The Facebook ladies on Sacrificial Diet are in the second week of doing a 40 day one-meal-a-day fast. I just learned yesterday about it. I'm going to join them on Tuesday. That will give me time to get it in my head first.
I slipped a couple of days. I ate outside of the five-hour window, so I am sure there was a weight gain, but I'm not checking! I'm back on it now.
Tomorrow I will pick out another verse of the week. There are so many from which to choose!
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Every Day Battles
It's still a struggle for me to throw away old habits of eating from a fast food place. Yesterday, it was just convenient to go through a drive-through and it was in the allotted five hour time, but fried sandwiches and french fries are what I'm trying to get out of my life, at least, mostly.
I did eat a great lunch, though. I got some romain lettuce and diced up some avacodo and tomatoes and put on it, wrapped it up and ... yummy! Since I didn't bring along any onions, I just had to salt it. With it, I drank unsweetened tea. That food was so good. I know the salt and tea weren't the perfect choices, but it was much less sodium than a hamburger, I'm sure.
I am staying within the five hours. I feel good about that. I almost over did that yesterday. I was mindlessly eating pistachio nuts while watching a movie. I'm not one that has to have food with a movie, so this was an exception.
Baby steps. Seems like I'm taking baby steps in everything! Time I updated to toddler steps at least.
I did eat a great lunch, though. I got some romain lettuce and diced up some avacodo and tomatoes and put on it, wrapped it up and ... yummy! Since I didn't bring along any onions, I just had to salt it. With it, I drank unsweetened tea. That food was so good. I know the salt and tea weren't the perfect choices, but it was much less sodium than a hamburger, I'm sure.
I am staying within the five hours. I feel good about that. I almost over did that yesterday. I was mindlessly eating pistachio nuts while watching a movie. I'm not one that has to have food with a movie, so this was an exception.
Baby steps. Seems like I'm taking baby steps in everything! Time I updated to toddler steps at least.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Deeper Study
With this Fast-Five diet that I'm doing, and the improvements in food choices I'm making, I'm feeling much better physically.
Success breeds success.
I'm looking more into fasting. I'm learning about juice fasting with books, the internet and a movie/documentary called "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead".
I'm looking at doing a juice fast possibly in the Spring, if I can keep up this Fast-Five fast, which I do plan to do.
Angela stayed with her fast until she lost 100 pounds. That is what I plan to do. I feel so much better, why not stay with this? Juice fasting, however would be another type of fasting that I will have to read more about before I feel comfortable doing it.
If you've done juice fasting, please comment and let me know how it went!
Success breeds success.
I'm looking more into fasting. I'm learning about juice fasting with books, the internet and a movie/documentary called "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead".
I'm looking at doing a juice fast possibly in the Spring, if I can keep up this Fast-Five fast, which I do plan to do.
Angela stayed with her fast until she lost 100 pounds. That is what I plan to do. I feel so much better, why not stay with this? Juice fasting, however would be another type of fasting that I will have to read more about before I feel comfortable doing it.
If you've done juice fasting, please comment and let me know how it went!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Gaining Strength
The verses of the week are really helping me grow stronger in resisting the temptations of food. I am not perfect by any means, but I'm getting closer to it! This week's verse for some reason really meant a lot to me.
Yesterday, before I wrote here, I had eaten some left over pizza - dead food! - and before noon at that! The craving overcame me and I didn't have the strength to overcome the craving. I guess that's the reason I was drawn to this verse.
For the rest of the day, I ate only fruit. I felt better, even cleaner, as a result. This morning, the scale showed I had come down in weight. Yay!
Yesterday, before I wrote here, I had eaten some left over pizza - dead food! - and before noon at that! The craving overcame me and I didn't have the strength to overcome the craving. I guess that's the reason I was drawn to this verse.
For the rest of the day, I ate only fruit. I felt better, even cleaner, as a result. This morning, the scale showed I had come down in weight. Yay!
Monday, September 10, 2012
Cravings
The time for the requested prayers of the elders is over. When I craved food before, I would stop and pray. Now, I pray, but there's not the request that I had before. I need to add purposeful prayer to my fasting again in order to fight these cravings. I'm praying and fasting now for a little toddler on our church's bulletin prayer list.
The new verse of the week is from Numbers 11:4. The people that accompanied the Israelites who were not fully Israelite or who loved the Israelite people so much that they were allowed to go with them began to have "intense cravings". Their cravings gnawed at them. Day after day of eating this "Angel Food" (see an earlier post) got monotonous. They began to remember their home foods - meats, fruits, vegetables. They especially craved the meats.
Because of their disgust of this good manna, God became angry with them and killed some of them with fire. Moses had a "talk" with God and God gave him instructions of how to obtain meat for those who were craving it. Although they were getting the meat they wanted, they died because of it and the place that they died was called, "Kilbroth Hattaavah" (meaning "graves of craving") because there they buried those who yielded to craving.
Quite a story, huh? Why is it included in the Bible? I believe it's included for the lessons that can be learned. Here is the lesson I get from that story...
God had given the Israelites and those with them the perfect food. It is, after all, included in Heaven along with the Tree of Life to be consumed by those who spend etertnity there. (Revelation 2:17 - although this could be figurative, but I don't think so). Rejecting it was rejecting God's gift of life.
