All verses will be NIVProverbs 30:7-9 "Two things I request of You (deprive me not before I die): remove falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches--- feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, "Who is the Lord?" or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.
I love watching gymnastics but the one event that scares me a bit is the balance beem. If that girl goes to far to the right or left she will lose her balance and fall. This is what the writer of Prov. 30 is telling us; to have too much or too little can lead to sin.
This is exactly what has happened in our society today. If you took a look at our society as a whole you see 2 extremes thin and fat. Very few people are balanced. They either workout like crazy or not at all. It starts early on. How many kids are invovled in everything or they do nothing. It is like we live a life on a seesaw. We are either up or down.
This is not the only scripture that speaks of moderation. Lets look at Matt. 6:11 "Give us this day our daily bread;" Luke 11:3 "Give us day by day our daily bread." Mattthew is a very familiar passage, its the Lord's Prayer. Infact it was so important that Luke also recorded it in his gospel. We need to see what God is telling us. I love the way the ESV study Bible explains this; "Daily bread includes all of the believers physical needs, which the Lord supplies NOT once for all but day to day."
Balance- It does us very little good to excercise for 3 1/2 hours one day a week. It is better to do 30 minutes everyday. It is not healthy (even if we eat only healthy foods) to eat all our calories for the week in one day and nothing else all week. We are to seek God daily, going to church is awesome but to only get spiritually fed one day a week is not what is best for us. BALANCE
Joyce Meyer in her book gives some bery helpful information.
Gen 2:16-17 "and the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
God gave Adam and Eve to eat freely of every tree but one, each of these foods had different nutrients, so it was important that they ate of many kinds. Since food is to nurish our bodies and NOT our souls then we need to eat a variety of foods. We need to eat them as close to the way God intended us to eat them. Grains in their most natural form. Fruit without sugar added in or veggies without being smothered in lowfat cheese sauce.
In the 2 decades (80s & 90s) that pushed low-fat "the percentage of obese Americans doubled" it was 15% and went to 30% and the percentage for kids tripled! There are many factors to this so lets discuss them. 335 calories is the amount of increase in women alone as apposed to 30 years ago. Oh and to add insult to injury heart disease and diabetes have sky-rocketed; but we are cutting the fat so how can that be?
There are several things the contribute to this and here are the ones I think are the most obvious.
1. Fat and fiber fills you up but carbs (especially simple carbs) leave you wanting more. Our bodies burn carbs fast and furious but it takes our bodies more effort to burn fat and fiber. Simple carbs cause super highs and super lows in blood sugar. This is not good.
2. In order to make food taste good after removing the fat the food companies have to add sugar. The next time you are in the grocery store take a look at the difference in the number of carbs and sugars in low-fat, fat-free and full fat salad dressing.
3. Take a look at the number of ingredients in lowfat or fat-free products, how many of them have multiple names that you have no idea what they are. These chemicals can mess with the way our bodies process food and can ruin our metabolism.
4. How many time have you said "Since these cookies are fat-free then I can eat more of them." Calories are calories and just because you are eating low-fat doesn't mean we can eat more calories.
I know your next argurment. "But fat will clog my arteries." But I say NO! Saturated fats (the fats that are solid or semi-solid at 98 degrees) can be but unsaturated fats can actually keep your heart healthy. Eating fats that are cold-pressed will be the best for you. Protein is what we are made of so this is a very important piece as well.
Matthew 18:8-9 If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut if off and cast if from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire."
I know what you might be thinking "what does this have to do with wightloss?" but stay with me. An alcoholic that doesn't want to drink will remove all alcohol from his home so a person that has a weight issue better be throwing out foods they can't control. Once again as I stated last week if you don't need it your kids probably don't either.
You need to decide why you continue to eat like you do? Where is there imbalance in your life that is causing you to eat in a way that brings imbalance to your body!
Lysa in her book Made to Crave suggests that over indulgence in anything is an attempt to fill out souls with anything and everything when that soul is craving for God. Remember what I said earily food is to nurish us but God is the only one that will ever nurish our souls.
Psalms 42:1-2 "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?"
Psalms 143:6 "I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah
Whether you are a child of God or you aren't sure God exists it doesn't matter because He does exists. He has created us in His image with a soul that until we come to our knees asking for God to forgive us of our sins and to turn our hearts to Him and live a life that honors our Lord and Saviour our souls will always be empty.
