Tag: christian blogger

Yellow

Published on by VelvetLeave a comment

Yellow flashed across my screen.

Is it you? I wondered expectantly. But no, it wasn’t you. 

I continued doing what I know I was supposed to be doing, but it was difficult. I got up to bring something across the room and this time I thought I heard you. 

Could it be you? I glanced over in the general direction of my cell phone but didn’t bother to check it. I didn’t want to be disappointed again. Not that my disappointment was overwhelming; in fact I believed I would hear from you. I will venture to say that I even knew in my heart that I most definitely would hear from you. But each time I checked my phone again and again, the doubt started to increase. Or at least that’s what my mind was trying to convince me of. 

The battle between the mind and the heart is a tough one at times. And I guess doubt is rooted in the heart. 

My mind trusts God. I trust Him with my mouth. But do I really trust Him with my heart if I’m ova hee-uh doubting left and right? It’s a constant battle of anxious thoughts (some small, some large) that I have to hit back out of my mind. Or better yet, beat them into the submission of the Truth. 

It’s been 2.25 hours and I haven’t heard back from you. 

I’m starting to go into that zone in my mind that has caution tape across the entrance. The Door of Doubt is a wide one. In fact, so it’s so easy to walk through that I find myself lost inside that room too often. The Door of Belief is a small door. I picture it as being very short, like suitable for a small child. And hard to see, easy to miss. 

And yet, we must focus on that door. It’s hard to find, it’s hard to pass through, but what’s on the inside of that door is absolute paradise. This is why:

Because — and I know I shouldn’t start off a sentence with “because” — if I truly believe that God has me in His Perfect, Faithful hands… If I truly believe that God works all things together for my good… If I truly believe that He will never leave me or forsake me… then I’m in Paradise. There’s no such thing as a socialist utopia. But there is Heaven. There is a place where nothing is broken, and nothing is lacking. But Jesus said “let it be on earth as it is in Heaven.” Because — here I go again — Jesus died so that we could experience peace with God now. 

Why can’t you just respond to my message; is that too much to ask?

my friends make fancy coffees <3

Is it possible to have peace with God and be at unrest simultaneously? Or perhaps unrest is not what I’m experiencing right now. It’s more like OCD. I’m obsessively thinking about hearing from this person while not hearing from them at the same time. So now I will pray.

Lord. I should have spoken to you a long time ago about this. I asked you many times for the initiation of the conversation. That has come. I also asked you for the desired result. I do believe it will come, but I am uneasy while I wait. I want to start planning ahead in my mind. I want to hear from this person. I want the screen to flash yellow and the words to flash GREEN … a green light. Go-Time. I want to go. Lord, you know I do. So I wait. And while I wait, I ask. Lord, will you touch this person’s heart even now. Right now. 9:07pm. Lord, will you touch their heart and cause them to respond. Lord will you impress upon whoever else’s heart is necessary to tie up the loose strings. Will you, Lord, bring closure to this situation. Will you close the Door of Doubt, and open wide the Door of Belief, and gently guide me through it? Lord will you help me stop obsessing about the outcome. Will you redirect my thoughts away from my phone and the messages, and instead to focusing my thoughts elsewhere. Being in prayer with You perhaps. Or writing. So I wait. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

spoiled

—————

I find myself starting to bargain with God. Making empty promises that we both know I won’t be able to keep. And then something happens that I really don’t like. I will be praying for someone, and then the enemy or my mind tells me something like “you’re just praying because you think that if you pray, God will notice you and pay attention to you and weigh whether or not He should give you the desires of your heart.” I hate that. Our sin doesn’t affect God’s love for us. That’s the most beautiful aspect of the gospel. 


However, sin has consecuencias. We truly reap what we sow. And when we sow seeds for death, we reap death. If I go to the gym every day for 2 minutes I will not get the same results as if I went to the gym every day for an hour. Duh?! Duh. Same thing applies here: if I spend all my time thinking about something out of my control, I am planting or watering seeds of doubt, worry, anxiousness, etc. 


Imagine spending that time praying. Singing. Reflecting on gratitude.

WAIT it’s you.

“It’s not going to work out after all.“

…

…..

…….

After waiting and checking and waiting and hoping, this answer was… less than satisfactory shall we say?

Alas. I can’t fight it. Because the Truth in the matter is this:

There was nothing I could have done or said differently to charter a different response. I thought and prayed over my responses. I didn’t act with haste. My mind tells me lies, like I should’ve acted hastily or said less or more, but I know that’s not true. And this is why:

God’s plans are unstoppable. 

If He meant for me to be somewhere different than where I am, I would be there. I would simply be there. 

Who can stand up against God? Nobody! 

Who can thwart God’s plans? Not one. 

No, that wasn’t the case. I simply was not meant to entertain with this person at this time. And in that Truth, I rest. 

my fave 😀

I rest knowing that God dictates my steps. He leads me down paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. He leads me besides still waters, and gives me rest. He provides shade for me in the heat of the day, and provides heat for me in the chilly air. He is my sword and my shield, my strong tower. In Him, I rest. Just to know Him and be known by Him is more than enough. 

I know I will hear from you again. I won’t be surprised if you change your mind and reach out to me. It’s too late now… maybe next time. We’re all learning through this. We’re all deepening old patterns and forming new ones altogether. I thank God for you, and I know that you too would give him the credit if only you believed. I believe that one day you will.

Xxx

V

I am not scared at all.

Published on by VelvetLeave a comment

Of where my next check is coming from. Because God says this (please read each of these 2-3 times!!!):

“Be anxious for nothing, but in every situation, through prayer and petition, in thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

The daffodils praising the heavens.

He also says this:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34

God is so detail-oriented.

And this:

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:11

Strong and alive.

And this:

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17

Just a cool teapot. LOL we each got our own.

And this:

“For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance.” Psalm 94:14

A cherry in the city.

I hope this has encouraged you. Let the Truth soak in. And join me in this prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you so much for your Truth. Thank you that you are my provider and have promised to always give me all that I need. Thank you for transitioning me from one day to the next, one task to the next. Thank you that your grace is sufficient for me. Your kingdom is all that I need, and I am already in it. Lord, thank you for joy, hope and excitement. Thank you that when we lift our requests up to you, they are heard. Thank you that when we ask for your peace, you give it to us. Thank you that it transcends our understanding. Thank you for being my Father and for loving me, your daughter. I rely on you for my well-being, health, sound mind, and to reach all of my goals. Thank you for teaching me to show up and do my part, and then coming in and doing what only you can do. Thank you for this divine, beautiful relationship. You’re so powerful and amazing. I can’t WAIT to see you move. Amen.

Love you all! 🙂

xxx

V

Shine a light on it

Published on by VelvetLeave a comment

God speaks in funny little ways sometimes.

So I just got home from work. I brought home a little container of ice cream that I had left in the freezer where I work for the past couple of days. I had a spoon in my glove box and decided to try a bite of the chocolate, chocolate chip ice cream right there in the car. Why didn’t I wait until I got into the house? Good question.

Maybe so God could show me what He showed me.

I only wanted to eat a tad of the ice cream.
I love eating the soft, melty ice cream around the edges when you’re eating out of a container (no shame. besides, this was just a single-serve-sized container, so no judgment. But even if it were a pint of a quart, no shame 😀 as long as you aren’t sharing during COVID season 😉 )

Because I was eating the ice cream in the dark, I couldn’t maneuver the melty parts onto my spoon that well. I decide to abort the mission and take that party inside.

I resume in the kitchen and breathed a minor sigh of relief.

Shining a light on something changes everything.

I could finally see.

