Full Armor of God Diet

Praising Him

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:13:00 +0000

I'm getting ready to download a song by Avalon called "Testify to Love." I'm getting it free, too. It's so exciting. My son talked me into buying Pop-tarts. Pop-tarts of all things! Not exactly your nutritious breakfast. I told him it would be a treat, like having a cookie, and not to just eat a pop-tart for breakfast, that would be like eating a cookie for breakfast! So, guess what? There's a free prize inside my poptart box. I picked a box with a free $15 iTunes gift card. So I have my gift card and I heard this great song by Avalon. I had heard it many times before, but this time it really sunk in. "For as long as I shall live I will testify to love...With every breath I take I will give thanks to God above." I want this to by my approach to live.

Giving thanks to God. I've been thinking a lot about my purpose here on earth, the talents God has given me, His plan for my life, what it is He really wants me to accomplish for Him while I'm here on this earth before He comes again. I've been thinking about this more because this came up in a conversation with my son last night. "God has a plan for your life," I told him, just like Elisha. We were reading about how Elisha was faithful in small ways and because of this, he was able to be faithful in big ways. So I'm thinking about the small ways I can be faithful to God, and I'm getting ready to download my Avalon song and it just occured to me...Wouldn't it be great if God's plan for my life was as simply to praise Him. He tells us "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." But I get all stressed out with so many things, keeping up with caring for my family (taxi driver, meal planner, house clutter buster), making time to exercise, work work work at my job, use my talents for Him by helping the church and my kids church school, on and on and on. I get stressed, but Jesus has said "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."

You know, I want my main job to be simply to praise Him. That would be the greatest job, the easiet job He could ever give me. If Jesus said to me, "Hey, here is your job on earth, my purpose for you, I will bless you and I want you to use your talents to praise Me and tell others about these blessings." Wow, what a great job! What a great and easy purpose for me on earth. I like that job. I want that job. Give me that job!

So, let's start today with a praise. I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made! I want to let go of all the old bad health habits and be a walking, living, breathing example of how God's ways are better than my ways. I want to follow his plan for health by eating all the great foods he made to lift up our health and avoiding all the junk food that tears our health down. I want to be an example of the blessings that come from following His ways. And then guess what? I want to do nothing else but praise Him for it!

That's my passion today. I'm getting ready to go for a walk before it's time to taxi my kids around to piano lessons. I'm going to get that song by Avalon to remind me to give thanks to God above with every breath I take.

That's my purpose here on earth. I just want to fulfill it!

This heart of mine

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:57:00 +0000

Have you heard the saying "Follow your heart?" Sounds like good advice, and sometimes it is. But what if your heart deceives you? It could happen, you know. Jeremiah recognized this when he wrote

"The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)

I've been pondering times when my heart might deceive me and get in the way of my quest for good health. It happens when I crave things that aren't good for me. How long has it been since you craved something that wasn't good for you? And you knew it? For me, oh I would say, pretty much always! I'm tempted by junk food at least daily. This is an example of my heart and mind in conflict. My emotions tell me one thing, but my head is telling me something else. The thing about this is, my heart wins this battle when I rely on my own strength. My heart doesn't always want what's best for me and it can be pretty demanding when I'm facing chocolate ice cream!

One of my favorite Christian authors (EG White) wrote about this conflict and encourages us to rely on Jesus to fight these heart battles for us. Here is how she decscribes it:

"But you must remember that your will is the spring of all your actions. This will, that forms so imporant a factor in the character of man, was at the Fall given into the control of Satan; and he has ever since been working in man to will and to do of his own pleasure, but to the utter ruin and misery of man. But the infinite sacrifice of God in giving Jesus, His beloved Son, to become a sacrifice for sin, enables Him to say, without violating one principle of His government: 'Yield yourself up to Me; give Me that will; take it from the control of Satan, and I will take possession of it; then I can work in you to will and to do of My good pleasure.' When He gives you the mind of Christ, your will becomes as His will, and your character is transformed to be like Christ’s character. Is it your purpose to do God’s will? Do you wish to obey the Scripture? 'If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.' There is no such thing as following Christ unless you refuse to gratify inclination and determine to obey God. It is not your feelings, your emotions, that make you a child of God, but the doing of God’s will. A life of usefulness is before you if your will becomes God’s will. Then you may stand in your God-given manhood, an example of good works. You will then help to maintain rules of discipline instead of helping to break them down."

