One of my latest finds from the Bible that I am using daily is found in Proverbs 25.
I have decided that the most effective way to lose weight and keep it off is to change the way I think about eating. And the way to change how I think is to reprogram my mind with living words...God's words.
And so every day when I wake up in the morning (and now that I think about it, I should do this before every meal), I make this declaration: "I eat only what is sufficient for me."
Are you curious about this verse yet? Here it is, in the Amplified Bible:
"Have you found [pleasure sweet like] honey? Eat only as much as is sufficient for you, lest, being filled with it, you vomit it" (Proverbs 25:16).
Lovely picture, isn't it?
But the truth in this proverb from one of the wisest men who ever lived is unmistakable. Eat only what is sufficient. By speaking it out loud as a personal declaration, I am re-programing my thinking. After a while, I'll have trained my body to eat only what is sufficient. Voila! Reduced weight gain and eventually weight loss—naturally and painlessly!
Interestingly enough, the Amplified Bible allows more than just food to be used in this context. What do you find pleasurable and sweet...that overcomes you? I can think of a few things that people struggle with in life. Here's the proverb: Don't overdo...or it can hurt you.
It's good food for thought, isn't it? (Pun intended.)
Till next time,
Jeanette
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Fishing for Flashlights
After telling stories about my children the other night at a women's group, I felt a little guilty. But then the next morning my 6-year-old did something that was so humorous, I didn't feel guilty anymore.
JD is in an exploring stage. Granted, this is the stage 2-year-olds go through. So it's good that he's going through this stage, BUT!
He likes to play with flashlights. I saw him walking through the kitchen with the flashlight and didn't think much of it. Until he went into the back bathroom and I heard a "kerplunk" and a splash. Yikes! "John David!" I went running back there. He looked up at me with a mischievous little grin and I looked down into the toilet to see the flashlight looking back up at me sadly as bubbles rose up and burst on the surface. Glug, glug, glug... Aagh! I fished the flashlight out, dumped out the batteries, poured out the water (it was clean, fortunately!!), and said, all the while trying not to laugh, "John David! You don't put flashlights in the toilet!"
Tee hee hee! He ran off. I thought, This kid knows exactly what he is doing.
I didn't think much more of it till I went upstairs to use the bathroom up there. I lifted the lid and aagggh! My little book light floated in the water, looking forlorn and waterlogged. It was in pieces, and the three little batteries were on the bottom....waaaay on the bottom. I had to put on a rubber glove to fish all the pieces out. All the while trying not to laugh. "John David!!!"
So. This may not seem funny to you, but when you have a child who is coming out of something like autism, this is GREAT!
I always can get another flashlight. I'll just have to hide it.
Till next time,
Jeanette
JD is in an exploring stage. Granted, this is the stage 2-year-olds go through. So it's good that he's going through this stage, BUT!
He likes to play with flashlights. I saw him walking through the kitchen with the flashlight and didn't think much of it. Until he went into the back bathroom and I heard a "kerplunk" and a splash. Yikes! "John David!" I went running back there. He looked up at me with a mischievous little grin and I looked down into the toilet to see the flashlight looking back up at me sadly as bubbles rose up and burst on the surface. Glug, glug, glug... Aagh! I fished the flashlight out, dumped out the batteries, poured out the water (it was clean, fortunately!!), and said, all the while trying not to laugh, "John David! You don't put flashlights in the toilet!"
Tee hee hee! He ran off. I thought, This kid knows exactly what he is doing.
I didn't think much more of it till I went upstairs to use the bathroom up there. I lifted the lid and aagggh! My little book light floated in the water, looking forlorn and waterlogged. It was in pieces, and the three little batteries were on the bottom....waaaay on the bottom. I had to put on a rubber glove to fish all the pieces out. All the while trying not to laugh. "John David!!!"
So. This may not seem funny to you, but when you have a child who is coming out of something like autism, this is GREAT!
I always can get another flashlight. I'll just have to hide it.
Till next time,
Jeanette
Sunday, February 1, 2009
God Can't Not
I want to talk about the Bible verse I am really focusing on right now.
It's an incredible verse for those dealing with today's economy and all the things going on in the financial world.
It's Romans 8:32... "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
Wow.
First of all, it shows God's tremendous character of love. And because He loves so much, He gives it all. Think about it. How many of you parents would give up your own child to some torturous death to rescue another? Yet God the Father loved us so much, He did just that.
And if He would give up His own Son for us, how, why, would He withhold anything else we needed? Food? Shelter? Peace of mind? He can't. He can't not do it. It's His nature to give. That's what this verse says. "How shall he not?" He can't not. He will.
And He gives it freely.
So whatever you need in this economy...another car, your mortgage payment, clothes for your kids, even food on the table, God will freely give it.
