May 13
18

Faith in Action Part II

Brantley, our new rescue dog, is absolutely a gift straight from heaven – to me!!

photo (10)

In my first post about Brantley, I mentioned that I was walking in faith that he would be the right dog for me, and when arriving at his foster home in MA, we would indeed be bringing him home to VT.  I was falling in love before I met him and it reminded me of how we love our babies, sight unseen, before they are even born.

Okay, I admit it – I am totally smitten!

So here is our update – we traveled over 11 hours Saturday, one week ago today.   We met Brantley and were soon on our way home, my husband driving the car so that I could sit with Brantley in the back, giving him time to bond to me quickly.

Our first week together has been absolutely amazing!!  What an easy transition as Brantley is a kind, sweet, well-mannered and playful 3 year old Golden/Collie Mix.  I cannot believe that he was given up – twice – within the past 5 months. What a sweet treasure.  He fits nicely in our home and with my home piano studio.  He is my buddy already!

Faith requires an object of it’s focus.  Because the circumstances of Brantley’s availability were so unique, I sought the Lord for confirmation that he was the right dog.  With that conviction of this being a personal God Hug for me, we moved forward with the adoption and the drive to MA.  Faith needs an object in which to place its trust.  Where was my faith, you may wonder?  Was it faith in my faith?  Was it faith in Brantley?  Or was it faith in the One whom I have found to be Faithful?!

My faith was in my Heavenly Father that He had selected and saved this dog especially for me (us). Mother's Day 2013

This is what I love about God Hugs – they are extremely personal, too much of a coincidence to be a fluke of nature, and they satisfy our unique desires and needs.  God knows how we are each wired, what makes us tick, what gives us pleasure, and even which dog would be a great companion!  I know that He saved Brantley – twice – for me.

Here is Brantley’s story – I asked for details because I can’t imagine why he would have been given up for adoption.  He was found at a hi kill shelter in Eastern Tennessee.  The wonderful man, Kirk  (LoveHandlers),  who rescued him is from one of many rescue organizations that snag dogs away from these hi kill shelters.  He was vaccinated, neutered  and put up for adoption. I saw him online on Feb 8th but he disappeared as he was adopted by a woman in CT, who brought him to New England in February.  For some reason, this was a failed adoption, for which I am so grateful.  I truly believe God used this failed adoption to bring Brantley to New England and to buy me the grieving time I needed in order to be ready to adopt again. Brantley was then surrendered to another organization (New England All Breed Rescue) and made available for adoption a second time, at the end of April.  And that’s when I saw him again … and you know the rest of the story!!

From the kind man who chose to rescue Brantley from among thousands of dogs in hi kill shelters,

“Brantley was one of those with a ticking time line.  I found him at 2pm and he was set to die at 5pm that same day.  Death row will only keep a dog 72hours and he was in his last hours.  I walked in and he was determined to make eye contact with me from behind bars.  The eyes gleamed and the smiling face was all I needed to pull him. We vetted him and he was with us about a month.  He was a favorite here at LoveHandlers.  There is no story from before us. Only he knows.  His story starts with his arrival at LoveHandlers.  He played well always with the other dogs and loved LOVED to be Loved on by all who came by for a visit or volunteers…  I’m so happy he is with you and now loved hopefully for a long safe life.”

God is an amazing God … who works out all the fine details… to bless his children with those things that are most on their heart.  I am convinced Brantley was handpicked and rescued several times, by my Dad in Heaven, just for me (and Mark, too!).

Do you have a God Hug story of your own?  Please share it with us in the comments section!

I applaud all those people who are working passionately to rescue animals with a death sentence.  I applaud the folks at LoveHandlers and New England All Breed Rescue and thank them for bringing Brantley to us.

Tune the Temple is a faith based Weight Loss program that inspires people to eat normal foods, release extra weight, and let go of an unhealthy attachment to food.  We also encourage people to walk the Christian walk of faith!

