I just completed Week Four Day Five in Freedom From Emotional Eating, a bible study by Barb Raveling. (This is another good study in one's journey to break free from food addiction.)
Today's lesson was about boredom. The main point was that if you have alot of time on your hands, use that time to minister to others. I do not have alot of time on my hands, but I do need to take time to serve others.
Mark 10:43-45, ...whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Jesus said these words as an answer to a question two of his disciples had asked. One wanted to sit on his right and the other on his left in Christ's glory. Obviously, the two disciples were confused about Jesus' purpose on the earth. Jesus was not confused though. He knew exactly what his purpose was. So do I.
God did not put me here just to go to work, come home and then do it all over again. There are people who desperately need to be served. There are wounded and weary people that are waiting for someone to be like Jesus to them. No, I am not putting myself or anyone else in the position of Jesus Christ, but we are to be Christ-like and have a servant's heart.
I want to ask God each day for someone to minister to in some way.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Fountain of Living Water
The following are excerpts from Day 23 of The Lord's Table. (This is a great Bible Study to do if you are overcoming food addiction.)
Let’s begin with the first question: "What does it mean to drink the Living Water? At the risk of sounding simplistic, it is as basic as reading and applying the Bible. It is possible to read the Bible and not drink of the Living Water, so what is the difference?
Drinking involves taking something into your system and receiving nourishment and sustenance from it. I may read that Jesus is the Bread of Life, yet not feed on Him, or that He is Living Water, but not drink of Him. Feeding and drinking are directly related to the application of Scripture in my life. Merely reading Scripture would be similar to reading the nutritional contents of a package of food; the body is not nourished until the food is eaten and digested. When you read the Scriptures, ask God to apply it to your heart and to change your life. This is what it means to drink the Living Water.
The next question is, "What does it look like in daily living to be satisfied in Christ?" It means rejoicing in the love, forgiveness and grace of God on a daily basis. It is discovering Christ afresh and being irresistibly drawn to Him by what we discover. When we become happy in Him, we need not look for happiness in overeating food, or any other sin. So then, as George Mueller said, ". . .the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord." This is the only sure means of avoiding eating problems. This is what Jesus taught the Samaritan woman in John Chapter 4, as we studied in an earlier lesson.
And how does this drinking actually enable us to leave sinful eating habits behind? Simply put, if we are full and satisfied in Jesus Christ, we don't need anything else. Our hearts have found their rejoicing place and need no other.
"All my fountains are in you." Psalm 87:7 This is an affirmation of the truth that we have been studying from the beginning of the course; Jesus alone can satisfy. And this statement is a commitment to have no other source of life, refreshment or satisfaction than may be found in Jesus. It is a statement of fact, that they would be "exclusive drinkers."
I really enjoyed this study. The words are so true about myself. Many times I drink from other fountains: overeating, televsion, gossip, too much computer time, etc. The only fountain that brings true satisfaction is the fountain of Living Water-Jesus Christ.
Psalm 63: 1 O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You, my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
No one but Jesus can satisfy. All other loves pale in comparision to the lover of my soul!!!
Let’s begin with the first question: "What does it mean to drink the Living Water? At the risk of sounding simplistic, it is as basic as reading and applying the Bible. It is possible to read the Bible and not drink of the Living Water, so what is the difference?
Drinking involves taking something into your system and receiving nourishment and sustenance from it. I may read that Jesus is the Bread of Life, yet not feed on Him, or that He is Living Water, but not drink of Him. Feeding and drinking are directly related to the application of Scripture in my life. Merely reading Scripture would be similar to reading the nutritional contents of a package of food; the body is not nourished until the food is eaten and digested. When you read the Scriptures, ask God to apply it to your heart and to change your life. This is what it means to drink the Living Water.
The next question is, "What does it look like in daily living to be satisfied in Christ?" It means rejoicing in the love, forgiveness and grace of God on a daily basis. It is discovering Christ afresh and being irresistibly drawn to Him by what we discover. When we become happy in Him, we need not look for happiness in overeating food, or any other sin. So then, as George Mueller said, ". . .the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord." This is the only sure means of avoiding eating problems. This is what Jesus taught the Samaritan woman in John Chapter 4, as we studied in an earlier lesson.
