Tag Archives: Steve Arterburn

Accepting Hardship as the Pathway to Peace

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“It’s natural to want our lives to run smoothly-no disappointments, no heartaches, no rejections, and no hurt feelings.  But that’s just isn’t life!  The verse doesn’t say ‘if we encounter trials,’ it says ‘when (we) encounter trials’!

Both this scripture and the Serenity Prayer speak to accepting these trials and difficulties with joy-they are a means to becoming ‘perfect and complete.’ So, accepting hardship is the ‘pathway to peace.’  The scripture even takes this on step further, saying that we are not only to accept hardship, but we are to ‘consider it all joy.’

Our struggles with compulsive eating and weight problems may have made us very sensitive and easily hurt by the comments of others.  Perhaps we have been teased mercilessly as children, shamed and ridiculed as adults.  It is difficult to accept this type of hardship, let alone count is as ‘all joy.’

But when we begin to have the ‘courage to change the things we can,’ we also start to accept the hardships  Neither acceptance nor joy means we have to like the hardships, but by accepting them we begin to grow in character and stamina, and that, in turn, leads us to peace.

Today, Lord, may I accept hardship as the pathway to peace.” Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  James 1:2-4

Question:  Today, will you make a choice to accept a hardship as the pathway to peace?

Brittany “bigmama” Saab

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My name is Brittany “bigmama” Saab, and I could spend not hours but days telling you all about the roller coaster of a life I’ve had during my 23 years of living. It’s filled with a lot of what your lives are probably filled with – the drama, rebellion, humor, struggle, love, pain, redemption…well the list goes on. Now in Oct 2011, I have lost 105lbs. I went from being a bit over 260lbs to now less than 155lbs.

I was a 22 year old recent college graduate. Right after Christmas my parents announced they were shipping me off to San Diego for “Lose It For Life” in January 2010. I almost didn’t make it because I was so mad! There was no way my parents were dragging me to “bible boot camp for fatties”. Now don’t get me wrong, I have a very serious, personal relationship with Jesus, and I was determined to lose weight, but Honey there ain’t no way that me, bigmama, is going to some awkward weekend getaway.

Well, let me tell you, I was so wrong. As soon as I arrived the staff was so accommodating and pleasant. This oxymoron feeling of peace and excitement came over me. After 2 hours of being at “Lose It For Life” I called my parents and apologized. I closed my phone conversation with them by saying, “Love you, oh, and I think I’m about to have an Amazing weekend.”

And an Amazing weekend I had. New Life is the real deal. This is tough love shown at its finest. Steve Arterburn and his team will open your eyes like never before. This experience was incredible. “Lose It For Life” was the boost we all need. You will learn- You will open up- You will listen- You will receive love, knowledge, and encouragement.

You will make amazing bonds and connections with others attending. There are men and women all different ages, shapes, sizes, and with all different types of baggage. And at “Lose It For Life” I saw every man and woman get impacted in some way. This weekend will be the jump start you need. I would so love to keep writing and tell you what your weekend will be filled with. However, I want you to go to “Lose It For Life” not knowing all the details so you will be blown away and come home with your own personal experience that will transform your life.

It is up to you now. This will not be some weekend that you enjoy for the moment and then forget the following week. The “New Life” family will make sure of that.

“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” – James 4:14

Pam Lost 230 Pounds on Lose It For Life Journey

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We’d like to thank Pam Colville for sharing her journey with us…these are her words.

I started this journey with my first Lose It For Life weekend in 2006. At that time, I was over 500 pounds… walking with a cane and couldn’t walk very far without sitting down to catch my breath. I listened to Steve Arterburn as he explained that winning the battle wasn’t about the “quick fix”, but a combination of things… spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical. All four need to be addressed in order to be successful. For the next 2 years, God used the things I learned from the workshop to deal with the emotional and mental things that had gotten me to over 500 pounds… this time was for healing. While I didn’t start the weight loss journey until 2008, everything happened in God’s timing to prepare me for the changes to come.

Pam Colville 230lbs lighter

One of the items discussed that first Lose it for Life weekend was about connecting… allowing others into my life, instead of pushing them away. This was something I had always had trouble doing because I was so ashamed, but in 2008 God led me to a support group with a counselor where I did learn to open up, instead of stuffing the emotions down with food. I have also learned to accept others into my life and reach out for help when it is needed. From the support group, God led me to a gym, where I met my trainer, Randy Crawford, who has been with me on this weight loss journey. Along with his exercise knowledge, God has used him as one of my key supporters… keeping me focused, not on the number of the scale, but to continue the journey to health.

I have now removed 230 pounds and I no longer need a cane… in fact, I now walk 5Ks and I’m currently training for a quarter marathon in the Spring.

One of the statements Steve made in the last Lose it for Life workshop I attended in 2009 was: “when you don’t know what to do… do the next right thing”. This has been a statement I have put into practice when I get frustrated because the weight loss isn’t as fast as I want it to be… weight loss isn’t a matter of how fast or slow it happens… but learning to enjoy the journey to health.

If I hadn’t attended the Lose It For Life workshops, I hate to think where I might be today. I was just existing before and now I’m living joyfully and fully alive, knowing that God is now in control!

~ Pam Colville