Do you thirst and hunger for God like the psalmist did? If not start there! God will meet you there on your knees. Start with a few minutes a day if time is an issue. Ask God to show you how to make time for Him. We all waste at least 15 minutes everyday. Find your wasted 15 minutes and use it to fill your soul with God and find the balance only He can provide.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Resting in the Arms of the Saviour Instead of Resting in the Wish I's...
To begin with you need to read Numbers 11 from start to finish.
There are times when we crave foods some times this is good and sometimes it is bad. For instance, when a pregnant women craves something with nutrients the baby needs. This is a good thing, but when we crave sweets that is not okay. In the passage we see the children of Israel complaining AGAIN. (How many times does the Lord see us in this same boat. Whining about what we don't have instead of thanking Him for the things we do have.) They literally watched the Lord set fire to the outskirts of their camp due to complaining and they turned around and verse 4 states "yielded to intense craving" and started whining and crying about not having meat to eat. It amazes me that after God had produced miracle after miracle the Israelites can't have patience to wait without complaining for the land of milk and honey. Is anyone else feeling convicted or is it just me.
SIDE NOTE:
I feel compelled to give some back round on Numbers. The first 14 chapters of Numbers is about 2 years after the exodus then chapter 20 and beyond tells of the 40th year and beyond. It is interesting to note that chapters 15-19 are not dated but most likely cover the 37 years between the 2nd and 40th years. This is per Dr MacArthur's Study Bible. This lack of information tells just how wasted these years were due to rebellion against the Lord. My question, if I could ask God anything would be "How long would you have led the Israelites around before letting them enter the promise land if they hadn't complained?" The spies entered Canaan about 2 years post leaving Egypt. We know that from Egypt to Canaan shouldn't have taken 2 years but it did.
So if I am complaining about the lack of weight loss or giving into temptation all the time how long am I delaying victory over my flesh? Once again this applies to all sin in my life.
Okay back to the passage.
So now manna isn't good enough; now they want meat. I believe God says this to me. " Is the veggies, lean meat, and fruit not enough? So now you want cake, ice cream, pop, pasta, and etc.?" When I wish I could have... or eat... when I know it is not good for me then I am sure I grieve the Lord. If I am dwelling on what I can't have then I am NOT resting in the arms of my Saviour.
I find it a bit humorous that Moses essentially feels like we as parents do when our kids start complaining to us. How many times as parents do we wish we could leave this world as apposed to listening to our children complain about what we don't have to eat. So God tells Moses, fine they want meat; I'll give them meat until it makes them sick. I believe that God has given us over to our cravings, craving of food that causes inflammation in our joints, causes weight gain, and mood swings because we are not seeking God's Will. How can we be affective in service to Him if we are sick all the time.
Moses also feels like he needs help. First God gives him the help he wanted but what Moses still didn't understand was that he had ALL the power necessary to lead the Israelites. We too forget the power God has given to us. The power to control our desires and the power to parent well.
We need to pray God's Will because when we pray our will God may answer yes to our prayer to show us that our will is not best.
God provided meat but it wasn't the best for them. They collected 10 homers of quail which is about 86 gallons. Since there was no cold storage every piece of meat had to be cooked and eaten quickly. In fact it made those who yielded to their cravings became sick while they were eating and died. There are foods we have access to that may seem okay but in actuality it is not. Oh the gluttony that ultimately led to the death of many, may we guard against this in our lives.
There are times when we crave foods some times this is good and sometimes it is bad. For instance, when a pregnant women craves something with nutrients the baby needs. This is a good thing, but when we crave sweets that is not okay. In the passage we see the children of Israel complaining AGAIN. (How many times does the Lord see us in this same boat. Whining about what we don't have instead of thanking Him for the things we do have.) They literally watched the Lord set fire to the outskirts of their camp due to complaining and they turned around and verse 4 states "yielded to intense craving" and started whining and crying about not having meat to eat. It amazes me that after God had produced miracle after miracle the Israelites can't have patience to wait without complaining for the land of milk and honey. Is anyone else feeling convicted or is it just me.
SIDE NOTE:
I feel compelled to give some back round on Numbers. The first 14 chapters of Numbers is about 2 years after the exodus then chapter 20 and beyond tells of the 40th year and beyond. It is interesting to note that chapters 15-19 are not dated but most likely cover the 37 years between the 2nd and 40th years. This is per Dr MacArthur's Study Bible. This lack of information tells just how wasted these years were due to rebellion against the Lord. My question, if I could ask God anything would be "How long would you have led the Israelites around before letting them enter the promise land if they hadn't complained?" The spies entered Canaan about 2 years post leaving Egypt. We know that from Egypt to Canaan shouldn't have taken 2 years but it did.
