It Tasted Like Honey

 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103

My husband was sitting at the island eating these thin cookies that looked like they are made with phyllo dough. They look light and look like they have lots of layers. I made the mistake of saying, "If I were going to blow my food program, it would be for cookies like that!" Of course, by thoughtful husband said, "Just try one." I told him no, but he insisted, so I tried a portion of one, thinking I'd made this compromise.

I broke off a small corner of the cookie and it was light and flaky and it tasted like honey in my mouth. I was already thinking that I could go back and snag the other three cookies that were in the container. It hadn't been long since I had that episode with the pumpkin pie where I started slip-sliding into old eating patterns. 

Christ had it on my heart, that it's much easier to return the remainder of the cookie rather to slip deeper into that pattern. He was right, so I did it immediately, although the taste lingers in the taste receptors of my brain. Christ saved me from myself over 30 years ago and the negative influence sweets have had on my life. This verse reminds me of what is important.  How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103

Since I am writing how I've applied this Bible verse to my own life, you should know that it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

The Desires of Your Heart

 Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

I had made pumpkin pies from scratch and had given a small one to three of our neighbors. I used a different recipe that called for more spices and the tops of the pies were freckled with various spices. A neighbor commented on how the pie looked different from store bought pumpkin pies. Then, insecure part of me started to worry. What if the pies made with this new recipe didn't taste good and I had already given them to neighbors.

I figured I would take a small slice out of the pie I had made for my husband to make sure it tasted alright. Although the pies were speckled with spices, they had the most amazing flavor. In fact, it was one of the best pumpkin pies I had ever made from scratch! It was so good, that I went back and cut a healthy sized piece of pumpkin pie. It had been quite a while since I had used the: "If I'm going to blow things, I might as well blow it big-time" strategy. The thing is, I wanted to eat the whole rest of the pie!!! It was like this desire had overcome me and I didn't want to deny it, although I know how sweets affect me, my moods, and my blood sugar.

I don't usually have this much trouble avoiding sweets, but the desire to eat it was overwhelming! Fortunately for me, Christ had the thought in my mind about how I used to turn to food for comfort, instead of Him, and how food had become a false god in my life. I still struggled with the desire to eat the whole pie, so I went into my bedroom and prayed! The desire of my heart wasn't to have the whole pie, it is to be in relationship with Christ, so what happened? Usually that means that I've come to take my relationship with Christ for granted, which saddens me deeply!

Since I am writing how I've applied this Bible verse to my own life, you should know that it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

Remembering

"You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you; there for I command you this thing today." Deuteronomy 15:15

I had recently had the issue with wanting to eat the whole pumpkin pie, when I rarely, if ever, eat sweets. The Lord showed me years ago, that Satan used that weakness to keep me from being the person that Christ knew I could be. When I ate sweets, they affected my moods and when the sugar high wore off and my blood sugar would plummet, I would get a case of what I call the cranky-crabbies. It affected my relationship with my family, my friends, and my Lord and Savior.

Fortunately, Christ showed me years ago, that I can turn my eating, my stress, and life over to His very capable hands. Unfortunately, I allowed myself to fall back into old patterns when I sampled the pumpkin pie and wanted to eat the whole thing. After Christmas dinner, I was asked about keeping leftovers of this special sweet potato and cranberry dish that has become a family tradition. 

Then, Christ had me remember that last year, when I took left overs of this favorite dish,  I had started exhibiting the cranky-crabbies again after eating it a few times. I love it and it's delicious, but I'm setting myself up for failure again, to take these wonderful leftovers! I am so blessed that Christ had me remember and stick to the resolve He gave me! The Lord redeemed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, but He also redeemed me from slavery to sweets and foods that are not healthy for me! 

Since I am writing how I've applied this Bible verse to my own life, you should know that it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie