Since I have used this Bible passage as an example of how the Lord God has positively influenced my overeating, this doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the verse. Debbie

COE Support Note:

If you REALLY want to read how Christ helped me throughout this weight loss and even when I was tempted, you should read some of the 100's of previous posts on https://christianovereaterssupport.blogspot.com/

I Didn't Do Anything to Deserve These Blessings

1 Peter 1: 3 Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 4 to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.

I have been very blessed. God allowed me to lose 80+ pounds over 30 years ago and to keep the vast majority of it off during that time and I didn't do a thing. Actually, I basically gave up, because I had tried diet after diet most of my life to no avail.

I was just tired of trying these diets only to find myself gaining back the few pounds I had lost and then some. My sagging self-esteem just couldn't stand any more failures. I kind of decided that if I gave up on dieting, I couldn't be a failure anymore. It's interesting, because this is the first time I actually realized that's what I was doing.

Anyway, I told God that I give up and that if He wants me to be thin, then He'd have to take care of it, because I couldn't do it anymore. I actually, didn't expect this major blessing from God. I was just giving up and that's when He did it. I've pondered over the years and wondered why God has blessed me so. It's certainly not because of my piety. You can tell as you read of my very sinful nature in these blog posts. This blessing was from God alone, not by anything I did to deserve it.

If God can take away my compulsive overeating, sagging self-esteem, and focus on food, He can do it for you, as well. It doesn't matter if you ate more than you wanted for Christmas or plan to splurge tonight. In all honesty, I think the reason that God took away my compulsive overeating after I prayed that time, was that it was the first time I had ever totally given up my control and turned it totally over to God. When I gained the 27+ pounds back was when I started becoming sloppy with my relationship with God. I think these things are very significant. 1 Peter 1: 3 Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 4 to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.

Statements That Bring Out the Little Child in Me

1 John 4: 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knowth not God; for God is love.

I was going to a park for kids and had thrown on my windbreaker when it really wasn't that cold. As I framed this blog post in my mind, I was going to explain that I threw the windbreaker around me, because I was uncomfortable with people seeing my thinner body, which has been the case many times. As I thought this through, I realized that really wasn't the truth. I actually put the windbreaker on, because I'm bloated right now and my stomach is sticking out more than I like. I feel compelled to be totally honest with you and with myself on this blog.

Anyway, this man walked by me and said, "Fatty." That's all he had to say to bring out the little child in me. At first, I was stunned as I continued to walk through the park following my grandchild as if nothing had just happened. I went through various phases after his remark, including coming up with some good comebacks, should he say anything else to me.

I tried to decide how reasonable his remark was. As I thought about it, I considered taking off my windbreaker, since I was only ten pounds from my goal weight. I'd show him that I wasn't fat. Then, I realized that I don't have to prove anything to anyone. My weight up or down is between God and me.

It's noteworthy that I bought into all those insecurities I used to have, because someone made a rude comment to me. I don't have to own rude comments by others, nor do you. We don't have to allow other people the ability to tell us who we are. We are the precious children of God, regardless of our weight.

I passed this man several times through the afternoon, but never said anything to him. Was I being a chicken or a Christian? The thing that seemed ironic was that this man was no less than fifty pounds overweight. You would think he would be more sensitive to what it feels like to be called rude names.

The point of this blog post is two-fold. The first is that we don't have to let other people further hurt our self-esteem by their insensitive comments.  The second is that I am supposed to be able to forgive this person, regardless of how he made me feel, because that's what Jesus does for me each day and that's what He would want. I have to turn my willingness to forgive this person into God's very capable hands. 1 John 4: 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knowth not God; for God is love.

Is It Really Worth Anything to Be Thin???

For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?  Luke 9:23-25.

Is it really worth anything to be thin??? As you've already read the Bible passage, you know the answer. You would think with having been a Christian for so many years, I wouldn't have to ever deal with issues of this nature. But there are times when I come close.

First of all, there are times when I get down on myself, because I'm not exactly at my ideal weight. (Actually, I weigh ten pounds more than my goal weight.) At times, I fall into old patterns and beat myself up for things like not being perfect, not being able to wear skinny clothes, having a saggy, droopy body, etc.

