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/

I Miss Stopping to See Dad

Romans 5: 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We were going out of town to see a relative. When we went out of town, we always would drive by to see Dad in the Veteran's Home on the way there and on the way home. Since Dad had passed about six months ago, this wasn't necessary, but I still had that yearning to stop. That yearning to go see his smile in his room, like going to the Veteran's Home would miraculously bring my dad back, but that's not the case.

I can eat over it, but that's counterproductive! It's important for me to remember that I will see Dad some day in heaven. It's not that I spend all my time pining away for my dad, because I know that God's timing is impeccable. It's just that at certain times, things remind me of how much I miss him.

It has helped for me to stop by the Veteran's Home, at times, to visit some of the Dad's hall neighbors. I have to make sure that I focus on the peace that Jesus Christ can give me through these times when I miss my dad so much!

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

Awe, Just Eat a Little More?

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

How many of us have had to live with the question, "Awe, can't you just eat a little more?" I think the people asking these questions get personal pleasure from the amount of the food we eat, as if to do so shows what a wonderful cook and host/ess they are.  Of course, we have to eat a little more, because we don't want to offend them, right??? When I eat more just to please the person who is encouraging me to eat it just causes me to have a bigger problem to deal with in the long run!

Plus eating to appease someone else's ego, will undoubtedly end up with me be frustrated.  It can work a couple of different ways for me. I eat it and end up resenting the person who encouraged me to eat. Of course, to do so, absolves me of having any responsibility in making the choice to eat the food. It's so much easier to blame it on the person who offered it than to take responsibility for it. 

The other way, I've regrettably handled it is to view the person offering the food as an tempter, like they are Satan himself, which isn't the case. Although I do feel Satan knows our weak points and can tempt us with food, but the person offering this food isn't Satan.  It is important to be prayerful about how to tactfully handle these offers to eat more, so we don't offend the feelings of the person offering the food. We have to pray for a willingness to withstand temptation without blaming others for it. Of course, it's easier said than done, but Jesus can do it for us, if we 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

A Chip on My Shoulders

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

I envied people for years who could eat, and eat, and eat and never seemed to gain a pound, but according to this, that's not what Christ wants. I have to be able to live in my own body and within my own physical limitations! Sure, I can eat like those people I envied, but it always seems to catch up with me when I do, but is it really worth it? 

I have choices in all of this. I can be resentful with the thin ones, because it doesn't seem fair that they should be able to eat everything and not gain weight. For years, I had a chip on my shoulder toward people who were thin!  The thing is, none of this does any good. Weight gain or loss is not an issue of fairness, it's just how our bodies personally respond to what we've eaten. 

It wasn't until I started turning my food, my body, my stress, and my eating over to Christ's very capable hands that made all the difference. He is the one who allowed me to loose over 80 pounds and to keep the vast majority of it off for over 30 years. The thing is, He showed me then and continues to show me now, when food and eating become too important to me. In those cases, food becomes a false god, where I am turning to it for comfort instead of to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Consider putting your food, body, stress and eating into Christ's hands, because He can heal you provided you trust Him to and ask for a willingness to trust Him even when things get difficult.

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 Understand Why I Was Hungry

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 

My husband and I went to the Veteran's Home where Dad used to live before he passed away. It was on a holiday and we brought treats for many of the workers who were so kind to my dad while he lived there. I really enjoyed my brief visit with the staff.

We picked up a friend and went to a Mexican restaurant for lunch. I ate about 2/3 of the bowl of tortilla chips and salsa, in addition to my hearty lunch. On the way home that day, I felt so hungry. I couldn't figure out why I was so hungry or why I ate that many chips, because I rarely eat them at restaurants. 

As I prayerfully contemplated this, Christ had on my heart that my going to the Veteran's Home brought back many memories about my dad, whom I miss dearly! I didn't realize that something that seemed so positive, could affect my wanting to eat and eat and eat. When I get feelings like this, it is often that Satan is tempting me to fall back into old patterns rather than turning my feelings over to Christ's very capable hands. Fortunately for me, Christ showed me this, so I could realize that I had feelings that I really needed to share with Him and to acknowledge how much I miss Dad!

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 I Were to Truly Love the Way That Jesus Does, Would I Do These?

