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 Do I Love?

Set your affection on the things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2

What do I love? Well, I love my family. I love my friends. I love things that make me happy and I love the Lord. This is a terrible list! I notice that my love of Christ is listed last. When I started writing this, I thought this post was going to be about how I have loved food all too much in my life and it became a false god in my life where I turned to food instead of to God in times of stress, boredom, etc.

This list has me baffled! I feel like Christ is first and foremost in my life, but that's not what I put. I'm so ashamed! I have turned my back on my Lord, but He never turns His back on me. Christ loved me when I was heavy, lonely, afraid, and distraught. He never turns His back on me.

Is it that when things are going well, I put God on the back burner just in case I need something, while I enjoy all the worldly blessings I have. I would hate that Satan would use my family to work a wedge in my relationship with Christ.  I would hate that Satan could use my friends to work a wedge in my relationship with Christ. I would hate that I would allow things that give me immediate pleasure to work a wedge in my relationship with my Lord and Savior, but I have.  

I feel so torn right now, frustrated and somewhat joyful at the same time. I feel really frustrated with my list and with my Christian priorities. The joyful part has to do with God's showing me what I'm doing. He's showing me how worldly priorities are sneaking in there and are affecting my relationship with Him.  Additionally, the joyful part comes from knowing that Christ cares enough about me and my relationship with Him that He has shows me what I'm doing, so I can immediately pray and put my priorities back into my Savior's hands.  Set your affection on the things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2

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

Giving Thanks for All God's Given Me

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5: 19-20

Do I really give thanks for the sags an bags and floppy skin the way I say I do, now that I've lost the weight? I really didn't appreciate them as much as I should have in the beginning. They were just one more tell-tale indicator that I used to be fat and had out-of-control eating.

Now, I feel I am a more Thankful Christian, appreciating these bodily imperfections as a sign of the miracles that Christ has done in my life. They are a lasting reminder that I can go back to that crazy life style where food became a false god in my life, because I turned to it in times of stress instead of to my Lord and Savior.

Now, my life runs so much more smoothly, because I'm putting my life, food, and concerns into God's very capable hands. I realize that I may have never developed the close relationship with my Savior that I do now, if I hadn't gone through all the compulsive eating, bazillion diets, etc. before realizing that Jesus can heal my aching soul, if I only let him. I am so truly blessed! Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5: 19-20

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

Eating in Panic Mode!

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36

I sat down to eat my healthy dinner, but decided to eat in front of the television while I watched the news. While I watched, I saw the horrific event of late when multiple attacks happened in Paris. I was glued to the screen as I anxiously woofed down my food.

Then, I went to look for something else. I needed something more! I found the last quarter of a bag of low fat popcorn and decided that would work. As I watched with my eyes glued to the screen as you hear of the devastation that these terror attacks caused, I downed the rest of the popcorn in minutes. I looked at the crumbles in the bottom of the bag and realized I would have to get another bag or stop. I was torn, because I really wanted to get another bag, but remembered a recent post about when I ate the other three quarters of the popcorn bag and had to turn my eating over to God.

This made me pause. In that ever so brief pause, I prayed over and over again asking for God to heal the gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach and He did. I sat there in bewilderment prayerfully trying to figure out what had just happened. God gave me the feelings that when I saw all the terrorist attacks on television, it brought me back to the 911 attacks on the Twin Towers and how devastated and helpless we all felt. I hadn't realized that was what was going on, but God did. He always sees the BIG PICTURE. Fortunately for me, He calmed my craving more and more, because eating wouldn't calm the gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach, only Christ could. I pray for God's healing touch for all those who have been affected by these or other terrorist attacks throughout the world. Debbie Seiling




Are We Turning a Blind Eye?

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! Matthew 18:6-7

Pain is caused by those who take advantage of children of any age. Have they no feelings? Are they inhuman that they can sit behind computers playing games with children implying they are a similar age and arrange a meeting? How can those who approach kids to help them look for a lost pet sleep at night? What about those who volunteer in groups that appeal to youth who see them as a role model? How can they look themselves in the mirror?

Maybe this doesn't seem like it ties in with Christian Overeaters Past and Present blog posts, but I have read so many times that there are many in our world who are overweight because of abuse that has occurred at one time or another in their lives. Remember that doesn't mean that all overweight people have experienced abuse, but there are lots who have. Lots of people of any age who have no way to console themselves, but find food as the only means to deal with the pain in their hearts from this devastating event.