Well, even though I'm not talking about worldly things like wealth, fancy cars, prestige, etc., I'm still talking about worldly things. Do you think that God judges us with the same eyes that we judge others? Do you think it matters to God whether we are exactly the ideal weight, are perfect, can wear skinny clothes, or have a sagging, droopy body? Those are all things of the world. Reading this Bible passage reminds me where my focus needs to lie. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?  Luke 9:23-25.

I Don't Have to Find Fault With Others in Order to Feel Better About Myself

 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16

I went to a function with my husband. There was a woman of similar age at the function, who was very popular with the other guests, attractive, and very content with herself. When I got home, I found myself finding fault with her. I thought she was very taken with herself, etc.

Fortunately, God, who looks after me even when I don't want it, had the thought in my mind that I don't have to find fault with others in order to feel better about myself. What an eye opener! Having been overweight for so many years, I think I minimized the attributes of those who got much more positive attention, so that I didn't feel so badly about myself. With God at my side, regardless of my weight loss or not, I no longer have to do that to feel good about myself.

God frees me from the control food, money, the need for status, etc. used to have on me. Instead, He fills me with a peace that defies all description. So, here I am confessing my faults, because I don't want you to fall prey to the same insecurities as I have. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  James 5:16

Since I am applying these Bible Verses to my life, it may not convey the whole meaning of the verses. Debbie

Mindless Munching...

Ephesians 6: 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

It’s time for honesty. I was sitting watching TV and wanted to munch on something, even though I had already had a filling dinner.  At first, I got some frozen pecans, because I love the crunch and it’s protein…right??? Then, I remembered that I had gained ten pounds of weight back when I went on a frozen pecans binge a few months ago. So, after eating over half a cup of pecans, I put them back in the freezer.

I still had the munchies, so I grabbed a bag of tortilla chips. Before I knew it, over half of the bag had been demolished. What was wrong? Hadn't God taken my urge for large quantities of food away from me? What was I doing?

God quenches my fiery darts, when I let Him. Was I letting God heal me of my temptations? I almost had blinders on, focused on wanting something to munch, just for the sake of munching. It amazes me that I could still sit down and eat over a half a bag of chips, but obviously, when I’m not listening to God’s direction, I’m very capable of still doing that. I think it’s times like this that God shows me that I can slip back into old patterns of eating if I don’t focus on turning my life, my eating, and my stress over to Him.

During times like this, it is important for me to have some quiet time with God in my bedroom or read my Bible when I felt like mindless munching. I can’t forget where my strength lies and it’s not of me, it’s from God. Ephesians 6: 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Their Opinions of Me Had Been Important to Me for So Long...

O Lord my God, in Thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: Psalm 7:1

I had known persecution most of my life for being overweight. People used to ignore me, laugh at me, and leave me out of things. I pretended that this didn't hurt, but it really did. You could see that by my size. I used to eat to console myself, because I could pretend I wasn't in pain, but God knew I was. Fortunately, when I started turning the issues I used to eat over, into God's very capable hands, people's opinions of me didn't seem to matter to so much anymore. I was amazed, because their opinions of me had been important to me for so long!

When I was divorced from my first husband, I found that people treated me differently. I wasn't used to that, because God had allowed me to loose the extra weight some time earlier. I had gotten used to people treating me with more respect and was taken aback when this happened, and started falling back into old patterns of insecurity.

At first, I wasn't quite sure why I was getting this response from some. Then, I realized that there are those who are uncomfortable around those who are divorced-like it's contagious. I was the same person they knew before they learned of my divorce. Why would they treat me differently than they previously did? God calmed my insecurities and left a feeling in my heart that I don't have to totally understand why people do things. I just have to try to be the person God wants and not respond hatefully in return.

Fortunately for me, it's not their opinion of me that matters. It's God's opinion that I care about. He knows that despite my divorce, I'm the same Christian woman who loves Him and needs His gentle care to heal the wounds of persecution when it exists. O Lord my God, in Thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: Psalm 7:1

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my overeating, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse.



Making Sure My Head Is Screwed on Straight...