So if I am complaining about the lack of weight loss or giving into temptation all the time how long am I delaying victory over my flesh? Once again this applies to all sin in my life.
Okay back to the passage.
So now manna isn't good enough; now they want meat. I believe God says this to me. " Is the veggies, lean meat, and fruit not enough? So now you want cake, ice cream, pop, pasta, and etc.?" When I wish I could have... or eat... when I know it is not good for me then I am sure I grieve the Lord. If I am dwelling on what I can't have then I am NOT resting in the arms of my Saviour.
I find it a bit humorous that Moses essentially feels like we as parents do when our kids start complaining to us. How many times as parents do we wish we could leave this world as apposed to listening to our children complain about what we don't have to eat. So God tells Moses, fine they want meat; I'll give them meat until it makes them sick. I believe that God has given us over to our cravings, craving of food that causes inflammation in our joints, causes weight gain, and mood swings because we are not seeking God's Will. How can we be affective in service to Him if we are sick all the time.
Moses also feels like he needs help. First God gives him the help he wanted but what Moses still didn't understand was that he had ALL the power necessary to lead the Israelites. We too forget the power God has given to us. The power to control our desires and the power to parent well.
We need to pray God's Will because when we pray our will God may answer yes to our prayer to show us that our will is not best.
God provided meat but it wasn't the best for them. They collected 10 homers of quail which is about 86 gallons. Since there was no cold storage every piece of meat had to be cooked and eaten quickly. In fact it made those who yielded to their cravings became sick while they were eating and died. There are foods we have access to that may seem okay but in actuality it is not. Oh the gluttony that ultimately led to the death of many, may we guard against this in our lives.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Consistent Focus
I Corin. 10:12
When I was learning to drive, my father taught me a valuable lesson. It was simple, where my eyes were looking that is where my car would go. So if I focused on the road ahead, my car would go there but if I spent to much time worrying and looking at the ditch, then my car would not fare very well. This lesson fits well with the Christian walk; we need to focus on Christ and not on the obsacles. There are so many times we can't remove obsacles but how many times are we the cause of the obsacles. If we apply this to our eating; it is really hard to give into temptation and eat cookies if there are no cookies in the house. I know this may seem impossible with small children or husbands in the house but they don't need it either. It is easier to teach good eating habits when they are young rather than re-teach them later.
Bailee, when she was little, would only drink juice; then one day I didn't buy juice anymore. It was a tough few days but it didn't take long for her to realize there was no juice and she quit asking.
Heb. 12:1-2
Dr J. Vernon McGee tells us that Paul is encouraging us to get moving and don't drift along like a ship without a rudder. A ship a drift will get no where fast for it has no focus. Ironically enough for our topic of weight-loss we are told to lay aside every weight and the sin which ensnares us. John MacArthur states when Paul talks of "the sin" it is the sin of unbelief.
So, do we truly believe that God has our best in mind or do we feel that food is where we need to run for comfort and strength when the road gets tough. It is this unbelief in God that slows us down in the Christian live. We are to focus our eyes on Jesus and His example of finishing as He did with His death on the cross. Knowing that we too will have the joy of completion when we stand before God in Heaven.
What we shouldn't focus on:
Romans 12:3 - In our persute of weight loss we want to maintain God's perspective which is often hard as we get wrapped up in the world's view of beauty. WE SHOULD WANT TO LOOSE WEIGHT TO HONOR GOD'S TEMPLE NOT TO BE PRIDEFUL OF THE CONDITION WE KEEP IT! This is why it is so important to teach good eating habits now to our children to give them confidence inspite of what they will see in the world. We will often focus on ourselves which brings attentionto us; even in a derogatory manner. An example is when we say "Oh I shouldn't have had that piece of cake" and your friend says "You shouldn't worry you look great. or One piece of cake won't hurt." We need to be ever vigilant.
How can I focus if I can't see the rode?
2 Tim 4:7-8
I think I am not the only one that would say "Ok fine I know I am to focus on the road as to run the race and not to focus on myself because it is truly about God BUT what happens when I can't see the road because the fog of trials is too thick, then what?" I get it, we have all been there or are there.
This is when we look at the step God has given right in front of us. When I drive in the fog I get closterphobic if I look into the distance too long and then I start to panic. So I focus just on the patch of road that is lit by my head lights in front of me. Our challenges and trials in life can be like driving in fog and if we don't focus on the patch of road we can see and trust God to continue to light our path then we will run to our normal source of comfort which often is food, but please note running to anything or anyone but Christ will not give you rest. We need to remember that sin creates consequences of its own these aren't the trials that Timothy is speaking. So many times in my life I am dealing with self inflicted consequences of sin. How can I ask God to give me strength to avoid ice cream if I am the one who keeps buying it at the store.