 How do we help those who have experienced such devastating events? Well, one way is not to turn a blind eye when things are exposed in the media, because it's become an all too common occurrence. Another is to change the laws on so many different levels. The burden of proof lies on the child who has been taken advantage of and the perpetrator is free, other wise. Additionally, the laws only protect children of a certain age. I think that there should be no age limit on protecting children or for that matter, anyone who is abused. Why should anyone get any less protection, because they are in their teens or older? Consider contacting an advocacy group to find out more about what you can do, because God doesn't want us to turn a blind eye to this any more! But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! Matthew 18:6-7



I Heard This Little Scrawny Child Say He Was Too Fat

And Jesus said unto the Centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. Matthew 8:13

What is the media doing to children when you can hear a little scrawny child say he was too fat? How do we counter the effects of the media on children? It seems that they are bombarded by it on all sides and they seem to pick up on subtle messages in advertising that I am oblivious to.

What do we do to bolster the self-esteem of youth, so that they don't determine their self-worth by their clothing size? What do we do make sure that kids don't internalize adult conversations they over hear? I wish I had all the answers.

I found this video on You Tube that shows some of the impact that the media has on the self-perception of youth. If only we could have the youth of today and tomorrow focus on the the truths at the end of this enlightening video. This is definitely something worth continuing to be prayerful about. And Jesus said unto the Centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. Matthew 8:13

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

Am I Being a Role Model of Healthy Eating?

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. Matthew 6:31-32

That's a really good question. I wish I could say that I always am, but I recently wrote a post about how I talked myself into craving a five inch meringue pie while talking to a relative. That wasn't being the best example.

During the summer when I wanted special outings with the grandkids, I would take them for an ice cream or a shaved ice. I don't really want them to learn that special occasions revolve around food the way I did while I was growing up.

Although I started with best intentions to only feed my grandkids healthy snacks, it has morphed into something like, "You can have your slice of pie after you eat your apples and peanut butter."

I want to be a good role model to the younger generations in the family. I want them to have balanced blood sugar and to teach them that life doesn't revolve around things that are sweet and tempting. I really have to be more prayerful about this, because God knows our needs and it really isn't sugar. Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. Matthew 6:31-32

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

Low Blood Sugar in Hawaii

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10

What a place to have low blood sugar. My body clock was all off with the change in time. I was eating at strange times and my food choices were inconsistent, at best. I thought I was doing fine, but found that I was irritable with my family over little issues. That's usually a sign that my blood sugar level is really off. I'm fortunate that I don't have to stick myself in order to know that. Usually, I can tell from my behavior, tears, or lack of patience.

Having Hawaiian Shaved Ice didn't help things one bit, although I really enjoyed it. The sugar spikes give me an almost euphoric feeling, but it affects my moods. Once I was aware of my being irritable with my family, I prayed, turning it and the temptations to eat sweet foods over to God who heals me, even when I'm oblivious to needing healing.

Then, I went from one extreme to another. Trying to stay away from sugar, which throws my Hypoglycemic system for a loop, I tried to make sure I was eating healthy food. I remember being in a restaurant and it had been too long since my last meal. It seemed to be a painstaking effort to try to find something healthy to eat that I could select. It's not that there wasn't anything healthy on the menu, but more that none of the things on the menu appealed to me. I didn't feel at all hungry and it took forever for me to finally order, but a half an hour or so after I ate, my body and mood stabilized. Fortunately, God took care of this issue in spite of my resistance. I am very blessed. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 

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.



Maybe I'm Taking Christ's Grace Too Much for Granted

For there is no difference between Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:12-13

I've found that there have been quite a few times lately where I find myself hungry when I really shouldn't be or normally wouldn't be. Why is this? Am I under stress I'm not aware of? I'm not really sure, but realized that God knows why and will show me if I let Him.

In the meantime, while being prayerful, it popped into my mind, which is often how God works in my life, that sometimes we feel hungry when we just are dehydrated and need some more water or milk. I started doing this and it seemed to cure that unusually hungry feeling I've been having lately. Fortunately, God took care of this before I started reverting back to old eating problems.

How easy it is to slip back into old patterns when we are too complacent with things the way they are. It made me much more mindful, but maybe not mindful enough, that I need to stay focused on Christ and all He's done for me and continues to do for me. Maybe I take Him and His grace too much for granted, but I don't want to. I wanted to let Him know how much I appreciate all He's done for me. I want to share this with others, so that they can have the same blessings in their lives. I need to be more mindful, more prayerful and less complacent. For there is no difference between Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:12-13

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

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