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

I'm supposed to continue in Jesus' love, but if I were, would I do these? Would I harbor resentments to those who said rude and insensitive things about me and my weight. Sure, they are just words, but I have let them hurt my relationship with others or work a wedge in potential relationships for fear of disapproval.

Would I feel that I'm too busy to do some of the things that Christ has on my heart? Sure, I end up doing most of them, but it's not without a mental struggle, before I give in and do the thing needed. If I were loving like Jesus did, I would immediately and willingly do the things on my heart.

Would I let my mind wander in church rather than letting the message at hand touch my soul. When I'm thinking of other things, I never really know that I've gotten the message meant specifically for me. I need to be more intentional about listening with an open and prayerful heart. I need to be a better example of continuing in Jesus' love....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

Am I Doing My Best to Share the Gospel?

Mark 13: 10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 

I know Christ wants us to share the Bible among all the nations, but I have to periodically re-evaluate whether I'm doing my part. All too many times, I realize that I fall short of doing all that I possibly can do. When I realize how inadequate I am to do as God wants I have found myself inclined to overeat instead of prayerfully dealing with this directly with my Lord. 

So, a couple of months ago, I felt led to create a podcast to share the message about Christ on another level. I fought it tooth and nail, because it was definitely out of my comfort zone! Eventually, I tried my first, then my second podcast, and currently have 31 episodes that can be heard for free on Anchor at: https://anchor.fm/debra-seiling or on Google Podcasts or Breaker or Spotify or Radio Public  or there is a Relate2theBible Podcast link below on this blog. 

The problem is three-fold. I'm not any high-tech podcaster. I have some hesitations in my voice from time-to-time. I don't have a budget for this free podcast, so I use a Kalimba from Kenya that I bought at a Free-Trade Store to make my own improvised music for my podcast Intros and Outros. The very biggest hurdle I have is how to get these podcast episodes out there, so others know about it-otherwise I'm not really sharing the Gospel and I'm just going through the motions. Please be prayerful about helping me spread the Gospel with others. Please share any of the posts from the 15 different Christian blogs and/or the Relate2theBible Podcast that I've felt led to create. Thanks so much! Debbie
Image result for printable picture of kalimba
Kalimba from Kenya


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 Wanted Something...Something Sweet!

Matthew 6: 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him

I came home from something at the church, one evening and I wanted something...something sweet! I tried to figure out why I wanted this so badly. First, I went through what I ate at dinner, to see if I ate an adequate amount. I had left over BBQ ribs from a family gathering. Also, I ate some of the BBQ beans my husband made. Additionally, I had some rice and a salad. That seemed like a more than ample amount of food, so I shouldn't be wanting something to eat after eating something so substantial.

As I was prayerfully contemplating things, I wondered if I was feeling stressed about anything. There are times that I will feel hungry when I'm really stressed. I used to use food to satisfy my fears and push my feelings down inside of me instead of dealing with them by turning them over to Christ my Savior, who can heal all stress. It turned out that I didn't have anything bothering me, at the time.

So, what could it be? I continued to prayerfully contemplate this as the urge grew stronger and stronger to have something sweet. I had thought about having some pineapple which is on my food plan, but eating it at 9 p.m. would give me too much energy in the night, where I wouldn't be able to sleep. Then, Christ had it dawn on me! I had eaten BBQ ribs and BBQ beans, both tonight and the night before. It's all the sugar in both of those foods, that caused me to crave even more sugar. At that  point, I just needed to turn this craving over to Christ's very capable hands and let Him get me through the night instead of indulging in something sweet!

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

Important Post! Draw Your Own Conclusions! Please Pass This On!

(I’m Putting This Important Post on Many of My Blogs. Please Pass it On!)
A Christian’s Questions Related to Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert
By: Tim Wright, Andrew Lloyd Webber, NBC, Craig Zardan, Neil Meron, Marc Platt
I viewed the:  Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert dvd last night to get the answer to three questions:
1.          How do they portray Jesus?
2.          Is it based on Biblical proof?
3.          Do they show the resurrection of Jesus?

I will try to include NKJV Biblical proof for any portions of the concert that I mention, so you can form your own opinions.