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  Colossians, Chapter 2, verses 6-8.

As a Christian, it’s very important for me to make sure my head is screwed on straight. There are times, when some will ask me about my weight loss. I have a difficult time trying to get people to realize that the 80+ pound weight loss only happened, because I started turning my life, my food, and my stress over to God’s very capable hands.

Instead, they minimize what I have said about the miracle God has done in my life. They try to give all the credit to me for the weight loss. I know they may be well intentioned, but they are wrong! It  wasn’t until the day that I prayed, telling God that if He ever wanted me to be thin, He’d have to take care of it, because I couldn’t.  It was that very same day that the compulsion for excess amounts of food left me. Foods that I used to love didn’t appeal to me anymore. It wasn’t until I turned my food, my eating, and my stress over to God’s very capable hands that He took over my weight problem.

 I can’t take credit for it, so it’s very important to have my head screwed on straight, so that I don’t let people’s compliments go to my head. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have  taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  Colossians, Chapter 2: 6-8.

Is My Focus on Christ or on Food?

How much more shall the Blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?  Hebrews, Chapter 9, verse 14.

What exactly are dead works anyway? It’s probably different things to different people. This is what comes to mind. Is my focus on my food, my weight, and what I will look like and feel like when I’m at the size I’d like to be?

Is my focus on my clothes, my hair, and those of my children, so that we fit in with the Joneses? Am I more worried about what the Joneses think about me than what God thinks of me?

Am I constantly apologizing to others for falling short of their opinion of me rather than focusing on whether I am living the life that Christ would want of me?

I could write this to make myself sound self-righteous, but in all honesty, I really have fallen prey to each and every one of the things that I’ve mentioned here. In my opinion, God doesn’t care a hill of beans about worldly things of this nature other than they have the potential for Satan to work a subtle wedge in our relationship with Christ.


 My thoughts, attitude, and focus need to be more attuned to the life God wants for me. Being human, I can’t do this alone, but God in His infinite mercy can if I ask Him.  How much more shall the Blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?  Hebrews, Chapter 9, verse 14.

What Does God’s Grace Have to Do with Buffets?

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin: but yield yourselves unto God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the Law, but under grace.  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the Law, but under grace?  God forbid!  Romans, Chapter 6, verses 13-15.

Since God’s blessed me by taking away my excess weight several times when I’ve turned my life, my eating, and my stress over to His very capable hands, maybe I can enjoy buffets more. Well, I don’t think God wants me to take advantage of His good nature.

Through God’s grace alone, He had me loose over 80 pounds 30+ years ago, but that was for His glory, not for me to push my boundaries to see just how much food I can cram into my body before I lose this special blessing. I’ve come close a couple of times when I became sloppy with my eating program and my relationship with God.

Although I don’t want to gain all the weight back, it isn’t what I am primarily concerned with. When I started turning my life, my eating, and stress over to God, He gave me this sense of peace that defies all description. I know that whatever happens in my life, God is right there and will get me through those difficult situations. He has provided a calm in my life that never existed before and it’s something I don’t want to ever lose.

Although I enjoy the selection at buffets,  my going hog-wild is not worth what’s at risk…my personal relationship with Christ. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin: but yield yourselves unto God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the Law, but under grace.  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the Law, but under grace?  God forbid!  Romans, Chapter 6, verses 13-15.

I Find Myself Hiding Behind My Fat

Hebrews 13: 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

The last couple of blog posts have been about dealing with my body image. I tend to find myself hiding behind my fat. I've found that when I'm heavier, I feel more comfortable about myself and my body. When I'm at my goal weight or close to it, I find myself feeling insecure about my body and my interactions with others.

Now, is this what God wanted for me when He allowed me to lose the 80+ pounds over 30 years ago? Definitely not! So, why am I letting this happen, now. Again, it's because I've been hiding behind my fat. It must have been my own little protective wall to keep me from dealing with the rest of the world. When I'm hiding behind my fat, I can watch the world from a distance and not be actively involved. 