Today, rejecting good foods straight from the ground, closest food to the hands of God, so to speak, might just be the same thing as rejecting God's gift of life to me. Every bite of life giving food gives just that: life. Every bite of dead food, takes a little bit of life away. And, too much of either of those has its problems, too. The Israelites were only allowed a certain amount of manna each day. Trying to get more got them into more trouble.
Fighting cravings: prayer with purpose and thankfulness to God for His life-giving foods. It has to be easier to deal with cravings the more battles we win.
The new verse of the week is from Numbers 11:4. The people that accompanied the Israelites who were not fully Israelite or who loved the Israelite people so much that they were allowed to go with them began to have "intense cravings". Their cravings gnawed at them. Day after day of eating this "Angel Food" (see an earlier post) got monotonous. They began to remember their home foods - meats, fruits, vegetables. They especially craved the meats.
Because of their disgust of this good manna, God became angry with them and killed some of them with fire. Moses had a "talk" with God and God gave him instructions of how to obtain meat for those who were craving it. Although they were getting the meat they wanted, they died because of it and the place that they died was called, "Kilbroth Hattaavah" (meaning "graves of craving") because there they buried those who yielded to craving.
Quite a story, huh? Why is it included in the Bible? I believe it's included for the lessons that can be learned. Here is the lesson I get from that story...
God had given the Israelites and those with them the perfect food. It is, after all, included in Heaven along with the Tree of Life to be consumed by those who spend etertnity there. (Revelation 2:17 - although this could be figurative, but I don't think so). Rejecting it was rejecting God's gift of life.
Today, rejecting good foods straight from the ground, closest food to the hands of God, so to speak, might just be the same thing as rejecting God's gift of life to me. Every bite of life giving food gives just that: life. Every bite of dead food, takes a little bit of life away. And, too much of either of those has its problems, too. The Israelites were only allowed a certain amount of manna each day. Trying to get more got them into more trouble.
Fighting cravings: prayer with purpose and thankfulness to God for His life-giving foods. It has to be easier to deal with cravings the more battles we win.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Taking Advantage of the Opportunity
Yesterday, I read all of my posts on this blog. The one about the angels' food had a sentence in it that struck me numb all over - again. It was something like: "If we could eat the food of the angels now, would we?" We do have food that is closest to God's hands - raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. I mean, these foods come directly from the Creator as a gift of life to us. So, why do I go to the processed dead foods instead? Cravings. Cravings come from what we are habitually used to doing.
The opportunity is there to take advantage of God's gift of life-giving foods.
Today, a new day. It's new every morning. I gained a pound from yesterday's over-eating, even though I stayed within the margins of the fast-five. I fooled myself into thinking that I'll be okay as long as I stay within the time. Today, I take advantage of the foods available to us directly from God's creation.
And... praying for peace and for liberty to continue in our God-blessed country.
The opportunity is there to take advantage of God's gift of life-giving foods.
Today, a new day. It's new every morning. I gained a pound from yesterday's over-eating, even though I stayed within the margins of the fast-five. I fooled myself into thinking that I'll be okay as long as I stay within the time. Today, I take advantage of the foods available to us directly from God's creation.
And... praying for peace and for liberty to continue in our God-blessed country.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
New Every Morning
The verse of the week is: Lamentations 3:22-23 - "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."
More verses in that chapter are good to reflect upon, but I'm limiting it to these two for here.
Every day begins with a clean page. I'm glad God's mercies are new every morning. Remembering to start fresh every day is a challenge in itself. But God doesn't forget. Our heavenly Father is full of compassion and mercy and is not without feeling toward our physical needs.
Our elders in the church had asked us to pray for a week about some possible changes that could take place in the church. I decided to fast and pray and not talk to anyone about it until the time was over, which is nearly a week ago now. I was wanting to do a pure fast - just water, but instead, I fasted this 19-5 hour way. It was better than no fasting. Still, this fasting increased my strength in prayer. The elders decided in the way that I was hoping for, but I prayed for the best to be done. Naturally, I thought the best was "my way", but that's just human nature. I believe we should pray for God's will in spite of our own will be done. It's how Jesus prayed, after all.
I'm continuing the 19-5 fast. I hope to continue it until I lose the weight I need to lose. I'm SOOOO heavy. I want to lose half my weight. I need to lose no less than 100 pounds, but 120 pounds would be what I want to lose. Actually, since the elders asked us for prayer and I started back in daily fasting, I've lost 4 pounds.
Forgiveness again. Starting again. Mercies again. New every morning.
More verses in that chapter are good to reflect upon, but I'm limiting it to these two for here.
Every day begins with a clean page. I'm glad God's mercies are new every morning. Remembering to start fresh every day is a challenge in itself. But God doesn't forget. Our heavenly Father is full of compassion and mercy and is not without feeling toward our physical needs.
Our elders in the church had asked us to pray for a week about some possible changes that could take place in the church. I decided to fast and pray and not talk to anyone about it until the time was over, which is nearly a week ago now. I was wanting to do a pure fast - just water, but instead, I fasted this 19-5 hour way. It was better than no fasting. Still, this fasting increased my strength in prayer. The elders decided in the way that I was hoping for, but I prayed for the best to be done. Naturally, I thought the best was "my way", but that's just human nature. I believe we should pray for God's will in spite of our own will be done. It's how Jesus prayed, after all.
I'm continuing the 19-5 fast. I hope to continue it until I lose the weight I need to lose. I'm SOOOO heavy. I want to lose half my weight. I need to lose no less than 100 pounds, but 120 pounds would be what I want to lose. Actually, since the elders asked us for prayer and I started back in daily fasting, I've lost 4 pounds.
Forgiveness again. Starting again. Mercies again. New every morning.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Philippians 4:13
This well known verse is my "verse of the week" to encourage myself in daily fasting.
I want to make something clear on this verse. Paul was talking about his personal history of being poor and being wealthy. Then he says that either way, he has learned how to live in Christ.
He says, "I can do all things in Christ who strenghtens me".
We use this verse to tell ourselves that we can do whatever we set out to do through Christ. While that may or may not be so, this particular verse merely states that whether Paul was poor or rich; hungry or well-fed - he could do all of those things in Christ.
This is a verse about circumstances, not projects. Are you poor, yet you have children depending on you and going to work would either leave them alone or rob all your paycheck to see they are care for? "I can do all things ... " You see, God is not going to leave us unattended when we are first doing His will. He is more powerful than a 9-5 job. A good job that allows you to care for your children too will come to you.
Are you rich and are beginning to think that you have it all - you don't need God? Think again. Deuteronomy 8 is an excellent chapter to read to make us realize we must never forget the One Who gave us our riches. And, everyone is rich compared to someone else, just like everyone is poor compared to someone else. It all depends on how you look at it yourself.
The promise here is to those in Christ - so make sure that you are in Christ, if you are counting on this promise. Read the scriptures, especially the book of Acts to see the history of the church and how the people were added to it, which is being in Christ. Go read.
For me, this verse helps me to know that God is providing what I need, which is not a continual supply of food going in my mouth. (Bleh!) I'm thankful for this verse this week.
To change the subject, I feel SO much better with less food. I had a great day yesterday - I actually went up a small mountain with steps rather than take the shuttle, walked around the folk demonstrations & shops at the top of the hill and came back down the steps. This was the first year I had felt like doing this in about six years. We go to the same place every year on their opening weekend. (Ozark Folk Center at Mt. View, Arkansas, if you are interested). Even though I stopped twice going up, and once going down, I was proud that I did it. My goal is to be able to go up and down without stopping by the end of this summer.
I want to make something clear on this verse. Paul was talking about his personal history of being poor and being wealthy. Then he says that either way, he has learned how to live in Christ.
He says, "I can do all things in Christ who strenghtens me".
We use this verse to tell ourselves that we can do whatever we set out to do through Christ. While that may or may not be so, this particular verse merely states that whether Paul was poor or rich; hungry or well-fed - he could do all of those things in Christ.
This is a verse about circumstances, not projects. Are you poor, yet you have children depending on you and going to work would either leave them alone or rob all your paycheck to see they are care for? "I can do all things ... " You see, God is not going to leave us unattended when we are first doing His will. He is more powerful than a 9-5 job. A good job that allows you to care for your children too will come to you.
Are you rich and are beginning to think that you have it all - you don't need God? Think again. Deuteronomy 8 is an excellent chapter to read to make us realize we must never forget the One Who gave us our riches. And, everyone is rich compared to someone else, just like everyone is poor compared to someone else. It all depends on how you look at it yourself.
The promise here is to those in Christ - so make sure that you are in Christ, if you are counting on this promise. Read the scriptures, especially the book of Acts to see the history of the church and how the people were added to it, which is being in Christ. Go read.
For me, this verse helps me to know that God is providing what I need, which is not a continual supply of food going in my mouth. (Bleh!) I'm thankful for this verse this week.
To change the subject, I feel SO much better with less food. I had a great day yesterday - I actually went up a small mountain with steps rather than take the shuttle, walked around the folk demonstrations & shops at the top of the hill and came back down the steps. This was the first year I had felt like doing this in about six years. We go to the same place every year on their opening weekend. (Ozark Folk Center at Mt. View, Arkansas, if you are interested). Even though I stopped twice going up, and once going down, I was proud that I did it. My goal is to be able to go up and down without stopping by the end of this summer.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Eight Good Thoughts
The verse of the week changes today. When I begin to think that I can't accomplish something, like daily fasting; when I begin to talk negatively to myself, I will pick out each of the eight things to think of in the verse of the week this week: Philippians 4:8 - What ever is ...
These eight guidelines to keep my thoughts positive will help me all week.
- true Fasting is a healthful thing to do for my spiritual as well as physical life
- noble Also, "honorable" in other versions - Fasting is an honorable thing because of the sacrifice
- just Fasting brings to justice my over-eating habits
- pure Fasting helps to purify the body and the mind
- lovely Not only a lovlier body, face, nails and hair, but everything around - all nature seems more colorful, more lovely when the body is not overstuffed with food
- things of good report The reports going around of me losing weight and gaining health will certainly be good reports
- virtue Virtue means good, moral and clean. Fasting is definitely a good and moral and clean way of getting control of eating habits
- something praiseworthy about fasting - I can certainly sing the praises of fasting, even daily fasting.
