Holiday Baking and Temptations

 This time of year can be challenging in a lot of ways: gift shopping and wrapping, baking and cooking, cleaning and decorating, partying and programs. (Maybe not so much this year, with COVID-19 limitations). However, there is one challenge that remains: wanting to overeat on all the sweet treats that only appear this time of year.

     Traditionally, I have baked my holiday cookies and candies in anticipation of a full house of family for Christmas. That doesn’t seem to be in the picture for this year, so I need to adjust my plans. 

     For several years my daughter-in-law and I got together with my sister-in-law and baked our favorite recipes. We had about six different kinds of cookies that we shared at the end of our day. It was a fun way to get an assortment of sweets.

     Though I don’t need a big array of goodies this year, I’d still like to have a tray of assorted sweets for Christmas Eve. I don’t want the temptation of cookies all season so if I bake I plan to put them in the freezer until they are needed. For me, out-of-sight-out-of-mind works pretty well. 

     It is okay to indulge in those special treats we only get once a year as long as we don’t over indulge. We don’t want to feel deprived, or that might lead to a binge of what we desire.

    ”The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him,” (Romans 14:2-3 NIV).

     Let us eat as our consciences allow and be cautious of judging others.

by Gloria D. Stewart

Food and Nothin' but Food

 

Food and Nothin’ but Food

 

Today I’d like to add to Gloria’s insightful blog of November 5.  She encouraged us to focus on our food, to really taste it by eating slowly.  I read once that we should put down our utensil after each bite and chew 30 times! 

 

The times I have sat down to a holiday meal, eaten quickly and then eaten seconds are many.  Of course, I could have seconds.  Twenty minutes had not yet passed for my brain to realize my belly was full.  That’s how long it takes for our mind to tell us, “Okay, you’re full.  You need to stop eating now.”

 

Since reading that article, I have slowed down my eating, and it has helped me with the amount of food I eat.  BUT (seems like there’s always a “but,” doesn’t it) I’m still not focusing on my food.

 

When my husband died twenty years ago, I determined I was not going to watch TV when I ate but was going to sit at table.  I’ve done well with that, BUT (yep, here comes another one). . .

 

I began to read while I was eating.  Then I progressed to playing “Words with Friends” on my phone--DISASTER.  I can finish a whole meal without having tasted a bite.

 

Admittedly, it’s hard to sit at table alone to eat a meal, yet God has blessed me with food to eat so that I can nourish my body.  A healthy body enables me to serve the Holy One.

 

I’ve pretty much let go of reading at table, and I’m trying to wean myself off “Words.”   I find being present to my food, eating slowly makes a difference in the amount of food I eat and in my enjoyment of my food.

 

We know that God gives us “good gifts” (Mt. 7:11, Life Application).  I need to be grateful during this Thanksgiving time for God’s gifts to me, one of them being food.  Perhaps one of the ways I can show God my gratitude is to be aware of my food by eating slowly and focusing on my food and nothing else.

 

Gloria and I pray each of you readers a Blessed, Safe Thanksgiving.

 

                                                                                                                                    Sharon Witty

 

Mindful Eating

How often do we hurry through a meal, barely tasting the food we ate? Hurry is the most common culprit for mindless eating. It can lead to over-eating when we haven’t given our stomachs time to register our fullness in our brains.

 

Mindful eating is a good practice that helps us focus on what we are eating. A slower method of eating allows us to focus on the aroma of the food, the beauty of the food’s presentation, and the real taste of the food.

 

“A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work,” (Ecclesiastes 2:24 NIV).

 

We need to be present when we eat – paying attention to each bite and savoring the flavor and fillingness of the food. We should allow ourselves to feel satisfaction after a meal.

 

This month of thankfulness is a good time to be mindful as we eat our meals. We are fortunate to have food to eat; let us praise God for our blessings – one bite at a time.

 

by Gloria D. Stewart

Why?

 

Why?

             A church friend died unexpectedly last week.  I participated in the visitation and in the funeral.  Love filled the visitation atmosphere as friends and family members remembered and celebrated her life.

            When I returned home, what did I do?  I ate, of course.  I overate and went to bed, miserable, questioning why I overate.  Eating did not comfort me, her friends or her family.  Well, okay, comforted me while I was eating, but once the eating was over, I was not comforted.