He can't not.
You just have to ask Him...and believe He will.
Till next time,
Jeanette
It's an incredible verse for those dealing with today's economy and all the things going on in the financial world.
It's Romans 8:32... "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
Wow.
First of all, it shows God's tremendous character of love. And because He loves so much, He gives it all. Think about it. How many of you parents would give up your own child to some torturous death to rescue another? Yet God the Father loved us so much, He did just that.
And if He would give up His own Son for us, how, why, would He withhold anything else we needed? Food? Shelter? Peace of mind? He can't. He can't not do it. It's His nature to give. That's what this verse says. "How shall he not?" He can't not. He will.
And He gives it freely.
So whatever you need in this economy...another car, your mortgage payment, clothes for your kids, even food on the table, God will freely give it.
He can't not.
You just have to ask Him...and believe He will.
Till next time,
Jeanette
Monday, January 26, 2009
For Girls Only
Have you ever heard of the Partido Mexicano Socialiste?
When I was in college (I won't say how many years ago), one of the classes I took was a political class. In the textbook was mentioned the Mexican Socialist Party, except it used the Mexican name, Partido Mexicano Socialiste, or the PMS.
Obviously a man edited that textbook.
Seeing PMS in print struck my fancy, and the Partido Mexicano Socialiste became my secret, private code name for a certain time in a gal's monthly cycle.
Well, I saw the signs coming.
Sometimes I've just gotta have chocolate. Sometimes I get extra flirty with my husband. (He can always tell with these two signs.) But sometimes I clean. Go figure.
Today I cleaned out the "junk drawers" in the laundry room. Found all sorts of odd things. An old camera. It probably still works, but I ripped out the film anyway. Golf balls and tees. Buttons. A flashlight that Jessica promptly took off with. A Christmas figurine that I also gave her. Lots of trash. Screws. I got to fill up my toolbox with some stuff. Birthday bags (now they might come in handy sometime.)
De-cluttering is a good thing.
Being cranky is not.
Sigh. And last night my mother-in-law gave me leftover chocolate from her party last week. Should I see that as God's provision?
Maybe I'll go eat some pie instead.
Till next time,
Jeanette
When I was in college (I won't say how many years ago), one of the classes I took was a political class. In the textbook was mentioned the Mexican Socialist Party, except it used the Mexican name, Partido Mexicano Socialiste, or the PMS.
Obviously a man edited that textbook.
Seeing PMS in print struck my fancy, and the Partido Mexicano Socialiste became my secret, private code name for a certain time in a gal's monthly cycle.
Well, I saw the signs coming.
Sometimes I've just gotta have chocolate. Sometimes I get extra flirty with my husband. (He can always tell with these two signs.) But sometimes I clean. Go figure.
Today I cleaned out the "junk drawers" in the laundry room. Found all sorts of odd things. An old camera. It probably still works, but I ripped out the film anyway. Golf balls and tees. Buttons. A flashlight that Jessica promptly took off with. A Christmas figurine that I also gave her. Lots of trash. Screws. I got to fill up my toolbox with some stuff. Birthday bags (now they might come in handy sometime.)
De-cluttering is a good thing.
Being cranky is not.
Sigh. And last night my mother-in-law gave me leftover chocolate from her party last week. Should I see that as God's provision?
Maybe I'll go eat some pie instead.
Till next time,
Jeanette
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Football Playoff Fan
Now, I am not what you call a football fan. But I married one. So I have taken an interest in the playoff games. I find them more interesting because the stakes are higher, I guess. There's more real drama than hype. We watched the game between the Cardinals and the Eagles.
Now, I live in Pennsylvania, so you would think that I would be rooting for the Eagles. But I was hollering for the Cardinals.
First, because my husband was yelling for the Eagles. It put a little more interest in the living room to have us pulling for the opposite teams.
And second, because I happen to remember when Kurt Warner was the quarterback for the Rams and they won the Super Bowl way back when. And Kurt Warner is an outspoken Christian. And if I recall correctly, he and his family have experience with autism.
Go, Cardinals! Yippee!
Till next time,
Jeanette
Now, I live in Pennsylvania, so you would think that I would be rooting for the Eagles. But I was hollering for the Cardinals.
First, because my husband was yelling for the Eagles. It put a little more interest in the living room to have us pulling for the opposite teams.
And second, because I happen to remember when Kurt Warner was the quarterback for the Rams and they won the Super Bowl way back when. And Kurt Warner is an outspoken Christian. And if I recall correctly, he and his family have experience with autism.
Go, Cardinals! Yippee!
Till next time,
Jeanette
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Knowing What You Are Eating
A couple of women from my church have started organizing and offering different events to help re-introduce the skills of homemaking that used to be commonplace. Yesterday was our bread-making event.