That should sound terrible to me, as I type this, but it really doesn't. I've spent a big portion of my life being a bystander and I must like it, because I find myself wearing frumpy clothes when I'm thinner, so I can revert to my bystander status. Is being a bystander in life safer? Is that why I'm doing this? Wow! God has these blog posts to heal me as much as anyone else. 

This protective wall I've developed, whether by fat or by baggy clothing, feels comfortable to me. Is that good? If I'm hiding behind something, I would think that means I'm not being open to being the person that God wants me to be. He didn't take all that weight away from me for nothing, but I'm still clinging on to it, although it's not there. Isn't that strange? 

You would think I would be elated to be free of the excess weight. I mostly am, but it also means I have to come to terms with unwanted attention from others and comments that make me feel uncomfortable, so I've been hiding. I guess God's telling me that it's time that I came out of hiding and start trusting Him to protect me. Hebrews 13: 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Since I am applying these Bible Verses to my life, it may not convey the whole meaning of the verses. Debbie

Did I Always Put You Last, God?

We love Him, because He first loved us.  1 John 4:19

That's what I found myself asking God while I was praying tonight. The answer I got saddens me to the core, but I try to be honest with my readers. At the time this question crossed my heart, I was asking God to take care of all of my concerns before I asked Him to take care of my relationship with Him and my prayers. I guess I really do make Him last. I thought this was so significant that I changed the post I was going to have come out, so you can read this now, so that you don't make the same mistakes that I have.

For many years I turned to food instead of to God, putting food and turning to God last. This is the way I dealt with my stress until I learned that I could turn all my food, eating, and stress over into God's hands. For many years, I turned to friends and family for their opinions on situations, before turning to God. Again, I was putting God last, until He showed me that I should turn to Him in all things and listen to the instincts that He gives me on situations. When I do this, I'm never disappointed, but when I don't, I don't turn to God first and listen to man, I am quite often disappointed in the outcome.

Each day, I pray for God to take care of my food, body, eating, and stress and He does. God had me lose over 80 pounds and has kept off the vast majority of it for more than 30 years, but did I put Him first? No, my request for God to make me a better Christian, have a better relationship with Him, and have more focused prayers are always at the end of my prayers.

Jesus made me first. He gave His life for me, even knowing what an ungrateful person I am. I didn't make Him first, although I love Him deeply. In realizing this, I've found that I've repeatedly put myself, food, and others first before God, when I've always felt that God is most important in my life. They say that actions speak louder than words. If that's true, I've failed God miserably, yet He still loves me and gave His life for me.

I have so much to be thankful for. I have a Lord who loves me and wants me to be the Christian He knows I can be on His behalf. Fortunately, for me He blesses me with painful insights that move me closer to that. I am thankful because Jesus first loved me, and He loved you first, regardless of your size, how much you earn, your ethnicity, or your past mistakes. He, too, will heal your heart if you only let Him.  1 John 4:19 We love Him, because He first loved us. 

Trying to Micro Manage God Through My Prayers...

And He [Jesus] went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.  Matthew 26:39

Jesus is faced with this major ordeal, because He knows He is about to be mocked, crucified, and rise again to save us. Knowing what is to befall Him, Jesus asks for God's will, not His. Do I do this? I go through the motions, but I've come to realize that I am trying to micro manage God through my prayers.

I ask God to take care of my weight, food, eating, and stress. I find that I'm still trying to maintain control in my life, because I will often give God specific details of what He should and shouldn't do in these matters. How is that totally trusting God??? If I were truly trusting God like Jesus did, I would trust God's will, God's timing, God's outcomes-not mine!

I think I'm making progress (that's where Satan sneaks in with his subtle wedge and undermines my relationship with God through my pride.) I've just realized that my micro managing goes beyond my relationship with God. While writing this, my husband came in to tell me about some business letters he had written. I was asking to make sure that he had included particular things. This frustrated him to the point that he said I was trying to be in control of everything, which is very unlike my husband.

 I'm really thinking that this blog post is specifically for me due to God's timing of my husband's comment. I must be getting too lax in turning my control and the willingness to turn my control over into God's very capable hands. Although I'm saddened by my back stepping, I am so thankful God lets me know what I need to do and doesn't just let me flounder.  And He [Jesus] went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.  Matthew 26:39

Being Insensitive to Others with Vices...