*

*

*

A song that’s been on my heart lately is “Who You Really Are”. Here are a couple of lines from the song:

Who you really are, God and King

Who you really are, Lord of everything

Who you really are, teach me to see You as you really are

Who you really are, Risen and Living

Who you really are, Just and yet Forgiving

Who you really are, teach me to see You as You really are.

 

I want to see you God. And I want to see you as you REALLY are. Not just the fluffy parts. I thank you for being loving, and I THANK you for being just. I thank you for being patient, and I THANK you for being jealous. I THANK YOU for being Peace, Shalom, and I THANK you that you are a sword. 

Thank you Lord, for dividing families. Thank you for permitting sickness and disease. Thank you for your judgment. You are so merciful, so gracious… but you are NOT a rug. You will NOT be walked over. You will NOT be mocked.

 

“Do not be deceived, God canNOT be mocked. A man reaps what he sows”.

Galatians 6:7

A man reaps what he sows.

I reap what I sow.

Be it seeds of anger, discord, mockery, scorn, hate, judgment, irritability, impatience, DECEIT, jealousy….

…or seeds of love, trust, truthfulness, honesty, integrity, patience, kindness, all for the glory of God.

Lord God, THANK YOU that YOU. CANNOT. BE. MOCKED. You see ME as I really am, and choose to lavish love and grace on me. And at the same time, you convict me of sin, let me experience the consequences of my sin, and teach me in my heart that You REALLY ARE TRUSTWORTHY. You really are FOR me. You really are FIGHTING for me. You really are CARING for me. You really are LOVING me when you discipline. When you prevent. When you protect. When you prohibit. When you prolong. When you provide. When you withhold. When you act. When you stay silent. When you seem distant. 

You are consistent. Thank you for making me more like you.

*

*

*

So, so back to the ice cream. When we look at God and see Him as He really is, we can ask God to help us become more like Him and less like us.

I looked at my spoon and thought about how God continually shines His light into the dark places in my life and reveals what I need to work on:

*being more patient with other people

*being more forgiving of other people

*not trusting God’s timing enough in any given situation

*not walking in the Spirit

*not actively seeking out God’s voice in the midst of the world’s voices

*not really believing in all of His promises in scripture
If I really did believe, would I not obey His commands fully? 2 Corinthians 12:9 assures us that God’s grace is sufficient enough to set us FREE from sin.

Free.

Totally, completely, 100% free. We can choose to say NO to petty, hateful behavior; selfish, angry thoughts, motives and intentions. We can truly lavish love and healing onto other people for the sake of God’s glory alone, and we no longer have to carry the weight of our shame and sin.

This is the power of Christ in us.

Do I really believe this?

Is that what God is saying to me? Is that what God is saying to US right now?

Be still? and KNOW? that He is God?

Do I really KNOW it?

Is it head knowledge, or is it heart knowledge also.

The truth is revealed in actions towards others.

 

 

 

Time is short brothers and sisters. Shine a light on your life… on all different areas. And ask God to show you what to work on. He is Faithful to do so, in Jesus’s name and for Christ’s sake. Amen

xxx

<3

V

singing His praises

Published on by VelvetLeave a comment

I’m in love.

I kept thinking of times and locations I could wear this baby out and about today. It’s fleecy so I can’t wear it just anywhere or anytime because I’m in Virginia and it’s still in the 80s. Come on autumn!!! My girrrrrrrl.

I tried to wear it this morning at 6am when I was making coffee and doing dishes and moving about the laundry room and kitchen, but it was too hot.

It’s not just ahdorable, but it’s suuuuuuuuuuper soft. 🙂 <3 <3 <3

Surprisingly soft. And so dang cute!

Okay, that’s enough.

I was thinking about how eventually this sweatshirt infatuation is going to wear out. It’s not going to stay very enticing. Retail therapy keeps you coming back. But I don’t have a shopping problem, I don’t! LOL who am I convincing here.

