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/

Climbing the Ladder of Success

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life f its owners. Proverbs 1:19 

It never seemed important to me to be highly successful in the business world. In fact, I looked down on those who made it their goal, although we aren't supposed to look down on anyone, but I try to be as honest in these blog posts as I can. 

The funny thing is, Satan sneaks up on us Christians and finds subtle ways to lead us astray, without our even realizing it. In that I looked down on others who were caught up climbing the Ladder of Success, I didn't realize it when I got snared up in those same goals, as well. It always seemed that the other people were doing it, not me!

As a teacher, I decided to go back and get my Masters Degree, although it wasn't required of me. It took up so much of my free time, where I would have had more time to read the Bible, to be with my family, and to prepare healthier meals. I spent summers and other periods of time caught up in projects where I told the family that they needed to leave me alone, so I could focus on the project at hand. I was letting this work a wedge in my relationship with my family. Not only that, if I was doing that with my family, I most certainly doing that with my relationship with Christ, putting Him on the back-burner until I had more time to focus on Him and for what ...a little more status in my profession...a little higher wage on the pay scale...a little more credibility among my peers?

There isn't anything wrong with getting a Masters Degree or any degree for that matter, but when the pursuit of the degree makes you ignore your Savior, family, and friends, it's not worth it. Although I got the degree, my relationship with my Savior and turning my food, stress, and vices over to His capable hands suffered. My relationship with my family suffered and so did my relationship with my friends. Additionally, I didn't serve as a very good role model to my family. They may have seen my desire to get status within my career as something to be desired, although I told myself that wasn't what I was doing. Fortunately, Christ forgives me and hopefully my family does, as well.

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

Am I Consenting to Old Sinful Ways Instead of Staying Focused on Christ?

My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. Proverbs 1:10

Today is Christmas! Do I focus on all that my Savior did for me by being born of Mary to live, suffer, die, and rise again, so that I might go to heaven and be with Him someday, despite my sinful nature? Or do I let all the hub-bub of festivities cloud my judgment, losing sight of what my Savior has done for me?

There have been times when I've let others on this occasion and many others get the best of me. Christ has shown me how to eat in a healthy way and avoid the foods that affect my blood sugar and trigger old overeating behaviors. It's very easy to be enticed in comments like, "Just try a little bite of this. It won't hurt you," or, "You deserve to splurge, it's Christmas!" 

My eating unhealthy things and compulsive overeating don't honor all my Savior's done for me. All it does is lead me to the brink of a very slippery slope where I can go slip-sliding back into my compulsive overeating ways. Although they might pressure me, people will still love me if I say, "No thank you," or, "I'm not hungry right now." Sometimes that's easier than saying, "I can't eat these foods, because they're not healthy for me." That makes them feel guilty for making them and for eating them, as well. It would make life so much easier if the focus was primarily on celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior instead of on food.

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

Do I Have Periodic Bouts of Reverting Back to Being a Fool?

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

In the 30+ years that God has allowed the vast majority of the 80+ pounds to stay off, I've fluctuated over time. When I'm more focused on my relationship with my Lord and Savior, my food program seems to be easier to follow and temptations don't seem to phase me.

On the other hand, when I'm zipping through my prayers, trailing off without even realizing it or speed reading the my daily Bible reading, I find myself struggling with temptations. Additionally, during times when I'm not as focused on my relationship with Christ, it seems that I'm less patient with others around, when that isn't the case when I make God my priority.

This Bible verse made me realize that I'm allowing myself to revert back to being a fool each time I let my focus and priorities wander. Fortunately for me, Christ is all forgiving when we ask Him and He brings me back to focus on what's most important, my relationship with Him and then, those He's put in my life.

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

The Sun Had Gone Down

Ephesians 4: 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the things which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

This is amazing timing for me to come across this passage, but then again, that's how God works in my life. Last night my husband and I had a disagreement about watching TV. I like to watch some movies and shows on the weekend during my "down time." He wanted to go to bed at 7:00 to read. There's nothing wrong with reading before you go to bed, but 7:00 was too early for me and I let him know it in no uncertain words. 

I left the room in a huff, boy was I mad!!! I went to bed and stewed for awhile. Christ had this Bible passage on my mind. At first, I was reluctant to pay attention to it, but eased up, because I knew Christ had my best interest at heart. It didn't matter who was right or wrong or whether there is a right or wrong in a situation like this. It's whether we let it form a wedge between us.