Matthew 18: 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredest me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thou fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 

After I lost the weight, it would have been easy to blend in with others and laugh when they made negative comments about those who were heavy. At first, I realized how easy it could be to fit in with everyone else, but how could I do that? God has blessed me by allowing me to lose over 80+ pounds and keep the majority of it off for over 30 years. How could I forget what a blessing I have been given and turn my back on others who are still suffering through this? How could I forget all the pain I felt when people looked at me and turned their heads and snickered. How could I forget what it felt like when people ignored the things I shared and turned to others in the group, as if their ideas were much more credible because they were thinner? How can I forget the self-loathing and pain that comes with a low self-esteem?

Although forgetting may make life easier, remembering and showing respect to others with any type of vice helps me remember how blessed I truly am. It makes me remember that my Lord has forgiven me so much, but won't forgive me being insensitive to others with vices. In some ways, it heals my soul, the soul of the fat person inside of me whose self-esteem lags, at times. Matthew 18: 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredest me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thou fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

When I Turned My Control Over to God, My Life, My Weight, and My Relationships Started to Change...

Matthew 6: 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them; for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.

I saw something in a movie the other day that reminded me of how God's worked in my life in a similar way. For most of my life, I've said these elaborate prayers, but it wasn't until I gave up and turned my control over to God, who knows my every need, that my life, my weight, and my relationships started to change.

I was influenced by this story I heard years ago. It reminds me so much of myself and my relationship with God. There was this young man who walked to the edge of the cliff to look down and see what was at the bottom. All of a sudden, the dirt he was standing on started to crumble and he found himself falling. He grabbed onto a root that was sticking out from the side of the cliff and he called out, "God, if You're out there, help me!"

God replies, "Yes, My son."

The man says, "Save me, God, for I have fallen and can't hold on much longer."

God says, "Let go of the root, My son."

The man's response is, "Is there anyone else out there?"

So many times, I haven't trusted God to take care of me, my life, my weight, and my relationships with others. When I felt God was leading me in particular directions that felt uncomfortable, I, just like the young man started doubting God and second-guessing the instincts He gave me. In the story above, there might have been a little ledge just inches below his feet where he could have slid to the safety that God provided, but he couldn't trust God would take care of him. He looked elsewhere.

 I no longer want to turn to food, others, and vices to heal my aching soul and relationships. I need to say, "God, if you want me to do this, I am willing to do Your will, because I know You will hold me in Your very capable hands." Matthew 6: 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them; for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.

How Am I Showing My Thanks to God for Allowing Me to Lose All That Weight?

Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. Matthew 15:31

I am at a loss with this one...no pun intended. Many people became Christians when they saw all those who were healed by Jesus. Jesus healed me of over 80+ pounds of excess weight over 30 years ago and again the 27 pounds I gained back by being sloppy with my food and my relationship with God.

I feel that God has done this major miracle in my life, but what am I doing to allow others to see this, so that they might come to believe in Jesus? I sit behind this keyboard typing away at blog posts, but am I truly focusing on Jesus, so that others might see His hand in my life? Am I using it as a minimal attempt to do God's will? Am I helping anyone realize that God cares about all things in our lives big and small, including our weight, especially if it negatively affects our relationship with Him and others?

When I've tried to share how God allowed me to lose 80+ pounds over 30 years ago, most people minimize what I say and say God helps him who helps himself....something that isn't in the Bible.  Actually, that's why I got started reading the Bible from cover to cover over 30 years ago. On the contrary, God tells us over and over in the Bible that He wants us to turn to Him in all things. God helps him who helps himself was one of the morals in Hercules and the Wagoner, an Aesop's Fable. If you'd like to know more about this, check out my other blog Bible Passages That Can Influence Your Life and click on the February 4, 2012 post entry under Archives. 