But really, I don’t. I’ve had more expenditures than usual lately because I just moved and needed to get stuffs for my new place. Lamp, bins, fan, rope lighting (okay this was a “want” :P), wall decals (okay this too lol). And some other various items.

Time to chill now. No mo spending. Well, on unnecessary items anyway. I truly am blessed that I don’t have to think about $$. God has blessed me so so much and continues to as I entrust my funds to Him! It’s His money that He gave to me anyway… and He wants me to be a good steward of it. 🙂

Back to the concept of infatuation wearing off.

I’m glad God is not infatuated with me. He’s in love with me. He loves me SO much that He sent His son Jesus to die for me… so that I would be reconciled to Him. My sin was so great and I was so lost that Jesus actually laid down His life to show me what great love is. He gave Himself up for me so that I would have life.

God doesn’t tire of us. He doesn’t stop loving anyway because He doesn’t feel like loving us anymore. He doesn’t stop loving me when I continually mess up over and over again. He doesn’t stop loving me when I outright go against His word and His Holy Spirit and what He tells me to do.

Wow.

More chances. More opportunities to serve Him. Each day is just that.

Father, thank you for my night of rest anoche. Thank you for Your constant provision. Thank you Lord for giving me time to read Your word and study it. Thank you for giving me wisdom to understand it and apply it. You illuminate Your Truth to me and peel the scales from my eyes so it becomes clear. I thank you for this gift. 

“Wait for the gift my Father promised” Acts 1:4b

After you were resurrected, You taught and ate, spent time with and prayed with your disciples. After forty days you told your early church to wait for the gift that God promised to send. Then, you ascended into heaven; and the angels told the disciples that one day you would come back the same way that you left.

Then your disciples and their families gathered together, prayed, and waited for ten days. On Pentecost (the 50th day after your resurrection) your Holy Spirit came down upon your people like “tongues of fire”. Now every believer would be indwelt with the Holy Spirit; the third member of the trinity, and God in full.

.

..

…

..

.

Lord, why is it that I forget Your Truth?

How could I forget that You are with me and in me always?

How do I brush You aside and think that I could choose a better way than the ways in which You direct me?

I guess I’m thick. Hard-headed. Weaker than I ever thought. More selfish, too.

Forgive me for running ahead of You and hoping You won’t notice. 

Forgive me for choosing garbage over You.

Forgive me for placing anything but You on the pedestal of my life, as if anything could take the place of You. 

 

“Praise the Lord

Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord.

Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore.

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.

The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens.

Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high,

who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people.

He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children.

Praise the Lord.”

Psalm 113

 

His name is worthy to be praised!!!!!!!

Lord, please help me be a good steward of my time today. Give me focus and help me be intentional in all that I say and do and think. 

It’s all for you. Help me remember this Truth today; that it’s all for You.

xxx

<3

V

Ps. Thank you for my cheetah sweatshirt. I love it. <3

facebook live

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I just went live for the first time. It was a little scary. You can watch my video here: https://www.facebook.com/skizarefun09/videos/515989049163821/

 

I’ve been meaning to use facebook live for a while so I just decided to go ahead and do it today! It’s so easy to record the video right there and not worry about edits or anything. It’s the raw version. Soooo much easier. I like it. I wanna start doing it more. Also, singing helped me get out of my own head. I’ve been kinda stuck in my head space for a while on and off this afternoon. But no longer!

And in just a few minutes I’ma head out to bible study. Well, pre-planning meeting and then the actual study. Should be fun :~)

😀

Hope y’all are having an awesome Monday. Check out my other social medias and follow! I make posts on christian living, videos, vlogs, songs… <3

Follow me!
https://www.youtube.com/user/skizarefun09

https://www.instagram.com/velvetmeryoung/
https://www.velvetyoung.wordpress.com
https://www.facebook.com/skizarefun09

xxx

<3

V

it’s been too long!