These eight guidelines to keep my thoughts positive will help me all week.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Prayer and fasting just go together
I've learned something interesting why perhaps it's so important to combine fasting with earnest prayer. Each time I thought of food, or felt hunger, I prayed for the man needing to find a job. When I was eating for the five-hour period, I didn't pray as earnestly. Hmmm.
I can see why fasting and prayer go together. Like peanut butter and jelly, love and marriage - prayer and fasting are a perfect pair.
I can see why fasting and prayer go together. Like peanut butter and jelly, love and marriage - prayer and fasting are a perfect pair.
Monday, April 9, 2012
For the sake of prayer
I've been O.F.F. the daily fasting for I can't remember how long. But, I'm starting again.
What happened? There is a man at church who lost his job due to downsizing in the company where he was employed. Now, his wife does work, but he is without a job and they have three daughters - one in college and two about to be in college.
We, in the church, really don't want this family to have to move. Since they have moved here, we've gotten very close to them. They are like family to us now. I think they feel the same way. We are hoping and praying that he will be able to find a job close and stay here.
Sunday, I asked him how that job hunting was coming, and I told him that I would pray for him on that. I had already decided to dedicate all day Monday with fasting to prayer for him if he hadn't found a job yet.
That's why I'm back on the daily fasting today. Everytime I thought of food or was hungry, I lifted his family up in prayer. I've decided to go back to the Fast-Five type of fasting with this prayer. I will lift this family up in prayer daily until the dad has a new job that he will be happy with and one that will have good bosses and co-workers.
What happened? There is a man at church who lost his job due to downsizing in the company where he was employed. Now, his wife does work, but he is without a job and they have three daughters - one in college and two about to be in college.
We, in the church, really don't want this family to have to move. Since they have moved here, we've gotten very close to them. They are like family to us now. I think they feel the same way. We are hoping and praying that he will be able to find a job close and stay here.
Sunday, I asked him how that job hunting was coming, and I told him that I would pray for him on that. I had already decided to dedicate all day Monday with fasting to prayer for him if he hadn't found a job yet.
That's why I'm back on the daily fasting today. Everytime I thought of food or was hungry, I lifted his family up in prayer. I've decided to go back to the Fast-Five type of fasting with this prayer. I will lift this family up in prayer daily until the dad has a new job that he will be happy with and one that will have good bosses and co-workers.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Consequences
There are consequences of (ahem) overeating. While we are enjoying the good savory food and wanting more, we don't think of what will happen to us because of it. I say, "we" because I know I'm not alone in this.
While I was off this wonderful fast, I gained back the weight I'd lost. I felt sluggish again. My energy level dropped. I just had a general miserable feeling. But worst of all, I spent the night in a hospital fearful of an impending heart attack. I was angry at myself the entire time I lay in that hospital bed thinking of the things I couldn't do because of this ridiculous trip to the ER and overnight "observation" stay there.
The monetary cost was high, too. I mean, all of those extra meals bought was an added cost. Talk about cost - take a trip to the ER. Even though we have insurance, it doesn't pay everything. That li'l ER trip could have paid for a trip to say, Branson. Now, THAT cost is something I could have felt good about.
These things are just a snapshop of the consequences of my straying off the path of fasting. But, I'm back on again, going on the road to better health.
While I was off this wonderful fast, I gained back the weight I'd lost. I felt sluggish again. My energy level dropped. I just had a general miserable feeling. But worst of all, I spent the night in a hospital fearful of an impending heart attack. I was angry at myself the entire time I lay in that hospital bed thinking of the things I couldn't do because of this ridiculous trip to the ER and overnight "observation" stay there.
The monetary cost was high, too. I mean, all of those extra meals bought was an added cost. Talk about cost - take a trip to the ER. Even though we have insurance, it doesn't pay everything. That li'l ER trip could have paid for a trip to say, Branson. Now, THAT cost is something I could have felt good about.
These things are just a snapshop of the consequences of my straying off the path of fasting. But, I'm back on again, going on the road to better health.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
What Can I Say?
O wow, over two weeks have gone by and I have sunk to the level I was before this year. That is, I went off my Fast-Five eating plan, plus, my One-Meal a day plan I was doing with some great ladies.
The best thing I know to do in this situation is to be like Paul and forget those thing which are behind and reach toward those things which are ahead. (go see Philippians 3:13).
Looking back, I can see that I slipped in little ways, not in all day all at once. Maybe also, I put too many restrictions on myself. I mean, "NO" sweets? I'll take Angela's gentle advice and allow myself mints at least or a piece of penny candy once in a while.
I'm back. I fell down the climb, but I'm gaining ground again.
The best thing I know to do in this situation is to be like Paul and forget those thing which are behind and reach toward those things which are ahead. (go see Philippians 3:13).
Looking back, I can see that I slipped in little ways, not in all day all at once. Maybe also, I put too many restrictions on myself. I mean, "NO" sweets? I'll take Angela's gentle advice and allow myself mints at least or a piece of penny candy once in a while.