I like this passage because it reminds me to give up my own will (my own desires, the things this heart of mine craves) to the will of God. It’s amazing to me how a simple prayer at the time I’m facing temptation helps “Lord, please help me not to follow my will but your will. Please make the desires of my heart what you desire for me.” It’s the moment of decision, deciding to give up my will to Him, and it’s marvelous when His will becomes my will and the annoying temptation goes away.

I need to remember I can't always trust this heart of mine. I want to trust the Word of God. He does understand my heart, and He knows what's best for me. Instead of following my heart, I want to follow Jesus' heart. How about you?

PS: Shaun Groves sings a song about the heart, which I love and which also inspires me, called Welcome Home. He wrote the words and music. If you have never heard this song, you might want to track it down and listen to it.
Welcome Home lyrics

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Praise God for a New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:38:00 +0000

2008 is already starting to speed by, but I still feel the joy of a new beginning. I love a new start. I love that God gives us a new day every day to forget about the past (past mistakes, of course). And I love a new year to renew my commitment to God, to living for Him, and remembering this world is not my home, it's only a short time until Jesus comes. Have you been filling up your calendar for 2008 with all the many projects and meetings and commitments already building up for this year?

Did you know that Martin Luther said that “today” and “that Day” were the only days on his calendar?

In 2008, I want to focus on each new "today" as another gift from God and remember with all the priorities of "today" that what happens to our destiny on "that day" is the most important thing of all. I want to remember that what I do "today" can make a difference on "that day."

I thought about this a lot last month when my Grandpa Sorensen passed away. I started thinking about his first wife, Evelyn (my grandma), who passed away when I was very young. It got me thinking about that day when Jesus comes and we are reunited with family and friends.

When I was growing up, at church campouts all us kids would sit around the campfire and sing “Side by Side we Stand.” Some of the words were “meet me in heaven, we’ll sing songs together…” I remember the words to this song now and think about who might be looking for me in heaven. When I think back to all the friends who sang that song around campfires with me, I wonder “Are any of them thinking about seeing me again when they think about heaven?” I doubt it. I can’t think of a single one of them who today might be thinking about meeting ME in heaven. Oh, I know we’ll all be happy to see each other there, but I’m talking about people who will be looking specifically for me. There is only one person who comes to mind. When I think of who will be looking for me and wanting to meet me in heaven, it’s Grandma Sorensen, Grandpa’s first wife, Evelyn. My mom has a photo of me in Evelyn’s arms when I was 2 years old. She was holding me over a kitchen sink washing my feet under the faucet. I was wearing a diaper. She died before I ever had a chance to know here, and I miss not knowing her.

When I think about “that Day,” she is always the first person I think about. What an amazing impact she had on my life by keeping the faith and by teaching her children the faith, which my father (and mother, of course) taught to me, and which I’m teaching to my children. Maybe I think of her as looking for me because she is someone I’ll be looking for. It’s odd. But now that my Grandpa has passed away, I find myself missing her. I can’t wait to see her, in her vibrant healthy body, rejoicing because she is so happy to see me.

Like me, is there someone you are anxious to see on "that day" who will also be looking for you? Let's live 2008 with today and that day in mind, so we'll be ready for that day when we can embrace our family and friends from previous generations and praise God that our journeys through life on earth are over, ready to be with Jesus and praise Him for eternity in Heaven.

