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/

What Would We Put Up With?

And He [Jesus] said, woe unto you also, ye lawyers! For ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. Luke 11:46

It reminds me of when we lived in Colorado. We would see minorities working late into the evening, on the weekends, and in extreme weather conditions that we thought their employers might not work themselves. We felt strongly that their employers also didn’t pay these hard working employees overtime, something their employers more than likely got for their work behind a desk out of the harsh weather conditions. Again, it is our opinion that they didn’t get a decent wage, something that would be unheard of by their employers, who reaped big profits from the hard work of these employees.

Do we do the same in our lives? Do we ask others to do things we wouldn’t consider doing or wouldn’t consider putting up with? As an overeater, I want to make sure I have plenty of food available, even though I’m almost at my goal weight. Do I expect missionaries, the homeless, those in other countries to settle for the handful of rice or meager food doled out to them? Am I giving minimally when I hear of a food drive or do I give that others shouldn’t have to do without what I would want for myself?

Do I share my faith with others or do I leave it to someone else more suited for that than I am? Actually, if the truth be told, I do this all too often and struggle with this one. Fortunately for me, Jesus doesn’t say, “Debbie is a Comfort Level Christian, so I shouldn’t go out of My comfort level to take her to heaven with Me.” And He [Jesus] said, woe unto you also, ye lawyers! For ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. Luke 11:46

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.

Weak, Weak, Weak!

Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. Mark 14:38

I’m only five pounds from my goal weight. You would think that I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize that, wouldn’t you? Well, obviously, that’s not the case. I guess I’m just weak, weak, weak!

I was at a holiday luncheon. I had eaten enough to feel satisfied of all the foods that are healthy for me, but was that enough? No! I overheard someone else say that the carrot cake was wonderful. I don’t usually eat cake and other sweets because I’m hypoglycemic and refined sugars make me cranky.

Did that knowledge stop me? No! I went ahead and ate the cake. About a third of the way through the carrot cake, I realized that the person who made the comment didn’t really know good carrot cake, because I felt that this was mediocre carrot cake, at best. Did that stop me? No! I went ahead and ate the whole thing knowing it wasn’t even that fantastic.

Fortunately for me, Jesus gave His life for Weak Christians like me and loves me the way I am and moves me to be better than I am. Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. Mark 14:38

Is Beauty Only Skin Deep?

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30.

This one has a whole new meaning for me, lately. I got a sty and my ophthalmologist said that I had to put medicine in my eye daily and to not wear makeup for a month.  You wouldn’t think that would be such a big request, but it has, unfortunately!

Sure, putting medicine in my eye daily has been an inconvenience, but that’s not it. It’s that I’ve considered myself to be a Humble Christian, but am I?  Since I’ve been putting the medicine in my eyes, they’ve been puffed up and I have bags under my eyes, as well.  I hate to admit this, but I have gone from putting the medicine in my eyes three times a day to once a day, because of how they look when I do it more frequently.

Prior to this, I didn’t wear much makeup, but according to my ophthalmologist, the eyeliner I used carried bacteria to my eyes, which caused the sty. I had heard of mascara doing this, but never realized that eyeliner could do the same thing.  What I am just realizing is that I am wasting a whole blog post on worldly things like makeup and how I look.  What a shame!

I thought that God showed me that what I looked like and what size I am didn’t matter in God’s eyes, and it doesn’t!  Did I take on those same values? I thought I had, but obviously, I have a looooong way to go!  I can’t wait until I’m healed enough to put eyeliner on again.  What shallow values I have!  I am so amazed and ashamed at the same time!  Instead of being thankful that God is healing my eyes, I’ve been more focused on more worldly things like beauty. Oh my!  Fortunately for me, God is patient and uses these blog posts to help me be open to letting Him make me the Christian He wants me to be and He can do the same for you, too! Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30.


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.

Reluctant All Too Often

But what think ye? A certain man had two sons: and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. Matthew 21: 28-29

I find that I am all too often a Reluctant Christian. I feel God tugging on my heart about one matter or another. Do I say that I’m only too happy to do whatever is requested of me? Rarely. Usually, more often than not, I give 20 bajillion excuses why this isn’t a good time, someone else is better suited to doing whatever it is than I am.

Eventually, I realize that when God calls, I should respond. The sad part is that I do it with a reluctant attitude. I don’t say, “Here I am Lord, ready to do your will.” I usually go kicking and screaming all my excuses before I finally relinquish my worldly human views and I’m open to doing God’s bidding. Unfortunately, by the time I get around to being open, sometimes the opportunity has passed me by.

How can God love such a sinful human being as me? It defies all logic, but He does. In fact, He loves me so much, as sinful as I am, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die on the cross and rise again to save me from my sins and all my many vices, such as being reluctant, overeating, impatient, etc.

I am very fortunate that when I asked Christ to take care of my food, life, and stress, He didn’t say that He’s too busy, there’s somebody better qualified for the job. He blessed me with this gift and you would think I would be more willing to His will when He asks. Fortunately, He has a very forgiving nature! But what think ye? A certain man had two sons: and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. Matthew 21: 28-29

Heart, Soul, and Mind

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Matthew 22:37

Notice that this doesn’t say to love food with all your heart, soul, and mind. It doesn’t say to love designer clothes and trendy shoes with all your heart, soul, and mind. It doesn’t say to love your best friends and buds with all your heart, soul, and mind. It doesn’t say to love your job with all your heart, soul, and mind. It doesn’t say to love a hefty bank account with your heart, soul, and mind.

As you get the idea, the list could go on and on with all the worldly things that work a wedge in our relationship with Christ. These things may not seem all that bad, but when they become too important they become a false god in our lives.

You wouldn’t think something as benign as food would become a false god in someone’s life, but it did in mine. I was turning to food when I was stressed, happy, worried, etc. when God wants us to turn to Him in all these situations.

If we are turning to our designer clothes and trendy shoes to celebrate or when we are stressed, they may work a wedge in your relationship with Christ. If we are turning to your best friends and buds to celebrate or when we are stressed, they may work a wedge in your relationship with Christ. If we are taking pride in our jobs or taking pride in a hefty bank account, they may work a wedge in your relationship with Christ, as well.

I guess that pretty much anything, even knitting can become a false god if we are turning to it in times of celebration and stress instead of turning to God.  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Matthew 22:37

The Tax Time Woes

And He saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto Him, Caesar’s. Then saith He [Jesus] unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. Matthew 22: 20-21

Each year a tax time, this becomes a struggle with the Tax Time Woes. Why am I so resistant to give my money to the tax collectors? Why do I want to keep more of what seems mine? Am I wanting it to donate to the church? Am I wanting it to donate to some charitable organization? Am I wanting it to make a positive change in the lives of others? Usually not.

Why do I struggle with giving to the government? I guess it doesn’t really matter why I struggle, as long as I listen to what Christ tells us in this passage. When I really, truly listen to what it says, it doesn’t seem so bad to pay what is asked of me. I don’t eat over it the way I used to as a young adult, but I do have to relinquish the hold that money has on me. When money becomes such a focus in our lives, it becomes a false god to us and that not what I want in my life.

Fortunately for me and for you too, Christ knew we are worldly human beings getting caught up in no wanting to relinquish money to the tax collectors. That’s why He has this passage in the Bible for us to know His desire for us. At first, I was more reluctant about it, now I have a calm feeling in my stomach when I pay my taxes knowing that’s what Christ wants us to do. And He saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto Him, Caesar’s. Then saith He [Jesus] unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. Matthew 22: 20-21

Prayer Chains and Christian Blogs

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20

Talk about reassuring verses!!! That’s why this blog is so important to me! Although my other commitments keep me from gathering with other Christians every day, I still feel that we, as a faith community, are there worshipping Christ and are praying for each other, or at least, that’s what I hope.

Can this really happen through an overeating blog? Well, I can’t tell you for certain, but God tugged on my heart about creating a Christian Overeaters Past and Present Blog for quite a while before I was willing to finally be open to it. He must have had a reason for it and I don’t want to second guess that. Hopefully, when we read the posts whether from this blog or another that inspires your walk with Christ, it helps us be deeper in relationship with our Savior, as well as other Christians that view it as well.

Can it happen through prayer chains? I know there are some who think not. Because of this verse, I feel that Christ hears our prayers for those on prayers chains, even internet prayer chains. Will we get everything we pray for just because two or three are gathered in Christ’s name to pray for something? It doesn’t work that way either. God knows when He is calling people to be with Him in heaven. 

Since we don’t know God’s will in any matter, it doesn’t hurt to pray for God’s healing touch in their lives and all those who care about them. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20


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.



Is Losing All That Weight Really Worth It?

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:26

Have you ever found yourself saying, “What I wouldn’t give to lose all this weight.” I know the thought crossed my mind before, but when I read this passage I found myself quickly asking God’s forgiveness for ever thinking such a thing.

Although I’m five pounds from my goal weight right now, I would rather be grossly overweight than to lose my salvation. Although I didn’t like it, I would rather go back to the self-doubt and insecurity than to lose my relationship with my Lord and Savior. Although I hated trying to find something to wear out in public, I would rather go back to that than to face one day without my Savior at my side.

The nice thing is that Christ doesn’t ask this of us, but I still have to have my priorities straight! I have to know that following some Eastern or Middle Eastern mediation format and diet is too high a cost for losing weight, because I might lose my salvation in the process. Going to church with the popular crowd might lead me astray if that church leader isn’t aligned with what Christ tells us through the Bible. Additionally, some pull things from the Bible and use them out of context just to support whatever point they are trying to make. This can be just as harmful.

 Reading the Bible daily helps to keep focused on what really matters and to discern what doesn’t. Don’t let yourself be vulnerable to things that can be counterproductive to your daily walk with Christ. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:26

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.

When I Can't See the Forest for the Trees



But He turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Matthew 16:23

Sometimes, I’m a Can’t See the Forest for the Trees Christan, letting worldly things interfere in doing what God calls me to do. In the verses prior to this, Jesus has just told Peter how he is going to suffer many things, be crucified, and raised again on the third day, but Peter couldn’t see the forest for the trees.

Peter rebuked Jesus and told Him that this shouldn’t happen to Jesus. The thing is, Jesus always sees the Big Picture. He knew that if He didn’t die and rise again, we sinful human beings would have no hope for salvation otherwise.

Sometimes, I get to where I can’t see the forest for the trees, as well. There are times where I hear God’s gentle tugging at my heart, but minimize it and go on to do other things that I determine is much more important.  God always sees the Big Picture, so that thing I may have minimized may have been exactly what God needed me to do to bring about the outcome He desired.

Here’s a very simplistic example: I felt a tugging on my heart to sort through my clothes to donate them, but put it off determining that I should clean my house instead. In this example, someone who may have needed a particular garment I would have donated wouldn’t have it.

Fortunately for me, Jesus doesn’t say, “Debbie wants me to take care of her overeating, but I’ve got much more important things to do first, so I’ll leave it until later.” But He turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Matthew 16:23

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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