I'm back. I fell down the climb, but I'm gaining ground again.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
A Bad Night
For the first time since the 40-day fast began, I had a bad night last night. I got up at 2:30 and went back to bed at 5:45 - the usual time I get OUT of bed. This made for a very difficult morning to get ready for school and work.
I have a suspicion that it may be because of the choice of food I ate for my noon meal. The night before, I went out to eat with my family. I didn't eat anything and I only drank unsweetened tea, but ordered a to-go meal for my lunch the next day (yesterday). This meal was a pork barbeque sandwich and sauce with baked beans and potato salad. That meal has a lot of sugar and starch in it - not something for a "borderline" diabetic to be having. It's rather a heavy meal, too. It was the first time I'd eaten anything that heavy since the fast began. So, note to self: "be careful of your sugar and starch intake even on one-meal-a-day days".
I should have known.
I have a suspicion that it may be because of the choice of food I ate for my noon meal. The night before, I went out to eat with my family. I didn't eat anything and I only drank unsweetened tea, but ordered a to-go meal for my lunch the next day (yesterday). This meal was a pork barbeque sandwich and sauce with baked beans and potato salad. That meal has a lot of sugar and starch in it - not something for a "borderline" diabetic to be having. It's rather a heavy meal, too. It was the first time I'd eaten anything that heavy since the fast began. So, note to self: "be careful of your sugar and starch intake even on one-meal-a-day days".
I should have known.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
One Full Week
One week ago today, we started the 40-Day fast (for us at this time, it's only eat one meal a day and have no desserts). I've amazed myself with how well I've done.
I have kept my diet sodas to drink during the fasting period and I added to the "rules" for myself to have no sweets as well as the no desserts. From that, I've strayed a little without even thinking. I've had a couple of peppermints at a restaurant. On purpose, I ate some lifesaver mints, trying to justify that they don't have enough calories to matter. They matter - because it's walking that edge that's easy to fall off if I'm not careful. But, I feel strong to resist now. I hope - I PRAY - that I will be strong. Still, I was worried that I might not do as well as I did.
Physically, I feel so much better. I think I may even be detoxing some even though it's not a complete fast. Detoxing symptoms like headaches, skin boils have definitely shown themselves, and even though this is not about weight necessarily, I'm losing weight. I've lost four pounds.
I'm not sure how prayers are being answered. Most of my prayers involve changing attitudes, or people far away. But, I do have news of one prayer definitely being answered in a positive way. Praise God!
Today, being "Day 8", 32 days remain of our fast. The Fast-Five plan seems almost too much food now!
I have kept my diet sodas to drink during the fasting period and I added to the "rules" for myself to have no sweets as well as the no desserts. From that, I've strayed a little without even thinking. I've had a couple of peppermints at a restaurant. On purpose, I ate some lifesaver mints, trying to justify that they don't have enough calories to matter. They matter - because it's walking that edge that's easy to fall off if I'm not careful. But, I feel strong to resist now. I hope - I PRAY - that I will be strong. Still, I was worried that I might not do as well as I did.
Physically, I feel so much better. I think I may even be detoxing some even though it's not a complete fast. Detoxing symptoms like headaches, skin boils have definitely shown themselves, and even though this is not about weight necessarily, I'm losing weight. I've lost four pounds.
I'm not sure how prayers are being answered. Most of my prayers involve changing attitudes, or people far away. But, I do have news of one prayer definitely being answered in a positive way. Praise God!
Today, being "Day 8", 32 days remain of our fast. The Fast-Five plan seems almost too much food now!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Glutton No More
I am through with the sin of gluttony. I really believe this is conquered in my life, more than ever before. Now, I'm not so naive as to think that Satan isn't standing by to get me back to that old way of eating. I know he is.
But, now I know that it's more than a bad habit. It was a sin that was holding me back from full obedience. That sin is a difficult one to pin down. I think it's because so many of us are guilty that we don't want to think of it as bad as being sinful.
I am here to proclaim that I'm not going back to that way of life. It is deadly. God is life giving. Gluttony is deceptive. God's word is truthful. Just look at this verse:
Proverbs 23:1-3
1 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
Consider carefully what is before you;
2 And put a knife to your throat
If you are a man given to appetite.
3 Do not desire his delicacies,
For they are deceptive food.
The three most important things that hit me in this verse are 1) to consider carefully what food is there, 2) if you are a person given to appetite (ME!) and 3) rich foods are "deceptive" foods. That is, they have no real nutritious value. I do believe that our Father in Heaven wants us to be very careful about what we eat.
Once again, the word of God has saved me from myself.
But, now I know that it's more than a bad habit. It was a sin that was holding me back from full obedience. That sin is a difficult one to pin down. I think it's because so many of us are guilty that we don't want to think of it as bad as being sinful.
I am here to proclaim that I'm not going back to that way of life. It is deadly. God is life giving. Gluttony is deceptive. God's word is truthful. Just look at this verse:
Proverbs 23:1-3
1 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
Consider carefully what is before you;
2 And put a knife to your throat
If you are a man given to appetite.
3 Do not desire his delicacies,
For they are deceptive food.
The three most important things that hit me in this verse are 1) to consider carefully what food is there, 2) if you are a person given to appetite (ME!) and 3) rich foods are "deceptive" foods. That is, they have no real nutritious value. I do believe that our Father in Heaven wants us to be very careful about what we eat.
