Managing Diabetes Sensibly

Amy sat across from my desk, her eyes brimming with tears. One of our doctors had just diagnosed her with Type 2 diabetes and she needed to change her dietary habits. That’s where I came in.

Type 2 Diabetes is a debilitating but manageable illness which is becoming more prevalent in today’s culture.

My new patient had recently come from her father’s hospital bedside. He had lost a limb to diabetes, and she was frightened she’d suffer the same fate.

Apparently, she had argued with her father for years to take better care of himself, but to no avail. He refused to recognize that his unhealthy lifestyle was affecting his daughter’s mental health, along with destroying his own body. He failed to realize that if one family member struggles, all are affected.

He continued to eat chemically processed, fattening foods, too many sugary items and never exercised.  Now Amy had received the same diagnosis; Type 2 Diabetes, and she was scared but ready to fight for her health.

What makes someone fight for wellness while others apathetically accept their fate? It begins with a determined mindset!

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Believe that vibrant health is worth fighting for!  Treasure what God has given you. Diabetes needn’t be a death sentence if you are willing to change.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, take control. Lose and maintain a sensible weight. Changing habits is the first challenge and that is something you must desire more than sweets and fast food.

Never act like a victim and ask, “why me?”  I’ve had patients who actually stated that diabetes was the best thing that had ever happened to them because it was a wake-up call!  Many of my patients controlled their disease with diet, and exercise and felt fantastic for the first time in decades! They only wished they had done it sooner.

The Key is Education and Small Steps:

1. Increase fiber to 25-35 grams daily (4-9 tsp.) Fiber allows insulin to enter more slowly into the bloodstream. There are two types of fiber and we need both.

Soluble fiber becomes a gel in our system, moving dangerous LDL cholesterol out while lowering blood sugar. (It’s like Liquid Plummer.)  A shortlist includes beans and sweet potatoes. Brussel sprouts, applesauce, avocado, pears, chia seeds, broccoli.

Insoluble fiber is like Rotor Rooter, remaining intact as it clears our intestines (corn, potato skins, beets, apple skins) It pushes out toxins so valuable nutrients can be absorbed through the digestive tract.

Choose a variety of fibers including whole grains, (oats, quinoa, long grain rice) fruits, (apples, pears, prunes), and vegetables, (peas, legumes, beans, bananas, and sweet potatoes.)

2. Get into a Daily Routine because this stabilizes blood sugar. Ensure that you eat around the same times each day and exercise at regular intervals. This keeps your blood sugar levels steady and reduces stress on your vital organs.

3. Create a sensible pathway to de-stress. When our bodies are stressed, it not only raises our insulin levels but also creates a hazardous acidic pH level, making us hungrier and more prone to illness.

Create a strategy to de-stress: get fresh air, listen to music, take soothing baths, schedule a massage, or simply sit and read on your back patio.

4. Exercise routinely! Diabetics run the risk of circulatory problems and nerve damage. But don’t overdo exercise. That would add stress! Find an exercise routine you enjoy and keep doing it! Try walking, biking, swimming, dancing, gardening, and jogging.

5. Greatly reduce or eliminate artificial sweeteners. They’re addictive! They also tend to calcify the kidneys. In addition, the body cannot metabolize them, so these chemicals remain in your liver, building up toxins.

Most importantly, artificial sweeteners increase insulin levels because your body is tricked into expecting more food! Stevia has an alkaline pH and is a good substitute. My patients consumed small amounts of regular sugar while giving up the simple sugars in donuts, cakes, pies, and candy.

6. Drink lots of pure water – at least 8 glasses – it washes away toxins!

Yes, diabetes is a tough disease to manage, but remember you’re worth the effort! You have Strengths you might not recognize yet. Our Lord Sustains!

Trust Physiological Truth

As we were driving home from vacation this past week, we traveled through a section of the flattest portion of the earth I’ve ever seen. If someone believed in the “Flat Earth Society,” this might have been where it first evolved. But it was only a small portion of the Earth. They weren’t seeing the whole picture.

I found it similar to those who read one Scripture verse and announce the Bible has falsehoods. Or someone who hears a celebrity endorsing a diet plan and accepts it as healthy?

1. Research, people! Research before preaching absolutes!

God wants us to glory in abundant, healthy living, not suffer. That’s why He placed mankind in a Garden. Many suffer needlessly on a diet that tastes like plastic due to a celebrity endorsement. “It worked for (celebrity) so it will work for me!”