            I awoke the next morning still miserable and angry with myself.

            My Prayer Corner beckoned me, so I went to it, turned on my prayer candle and picked up a reflection book.  The reflection of the day reminded me to be aware of God’s presence at all times.  NOTE:  That says “ALL times,” not just “sometimes,” but “all times.”  How easy it is for me to forget God’s presence.

            The Scripture verses referenced with that reflection were from Psalm 37.  Verse 5 particularly spoke to me:  Commit everything you do to the Lord.  Trust him and he will help you (NLT).

            I was reminded the Holy Spirit, who is with us ALL the time, knows everything we need—before we need it.  We can commit our eating to the Holy One—what we eat, when we eat and how much we eat. We can trust him for this, and he will help us.

            Happy, healthy, enjoyable eating to each of you.

 

                                                                                                                                    Sharon Witty

Taking the First Step

More than three years ago, Sharon and I started this blog with the idea of supporting and encouraging those, who like ourselves, struggle with overeating and weight management. We wanted to write a blog that was like a periodic friend who dropped by and understood eating challenges. 

 

It was interesting how this blog came about. We were at a writers’ workshop and were challenged to write down a next step. We both wrote down “to write a blog about overcoming overeating challenges.” After we prayed about it, God seemed to direct us to work together on this blog project.

 

One thing that we both realized is that our bodies change as we get older. We can’t eat the way we did when we were 40. We need exercise to keep the weight off. Walking has been good for both of us, and it is a habit that can begin one step at a time. Challenge yourself to walk farther than the day before and before long you will be walking a healthy distance.

 

Walking isn’t a new idea but it is one of the easiest exercises we can start with. No equipment is necessary and we don’t have to be in great shape to begin. Just remember: God loves us, whatever shape we are in, whether we exercise or not.

 

“Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare,” (Isaiah 55:2 NIV). 

Empowerment

 

Empowerment

 

     Visions of pizza; thick, juicy hamburgers; tacos; bagels; pancakes; and ice cream have danced in my head for the past two weeks.  Why?

            I’m not sure.  I suspect the stress/depression/isolation of COVID-19 and the derecho damage to the community may have something to do with it.  I’m seeking comfort from the pain of living right now. 

            For many years, food was my drug of choice to escape pain and not just a little bit of food; I ate until my stomach hurt; until I hated myself, but the pain was gone—while I binged.  Will I ever forget the evening I ate a pound of whole wheat fig newtons and spent the whole night in the bathroom?

            Although I haven’t binged, in that way, for a long time, the beast of compulsive overeating lies quietly within me, waiting to roar, and it has the past couple of weeks.  How have I dealt with it?  I’ve white knuckled it.

            Silly me.  Finally, a couple of days ago, I realized, there’s an easier way—prayer.  Why do we forget God’s constant presence, constant love in our lives?  I suppose because we’re human.  But the Holy Spirit spoke to me, reminding me, “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13, LBT).

            The craving for carbs may stalk me for a while, especially during this difficult time, but I don’t have to struggle with it on my own.  Isn’t that the answer to all our struggles—take them to the Lord and trust the Holy One, who loves us, to empower us?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Sharon Witty

Strength and Refreshing

September brings the beginning of the fall fruits. Some apples and grapes will be ready, others in October. I remember my mother pampering her Concord grapes in September. She worked hard to protect them from the birds and other varmints that would steal her fruit. 

I still think of apples and raisins as good-for-you foods, even though raisins are high in calories and carbs. It’s true raisins aren’t as healthy as their fresh version of grapes.

 

Fresh apples are a healthy fruit for snacking, rich in fiber. Unfortunately, I dream of all the wonderful desserts that can be made with apples: pies, crisps, cobbler and more. They aren’t so good for me, but they sure make me smile.

 

Enjoy the harvest bounty but be careful with the baked goods; I’ll try to stick to the fresh fruits full of flavor.

 

“Strengthen me with raisins

Refresh me with apples,” (Song of Songs 2:5 NIV).