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I’ve tried to write several times lately and WordPress hasn’t been working for me. My post wouldn’t publish, wouldn’t save… I don’t know what’s been going on but as I type this morning, I haven’t had any weird messages pop up saying something “failed” so I’ll take that as a good sign.

Guys.

I am grateful. I am so grateful. I was going through something rough lately but a blazing light has led me to the end of the tunnel. And I’m ecstatic about what’s on the other side.

A new hope. A new beginning. A new chance to move forward and be all that God intended for me to be.

He’s taken me step by step from one place to the next, preparing me for the journey. He’s made the way for me and said “trust Me, Velvet. I have something awesome for you up ahead.”

He wasn’t lion. Though He is THE Lion. The Lion of Judah. All knowing, all seeing. All powerful.

Considerate

Giving

Compassionate

Just

Gracious

Merciful

Father

Provider

I’ma make a video about my situation and post soon. <3

All I can say is this: even if you’re going through a hard time, just keep doing the right thing, even when it’s hard. After someone treated me badly, God enabled me to have peace, joy, love, kindness and all the other fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Even if someone wrongs you, we mustn’t harbor resentfulness, but forgive them and have compassion on them. My friend said it well the other day: “when we look on other’s that have hurt us with compassion, we’re looking at them through the lens of the One who saved you by grace”.

And God says “we forgive because God first forgave us”. If God hadn’t first forgiven me, I wouldn’t have any reason to forgive anyone. Why forgive at all? Because it’s the “right” thing to do? God first set the precedence when He sent His one and only son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.

Forgiveness isn’t just a “good” idea. It’s God’s idea. He invented it. And He empowers His children to be able to do it. And what a beautiful testimony of His love it is when true forgiveness occurs. Sometimes you have to forgive someone over and over again as the thoughts of how they wronged you resurface. Forgiveness is seldom a one-time thing. Give the thought back to God and ask Him to change your heart and your mind towards that person and help you forgive them. God will do this.

………..

Okay.

This is what happens when I start typing random thoughts before I’m fully awake. I’m midway through my coffee and should probably put this to the side and finish drinking it while I read my bible.

Then I’m going to work.

Hope you have an AWESOME FRIDAY. Last Friday in August. Enjoy! <3

xxx

V

10:29

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annnnd I’m about to turn out the light. I will get almost 8 hours of sleep if I turn it off right now and immediately fall asleep. And stop typing. hahaha

But I’ll take just a couple minutes to reflect over this God-given day. It was a good day. I felt a lot better (physically) when I woke up this morning… still couldn’t eat as much today and was craving very light foods. But energy level was high, and spirits were higher.

I love when God’s awesome glory captivates me. It seems to come in flickers and I’ll just stop for a moment and feel like crying. It happened to me today as I was pulling out of the plaza where I’d gone grocery shopping. I was just overwhelmed with God’s goodness and provision. His grandeur and omnipresence, even in the minute details of my day.

He’s so big.

And His love is so deep.

Tonight my bible study group had a worship night on the sand. The weather was brilliant. I feel British when I use that adjective. But it really was, brilliant! The sky was beautiful as it changed from orange to purple to pink as the sun was setting over the water. The water looked like someone had spilled pink paint onto the surface that created rippling streaks as the tide slowly ebbed and flowed.

The reflections of the sky on the water, and the awareness that God knows the number of each grain of sand, as well as each hair on my head was awe-inspiring. And He still takes the time to lead me every step of the way through my day.

“You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.” Psalm 139:5

Lord

I feel so safe with you

I know you’ve gone before me 

I know you’re behind me also

You’ve hemmed me in 

There is no move that I can make that you don’t yet know

You know my motives and my desires

You know my aspirations

You know my weaknesses and my failures

Yet you still care for me

You still work everything for my good

You still teach me and comfort me 

I thank thee Lord for your love that wilt not let me go

It won’t let me go

You pursue me to the depths and water my frame

You mold me into the perfect design that you thought of before time 

I thank thee for your control

I’m lost without you! Yet I’ll never be lost, for you are always with me

You are Faithful; Faithful is your name

<3

xxx

V

Dancing

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I’m so looking forward to dancing more.

