Diet Devotionals

Tools of the Trade - #4

2006-05-19T21:31:00.000-07:00

Job 1:20,21 - Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Job had just learned of the destruction of his entire estate as well as the death of all of his children. This was his first response. Read it again.

This was his FIRST response. Did he fall to the ground and weep? No. He fell down and WORSHIPED. Did he cry out in anger? No. He said, "Blessed be the name of the Lord." I'm truly shocked. It's true that we only understand what's inside our hearts when we are squeezed and crushed. I think I might be a lemon, especially compared to Job.

Today I rebelled outright. It had been a bad day and I decided (with full knowledge of my rebellious heart) that a Snickers bar was in order. I thought about the tools that I wrote about this week, but I just kept coming up blank. I kept thinking as I stared at the candy in the front seat of my car "I know I shouldn't have this but I don't know what else to DO. I need to DO something to get me past this feeling." The Snickers went down the hatch, despite the triviality of my situation.

Then this song came on the radio, by the band Casting Crowns:

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

Revelation!

PRAISE is the perfect action for the frustrated heart and the nagging stomach. We can pray, but then there tends to be a waiting period. How can we persevere, except by taking our minds off of the matter at hand? Praise is the perfect solution. I should have thrown the candy bar in the back of the car where I couldn't reach it. Then I should have spoken about 15 things that were great about my day. I might have even added a thankful list. And then finished it off by turning up the radio and singing loudly in my off-key bad-movie voice. I think I'll try that next time.

Thank you, God, that tomorrow is another day. Thank you, that I haven't suffered as Job did. Thank you, that you are turning my heart into something different than what it is today.

Tools of the Trade #3

2006-05-17T09:36:00.000-07:00

2 Cor. 4:7 - "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."

This passage, 2 Cor. 4:1-12, is a fascinating passage on failure. Paul is writing from the perspective of persecution, but the heart of the passage is about who ultimately gets the glory. He speaks at length about how they (Paul and his friends) are preaching Christ and not their own ability to save people. Speaking to the Corinthians, he says in vs. 5: "For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake." Later he says that they "carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." Then, in verse 12, "So, then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you."

So, what is all this business about death in us and life in others? Aren't we the Christians? Aren't we supposed to be the ones that have it all together, preaching salvation to a sinful world? Aren't we supposed to show by our perfect behavior how Christ has changed us and what a difference he can make in someone's life? That's exactly what Paul is trying to avoid. He says that God put a treasure (salvation through Christ) in us, jars of clay (something weak, breakable, and imperfect), so that God would be the one to whom others look. If we did have it all together, folks would follow us. If I had a perfect diet plan, everyone could do as I did and succeed. The fact is, God is the manager of our lives and my failure actually facilitates others' faith in a power greater than me. That's how death can be at work in me while life is at work in you (vs. 12).

The point is that some failure is guaranteed. Some persecution is guaranteed. It's the way God made the program. The issue is whether we give up in the face of failure or whether we look to it as an opportunity to reveal our imperfections to others. Let's face it, we like to see other people fail. It relieves us of a certain amount of guilt for our own failures. We also like to see other people get up and keep going. We like to see them succeed and then give credit where credit is due (not to themselves). When we go to a movie, we don't want it to end with the main character failing miserably and giving up. What do you think others want to see in us? They love our transparency, but they also love our persistence. It teaches them about God, who never gives up on us and who helps us even in our failures.

The tool for today is persistence. Failure is a given. It's built in. What we do after that is up to us.

Tools of the Trade #2

2006-05-15T21:40:00.000-07:00

I don't have anything super spiritual to add to this. It's just something really helpful that my friend Monica sent to me. I have experienced the effects of drinking water instead of eating. It really works. PLUS, if I drink two or more eight ounce glasses in one sitting, I sometimes get sick to my stomach. (That's an extremely healthy alternative to medicated appetite suppressants!! LOL!) The feeling of fullness usually lasts me about an hour, but I have to warn you, it usually doesn't work twice in the same stretch of time. But it's worth a try if you only have an hour or so until your next scheduled snack or meal.

WATER

1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.

2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is
often mistaken for hunger.

3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as
3%.

4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost
100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.

5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day
could significantly ease back joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory,
trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen
or on a printed page.

8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon
cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one
is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Tools of the Trade #1

2006-05-15T09:05:00.000-07:00

This week (or for however long it lasts), I am going to focus on tools that can help us succeed. I've been wanting to do this for a few weeks, so here goes:

Philippians 4:12-13 "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

Being content in every situation. That seems to be a problem with most of us. It's funny that Paul (author of Philippians) says he has learned the secret of being content when well-fed and when living in plenty. You'd think that part just came naturally. Nevertheless, when all our needs are supplied, it often creates cravings for more. It's simply not acceptable to satisfied with "enough." So, what happens when we get more? We're not satisfied with more either. It's an interesting paradigm, the craving of our lustful nature. Ever eat more than you thought you really needed to satisfy that craving? It never satisfies me, anyway. The root problem of wanting more is that we were never satisfied at the "enough" level. Why is that? Because we are still looking to the thing (food, money, pleasure, entertainment, etc.) to give us satisfaction or strength. We are looking to fill a spiritual or emotional need with something physical.

So, the tool for today is prayer. When that craving comes, stop and look at what's going on. Maybe it's a simple physical craving and you're just hungry. Maybe it's an emotional issue at work or in your family that you want to fix with food. Whatever the reason, stop and pray. Pray for God to give you strength to outlast the craving. Most cravings go away after 15 minutes (at least the physical ones). If we can rely on God to help us through, even for 15 minutes, we are exercising faith muscles. So what if we splurge later today...we have practiced trusting God. We practiced leaning on him, and tomorrow it will be easier to do it longer or more times as needed during the day. Just try it once today.

Paul said, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

Diet Devotional 34

2006-05-04T07:27:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Despite the fact that I've had this verse memorized for years, it still amazes me that I forget the basic premise - God wants to help. As I think back over the things I've learned lately, I keep going back to Sunday School basics. Before Adam and Eve chose sin, God had a relationship with mankind. It was one of sweet fellowship. After they chose sin, God still had a relationship with mankind, though it was strained by man's desire to be God-like. Invariably, we discover that we are not God. We have no control and our self-sufficiency ends in disaster. As we rediscover that with each new failure, we go back to God for help. The very nature of our relationship with him is such that HE is the helper and we are the recipients. As long as we live in a fallen world, that will be the nature of our relationship with him. So, why do we forget to ask, and why do we forget that he still wants to help us?

He knows us so well, check out the issues he addresses in this verse:

1. Do not fear - How much of our struggle in life is centered around fear? Fear of persecution, fear of change, fear of loss, fear of conflict, fear of poverty, fear of success...God says, "I am with you."

2. Do not be dismayed - How many times have we been depressed? And over how many things? And for how long? God says, "I am your God."

3. I will strengthen you - Aren't we frequently finding ourselves weakened, given over to despair simply because we don't think we can stand up any longer? God says, "I will strengthen you." (not "you will have to find your own strength")

4. I will help you - How many times do we fail because we can't perceive our circumstances correctly, we lack wisdom, or we have no knowledge of the future? God says, "I will help you."

5. I will uphold you - How many times have we completely fallen? Like a child running through a field, when he trips, he falls on his face instead of on his knees. How many times have we crumbled beneath a weight or pressure? How many times have our spiritual legs completely given out? God says, "I will uphold you."

In this struggle to lose weight, as in every other struggle in life, God knows our needs. He knows our failings, our weaknesses, and he knows how to help. As long as he desires relationship with us, he will desire to help us. That's the way it is between God and man.

