Don’t you just love those moments when you know that God has destined you to have a divine moment with a complete stranger?  I am becoming more and more attuned to those moments and seeing that there indeed is an unseen realm that is full of activity and that under the direction of a loving and sovereign God these “divine interruptions” are taking place all around us.  God is a loving Father pursuing His children and He uses us to speak to them through a kind word or a kind deed.  But will we lay aside our agendas to pick up His at any given moment or will we be too busy to even see those heavenly opportunities when they present themselves?

Philip had a “divine interruption” (Acts 8:26-40) and because of that Christianity was taken to Ethiopia.  Paul had a “divine interruption” on the road to Damascus with the Lord Jesus himself (Acts 9) and because of that we have him to thank for over half of the New Testament books.  One of my favorite “divine interruptions” was when a Samaritan woman (who was loathed by the Jews) came to a well to draw water and left after an encounter with Jesus Christ as the first woman evangelist in scripture!  (Read John 4:28-39).

As I sit here reflecting on the conversation I just had with a precious young single mom I realize that God pursued me in much the same fashion.  He used others to point me towards Him even when I didn’t even realize it.  He revealed himself through a kind woman in a small craft store that on a whim I had stopped in at almost 22 years ago who invited me to her church.  Little did she know that at that moment I felt anything but worthy to enter into the doors of a church!  But somehow her eyes told me otherwise.  They were filled with an unexplainable joy and I detected no judgment in her voice.  As if God knew my hesitation because of my previous church experiences he even had the pastor walk through the door of this little shop and many other members as they were there to celebrate her grand opening of her quaint little shop.  Was this luck or was this the answer to the recent cry of my heart to know that there truly was a God and that somehow my insignificant and very messed up life mattered to Him.  I soon realized that He cared for me enough to put me in this place at this moment to receive an invitation to get to know Him more and to show Himself to me through the love of those in that little shop that day.  That was the beginning of my coming home!

The question is; are you looking for those “divine interruptions” in your life today?  Are you planning on taking a trip to the grocery store, a PTA meeting, the post office, or just a trip to your local Starbucks for some private time?  Are you willing to lay down your agenda when God places a new assignment in your lap? 

Truth is, I was probably more blessed by our conversation than she was.  I continue to learn more and more about the heart of God towards His own.  I had the opportunity to pray with her and her son who just moved into the area.  I prayed for the Lord to lead them to a church where He would be represented well and where they would find a church home for their precious little family and provide financially for them until she is able to obtain a job.  And more than anything I prayed that the Lord would reveal Himself to her in a tangible way to show her His love and care for her.  Would you take a moment and pray for this precious young woman and her son as well?

I trust that this was no accident or a case of luck but a case of being placed at the right place at the right time for a heavenly ordained encounter and being open to the “divine interruptions” of God in my day.  I’m sure that I miss many of these but as so thankful that today was different.

Sigh… I love these moments when God writes our names in other people’s stories.  To Him be the glory both now and forevermore!

My son and daughter had never heard the term ‘butt-crunch’ so when I told my daughter she should be butt-crunching when she was sitting around she giggled…and then the giggles turned into hysterical laughter as my kids came up with creative new options for the term. “It sounds like a cereal!” they laughed. “BUTT-Crunchers!” they exclaimed, “plain or with chocolate berries!” Yes, potty humor is in full swing at the Gmeinweiser home.
Since I spend a lot of time online I have started to do a lot of butt-crunches. I figure I need to be doing something with these glutes since they spread out so far when I sit down. Not to mention the workout they’re going to get next time I hit the gym. Now I’m not saying this weird little exercise is going to restore my behind to pre-pregnancy firmness~ remember that….? Ahhh….the days of size 8 jeans when I could eat just about anything I wanted without guilt…sigh. Well- back to reality ‘cause those days are over babe. But there are little things that I can do on my way to fitness. You’ve heard this stuff before- park at the end of the parking lot when you go shopping so you have to walk a little to the door, take the stairs instead of the elevator, and use low-fat milk instead of cream in your coffee, ~ little things. If we are going to get healthy…what are some little things we can incorporate everyday to get closer to that goal? As for me, I butt-crunch, suck in my gut, squeeze my leg muscles, and stretch several times a day while I’m sitting, standing, doing the dishes…whatever. My hope is that the more I do these little exercises, the healthier my circulation will get and little by little, I can build some muscle that I didn’t possess before. I don’t want to just get into shape- I want to change my shape because right now I look like one of those primitive fertility statues the ancient pagans used to worship- you know the ones I’m talking about- huge boobs & belly- shaped like a pear… like this one:

No, thank you. And the truth is, the more weight I carry around my mid-section, the higher risk I run of certain cancers. No thank you, again. So, I’m doing something about this, after too many years of not doing something about this. And one of those little things I’ve incorporated into my fight for fitness is butt-crunching. Yes, I’m proud to say it~ I’m a Butt-Cruncher. Join me! Butt-Crunchers unite!