God never meant for us to live on complicated, fallacy-laden, restrictive diet plans. These clearly reject our Maker’s fundamental truths in physiology.

Do you believe in Absolute Truth? Absolute health truths in the law of physiology cannot be dismissed. Advanced science discovered how complex and intricate our mind/body/spirit connection is. This merely validates the Word of God:

For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139: 13-16)

Modern science is discovering daily that we are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made! Some scientists recognize God’s handiwork in man’s creation but regretfully many don’t. How could those who don’t believe in God’s intricate design explain the complicated and amazing bodily function of the tiny Bacterial Flagellum? How could a piece of bodily machinery that intricate simply evolve inside us by chance? It must have had a Creator. It takes more faith to believe we arrived through mud clumps or crystals than if God created man!

“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.” (Psalm 14:1)

2.  Search for Truth in your physical well-being.

False Diet Gurus can profess whatever they wish while people follow like sheep, searching for that easy, painless, weight loss magical pill. It does not exist and even if it did, it wouldn’t help because our body will go into self-protection mode. This also won’t help the person who is emotionally or unconsciously challenged by food issues.

A Chinese saying cautions, “Even if 5,000 men are wrong, they are still wrong.” For example, no matter how men state that one can jump off the Grand Canyon without a parachute and fly by flapping their arms, it just ain’t gonna happen! Certain natural gravitational laws will prevent that from occurring.

That pertains to physiological laws as well. No matter how many times someone tries to create their own magical diet plan, if it’s not physiologically sound, it won’t work. A true weight loss plan is sensible, obtainable, and nutritionally sound in which they can abide forever.

3. Recognize and Establish Your Goal

Not having a goal reminds me of a scene from Alice in Wonderland when Alice meets the Cheshire Cat.

She asks: “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.
“I don’t much care where–” said Alice.
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.
(Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Chapter 6)

If one sets out on a journey, they must have a purpose, a plan, or they won’t reach their desired destination. What’s your goal? A particular weight? A size? More energy?

Find your purpose and strive for healthy living. (My objective in writing “Life’s Too Short to Eat Bad Cheese” was to encourage, motivate and convey how to live an abundantly healthy life.)

Avoid These Health Goal Roadblocks

New Creations Ministries

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

So what’s preventing you from reaching your health goal? You certainly know what to do: eat less junk, exercise more, slow down, drink water . . . you know the drill.  So if you want to become healthier, what prevents you?

Are you focusing only on the negative when exercising?

Yes, its’ a long, tedious road but look how much you are learning along the way! You are becoming self-disciplined. Only you can lose this weight for only you live within the confines of your skin. As much as I want you to lose weight and get healthy, I can’t do it for you. Isn’t that similar to Salvation? Only you can accept God’s Grace and change your lifestyle.

Remain positive. Each day you are one day closer…

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Avoid Being Lured into a Marketing Net

A preacher once compared fish being lured by enticing fishhooks to humans being ensnared by the temptations of this world. Fishhooks can look very enticing to fish, but they are also dangerous.

Now being a nutritionist, I view everything through a nutritional lens. I immediately thought, hmmm, how true. Another similarity between nutrition and spirituality.

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1 John 2:16 (KJV)

How many times have we innocently strolled along the grocery aisles or the local mall when we suddenly get a whiff of cinnamon, coffee, or popcorn and start salivating? Or walk past the Food Court and a McDonald’s calls our name? (Eating at a restaurant is not wrong. However, as we attempt to become healthier, we cannot allow food to control us, then we have a problem.)

As we focus on finding that perfect pair of jeans, we can’t get the thought of those cinnamon pretzel sticks out of our minds, no matter how hard we try! Now we notice that every corner has an Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon, or Wetzel’s Pretzels. Temptation begins to lure us in through its cinnamon, buttery aroma, and a feast for the eyes as we observe others pulling apart its flakey bounty.

“Look at that delicious item over there! It smells so GOOD!” That’s all it takes, and we’re hooked! Losing control, we feel like failures and Satan gleefully dances while we suffer.

Why is it that as determined as we are to eat healthily, we notice tempting food choices abounding everywhere?! Satan wishes to destroy our bodily temple with unhealthy fats, preservatives and chemicals. He can’t read our minds but he sure is attuned to our human nature. He’s deduced what our weak links have been. It takes Herculean power to resist his hook baited with temptation, but it sure feels even better when we do!

Marketing departments know what it takes to lure us in too.  As the world becomes more globally secular through the internet, television shows, musical jingles, food commercials, etc. It’s easy even for a strong Christian to be side-tracked nowadays with the many lures of those enticing worldly advertisements.

