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

Taking the First Step

“So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace,” (Romans 8:6)

When it comes to eating, I have been out of control for months now. Every single day I tell myself I have to change, but every night I go to bed as a failure. Maybe that’s why I don’t want to get out of bed in the morning. As long as I stay in bed, I’m not eating. Some days go really well, then I trip over something sweet and I fall into a tailspin. How can I encourage you, when I’m such a mess?

Today I am determined to take the first step toward a changed life. Most of my eating trouble comes from eating when I am alone. I must remove all the temptations from the house. Check all my hiding places and empty out my stash of illegals (of late: the individually-wrapped cream-filled frosted cupcakes that I could eat the box of eight in one sitting – though I usually make it two).

Now that I’ve totally humiliated myself before you, I need to establish an accountability partner who can challenge me to stay on the right path. Since my husband is nearly always with me, I’m going to recruit him to help me. I’m going to tell him when I’m craving something and ask him to remind me of healthy options. I’m going to eat only when he is with me.

If I make these two changes (removing all temptations from the house and being accountable to someone) I think I will be off on the right foot.

When or what is your biggest eating issue? What can you do to change it? Give it a try and find someone to be your accountability partner. Let’s get started together, today. Post your struggles and successes as a comment. We can do this!

Remember: At the end of the day, God still loves us!

By Gloria

October 5, 2017

Old Habits and God

Fighting food (battling the bulge, weight management—whatever one wants to call it) has loomed large in my life since I was some 10 years old.  Now, even though I began to be a “normal” weight some 17 years ago (I’m 73), I can eat appropriately only via God’s grace.

My mother baked delicious cookies, pies, cakes, kolaches . . ., and I showed my appreciation for her culinary skills by eating, and eating, and eating the goodies of her labors.

My parents did not show physical affection, so early on, with delicious treats available to me, I learned to comfort myself with food.  As an adult, I know God is always present within and without me and has promised to always love me.  “. . . I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love.  Death can’t, and life can’t” (Romans 8:38 Life App. Study Bible).  He is the Ultimate Comforter, yet . . .

old habits linger.  As a widow, I have much alone time.  I must be careful of sinking into the pit of self-pity.  For some reason, this past Tuesday was a bad day, so I slipped into Aldi’s, bought a bag of grapes, came home and proceeded to “comfort” myself, standing at the counter, eating grape, after grape, after grape, ending up not comforted, but bloated and miserable.

But I was able to go to the God who loves me, surrendering unto His forgiveness and love.  Once again, I was comforted.

                                                                                                            By Sharon

                                                                                                            09/21/17