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/

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.

Bible Passages That Can Influence Your Life

Bible Study: Relating the Bible to YOUR Life!

Types of Christians

A Christian Caregiver

Do I Really Want to Be Healed From My Overeating???

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for Thou are my praise. Jeremiah 17:14

 There are the days that I go through the motions of asking God to heal my overeating and focus on food, but do I really want to be healed from my overeating??? It sure would be easier to go to functions with others, and eat the same things everyone else eats rather than being prayerful about which foods work into my eating program and which don't. It would be easier to end up at the dessert bar carrying back a wide variety of pastries and treats rather than searching out fruits that I enjoy.

 I guess there are fleeting times that I might wish I could eat the same things as other people, but it doesn't last for long, because it goes far beyond the simple taste of foods I enjoy. It has more to do with what I would be giving up for going back to letting food control my life. I would be giving up the self-confidence God's given me, since I've turned the control of food over into God's very capable hands. I would be giving up the respect of others that God's given me, since I've turned the control of food over into God's very capable hands. It's the even disposition that God's given me, since I've turned the control of food over into God's very capable hands. It's the balance in my life that God's given me, since I've turned the control of food over into God's very capable hands. But there's much more to lose than that...

 If I went back to the way things used to be where food controlled my life, I might not have the same relationship with God that I have now, not that a person can't have a truly close personal relationship with God when they are overweight.  It's just that in this process of turning my life, my eating, my food, my finances, my stress, etc. over to God's very capable hands, He has freed me from so much more than my food and has given me so much more in exchange. 

 I don't want to ever give up this Peace that God's given me, since I've turned the control of food over into God's very capable hands. It makes me feel like God is an intimate part of every aspect of my life. I just can't go back to what I had before, although it was a good relationship with God. I think that's why I panicked when I gained back 27 pounds of the 80+ pounds I had lost over 30 years ago. I was afraid that I was letting my relationship with God become sloppy the same way I was letting my food program become sloppy. I don't ever want to lose my close relationship with God. Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for Thou are my praise. Jeremiah 17:14

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

My Progression of Forgiveness...

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Colossians 3:13

This has been a central, growing theme in my life over the last six months or so. I've attempted to be more forgiving of those who have offended me, have been insensitive to me when I was overweight, and those who didn't treat me with respect, etc. Initially, I would just pray to God saying that I forgave them for the things that they did.

Later in this phase, I started praying, saying that I forgave them for the thing they did, because they must have had: a bad day, a bad life, been treated insensitively in their lives, etc. I was trying to find a reason to rationalize what they did, so I could feel some sympathy toward them and better understand what led them to be insensitive to me.

Next in this phase, I started praying, telling God that I forgave them, really because I wanted God to forgive me, as well. At this point, I didn't focus on their original motives for being insensitive to me, life issues, etc. Although this was better than where I originally started, I was somewhat saying through my prayer that I forgave people only because I wanted God to forgive me, too. That wasn't totally forgiving them. I was expecting a pay-off in return, my forgiveness for all my wrong doings.

Finally, in my progression of forgiveness, I just needed to pray, forgiving them regardless of anything else: not to get forgiveness in return, not to better understand them, not for any other reason. Having resentments against others fills our soul up and takes up room that we should leave open for our relationship with Christ. Forgiving others is a crucial step. I have to learn to be more open to being the person Christ genuinely wants me to be.
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.   Colossians 3:13

Was I Using Christian Ethics???

Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. Romans 12:17

 I was talking to a blogger friend, Annie Law at: http://weeklybiblepassages.blogspot.com/, through email recently. She was talking about posts she plans to write about what I call "Christian Ethics" in dealings with sales people. After reading her email, I thought of times where my Christian Ethics wavered in order to save some money. 

 One episode that came to mind was when I was writing the book: Bible Passages That Can Influence Your Life.  When I was writing about being honest, it made me take a deeper look into times I hadn't been as forthright as I should have been. I decided to look up the phone number of a business to apologize. That would be the Christian thing to do, right??? 

 I apologized and explained to the owner, I had deliberately looked at all the price tags of a particular item I was interested in, to see if there was one of them marked less than the others, and there was. I offered to send her the dollar I had saved by looking at the price tags for the lower priced item.  The owner hesitated, so I explained that I was trying to live by my Christian Ethics. I half expected her to say no big deal, it's only a dollar. Instead, I could tell in her voice that she was appalled that I would do such a thing, especially being a Christian. Her reaction made me realize that when I did this, I was pulling money out of their children's mouths, so to speak. That's money that the store owner depended on as income. I was being a terrible example of my faith, which saddens me. Fortunately, God forgives me even when I have a difficult time forgiving myself.
being  This episode popped back into my mind today. I hadn't really planned to post on the same topic as Annie is, but God has really put this on my heart. I was in the grocery store today and saw a big display of organic macaroni and cheese on sale 10 for $10.00. I bought four of them because this store lets you pay $1.00 an item even though you may not purchase 10 of them. When I went to the check-out counter, the macaroni and cheese was ringing up for $1.69 a box. 