So how do we resist the fishhook of temptation? It’s extremely tough, so we must be prepared. God wants us healthy!

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

Logically, when it comes to food, think ahead to challenges. You already know as you shop for gifts, there are plenty of stumbling blocks at the mall. Don’t allow yourself to be lured into failure – be prepared:

1. Don’t go hungry. Duh, right?
2. Love cinnamon? Have it on your yogurt, in your coffee, or on your whole-wheat toast before you go. Your hypothalamus, (the little traffic cop in your brain which controls nutrient pathways) will disperse desire for that particular substance.
3. Bring a snack with you, such as homemade granola, peanut butter on whole-grain crackers, a peppermint, grapes, a banana or an apple.
4. Shop with a disciplined friend who isn’t a “yes ‘man” when it comes to being tempted and will keep you in control.
5. At home, mute commercials, play solitaire, or talk to your spouse, children or friend.
6. Reward yourself with something you want more than food when you overcome temptation! Perhaps a scarf, book, CD, earrings, a manicure, or another non-food reward.

I promise you; nothing tastes as great as being Victorious will! Remain strong and disciplined.

“But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:27)

Which Life Would You Choose?

Imagine a world where corruption runs rampant. Rightful living is ridiculed, wrong has been deemed right, dishonest rulers run the country, murders occur in the streets, parents kill their babies, sexual immorality is prevalent, stealing is ignored, and lying is accepted as truth. Would you choose to reside here?

This is the world in which Noah’s wife lived. (How many thought I was speaking of today’s world?)

Noah’s wife is not named in Scripture, but we can learn much from her example.

She was a strong woman, physically, mentally, and spiritually.

After Adam’s fall, the 2^nd Law of Thermodynamics had kicked in. Everything began deteriorating, yet the human race still lived hundreds of years. Noah was 500 years old when God instructed him to build the Ark and I’m confident his wife wasn’t much younger. They most likely had many more children, yet only three sons and their wives entered the Ark.

It had never rained on the earth and a canopy enveloped the world. Sure, there were boats for transportation, and Noah’s family most likely lived along a river. But God had asked Noah to build a boat so large that nothing larger was constructed until the mid-1850s.

Imagine the abuse Noah’s wife endured as her husband was ridiculed for 120 years! “Where’s Noah gonna float that monstrosity, honey? The river ain’t that big!”  “Send him off to the funny farm and come live with me!”

Every woman wants her husband to be respected. To stand by and accept this abuse heaped upon Noah must have been embarrassing. In today’s world, most wives would have simply divorced and moved on to someone else. Why did she remain? Because she had faith! She knew God called her family to great responsibility. She preferred to be a supportive wife and trust God.

“It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans.” (Psalm 118:8)

I’m sure she worked alongside Noah in some capacity, whether it was to feed her family or work at the construction site. We don’t know if she entirely understood what was to come. She probably knew it would not be easy, but I doubt she envisioned an entirely different world environment.

Did she endure sleepless nights or sleep peacefully knowing she was in the will of God?

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)

How many sleepless nights have you have you endured when you weren’t following what the LORD has instructed you in Scripture? When we’re at peace, we have nothing to fear, and perfect love casts out fear.

Even if she had no other children, she had friends, acquaintances, aunts, uncles, perhaps even a mother and father who would be left behind. Did she warn them of what was to come? I’m quite sure she attempted to, but they failed to comprehend or accept the salvation the Ark represented. How heartbreaking!

In today’s world, how many accept that our nation is over the edge too and we need to turn to Christ, our Salvation?

Whether today’s population is rebellious, apathetic, or simply enjoying the world’s lifestyle, have we warned them of the destruction coming when we are out of the Will of God? Have you invited friends to church, only to hear: “Sorry, my kids have soccer practice Sunday mornings.” “No thanks, not my thing.” “Hahaha, God would turn over in his grave if I walked into a church.”

When God shut the door to the Ark, that was it. There were no second chances for anyone left on earth. Eternity is not the big sleep. You are eternally awake, rejoicing in Heaven or suffering a fiery, regretful existence in Hell forever!

Today choose who you will serve. Become a New Creation and chose to enter the Ark of Christ.

 

Getting Your Diet Mojo Back Permanently

It’s now the start of the “Diet-Season” when millions enthusiastically begin a diet on January 2nd and . . . usually fall off that bandwagon three weeks later. Why?