 

 

 

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Posted in Faith God Hugs by Cathy Weymouth. 2 Comments

May 13
9

Faith in Action!

Brantley 1I feel as though I am pregnant!!  And I can’t wait for the delivery date!!

Two days to go!

I have been dog hunting for 3 months and look who I found!  Brantley, a Golden/Collie Mix.  This is a faith story in action for me.  

After putting my much loved 15 year old Gilley (Newfy Mix) down in January, I began dog searching in February and noticed Brantley on petfinder.com one day.  He immediately caught my eye because of those collie ears!  I have lived with three collies and I was searching for a Golden – so a Golden/Collie Mix was a delight to find!

However…

Brantley disappeared off the radar the same day I found him and I was quite disappointed.  He was also in TN, a bit far to visit him to see if he was right for me.

So I continued my search and in the meantime even applied for two Goldens, neither of which worked out.

But God! …

Two weeks ago, as his Connecticut adoption fell through, Brantley reappeared on the radar!  I couldn’t believe it!  So I immediately contacted the rescue organization and filled out the application.

Within four days, we were approved!  Wow!

Yesterday, as I was preparing the yard and pen for Brantley, I realized I felt pregnant.  And I sensed the Lord showing me this is a walk of faith for me – since I still haven’t met him yet. Just as we fall in love with our babies as they are in the womb, sight unseen, kicking, sleeping, causing us heartburn and tons of trips to the bathroom (!), we wait in anticipation to fully meet them on their delivery day. And we are surprised and overwhelmed when they are born, because of the unbelievable bursting of love we feel for someone we hadn’t even met yet.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Heb 11:1 NASB

As I have looked at Brantley’s picture and watched two videos sent to me from the foster mom, as I have prepared the home and yard in this nesting phase, as I think about how he was brought all the way to New England for me by a failed adoption, I am overwhelmed with excitement and anticipation!  I am falling in love even before meeting him, just as we do with our babies!  I felt the Lord stirring me to have faith for love.

Yes, this feels like a pregnancy.  I am expecting… !

And this is a personal God Hug to me, from my precious Dad, who loves me and knows my every need and desire.  Thank you, Lord!

We drive over 4 hours to meet Brantley on Saturday and I’m filled with faith that we will be bringing him home indeed!

See the rest of this story here at my second post about Brantley.

Is there something you have been hoping for that is requiring this faith in the unseen?  Share your story with us in the comments!

Tune the Temple is a Christian ministry of faith for weight loss in a non-diet approach, and faith for other things as well! Consider taking our Online Weight Class where you learn about faith, God Hugs, practical nonstressful eating and freedom from weight issues. 

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Posted in God Hugs by Cathy Weymouth. 8 Comments

May 13
7

Your Body is Not Your Own

Scripture tells us in 1 Cor 6:19-20 CEV,

You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own.  God paid a great price for you.  So use your body to honor God.

 

Here are some great thoughts on this topic as described by one of our Online Weight Loss Class Members, Joni Zimmerman,
One Fit Body!

One Fit Body!

“One of the trains of thoughts I am following and digesting (no pun intended) is that fact that my body does not belong to me…

 

Our society continually sends crossed messages… if we have an undesirable physical challenge – weight, disability, simply unattractive to social standards, we tell that person that who they are inside is not relevant to their body… we disengage who they are with the body.

 

However, on the other side, society also promotes that we are what our body appears to be to the world… we perceive a person’s value by their appearance.  There are tons of studies on that one!

So who are?  The inside, the outside, a mix?

 

Just as our faith is an internal factor, our life style and decisions we make in life is a reflection of that faith.  Faith at work.

 

Our bodies are the same.  Who we are is internal.  We are a soul, who either gets to live eternally with God, or die in a fiery end.  We are not a body.  HOWEVER, God has LOANED/ GIVEN us a body to care for while we are here.  Just a Christ had a body.  But this body was created and is owned by God, it is not ours.  But we are the caretakers of it.   While different, there is somewhat of a parallel in the fact that we are caretakers of our children, yet do not own them… Most people would never desire to do things to hurt their children (even though we all do, partly from ignorance, partly from our sinful nature). 