I knew I needed to get up and apologize for getting so upset over this and ask him to come to bed with me. I did go to bed early without watching some of the shows, but that was a small price to pay for keeping my marriage in tact. I told him, "If this is the worst thing in our marriage that I have to deal with, I'm a very blessed woman!" He agreed. 

Now, you may wonder why I have this on the Christian Overeaters Past and Present Blog. The thing is, it's harboring feeling about things like this that led me to overeat all those years. Christ has shown me that it's more important to deal with my feelings and issues that arise rather than stuff them down with tons of food, instead.

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

Am I Reaping What I Sow?

Galatians 6: 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

In that I have been frustrated that I haven't been able to drop the ten extra pounds I gained when I broke my heel, I wondered if I am reaping what I sow? Is it that I've been focused on more worldly things like food instead of focusing on Christ?

Sadly, I have found that it must be true. Lately, God has been having little lessons for me again, showing me that I had been losing my focus on Him. I have been self-absorbed and allowed things to keep me from being actively involved in my relationship with Him. I've rambled through my daily prayers and through the time that I read the Bible each day. The sad thing is, I thought I had a really good relationship with Christ and didn't realize I was letting Satan slowly work a wedge in my relationship with God.

The thing is, Christ gave His life for us to save us from ourselves. When He shows me what I've been doing, I can immediately, and I don't mean some time later, ask God's forgiveness and ask the Holy Spirit to enter my heart and renew my relationship with Him. I should not put God off until sometime more convenient like chores I plan to do sometime later, but sometimes never get around to it. Christ didn't say, "I don't think I want to give my life for Debbie right now. I think I will do it sometime later when I have more time."

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

I Didn't Realize I Was So Weak

2 Corinthians 13:4 For though He[Christ] was crucified through weakness, yet He liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. 

Christ took away my compulsive overeating and desire for great amounts of sweets and carbs over 30 years ago and has kept off the vast majority of the 80+ pounds for all that time. It's not of my doing. Actually, I gave up and told God that I had tried all these diets and often gained back more than I started with and I was giving up. I told Him that if He ever wanted me to be thin, He'd have to do it, because I couldn't.

I actually wasn't expecting anything to happen. I was just telling God that I give up, but He always sees the BIG picture! It was that very same afternoon that He took the desire for great amounts of sweets, food, and carbs away. What's more than this, He taught me lessons about how I had made food a false god, turning to it in times of stress, etc. instead of turning to Him.

Well, I knew better, but I was visiting a relative and they offered me a piece of cake. I thought I would take a little token bite of it, but it was so full of nuts and fruit that I ate the whole thing, without batting an eye. A few days later, another relative gave me a piece of the same cake. At first, I thought I shouldn't eat any more, but I let Satan sneak in and play to my weakness. I told myself that if I declined that other piece of cake, I would be hurting the feelings of the person who offered it to me. 

I ate that second piece of cake, but have regretted it ever since. At first, it made my stomach sick, because after eating it, I was too full. Then, I was less than patient with others the next week. After being prayerful about it, I realized that eating those two pieces of cake through my blood sugar off, something I'm usually very careful about, since I'm Hypoglycemic. The thing that upset me the most about giving into this weakness, was that my relationship with Christ and those around me was off for about a week, until I realized I really needed to refocus and turn all of this over to Christ's very capable hands. After all this time, I didn't realize I was still so weak and vulnerable when it comes to sweets, but Satan showed me that he can still sneak up and tempt me, if I'm not focused on turning my control of food, my body, my eating, and stress over to Christ on a daily basis!

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

Is My Faith Built on Rock?

Luke 6: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

I was just saying a brief prayer asking Christ to take care of the foundation and structure of our house, since we live in an area where foundation problems happen frequently, causing all types of structural problems in homes.

Immediately after saying that, Christ had the idea pop in my head, which is often how He works in my life, that I'm praying about the foundation and structure of my house when I really should be concerned about the foundation and structure of my faith in Christ.

I get so busy focused on all the little daily things that come up, that I think I'm putting the important things like having a firm foundation in Christ on the back burner, taking it for granted. In that Christ led me to have this thought immediately after the prayer for my house, it makes me aware that this is noteworthy. It is a reminder from my Savior that I shouldn't be as worried about my house as my daily walk with Christ. 

