Being the Best Me I can be

Being the best Me, I can be

In our last blog entry, Gloria stated her thought that she often overeats to satisfy an emotional need.  I totally agree with her.  During my years of horrible binging I ate when I was angry, sad, anxious, afraid. . ., but I also ate when I was glad or happy.

Although, presently, I don’t go on those types of horrible binges as I did for several years (Overeaters Anonymous, the Weigh Down program by Gwen Shamblin and the anti-inflammatory diet I follow 90% of the time today for health reasons have been instrumental in helping me—I believe these have all been grace, nothing but grace), I still struggle with overeating—eating anything more than I need is overeating.

When I returned home recently from a Christmas party at which I had eaten too much, was bloated and miserable, I began to think.  Scripture states that drunkenness and gluttony are sins (“For drunkards and gluttons come to poverty, and lazing about clothes one in rags,” Prv. 23:21), but why? I’m not hurting God if I eat too much.  But I hurt myself; I destroy myself.  And you know what?  Oftentimes, I hurt others when I’ve eaten too much, for I become grumpy, and I’m not kind or patient or gentle with others (Gal. 5:22-23).  I take my misery out on them.  Hm, God loves me (Rom. 8:37-39).  He wants me to be the best possible Sharon I can be; He wants You to be the best possible You, You can be.  And He has given us guidelines and the grace for being such.  Praise His holy name.

                                                                                                                                    Sharon Witty

Season of Eating

Well, here we are. Smack-dab in the middle of the “Season of Eating” - six weeks and three holidays filled with temptations galore. If you are like me you started out with a refrigerator full of Thanksgiving leftovers and a “to do” list that included baking an assortment of favorite Christmas cookies. Bah-humbug.

How are we supposed to maintain or lose weight during this time of the year?

I’ve always thought that weight loss required self-control and discipline. And the reason I fail is because I have none.  Zero.  Nada.

But, the more I read and hear about weight loss, the more often I hear that the problem is instead an emotional emptiness that we are trying to stuff full of the food we overeat. I rarely eat because of physical hunger. In fact, I’m not sure when I last ate because I physically needed food. That is my problem.

So, without undergoing several years of psychotherapy to determine what underlying issue is causing me to overeat, I choose to seek God’s help; I must surrender myself to His healing, today and tomorrow.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled,” (Matthew 5:6 NIV).

Gloria D. Stewart

A Few Seconds can Make Such a Difference

November 15, 2017

Last night my granddaughter had a band concert in Ames.  Because I don’t drive out of town in the dark, I stayed overnight with my daughter’s family.  This morning as I left their place and began to drive home, my thoughts veered toward Kum & Go hot chocolate (I like this, but it isn’t on the anti-inflammatory diet I try to follow to fight osteoporosis).  I decided I was going to stop and buy one, but the Holy Spirit said, “No, you don’t need it.”

I knew the Spirit was right, but after all, I was hungry and home was a 45 minutes drive yet.  The Spirit responded, “You’ve eaten breakfast at 8:30 before and been just fine.”

I ignored the Spirit, turned into Kum & Go, bought the hot chocolate, drank it as I drove home and then was miserable—just as Gloria talked about last week.

Ever had such a conversation with the Spirit?  Through my years of compulsive overeating, dieting and following Jesus, I’ve had several such conversations.

St. Paul tells me, I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (Phil 4:13, New American Standard).

Even in such a situation as the one I’ve described, St. Paul is correct.  For I’ve begun to realize each time I reach for a food or drink that is not appropriate for me or that may lead to overeating, the Spirit speaks to me and gives me about 3 to 5 seconds to turn away from the self-destructive action (He strengthens me).  But He’s not going to slap my hand; I have been given self-will.  It’s up to me to do the right thing.

Drop That Halloween Candy at Jesus’ Feet

I am humbled to approach this Sharing Glory writing session because I haven’t had a very successful month since my last blog. In fact, at a very recent doctor’s appointment I was up several pounds from just a week before. So I come before you unworthy of offering much encouragement. Except that I’m right there with you struggling.

So what is there to do but to begin again – Today. As Sharon encouraged us to choose God as our second partner in this challenge of eating healthy, I am reaching out to God AGAIN to stand beside me and walk with me in this battle. I so wish He would bind my hands and feet to keep me from the temptations in the kitchen but I know I must do my part.

“I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. I am the Lord your God…I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high,” (Leviticus 26:12-13 NIV).

Right now my head is bowed in guilt and self-hatred when I look in the mirror. But that only makes me want to go binge on something sweet. I know that is the wrong path to choose. My weight loss journey is a matter of perseverance. I must keep trying and accept the power of God to overthrow my cravings. I must choose one carrot over the piece of Halloween candy, one apple instead of one bowl of ice cream.

I know God walks with me through this challenge and He removes the chains the devil binds me with. I must not allow Satan to control me in temptations or in my mindless overeating sessions. I must drop my burdens (and sinful treats) at Jesus’ feet and walk away with my head held high.

Remember: At the end of the day God still loves us! Claim that as your truth for today.

Gloria Stewart

Partners

Happy Autumn.  God has blessed us with beautiful days. 

Yesterday morning, my meditation included this verse: “Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life? (Luke 12:25).”  This verse led me to “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests to God (Phil. 4:6).”

In our last blog, Gloria shared with us her stumbling block:  sweets and being alone.  Then she chastised herself and wanted to stay in bed.  How I related to her post.  How many times have I done/felt the same?  How many times?

As I reflect on Gloria’s comments and on the quoted Scripture verses, I wonder:  Do we worry too much about NOT eating this or that food?  Become anxious about the foods we should NOT eat or have eaten?  So that in focusing on what we should NOT do, we do exactly what we do NOT want to do?  I think of the child told “Don’t eat anymore cookies,” and then he is caught with his hand in the cookie jar.  Forbidden fruit is sooooooo appealing  (as in Adam and Eve!).

Gloria also encouraged us to find an accountability partner—someone with skin.  I agree with her.  That’s an excellent idea, and I found sharing with another my relationship with food to be most helpful when I attended Overeaters Anonymous (a really good fellowship, by the way.  I have received no payment for this plug!!).

Perhaps we need two accountability partners, the second partner being God.  If He becomes my partner, and I trust in His help, perhaps I can stop worrying about what I should NOT eat, and instead thank Him for guiding me and strengthening me through His Spirit to live my life His way.

P.S. One more thing I want to share today.  It’s not related to the rest of my blog, but this acronym has helped me many times (I think it’s a gift of the Spirit):  HALT.  Don’t get too Hungry, too Angry, too Lonely, too Tired.  Think about it.

                                                                                                Sharon Witty