Psalm 107

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 01:19:00 +0000

I have a new favorite Psalm. Read the whole thing in NIV. It's all about God saving us from distress. When you're hungry and thirsty, when you sit in the darkness in the deepest gloom, when there is no one to help, if you're in chains, when you feel like you're near the gates of death, when you're courage is melted away, when you're at your wits end, you can cry out to the Lord and He will deliver you from your distress.

When you're in the middle of a raging storm, listen to verses 29 and 30.
29 He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.

30 They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.

And here is verse 43. When things aren't going well. I mean when things are bad and completely hopeless, remember God's love. He will lift you out of your distress if you call to Him.

Whoever is wise, let him heed these things
and consider the great love of the LORD.

And since this is a blog about God's armor and choosing health, remember not to use food as a cruch when you're sad, mad, frustrated, betrayed. Turn to God for deliverance from life's problems. Here is verse 9
for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.

He is such an awesome God and He loves you so much. Cling to Psalm 107 when life gets rough. Remember God's amazing love.

World's Greatest Wobbler

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 19:00:00 +0000

I know I'm not the world's greatest at any sport, but I just might be one of the world's greatest wobblers. Let me explain.

On the USAT USA triathlon Web site (usatriathlon.org), author Alan Ley explains wobbling as a personal discipline trait. I can go for days, weeks, or sometimes even months running, walking, riding my bike, exercising for about 60 minutes for at least 6 days a week, feeling great, eating right. It feels so good. Then something (and it does always seem mysterious in hindsight) gets me off track. Before you know it, I feel like a blob. I'm feasting on desserts. I can barely run a mile. Finding time to exercise seems like a chore. My clothes get tighter. Then, I get re-motivated. I start back on my quest for good health. I get my muscles in motion and find that I can run a 5K once again. I'm exercising daily. I'm eating right. My clothese fit better. But I better look out, because the blob days are likely to find me again. It's a cycle I've repeated over and over. People ask me "Are you a runner" and I explain how I go in spurts, telling them that sometimes I do really well and stick with running and other times I don't. Sometimes runners look at me like they don't understand this, like it's sort of odd. But after reading Alan Ley's article I now have a name for this sport -- it's wobbling!

Being the world's greatest wobbler isn't something I necessarily strive for, and Alan suggests to break this cycle, I should use a journal. He suggests I write down all of my goals and then write down every day how I'm doing in meeting those goals.

This makes such great sense, and of course, I'll try it. I've found that when I blog I stick to my goals better. Blogging includes writing but also putting the words where other eyes can see them.

Do you know, God too knows the importance of writing things down? He has a very special place to write the most important things. God describes this in Jeremiah 31:31-33 while describing the new covenant He would make with His people. Notice the very cool place where God chooses to write what He considers most important.

31 "The time is coming," declares the LORD,
"when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.

32 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them,"
declares the LORD.

33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time," declares the LORD.
"I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.

God originally wrote His 10 commandments in stone when He gave them to Moses. But now God's special place to write is in our hearts. True, God's laws are written in our Bibles. We can go to them, just like a fitness journal, and see the goal God has for our lives. But isn't it the most awesome thing that God wrote them in our hearts?

God writes His law in our hearts so we will learn to love His law just like He does, so we will recognize His law is a law of love, so we will see that following His laws bring us happiness and prepare us to live in His kingdom of love, so we will want to follow His laws because we love Him.

I think Alan Ley is on to something when he says we should write down our fitness goals in a journal. He says there is something magical when we write it down. We pay more attention to it. We follow the plan.

God must have known this. Do you think God wrote His laws (first in stone and then with the new coventant in our hearts) to keep us from wobbling?

I'm ready to get down to the business of writing to keep my fitness goals in focus and reach them. While I might be one of the world's greatest wobblers when it comes to my fitness goals, I sure don't want to be the world's greatest wobbler when it comes to following God's laws.