This comes at an important time for me, since I've been trying to discern why I haven't been able to lose weight back to what it was before my foot injury.  In trying to be honest, I've feel that I must be rushing through my prayers and reading the Bible daily. Also, I realized I just typed the portion underlined which shows that I'm trying to be in control again and must be putting Christ off until I need help. I have to remind myself that my weight loss had only happened when I put control of my food, body, eating, and stress into Christ's very capable hands, not mine. This is a real wake-up call. Debbie

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

I Got Reeled in Hook, Line, and Sinker!

James 2: 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

I was eating what I thought was a healthy diet, but still wasn't losing the weight after my foot injury. I guess I lost some, but not to the point I had been prior to the injury. I was going through the motions of having an active relationship with Christ, but then He showed me, that's all it was. I was rambling through my prayers, I was trying to be in control with my food again, I was being impatient with family members. I just wasn't being mindful of my relationship with Christ and it showed!!!

I prayed and prayed for the Holy Spirit to enter my heart again and to renew my relationship with Christ, and He did. The thing is, it's a week later and I find myself trailing off in the midst of my prayers thinking of things of a more worldly nature, mostly TV shows and and the outcome of the next episode. How could I let worldly things like this interfere in my relationship with Christ?

The thing is, Satan knows what it takes to trip anyone. He dangles those temptations in front of us and when we get lax in our relationship with Christ like I did, we are able to be reeled in hook, line and sinker! It's not as easy this time, turning things around. Satan has had a toe-hole on me and doesn't want to let me go. That means I have to be ever more mindful during my prayers, turning my willingness for Christ to be in control of all aspects of my life and my relationship with Him. He is strong, where I am weak! I have to trust the all-powerful Lord to keep me focused even when I start to stray!

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

Sometimes It's Hard to Forgive Ourselves, but Christ Is So Very Forgiving

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted His raiment, and cast lots.

Just think, Jesus Christ forgave the very same people who had spit on Him, beat Him, mocked Him, were in the process of crucifying Him and were trying to see who would get Jesus' garments. If He would forgive people doing all of this, don't you think He will forgive us, as well?

Sometimes it's hard for us to forgive ourselves of all we've done, but Christ is so very forgiving. Someone may be saying, "How can Christ forgive me, I've had an abortion or committed adultery, or stolen, or lied, or turned my back on Christ or someone in my life, and the list could go on and on and on. 

The thing is, we no longer have to punish ourselves with food, drugs, alcohol, unhealthy relationships or any other thing to reinforce what terrible people we think we are. In Christ's eyes, we are the ones that He freely gave His life for, because He loves us, imperfections and all. We need to know that all we have to do is tell Him we're sorry for our past and that we love Him and know He loves us even when we find it difficult to love ourselves. He is there for us, but if you have a difficult time believing in all that Jesus offers you, ask Him to give you the willingness to believe in Him, the willingness to trust Him. He will if you ask Him!!!!

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

Although He Is Risen, He's Not Far Away

Matthew 28: 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Sure, Jesus was crucified and arose from the grave. But, is He too far away in heaven to pay attention to our needs? You would think that, but it's not the case. Jesus Christ has been there time and time again, just when I needed Him. He is not so far away that He can't be there for us.

Yes, Christ allowed the loss of 80+ pounds and keeping it off for over 30 years, but He does so much more than that in my life. He is there when I stumble and lose my way with my food or my choices. He is always there quick to forgive me when I ask Him and to aim me in a more positive direction.

He gives me the words to say when I am in a potentially stressful situation when I ask Him for guidance. He makes me a better person and allows me to be more patient of others, when I normally wouldn't have been so. Jesus gave His life for you and me to save us from all our many sins. He has a vested interest in helping us to become the Christians He wants, if we only let Him and not just put our faith in Him on a back shelf for a rainy day when we need Him. 

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

Sometimes I Sow Sparingly

2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 

Christ has done so much for me, but do I sow bountifully, because I've certainly received bountifully? Unfortunately, I can't honestly say, "Yes." Yes, Christ has allowed an 80+ pound weight loss and kept the vast majority of it off for over 30 years. Yes, Christ has gotten me through so many situations where I was beside myself, but have I always been there for Him? Unfortunately, no!

Sometimes, I get too self-absorbed thinking about what I want, instead of focusing on what Christ wants of me. Sometimes, I tend to think narrowly, but Christ knows all that is possible. I get fearful about trying things out of my comfort zone, but sometimes Christ wants me to be open to taking risks for Him, but do I do it? Sometimes, I say,"No, no. I can't. I'm too afraid." But fortunately for me, Christ is patient and forgiving and will refocus me and remind me that He is all powerful. If He wants me to do something, He can make it happen and He can overcome my fears with His strength!