Dance dance dance dance dance

My right knee has been hurting a leeeeeeeeeetle beet but I’m still gonna go dancing. My left ankle was also sUPEr tight this morning when I woke up so I elevated it for a while, massaged it, and then slathered it in olive oil and peppermint oil right before putting on my croc-like sandles. This last part was not such a great idea because my foot was sliding all around inside the sandal and almost coming off my foot. I should have put a dorky sock on to avoid sliding or maybe chosen a different pair of shoes. But it was 90 degrees today and “felt like 99” so I knew I wanted to wear sandals buuuut most of them are rubber. And my sandals that aren’t rubber aren’t shoes that I want to slather in oil hahah. The struggle

Anyway, ankle feels a lot better tonight. Right knee is a little funk but I think I will put some peppermint oil on it tonight after I finish typing this post and before turning out my bedroom light.

I have work tomorrow and want to be well. After work I am dancing and definitely want to be well for that too…

My heart leaps for dancing and fills me up.

I’ve also decided to stop drinking alcohol for the summer. Or even longer, I don’t know. Not that I drank very much before; 2 beers, 2 gin and tonics, 2 glasses of wine. Whatever. A margarita. I’ve thought about stopping drinking totally on and off and did stop drinking two summers ago for the summer and it blessed me incredibly. I felt the nudge again so I’ma commit. It won’t be hard to not drink, but I will miss the alcohol a tad bit when I’m hanging out with certain people or at certain places. But I’m excited y’all!

Tomorrow is the summer solstice. Very exciting! The weather looks pretty good too. Not too high humidity and not too hot. For Virginia anyway. Mid 80s. I’ve changed y’all. I’ve turned a new leaf with this heat thing. I still loathe humidity and avoid it at all costs but I can handle the heat a lot better than I used to. I still have to be careful and only stay out for ~an hourish to avoid passing out hahah but hey.

Other things coming up: a prayer and worship night. A ladies night. A concert….

A spontaneous trip to New England possibly?

Lots of reading <3

Videos to be posted <3

Time to be spent with awesome peeps <3

Dancing <3

2019 summer, here we come! 🙂

Lord, I’m grateful for the fullness that you’ve given me in your son, Jesus. He came to bring life, and life to the full, and I experience this as I walk by your Spirit and in your ways. Thank you for teaching me to value the invaluable: Truth and righteousness. Thank you for taking care of me and taking the time to communicate with me. Jehovah Nissi…. the Lord my banner; I love thee <3

xxx

V

1:58 AM

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and I am awake again. But that’s because….

Okay, I could honestly always come up with a “but that’s because” whenever I want to justify staying up late. And I know I jeeeeeeeeest wrote that daggone post about needing to sleep and rest and how sleep deprivation makes me cray etc etc etc

ha.

But I can explain.

I was having a much needed conversation with someone very important to me. We talked for 5 hours straight. I am not surprised by this because that’s what we have always done. Time flies when I’m with this person.

We had a real talk where we told each other the truth about how we felt. I had been worried because I knew I was going to see this person tonight and I was scared they would act indifferent around me. I thought they would act like they didn’t care.

However, it was the opposite.

They were the most caring and affectionate and focused I have ever seen them before. Not to say they have never been affectionate or caring or focused. But they were doubly so tonight. Triply. Quadrupley.

“Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you got til it’s gone?” Joni Mitchells

We strengthened a bridge tonight. Truth was spoken. Authentic vulnerability was displayed.

I feel lighter. I feel better. I feel freer. I feel peaceful. I trust the process.

I trust God’s process.

<3

And it’s now 2:10 AM

BUT

I don’t have to start work at any particular time in the morning.