Matt. 11: 28-30; John 6:35-37
As believers we can rest in the sovereignty of God (I Corin 10:13). Our battles are to make us stronger in our faith. Focusing on God rather than food will ultimately bring victory over food. Be Joseph this week and run from the food that tempts us just like Joseph ran from Potifer's wife.
When I was learning to drive, my father taught me a valuable lesson. It was simple, where my eyes were looking that is where my car would go. So if I focused on the road ahead, my car would go there but if I spent to much time worrying and looking at the ditch, then my car would not fare very well. This lesson fits well with the Christian walk; we need to focus on Christ and not on the obsacles. There are so many times we can't remove obsacles but how many times are we the cause of the obsacles. If we apply this to our eating; it is really hard to give into temptation and eat cookies if there are no cookies in the house. I know this may seem impossible with small children or husbands in the house but they don't need it either. It is easier to teach good eating habits when they are young rather than re-teach them later.
Bailee, when she was little, would only drink juice; then one day I didn't buy juice anymore. It was a tough few days but it didn't take long for her to realize there was no juice and she quit asking.
Heb. 12:1-2
Dr J. Vernon McGee tells us that Paul is encouraging us to get moving and don't drift along like a ship without a rudder. A ship a drift will get no where fast for it has no focus. Ironically enough for our topic of weight-loss we are told to lay aside every weight and the sin which ensnares us. John MacArthur states when Paul talks of "the sin" it is the sin of unbelief.
So, do we truly believe that God has our best in mind or do we feel that food is where we need to run for comfort and strength when the road gets tough. It is this unbelief in God that slows us down in the Christian live. We are to focus our eyes on Jesus and His example of finishing as He did with His death on the cross. Knowing that we too will have the joy of completion when we stand before God in Heaven.
What we shouldn't focus on:
Romans 12:3 - In our persute of weight loss we want to maintain God's perspective which is often hard as we get wrapped up in the world's view of beauty. WE SHOULD WANT TO LOOSE WEIGHT TO HONOR GOD'S TEMPLE NOT TO BE PRIDEFUL OF THE CONDITION WE KEEP IT! This is why it is so important to teach good eating habits now to our children to give them confidence inspite of what they will see in the world. We will often focus on ourselves which brings attentionto us; even in a derogatory manner. An example is when we say "Oh I shouldn't have had that piece of cake" and your friend says "You shouldn't worry you look great. or One piece of cake won't hurt." We need to be ever vigilant.
How can I focus if I can't see the rode?
2 Tim 4:7-8
I think I am not the only one that would say "Ok fine I know I am to focus on the road as to run the race and not to focus on myself because it is truly about God BUT what happens when I can't see the road because the fog of trials is too thick, then what?" I get it, we have all been there or are there.
This is when we look at the step God has given right in front of us. When I drive in the fog I get closterphobic if I look into the distance too long and then I start to panic. So I focus just on the patch of road that is lit by my head lights in front of me. Our challenges and trials in life can be like driving in fog and if we don't focus on the patch of road we can see and trust God to continue to light our path then we will run to our normal source of comfort which often is food, but please note running to anything or anyone but Christ will not give you rest. We need to remember that sin creates consequences of its own these aren't the trials that Timothy is speaking. So many times in my life I am dealing with self inflicted consequences of sin. How can I ask God to give me strength to avoid ice cream if I am the one who keeps buying it at the store.
Matt. 11: 28-30; John 6:35-37
As believers we can rest in the sovereignty of God (I Corin 10:13). Our battles are to make us stronger in our faith. Focusing on God rather than food will ultimately bring victory over food. Be Joseph this week and run from the food that tempts us just like Joseph ran from Potifer's wife.
Self -Control Is Only Effective When We Are God-Controlled
Gal 5:22-23
I find it interesting that the parts of the Spirit that we are to emulate are called "fruits". Each one is important in our spiritual growth, but the one that plays a huge role in our ability to keep food out of our mouths is self-control.
John MacArthur's study Bible refers to self-control as restraint over our passions and appetites. So very interesting. We are never asked to live the Christian life on our own; we are to allow the Holy Spirit to live through us. We cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit while living in the flesh.