Failing on a diet plan is usually not because we don’t know what we should do. Most realize we:  1. eat less 2. exercise more 3. slow down and 4. drink water, etc., etc. . . . Yet we fail time and time again, even when we believe we are doing the right thing! That’s frustrating and self-defeating.

Weight loss is much more than mere willpower. There is no magic formula. Since we are each uniquely created, it’s primarily an individually mental, physiological, and spiritual challenge. It’s also a matter of understanding the scientific reasons behind the “why” we can self-destruct.

My book, “Life’s Too Short to Eat Bad Cheese . . .” will make the perfect motivational New Year’s gift this year. It’s available for only $4.99 on Amazon.com.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SKQ3HYV

It’s not simply another diet book. With over 241 pages of practical lifestyle applications, it encourages a brand new mental, physiological and spiritual approach to becoming a New Creation:

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!”  (2 Corinthians 5:17)

“Life’s Too Short to Eat Bad Cheese” (Nutritional & Life Lessons God Teaches Us) addresses such topics as:

1. Strive for excellence, not perfection
2. Why losing weight isn’t simply a matter of willpower!
3. Why sometimes a cookie isn’t “just a cookie”
4. Why dieting is like the Westminster Dog Show
5. Why you can’t outsmart a fat cell
6. Why physiologically, fad diets never work
7. The secrets to weight loss success and so much more!

Truth is, God never meant for us to live on complicated, fallacy-laden, restrictive diet plans which clearly reject our Maker’s fundamental psychological, physiological and spiritual wishes.

Healthy living is not adhering to a “penance principle” of restriction and suffering.  God set Adam in a Garden for a reason and provided the perfect Master Plan for health. Yet people needlessly consume “magic” formulas: “sticks and twigs,” processed packaged foods, drink tasteless protein shakes, or restrict their diet needlessly.

Why? There is no need to deny oneself chocolate, cheese, eggs, potatoes, bananas, shrimp, or any other food while consuming only rice cakes and celery. Avoidance and flagellation will not get one closer to God unless he enjoys living as a monk!

God gave us the perfect dietary plan in Genesis 1:29 and 9:3. He also instilled us with common sense. I address the fact that we’ve each been formed uniquely with a different chemical make-up. There is no one-size-fits-all diet plan but there are physiological truths we should live by!

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Discover true vitality through a sensible everyday eating plan, honoring God in the process!

“Life’s Too Short to Eat Bad Cheese” is filled with realistic illustrations and practical, common-sense applications. If you concentrate on nutrients, you will naturally be healthier because your body will crave healthier choices while resisting uncontrollable cravings. But how does one do that??? I explain how and it’s not by suffering.

I urge you to read this book to discover how you can become stronger, develop strategies, and routinely overcome temptation, becoming confident as a New Creation!

How Do We Change Behaviors?

Remember the old saying, “If you always do what you always did, you’ll get what you always got?”

Have you tried every diet plan under the sun and still haven’t kept your weight off? Others have but you keep hitting a brick wall or worse yet, a mudslide of weight returning your way. Why?

What’s the secret to those who lost weight and kept it off? How can they lose weight and not me? you ask.

One Answer: First change a mindset to change a behavior!

Are you stuck in your same behaviors? Restrictive diet plans?  Giving in to peer pressure? Exercise – Who has time to exercise???

If you look at the most successive healthy humans, like Tom Brady, Sabrina Williams, Cindy Crawford among others, they hold a disciplined, goal-oriented mindset. They like themselves too much to ever return to an unhealthy lifestyle even if they could. There would be no ‘up’ side. They like themselves healthier.

It’s simple really – their desire to be healthy is more desireable than that second donut. They enjoy walking more than sitting around watching the latest Judge Judy episode. They like the way they feel more than they liked feeling sluggish and unhealthy. 

All successful people have a goal that means more to them than anything else and they’ll work to reach it! How much did you want that healthier living? Did you give it your best?

“Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philipians 3:13,14) NASB

I didn’t like myself much being overweight. When my mindset changed I ate for nutrients in all food groups. Why would I want to return to an unhealthy lifestyle? Food isn’t a god to me anymore. (Philippians 3:19.)

Once you become healthy, your desires change too.

Are you willing to change to a positive mindset to change your behaviors? Are you tired of the old you and crave a new lifestyle, energy level, appearance?

Accept a better you. Each of us are unique, having a different physiology and personality created by God. Our pH, blood type and activity level is different. Strive to be your best within that structure. 

Are you feeling worthless? Sometimes one has to reach bottom before they can crawl to the top.