Dina’s Story:

My First Week  (other Blog titles considered:  “My First Week in Weight Loss Hell”, “How Sherrie Anderson Twisted My Arm into Getting Fit”, “Workout? Who Me?BAHAHAHAHA!”)

Dec 29, 2011: I weigh 193lbs.  I have weighed anywhere from 191-197lbs since my daughter was born…11 yrs ago.  I’ve come to accept that I will probably always weigh over 190 since I hate exercise and don’t watch my calories. My stomach is starting to hang over my hips slightly…after two kids and stretch marks in the shape of zebra stripes I figure that’s just the way it is.   I go through days of food anxiety~ what will I eat, when will I eat, what else can I eat…can I withstand the temptation and not eat…no, I can’t- pass the chips.  I hate the flab.  I hate that I can’t get up off the floor without my knees and lower back screaming.  I hate pictures of myself.  I wish I could lose a bra size because I have fat boob- these DD’s make me look even fatter and finding flattering clothes for a rack like this is difficult.  I have more chin than I need….my arms flap in the breeze and when I bend over my stomach rolls push into my pancreas. 

I hate exercise and I feel guilty that I don’t exercise.  I’m tired all the time.  I have IBS and have suffered from abdominal cramping for years~ sometimes it puts me in bed for the day.  I’m 43, menopause is around the corner and it’s not gonna get any easier.  So……

  I’m being dragged (silently kicking and screaming) into working out with my ministry team.   My leader, friend and sister-from-another-Mister, Sherrie, is yet again stretching, prodding and poking me into actually doing something about all this. What’s worse is she wants me to tell you all about it…the nerve of that woman.

I don’t wanna.  Did I say I hate exercising?  I have no balance.  I look fat in workout clothes.  My feet hurt due to pronation and bunions.  I’m weak.  I have no natural athletic ability whatsoever.  I’ve never stayed on a consistent exercise schedule ~ much less a diet ~ ever.    Hmph.

Dec 30, 2011 1^st workout:    I’ve descended into New Year’s resolution hell.  More on that later- let’s just say I’m at the YMCA working out with some sweaty people that look a heck of a lot better than I do in spandex.  And I was traumatized at the Y as a kid…again, more on that later.

Jan 2, 2012 2^nd workout:      Ow.    I’m hungry.  I have to pee.

Jan 3, 2012 3^rd workout:      I got my fat measured today.  Yes, I said I got my fat measured.  “How do you get your fat measured, Dina?”   Well, I’ll tell you.  You get your very tall, slim, gorgeous and fit friend Liz to get her little fat measuring torture device and gather your folds of dimpled flesh in it….all over your rotund mass.

 Very humbling.  I have the most fat of our bunch.   Not the “1^st place” recognition I was looking for.   I don’t think I have any muscle tone on my entire body, other than my tongue … and to top things off, Sherrie took ‘Before’ pictures of me and my bulges.  I bet she’s going to want to put the pictures up for all to see too.

This morning, before Liz attacked me with her little fat measuring vice grips, I weighed in at 191~ it’s the water. I’m drinking a lot of water- and since I’ve been dehydrated for my entire adult life, it’s working.  So, flush away girls~ first rule in getting healthy is to drink your water.  I know it’s only 2lbs of water weight but I’ll take it.  At this point~ the slightest encouragement is detrimental to my mental health.

Jan 4, 2012:       I counted my cereal pieces this morning…this is getting surreal.  I signed up for a website app called Lose It!, which is a free program where you log everything you eat and all your exercise- it’s really easy to use and shows you exactly how many calories you are taking in.  It also tells you how many calories you need to eat to meet your weight loss goal.  Never thought in a million years I would actually do this.  Count calories? Me? 

Jan 5, 2012 4^th workout:      Ok- now I’m hooked.  Now I want to do this….how did this happen, God? It certainly wasn’t me. Actually did 2 miles on the treadmill today- me…two whole miles.  And I did better with weight lifting too.  Love the Lose It! site.  Check it out at http://www.loseit.com-  it’s the coolest thing. 

Jan 6, 2012:    I am the butt crunch queen.  I find myself butt crunching when I’m sitting down ~ I’m on automatic butt crunch pilot.  Now…how to become the suck in your gut queen….that would be marvelous!  Went on a 2 mile walk with our team this morning- I was huffing it on the last mile but I did it.  No one else was even winded…but I don’t care anymore.  Exercise is ugly sometimes. So what-when my butt is fitting into a size 12 and I’m a C cup whose gonna care anyway?

Jan 7, 2013:   This morning I weighed in at 188 lbs.  Keep in mind, I always weigh myself in the morning, before I eat anything and after I go potty…bare-naked in my really cold bathroom, squinting to see the tiny little lines on my old but accurate scale.  I’m sore but I feel really good.  I’ve been sleeping well too.   I pray with all serious humility that God will grant me strength and determination.  And I thank Him for putting some beautiful and sacrificing women in my life to help me along~ without their encouragement, I would not do this.  Second rule of getting fit is get someone to hold you accountable and encourage you- it works.