Diet Devotional 33

2006-05-03T06:02:00.000-07:00

And the sugar said, "...apart from me you can do nothing."

It seems that the devil uses half-truths to get my attention. It's true that I am weak and need help getting through this life. It's not true that sugar (insert your own variation of temptation) will help me do it. In Jeremiah Chapter 2, the prophet Jeremiah exposes Israel's unfaithfulness. They had rejected God and turned to false gods made of wood and stone. This entire chapter reminds me of myself, how I try to use something powerless, something my own hands have made, to save me in my distress.

Jeremiah 2:27-28 "They have turned their backs to me [God] and not their faces; yet when they are in trouble, they say, "Come and save us!" Where then are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them come if they can save you when you are in trouble!"

I am like the Israelites who looked for God in their despair and worshipped idols in their prosperity. What if I was diagnosed with cancer? Would I go eat a big dinner believing that I would get well? If I was about to crash in a car wreck, would I pop a piece of candy in my mouth hoping that it would save me from death? No! Truth is, I know deep down that food is no more a savior than anything else made from this earth (pick any of my past addictions!). God has the power and the ability to walk me through every possible trial, big or small.

Diet Devotional 32

2006-05-02T20:29:00.000-07:00

"Father, it has been four weeks since my last confession..." Okay, so I'm not Catholic and you're not a priest (although I suppose some of you might be!). But confession sure seems appropriate right now. I fell off the wagon big time. I can't even say I've been "managing" my diet. It's been downhill for a month now, and I'm slowly gaining each week. Nevertheless, as life would have it, here I am again writing my thoughts on the backside of a good, hard failure:

Jesus said in John 15:5 "...apart from me you can do nothing."

This seems to be my motto for this season of life. Every time I think I've gotten past believing that I can do life on my own terms, this verse crops up again. Why was it I thought I could handle this challenge on my own? I can't say. Pride probably. That seems to be the root of all my self-guided endeavors. The rest of that verse is: "I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."

I heard a lot of things in church this Sunday that seemed like such great things to remember - great verses to focus on, great thoughts to apply to my situation, and great principles I wish I could remember. All great things which I promptly forgot the next day. It was then that I realized I'm not going to find an overreaching panacea that I can stick on my frig to keep me on track. There's no magical verse to memorize, no theory or concept to engrain in my mind that will ensure my success. Truth is, we are much more complicated creatures than that. There is a lyric in a song by the Indigo Girls that goes "...You just stick the right formula in, a solution for every fool." True, if we think there is a canned formula that will work for every situation, we've been sadly mistaken.

As I look back over the month, I see that God has been giving me bits of inspiration each day. The problem is that like the Israelites eating manna in the desert, I've wanted that bit of inspiration to work the next day. And the next day, and the next day. There's that pride again. I want a formula that I can follow and say that I used to lose weight. God wants me to use Him instead. He is my panacea. He wants to give me a taylor-made verse or thought each morning, a point of inspiration that applies to the challenges I will face that day. That's why Christ said,"Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit."

God knows what we need to conquer these issues, and yet many of us will gladly trade that treasure for an opportunity to do it ourselves. So here I go again, climbing back on the wagon, asking God to drive, and just hanging on for the ride. I trust that he will tell me what I need for today, and if I forget it tomorrow, well, that's just the way it's supposed to be. God gave the Israelites in the desert enough manna for one day, and only one day...One day at a time...

Diet Devotional 31

2006-03-30T14:48:00.000-08:00

Here was an e-mail sent to me when I was asking for advice and help. I thought it was so great, I just wanted to post it in it's full form. I don't have a verse to go with it today, but there is one at the bottom. Thanks to Christine who sent it to me!

Don't concentrate on the food - Concentrate on your God.

This part is what I was thinking: when in an addiction (alcohol, drugs, food, pornography, etc), the "thing" that our flesh desires consumes us. We want it, think of when we will next get it, or be able to get it, etc. If we are attempting to recover from that addiction and we are still consumed with thoughts of the "thing" (i.e. How we can avoid it, interact with it, cravings for it, etc.), how is that different from being consumed with wanting it and doing it?

Consumption is Consumption. Hatred in a man's heart is murder - Consumption is Consumption. You already have the victory over sin in Christ.

Maybe when we are recovering, we need to remember it is not about the food, alcohol, pornography, drugs....never has been. It is a spiritual problem. Don't feed Satan by fueling the obsession with food - even in the recovery. Focus on what is missing or inappropriate in your heart ("Lord what needs to change or grow in me?" or "Why is a substance always what I desire, when the comfort of your loving arms is available to me, and the blessings you have awaiting me are an embrace away?"). The substance can and will never sustain. I know you know that. Why allow Satan to consume you with thoughts of it any longer? You are not battling food, you are battling Satan for the Lord's use of your mind (and...., and ...., etc.).

Also, the enemy is robbing you of your joy in each moment that you are "battling food". I was led to 2 Corinthians 10: 1-6. 5b says " ...and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." I love the whole chapter and it is short. If your Bible isn't handy, go to www.ibs.org/niv. I also read Psalms 98. Again, it is a short chapter if you have a moment. I pray that God has something for you in His word from these two places He led me.

Diet Devotional 30

2006-03-28T21:24:00.000-08:00

Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

I finally crashed one day last week. All of the difficulties of life swallowed me up as on ething after another went wrong. Everything that could possibly go badly converged in one day. As I lay on the floor crying my heart out to the ceiling, very distinct words came to mind, "Just feel it. Just feel the anger, the pain, the frustration, and yes, even the hatred. Feel it all." Somewhere along life's way, I learned that anger, malice and hatred were sins. But rather than confessing them as sin and allowing God to walk me out of those feelings, I stuffed them. I hid them as if He couldn't see. I hid them so I couldn't feel pain.

Feeling pain - this is the cryptonite of our culture. It is the thing we believe makes us weak or vulnerable. We avoid it at all costs, medicating with the latest medicine, drug of choice, or food item that is readily available. But as long as you and I numb the pain, we do not walk through the door of the prison cell that Christ opened for us. We remain locked away, clinging to our shackles for security. After all, it's what we've always known.

As an addict, this has particular relevance to me. That day on the floor, I began to understand God's desire to break the cycle of addiction in my life. Who told me that I couldn't bear pain? Who told me that I couldn't walk as easily through affliction as I could joy? Truth is, I often squelched even the joy to maintain a kind of equilibrium of existence. But God wants freedom for me. He wants me to step out of the cell and into the sunlight to walk with Him. Despite my almost eight years of sobriety, I have remained enslaved to replacement addictions, which include smoking, coffee, shopping, busy-ness, and now food. What's next? I guess that's up to me. Maybe I ought to give freedom a spin.

I do believe that Christ's work was enough. I believe that if any of us walk with Him through our struggles instead of stuffing the pain, we will bear affliction gracefully. We will experience both the deep pain of suffering and the overwhelming exhileration of victory. This is how Christ endured the cross, with the end in mind. The disciples tried to talk him out of walking the way of the cross, but Christ was not afraid to "Just feel it." He embraced pain, knowing it was bearable. He didn't medicate. He didn't avoid it. And he certainly didn't go eat a cookie. And since Christ has already been through the worst pain and rejection known to man, he knows best how to walk us through whatever we may be facing today.

Diet Devotional 29

2006-03-20T12:18:00.000-08:00

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.” Psalm 23

SO much has happened over the last two weeks, I can’t wait to catch you up. I think there are about 10 stories to tell and I’m going to have to spread them out. In the meantime, here’s an amazing story that happened to me last week.