Let's pay attention to what God has written and stay on track, following His lead, and if you happen to be a wobbler like me, let's not be wobblers any more!

That Day

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 17:37:00 +0000

Last week I set a goal to do a biking event in Kansas City called the Route of Champions, a 36-mile charity ride in association with the Tour of Missouri. The very day my friends and I set this goal, I made my way over the health club. I knew I had to get ready. There is nothing like a goal to set me in motion. If I didn't have the goal, I wouldn't take the necessary steps to meet it.

This reminds me of another goal. An event of all events. A one-time event coming our way soon. It's the day Jesus comes again to take us to heaven. I have a goal to be ready for that day. When I plan my day, I want to do whatever I can today to be ready when Jesus comes.

Martin Luther said he only had 2 days on his calendar -- this day and that day. That day being the day Jesus comes to take us home with Him.

I love that focus. These are the two days that matter most.

Do you want to be ready when Jesus comes again? What are you doing this day to be ready for that day? Stephen Covey wrote the popular book "7 Habits of Highly Effective People." One of the habits is "Begin with the End in Mind."

Let's live this and every day with that day in mind. Are we keeping and building our faith? Are we reading God's word? Are we praying? Do we accept Jesus death on the cross as our salvation and accept the Holy Spirit into our hearts to transform our lives?

Let's plan today to be ready for that day!

Famous in heaven?

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 04:18:00 +0000

I was just reading along in Daniel one day when all of a sudden I read something that made me stop and think. Daniel 9:23 tells us how Daniel was viewed in heaven.

“As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed..." (Daniel 9:23).

An angel came to talk to Daniel. The angel told him he was highly esteemed. Now think about this for a minute. Can you imagine an angel coming to you and telling you that (in heaven) “you are highly esteemed!” Wow. How cool that would be. I so often feel like such a failure. Of course, that is Satan talking. In heaven, we are not considered failures. In heaven, we are all loved. Jesus came to die for all of us human beings to save us from our sins. But Daniel was highly esteemed. To me, this sounds like he was famous in heaven – not like Hanna Montana who is famous here on earth to my daughter and her friends! I’d much rather be famous in heaven, just like Daniel, than famous here on earth. How about you? Let's live our lives doing great things for the Lord so we can be famous in heaven!

Songs of Praise

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 17:03:00 +0000

I love the way David praises God and gives God credit for all he can do, all his strength. It's a great reminder to me to always praise God for everything He helps me accomplish. It's also a good reminder that God is there, ready to help me with life's battles. God wants to help me with my quest for good health, too. If only I would call on God and accept His help to make wise choices for my health 100% of the time! Here is one of David's praises to God:

2 Samuel 22:33

"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect."

This is only one verse from the whole chapter of 2 Samuel 22. Read the whole chapter and see if you like it, too. I love the whole chapter. It's a wonderful passage of praise and encouragement to me to let God be my strength.

Inertia

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 15:36:00 +0000

I've been thinking about inertia this week. Inertia is a scientific term that describes the way things naturally retain their current state (either a state of rest or a state of movement) until acted upon by some force. Inertia is what makes your body lurch forward in the car when someone steps on the brakes. Since you're body is moving, it tends to want to keep moving. Inertia has been described as resistance to change.

Someone at church this past weekend noted that God's law may be easier to keep if its always been kept -- that when we stray from God's law and then get back on the path of following Him again, the path is then a more difficult one. I've been studying this and pondering this. Could it have something to do with inerita (resistance to change)?

When it comes to my health, the law of inertia can work for me or against me, too. When I'm eating well and exercising, I want to keep it up. If I eat a cookie, my momentum is interupted and all of a sudden I don't have inertia working for me anymore. Instead it works against me and I want to keep eating cookies! It's also harder once I've chosen a different path (unhealthy habits) to get back on the path. It takes effort to change my habits.