Change your beliefs:

God gave us a bounty of nutrients on Earth so one shouldn’t suffer. He wanted us to eat for the pleasure of it. He didn’t want us to consume a “sticks and twigs” diet. Denying oneself an entire food group is not a healthy way to live. He created balance for our optimum biological function.

There are basically three food groups: fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Carbs aren’t the enemy. They break down to simple and complex. Complex are excellent sources of fiber which stabilize blood sugar (reducing hunger) move bad bacteria and dangerous chemicals out of your system. That in turn improves energy levels, attitudes and appearance.

Ensure you drink plenty of pure, clean water.  (Anytime we add ingredients to water, it takes longer for the body to break it down. Adding lemon or lime to water improves our good pH  so go at it!)

As a Believer, honor God with your body. Why would you mess it up by throwing unhealthy food onto the floor of your temple?  Start living an abundant and healthy lifestyle now. 

 

Thank God for the Water Leak!

I frantically searched through every drawer and cabinet trying to locate my expensive paring knife. I knew I had used it last evening, so it had to be somewhere.

After 25 minutes, I opened the trash cabinet and viewed only yukky, disgusting garbage. I sighed but knew if I didn’t rummage thru it, I’d always wonder, did I mistakenly throw it away?          

 

So I took out another trash bag and began transferring coffee grounds, banana skins and other unsavory disposables. About half-way down, I exclaimed, “Eureka!” There among the garbage lay my cherished paring knife! 

My immediate thought was, thank God for last night’s rain! If it hadn’t rained last night, we would have walked up and discarded our garbage and my knife would have been gone forever.

Does it seem strange to you to thank God for the frustrations in life?

A pastor we knew, began his sermon by lamenting the fact that his family had a horrible week. It started with a water leak in the bathroom sink which resulted in totally destroying the drywall behind the cabinet. When he and his friend opened up the wall to replace the damage, he descovered a poisonous snake behind the wall. Thankfully, they were able to kill the snake and complete their renovation.

“Now,” I thought. “he’ll praise God for the water leak and this going to be a great biblical iullustration.” Sadly he didn’t. 

Why, you ask, would someone ever praise God for a water leak?

Well, this pastor had two small children. I can’t imagine what unthinkable tragedy could have occurred if the children had been in the room alone when the snake emerged.

Even in the midst of tribulating times, God protects! God doesn’t always have to perform miracles to protect his people. This probably happens to us on a daily basis, and yet we haven’t a clue.

Perhaps you’re running late for work and then get caught in an aggravating, annoying traffic jam? Praise God – the accident wasn’t yours for you turned back for your keys. What at first was an inconvenient experience, then became a unbeknownst blessing.

Now how does this pertain to healthy living? It does in all ways: mentally, physically and spiritually!

Mentally – know God protects those he loves

“For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord. thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Why do we fret and get upset over small things? God doesn’t purposely stress us out. We do that just fine on our own. There’s always a purpose. Knowing Scripture and trusting Him helps. God constantly watches over you and doesn’t want harm to come to you – even if it means an inconvenient delay. 

Physically – God WILL take care of you:

“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! (Luke 12:24)

I used to advise my patients who worried constantly, “What could be the worst-case scenario?” We’d discuss outrageous plots until they realized the odds of that happening were remote at best. Aim for high godly standards in all of life’s aspects, but ultimately entrust control to the Lord.

Spiritually: It takes faith

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3: 5,6)

Trusting God even though we can’t see Him is called faith. Trusting that His ways are better than our stubborn ways. Our job isn’t to control every aspect of our life but to worship God.

I’ll continue to praise God for last night’s rain.

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Pulling Those Pesky Weeds

I grew up on a farm which is the best place in the world to learn self-discipline. But I hated pulling weeds in our garden. Now it’s gardening season again and I find the best flowers I grow are pretty flowering weeds.

How easily sin can spread like flowering weeds throughout our lives. Pretty to look at but deadly to Spiritual growth. We’re aware that sin is destructive and shouldn’t flower in a Christ-filled life.

But how do we rid ourselves of them?

We must recognize that sin’s unhealthy habits drag us down, destroying our Christian testimony. I’m ashamed to say that when I went to college, someone asked me once, “If you’re a Christian why do you do such bad things?”  I had no answer except a flippant, “Well Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.” I don’t know why God is so patient with me but I’m grateful!