As some of you know, we are in the midst of moving to a new house (which has to be remodeled over the next three months before we can move in). Temporarily, we have moved in with my in-laws. On the way to move in with them that first day, I became very anxious and upset, though I didn’t realize it. The backstory is that they keep a clean house and I’ve been trying for almost a year to learn how to be a good housekeeper. Sadly, I haven’t changed many of my habits, and I was terrified of the challenge ahead. I’m not only scared to fail, but I also want desperately to maintain the great relationship we have with my in-laws.

So, my first thought as the kids and I drove to their house was that of a Dairy Queen blizzard (a kind of a shake with candy mixed in for those of you not from the south). As I kept driving, a song came on the radio and the lyrics said, “I will walk through the valley if you want me to.” It occurred to me that I was trying to avoid the valley. Like the lines from the famous children’s book that I read to my daughter almost nightly (“We’re going on a Bear Hunt”), we can’t go over it, we can’t go under it, we’ve got to go through it. But I wasn’t yet convinced to skip the sugar boost. I needed it to get me through the emotional stress that might occur when I arrived. Song number 2 came on the radio, and the lyrics said, “The voice of truth says, ‘Do not be afraid’…the voice of truth says, ‘This is for My glory.’” Hmmm…indeed, any challenge that might lie before me would ultimately shape my character and result in God’s glory. But I still wasn’t convinced to obey the tugging at my heart to skip the sweets. Worse, I had decided that maybe Starbucks might be a better fit since it was sugar AND caffeine.

I pulled into the huge parking lot where the Starbucks was located. Just as I did, my three year old daughter piped up, “Mommy, God will make you feel better.” What? We hadn’t talked at all. I was just driving silently as she played with the baby. Then she said, “I wish, I wish God will make me feel better.” Aha! That explained it. She was playing her game - the one where she pretends to be sick and prays or asks for medicine or chicken noodle soup. Okay, so it wasn’t God working through her. But then her voice changed to this serious, almost military-like tone that I’d never heard before. She demanded, “Say it, Mommy!” This time, I asked. "What did you say?” She replied, “Say it. Out loud.” I asked again, just for clarity, “You want me to say that out loud?” “Yes, mommy. Say it!” she demanded. So, I said aloud, "I wish, I wish, God will make me feel better" as chills crept across my entire body. After I said it, something happened. I actually began to relax and my head began to clear. Then from the back, she exhaled loudly and said, “A-men.” I looked in my rearview mirror just to make sure I wasn’t losing my mind. Did she just make me say a prayer against my will? She simply smiled at me sweetly as if her work was done.

I was understandably shocked. Nevertheless, I had heard God’s voice. He spoke to me very clearly through that little girl who knew nothing of my internal struggle. He used her to help me walk through the valley, forcing me to pray when I might otherwise have stuffed my feelings. I drove away from the Starbucks and faced the situation with a clear mind. As it turned out, that night went fine. What I learned was that we DO have to walk through the valleys (Psalm 23) at different times in our lives. But, we DON’T have to fear. God is with us, even if we have ignored him in the past or if we can’t sense his presence at every turn. He will walk with us and guide us through the travails if we will simply listen and obey when we do hear him speak. He will help us face our fears and meet our challenges…without the food.

Diet Devotional 28

2006-03-03T12:48:00.000-08:00

"And let us consider how we may SPUR one another on toward love and good deeds." Hebrews 10:24

Okay, it's your turn. Your turn to give me ideas.

First, please pray for me. This week is going to be rough. Three reasons: 1. As we are wrapping up the final packing of our house, we are also trying to eat up as much as we can so that we don't have to store or waste food. Of course, we will probably donate rather than waste. But still, the point is that we are trying to eat all of our food, much of which is not on my diet at all. 2. I am honestly stressed about the move. We'll be staying with my in-laws for a few months. They are really great, but they are clean people. Any of you that know me, know that I am not very neat or organized at all. So, I'm stressing about the challenge and the possible failure to keep their house ship-shape. 3. "That time" - All I can think about this week is chocolate. Three days in a row, I have eaten chocolate, and there's not a bit of me that wants to change that. Aaargh!!

So, that said...I'd like to hear your thoughts on some great ways to survive the next week, and possibly the next three months. What do you think? Second, I'd like some accountability. It's time to practice what I preach. When you see me next or if you want to post to the comments section, just ask me what I've eaten in the last 5 hours. That should keep the pressure on and help me stick with it. Somehow, it helps me to not secretly shrink away from the plan. If no one knows, then I can eat what I want, right? Bad brain! Bad brain!! Stop that nonsense!! God is bigger than that kind of desperate, defeated thinking!

It looks like prayer and Bible study may be scarce over the next few days, so I need some external support. Thanks for all your help! Hope to hear from you!!

Diet Devotional 27

2006-02-27T08:12:00.000-08:00

Note: For those of you following this blog, I apologize for my erratic posting lately. We are in the process of moving, and this weekend is the final deal. We are planning to be out by Sunday. Hopefully these e-mails will be more regular in a week or so. Thanks for your patience.

Matt. 23:25-26 "...You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."

Have you ever washed dishes and just cleaned the outside of a bowl? Sounds ludicrous, because it is. The business of eating goes on inside the dish, not outside of it. The mess on the outside is just the matter that spills over. Jesus was hammering the Pharisees (religious leaders of his day) for their hypocricy, their willingness to appear clean on the outside while they harbored evil in their hearts. As I have gone through this diet, dealing with one emotion after another (more like all of them at once some days), I feel like the blind Pharisee. My hope is to get things in order on the outside, as if somehow the self-discipline and accomplishment will work from the outside inward, bringing me that much closer to becoming a balanced person. If I could just get those bad habits and loose ends all tied up, I might have it all together...

Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will also be clean. It's true. If you wash the inside of a dish, the water flows over the outside and the scrubbing of the inside results in a clean exterior. There are many issues in my heart that I don't wish to give up, many dark spots I don't wish to surrender. But it seems that the harder I cling to them, the less headway I make on this diet. My stubborn refusal to "Let go and Let God" keeps me trapped in my old habits, my old thoughts, and the emotional tailspins that make me want to break the diet.

Like the dish, the real business of eating goes on inside and the mess on the outside is just overflow.

Diet Devotional 26

2006-02-20T09:26:00.000-08:00

1 Thess. 5:23-24 - "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it."

Sanctification is the continual cleansing from sins and other things that stand in the way of holiness in our lives. It's gaining freedom from bad habits, destructive influences, and thoughts that corrupt oursleves and our relationship with God. This verse is talking about the ongoing salvation from things that try to destroy us. They could be new, longstanding, daily, incidental, outrageous, or ordinary things. This verse brings up a lot of questions in my mind, and if I am willing to answer them honestly, maybe I'll take one more step forward in my jouney to wholeness.

According to the verse, God himself does the sanctifying.
So, if God is the God of peace, what should be the end result of sanctification?
If God is the God of peace, what should the process of sanctification be like?
What prevents peace in my life?

If God wants us to be sanctified through and through, which part am I holding back?
Which part do I want God to skip over?
Which part do I want to remain enslaved to?

If sanctification is about keeping me blameless until I meet Christ, what must God tackle in my life to keep my spirit blameless?

What is required to keep my soul blameless?

How will God sanctify me so that my body will be kept blameless?

If God is working on these things in me, how can I participate in the process of cleansing?
What habit, thought, choice, or situation can I surrender?

According to the last sentence in the verse, what kind of response or result can I expect if I do participate and surrender?