I decided this week to see if I can make inertia work for me. If I keep on the path of good health, it'll be easier to stick to the path. Whenever I take a step off of it, even a little step, it takes effort to get back on it. So, why don't I just stay on it, in the first place?!

Here'a a Bible verse to remind us that God created all of His laws for our own good. He created them to bless us, and this includes His natural laws of health.

And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? (Deuteronomy 10:12, 13, NIV)

Isn't it wonderful that God revealed to us through His laws how to live a happy life and receive His blessings? For our own good, let's keep God's laws. I want to stay on the path toward good health and let inertia work for me.

What you do is more important than what you say

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 04:31:00 +0000

Remember the story Jesus told about the son who when asked to do something by his father immediately said "Yes, I will do it," but didn't follow through and do the task? The other son told his father he would not do it, but then did.

This is a parable for me. I love to read books about health. I read recipe books, analyze all the healthy ingredients, look at all the pictures of good food. It's great fun to make plans for healthier living and imagine how great it will feel to lose weight, have clothes that fit, and have more energy. I'm like son who told the father he would do the task, but then didn't follow through.

If you're like me, all this talk and planning and reading isn't going to get us anywhere. Let's remember the son who followed through. Really, don't you think if we have more action than talk, we'll see more results!

Don't Deny God's Power

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 22:50:00 +0000

A passage in 2nd Timothy describes what people will be like in the last days, just before Jesus comes again. It's not a very pretty picture. Read on...

2 Timothy 3:1-5
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power."

I read this and asked myself...Hmmmm, do I love myself? Do I love money? Sometimes I boast and get proud of myself. Do I ever use abusive language with my children? Do I honor my parents? Do I take things for granted? Am I holy? I know I need more love in my heart. Do I ever say things that harm another person's reputation? I have self control one day, but not the next. Do I say brutal things to my husband when I'm angry? Do I love good? Am I treacherous and rash when my hormones get out of whack? Do I think I'm better than other people? Do I love pleasure more than God?

And the one that just hits me right in the heart...Do I have a form of godliness but deny God's power in my life? I am always happy when I'm letting God's power work in my life, but I hit the bottom when I don't.

I don't know about you...but I don't want to have a form of godliness while denying God's power.

God has the power to help me overcome any sin or problem area in my life. I need to stop denying His power.

How about you?

Without Him

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 16:07:00 +0000

We're getting close to the end of January, and it makes me wonder about everyone's New Year's resolutions. What goals did you set for 2007? Have you asked Jesus to help you meet your goals?

If your goals are for His glory, then He will help you. If they're not for His glory, then are they even worthwhile?

Remember, if we set goals to get closer to Jesus, to more closely reflect His ideal for our lives, to overcome any sin or temptation, we can't do it alone. If you set a goal to achieve your very best possible condition of health and if you're working on this goal to give glory to God, don't attempt to do it alone. Take Jesus with you on the journey toward good health. Without Him, you're likely to fail.

Jesus Himself said,
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5, KJV)

Remember, without Him, we are destined to fail, but with Him, all things are possible.

God's Ways Are Better Than Chocolate

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 14:03:00 +0000

Have you ever noticed when you crave some type of treat that after you eat it you still don't feel satisfied?

Isaiah explains in Isaiah 55 how to experience true satisfaction. And guess what? It doesn't come from chocolate! You can read the whole chapter here:

Isaiah 55

Notice the Lord asks why we focus on things that don't satisfy us. If you're like me, you've tried chocolate many times. But for real satisfaction that lasts, we need to follow God's ways.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8 & 9, NIV).

Let's trust God when He says His ways are better than our ways. Let's follow Him to joy and peace.

Self Control Muscles

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 01:34:00 +0000

If you're like many Americans, for the new year, you resolved to make better choices for your health. Perhaps you've been walking, jogging, or lifting weights. If you're like me, life gets so busy it's hard to make the time to exercise. But I notice when I exercise every day, even a little, like walk 1 mile and do 10 minutes of weights for arm muscles, it really makes a difference. It feels good when you notice the sit ups don't hurt quite as bad as they used to and maybe you can do 20 instead of 10.