Once again, the word of God has saved me from myself.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Choosing Affliction or the Pleasures of Sin
Do you remember in the Bible who chose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season? It was Moses. This man could have lived the life of riches - rich foods, clothes, power, women. He didn't have to go out and protect and save a nation of slaves, thus having to live with them and become one of them in their daily lives. This was something he chose to do.
This is my point for this blog. Choosing to suffer affliction rather than enjoying the pleasure of rich and much food. It hit me the other day while I was craving to sink my teeth into a slice of pizza how much food is simply pleasurable rather than just to keep our bodies alive.
Then, as I thought of the other pleasures I don't do in order to stay in line with God's word, and how this is just like that for me. My husband and I have remained faithful to each other these 32 years. I'm sure there've been temptations for him, and I know there have been for me to stray from our vows and God's word to enjoy the pleasures of sin. I'm sure it would be pleasurable to drink, dance, par-TAY, but I stay away from all of those for the same reasons. So, why is it so difficult to break this food addiction?
I'd like to know exactly what "gluttony" is. There's no real clear definition that I've ever read. Am I a glutton? I never thought so. I don't habitually eat so much that I have to go throw it up. Is that the point to which people become gluttonous? Or, is the Bible definition of gluttony less than that? Is it merely over-eating? Now, that I've definitely done, and practically every day.
I don't like living my life at the edge to see how close I can get to sin before I'm sinning. It's too easy to topple over that fence into the wrong pasture. But, I think I've done that with food. Gluttony is not a sermon topic by itself that I've ever heard, and being a preacher's daughter, I've heard lots of sermons.
This daily fasting has shown me that possibly all too many of us, me included, are sinning the pleasurable sin of gluttony without even realizing it. Each of us has to examine our hearts to answer that question. I had to take a look at myself to realize it.
I want to be like that faithful servant of God, Moses. I don't pretend to have his strength, but with God's help, I do.
This is my point for this blog. Choosing to suffer affliction rather than enjoying the pleasure of rich and much food. It hit me the other day while I was craving to sink my teeth into a slice of pizza how much food is simply pleasurable rather than just to keep our bodies alive.
Then, as I thought of the other pleasures I don't do in order to stay in line with God's word, and how this is just like that for me. My husband and I have remained faithful to each other these 32 years. I'm sure there've been temptations for him, and I know there have been for me to stray from our vows and God's word to enjoy the pleasures of sin. I'm sure it would be pleasurable to drink, dance, par-TAY, but I stay away from all of those for the same reasons. So, why is it so difficult to break this food addiction?
I'd like to know exactly what "gluttony" is. There's no real clear definition that I've ever read. Am I a glutton? I never thought so. I don't habitually eat so much that I have to go throw it up. Is that the point to which people become gluttonous? Or, is the Bible definition of gluttony less than that? Is it merely over-eating? Now, that I've definitely done, and practically every day.
I don't like living my life at the edge to see how close I can get to sin before I'm sinning. It's too easy to topple over that fence into the wrong pasture. But, I think I've done that with food. Gluttony is not a sermon topic by itself that I've ever heard, and being a preacher's daughter, I've heard lots of sermons.
This daily fasting has shown me that possibly all too many of us, me included, are sinning the pleasurable sin of gluttony without even realizing it. Each of us has to examine our hearts to answer that question. I had to take a look at myself to realize it.
I want to be like that faithful servant of God, Moses. I don't pretend to have his strength, but with God's help, I do.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
40 Day Fast
Jesus must have, MUST have, fasted often before His 40 day fast we read about in Matthew 4. It was a fairly common, even prideful to some, thing to do to fast in those days. To start off fasting for the first time for 40 days doesn't seem reasonable. Of course, Jesus was the Son of God, but He was also the Son of man (human).
I've joined a group of ladies on facebook - The Sacrificial Diet - to fast for 40 days for prayer and release Satan's hold on our bodies to eat more than we need. (ahem) But, this is an easy version of that fast, and today is Day Two.
Now, this is not the 40 day fast that Jesus or Moses or Elijah did in the Bible. No, we are just fasting all but one meal plus desserts a day. Other than that, it's up to the faster what else they may do. One still eats a spoonful of food to take with her pills, others still have their coffee, and I think I read of one or two having only fruit if they can't stand the hunger, and all that's okay. Personally, I'm still drinking diet sodas outside of the meal, and I'm doing without any sweets, not just desserts. I'm not sure if that was the intention or not, but desserts was all that was said. The thing here is to do with less. It's still a sacrifice.
Fasting is very personal since it is said in God's word to do it quietly and don't show it off, as the hypocrites did.
Matthew 6:16-18 - "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." nkjv
Now, we must keep it true. No one saw Jesus in the wilderness, that we can read about. Yet, He never caved in to temptation to eat before it was time. It must have been a very difficult thing to do, even though He was possibly accustomed to fasting.
This 40 day fasting that I'm participating in is a step toward more fasting, more giving up self, more seeking the Lord. It's less than eating in a five hour time, less than eating any sweets I choose in that time. Yet, it's more than completely giving up all food and drink as did the children of Israel in the Bible. It's hard to imagine giving up food and water. I'm thankful for the one meal. Some day, I may be able to do a real 40 day fast, or a 90 day juice fast as I've read of people doing.