Even if I don't surrender, will God do it anyway?

If He's going to do it anyway, how much quicker can I be free if I am willing to let go?

Diet Devotional 25

2006-02-16T07:56:00.000-08:00

[Wisdom speaking] "Let all who are simple come in here!" she says to those who lack judgment. "Come eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding." Prov. 9:4-6

God is certainly taking away my simple ways. Like the verse about being put through the fire to remove the dross, I feel like I'm being purified from unhealthy emotional habits. After all, if I can't just make my feelings go away with food, I have to do something with them. It's amazing how many things I've stuffed over the years. I've always considered myself a fairly accessible, direct, and emotionally healthy person. Well, take away the crutch, and I seem to be a different creature altogether. I've prided myself on my ability to reason through conflicts and deal logically with painful situations. But now I'm discovering a whole new vulnerability. It's really quite interesting.

The events in my life this last week make me think that perhaps God is going much, much deeper with this issue than I had suspected. What I thought would be a lesson in self-discipline is turning out to be a lesson in judgment. Instead of the simple emotional responses I've always chosen, I now need to eat the food of wisdom and drink the wine of understanding. I believe the promise in this verse, "Leave your simple ways and you will live." I believe that God is taking me, and all of us, on this journey for a reason - to give us life like we've never know before.

Diet Devotional 24

2006-02-09T08:32:00.000-08:00

Mark 8:33 - But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Out of my sight, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

In this passage, Jesus had just spoken plainly about the events that were to come. In a rare discussion, not shrouded in parable or symbolic speech, he told them outright what would happen with his death and resurrection. As Jesus was laying out the plan for his death, Peter rebuked him. A few verses earlier, Peter told Jesus that he believed he was the prophesied Messiah, the Christ. The rebuke made sense because the Jews were looking for a military leader. They wanted salvation from their physical oppressors (Rome), not from sin. God's plan was bigger. So, Jesus responded to him, "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." What's worse, he delivered a scathing speech following his rebuke to Peter. He called together a crowd along with his disciples and discussed the sacrifice that would be required of them. He said, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it." (vs.35). From the context, we could assume that Christ saw two things in Peter: 1) ignorance and unwillingness to see God's bigger plan, and 2) fear for his own life. Surely if the elders, chief priests, and teachers would kill Jesus, they would most certainly come after his disciples next.

It's interesting how this food issue is changing my life. On a much, much smaller scale, I feel like Peter. I am ignorant of God's bigger plan for my heart. I want the physical oppression of the weight gone, but maybe God's bigger plan is for the removal of sin in my heart - the idolatry that causes me to eat instead of go to him for help. The truth is, I know it will take sacrifice to follow God to this place. I may not suffer at the hands of religious persecutors like the disciples did, but I will most certainly have to give up life as I now know it. I'll have to let go of my security blanket. If I try to hold onto my life - the status quo, the canned peacefulness in calm waters, and the "don't rock the boat" mentality - then I will never know the adventure that awaits me. I will lose my opportunity to follow Christ to an abundant life, exchanging it for the stagnant trifles this this world offers me.

Diet Devotional 23

2006-02-07T09:34:00.000-08:00

2 Cor. 7:1 - "Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates the body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."

The verses prior to this one are talking about people, not just habits or things that contaminate us. They encourage us not to be "unequally yoked" with unbelievers. The illustration refers to two oxen being bound together by a yoke as they plow the field. Much like the picture Paul paints, we put ourselves in situations where we are bound together with other people - work, spouses, friends, kids. The principle in the Old Testament that Paul is referring to here is the basic idea that "one bad apple spoils the whole bunch." It's the idea that we must be careful who we spend our time with, because their beliefs will either reinforce our own, or they will change ours. Agreeing to disagree is not as easy as it sounds. One person is eventually swayed.

I remember a time in my life when I had to drop all of my friends. At some point, I looked at their influence on me and decided it was taking me somewhere I didn't want to end up. Talk about a shocker, this event changed my perspective of people forever. I discovered that not only was it healthy for me to make wise decisions for myself, but also that people would adapt to whatever definitions I put on the relationship. Since then, I have learned that such drastic measures are rarely necessary. There seems to be a way in every relationship to get out from under the yoke. I have discovered new ways to make balanced decisions about how I spend my time and with whom. We can redefine our activities with people in order to stop contaminating our bodies and spirits. What about that person at work that makes you so angry that you choose a McDonald's lunch to cope? How about that family member who, after you talk to them on the phone, inspires you to go get a chocolate milkshake? Those relationships can be redefined to get out from under the yoke. We just have to figure out how. Maybe taking time off from talking, staying busier than normal, making a new friend, spending more quality time with our kids, or giving an angry person some space.

Today's perfect example is my terrible habit of watching movies with my husband late into the night. We usually start a flick about 9:30 or 10pm, because things don't wind down around here until that time. Nevertheless, by 10:30, I am sure to be craving some cookies or ice cream. And since I don't get to bed before midnight, I'm exhausted in the mornings. It's our tradition. How can I get out from under that yoke? I'm not sure just yet, but I know it doesn't mean divorcing him. I just need to redefine the nature of our relationship in the evenings. I'm going to give it some thought today. Perhaps I can pray for freedom from the guilt that tells me I shouldn't change that relationship, get out from under the yoke of the bad habit, and stop contaminating my body with sweets. Instead, I'm going to aim for perfecting holiness, believing that my spouse will eventually adapt to whatever new habit we establish.

Diet Devotional 22

2006-02-03T09:14:00.000-08:00

Micah 6:8 - "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Dieting isn't just about giving something up. In the passages before this one, Micah asks rhetorically what he can do for God. He asks if gifts, offerings, or his firstborn would be enough of a sacrifice to please God. The question is rhetorical because he answers it with verse 8, a striking denial that sacrifice is the goal. MIcah shows that the heart is what God is after, not just the actions. So as I look at my eating habits, I have to continually re-evaluate my motive. I can easily get into a martyr mentality, as if I'm somehow suffering for the sake of my spiritual life. But rather than this being about giving something up, it is about gaining something better.

What does the Lord require of me? To act justly. When I overeat, I'm tired and groggy the next morning. I act differently toward my kids, my spouse, or anyone else that may cross me that day. My actions are far from just. To love mercy. When I'm drowning in self-pity and self-indulgence, I want to blame everyone around me for any slight injustice that may come my way. My heart is far from merciful. To walk humbly with your God. When I'm so focused on what I can't have (sugar, special treats, that extra portion to make me feel full immediately), I cease to be thankful. I become a slave to that sense of entitlement that says I should have what I want when I want, regardless of the price. My heart is far from humble.

The discipline of dieting is much, much more than sacrifice. It is gaining the attitude of the heart that God most desires from me.

Diet Devotional 21

2006-02-02T09:24:00.000-08:00

Psalm 13:4 - "But I trust in your unfailing love, my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me."

There's nothing quite like seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls. A year or so ago, the exhibit came to town and I went to see it. It was an unbelievable experience to see first hand the written text from a thousand years ago. I remember the words were tiny, a size that would match probably a 4- or 6-point font on our modern computers. Very few of us alive could write legibly in that size. But the one thing that stood out for me was the overwhelming sense that the Bible text is real. Wierd thought, having devoted my life to the written Word of God, but we don't realize how disconnected we are from the Bible. Most of us have never seen an authentic ancient text, and very few encounter it more than once in a lifetime. We open up our plainly printed Bibles, with our preferred translation version, in our preferred font size, and read it as though it is something common. At the very same time, we read it as though it is something ethereal and unreachable, something left only to faith and somehow disconnected from real life. We forget that passages like the one above are the journalings of real people, the intimate diaries, songs, histories and letters of those who have walked with God before us.

In this passage, King David expresses his hope in God, the trust he has, and the joy he experiences from knowing God's salvation. But David's life had its share of heartache, perhaps more trumph and despair than all of ours combined. And yet he says that the Lord has been good to him. Truly, as my friend Mark pointed out, even our troubles arise from our plenty. Why am I even on a diet? Because I have an endless supply of food available to me. Today, instead of focusing on the negatives in my life, I will set my eyes on God and take the attitude that King David had. When my overwhelming wealth of food, the excessive amounts of laundry I have to do, the energy and creativity of my extremely active kids, and the dishes in the sink begin to overwhelm me, I am going to pick a song. I'm going to humm it quietly all day long until I remember the abundance of blessing I have at my hands.

Diet Devotional 20

2006-02-01T08:05:00.000-08:00

1 Cor. 6:12-13 - All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.

I found this verse under the topic heading of addiction. Interesting. Verses 9-11 talk about how Christ cleanses us from past offenses, but these verses above (vs. 12-13) address life after salvation. Paul knew that our habits don't just disappear after we've been cleansed. Under the law of grace, all things are permissible, meaning that we have the ability to act unlawfully and still be forgiven. But Paul warns about being mastered by our past lifestyles. And surprisingly enough, the very next verse deals with food..."Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food; but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body." The rest of the chapter continues on in this manner, encouraging us to devote our bodies to the level of holiness that God deserves; to not commit sexual sins, to treat it as God's temple, and to recognize that we don't even have a right to do with our bodies as we see fit. Instead, he reminds us in verse 20 that we have an obligation to treat God's property as it should be treated. "For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body."

I've struggled this week because I haven't done a Bible study in four days. Sick kids, house sale stuff, and a busy schedule have absorbed all of my time. Yesterday, I thought to myself, "I can't do this. I just need to forget it. After all, it's my body and it doesn't have to be perfect. I can live with the weight for a few more months until this move is over." Today's verse is a good reminder that these are just excuses. First of all, it's not my body to abuse. And second, I've lost sight of why I began this at all. Did God call me to build a perfect body? When did that enter the equation? No, the call was to stop being mastered by food and instead to glorify God in my body.

Diet Devotional 19

2006-01-27T08:25:00.000-08:00

Deuteronomy 8:2-3 "Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."

This is the verse Jesus quoted to Satan during his temptation in the desert. Immediately after his baptism, the Bible says (in Matt. 4) that the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tested and after 40 days, he was hungry. When the devil tempted him, Jesus quoted the end of this verse. I never realized the parallel between the 40-year journey of the Israelites through the desert, and Jesus's 40-day journey into the desert. Jesus was tempted like the patriarchs of old, tempted to doubt, tempted to be angry, tempted to give in to physical cravings. Only, Jesus already knew how to survive. It didn't take him 40 years of testing to learn what God wanted the Israelites to see: we live on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Earlier, I mentioned the battle waging between me and my daughter. I have struggled for about 9 days now to figure out what's causing her behavior. I could point to a number of reasons, but none sufficient to explain the fact that it has lasted so long. Wednesday, our Ladies Bible Study dealt with God's sovereignty over people and how he can use them to accomplish his will. It occurred to me at that moment that perhaps she didn't have a problem at all. For 7 days, I had been pushed to the limits of my tolerance, pushed to the edge of rage, hoping and wishing for a quick solution to the conflict. What could I do? How could I "handle" her so that she'd stop? Every day, I fought to resist the temptation to binge. Self discipline. Self control. I had to manage my feelings rather than stuff them. And I can say honestly that for nine days, I have hung on every word that came from the mouth of God. These daily devotionals have carried me because I have had a verse to think about or have been in a spiritual frame of mind to pray first before I acted. Not every day has been a success, but the week has been good training. I have been tested. I have been humbled, and I see more clearly now what is in my heart. God has fed me with things I have not known, and I have learned to live on God's word. The Israelites have walked this road. Jesus has walked this road. Now as I walk it, how long will it take me to learn the lesson that I already know in my heart to be true?

Diet Devotional 18

2006-01-24T19:51:00.000-08:00

Hebrews 4:15-16 - "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need."

To appreciate this passage, we have to understand a little something about Old Testament history. When the temple was built, it had diifferent chambers for different purposes, composed somewhat like concentric rings. The outer chambers were for Gentiles and sinners, while the inner chambers were for priests and sacrificial ceremonies. The most inner chamber (separated by a thick curtain) was called the Holy of Holies, where the high priest made the annual sacrifice of atonement. Inside that was a piece of furniture called the "Mercy Seat" or also called the "Atonement Cover" (Exodus 25 and 26) where God himself would appear. That one time each year, the high priest was expected to be totally sinless before entering God's holy presence. In fact, because other priests had been stricken dead for entering with sin in their hearts, they started tying a rope around the high priest's feet so that they could pull him out if he was killed. Therefore, you can imagine how frightening this must have been for a man, even a high priest who should technically have it all together. This was not a place that you entered "with confidence."

Jesus's death replaced the system of law with a system of grace; and very literally when he died, the curtain separating the Holy of Holies was ripped in two (Luke 23:45). This symbolized the common man's total access to God because of Christ's sacrifice. And that's where today's verse comes in. Paul was referencing the temple structure as he wrote this passage to the Hebrew Christians. And he was writing it in reference to our need for help during a time of temptation. He was referring to Christ as the high priest who was tempted as we are, and the fact that we no longer need to fear God because of our imperfection. Instead, we can go "with confidence" to the throne of grace (symbolically the Mercy Seat) and receive what we need to help us in our time of need. Jesus made that possible. And in my case, his temptation with food was even greater than mine. He had been in the desert without food for 40 days (Matt. 4:1-11). Matt. 4:3 makes it clear that he was definitely hungry...

Diet Devotional 17

2006-01-23T08:34:00.000-08:00

Hebrews 3:13 - "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness"

Yesterday I was grateful to have my husband's support. We were watching a movie and it has been our tradition to bake and eat fresh cookies while camping out on the couch. Honestly, it was killing me to not bake them. Three times I got up to go do something else and thought of popping the cookies in the oven. The first time, I asked him if he wanted some. He said he couldn't eat any, and then made up some obviously fictitious excuse. The third time, he sharply said, "Sit down." It wasn't a reprimand. He was just ending the thought. He knew how to use his influence for my benefit - he played the authority card, and I knew I couldn't (and shouldn't) argue with him.

I think a support group is a must, especially when you're trying to break an addiction. Coming from an AA background, I appreciate the value of having an accountability partner (we call 'em sponsors). Just tell someone you trust what you're doing. If you're tempted most at work, tell a coworker. If you're tempted most on social outings, tell your best friend. If you suffer late at night, tell your kids or your spouse, or your dog (I'll bet God could even use your pets!). The more people you tell, the more encouragement you will get. Ask your friends to help you, to encourage you, and to use whatever influence they have on you to help you reach your goals. Truth is, sometimes we get rebellious and sometimes we don't want to go to God and ask for help. That's when we need a good friend to step in and get us past the deceitfulness that tries to harden our hearts toward what God has asked of us.

**As a side note, please understand that I'm not implying that breaking a diet is a sin. I have never read a passage that says eating is a sin. But, I know that for me, this is an area of my life that God wants me to get under control. Not only for my physical health, but also the mental health of my kids, and for my own practice of self-discipline. So, if I believe that God has asked this of me, then it is my disobedience and defiance that is a sin, not the act of eating itself. The same goes for my alcohol addiction - I dont' believe drinking is a sin, but for me it most certainly is because it is a destructive force in my life.