“When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.”  (1 Corinthians 13:11)  NLT

When it comes to sin we can’t be flippant by allowing a small amount to grow in our Spiritual garden. Avoid toxic people for “Bad company corrupts good character.”  (1 Corinthians 15:33) Yes it’s true that sometimes we can win others to the Lord by displaying good Christian character amidst challenging social situations. But more times then not, the character of “weedy friends” overpower us and we fall into sin, allowing our character to become compromised. Scripture urges us to flee youthful lusts, (2 Timothy 2:22) not dabble in it.

It’s similar to obtaining a healthier lifestyle. Every sin has consequences. If you always consume fattening, chemically laden foods you’ll risk diabetes, strokes, heart disease and cancers. Risk? Do you feel “lucky?” I’d prefer not playing Russian Roulette with my life but rather trust God to keep me healthy because I want to honor that vibrant life gift He has given me.

Until one gets strong enough to withstand the temptation of donuts and sugary carbs, we shouldn’t go into a donut shop! Or attend a Buffet if you’re a curious person and consume a little of everything the tables offer. Nine times out of ten we will fall to the “Feast of The Eyes!”

“For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.” (1 John 2:16) NLT

What about toxic relationships? Following a raucous, sinful crowd is being like a sheep who plunges to his death because he followed the leader over a cliff. Sheep are dumb animals! You shouldn’t be! As painful as it is to say goodbye to a close but unrepentant friend, if they are dragging you into a pit, for your own safety, let go and fervently pray for them.

And the best advice: don’t allow temptation to grow in the first place! If you prevent pesky weeds from growing, you won’t have to pull them later. Use the best Spiritual Weed Killer there is: Scripture! Cultivate appropriate Bible verses deep inside your mind and soul and it will absolutely act as weed preventer!

Developing Healthy Patience

Sometimes as little children occasionally do, we’ll stomp our feet and declare, “But I want it now!”   Afterward when the regrets kick in, we ask ourselves, “Why did I think that was a great idea?”

Have you ever stopped to think that our Heavenly Father loves us so much, He will give us the desires of our heart even if those are bad for us?  It’s called “free will.” Naturally God hopes we’ll choose what’s best. But it’s our choice.

Have you ever debated if you should consume something even though you understand it’s going to create an illness? Then shake a fist at God and ask, “Why’d you do this to me?”

I know very few children who choose vegetables over candy, cake or even cheesy fries. After a few tummy aches however and children usually instinctively learn to choose better. Do we really think eating all that fattening, processed, chemically-laden packaged food is good for us? We need to conquer our food cravings and resist the tug of gluttony. We are not children anymore.

No food is bad (1 Corinthians 10:23) but our reaction to it sometimes is.  Who’s in control, you or are you lured by manipulation? Have you ever lost control, giving in to a decadent food only to become discouraged because you couldn’t stay on your health plan?

As God’s child we also need borders which will assure a healthier lifestyle. When young, our children need boundaries to keep them safe and healthy. Certainly you wouldn’t feed your child only candy? They need real food to grow and thrive. God laid out our diet plan in Genesis 1:29 and 9:3. Follow His plan and achieve a healthier lifestyle. So why can’t we resist temptation?

Unfortunately some never grow up. When presented with a menu of grilled fish or chicken or hamburgers and fries, they’ll still go for the fattier selection every time! THINK! Once in a while that’s fine but choosing an inappropriate choice every day and you’ll wind up with debilitating diseases and parasites, lovely.

Why do we fail to understand we answer to a Higher Authority? If I am out walking my pooch, I’m her authority. I want her to enjoy her journey but if she misbehaves and wants to chase squirrels across the road, I reign her in because I don’t want to see her run over! God provides boundaries for the same reason. He wants us to be safe! And because He is All Knowing, He realizes what will happen when we give in to temptation.

Emotional eating is not healthy. If you desire something unhealthy, work it off by exercising and you’ll remain in control.  If you’ve kept your food journal for two weeks as I encouraged, you might understand why you give in for reasons other than hunger. Continue to journal; asking yourself, what happened just before I gave in to my desires? A disturbing phone call, an argument? Are you lonely – food offers comfort. Bored? Eating is something to do. Angry? Crunching on food is a stress reliever. Sad? Chemicals in food release happy endorphins.

For example, chocolate contains  phenylethylamine which makes us feel loved. Since God created chocolate, it’s fine in moderation.  But if we’re motivated by a chocolate commercial on TV, losing control, we’ve become manipulated. Give in and you just made that food an idol before our Lord.

 “I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”  (Galatians 5:16)

Remaining in control and conquering addiction is a wonderful feeling. Conquer self and honor God.