 

By Gloria D. Stewart

 

Disorder

 

Disorder

 

           

Good morning, Reader.  This is the fourth Thursday of the month.  Gloria forgot to post on the first Thursday of this month, and I forgot to post on the third Thursday of this month.  I just can’t understand why we forgot.  Why did Gloria allow a little thing like flying to Virginia with two granddaughters to visit her son and his family in Virginia cause her to forget to post her entry?  And why did I allow a minor event like a derecho to take my mind off posting to our blog?

Ah, yes, the derecho.  We are in the midst of enduring? surviving? Covid 19, the derecho and the bumps and challenges of our own personal lives.  How many persons have you heard say “2021 can’t come soon enough for me”?  How do we do it?  How do we survive during this time?  How do we live?  These have been my thoughts of late.

I have been fortunate; I know it; I recognize it, and I am grateful.  The building in which I live escaped the derecho with minor damage, and we had electricity within 32 hours (that I suspect was due to the grid in which we are located).  Yet I care about my community and recognize the suffering of others, so I take time to be grateful, to do what I am able to do for others and to pray—a lot.

Grateful.  Hm, I am grateful to be able to brew my cup of coffee, to be able to cook.  I am grateful I have food to cook and stores with stocked shelves in which I can buy more food when I need to.  I am grateful I have an intact roof over my head.  Actually, I am grateful I have a home in which to live.  I am grateful I have water and a functioning toilet.

Yes, I am fortunate and I remind my self that someday order will follow this disorder in which we live right now.  In the meantime:  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7, NIV)

Veggie Season

I love August. In most years August is the month of garden produce and harvest. I remember back to my days of having a garden. This was the time of year that all the planting, hoeing, and weeding paid off. I long for my garden. Ours currently consists of two potted tomato plants and a short row of green beans in a raised bed.

I loved the days of making a meal from the garden produce…fresh corn, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, green beans, onions, peas and new potatoes…a delightful table of goodness.

I could usually count on losing a few pounds in August when meals were fresh and gorgeous. Vegetables are healthy eating and can fill the stomach, too. Try if you can to take advantage of the fresh vegetables and be healthy and diet-wise. God only creates good things to enjoy.

“8 Now the Lord had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it,” (Genesis 2:8, 15 NIV).

By Gloria D. Stewart

I Scream, You Scream. . .

I Scream, You Scream . . .

Last week four of us friends, one from Fort Dodge, two from State Center and one from Marshalltown, made picnic lunches for ourselves and met halfway at a Story City park.  We set up lawn chairs six feet apart and visited for three hours.  Catching up with these friends during this difficult time was blessing.

            NOTE:  I said we “made picnic lunches.”  During this pandemic time, because I don’t trust the safety of restaurants, I have chosen not to dine out.  Two of the others have made the same choice.

            But I am SO TIRED of cooking, and I sit on the pity pot every once in a while.  During those times “visions of ice cream often dance in my head.”  Ice cream would comfort me I’m sure.

            They began dancing as I started to leave Story City and dreaded having to make supper.  Suddenly, my car propelled itself through McDonald’s drive thru, and an ice cream cone appeared in my hand.        I ate the whole thing—and was nauseous for three hours.  Why?  I suspect  I was too hot and ate too fast..

            As I thought about my actions, God reminded me I need to listen to my body, which the Holy One has created.  I thought of Gwen Shamblin’s wise words in Weigh Down.  God has given my body a thermostat which guides me in when to eat, what to eat and how much to eat.  All I have to do is listen and follow through.

On that day, however, I chose to ignore my body when it said, ‘This is not a good idea.’

            In my reflecting, I am also reminded that God always loves me, regardless of a poor choice I may make in a split second.

. . .nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Rom 8:39b NLT)

                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                    Sharon Witty

Accountability

It seems I’ve been working on my weight forever. I have lost the same 10 pounds about 20 times and gained it back nearly every time.

One help I’ve found is an accountability partner. Mine is my husband. We are working at losing weight and getting healthier together and it is working. First he encouraged me to throw away all my ‘treats’…the hidden goodies that I turn to when no one is looking. That was a huge step in the right direction.

We have been eating salads for lunch and dinner and it is paying off on the scale. We also exercise together, taking hour-long walks at a challenging pace every day. I come home soaked with sweat in this heat and humidity.