I Corin. 9:24-27; 2 Pet 1: 5-9; Phil. 3: 13-21; Jere. 29:13-14; Prov. 25:28
I Corin. 9: 24-27 speaks of a runner who disciplines himself in preparation for a race. Self-control is crucial to any victory. If we are to have victory over sin (overeating or eating junk) we need self-control. Discipline is also necessary to bring others to Christ, and it is hard to teach our children self-control if they see we have none.
Phil. 3:13-21 (especially 18 and 19) condemns those who claim to be Christians but have no fruit to show for it. I pray that I do not live a life that someone could questions my heart. When it talks about their "God is their belly" J. Vernon McGee states, "This means that they are led by their appetites." This in our case can mean food, however it means anything that drives us and pulls us away from God. Paul wants us to live lives that are so Christ-centered that our Faith is crystal clear to those around us without having to convince them of our belief in God.
Jeremiah 29: 13-14 is a promise from God to the Israelites that we can claim today. Look for your God with all your heart and he will rebuild you and end your captivity with food or any other stronghold the enemy has on you.
Prov. 25:28 - Back before airplanes, missiles and tanks the best defense a city had against invaders was a huge wall around the city; without it or if it was broken it would leave the inhabitants of the city very vulnerable to any evil. The writer of Proverbs is telling us here that self-control can protect us the same way. A lack of self-control in one area of our lives will grow and spill over into other areas. We need to continually be on our knees asking God to live through us to control us because as 2 Corin 12:9 states "for my [God's] power is made perfect in weakness."
My challenge to you this week is to literally pray before you put anything in you mouth.
1. Thank Him for His guidance for without it we are weak.
2. Ask if this is what He wants you to partake in.
3. Praise Him for one of 2 things either the liberty He is giving you or the strength to abstain.
I am challenging each of us to ask God for a direct command to fast from something this week for just a short time (it could be just one meal or a snack) to use that time to worship and praise Him.
The final thing that is crucial is to decide if this weight-loss is a vow to God. If the answer is YES we need to get on our knees and ask God to forgive us for cheating on Him with whatever food it is, because cheating with food is sin if you have vowed to God not to eat certain things.
I find it interesting that the parts of the Spirit that we are to emulate are called "fruits". Each one is important in our spiritual growth, but the one that plays a huge role in our ability to keep food out of our mouths is self-control.
John MacArthur's study Bible refers to self-control as restraint over our passions and appetites. So very interesting. We are never asked to live the Christian life on our own; we are to allow the Holy Spirit to live through us. We cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit while living in the flesh.
I Corin. 9:24-27; 2 Pet 1: 5-9; Phil. 3: 13-21; Jere. 29:13-14; Prov. 25:28
I Corin. 9: 24-27 speaks of a runner who disciplines himself in preparation for a race. Self-control is crucial to any victory. If we are to have victory over sin (overeating or eating junk) we need self-control. Discipline is also necessary to bring others to Christ, and it is hard to teach our children self-control if they see we have none.
Phil. 3:13-21 (especially 18 and 19) condemns those who claim to be Christians but have no fruit to show for it. I pray that I do not live a life that someone could questions my heart. When it talks about their "God is their belly" J. Vernon McGee states, "This means that they are led by their appetites." This in our case can mean food, however it means anything that drives us and pulls us away from God. Paul wants us to live lives that are so Christ-centered that our Faith is crystal clear to those around us without having to convince them of our belief in God.
Jeremiah 29: 13-14 is a promise from God to the Israelites that we can claim today. Look for your God with all your heart and he will rebuild you and end your captivity with food or any other stronghold the enemy has on you.
Prov. 25:28 - Back before airplanes, missiles and tanks the best defense a city had against invaders was a huge wall around the city; without it or if it was broken it would leave the inhabitants of the city very vulnerable to any evil. The writer of Proverbs is telling us here that self-control can protect us the same way. A lack of self-control in one area of our lives will grow and spill over into other areas. We need to continually be on our knees asking God to live through us to control us because as 2 Corin 12:9 states "for my [God's] power is made perfect in weakness."
My challenge to you this week is to literally pray before you put anything in you mouth.
1. Thank Him for His guidance for without it we are weak.
2. Ask if this is what He wants you to partake in.
3. Praise Him for one of 2 things either the liberty He is giving you or the strength to abstain.
I am challenging each of us to ask God for a direct command to fast from something this week for just a short time (it could be just one meal or a snack) to use that time to worship and praise Him.
The final thing that is crucial is to decide if this weight-loss is a vow to God. If the answer is YES we need to get on our knees and ask God to forgive us for cheating on Him with whatever food it is, because cheating with food is sin if you have vowed to God not to eat certain things.
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