I want to sow bountifully. I want to be focused on what Christ wants instead of mine. I want to take the risks that He guides me to and trust in His strength amidst my weaknesses. I know that He can overcome my selfish, fearful ways if I let Him. He is God. He can do anything!

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

This Is a Tricky One for Me

Mark 11: 23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

This is a tricky one for me. Yes, Jesus took away 80+ pounds and allowed it to stay off for over 30 years. God can do anything! It wasn't because I was such a great Christian, but seems to be more related to turning the control in my life over to God when I told Him that I gave up and that if He ever wanted me to be thin, He'd have to do it, because I couldn't and He did.

That was a major turning point in my life, not just because of the weight loss, but because of all the lessons God showed me along the way that I try to apply to my life. Reading the Bible on a daily basis helps, as well, and makes it easier to learn to apply this lessons to your life. 

So, why is this passage so tricky for me? Good question! It's because I feel that some people feel let down when they pray for particular things like cars, jobs, or health for those who are ill and it doesn't go the way they had hoped. In this verse, God isn't promising that we will have whatever we pray for. We just are supposed to believe that He can do whatever we ask and realize that we need to ask if it's His will. The new car or the particular job, may not be what He has intended for us, at the time. It may be that God wants the ill person to join Him in heaven at that time and not suffer any longer. That's even harder to understand when it's a young person who hasn't been ill, but we don't have to understand everything God does. We just have to trust God, Who is gracious, but His will and timing are impeccable, even though we have difficulty understanding, because we are human. Regardless our faith needs to be focused on Him and His ultimate will in these situations!

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

I've Been Weak More Times Than I'd Like to Remember!

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

You would think that after a major miracle where Christ allowed a weight loss of 80+ pounds and for the vast majority of it to stay off for over 30 years, I would be extra careful to not slip back into old eating patterns. I wish I could tell you that I have will power of steel, but that's just not the case. I've been weak more times than I'd like to remember!

It doesn't take much to get me into slip sliding down that path either. My husband can start snacking in the evenings and then it seems that sooner than later, I'm starting to snack in the evenings. At first, I will have only healthy snacks, but after awhile, they aren't readily available or they don't look so appealing and I find myself starting to indulge in things that I know I should have.

Does that knowledge stop me? Well, not a first, but at some point, Christ does remind me what I'm doing. I try to pray right away, because He doesn't have to go out of His way to remind me, but He does. I ask His forgiveness and ask Him to get me focused on the right track. Sure, I might notice not having a snack the first couple of evenings, but I can put that into Jesus' very capable hands and He gets me through snack withdrawals and aims me on the correct path. If He can do this for me, He can most definitely do it for you, too, that is, if you pray and trust Him to!

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

If Jesus Can Do This for Me, He Can Do It For You, but You Have to Believe That

Mark 9: 23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

I'm sure that there's some that listen to the miracle Jesus did for me by allowing the loss of 80+ pounds and the vast majority of it staying off for over 30 years and think, "Yeah, sure. It might have happened for her, but it sure isn't going to happen for me."

Well, I'm no body special. I didn't lead the most pious, righteous life and Jesus rewarded me by allowing the weight loss. Actually, I'm just a sinner, like we all are. The miracle happened when I was fed up on trying diet after diet only to gain more weight back afterward. I sat down one day and told God that I was giving up and if He ever wanted me to be thin, He'd have to do it. And you know what, He did!

That very same day some time after my prayer, Jesus took the urge to eat plate after plate after plate of food away from me. He also took the urge to eat sweets and carbohydrates away. I hadn't planned any of this, Jesus just had it happen. I guess I was shocked at first, then realized that Jesus can do it-He's God and He can do anything and He did! Over the next six months, Christ showed me all types of lessons, but especially how food had become a false god in my life. I had been turning to food to console me when I was stressed, etc. rather than turning to Christ in times of stress. This lesson played a major role in my life. Sure, I slip sometimes, but Jesus is always there encouraging me to turn my focus to Him instead of food, which makes all the difference. Note: this Bible verse says: Mark 9: 23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. You have to trust God to do this and if you feel unsure, at times, ask Him for the willingness to heal your food, body, and eating. He's God and He can do anything!

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

Christ Made Me Strong Through My Weakness

2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

All those years I compulsively overate, I was so weak and full of self-loathing. It not only affected me, but it affected my relationship with my family and my relationship with Christ, because I avoided going to church. The thing is, my overeating was such a big weakness in my life, but through that weakness, Christ showed me how He can make me strong and healthy, when I let Him be in control of my life.