Angela, who I've mentioned before is our fearless leader. I'm so thankful to be doing this and having this group to help me along.
If you have something you'd like for me to pray about for you, please mention it in a comment below. I'll add your request to my list.
I've joined a group of ladies on facebook - The Sacrificial Diet - to fast for 40 days for prayer and release Satan's hold on our bodies to eat more than we need. (ahem) But, this is an easy version of that fast, and today is Day Two.
Now, this is not the 40 day fast that Jesus or Moses or Elijah did in the Bible. No, we are just fasting all but one meal plus desserts a day. Other than that, it's up to the faster what else they may do. One still eats a spoonful of food to take with her pills, others still have their coffee, and I think I read of one or two having only fruit if they can't stand the hunger, and all that's okay. Personally, I'm still drinking diet sodas outside of the meal, and I'm doing without any sweets, not just desserts. I'm not sure if that was the intention or not, but desserts was all that was said. The thing here is to do with less. It's still a sacrifice.
Fasting is very personal since it is said in God's word to do it quietly and don't show it off, as the hypocrites did.
Matthew 6:16-18 - "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." nkjv
Now, we must keep it true. No one saw Jesus in the wilderness, that we can read about. Yet, He never caved in to temptation to eat before it was time. It must have been a very difficult thing to do, even though He was possibly accustomed to fasting.
This 40 day fasting that I'm participating in is a step toward more fasting, more giving up self, more seeking the Lord. It's less than eating in a five hour time, less than eating any sweets I choose in that time. Yet, it's more than completely giving up all food and drink as did the children of Israel in the Bible. It's hard to imagine giving up food and water. I'm thankful for the one meal. Some day, I may be able to do a real 40 day fast, or a 90 day juice fast as I've read of people doing.
Angela, who I've mentioned before is our fearless leader. I'm so thankful to be doing this and having this group to help me along.
If you have something you'd like for me to pray about for you, please mention it in a comment below. I'll add your request to my list.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Food of the Angels
In this wonderful Fast-Five food plan, Dr. Bert W. Herring, the author, says it doesn't really matter what you eat during the five hours, as long as you stay within those hours. However, he's quick to point out the obvious - the healthier the food, the better you'll feel and the more weight you'll lose.
I've lost weight already, but alas! I've been eating mostly dead, junk food. Last night, I went to bed with a strange pain in my body. I've been eating foods like chips, soda pop, white bread, processed and highly spiced meats, etc. I know these foods are not helping my body to be healthy. It reminded me of that last night.
About three years ago, I lost 60ish pounds just eating mostly raw vegan. I ate 85% raw vegan in calories, which means not much in the way of cooked foods. I felt great! My body was happy with me. I often had a half of a small watermelon for one entire meal. Watermelons, in my opinion and from what I've learned about them, is on the top of the list of healthy foods.
When I was reading in the Bible the other day about foods, I came across this verse:
"Men ate angel's food. He sent them food to the full". Psalm 78:25 in the njkv.
This was the manna that the Israelites had in the wilderness. Think about that manna: It sustained all these people for 40 years. At the end of those 40 years, Moses was 120 years old and and his eyes were not dimmed nor was his natural strength diminished - Deuteronomy 34:7. Now, why was that? I think it was largely because manna was the perfect food for the body and it kept Moses strong and with good eyes. Manna is spoken of as being given to the ones that enter heaven (Revelation 2:17). Food of the angels.
Though we can't eat the food of the angels now, would we? I mean, we have food that is closest to God's hands: fruits, nuts grains, vegetables. Why then, with the closest to angel's food that is available, do I eat dead lifeless foods knowing that they destroy cells rather than give them life?
Thinking all of this through, I don't have an answer except that I've become addicted to the taste, feel, smell of dead foods. God's foods taste, feel and smell so much better. Even when they rot and smell bad, they are useful in the compost pile - dead foods are not. Think of that - the foods I am eating not only are not helpful to the body, but also not helpful to a rotting compost pile. They are dead foods. Our God is a god of life, not death.
So, now, I'm challenging myself to eat the closest I can to angel's food: back to raw vegan and whole foods for me! I may fail miserably for a while, but my eye is on this goal. No more night pains for me if I can help it.
I've lost weight already, but alas! I've been eating mostly dead, junk food. Last night, I went to bed with a strange pain in my body. I've been eating foods like chips, soda pop, white bread, processed and highly spiced meats, etc. I know these foods are not helping my body to be healthy. It reminded me of that last night.
About three years ago, I lost 60ish pounds just eating mostly raw vegan. I ate 85% raw vegan in calories, which means not much in the way of cooked foods. I felt great! My body was happy with me. I often had a half of a small watermelon for one entire meal. Watermelons, in my opinion and from what I've learned about them, is on the top of the list of healthy foods.
When I was reading in the Bible the other day about foods, I came across this verse:
"Men ate angel's food. He sent them food to the full". Psalm 78:25 in the njkv.
