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/

Blaming Everything for My Eating

1 Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13To the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

 I recently told someone else that they were a blamer, blaming everyone and everything for situations in their life. For awhile, I've realized that I weigh more than I'd like. I'm about 20 pounds over my ideal weight, but I've been this weight off and on over the last few years and it hasn't bothered me. At least, I don't think it has.

 After I broke my heel, it seems that sometimes my opposite hip bothers me and sometimes my knee. I read somewhere that if we lost just 10 pounds it would take a lot of pressure off of our joints and we would have less hip and/or knee pain.  Thinking about this, I realized that losing 10 pounds is a reasonable amount to lose. It's been a month or two now, but there's not been much difference in my weight, even though I'm walking about a mile most days. I don't like to exercise on Sundays, because it's the Lord's Day of rest.

 I'm really walking to develop my gait, not really for losing weight, but I somehow thought it would help...and maybe it is. I'm unsure. My clothes seem to fit me about the same and are all somewhat snug in the waist and the arms. What I find when I'm aware of these things is that I'm blaming. It's because I've been too busy. It's because of the weather. It's because someone has been sick. It's because we had to go out to eat. It's because..... and the list goes on.

 The thing is, I'm blaming everything for my eating and I'm not doing what I know to do. I know that the only thing that works for me is to pray and ask God to take over my food, body, eating and stress as He alone can do. I can't do it, although I tried then and now. It's so sad that I would slip back into that same old pattern, thinking I could fix my weight problem, but Christ can when I turn it over to His very capable hands. I have to stop blaming things, situations, and others and turn to Christ. 

How Does Nibbling Relate to Standing Up for the Rights and Respect of Others?

Romans 5: 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 

I generally have a particular eating routine and rarely snack. I've found, though, that sometimes I get caught up in snacking because I'm with someone else who is, as well. I don't want them to feel left out-right???

 The thing is, when I do this a time or two, it's not long before I revert back into that snacking mode. I find myself looking around for something that's within my eating limits to snack on, because I'm back into wanting something for munching. This may not sound bad, but it's easy to slip back into old eating patterns and Jesus has shown me what a slippery slope that can be for me. 

 When I started writing this, I realized that it's very similar to sin. The sin that I might do at the time might not seem so bad, like not saying something when others are putting someone down for their race, culture, etc. But, after awhile, it's easy to slip into a pattern where I might accept these things, which really isn't what Jesus wants us to do. He wants us to stand up for the Rights and Respect of Others!!!!

 Jesus us tells us in the Bible: Matthew 25: 37 Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me…44 Then shall they also answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall He answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Don't fall into that slippery slope...

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 Made a MAJOR Difference in My Eating!

Matthew 22: 37 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. 38 This is the first and great commandment.

This Bible passage doesn't say to Love God, as long as food can be a close second, but that was what I was doing for so many years. I've had a faith in Christ since I was a in elementary school when a classmate asked me to go to church with her. My relationship with Christ changed my whole life, but I still kept Him at a distance.

 When I was upset or worried or stressed, I had what I call the "Eat the Door Knobs Off" feeling. My interpretation of that is eating all I can to feel that empty hole in the pit of my stomach, but still crave more feeling so hungry that you could eat the door knobs off. I didn't realize it at that time, that my stress, etc. caused that feeling. All I knew was that I felt extremely hungry, but no amount of food took that filled that empty hole in the pit of my stomach.

 It was later when Christ showed me how I had let food have control in my life, because I had tried every diet and some several times, only to lose a few pounds and gain even more later. He showed me that I was turning to food in times of stress to comfort me instead of turning these concerns over to Christ. After lots of prayerful consideration about these new revelations Christ had for me about my eating, I started praying to Christ when I had that empty pit in my stomach. Most times, I didn't even know I was stress or worried, at the time. As I learned to find a quiet place to pray during these times, Christ started showing me what was really bothering me. Once I knew that, I could turn that situation over to Christ's very capable hands and the empty pit in my stomach went away time after time. This made a MAJOR difference in my eating! If Christ can do this for me, He can do it for you, too! Try it! What can it hurt?

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

Always Taking Shortcuts

Romans 3: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

 I think I used to use food as a shortcut to dealing with my feelings. Instead of realizing that I had something bothering me, I would eat and eat and eat until I was so full, I didn't focus on what was really wrong.

 I think I used to use food as a shortcut to taking risks in relationships with potential friends or in dating situations. I would think, "I'm too fat. They won't like me, so I won't even try to develop a relationship."