How am I showing my thanks for God allowing me to lose all that weight? As I said, I'm at a loss. I'm hoping that sharing the things I feel led to share in these posts are helpful, the good, the bad, and the embarrassing. At this point, I feel that I just need to be open to see what God wants me to do and right now, it's the blog. I would appreciate your considering to help forward this ministry by sharing a link to this or my other blog to those who need to see the Miracles that Jesus does in our lives today. Thanks! Debbie Seiling  Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. Matthew 15:31

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my overeating, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse.



I Don't See Much of a Jewel, but God Does...

And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Malachi 3:17

There are some days that I look in the mirror and I don't see much of a jewel, but God does!   I see bulges and wrinkles, but God doesn't look on us with human eyes. I see the results of all too many helpings of food, when I turned to food instead of turning to God to heal my aching heart. 

Fortunately, not only does God heal our aching hearts and bodies, when we turn them over to Him, but He sees us as only a loving Father could. God sees the good in us, even when we look through the eyes of shame at all the mistakes we've made. God sees the potential within us, even when we feel like failures. 

God is much more than that. He has confidence in us, even when we don't. He knows that if we turn to Him and let Him guide us, He will show us how to become His precious jewels. So precious, in fact, that His only begotten Son, Jesus, suffered persecution and gave His life, and arose for us, so that we could one day join God in heaven as His jewels. And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Malachi 3:17

Using The "F" Word...

The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. Proverbs 10:32

Now, I'm not talking about using just any F Word, but the one that cuts to the core of any overeater---someone calling us FAT. It's not the same when we might, on occasion, refer to ourselves as Fat. We pick our timing ever so carefully before we dare use the F Word. Sometimes, we are just trying to say it first, before anyone else lets the F Word out in our presence. When other people use the F Word, there is an extreme level of disgust directed toward the person they are referring to. 

I recently watched a movie where a team leader repeatedly called a team member Fat. Fat, Fat... What a cruel and hateful thing to do. He treated the team member like he was worthless, his feelings didn't matter because he was overweight, and he was only of use as long as he made the team leader look good. 

I realize that was just a movie, but the feelings that this scene evoked rang true! There have been people I have encountered who are like this to those of us who are or who have been overweight, to those of different cultures, to those who have handicaps of one kind or another, and the list goes on. 

What do we, as Christians, do when we encounter people who are insensitive enough to use the F Word in our presence? Do we say equally hateful, insensitive things back to them? Fortunately, God forgives me for my many, many mistakes I've made over the years and He wants us to do likewise...even to those who dare use the F Word in our presence.  The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. Proverbs 10:32

Jesus Is the Calm in the Storm for Me!

Luke 8: 24 And they came to Him [Jesus], and awoke Him, saying, Master, Master, we perish. Then He arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. 

Jesus not only calmed the storm, but He IS the Calm in the Storm for me. We visited a place that holds many mixed memories for me. Some good and some I would rather forget. Although I tried to focus on the good memories, I allowed the other ones to crowd them out.

Instead of enjoying the walk down memory lane, I remembered being a fat child who had to try extra hard to get people to like me. Maybe that has rubbed off me today. I've been told that, at times, I try a little too hard to smooth things over with people who are upset with me. The part of me that doesn't like to give up control, doesn't know how to handle something like that. I think that there's something I can do to fix things, make them better. It's difficult for me to let negative situations go.

I forget that I can't be all things to all people. I have to remember that it doesn't mean that there is something inherently wrong with me, just because some people respond this way. I'm not the fat child that I was, but I am possibly still acting the same way, trying to go around pleasing everyone, trying to get them to like me anyway. Instead, I need to let go and turn to my Savior who is the calm in the storm for me!  Luke 8: 24 And they came to Him [Jesus], and awoke Him, saying, Master, Master, we perish. Then He arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

I Fell Short of the Mark...

Luke 7: 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And He [Jesus] said unto him, Thou has rightly judged.

When I read the Bible daily, I try to apply the things I read, to my personal life. I had an excellent opportunity to apply this passage recently, but I fell short of the mark. We recently made a flight to visit family. I was pleased to see that my boarding pass showed an aisle seat, since I make frequent visits to the bathroom.

