I enjoy working out.  It relaxes me and I have the satisfaction of doing something good for myself.  Everyone knows that to lose weight, one must eat less and exercise more.  I have been know to invent excuses for overeating, including believing I deserved extra food for burning calories in the gym.  Since I stuffed my mouth after working out, my weight stayed the same, and even went up.  I even stopped going to the gym since it did not help me lose weight. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 is, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom youRead More →

I am reading the Easter story and meditating on what Jesus has saved me from.  He died to pay for my sins so I can live. Before, I felt guilty for my past mistakes.  This guilt beat me down.  I felt hopeless, like I was a failure that should give up. Luke 24:5-6 is, “…Jesus said, “It is finished.”  With that, he bowed and gave up his spirit.”  (Holy Bible, New International Version, 2011).  Jesus was the final sacrifice for all sin.  I live free from guilt because Jesus died for me.  His forgiveness wipes away my sin.  He gives me strength to clean up messes that my sin leftRead More →

I am currently reading the Easter story in my Bible.  I am touched by the fact that Jesus sacrificed His earthly life for me.  In the past, I have given up candy, cookies, or soda for Lent.  This token sacrifice has done little to bring me closer to God.  This year I am fasting from gossip.  It is much harder than not eating a food I know I can enjoy after Easter.  I have not been perfect, but have tried to be positive about others instead of tearing them down.  I know I do not want to start talking bad about others again. Gossip isRead More →

I love candy, cookies, pies, and gooey desserts. In the past, I could not stop at just one.  Instead,, I continued eating until the bag was empty.  Since sweets were to blame for my overeating, I eliminated sugar and fat from my diet for 5 years.  After depriving myself of sweets, I found healthy substitutes for foods I once enjoyed.  These alternatives did not satisfy me.  I once devoured an entire diet cheesecake in one sitting. One day God showed me I could learn to enjoy sugary foods in moderation.  I enjoyed what I had missed for 5 long years.  Psalm 24:13 is, “Do you likeRead More →

My heart was once in love with food.  I began my day planning meals and dreaming of sweets.  Meal planning turned into lusting after my favorite foods.  After a meal, I patiently waited for the next one.  As the day went on, I constantly ate, snacking between meals and grazing as I prepared dinner.  My mind continuously focused on food.  Even in church, I dreamed of what I could eat for lunch instead of listening to what God was saying to me. Jeremiah 31:3 is, “Long ago the Lord said to Israel: ‘I have loved you, my people with an everlasting love.  With unfailing love IRead More →

It is crazy to keep making the same mistake over and over again.  I fail by continuing to eat after I am full.  During meals, I eat all the food on my plate, even though my stomach is full.  After dinner, I crave sweets.  One piece of candy turns into three.  I want more, so I switch to cookies to avoid overdoing candy.  The next day, I mindlessly continue to stuff excess food into my stomach.  I later wonder why I am bloated and my pants don’t zip. I used to blame the sweets for my lack of willpower.  Today I know my heart stillRead More →

In the past, I would fast from one favorite food, like candy, or soda during the 40 days of Lent.  At first I was tempted to indulge in what I gave up.  I quickly found another “fix” to replace what I could no longer eat.  This “fasting” never brought me closer to God.  This time I will fast from gossip and negative talk.  James 3:5 is, “Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.  Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark”  (Holy Bible, New International Version, 2001). Once word are spoken, I cannot takeRead More →

February is a depressing month with cold, dreary days.  My flesh desires to stay in bed and eat instead of enjoying life.  God has taken away my desire to overeat, but I am still weak and face struggles.  I know food does nothing to help my blah moods and only makes things worse.  So, I fight temptation with God’s Word. Psalm 119:11 is, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 1996, 2004, 2007).  My heart is more sensitive to sin as God has changed me.  Since I no longer want excess food, IRead More →

It is easy for me to run to God with big issues.  Financial woes and health concerns signal the need to reach for His help. Every time I call out in prayer, God comes through. Sometimes He answers my request and other times He strengthens me to survive a storm.  My faith and trust in God have grown through answered prayers.  There is no problem is too small and unimportant for God to handle. Isaiah 26:4 is, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”  (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 1996, 2004, 2007).  As longRead More →

My frustrations add up as I face constant stress. There never is enough time in the day to finish everything on my “to do” list.  I forget to thaw meat so I scramble to find ingredients to cook dinner.  My job and family responsibilities leave me little time to relax.  If I focus on the negatives in my life, I feel the world is against me.  My old escape, food, is around the corner tempting me to indulge.  Deep down, I know God is the answer instead of food. Philippians 4:19 is, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches ofRead More →