And how does this drinking actually enable us to leave sinful eating habits behind? Simply put, if we are full and satisfied in Jesus Christ, we don't need anything else. Our hearts have found their rejoicing place and need no other.
"All my fountains are in you." Psalm 87:7 This is an affirmation of the truth that we have been studying from the beginning of the course; Jesus alone can satisfy. And this statement is a commitment to have no other source of life, refreshment or satisfaction than may be found in Jesus. It is a statement of fact, that they would be "exclusive drinkers."
I really enjoyed this study. The words are so true about myself. Many times I drink from other fountains: overeating, televsion, gossip, too much computer time, etc. The only fountain that brings true satisfaction is the fountain of Living Water-Jesus Christ.
Psalm 63: 1 O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You, my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
No one but Jesus can satisfy. All other loves pale in comparision to the lover of my soul!!!
Friday, December 26, 2008
After Christmas
I really enjoyed Christmas this year. Celebrating the birth of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was the highlight of the holiday; however, I continue to celebrate Jesus everyday.
My children brought me alot of joy this Christmas. Watching their faces as they unwrapped their presents brought me such delight. Our heavenly Father loves for us to delight in Him. When we do, He is pleased, and we have joy that comes from being in His presence.
I do have to confess that I ate beyond full yesterday. I did wait for hunger, but I ate beyond full. God is still working on me, and I am thankful that He will not give up on me. Compared to last Christmas, I did great, but I still see how I am still wrapped up too much in food. I want to be wrapped up in Jesus and eternal things.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
To Us A Child Is Born
Isaiah 9:6, For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders, And He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
I really feel the Holy Spirit stirring me as I write this. When I think about how awesome the plan of salavation is and the reason Jesus came to this earth, it renews my comittment to walk in obedience. My focus needs to be on this child that was born for us, walked this earth, became our sacrifce, then became our risen Lord. Thinking about this, makes giving up excess food seem a small sacrifice.
It's easy to get focused on the good food I am going to have these next two days, but I want to focus on my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He suffered, died, and rose again so I could be free from food addiction, sexual perversion, gossip, or any other sin that would entangle me or hinder me.
How I love Him!!! How I want my lifestyle to bring glory to Him in every way!!
I really feel the Holy Spirit stirring me as I write this. When I think about how awesome the plan of salavation is and the reason Jesus came to this earth, it renews my comittment to walk in obedience. My focus needs to be on this child that was born for us, walked this earth, became our sacrifce, then became our risen Lord. Thinking about this, makes giving up excess food seem a small sacrifice.
It's easy to get focused on the good food I am going to have these next two days, but I want to focus on my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He suffered, died, and rose again so I could be free from food addiction, sexual perversion, gossip, or any other sin that would entangle me or hinder me.
How I love Him!!! How I want my lifestyle to bring glory to Him in every way!!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Take Up Your Cross
Matthew 16:24-25, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
When I lost sight of myself and get my eyes on Christ, I notice I have much more peace. The more I focus on me and what I want, I get stressed out. Jesus wants us to take up our cross and follow Him. The more we deny ourselves, the more we actually gain. The more we focus on self, we lose out on so many blessings.
Getting my focus away from myself has helped me not to focus so much on food. John 4:34, My food, said Jesus, is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work. That is to be where our focus is-doing the will of God. That is our food. Yes, we need physical nourishment, but that is not where our focus needs to be.
Try focusing on Christ and denying yourself. You will experience such freedom! Our God is indescribably awesome and worthy of all our praise, love, and devotion.
About the Previous Post
I am new to blogspot. I was trying to edit my last post, and I couldn't get it to do what I wanted so I will add something here. Instead of saying I "lost"weight, I want to say I released that weight. Thin Within encourages this because when you lose something it is like you are indicating that you want to find it again.
Also, I want to make sure everyone knows that I give all glory and praise to God for His overcoming power. There was nothing about me in this at all. I could not have done this without Him.