 

If we start thinking of our bodies as something we do not own, but have responsibility for, it may change many factors in how we see ourselves, self image, gratifying desires, etc.”   by Joni Zimmerman. Bold font – emphasized by Cathy.

 

Cathy: Lord, may we indeed glorify You and honor You in the way we care for this body you have loaned us!  Thank you for the gift of this body which houses your Spirit.  May we be good caretakers, making good choices, so that You will indeed be honored! Amen.

 Tune the Temple is a Christian Weight Loss program designed to help you lose weight by changing the way you relate to food.  Jesus came to set the captives free and that includes people bound in extra weight and struggling eating issues.

Posted in Spiritual Lessons Temple Testimonies by Cathy Weymouth. No Comments

Apr 13
17

The Beauty of Vermont

Newark Dock Pinterest

 

 

 

Today is a beautiful day in Vermont!  I was walking and smelling the fresh air when I suddenly came across a peeping sound.  The peepers are out!!

We are so fortunate to have all this creation to enjoy moment by moment, day by day.  Sometimes I forget to be grateful.

You?

Posted in Weight Loss by Cathy Weymouth. No Comments

Mar 13
26

Make a Plan and Practice It

I am excited to help people make changes in their lives for improved health!

I am teaching a short series in our church called Self-Care 101, brainstorming ways to become healthier in body, soul and spirit.  And I am asking each of the members to actually make one choice in each of these areas and take action steps, which they have to report back  to us at the next session.

Making changes can be a challenge, but here is some advice that might help:

Make a Plan

In the wise words of Pastor Diana from my church:

“I think [making a plan] is a KEY to our success on EVERY level in our walk with God, physical, spiritual, relational, financial, etc.  I think we limit ourselves by not looking to God for a plan.  Once you become a woman who crafts plans for various areas of life, you do it out of habit.
 
So once I realized my Plantar Fasciitis was getting worse, it never dawned on me NOT to have a plan.
 
I think it’s a major roadblock to people.  If they don’t have a plan, or seek out a plan, they without intent, erect a roadblock to their own success.
 
Knowing you can always create a plan with God, frees you up to go to the  next level, even when obstacles seemingly pop up.
 
Then, you have to implement….”
 

Practice Daily, if Possible

Cathy: I am personally trying to increase my physical activity – with a goal of 60 mins – six days a week, as per my doctor’s advice.  I recently read Dr Oz’s recommendation of taking a 30 minute walk everyday, no excuses!  This strategy has helped me because I find it easier to adopt a new habit when I do the activity regularly.

So I am tagging on an afternoon power walk after teaching piano lessons daily – along with a morning 30 minute intense bootcamp-type workout with weights and gasps of breath!
 
And this is what I am finding – it is getting easier to walk in the afternoons when I think of it as a daily event.  Doing things sporadically is really hard and I find I resist it, thinking, “I don’t feel like doing it today, maybe I’ll do it tomorrow.”
 
But build the plan into your day every day (or nearly, as much as possible, and at the same time, if possible) and it becomes a habit more easily – in my opinion!  
 
Consistency is the key to success.  And if you schedule these health care activities into your calendar, you will likely experience more consistency – with more success – over time.
 
Then of course, give yourself compassion and grace if occasionally you can’t complete your plan.  Perfectionism is a sickness!
 

Plan and Practice – for Effective Change

So make yourself a plan and practice it regularly – hopefully you will be in a healthier place by next year!
 
Oh, and my daily flossing is going really well!  I don’t often allow for excuses and it helps.
 
 
Tune the Temple is designed to help you make better choices for health.  If you would like to lose weight naturally and never diet again, please consider taking the Online Weight Loss Class – you can sign up anytime.  See more info here. 

 

 

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Posted in Habits Wellness by Cathy Weymouth. No Comments

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