When we got to our seat, there was another lady sitting in my seat. I mentioned it to the stewardess and she said that there was no longer an aisle seat available. So, I sat down next to this woman who was very cold and indifferent to me throughout the flight. I prayed and prayed that I wouldn't have to use the bathroom, so I didn't annoy this woman any further. Unfortunately, my husband, in the window seat needed to use the bathroom. I figured that since I was up, I might as well use the bathroom, too.

It was very obvious that the lady next to us was not a happy camper, because she had to stop watching her DVD player and stand up for us. I apologized, but it was very apparent by her actions, that this meant nothing to her. Knowing she was upset with me, was frustrating, so I tried to figure out a way to smooth things over. This lady had a shirt with a variety of whimsical dogs on it and I complimented her on it. She said thanks, but it was cold and flat.

Throughout the weekend, instead of focusing on the events at hand, I kept being drawn back to my interactions with my seat mate. The old insecure part of me that comes from when I was overweight all those years, tried to find reasons why she wouldn't like me and would react these ways. This episode haunted me all weekend long. It should have been much easier for me to forgive her, because God has already forgiven me so much. Finally, I got to where I could turn it over to God, but first I used this situation to torture myself with it before forgiving her. Luke 7: 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And He [Jesus] said unto him, Thou has rightly judged.

Things Creep Up on Me and I Revert Back to My Old Overeating Ways...

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. Luke 7:47

I must be loved much, because God is always having to forgive me for one thing or another. You would think I would learn. I do, kinda, but then things creep up on me and I revert back to my old overeating ways!

There was a day when we were out-of-town, I didn't have access to much food throughout the day. The things that were available to me weren't the things that were good for me, so I just nibbled. That evening, we went to the grocery store to get things for dinner to eat in our hotel room. Of course, I bought a big bag of tortilla chips for my husband. Sure!!!

That evening after I had eaten an appropriate amount, I sat down with that tortilla chip bag and ate almost half of the extra large sized bag. Now on their own, tortilla chips are not that bad of a snack. They are made from whole grains and don't have sugar or additives, but regardless-a half bag of something isn't good for anyone!

I tried to figure out why I did this. The best I can figure out was that I felt deprived when there hadn't been much I could eat earlier. I must have been overcompensating for this by eating all those tortilla chips. I feel terrible that I didn't lean on my Lord for solace when I was feeling this way. I just grabbed the bag of chips for comfort. Sometimes, I think that God has moved me forward beyond the pull that food has on me. Then, Satan sneaks in and tempts me with my old weaknesses. Fortunately for me, God picks me up and sets me straight after situations like this, with renewed focus on His guidance and comfort in my life-not the comfort that my food used to give me. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. Luke 7:47

Feeling Guilty Again About Clothes...

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Matthew 6:30.

I'm back to feeling guilty again about clothes. I went through this when I lost the 80+ pounds over 30 years ago. Since I've lost the majority of the 27 pounds I gained back, my clothes are starting to hang on me. My husband is very supportive and tells me that I look nice in the clothes, but I don't want to look like a "bag lady."

Although this isn't where I thought this post was going to lead me, I realize that there are more insights in this post for me than I thought. What does it matter if I look like a "bag lady?" God can use the efforts of a "bag lady" to do His will the same as He can anyone else. I really thought that this whole post was going to be more focused on not being so tied in to clothes and the disproportionate importance they can have in our lives. Instead, I'm feeling like God is telling me that although I try not to focus on clothes, I'm still judging others by what they wear. Wow! This is a real eye-opener for me!

Am I worried that others might not accept me if I don't look a certain way? Am I worried about standing out like a sore thumb? What comes to mind is John the Baptist who lived in the wilderness and ate locusts. He worked mightily for God and did not worry about what he had to wear. Have I deceived myself all these years into thinking that I wasn't focusing on clothes, when I really was? I'm sure going to have to be prayerful on this one and let God move my heart in the direction I need to go.

After I thought I was done with this post, God had some additional insights for me. It has more to do with not needing a lot of clothes to do His work. I am able to go through what I have and find decent things to wear. Instead of spending the money I would have spent on new clothes, I can take that to donate to others who haven't much, especially in light of those who have lost most of their belongings through acts of nature. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Matthew 6:30.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my overeating, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse.


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