Diet Devotional 16

2006-01-22T12:57:00.000-08:00

2 Chron 26:5 - "He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear (some manuscripts say "vision") of God. as long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success."

The entire second half of 2 Chronicles is devoted to outlining the rise and fall of the kings of Judah, and some of their encounters with the kinds of Israel. For those not familiar with Old Testament history, the kingdom of Israel originally started as 12 tribes (named after the descendants of the 12 sons of the patriarch Jacob). But along the way, the groups split up into two camps. These two groups (though each tribe held it's autonomy under under the heading of the larger groups) were referred to as the tribes of Judah and the tribes of Israel. I believe the division came over the controversy of who would be king, but don't quote me on that. Anyway, in the end, the tribes of Judah rebelled far too often and were eventually dissolved and absorbed into the cultures around them. Only the tribe of Israel remained. So, 2 Chronicles outlines the rise and fall of kings within the tribe of Judah primarily.

It is fascinating to read these accounts. As the verse above exemplifies, there is almost a direct parallel between their faith and their success. As long as the kings sought after God, they would succeed and be blessed. Whenever they rebelled or worshiped false gods, they would be defeated and overrun by the locals. With each generations's leadership, the group would rise or fall according to the new king's standards. In these passages, God blatantly shows his faithfulness to those who seek him. It's almost black and white. With the rebels, he left them alone, allowing their actions to take their natural course to self-destruction. But with the faithful, he protected them and redirected the course of their lives accordingly.

Yesterday, I had a horrible day with my daughter. We have been fighting for about 5 days straight and I'd had it. I had a pint of ice cream in mind for the evening. :) I decided to pray first, before indulging. I wanted to see what God would do and give him an opportunity to work in my life. He did. Almost miraculously, my daughter and I slipped into fun mode. She became extremely playful and positive, almost without warning. The final 2 hours of my evening were spent in joyful play. Amazing... I have to say that I still had the ice cream. But, it wasn't out of desperation, as a fix to my evening. It was because I had been thinking about it all day and geared myself up for it. The difference was that I didn't experience any guilt over it, because I had allowed God to solve my problem. Perhaps next time, I will forego the ice cream as a treat. But this is where I am today. I feel that though it wasn't the perfect ending, it was a step in the right direction. I now that in time, as I seek God, he will give me success.

Diet Devotional 15

2006-01-21T09:50:00.000-08:00

Matt. 6:25 - "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes?"

Sometimes when I'm really hungry and I sit down in front of my plate that has half of the portions I usually eat, I think I'm going to starve to death. It's a real thing. And it's totally counter-intuitive. I think, "This isn't enough! I'm going to be starved in a couple of hours and I won't be able to eat until 6pm!" I then go and get a double portion of the vegetable I'm allowed to have. Somehow, being full makes me feel safe.

In the passage above, Jesus makes a distinction between life and eating and drinking. I always thought "what you eat and drink" modified the idea of life, in other words, it better explained the concept of life. Same as "what you will wear" being an embellishment of what Christ meant when he referred to the body. Today I saw it differently.

He says, "Life is more important than food." They are not the same, and they exist apart from one another. I think what Christ was getting at when he was urging us not to worry, was that we make food and drink our entire lives. It consumes us. As in my example above, I have ridiculous fear of not being able to eat. It has nothing to do with my life, and realistically if I could separate the two, I would be more able to "live." Not just physically, but mentally. And what about the body? If I am so consumed by the idea of wearing clothes that make me look good, I have missed out on the purpose of the body. Pride takes the place of function. I keep coming back to the idea that my body is a tool - to be used to glorify God. And he will not let that tool become dull (the verses that follow suggest we will always be taken care of).

If I worry instead of caring for my life and my body, I will be the one who breaks the tool he has designed for good. Instead, I can follow his command in verse 33, Jesus says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you." I can trust that I won't go hungry for long - just long enough to bring me back to good health.

Diet Devotional 14

2006-01-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

Luke 9:17 "They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up 12 basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over."

I didn't know what to think of this passage this morning. I had about 4 different thoughts, none of which made sense for my diet program. So, I decided to read back a few verses (I'm a huge proponent of reading in context). Jesus' disciples had just returned from their first mission trip. He had sent them out with all authority to heal the sick and cast out demons. Probably both weary and excited, the disciples spent some time alone with Jesus explaining their experiences. Then, they all retreated off to Bethsaida. It must have been a sweet time of fellowship. But the crowds followed, and verse 11 says that Jesus welcomed them. Another object lesson was coming for the disciples.

It was then that I noticed exactly what Jesus said. When the disciples suggested he send the crowds away for food and shelter, Jesus said, "You give them something to eat." Shouldn't he have said, "I'll give them something to eat"? And then I noticed that after he gave thanks and broke the bread, he gave the food to the disciples, not directly to the people. He gave it to them so that they could give it to the people. Interesting. Jesus was training the disciples to work in his strength, not their own. He was teaching them to be his hands and feet, in preparation for when they would face their ministries alone**. He was showing them how to be vessels for him, and that when God provides, he provides in abundance. In their own strength, the food would have fed two or three people at best. But with God's strength, a miracle happened. I believe that as I use God's strength in this process, I will not only lose weight, but I will learn more about being a vessel for him. And the end product will be a healthier, clearer-minded, more effective Melinda - someone who can impact not only a few, but many.

** When I say alone, I mean without Christ physically present. Christ sent the Holy Spirit to walk with us through everything, so we are never truly alone or without resources in our lives.

Diet Devotional 13

2006-01-19T09:10:00.000-08:00

Matthew 5:6 - "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."

I never really got into the Beatitudes (the section from Jesus' sermon on the mountainside found in Matt 5:3-11). For some reason, it just never hit home for me. I figured one day that it would mean something, and today's that day. This passage talks about spiritual issues of the heart. I just finished writing a review on Desperate Housewives episode from Sunday and it covered maladies of the heart, illnesses that are of a spiritual and emotional kind. That opened my eyes to these passages. Christ notes a special kind of blessing for those who overcome each issue in the list. So, I thought I might apply this passage to my "fathead" issues, the things that make me want to eat. And they all have been a culprit at one point or another. Let me run through them quickly.

Has someone else gotten credit for something I've done well, and I've eaten out of anger? Blessed are the poor in spirit.

Have I ignored a loss or death in my life, instead drinking alcohol ot numb the pain? Blessed are those who mourn.

Have I been prideful in my actions, and eaten out of guilt later?
Blessed are the meek.

Have I pursued things that leave me empty and stuffed my face when they didn't work? Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Have I been unfair or unforgiving, having some cookies instead of dealing with confrontation? Blesssed are the merciful.

Have I hidden my sin and tried instead to self-destruct through food?
Blessed are the pure in heart.

Have I shied away from confrontation and conflict between two people that I loved, hanging out at the snack table instead?
Blessed are the peacemakers.

Have I been treated unfairly and rewarded myslef with an elaborate meal for enduring the injustice? Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness.

Have I eaten because I couldn't endure the injustice? Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kids of evil against you because of me (Christ).

If I can choose the spiritual action instead of the physical action, I am sure to be blessed. Jesus said it. I believe it.

Diet Devotional 12

2006-01-19T09:09:00.000-08:00

Jeremiah 17:9 - "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."

