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/

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

Maybe I'm not Putting Enough Effort into Sharing My Faith With Others

Philippians 2: 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

When I just read this verse, it made me wonder if I'm not sharing my faith in the ways that Christ wants. Sure, I have written 12 Christian blogs that I felt led to share with others, but is that enough? It can be very easy for me to settle back and feel like that fulfills my commitment for sharing my faith.

I already know that I haven't been very successful at approaching people to share my faith. Their eyes get wide and I can see them trying to quickly take steps backward. I figured that wasn't the gift that God had blessed me with. I just figured that writing the blog posts of how He allowed an 80+ weight loss and kept the majority of it off for over 30 years was maybe my niche. Maybe it isn't supposed to that I decide that it's my niche or that it's enough. Maybe, Christ wants something more of me that I'm ignoring or avoiding.

All I know is that Christ doesn't give up easily on us. You know that, because He was willing to be born a man and give His life for our sins, so believers could one day have life with Him in heaven! If He would do all of that for us sinners, then I'm sure He will show me again what He wants me to do on His behalf.

 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

Did I Get Too Caught Up In My Pride?

Galatians 5: 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Yes, Christ did allow the loss of 80+ pounds and the vast majority of it stayed off for over 30 years, but did I let it go to my head?m I'm really not sure of how to answer that, but since I've been kinds of wishy washy with my prayer life and my relationship with my Savior, I have to wonder.

Did I take credit for the miracle that Jesus did in my life and body? I thought I always tried to share that it was turning my life, my food, my eating and stress into Christ's very capable hands is was was at the root of that miracle. 

Still, maybe, my complacence in rambling through my daily prayers, is a sign that I was taking that miracle for granted, which is something I don't ever want to do. Sure, I stand to gain all the weight back, but that's not the worst part. When I started turning over everything to Christ, my life was at peace. When things that would happen of concern, I knew Christ was right there with me and would be there through the whole thing.  The fear of losing that peace that Christ has given me in my life this last 30+ years scares me more than gain all my weight back. I need to be prayerful about not letting my pride or anything else work a wedge in my relationship with Christ.

 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

Observing My Actions More

John 15:9 As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love.

Christ blessed me by allowing the loss of 80+ pounds and keeping the vast majority of it off for over 30 years. I've gained back around 20 pounds that I've toyed around with the last 7-10 years, but chalked it off as aging, which it may be. My hip and my knee have bothered me at times, since I broke my heel on the opposite foot. I read somewhere that if you lose just 10 pounds it will make a different in joint pain.

I tried to lose the 10 pounds, but it didn't seem to come off when I thought it should. If you notice, I said I tried, which means I'm back to playing God again and trying to do it instead of putting my weight, eating, and stress into Christ's very capable hands! It wasn't until I did that, God allowed the 80+ weight loss. 

Realizing this, I've been trying to become more aware of some of the bad habits I've let slip into my eating pattern. I observed that I was snacking more at night. Sure, it was healthy stuff, but it was still snacking. I wasn't playing close attention to how many of what I call "breads" I was eating, and the list goes on. I need to not be so sloppy in my food plan and first and foremost, my relationship with my Savior. I can keep on observing, but if I don't turn my life and my focus to my Savior, it's all for nothing!!!! 

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 Feel Like I Cause God Grief, but Is that True?

Revelation 4: 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created. 

Sometimes, I feel like I cause God grief, because I get too self-absorbed or too fearful to move in the direction He wants, but is that true? Despite the many times I have backslid with my eating after He allowed an 80+ pound weight loss and keeping the vast majority of it off for over 30 years, He is right there refocusing me.

 I seem to do some really stupid things some time, where you would think Jesus would turn His back on me, but does He do that? He never does. He is always there, quick to forgive me when I ask Him and willing to aim me in the right direction.

 I am sometimes, hateful and rude to others, although I think that I am a very polite, sensitive person. I, too, am capable of treating Christ that way, because I put His requests on back burner until I let go of my superior attitude and focus on His will for me. Although I've given Christ a bajillion reasons to turn His back on me, He never does. God created you and me, and for His pleasure we were created. We are so very blessed to have such a loving and forgiving Savior!

 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 Having a Hard Time Forgiving People Lately

Luke 17: 3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. 

 I realize that I've been having a hard time forgiving people lately. I think it all ties into my becoming complacent with my prayers and my relationship with my Savior. I recently had a difficult time with someone who wrongly accused me of something. I should have been able to let it go, because I knew that person was under an extreme amount of stress and let it guide their actions instead of using reason.

 Also, someone hurt me accidentally recently, but I couldn't accept their apology, because they had a grin on their face from ear to ear. I guess the injury may have seemed funny to them, like when you giggle when someone slips in a puddle. It hurt and didn't feel very funny and that person had no sense of remorse. I wasn't being the bigger person to just let the issue go-I refused to accept their apology until it appeared to be sincere. Actually, the person bit their lip, so that they stop smiling and apologized and I accepted, but why did it matter so much?

 Sure, Christ allowed me to lose over 80 pounds and to keep the vast majority of it off for over 30 years. I did gain back about 20 pounds, but that really didn't bother me much, because I figured it was due to getting older. Satan uses our weakness to get leverage in our lives and although I have the same 20 pounds to contend with, my actions and how I'm responding to others isn't indicative of my Christian faith. I need to turn my life and my focus over to Christ's impeccable  care and trust Him to heal me and break any strongholds that Satan may have 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

When I Can't Love Myself, It's Hard to Love Others

1 Peter 1: 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.

Right now, I'm about 20 pounds over my ultimate goal. This amount of extra weight hasn't bothered me much over the years, but it is now. That's because I have a hip and a knee that occasionally hurt since I broke my heel. I had read that losing ten pounds should help alleviate this discomfort, so it seems that I'm more focused on the weight that I have been in a while.

 I'm walking most days to better develop my gait after my injury, but that hasn't made much of a change in my body weight. I am trying to make sure my prayers are more focused on turning my food, my body, my eating, and stress over to Christ's very capable hands, because He alone allowed me to lose over 80 pounds and to keep the vast majority of it off for over 30 years. 

 I realize that I've gotten too complacent with my prayers each day and before I eat. I'm rambling through them without really paying attention to what I'm saying. I have to also realize that I am more argumentative with others these days. It's not that I start arguments, but it seems like I am quick to respond when I feel that someone's been disrespectful rather than just realizing they've had a hard day. It brings me back to the topic, When I can't love myself, It's hard to love others. That means I need to go back to the basics. I need to turn all aspects of my life over. I've let my prayer life become too routine. I need to be an example to others of how Christ works in my life rather than being reactive to other people's moods. I have so much that I need to turn over, but I know Christ can do it. He's done it before and fortunately for me, He's very forgiving and will be by my side if I ask Him and I'm open to doing His will 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

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