Self control is like a muscle. God helps us build up stronger self control muscles over time with practice when we call on Him and follow His will. I have noticed that when I practice self control around food I control my temper better. The self control muscles can be used in multiple areas of our lives. What a wonderful additional benefit from practicing self control and sticking to our healthy new year's resolutions.

So as you're out building physical muscles, like in your arms, remember to practice self control around food, around spending, around use of your time, around all areas of life. Just like those arm muscles feel good from all those push-ups, self control muscles feel terrific, too.

Resolve to Remain Humble

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 18:49:00 +0000

You've heard pride goeth before a fall. These words of wisdom come from the Bible. "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall" Proverbs 16:18 (NIV). This happened to me right before Christmas.

My family returned home from our ski trip and I had lost about 5 pounds. I put on my size 10 jeans and they fit. It felt so great, I immediately gave in to feelings of pride. I became self confident and full of myself, focused on completely wrong motives (glory to me instead of glory to God). I totally ate whatever I wanted over Christmas including chocolate and cookies and ice cream (all those unhealthy treats I had used God's strength to resist all year) and gained the 5 pounds back.

That's why in 2007 my goal is to remain humble and really work on keeping the correct motive, giving glory to God. I love a new year, a new chance to serve God better, a chance to forget mistakes of the past year, a new chance to pray more and stay connected and grow closer to Him than ever before.

I hope you'll resolve to remain humble with me. And if I start talking about what a great job I'm doing at being humble, pray hard for me, really hard!

Look for the Open Door

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 05:16:00 +0000

Have you had someone hold a door open for you lately? It sure feels nice, doesn't it? You probably walked right through while saying a polite 'thank you,' and maybe you even smiled. How would it feel if you held a door open for someone, but they just looked at you and said "no thanks, I'll take this other door." Maybe they don't even notice you holding a door open for them. Maybe they completely ignore you.

Did you know Jesus wants to hold the door open for you when you are facing any temptation, including the temptation to overindulge your appetite? Paul reminds us of this in Corinthians.

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV.

Jesus is ready to show us the way to resist the temptation. He can help us get away. He will open the door and show us the way out of temptation. I'm sad to say I didn't look for the door during our family gathering this Christmas. The spread of food before me included so many treats, cookies, candies, pies, I was mesmerized by it all and gave into the temptation to overindulge. Looking back, I know that Jesus was there ready to hold the door open for me, ready to show me the way out of the temptation. He held the door open, but I didn't look for it.

When faced with temptation, we must look for the open door Jesus is providing. He opens the door, but he does not shove us through it. He has given us the gift of choice, and He won't take that away.

As I head into the new year, I'm resolving to look more often for the door Jesus is holding open when I'm tempted to eat too much junk food, or lose my patience, or any other temptation. My prayer is that I will always look for and take the door He is holding open. His ways are so much better than my ways.

How about you? In 2007, will you look for the open door with me?

Add Length to Life

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 20:03:00 +0000

In your quest for good health, to enjoy a long happy life, you might focus on eating well and exercising regularly. Proverbs tells us about another way you can prolong your life.

"The fear of the LORD adds length to life (Proverbs 10:27)."

I encourage you as you head into a new year to keep fearing the loving the Lord, following His ways, trusting in Him, worshiping Him, and acknowledging Him as your salvation. He will bring life and health to you as you continue to give Him the glory in all you do.

Instructions for Life on Earth

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 13:42:00 +0000

As Christians, we look forward to heaven, but for a short time, we must live here on earth. We are citizens of God's kingdom, just passing through this world. No wonder I feel so odd, so different sometimes from the world around me. I'm an alien, a stranger in this world, living on this earth for a short while on my way to a heavenly destination. While here, our lives will not pattern the rest of the world. Instead, our lives should clearly reflect the will of God. In Titus, we find instructions for how to do this.