My heart tried to deceive me today. I had stayed up until 3am last night cleaning the house before the inspector came this morning at 9:00. (We're selling our house) I woke up early at 7am with the kids. Four hours sleep. And yet, my house was clean and I felt quite happy about it. I was energized by the order which rarely appears in my household! But my body was tired, and I looked forward to going to my Ladies Bible Study this morning. I started thinking about the goodies that were there, delicious flavored coffee and yummy snacks. Back to the flavored coffee...I love those International Delights creamers. Those sugary, creamy additions to a nice hot cup of coffee. My thought was, "You know, I did a really great job on this house. It looks really beautiful. I deserve a treat today. Maybe I'll put one of those yummy creamers in my coffee. It's only a little sugar."

The problem was that today wasn't my day to have a sweet. My treat day is still two days away, and any amount of sugar would send me on a craving binge. God intervened I believe. My next thought was, "I DESERVE a treat? How about, I deserve to hit my goals. How about, I deserve to learn diligence and persistence in the face of temptation. How about, I deserve to fit into that nice pair of jeans in my closet. How about, I deserve to not set myself up to fail today by creating unnecessary sugar cravings. I could think of at least four tangible emotional and spiritual rewards for NOT having the treat, as opposed to the one moment of gratification that was born of exhaustion. In keeping with the idea of rewards, Jer. 17:9 reminds me that God gives the rewards. If he has instructed me to bring my body in submission to him, then he is the one to reward my actions. And his rewards for obedience (and I could only think of four at the time) greatly outnumber my one reward for disobedience. Thank you God for helping me see through my heart's deceptions!

Diet Devotional 11

2006-01-19T09:07:00.001-08:00

Ecclesiastes 5:12 - "The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep."

As with most young couples starting out, my life has been filled with financial struggle. Student loans, old debts, new business ventures, and kids all contribute to a life of "just getting by." So, as I've considered what things make me eat badly, I had to face the fact that money was a factor. Now, I love good food. I just do. I love to cook it, order it at restaurants and eat it at a friend's house. I love it when people bring me cookies for Christmas or chocolate for Valentines. And over the years, this love has only increased. Somewhere along the way, I decided that if I couldn't have everything I wanted (screenwriting degree, a job I loved, babysitters for the kids so I could have hobbies or quiet time, etc.), I would at least have good food.

Why is the sleep of a laborer sweet, regardless of how much he eats? I think it's because his focus isn't on the food. He doesn't think all day on the abundance of things he has or the lack of the things he wants. He loves his labor and finds fulfillment in it. Food is a tool to be used toward his labor, not a reward or an indulgence, and not the display of his great wealth. I can see now that sometimes I don't seek fulfillment from what God has given me. Some days I do, but many days, I am like the rich man. I find temporary joy in the consumption of rich foods, but ultimately am left without sleep because I have not loved my labor or have given too much thought to my financial state.

My hope is to bring my love for food into balance. God gave us food to enjoy, but not to replace our walk with him. I don't need three fantastic meals every day to make myself feel better, and I don't have to love every meal. Some meals will be tools - just to give me energy to enjoy my work. Other meals will be pleasurable, out of gratitude for what God has provided.

Diet Devotional 10

2006-01-19T09:07:00.000-08:00

Isaiah 55:1-3a - Come all you who are thirsty, come to the waters, and you who have no money, come buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 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. Give ear and come to me, hear me, that your soul may live.

Isaiah 55 is hands down my favorite chapter in the entire Bible. It has been for me a chapter of fulfilled promises, promises of restoration. These three verses have particular importance because they were the first verses that actually meant something to me. Completely drowned in selfishness and despair, I had just turned to God and He gave me these verses (along with Psalm 40:2-3). And thus I began my journey. I hung my hat on them. I lived by the hope that they offered. I lived by the promises they made, promises of a fulfilled life - the richest of fare and satisfaction for my soul. Slowly I began to give up my old ways and experience the things God had to offer, and the result was exactly what he promised.

Today, no matter what circumstance or bad habit I'm trying to break, these verses remind me that God is always with me. He awaits my visits, arms filled with the very best things I could never buy. The richest of fare awaits me if I will resist the temptation to fill my soul with empty things.

Diet Devotional 9

2006-01-19T09:06:00.000-08:00

Ezra 7:23 ' Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven..."

A little background - The temple of Jerusalem was being rebuilt after King Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed it. A group of exiles went to Jerusalem to complete the rebuilding, but ran into opposition along the way. One of the people who opposed them was King Artaxerxes, who ordered the cessation of building for a time. Some time later, God turned the heart of the King and the king sent a letter to the builders at Jerusalem. He not only allowed them to continue working, he also dedicated whatever Ezra needed financially to complete the work to its fullest. The verse above is found near the end of his letter.

Back to the temple illustration from earlier in the week. I can see a direct parallel in these verses regarding the handling of my body (God's temple). Now dont' get me wrong, this passage is NOT talking about eating or dieting or anything like that. It is simply the historical account of the rebuilding of the temple. I am using it as an illustration, an analogy, because it's a good one. If I think of my body as a temple, I have certainly desicrated it many times over. I have abused it with many things besides food,a dn have destroyed any testimony of God's presence in my life. And each time, I have needed to rebuild for God's glory. At this stage in life, food has been my Nebuchadnezzar. And as I now attempt to rebuild, to prepare a place where God can be properly worshipped, I need to have the attitude of King Artaxerxes: "Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven."

Diet Devotional 8

2006-01-19T09:05:00.000-08:00

Luke 19:22 - "You knew, did you, that I was a shrewd man..."

The last two days I've blown it. I was acting in my own strength, missed my Bible studies, and got too busy to follow my diet. The result was that I made bad decisions. Now everyone who knows me, knows that I'm all about grace. So I thought I'd just start over today and move forward from here. That's why today's verses astounded me.

I started out in Jeremiah 34:17, which was about how the Israelites went back on their promise to free their slaves. God told them that because of their actions, he would give the owners their own brand of "freedom." Freedom to fall. Thinking I must be in the wrong department, I flipped to Amos 4. It talked about how God withheld food to try to bring the Israelites back to him. They didn't come back, though, and God promised judgment to follow. I still thought there must be some nice passage today about grace and how God is lenient when we fail. So, out of the Old Testment I went. I flipped to Jesus's parable in Luke 19 about the shrewd master who gave his servants each a portion of money to manage in his absence. Which brought me to verse 22. Yikes!!

So, what the heck is all this about? On the rare occasion that God comes down hard on me, it is usually for good reason. And that's when I reflected on the last two days. I have been rebellious, not weak. Just before indulging, I have thought of God's strength and his will for me, but then chose to ignore it. That's just not acceptable, because God is shrewd. He's very serious about his business and I have no right to treat his business lightly. If he wants to transform my heart through this diet, then I must listen. I absolutely MUST. I know that for me (most likely through the activity at Hollywood Jesus), there is much hard work ahead of me, work that will require me to be strong and wise, dependent on him at all costs and turns. I must be like the first servant, faithful in what God has called me to now so that he can entrust to me the greater work ahead (that which he designed for me before I was even born).

Diet Devotional 7

2006-01-19T09:04:00.000-08:00

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 - Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work, this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

What a cool passage! I saw Cinderella Man a week ago and remembered just how good we have it during our lifetime and in our country. Sometimes I'm tempted to despair over my hope for a higher standard of living, but I still am in the top 10% of the world's most wealthy persons. God has given me wealth (at least two weeks worth of food in my pantry, money to pay bills and even a little extra to play with), posessions (a home, furniture, two cars, and more gadgets than I can store), acceptance of my lot (it is only a few times that I wish I had more or that I dream of going to work), and happiness in my work (most days, I'm excited and joyful about being at home with my kids).

