"Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another....and all the more as you see the Day approaching!"
Hebrews 10:24-25
Jul 16, 2008
Week One Devotions
Beloved!
As I have been thinking about S.T.E.P.S. and what that stands for, I realized that what will happen as we follow this path is "balance" in each of our lives. If any of you are like me, balance is one thing my life has always lacked. You who know me know that I am always off on some kind of tangent. Diet, has always been a roller coaster ride for me. Even, I think, spiritually, I am not as balanced as I would like to be. I don't know if any of you relate to me here, but for me, I am tired of it, I am ready for some balance in my life.
When I was reflecting back on the first session, I realized that there have been some positive changes that have occurred in my life because of my commitment to S.T.E.P.S. The most important one has been more consistency in the area of my "Secret Time" spent with Jesus!
I don't know if you are strong willed like me, but sometimes God has to hit me over the head with a 2x4 to get my attention. I think S.T.E.P.S. has been that 2x4 for me. It's like, if I am going to teach, or lead you guys, then I must live it myself! That is why I was so upset with myself when I failed so miserably during the break. (no break next time)
We read in Luke 2:52 that Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Imagine that Jesus had to grow in favor with God! How much more do we have to grow in our relationship to our Heavenly Father! Jesus spent much time in prayer and communion with His Father! He got up early, apparently He felt that alone time with His Father was a priority!
It is this first step in S.T.E.P.S. that will bring balance to us in all the other areas of our lives! He is teaching us to wait on Him, to follow His lead, to make decisions based on His will, not ours! Jesus said in John 8:28 "I do nothing on my own, but speak just what the Father has taught me" He is teaching us to trust Him, to depend on Him, because He is totally dependable! He always does more than we could ever ask or think!
We are not going to change overnight! Change doesn't come easily to any of us! But as we make the choice to spend time in prayer and reading His Word, He will manifest Himself to us!
Hopefully, in time, we will all lose all the weight we need to lose. But more importantly, we will be changed from glory to glory in the process, and we won't be the same people we were when we started.
I am excited to see what God will do as we seek to please Him and grow closer to Him each day.
I love you all! Mary/Mom/Grams/Aunt
As I have been thinking about S.T.E.P.S. and what that stands for, I realized that what will happen as we follow this path is "balance" in each of our lives. If any of you are like me, balance is one thing my life has always lacked. You who know me know that I am always off on some kind of tangent. Diet, has always been a roller coaster ride for me. Even, I think, spiritually, I am not as balanced as I would like to be. I don't know if any of you relate to me here, but for me, I am tired of it, I am ready for some balance in my life.
When I was reflecting back on the first session, I realized that there have been some positive changes that have occurred in my life because of my commitment to S.T.E.P.S. The most important one has been more consistency in the area of my "Secret Time" spent with Jesus!
I don't know if you are strong willed like me, but sometimes God has to hit me over the head with a 2x4 to get my attention. I think S.T.E.P.S. has been that 2x4 for me. It's like, if I am going to teach, or lead you guys, then I must live it myself! That is why I was so upset with myself when I failed so miserably during the break. (no break next time)
We read in Luke 2:52 that Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Imagine that Jesus had to grow in favor with God! How much more do we have to grow in our relationship to our Heavenly Father! Jesus spent much time in prayer and communion with His Father! He got up early, apparently He felt that alone time with His Father was a priority!
It is this first step in S.T.E.P.S. that will bring balance to us in all the other areas of our lives! He is teaching us to wait on Him, to follow His lead, to make decisions based on His will, not ours! Jesus said in John 8:28 "I do nothing on my own, but speak just what the Father has taught me" He is teaching us to trust Him, to depend on Him, because He is totally dependable! He always does more than we could ever ask or think!
We are not going to change overnight! Change doesn't come easily to any of us! But as we make the choice to spend time in prayer and reading His Word, He will manifest Himself to us!
Hopefully, in time, we will all lose all the weight we need to lose. But more importantly, we will be changed from glory to glory in the process, and we won't be the same people we were when we started.
I am excited to see what God will do as we seek to please Him and grow closer to Him each day.
I love you all! Mary/Mom/Grams/Aunt
Week One
Beloved!
Well, I am happy to say that I have been back on track this week! Thanks for your prayers! I had one really bad day, (eating everything in sight) other than that it was a good week.
I am reading a book that my daughter Sandy told me about, "Sugar Addict Total Recovery Program" by Kathleen DesMaisons. I found out what I already knew, that I am a sugar addict that's for sure. I saw myself on the pages immediately! It is a good book, if you suspect that this may be your problem, then you might want to read it. I am learning that if I eat enough protein, especially for breakfast, I am not so driven by food all day long. I feel much more stable, and in control. It is not a high protein diet, it is balanced, but it recommends about 28 grams of protein for my weight and height per meal.
As a typical sugar addict, I could skip breakfast, and not eat until noon or 1pm. So I am learning to eat within one hour of rising, eating my protein and a good carb each morning, and the rest of the day goes much better.
This may not be your problem at all, but whatever reason we have struggled with our weight, I know that God will help us to find the answer. We know that the answer is ultimately in Him, but I believe that He will also lead us to resources that will help us along the way.
Let's encourage each other, and as we find books, or other things that are helping us, let's share it with each other. This is a community, and working together we will do this, we will succeed!
I created a S.T.E.P.S. team on www.sparkspeople.com It is a place where we can each keep track of our calories, our exercise, and also communicate with each other. We can post recipes, and other items of interest. If you wish, you can go there, click on community, and then sparks teams and type in 5 steps to freedom on the search button, scroll through the teams until you find 5 steps to freedom's, there you can join us. I will be looking for you there.
I love you all, and look forward to hearing from you with any suggestions, or words of encouragement!
I am so glad to be back with you all once again! I hope you feel the same way!
With love, Mary/Mom/Grandma/Aunt
Well, I am happy to say that I have been back on track this week! Thanks for your prayers! I had one really bad day, (eating everything in sight) other than that it was a good week.
I am reading a book that my daughter Sandy told me about, "Sugar Addict Total Recovery Program" by Kathleen DesMaisons. I found out what I already knew, that I am a sugar addict that's for sure. I saw myself on the pages immediately! It is a good book, if you suspect that this may be your problem, then you might want to read it. I am learning that if I eat enough protein, especially for breakfast, I am not so driven by food all day long. I feel much more stable, and in control. It is not a high protein diet, it is balanced, but it recommends about 28 grams of protein for my weight and height per meal.
As a typical sugar addict, I could skip breakfast, and not eat until noon or 1pm. So I am learning to eat within one hour of rising, eating my protein and a good carb each morning, and the rest of the day goes much better.
This may not be your problem at all, but whatever reason we have struggled with our weight, I know that God will help us to find the answer. We know that the answer is ultimately in Him, but I believe that He will also lead us to resources that will help us along the way.
Let's encourage each other, and as we find books, or other things that are helping us, let's share it with each other. This is a community, and working together we will do this, we will succeed!
I created a S.T.E.P.S. team on www.sparkspeople.com It is a place where we can each keep track of our calories, our exercise, and also communicate with each other. We can post recipes, and other items of interest. If you wish, you can go there, click on community, and then sparks teams and type in 5 steps to freedom on the search button, scroll through the teams until you find 5 steps to freedom's, there you can join us. I will be looking for you there.
I love you all, and look forward to hearing from you with any suggestions, or words of encouragement!
I am so glad to be back with you all once again! I hope you feel the same way!
With love, Mary/Mom/Grandma/Aunt
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