It is easier to do something hard with a friend. If you need a boost in your health improvement plan, ask a friend to join you in an accountability partnership and see if that helps you make right choices. If you don’t feel comfortable asking anyone to be your accountability partner, be your own, with God. Get rid of everything unhealthy in the house that tempts you and take refuge in God. With each bite you take remember that the Lord is good. You will be blessed when you take refuge in God.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8 NIV)

By Gloria D. Stewart

Presence

Presence           

I need to realize, know, accept, and allow God’s to be the center of my life.  I need to realize, know, accept and rejoice in God’s love for me (Rom. 8:38-39).

            When I am lonely, wanting the companionship of another, God is present and loving me.

            When I am angry that my neighbor’s dog barks and barks and barks, God is present and loving me, my neighbor, and her dog.

            When I am afraid because I’ve misplaced my credit card, God is present, loving and guiding me.

            God never leaves me.  The Creator is always with me, within me (Gal. 2:20).

            The comprehension/understanding of this truth is difficult, for I consist of flesh, blood and bones.  I exist in a world of rational, thinking humans, and it’s hard to understand a Spirit without flesh, blood and bones, who is constantly present, who I can’t see or hear, who loves me, and cares for me.  I doubt I ever will fully understand.  It is a mystery to accept--the Lover of my Soul is always present.

            And in those times of loneliness, anger, fear sorrow. . ., this Lover is the One who can comfort and calm me.  Food cannot do that.

            So may I “Be still and know (Pslm. 46:10)” that God is present—always.

                                                                                                                                    Sharon Witty

                                                                                                                                    June 18,2020

           

Satisfy my Soul

Last time Sharon talked about “Shelter in the Storm” and how many of us reach for food to comfort us in stressful situations as COVID-19. I have to admit I am one of those who has the 10 lb. gain to prove I’ve been through the pandemic.

My problem has been cooking for family. I love to bake and please my family with their favorite foods and then enjoy the goodies with them. That’s the problem. Mostly I’ve made sweets, but I’ve also made comfort food like Tater Tot casserole and meatloaf. I’ve been seeking comfort in all the wrong places.

After my confession I must share that it is time to work on repairing the damage I’ve done. My husband and I walk an hour every day and I’ve started serving salads for lunch with a less bountiful dinner in the evening.

Sharon was right to direct us to scripture for true comfort.

“I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you,” (Psalm 63:4, 5 NIV).

“My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods.” Perhaps I can read and reread this scripture and let it sink in to my depths so I can be changed in my mind and in my eating patterns. 

Help me, God, to eat in moderation and be satisfied.

Gloria D. Stewart

Shelter in the Storm

Shelter in the Storm

This time in which we presently live has been given various names:  extraordinary, historical, a storm.  I prefer calling it a storm.

This is my first thought to share today during this storm:  God loves us—always, regardless of how much we’ve eaten or what our eating pattern has been or is.  One day my neighbor said to me, “If anyone would have gotten in my way as I walked to the cupboard or refrigerator yesterday, I would have plowed her over.”

She’s not the first person I’ve heard say food has been a comfort during this time.  I’ve found myself scrounging through my cupboards and refrigerator, especially in the evening—Werther’s caramels, then turning to stand in front of the counter, eating dry granola out of the bowl.

Why do we do this?  The primary feelings driving me to food for comfort in the evening are boredom and loneliness.  I’m not much of a TV viewer, and sometimes the lack of face-to-face interaction with others during this time has caused me to feel lonely.  As a friend said one day on the phone, “Sometimes it [the solitude] gets to you.”

So some of us use food for comfort.  Food gives me sensual pleasure—for a brief time.  But we tend to beat ourselves up for it.  Is that our human conditioning to think that way?  But surely God understands, “Sometimes it gets to you.”  When I read Psalm 36:5-7, I am further convinced that the Holy One understands our human fraility, for God loves us with an unfailing love:  “Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O LORD. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.”

            I encourage us in these days, weeks, perhaps months to come to “find shelter in the shadow of the Loving One’s wings.”

                                                                                                                        Sharon Witty

Choices

I have a stash of treats hidden in my pantry. I sit here thinking about them, trying to resist the temptation. Then, I consider throwing them away. But I spent money on them and I don’t want to be wasteful. I don’t want to throw them away because I want to eat them!

Yummy, mini cupcakes, frosted and cream-filled, await me. If they are in the house I will eat them. Maybe my family will eat them. I could give them away. But I don’t want to share. 