I have a lunch date at 12/1230 (can’t remember which!) and then another client at 2. Then swimming (GOD WILLING) then a coffee date with a girlfriend. Then a dinner date with another girlfriend. Praise God for good friends and good food and a flexible schedule!

Not to mention, I don’t have my night shift tomorrow night! And all I have on Thursday is work 12-3, and 8:30-12.

HOLLA!

<3

God is good. God is gracious. All good and perfect gifts come from Him <3 🙂

MMK  time for sleep.

Good night y’all 🙂

xxx

V

 

Gluttony

Published on by Velvet2 Comments

I eat too much.

 

In the bible, God says “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31.

 

Overeating cannot be done for the glory of God.

 

Overeating: eating too much

Too: to a higher degree than is desirable, permissible, or possible; excessively

Those who are God’s elect, God’s saved children are temples of the Holy Spirit.

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” 1 Corinthians 3:16

 

If I am God’s temple, I need to keep this place clean.

If I am God’s temple, I need to keep this place orderly.

If I am God’s temple, I need to take proper care of myself.

If I am God’s temple, I need to set certain boundaries of where I will go, what I will do, and how I will live.

If I am God’s temple, I need to practice self control on how I treat my body: I need to eat properly.

It’s time. To eat well. To exercise regularly. To get enough sleep.

Being a caregiver has reminded me that routine is good. Routine is healthy. Overeating and then undereating is not healthy.

I’ve realized a few things about food and my body:

Eating empty calories leaves me feeling empty.

Eating big amounts of sugar makes me feel elated and excited at first, and afterwards, depressed. Not because I feel guilty about eating the sugary thing in the first place (though this was definitely me in the past!), but because sugar messes with my hormones, causes major inflammation and screws with my energy levels, sleep schedule and overall mood.

I can’t be the best temple for God’s Holy Spirit when I’m not fueling my temple properly. Not eating right makes me feel lethargic, depressed, and moody.

If my diet isn’t consistent, I won’t be consistent either.

Not eating enough protein makes me feel hungry.
Not sleeping enough makes me feel hungry.

When I am hungry, eating sugary things leaves me feeling empty. It’s good to go for protein, fat, complex carbs, and low amounts of sweets.

Naps are my friend if I don’t get a lot of sleep at night.

Exercising regularly is the key to getting fit and staying fit. It’s unnecessary to do 2 hours of cardio every day. Thirty minutes of cardio a few times a week is sufficient for taking care of one’s temple.

 

Back to overeating.

It’s been my struggle for so long but each day I gain more control over it. It helps to meal prep. It helps me food journal. It helps to buy food that is good for me, and not buy junk. I like to eat junk every once in a while though and am proud of how far I have come in terms of having enough self control to keep junk around for days and weeks and months on end. (The months part is like caramel squares and chocolate chips for baking, or chocolate bars to give away as gifts etc.). In the past I couldn’t have the stuff around for long. I actually used to keep my chocolate supply in what I called my “bank” and I would leave it in my friend’s room so I wasn’t tempted to eat all of it at night.

Praise God for His teaching me how to have self control through the power of the Holy Spirit. Praise God for granting me a great love and appreciation for food and not being afraid of any foods. Praise God for teaching me how to take better care of this temple, my body, so as to bring glory to Himself. But also, I feel better when I do things His way. When I don’t overeat. When I choose the right foods and eat the right portions. It’s hard, but I’m learning. Praising God for all His good gifts!

If you are struggling with overeating, pray this prayer:

“Dear Lord, please help me take better care of my body, your temple. Please teach me how to eat unto your glory. Help me to choose the right foods when I’m meal planning, shopping, meal prepping, and eating. Help me listen to my body and stop eating when it’s full. Help me ask you what you’ll have me eat before meals. Thank you for caring about the details. Thank you for caring about me. I love Your guidance O Lord, my God!”

xoxo

<3

V