This was the manna that the Israelites had in the wilderness. Think about that manna: It sustained all these people for 40 years. At the end of those 40 years, Moses was 120 years old and and his eyes were not dimmed nor was his natural strength diminished - Deuteronomy 34:7. Now, why was that? I think it was largely because manna was the perfect food for the body and it kept Moses strong and with good eyes. Manna is spoken of as being given to the ones that enter heaven (Revelation 2:17). Food of the angels.
Though we can't eat the food of the angels now, would we? I mean, we have food that is closest to God's hands: fruits, nuts grains, vegetables. Why then, with the closest to angel's food that is available, do I eat dead lifeless foods knowing that they destroy cells rather than give them life?
Thinking all of this through, I don't have an answer except that I've become addicted to the taste, feel, smell of dead foods. God's foods taste, feel and smell so much better. Even when they rot and smell bad, they are useful in the compost pile - dead foods are not. Think of that - the foods I am eating not only are not helpful to the body, but also not helpful to a rotting compost pile. They are dead foods. Our God is a god of life, not death.
So, now, I'm challenging myself to eat the closest I can to angel's food: back to raw vegan and whole foods for me! I may fail miserably for a while, but my eye is on this goal. No more night pains for me if I can help it.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Stickers and Tickers
I've added a ticker for fun. It will go along as I succeed in keeping up with my daily fasting. I've made it for the year, from January 11. That is why the Christmas-ie kind of design, keeps my eye on the end of the year.
Stickers work for me. I gave a small 50 cent calendar along with a sheet of stickers to each of my 5th grade girls in my Bible class to keep track of new habits they wanted to form. I have one for me too to put a sticker on each day that I stick with this daily fast.
Stickers work for me. I gave a small 50 cent calendar along with a sheet of stickers to each of my 5th grade girls in my Bible class to keep track of new habits they wanted to form. I have one for me too to put a sticker on each day that I stick with this daily fast.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Fasting Daily?
This begins my blog of daily fasting. I'm following the fast-five diet plan. I found this diet after looking for something like it and found this website: http://www.fast-5.com/ You can either buy a real book or download an ebook for free - at least it was free when I downloaded it.
I had thought about the idea of sacrificing food for the sake of giving what I had saved in a meal to the "Meals on Wheels" program. An elder in the church I attend challenged us to seek out the hungry. I had taken a look at my heart, and thought on God's words and knew I was eating more than my share when others were hungry. I decided to cut down on my food and increase giving to others. This was my motivation, as well as my health, weight and looks. So, I was vain after all.
I found Angela's "Sacrificial Dieting" blog (now closed - she'd reached her goal of losing over 100 pounds and keeping it off ever since. You can see her at her "Free Spirit Haven" blog here on blogspot). She really inspired me to do the same thing. She mentioned the Fast-Five plan, though that's not the actual path she took. There are other fasting eating plans. I think one is "Eat Stop Eat". Just look up "Intermittent Fasting" on youtube or for blogs and you'll be surprised how much information there is about daily, or regular, fasting.
The idea for the plan I've chosen is to fast for 19 hours - daily - and have a five hour window of eating. The five hour time is up to the one doing the diet. I've decided to go from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm.
I've done this before for a few days at a time. This time, I started at the beginning of this year with a few missed days here and there. The days I've succeeded, I've gone to bed feeling much better. I don't know what it is exactly, and I don't want to get into all the scientific reasons why. I do know it works and I do know it's not unhealthy for me. Unhealthy for me is eating anything and everything I want, which I've been known to do.
I am not eating exactly better, just less. I really do hope to eat more raw vegetables and fruits and other whole foods, but I'm having a hard time letting go of sodas and chips. At least less of a bad thing is better anyway.
Please "follow" this blog and comment (kind words, please). I love comments!
I had thought about the idea of sacrificing food for the sake of giving what I had saved in a meal to the "Meals on Wheels" program. An elder in the church I attend challenged us to seek out the hungry. I had taken a look at my heart, and thought on God's words and knew I was eating more than my share when others were hungry. I decided to cut down on my food and increase giving to others. This was my motivation, as well as my health, weight and looks. So, I was vain after all.
I found Angela's "Sacrificial Dieting" blog (now closed - she'd reached her goal of losing over 100 pounds and keeping it off ever since. You can see her at her "Free Spirit Haven" blog here on blogspot). She really inspired me to do the same thing. She mentioned the Fast-Five plan, though that's not the actual path she took. There are other fasting eating plans. I think one is "Eat Stop Eat". Just look up "Intermittent Fasting" on youtube or for blogs and you'll be surprised how much information there is about daily, or regular, fasting.
The idea for the plan I've chosen is to fast for 19 hours - daily - and have a five hour window of eating. The five hour time is up to the one doing the diet. I've decided to go from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm.
I've done this before for a few days at a time. This time, I started at the beginning of this year with a few missed days here and there. The days I've succeeded, I've gone to bed feeling much better. I don't know what it is exactly, and I don't want to get into all the scientific reasons why. I do know it works and I do know it's not unhealthy for me. Unhealthy for me is eating anything and everything I want, which I've been known to do.
I am not eating exactly better, just less. I really do hope to eat more raw vegetables and fruits and other whole foods, but I'm having a hard time letting go of sodas and chips. At least less of a bad thing is better anyway.
Please "follow" this blog and comment (kind words, please). I love comments!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)