Titus 2:1-8

"Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.

Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us."

Notice a theme of self control for all people. I have the "be busy at home" down. No problem there. But in all other areas I still need work. We can use the Armor of God to practice and gain more self control over appetite and all areas of our lives.

When Satan shoots arrows at me trying to get me to lose my self control, I will hold up my shield of faith. I will pray and call upon the Lord to help me be strong while living my short life here on earth.

A Way That Seems Right

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 00:22:00 +0000

I am often struck and sometimes discouraged by the fact that so many people around me don't place a higher priority on following the laws of health. I set goals for eating healthy, but then get dismayed by those around me who seem oblivious. It's hard to be different. Our guest speaker at church this weekend read Proverbs 16:25, and it reminded me why I want to say no to too much junk food even if everyone else around me is diving into ice cream and cake and smores.

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death"(Proverbs 16:25, NIV).

If we do what feels right or what seems right to everyone around us, it may be dead wrong. It may lead to our destruction. This Bible verse reminds me not to follow the crowd. Just because a path seems right to the majority doesn't mean it's the correct path. If everyone around me is choosing a path that will ultimately destroy their health, why should I crave the same thing and desire to join them? If I don't want to share in the result, I must be different. Through prayer and Jesus' power, we can maintain self control even if we are the only ones turning down ice cream.

Be Strong and Thankful

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 18:36:00 +0000

Have you stopped to count your blessings today? Thanksgiving week is a perfect time to carry thankfulness in our hearts. Satan is going to try to get me to lose self control and forget about my blessings on Thanksgiving. He'll try to get me to indulge in more sweets and high fat foods than my body can process. He'll try to benumb my brain with a sugar load. He'll try to get me to eat so much that all I can do is become a couch potato.

It's time now to put on the Armor of God to get ready for the battle. I want to make healthy choices and maintain my self control, even on Thanksgiving. At the end of the day I want to feel good and be thankful for good health. At the end of the day, I want to say thank you to God for giving me His strength and for helping me make it through the war zone successfully.

How about you? God has provided His Armor. Are you putting it on now so you can maintain your self control through Thanksgiving? Are you ready to live up to and uphold the light you have about how to keep your body healthy? I found a wonderful prayer in Colossians. Let's pray this for ourselves and for each other to maintain our health goals successfully on Thanksgiving.

"We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light" (Colossians 1:11-12, New Living Translation)

Self Control

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 03:16:00 +0000

My friend sat across the table at Subway having a drink while I ate my sandwich. I relayed my story about giving my health to Jesus and how amazed I am that I've been able to give up sweets this year. I know without a doubt that God has been helping me fight my battle against ice cream addiction. I explained that I still have areas of diet to work on. I'm not perfect, but at least I've been using His Armor to overcome in this one area.

She just so matter of factly reminded me that the struggle is all about self control.

Of course, I knew that, but sometimes I don't want to admit it. I find it easier to shift my focus and let go of one thing when I can indulge in some other thing. The battle is really about self control, in all areas of health and in all areas of life. So if I let go of sweets and indulge in something else, I really haven't won the battle.

My new name for this blog will be the Full Armor of God Self Control Diet. Paul reminds us how important self control is to our daily walk with God.

"But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet" (1 Thessalonians 5:8, NIV).

If you persevere, you will not be disappointed

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:53:00 +0000

Have you ever set a goal that was within your reach but also challenging? Didn't it feel great to achieve your goal through perseverance?

If you have set goals for your personal health, I encourage you to keep working to achieve them, even if it requires some suffering. Paul tells us in Romans that suffering produces perseverance, which eventually leads to a hope that does not disaappoint.