It was when I gave up after trying so many diets over the years that it could make your head swim, that I gave up and told God so and said that if He ever wanted me to be thin, He'd have to do it, because I couldn't. That day I was so weak and gave up was when God's strength kicked in. He turned my time, attention, and focus on food, weight, and my body to focusing on Him and His guidance in my life. He took the weakness of self-loathing and self-doubt and filled me with the strength of knowledge that God would be there with me through thick and thin.

It has been when I've been beside myself with grief and doubt, Christ has shown His compassion in my life through His forgiving grace. He lets me know that He loves me regardless of my weight and has taught me to love myself, regardless of my weight. He has shown me that I no longer need to beat myself up because of my weaknesses, but remember that He uses these weaknesses to strengthen me and those I come in contact with...especially those who read this blog!

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

I Was Not Willing to Put Myself Out There

 2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 

So, God did this major miracle in my life. He allowed the loss of over 80 pounds and for the vast majority of it to stay off for over 30 years! Was I willing to share this with others? Not really. Sometimes, I could tell a very close friend about it, but mainly I watched how I worded things, because I thought someone might think I was a religious fanatic and would back away from me. I let me concerns of their approval interfere with sharing the wonderful things Christ had done in my life.

Not only did He cause the weight loss when I gave up after lots of diets and told God that if He ever wanted me to be thin, He'd have to do it, because I couldn't, He showed me how food had become a false god in my life. When I was sad or worried, I would eat and eat and eat until I made my stomach so sick from all that I had eaten. I was turning to food to console me instead of turning to my Savior. Once I started putting these worries and concerns in Christ's very capable hands, that gnawing hungry feeling would leave the pit of my stomach only to be replaced by a calm, soothing feeling that Christ gave me instead.

How could I have held back this crucial information from people for so long? I don't have the answers, but feel like I'm being negligent to not share this life changing information. If Christ did this for me, a sinful human being, He can do it for you, too. You just have to be willing to give up and put the control of your food, body, and eating into His very capable hands!!!

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

Not Something Special I Did

2 Corinthians 4: 5For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

I want viewers to know, I am not here to tell you my 80+ weight loss and it's staying off for over 30 years is because of me or something I did. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; It was more that God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  The darkness in this situation was all the negativity and self-loathing I let Satan cultivate in my life. His cultivation did not produce flowers, but weeds in my life that strangled that life and my relationship with Christ and my family. My thoughts and actions were so clouded by this self-loathing and negativity and couldn't see that God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, 

Then, one day after trying loads of different diets only to gain more back afterward, I gave up! I told God that I was giving up and that if He ever wanted me to be thin, He'd have to do it, because I couldn't. It was then that God's light shown through in a way that had never existed in my relationship with Him before. He took my desire to eat large amounts of food, sugary things and excessive carbohydrates away. It was just gone that very same day and I know it came from God. I think it was because I had always tried to be in control in my life and my eating asking God to help me solve a problem, to help me lose the weight.  I hadn't, to that point, asked Him to be in charge of these issues. I have no idea why not, because He immediately made so many changes in my life, in my perceptions of things.

It was like God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts,  I didn't feel so negative. I was open to the many lessons God had to show me about how eating, food and the desire to be thin had been in control of my life. I turned to food to console me when I was stressed rather than turn to Christ to console me, but after this, it was all different. Christ was the One I yearned for, not food. I didn't worry about becoming thin, because I trusted it was all in Christ's very capable hands. My focus was no longer on worldly things, but was on the Lord and the lessons He had for me. These lessons weren't always easy, because it's hard to find out that you are responsible for causing the pain in your life and sometimes the lives of those you care for. The more I was willing to listen, the more Christ healed my aching soul and freed me from the obsessions of food and weight. I have been very blessed, but He can bless each and everyone of you if you'd turn the control in your lives over to Christ's very capable hands!

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

If You Let Him!!!!!

Acts 26: 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I now send thee. 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me.

I felt compelled to write about the significance of this Bible passage. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to write, but am being prayerful. Somehow, I'm feeling that all the self-loathing that I had when I was compulsively eating was the the darkness that Satan had and utilized in my life all those years. I wasn't as kind to my family as God would want me to be, because I was too immersed in feeling terrible about myself and my weight to be as supportive to my family and friends as I should have been. Most things were viewed as a cup half empty, which reflects of the negativity that Satan played in my life. Also, I didn't go to church as often, because I was embarrassed about not having clothes that could hide all my excess weight. I felt people were judging me because of my weight and so I isolated myself from them and from being in close relationship with Christ, although I thought I had a good relationship with Him.