 I think I used to use food as a shortcut to being the Christian that Christ wanted me to be on His behalf. I wouldn't attend church, because I felt embarrassed because of my size. I wouldn't get involved in volunteering in programs that could benefit the less fortunate, because I was embarrassed because of my size. You get the idea. I used food to hide behind, but once Christ freed me from turning to food as a false god and I started turning my stress, etc. over to His very capable hands and whole new world opened up for me.
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 Potential Negative Impact of My Overeating All Those Years

1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

One of the thing I never really thought of when I was compulsively overeating all those years was the potential negative impact on family members. What if: they saw me and grew up thinking that the way we look and the size of our clothing told us what type of people we are.

What if: they saw me and grew up thinking that other people's opinions of us matter. What if: they saw me and grew up thinking that being thin is more important than being a good person. What if: they saw me and grew up thinking that food was the only way to comfort yourself in times of stress. What if: they saw me and grew up thinking that food was the only way to celebrate when good things happen. What if: they saw me and grew up thinking that physical appearance was the most important quality to look for in developing friendships and relationships. 

What if: they saw me and grew up thinking that food was more important than having an active relationship with Christ. There were times when I wouldn't go to church, because I felt embarrassed in my too tight clothes. I feel badly if this or any other aspect of my overeating negatively impacted those I care about. It was bad enough it impacted me. I don't want them picking up on my bad habits.

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'm Ashamed to Say Food Had Been My Idol

2 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Christ showed me many lessons in the months before He allowed the great miracle in me. This is one of the major lessons He showed me. Christ showed me that when I was stressed, I ate. When I was happy, I ate. When I was bored, I ate. I turned to food in those times for comfort instead of turning to Him for comfort. At first, I didn't quite catch on, but once I started turning to Christ when I was stressed, happy, bored, etc. that gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach like I could eat the door knobs off, went away. Christ was all I needed for comfort, not food.

 It was shortly after that, that I gave up on all my diets. I had tried really hard on what I call my best diet and gained some weight. I sat down that morning and told God that I gave up. If He ever wanted me to be thin, He'd have to do it, because I couldn't! You know what, He did starting that very same day. He took the urge to have excessive amounts of food away and cravings for sweets and carbs. I was surprised! When I had prayed earlier to God giving up, I didn't really expect anything to happen, but He was listening. 

 I wondered over the years why Christ had me lose 80+ pounds and keep the vast majority of the weight off for over 30 years. I used to ask Christ to Help Me lose the weight, Help Me be thin, Help Me...The best I can figure is that when I prayed that time, I was was relinquishing control and was turning my life, my food, and my eating over into Christ's very capable hands. He's been there every step of the way, even when I start back-peddling. As soon as I pray to Him, He refocuses me.  I am very blessed, but He led me to write these blog posts, so you can have a relationship with Him, as well. All you have to do is 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

Christ Didn't Hold a Grudge

Romans 12: 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

It concerns me, at times, that some people in the world seem so angry with everyone else. They are angry with those who don't have the same political views. They are angry with those who don't have the same skin color. They are angry with those who are different than they are. They are angry with those who have vices like overeating, drinking, drugs, etc. They are angry with those who don't vote the same way. They are angry with those who are not in the same social class as they are either above or below them. They are angry with those who dress or look a certain way. They are angry with those who have a poor work ethic. They are angry with those who have a different ethnicity. They are angry with those who get the parking spot before them. They are just plain angry... and it concerns me!

 If Christ spent His life being kind and gracious to others, don't you think He expects the same of us? Don't you think it makes Him sad to see so many angry Christians, judging others who don't live up to their expectations? 

 To top this off, some Christians use their vote for people who show anger and not compassion to those listed above. Every time I read the Bible through, I am so impressed by Christ's compassion of those who were less fortunate, didn't believe Him, had vices, etc. I feel deep in my heart that He expects the same from us and would want us to vote for people who showed compassion with others. Romans 12: 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

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

It Would Have Been Easy to...

Romans 12: 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Having been overweight for so many years, after Christ allowed me to loose 80+ pounds and to keep the vast majority of it off for over 30 years, It Would Have Been Easy to...

 *Think I was hot stuff now that I was thin and forget that it was a miracle from Christ!
*Start hanging around with those who were superficial judging people by worldly standards and forget that it was a miracle from Christ and my behavior should attest to that!
*Start talking rudely to others who were thinner  and forget that it was a miracle from Christ!
*Value time on the latest technology rather than reading the Bible daily and forget all Christ has done for me!
*Spend time trying to achieve higher level positions, regardless of how I treat others, which doesn't glorify Christ in the least!
*Wear clothing that accents my weight loss in ways that are provocative and forget that it was a miracle from Christ not something to be flaunted!
*Use inappropriate language and use God's name in vain, because everyone else does it, which shows no respect for all Christ has done for me!
*Judge others who haven't jobs, a place to live, or skin color different from mine, which undermines all Christ has done for us and the compassion He showed for all!
*Forget to pray daily and thank Christ for all He has done for me!

 Christ was humble and expects us to be humble, not thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought to think!

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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