Okay, it’s time!!  Tired of saying it, thinking about it, feeling guilty about it!  No, this is not a New Year’s resolution; it is about getting healthy though. 

You see one of the first things the Lord began speaking to me about contending for has been my health.  It took a major health scare to do it, but it worked.  Many people probably think I look just fine but me and my Spanks know better!  I have had eight children and obviously my weight has seen its ups more than it has seen its downs.  My baby is two and I’m still holding on to 35 pounds that need to go!

Now hear me when I say that his has nothing to do with trying to get back to my pre kid weight, or get down to a size 8 pair of jeans!  This has everything to do with my long term health.  You see my mom died of colon cancer when I was 32.  My grandmother also succumbed to colon cancer this past year.  My recent health scare reminded me that when my mom died I made a commitment to be proactive in regards to my health such as yearly physicals, mammograms, and yes I’ve already had two colonoscopies.  You get the idea.  So I have always worked out by playing volleyball, running, biking, and work outs with a trainer.  After having Selah I had initially lost 35 or the 70 pounds I needed to lose through my workouts with my personal trainer but still had 35 more to go to get back to a healthy comfortable place for me.

I trained late this summer and ran the Rochester Half Marathon.  It was a goal that I had set many years ago but never did it until this past fall.   After the marathon though I stopped working out and what began as a one week break turned into a 3 month stint on the couch.  Ouch!  That is until I ended up in the doctor’s office dealing with stomach pains, anxiety and depression.  I realized that working out was not just about losing weight but about keeping me mentally healthy as well.  I also remember looking up what the risk factors were for the type of cancer that they thought I might have (it was not colon but closely related) and realized that the only risk factor I had was that of being overweight. 

Hence, I have taken that which the enemy intended for evil (fear of having cancer) and have seen God turn it for my good.  He has awakened a passion in me to see these last pounds come off to get my BMI (Body Mass Index) back to a number that does not increase my chances for certain diseases such as cancer, heart problems, diabetes, and the list goes on.  I’m looking forward to the challenge to take off almost 20 pounds before the conference and thanks to my byGrace Team who I have recruited or coerced, depending on which ones you ask we have all determined to “Contend” for our health. 

Now it’s off to the gym at 5:30am three days a week for spin class and two days a week running and weight lifting with our team.  You should see us with all our kids (usually 14 of them) walking into the Y and taking it over.  We are serious about getting healthy and satan don’t get in our way!  We are women on a mission!!  God is teaching us to take back the ground the enemy has stolen in this area. 

Be ready to read some real honest blogs from the team members because I can tell you this has not been easy.  It has been a commitment and we have had to make what seems like sacrifices to get to the gym, etc.  But I can tell you that when two or more are gathered in His name HE IS THERE and He has been teaching all of us about how to contend for much more than just our health.  Can’t wait to share more in March at the conference!  Until then please keep us in prayer as we step into the ring, put the gloves on, and learn to fight like His girls!!!

Liz Testimonial:

Whenever I heard the words women and event in the same sentence I would always cringe, and avoid the scene at all costs.  I have attended a couple of women’s events and always came away wishing I could have that 2 or so hours of my life back.  Every time it was a bunch of women sitting around singing old hymns, drinking black coffee and doing crafts, definitely not my idea of a good time.  I think it is important for women to be connected and doing life together, but I thought there must be another way to do this.  Enter Sherrie Anderson.  I was talking with her on a Monday night and she asked if I was coming to the ladies night out on Thursday.  I chuckled and said no that most likely won’t be happening, at that point I did not realize that she was the one speaking and hosting the event.  All I was thinking was no way lady, I don’t know who you are but I do know that I do not want to spend my Thursday night sitting around sipping black coffee and doing crafts.  Sherrie, being the convincing woman that she is, got me to agree to try this ladies night out, saying that it would be different than what I knew.  So I dragged a couple of friends along with me, to make sure that if things got bad I had someone there to talk to.  To my pleasant surprise this “ladies night out” was different.  The worship was relevant, upbeat, and engaging.   The speaker (Sherrie) was very engaging, and the atmosphere was very appealing.  To top things off the food afterwards was exquisite, skip the black coffee and Italian cookies, there was humus, veggies, and platters of different kinds of cookies.  Now this was my kind of women’s event.  I had always thought that there must be a way to do a women’s event that appeals to all generations, I just had not been to one that was able to accomplish that.  I was so impressed by how the ByGrace ministry team was able to minister to the older and younger generation.  They made me walk away feeling like I wanted to connect with other women and do life together with them.  After the event I could not stop thinking about how this team of people was able to put on a women’s event that was so relevant, and engaging, and fun.  I wanted in on this business.  I want to share with other young women that there is a way to connect women of all generations.  ByGrace ministries is striving for that, and accomplishing it.  I am very honored and excited to have the opportunity to be involved with the ministry and reach out to the younger ladies and get them connected with other women.