When I found out that 14 people had signed up, I was surprised. I said to my husband, "That shows there is an interest and a need in these things."
So even though the weather wasn't the best--albeit cooperative in the form of a lull in the storm--a number of us had fun baking bread!
Did you know that once wheat is ground into flour, it only has 72 hours before it is no longer good, if it is kept at room temperature? But if you store the flour in the refrigerator or freezer, it will keep its nutritional value more effectively.
Did you know that there are different kinds of wheat--spring, winter, red, white--and that one type of wheat does better for one type of baked good than another?
I am reminded of the saying that "knowledge is power." Having this kind of information empowers a person to make more knowledgeable choices about the food he or she eats. With all the health issues that people face today, wouldn't it be wiser to know what exactly we are eating, what benefits it has (or even if it has none), and what effect it has on our bodies?
I am reminded of another saying, one from the Bible: "My people perish for lack of knowledge." That's the opposite of the saying that "what we don't know won't hurt us." Hmm. I think I pick what God says.
He knows more.
Till next time,
Jeanette
When I found out that 14 people had signed up, I was surprised. I said to my husband, "That shows there is an interest and a need in these things."
So even though the weather wasn't the best--albeit cooperative in the form of a lull in the storm--a number of us had fun baking bread!
Did you know that once wheat is ground into flour, it only has 72 hours before it is no longer good, if it is kept at room temperature? But if you store the flour in the refrigerator or freezer, it will keep its nutritional value more effectively.
Did you know that there are different kinds of wheat--spring, winter, red, white--and that one type of wheat does better for one type of baked good than another?
I am reminded of the saying that "knowledge is power." Having this kind of information empowers a person to make more knowledgeable choices about the food he or she eats. With all the health issues that people face today, wouldn't it be wiser to know what exactly we are eating, what benefits it has (or even if it has none), and what effect it has on our bodies?
I am reminded of another saying, one from the Bible: "My people perish for lack of knowledge." That's the opposite of the saying that "what we don't know won't hurt us." Hmm. I think I pick what God says.
He knows more.
Till next time,
Jeanette
Sunday, January 4, 2009
A Pretty Cool Dream
Sometimes the dreams you have while dozing during that in-between stage of awake and asleep are more significant than you think. This one certainly was.
It was one of those mornings when John David, our six-year-old, had gotten us up at 4:15 a.m. or so...and I rolled over and went back to sleep while my husband got up with him. But wives and mothers don't really go back to sleep (depending on how tired we are); we just doze with one ear open to hear what's going on in the rest of the house.
'Twas while I was in this in-between stage of awake and asleep that I had this dream...
In the dream, we were living in a small rancher home. And then it was like I opened a door off the kitchen at one end of the rancher, and there was more house! I walked into more rooms....another dining room, living room, even a music room with a piano/organ-type instrument in it. One room's walls were painted a pleasing shade of green and had a Victorian-looking lamp. There even were old-fashioned upholstered chairs with the doily on the top like the grandmothers of past years used to have on their furniture. There was so much more house, even friends of ours who have six children all fit and we couldn't hear the kids playing, it was so big.
I woke up and thought, "Wow." And the meaning hit me almost immediately. We are living in half a house...in only half or less of all that God has for us. There is so much more out there that we could be living in, that God has for us. And it's good. And it's restful. And we'll like it.
We just need to open the door to it.
A pretty cool dream. For 2009, I want to move into more "house"!
Till next time,
Jeanette
It was one of those mornings when John David, our six-year-old, had gotten us up at 4:15 a.m. or so...and I rolled over and went back to sleep while my husband got up with him. But wives and mothers don't really go back to sleep (depending on how tired we are); we just doze with one ear open to hear what's going on in the rest of the house.
'Twas while I was in this in-between stage of awake and asleep that I had this dream...
In the dream, we were living in a small rancher home. And then it was like I opened a door off the kitchen at one end of the rancher, and there was more house! I walked into more rooms....another dining room, living room, even a music room with a piano/organ-type instrument in it. One room's walls were painted a pleasing shade of green and had a Victorian-looking lamp. There even were old-fashioned upholstered chairs with the doily on the top like the grandmothers of past years used to have on their furniture. There was so much more house, even friends of ours who have six children all fit and we couldn't hear the kids playing, it was so big.
I woke up and thought, "Wow." And the meaning hit me almost immediately. We are living in half a house...in only half or less of all that God has for us. There is so much more out there that we could be living in, that God has for us. And it's good. And it's restful. And we'll like it.
We just need to open the door to it.
A pretty cool dream. For 2009, I want to move into more "house"!
Till next time,
Jeanette
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