Romans 5:3-5
"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

Isn't it great to know that suffering produces perseverance? Even though we may have to suffer some to achieve our goals, it's worth it. If we taking time to exercise, say "no" to unhealthy treats, and make wise choices that promote health, we will not be disappointed. I have been disappointed many times when I have not persevered, but I have also experienced the joy that comes when I do persevere.

So that we can experience more joy and hope and less disaapointment, let's call on Jesus to help us persevere.

Building Strength

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 17:34:00 +0000

This month's fitness challenge includes push-ups and sit-ups for strengthening upper body and abdominals. The sit-ups are a real challenge for me. I have never liked sit-ups. In aerobics classes at the gym, I would usually do about half the sit-ups and then start stretching my legs because I could not keep up. Now it shows. I really need those sit-ups!

There is something else I need for building strength - even more than sit-ups. The Bible tells us how to build strength. Isaiah 40:31 tells us we can renew our strength by trusting in the Lord.

"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint."

To reach my October goal for sit-ups, I'm doing about 24 sit-ups per day. How much more strength I would have to face all of life's challenges if I would trust God 24 times a day! That turns out to be every hour of every day. Let's take the challenge of trusting God every hour of every day. Think about how much more we'll be able to accomplish. Increase your trust in God and watch your strength increase.

Encouragement from Peter and James

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 02:41:00 +0000

Last week I was lamenting the fact that the annoying temptation for junk food will never go away. I am tired of Satan's most subtle onslaught against healthy lifestyles. We’ve grown up in a culture and are surrounded by overwhelming messages that compel us to follow eating habits that destroy our health. To maintain health, we really have to struggle against the current. It’s like swimming against a swift current. So many other swimmers are swimming the other way, laughing and having a great time and looking at me funny because they can’t understand why I would work so hard to swim the other direction. I had come to the conclusion that I would have a lifetime of swimming against the current. I’ve prayed over and over that God would take away the temptation to overindulge, and while I know he is there to help us through temptation, I don’t think He will completely take the temptation away. We have to learn to live with sin and temptation in this world. One of the greatest things about heaven will be the absence of that annoying temptation!

Of course, I'm looking forward to heaven. However, today, I found encouragement in 1 Peter for enduring trials even before we get to heaven. If we allow our bodies to suffer through the temptation, sin loses its power.

1 Peter 4:1,2 Living New Testament Paraphrased
"Since Christ suffered and underwent pain, you must have the same attitude he did; you must be ready to suffer, too. For remember, when your body suffers, sin loses its power, and you won't be spending the rest of your life chasing after evil desires, but will be anxious to do the will of God."

This reminds me of James 4:7 "Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

This is a great message with hope for people like me, who are tired of dealing with temptation. Perhaps it's been annoying me for so long because I resist and then give in, I resist and then give in. I haven't really allowed myself to continuously suffer through the tempation without giving in. I don't have to spend the rest of my life chasing after junk food and enduring junk food cravings. I do have to suffer through it steadily for awhile (how long, I don't know), but I do know that if I allow myself to suffer through and just stop giving in to the temptation to overindulge, this sin of appetite (of coveting sugar and junk food) will eventually lose its power. I will be anxious to do the will of God for my health. I will look forward to eating the good, healthy food that God has provided. I'll do His will and He will be able to bless me with the good health He wants to bless me with!

So, the question is: Am I really ready to suffer through it? Like personal trainers, I believe Peter and James will be good coaches through this training period.

Joy of Lord = Strength

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Whitson) — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 03:52:00 +0000

My appetite seems to be winning most of the food battles lately, and I don't like it. So, I decided to search the Bible for new inspiration. Where could I find a new source of strength to face the same old temptations? I found just 8 short words in Nehemiah.

"...the joy of the LORD is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10

Could it be that I've lost my focus on the joy of the Lord, so I'm also losing my strength? This week I will let myself feel the joy of the Lord, the joy He wants me to feel. I have so many blessings. I don't want to forget them. When I'm feeling tired and stressed, I'll look for new strength by remembering the many ways He brings joy to my life.