When Jesus character first enters the stage, he goes along the audience and shakes their hands and waves to them.  According to the Bible, did Jesus Christ seek out superstardom?
  •        Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” Matthew 8:3-4 also in Mark 1:42-44 and Luke 5:13-15
  •      Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, See that no one knows it.” Matthew 9:29-30
  •        Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Matthew 16:20-21
  •      Now all wept and mourned for her; but He [Jesus] said, “Do not weep, she is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead. But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.” Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened. Luke 8:52-56 and also in Mark 5:35-43
  •      From there He [Jesus] arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden. Mark 7:24
  •      Then, looking up to heaven, He [Jesus] sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha.” that is, “Be opened.” Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed,     and he spoke plainly. Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” Mark 7:34-37
  •      Then He [Jesus] put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. Then He sent him away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town.” Mark 8:25-26
  •      He [Jesus] said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him. Mark 8:29-30 also in Luke 9:20-22
  • And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves. Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept this word to themselves, questioning, what the rising from the dead meant. Mark 9:7-10
  • He answered them, “He who made me well, said to me, “Take up your bed and walk.’ “ then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” but the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. John 5:11-13
There are several interactions on stage with the characters of Jesus and Mary Magdalene which imply sexual intimacy, but don’t exactly state that. According to the Bible, was Jesus sexually intimate with Mary Magdalene?

  •        And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when Jesus was aware of it, he said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. “For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. “For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” Matthew 26:6-13
  •       And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.  But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? “For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. “For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. “She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” Mark 14:3-9
  •          Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head: and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.” “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owned five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. “And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. “You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. “You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. “Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Luke 7:36-50
  •      Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick.” When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister [Mary] and Lazarus.  John 11:1-6
  •         Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. “For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.” Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus: sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He [Jesus] had raised from the dead. John 12:1-9
Jesus Christ is God’s Only Begotten Son, Born of the Virgin Mary, According to the Bible, did Jesus Sin?
·         Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:18
·         “And behold, you [Virgin Mary] will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name Jesus. “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.” Luke 1:31-32
·         When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21-22 also in Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 1:9-12, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:33-36, John 1:28-34
·         Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21
·         Then the devil, taking Him [Jesus] up on a high mountain showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. “Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.“ Luke 4:5-8, Luke 4:1-4, Luke 4:9-13, Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:13
·         And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:17-21
·         For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”, who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously: who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:17-25
·         Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 1 John 3:1-7

Although the Actors and Actresses did an Outstanding Job in their Parts, they came out for their Final Bows Right After the Jesus Character’s Death on the Cross. According to the Bible, did Jesus Arise from the Dead?
  •          And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. “And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. Matthew 28:4-8 also in Mark 16:1-10, Luke 24:1-11, John 20:1-2
  •      And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them [Mary Magdalene and the other Mary], saying, “Rejoice!” so they came and held Him by the feet and worshipped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. Matthew 28:9-11 also in John 20:11-18
  •  Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. John 20:3-10 also in Luke 24:12
  •   Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So, it was, while they conversed and reasoned that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, “and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. “Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. “And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.” Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! “Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Luke 24:13-34
  •  Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself, Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”  Luke 20:35-39 also in Matthew 28:16-20,  Mark 16:11-20
  • Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here; and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed, Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples which are not written in this book, but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:24-30
  •  After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: Simon Peter, Thomas called the twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going fishing with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits) dragging the net with fish. Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”  Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are you?”-knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. John 21:1-14… This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. John 21:24-25
  • The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “Which,” He said, “you have heard from Me“for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. Acts 1:1-12
  • For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep [died]. 1 Corinthians 15:3-6

Full of What?

Ephesians 3: 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.

I decided to use this Bible passage to talk about how my sleeves were too tight when I tried to put on a blouse yesterday. It was so obvious that I took it off and put on another one before I left the house. The point I was going to make was that my arms wouldn't be larger if I had stopped eating when I was full.

Then, a silly thought: I'm full of baloney popped into my mind. At first, I thought it was a fun tie-in to the word full that I had planned to use this post, but Christ had deeper plans than my initial ideas. When I read the Bible passage more thoroughly, I realize that I was missing the main point to write about.

When I am filled with the fullness of God and He is my daily focus instead of food, I'm not so tempted to fill those empty gaps with more food than I need. When I allow Him to fill my heart and soul, I don't crave the temporary numbness that food gives me from my worries. He shows me that I can lean on Him in times of trouble and joy and everything in between. My arms are bigger around, because I have not been focusing on having the quality relationship with Christ the way I should.

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

Links to Other Blogs I Felt Led to Create Below: