a pastor. This is how I understand it after reading their journey and discussing it with Tiffany...

They simply asked God to break their hearts for what breaks His and God sprung open their hearts for Ethiopia. Out of their hearts birthed a desire for this country that is deep and complex and they haven't turned back since.

So here's the deal. Tiffany is my friend. We have a heart connection that runs deep. I have prayed since the beginning of their journey for God to show me how I could help, bcause the truth is, I want to be able to help all of my friends but it's not always feasible to do so. So, last night as I was riding my bike, praying and thinking about weigh-in-Wednesday, God laid it on my heart...

So many of you have written me and said things like,

"I can't get motivated to work out."

"It's hard to find time to work out."

"I can't seem to stop eating sweets...help..."

etc.etc.etc.

Well this week I am presenting you with a challenge:

For every hour that is reported to have been spent working out, Daniel & I will donate $1.00 to Tiffany & Jim's adoption fund.

Now this may not sound like much, but let's put it into perspective here.

I know that I will spend 7 hours out of my week working out. $7.00 already in the pot.

You may feel like it's not worth your time, but if 100 people work out for 1 hour this week, $100 will be sent to the adoption fund.

We are going to have to think of the numbers as a whole through the week and encourage everyone you know to do it...

If the number isn't where I expect it to be, Daniel & I will still give the amount that God laid on our hearts to give.

Oh--and we plan to do this once a month until their goal is met or until their boy is home.

You do NOT have to be an official follower of this blog to help with this cause.

You do NOT have to read here regularly.

You DO have to email me (rameelin@mail.com) or message me on facebook by Tuesday of next week to count towards the goal.

...so if you have friends that you know work out regularly, tell them to come to my blog and read about Tiffany's story. Encourage them to visit Tiffany's blog as well. Encourage them to keep reading both!!! And then tell them to email or message me to help us meet a goal that is far more important than any of our weight loss goals and that is to bring baby J home.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

James 1:27

This week you have a chance to do something awesome for the Kingdom of God and something awesome for this family. All I'm asking you to do is get motivated for baby J, work out & maybe spend time in prayer for this family while doing it. Every minute counts, so please keep track. You can email me daily or wait until the deadline Tuesday night but either way--just do it.

It will be worth it!

I also encourage you to set a goal for yourself. If you are going to work out for 5 hours this week, throw 5 bucks in a jar and at the end of the week, donate it to Tiffany & Jim for their sweet boy. 5 bucks is 5 bucks and I know how grateful they are for every dime that the Lord provides through people who love and care for them. Whether you give or not doesn't determine if we will, but ultimately you are a HUGE part of that gift because it depends on the numbers.

...and I know you want a reason to work out...

because you've told me so.

What better reason than a sweet child in need of his home?

So get to it. Keep me updated. And let's rally around this family like never before.

Let's work out to bring him home, friends.

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--Daniel's job interview is at 1pm Central Time today!!! Please pray for God's will to be done in our lives!!!