If I can take the days when I am frustrated and "reflecting on the days of my life," and instead sing a song of praise or make a list of thanksgiving, then I will be occupied with gladness of heart. Instead of trying to make myself feel better by going shopping or eating what I shouldn't (My diet calls this abusive frame of mind "fathead," because it's the things in our head that often cause us to eat), I can deal with my bad attitude by thinking about the gifts God has given me (vs.19).

Diet Devotional 6

2006-01-19T09:00:00.000-08:00

Rom. 14:6 - "He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks go God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. "

In this passage, Paul is talking to the Romans about not judging one another based on what their faith requires of them (eating food that is clean vs. unclean). There were many Jews believing in Christ, but still trying to follow the old Hebrew laws. According to Paul, their faith was weak (vs. 2) because they were keeping the old laws. It was as if somehow they wanted to follow the old laws just in case Christ wasn't really who he said he was. That way, they'd still be "safe" in their salvation because they had followed the laws in the meantime. Paul's argument is that people who are thoroughly grounded in their faith don't care what they eat. But at the same time, we should not judge another person for their faith, because really, regardless of how we eat, we are doing it unto the Lord.

Now, this got me thinking about the Old Testament law and how God established strict eating habits for the Israelites. Why did He do that? His call to the Israelites was that they be set apart, unlike the nations around them that were engorging themselves with lavish food in drink. He established boundaries that would keep them healthy and strong, not slothful and indulgent. Now, I don't believe I have to follow the letter of the law to gain salvation, but I do believe that the laws God established were put in place to benefit and protect the people (like the ten commandments). Some of these laws are worth reconsidering, even if I don't follow them strictly. So, if I want to be in a place of benefit and in a place of protection, then I should at least consider eating as unto the Lord, whatever that means for me. And I should give thanks. For whether I live or die on a daily basis, I belong to God.

Diet Devotional 5

2006-01-19T08:58:00.000-08:00

Isaiah 42:22 - But this is a people plundered and looted, all of them trapped in pits or hidden away in prisons. They have become plunder with no one to rescue them; they have been made loot, with no one to say, "Send them back."

It seems to me that I have spent a lot of time being in prisons. I have been held captive by many things including alcohol, sex, guilt, anger and pride. These things have limited my ability to live for Christ because they've kept me down in a pit, unbelieving, doubting that I could ever get out. And yet, the Lord has brought me out of all of them. It appears that my new entrapment is food, which frequently affects my outlook. Those days that I bury myself in a pint of ice cream, I feel like I'm hidden away in my very own prison of self-indulgence. And what have I gained? Guilt. Guilt that once again, I have not looked to God to help me.

This passage talks about the Israelites and how the Lord let them be laid waste because of their sin. I don't think that eating is a sin, but I do think that abusing God's temple is something to be taken seriously. I Cor. 6:19 says that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit, and what do you do in a temple? Worship God. How do we worship God?

Romans 12:1 - Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - which is your spiritual worship.

If my body is to be used for Christ, and I have imprisoned it by making it slothful and unproductive, then I am in no position to worship. I want to worship. I believe that just as God has taken me out of many prisons before, he will take me out of this one (and the many more that I may put myself into over the remaining years of my life). He is faithful, and I will worship him. He will set me free to do so.

Diet Devotional 4

2006-01-19T08:57:00.000-08:00

1 Kings 19:6 - He looked around and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord cme back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you."

Elijah is in the desert. There is a price on his head and he has just completed a huge step in his ministry. He's exhausted, hungry, scared and frustrated with the people of Israel. So, when he wakes from his original nap, he sees food beside him. Not manna, not raw fruits and veges, but fully prepared food. Who did that? Did some tribal wanderer set up camp around him and take care of him?

It was God who prepared his food, and it is God who prepares our food. Like the cattle on a thousand hills, every bite we take is owned by God. He gives it to us as a gift. How do we use that gift? Do we abuse it to satisfy the lust of the flesh or do we use it to prepare for the journey ahead.

V. 7 - The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you."

My personal journey is to teach and train my kids from the start to the end of the day. I started this diet because I was not following God's will for my life, always being too tired to "deal" with my kids. Letting them get away with things and watching too much television so I could get a break. I decided that bad food choices and excessive weight was causing this lack of motivation to follow God's plan for my life. So, how will I use the food I eat today? I'm going to use it to strengthen myself for today's journey, not to indulge my senses.

Diet Devotional 3

2006-01-19T08:56:00.000-08:00

1 Sam. 1:17-18 "Eli answered [Hannah], "Go in peace and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked him." She said, "May your servant find favor in yout eyes." Then she went away and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

I read that and wondered, why did they mention that she ate something? What a wierd detail. Well, I read back to the beginning and in verse 8, it's clear that she had been starving herself out of anguish. She was abusing her body with food, not eating, because of her grief. Peninah was constantly provoking her about her inability to have children and she couldn't get out of the depression. So, she goes to the temple and pours her heart out to God. Everyone focuses on the fact that Eli thought she was drunk, but it's interesting that eating (or rather, not eating) was her problem. AFter she talks to God and seeks him, she receives a word from him, through the prayer of Eli. It was after her soul was filled that she was able to do what was right for her body. Verse 18 indicates an improvement in her spirit, "Her face was no longer downtrodden." There was renewal and hope where before there had been anguish and grief. From this place of spiritual fullness could she deal with her eating disorder.

Diet Devotional 2

2006-01-19T08:55:00.000-08:00

John 7:37-39, "On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 'If a man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me as the scripture has said, streams of living water willl flow from within him.' By this he meant the Spirit..."

At the start of the diet, we had to write down our goal. I wrote, "I want to learn to draw on christ and prayer before I eat my feelings." So, both verses yesterday and today had to do with the spiritual and physical tie, and how they effect one another. I journaled these words this morning:

When spiritually thirsty, look to Jesus and let him fill you. Instead of eating your feelings, fill up on spiritual truth, a Bible verse, or rejoicing (by singing) in faith - believing what he is going to do with your situation, both weight and whatever emotional trial is provoking you to eat. From that spiritual renewal will come an overflow. The food won't fill the emotional void, but Christ will. And from HIM, will come spiritual waters, streams of living water that will help you cope and minister to others. (part of my reason for going on the diet too is to feel better over all so that I can be more effective in my Christian walk, with kids and Rob and others).

Diet Devotional 1 - Introduction

2006-01-19T08:53:00.000-08:00

This was a letter I sent to a friend when I started my diet. I'm posting it here on the blog to let you know where I'm coming from. Thanks for visiting!

Dear Friend,

I started my diet today and I am incorporating three things into it daily.

1. Food journal,
2.Bible verse and prayer, and
3. Vitamins and water.

I am going to try to accomplish these three things MINIMUM even if I flop out and get off the diet. That's my goal. Anyway, I'm writing a verse at the bottom of my food journal to carry me through the day. I almost got distracted this morning and didn't do it (yes, on the FIRST day!! LOL!!). Anyway, I sat down a few minutes ago and flipped to Proverbs. And to my surprise, there was a verse on good health...thought I'd share it with you! God's encouraging me to get into good health, and I'm in turn encouraging you (seems like it might be part of his plan for us!)

Prov. 3:7-8 "Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."

Pretty cool, eh? Anyway, just thought I'd share that with you since I'm sure you're struggling along with your diet after the holidays. Be encouraged!! YOU CAN do it! I believe you can, and I'm going to pray for you every day that I pray for me. :)