The key is not to purchase them to begin with. But now it is too late. It is a struggle.  It is a battle of wrong vs. right, of good over evil, of healthy vs. junk food. Who will win out?

Why eat them? They are delicious. They immediately satisfy my sweet tooth (temporarily).

Why resist the temptation? It will help me in my weight loss journey. It will help me be healthy. It will help me feel good about myself and not feel guilty for eating them.

Life is filled with choices. One choice after another; some good, some bad. There will be days when I am good and days when I am not. All I can do is try.

So far the treats remain undisturbed in the pantry.

“Wisdom is proved right by her actions,” (Matthew 11:19d NIV).

By Gloria D. Stewart

Lessons

Dear Readers,

            Two months have passed since I posted to Gloria’s and my blog.  During the third month of March, we had just been struck with the reality that COVID-19 had invaded the United States, had invaded all of our communities.  I thought of little else that week.  Actually, I think of and pray about little else now, but I am a bit more sane.  As I write this week, I don’t think I’ll write too much about food, but share a bit about my experiences during this time.

            Three weeks ago, Pope Francis spoke to the world in an empty St. Peter’s Square.  His message was based on the Scripture verses of the storm that came up in the boat in which Jesus was sleeping, and his disciples became frightened.  They woke Jesus up and said “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

            Jesus calmed the storm, then turned to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid?  Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:35-41)

            I find myself returning to Jesus’ words over and over.  Faith, I need to have faith during this storm that has descended upon the world.

            And as I pray for faith, I also find myself praying I will learn the lessons God wants me to learn during this storm, and the following poem has evolved:

Lessons

Smaller amounts are enough--

toilet paper, clothing,

dish soap, laundry detergent

heat, electricity,

water and food.

decrease carbon footprint size.

reduce, reuse, recycle

buy only what is needed,

that others can buy what they need.

learn what is really important--

            family, friends, nature, food, water, home

appreciate God’s gifts--

            bird symphonies, greening grass, violas

            budding cherry trees, sunshine, rain,

Life is Good.

I pray each of us stay safe and well.

                                                                                                                        Sharon Witty

                                                                                                                        April 16,2020

True Hunger

It seems very true that when we are idle we tend to feel hunger - maybe not real hunger as in needing food to survive - but the kind of hunger that comes from emptiness. Maybe there are a lot of us in the same boat today. We have run short on things to do and suddenly, in our idleness, we feel hungry. So we want to eat.

With the social distancing and stay at home orders going on for at least another 30 days, some of us will experience times when we are idle and will be in danger of filling up an emptiness with junk food or unnecessary food.

One help for me is reading the Bible during idle times. I'm in the process of reading through the Bible in a year. I get a sense of accomplishment as I underline the scripture sections I have completed and move on to the next book. Prayer is another great way to spend idle time. There are many people on my prayer list these days so I spend dedicated time praying for each one several times a day.

I have a hard time identifying true hunger from emptiness. I am sure most times I eat out of an emptiness instead of true hunger. Scripture even cautions against being idle.

"An idle person will suffer hunger," (Proverbs 19:15 ESV).

The meaning cautions us from becoming lazy and idle or not working so we can't pay for our food to eat. If you are truly hungry and are without a job during these trying time, it's okay to reach out and let someone else know you are hungry. There are many churches that have food banks and other places offer meals to the needy. Reach out if you have a need. Many of us have pantries filled with food and are anxious to share.

A Cup of Water

What is more refreshing than a cup of cold water when you are thirsty? Some might answer a Diet Coke or a Pepsi is better yet. But I’d still say clear, cold water hits the spot and it’s healthy, too. 

Nearly every health plan includes a recommendation of approximately eight, eight-ounce glasses of water a day. Water is good for our bodies. Water fills us up so we aren’t so hungry. Cold water encourages our bodies to warm the fluid increasing our metabolic rate slightly. Water replenishes the body’s fluid during and after exercise. Water helps remove body waste and it helps the body burn fat. Water is good for our brains, our skin, and our blood pressure.

The debate over how much water to drink in a day will continue but it has been a staple for life since Jesus’ time.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward,” (Mark 9:41 NIV).