Also, I want to make sure everyone knows that I give all glory and praise to God for His overcoming power. There was nothing about me in this at all. I could not have done this without Him.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Freedom In Christ
Galatians 5:1, It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Christ has set me free from many things. He has set me free from food addiction, sexual perversion as well as numerous other things. Now that I have been set free, I have to surrender totally to Christ. This is the only way that I will not be entangled again by the things that had me bound.
I love my freedom in Christ. Yes, there was temporary fun and pleasure in the sins I was in, but when that passed, all I had was guilt and shame. Jesus Christ set me free from these things.
Isaiah 53:6a, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of has turned to his own way...."
Sheep have a tendency to wander away from safety. That same tendency is also a part of human nature, and I know it is very much a part of my nature.
I have to be completely abosorbed in Christ. Those of you who know me may think I am being radical, but a radical obedience to Christ is what it takes to stand in the freedomeHe has given us. I don't want to turn back to my old ways of overeating and sexual sin, but without Christ, I will go back there. I need Him to keep me on the right path for this journey.
I choose to stand in the freedom He has given me and not be entangled again by sin. Ephesians 6:13-14a, Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand, stand firm then....
I have to choose daily to stand in the truth with the armor of God on. I have to choose daily to put every piece of God's armor on so that I can stand.
I love this way of life, and I want to do whatever it takes to maintain the ground that I have gained from the enemy through the power of the Holy Spirit.
My God is so good and so awesome!!!
Christ has set me free from many things. He has set me free from food addiction, sexual perversion as well as numerous other things. Now that I have been set free, I have to surrender totally to Christ. This is the only way that I will not be entangled again by the things that had me bound.
I love my freedom in Christ. Yes, there was temporary fun and pleasure in the sins I was in, but when that passed, all I had was guilt and shame. Jesus Christ set me free from these things.
Isaiah 53:6a, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of has turned to his own way...."
Sheep have a tendency to wander away from safety. That same tendency is also a part of human nature, and I know it is very much a part of my nature.
I have to be completely abosorbed in Christ. Those of you who know me may think I am being radical, but a radical obedience to Christ is what it takes to stand in the freedomeHe has given us. I don't want to turn back to my old ways of overeating and sexual sin, but without Christ, I will go back there. I need Him to keep me on the right path for this journey.
I choose to stand in the freedom He has given me and not be entangled again by sin. Ephesians 6:13-14a, Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand, stand firm then....
I have to choose daily to stand in the truth with the armor of God on. I have to choose daily to put every piece of God's armor on so that I can stand.
I love this way of life, and I want to do whatever it takes to maintain the ground that I have gained from the enemy through the power of the Holy Spirit.
My God is so good and so awesome!!!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Living Sacrifices
Romans 12:1-2, Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing, and perfect will.
One of the ways we obey God is to offer Him our body as a living sacrifice. I am doing a Bible Study called The Lord's Table. In yesterday's study, the reader is encouraged to daily pray scriptures offering our body to God. Our God is concerned about every aspect of our lives, including how we eat.
One of the ladies on the Thin Within Forums also suggested praying Romans 6, which is a powerful passage on not using our body to sin. By offering our bodies to the Lord on a daily basis , we will want to obey God in our eating, in sexual purity, or any other area concerning our bodies.
My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I want to honor Him. I want to honor Him in every area of my life. He alone is worthy of pure devotion. He alone can satisfy. Food cannot satisfy. Sexual impurity cannot satisfy. Any sin cannot satisfy. Only being totally devoted to Jesus Christ can satisfy my soul, and in this, I will eat less.
One of the ways we obey God is to offer Him our body as a living sacrifice. I am doing a Bible Study called The Lord's Table. In yesterday's study, the reader is encouraged to daily pray scriptures offering our body to God. Our God is concerned about every aspect of our lives, including how we eat.
One of the ladies on the Thin Within Forums also suggested praying Romans 6, which is a powerful passage on not using our body to sin. By offering our bodies to the Lord on a daily basis , we will want to obey God in our eating, in sexual purity, or any other area concerning our bodies.
My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I want to honor Him. I want to honor Him in every area of my life. He alone is worthy of pure devotion. He alone can satisfy. Food cannot satisfy. Sexual impurity cannot satisfy. Any sin cannot satisfy. Only being totally devoted to Jesus Christ can satisfy my soul, and in this, I will eat less.
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