 Confused, I asked the cashier about it. She said that she could get a sales person. This person said that there is a big display of these marked 10 for $10.00. The cashier asked the sales person to take the signs off the display, because the computer was ringing up $1.69 a box. The cashier said that she would give me the macaroni and cheese for $1.00 a box, because it was marked that way. I said that I didn't want to because I would be taking money away from the store. She said that I wouldn't be, because it was a store policy. 

 I told her that I preferred for her to take them off the bill, because I am trying to be more ethical.  I debated whether to explain that I was trying to be a better example of living by my Christian Ethics, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't trying to draw positive attention to myself for what I was doing. The cashier was somewhat bewildered, but handed me my bag with the other things I had purchased. Was I using my Christian Ethics??? I'm not sure, but it was my intent. It's funny how many times Satan sneaks up on me to undermine my faith, related to food one way or another.
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. Romans 12:17

I emailed this post to my friend and this is her reply: "In today's society, there are still honest people, both Christian and non-Christian that want to do what is right. They care about ethics.  The difference with the Christian is that they are in a process of exchanging old attitudes for new ones (renewing your mind), aided by God's Word and the Holy Spirit (Ro.12:1,2). Another way to put it is, taking off the old and putting on the new, (Ephesians 4:22-25). You don't need to tell them why you want to be conscientious about this."

I Always Wanted to Have a Big Brother...

Psalms 7: 11 But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them: let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee. 12 For Thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous: with favour wilt Thou compass him as with a shield.

 I always wanted to have a big brother to look after me, to protect me, to comfort me and tell me everything was going to be O.K. when the world was getting me down, but I was the oldest. Well, God's like that, but much better. There are some in this world who can be insensitive. They can comment, snicker, judge us, talk behind our backs, etc. because we aren't the thinnest, cutest, richest, smartest, most athletic, but God loves us regardless.

 We could be heavy but it wouldn't matter to God, because He loves us regardless. We could be unattractive, but it wouldn't matter to God, because He loves us regardless. We could be as poor as dirt, but it wouldn't matter to God, because He loves us regardless. We could feel like a failure, but it wouldn't matter to God, because He loves us regardless. We could be clumsy and not good at sports, but it wouldn't matter to God, because He loves us regardless. 

 I could go on, but you get the point. God is always there defending us, blessing us, and protecting us as our shield from all the superficial pain of the world and insensitive people. Psalms 7: 11 But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them: let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee. 12 For Thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous: with favour wilt Thou compass him as with a shield.

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

Healing the Chubby Child Inside of Me...

God is my strength and power: and He maketh my way perfect. 2 Samuel 22:33

 I was so moved by this that I couldn't wait to get home, so that I could share this with you. I was in church today and there was a little girl about eight or nine years old in front of me. Every now and then, she'd turn around and look at me. Toward the end of the service she started getting a little wiggly in her seat, but that's not what I was focused on.

This young girl was overweight-chubby they used to call it when I was young. All of a sudden, I was thinking of what it was like to be considered a chubby child. It hurt when kids would tease me. They wouldn't choose me to be on their teams. It might not sound like much, but at that age that's a major rejection. There are two captains chosen by the teacher. These chosen captains picked their team one by one in front of the rest of the class. During that time, some like me were secretly pleading, "Pick me. Don't leave me until last to be humiliated in front of the rest of the class," but the team captains did what they deemed to be in the best interest of their team. Often, chubby people like me were left until last.

When I realized why I felt so connected to this girl, I wanted to turn to her and say, "You're beautiful and capable and don't let anyone else tell you differently," but she was getting ready to leave the church and didn't know me. I wanted to hug that child and comfort her for all the things that she may have to endure for being a chubby child. Then, I realized that I really wanted to hug and comfort the chubby child inside of me. The one who feel rejected and humiliated by peers who really meant me no harm. Fortunately, I have Jesus in my life, who has the gentle embrace that can heal and comfort the chubby child inside of me.  God is my strength and power: and He maketh my way perfect. 2 Samuel 22:33

Human Standards of Physical Perfection...

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

This passage is really talking about when Samuel was directed by God to go to Jesse's family to find the future ruler of the Israelites  Samuel thought that David's older brother had to be the one, but that wasn't the case. David, who was just a young shepherd, had the heart that God had chosen.

Sometimes, with all my bags, sags, bulges, and stretchmarks, I feel like such a miserable example of how God works in my life. There have been periods of time that I've been down on myself. This verse shows me that God doesn't judge me the way that people do. He sees my heart and brings me to know Him better. He brings me into deeper relation with Him through my shortcomings. At times, He uses my shortcomings to assist others to come into deeper relation with Him. If that's the case, I can no longer beat myself up for not being a perfect 10.

If this is the body God wants to do His will, then, who am I to judge myself according to human standards of physical perfection? But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

 Since this is an example of how I've applied this Bible passage to my overeating, it may not reflect the whole meaning of the passage.
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