The kindness of offering water to a guest or a needy person continues to be a blessing as valuable as an offering to God. Let’s consider carrying extra bottles of water in our cars so we can share with someone in need and be refreshed as we need water, too. 

Lift a cup of water to our lips and savor the refreshment created by God alone.

by Gloria D. Stewart

Thoughts

Thoughts

            Old Mother Sharon, she went to the shelves of her brain this morning for blog posting ideas, and the shelves?   They were bare.  So I took the best action I could:  I prayed, and Spirit filled my mind with the following thoughts.

            Do you ever become embarrassed or ashamed of your food thoughts or actions?  I do.  I’m embarrassed that I seem to think about food all the time, except when I am sleeping, and sometimes I wonder about those hours.  After breakfast I think about how many hours to lunch and what I am going to have for lunch.  After lunch I think about supper and what I am going to have for supper. After supper I think about what I’ll have for breakfast the next day.

            If I eat out or am at a writing workshop, after I have finished the food on my plate, I often think, “I’d really like more of that mac and cheese.”  Ninety nine percent of the time, it’s not that I am still hungry.  No, it’s either that I don’t want to stop having the sensual pleasure of eating or that I really like the mac and cheese or both.

            I’m embarrassed and ashamed of/by these thoughts.  I don’t want anyone to be able to read my mind.

            So the question is what do I do about it?  One thing I know is this:  I do not need to be embarrassed or ashamed of myself—ever, for I am God’s child, and I am loved.

            Because God loves me, the Holy One gave me a verse, showing me what to do about  constantly thinking about food:  “. . .the mind controlled by the Spirit is Life and Peace”  (Romans 8:6, NIV).

            Peace—that’s what I want.  I want my mind to be at peace, resting in and thinking of the Lord.

            I pray you also, Reader, may have peace of mind.

                                                                                                                                   Sharon Witty

A Positive Perspective

We are a month into the New Year already. So how is your New Year’s resolution going? Don’t feel badly if you didn’t make one, nor if you are failing to live up to your expectations. It is okay to be human, especially an imperfect human.

My goal was to lose the five pounds that doesn’t want to go away.  Five pounds isn’t much to lose in a month but it is when you can’t seem to lose it. I have consistently exercised five days a week but my problem is eating. Eating brownies I made this weekend. Eating broccoli cheese soup. Eating tater tot casserole. Eating, eating, eating.

Instead of feeling down on myself for all the wrongs I’ve committed, I’m trying to take a healthier perspective. If I start looking forward instead of backward, I can begin to change my habits. I can think about how fortunate I am to be able to afford fresh fruits and vegetables and to have them available to me in the store. What a blessing it is to be able to eat apples when our trees don’t even have leaves!

There isn’t much that tastes better than a crisp, crunchy fresh salad as long as I am looking forward to the salad, not dreaming of a big steak. It is a matter of perspective. And I’m in control of my viewpoint. If I frame my thoughts in a positive manner, my meals will be more satisfying and delicious.

“He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy,” (Acts 14:17b NIV).

May we progress toward our healthy goal, one step or bite at a time.

Gloria D. Stewart

Temptation

Temptation

            For the past five days, I have been “hanging out” with my 16-year-old grandson, while his parents vacation to celebrate my son’s 50^th birthday (Gulp! I’m old enough to have a 50-year-old child!).

            Being widowed, I can carefully choose foods to purchase and bring into my home.

            That’s not the case in this home, so for the past five days, I have faced the temptations of chips, M&M cookies and ice cream.  The latter being the worst temptation.

            In one of the reflections I read this week, a featured Scripture verse was Matthew 14:29-30 during which Peter tried to walk on water.  But when Peter looked at the waves around him, he became frightened and cried out, “Save me, Lord”!

            As I think about these verses and meditate upon them, I realize they contain a guideline for living.  How easy it is when the waves splash high and become more and more severe (i.e., problems, worries, concerns, sorrows), life can become seemingly impossible.  How easy it is to be tempted and reach for the closest, most convenient comfort food, whether it be ice cream or grapes to stuff down the uncomfortable feeling.  But nothing can comfort me except the “Balm of Gilead,” (Jeremiah 8:22, NIV) and I must cry out, “Lord, save me”!

                                                                                                                                    Sharon Witty