Then, one day after trying bajillions of diets, I gave up! I told God that if He ever wanted me to be thin, He'd have to do it, because I couldn't! I think that probably must have been the first time that I turned over control in my life to Christ. It was that very same day that I no longer had the desire to eat huge amounts of foods, sweets, and carbohydrates. I hadn't planned that. It was Christ who changed my attitude toward food. It was Christ who was showing me the light in the midst of all the darkness that Satan had caused in my life.

I feel Christ wants me to share that He can change your life to and bring you out of the darkness and into the light. That's the most important whether or not you are willing to turn your food, body and eating into His very capable hands. Hopefully, when you are letting Christ's light shine through all the darkness that Satan has in your life, you will be willing to put your food, body, and eating into His hands, as well. I'm here to tell you that if He can do that for me, He can do the same for you, if you let Him!!!!!!

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

Do I Bear Enough Fruit?

John 15: 8 Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love.

Although I don't exactly ask it this way, I periodically ask myself if I'm bearing enough fruit for Christ? After all, He allowed the loss of over 80 pounds and has kept the vast amount of that weight off for the last 30 years. He's done so much for me, but am I doing enough for Him?

Well, that's a really tricky question to answer. I have 13 different blogs I felt led to write, 12 of them are Christian blogs, but am I using this as something to appease my concerns? Possibly! God has done so much for me and, as I said, I wonder if I should be doing much more and what?

I guess I just have to keep my heart open to doing Christ's will and see where He leads me. In the mean time, I keep trying to share through these blog posts about the miraculous changes He has had in my life, beyond my weight loss. He calms my fears and concerns, because He's shown me so many times that if I lean on Him, He'll get me through even the worst of issues. Of course, that doesn't mean these issues or concerns will be resolved the way I would prefer, but in trusting Christ, I know that He will be with me throughout these, regardless of the outcome. That's pretty amazing if you ask me! So, when I'm not slacking off with my relationship with Christ, I turn that worry and stress over to His very capable hands and feel the calmness that only He can give.

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

They Don't Listen to the Important Part

Matthew 5: 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 

It seems when people find out that I used to weigh well over 200 pounds and have been thinner for over 30 years, they don't listen to the important part. They don't hear that it was not of anything I did in and of myself. It only happened one day when I gave up after trying so many different diets it would make your head spin. It only happened when I sat down in frustration and told God that I give up and that if He wanted me thin, He'd have to do it, because I couldn't.

The ironic part in all of this is that I wasn't asking God to make me thin, I had done that for years and years and years. I was just telling Him that I was giving up. The miraculous thing was that in that were same day, my whole life turned around. After giving up and turning control over to God, something I hadn't realized I did, He ran with it. Christ showed me so many lessons about how food and the hope of a thin body had become too important in my life. 
He showed me that food had become a false god in my life, because I was turning to food to console me when I was stressed, concerned, worried, etc. After His showing me this, I started praying and turning the stress, concerns and worries over into Christ's very capable hands.

Once I started doing that and turning my food, body, and eating over into His hands as well, He allowed a weight loss of over 80 pounds. Over the years, I gained back about 20 of those pounds that I've been playing around with for years, but the vast majority of the weight loss has stayed off for over 30 years, but it is all due to putting it in Christ's very capable hands-that's the important part!!!!

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

Has the Darkness Blinded My Eyes?

1 John 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not wither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Of course, I'm not talking of the literal meaning of blinding my eyes, but am I not focusing on the things that Christ is trying to show me? I've been trying to lose 10 of the 20 last pounds that I had regained over the last 7-10 years. I never was concerned about it much, because I chalked it off to gaining some weight as I aged. I recently re-read about how losing just 10 pounds will make a major difference on joint pain. Since I broke my heel, my opposite hip and knee sometimes bother me, so I thought a 10 pound weight loss might make a difference.

Well, the weight didn't come off as easily as I thought it would. It's made me realize that I may not be focusing on all that Christ wants me to focus on. Maybe it's that I've just been eye-balling my portion sizes and not being honest with what they really are. Maybe, it's that I'm just rambling through my prayers when I ask God to control my food, body, eating, and stress.

Whatever it is, I am prayerful Christ will enlighten me and take the blinders away that hinder my relationship with Him!!!! I no longer want to walk in darkness!

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

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