Monday Motivation a day late - Daniel's 10 Day Fast

Hello everyone! I apologize for the lack of posts lately but things have been very hectic and busy around here lately. Keep me in your prayers because I need it for sure right now! I know that this is late for the Monday motivation. That is not because I forgot about it yesterday but because I have been debating whether or not to share with you what is on my heart right now. With much thought and prayer I decided that I would in fact share this with you all because I want you to be a part of my day by day testimony. I will try to keep this as short as possible but I make no promises lol.

As some of you may know I have been very sick for almost a year now with stomach issues. I have brushed it off for the most part as being IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), but in the last month or two I have gotten worse and am now experiencing pains in my stomach that are unexplainable to the IBS. I would go to the doctor but since my doctor is not the best (she has misdiagnosed me on more than one occasion and actually indirectly caused me to have an overnight stay in the ER once) and I cannot get into a new doctor at this time I decided to hand this one completely over to the Lord. God has shown me on several occasions just what I need to do to allow myself to be healed. Why I have not followed through yet is a mystery even to myself. Fear maybe? I don't know, but I have decided to finally listen to what I feel the Lord is telling me to do and what my bible has taught me.
A while ago I read in the bible where the prophet Daniel "fasted" for 10 days from the foods of the king (Daniel ch. 1). He and his men ate nothing but fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and water for a full 10 days. At the end of the 10 days they were healthier and stronger than all of the kings men. I had not heard of this story before and knew nothing of this "famous" Daniel diet. When I read it the story spoke directly to me and I knew that someday, somehow, I would follow Daniel's example and try this for myself. Daniel's point in doing this was to prove to the king that God's ways always win over the ways of men! I too want to prove that God's way can win over man's way which includes overcoming my own fleshly desires. I am going to bring my body into subjection (1 corinthians 9:27) to God's way of living. I made the decision to follow in the steps of Daniel and fast from the foods that are harmful to my body until I feel that the Lord is done working with me and until I am ready to claim my healing. If this means following this for the rest of my life then so be it. I had originally wanted to do this for 10 days but now I feel I am being called to do this longer. The plan right now is to eat nothing but fruits, vegetables, nuts, water and a little olive oil for cooking and a few natural spices and seasonings for the next 10 days. After the 10 days is up I will decide if I should continue. I will then add in other foods every 10 days beginning with lean meat like fish and chicken, then grains like oats and brown rice and I will leave dairy, fats and sugar for last. I will also begin to exercise a mile a day on my treadmill beginning on the 4th or 5th day or whenever I feel strong enough. The switch has finally flipped inside of me and I have made up my mind to take control once and for all and I am claiming, in faith, that my life will be changed from this. From this point on in my life I will no longer be the overweight, unhealthy, and low self esteem woman I am today. God is going to move in this. I know because it was He who called me to this place.

I will be using this blog to chronicle everyday of the "fast" and let you all know how it is going. I looked all over the internet to find information on how people's body and health physically changed from this, but I could not find much information pertaining to how it affected someone physically. There is an abundance of information about the fast itself but nothing on how it changes people health wise. So I decided I would share how it is changing me and maybe it will help someone else out there.

I started the fast yesterday. I began by praying first and then weighing myself to have a starting weight. I will not weigh in again until the end of the 10 days - which just happens to fall on a joy meeting, so hopefully I will have some good news to share with the joy women that night lol. We also went to the store last night and I stocked up on all kinds of fresh fruits and veggies, 100% juice, dried fruits like figs and raisins, and canned fruits and vegetables.
I am currently day number 2 into the fast and so far I am starting to feel slightly better. Yesterday I was very dizzy and weak and I felt sick to my stomach but that is because I did not eat enough. I realized that in order for this to work I must eat more often than before because my body is burning these foods a lot faster. I am hypoglycemic so I will need to eat continuously to keep my blood sugar levels in check. I am also feeling a slight energy boost today along with feeling less desire to eat the foods I would normally eat. I still want those foods but the cravings aren't as strong today. The most important part is that my stomach is not hurting today for the first time in a very long time and that is my first sign of faith that God is indeed leading me in this. God will receive all the glory for this when I am healed.

Monday Motivation - God is in Control

We go from day to day sometimes feeling as though we've got it all together. Then there are those days when it seems like everything just falls apart and no matter how hard we try we cannot succeed. It is on these days that we must stop and realize that we are not in control, but God is. Our failures, our successes, they all have a place somewhere within God's ultimate plan. We succeed when we give the battle over to God and stop trying to control our own destiny. God knows what He is doing, but do you trust Him enough to let Him have the control? Everything that happens in our lives is not by accident.

Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

God has given us all a purpose in our lives and it is our duty to fulfill this purpose to the best of our ability and pray that His will be done in all things. Anything that hinders you or keeps you from acting in God's will is something that needs to be pruned from your life. Just as a garden with weeds cannot grow to its full potential, neither can a person with hindrances in their life. My personal hindrance is my weight. This is one battle that I know I have not 100% given over to God. This is my earnest prayer now; That I am able to fully hand this one over to God. What is your hindrance and are you ready to hand it over to God's control?

Psalm 55:18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

Monday Motivation - Faith

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

As I write today's message I am writing with a broken heart. A very special, dear friend of mine passed away this morning at a very young age. It is because of her faith and trust in the Lord that I find comfort and some peace right now. My heart and my flesh miss her presence but it is by faith that I can trust that she is in the hands of a merciful and loving God right now. When she was in the hospital I wanted to bring something to her. A little token or something so that just in case she did come around she would know that she was in our prayers. I found this little angel that said "Faith is not knowing God can, but believing that He will!" I know that she believed this with all of her heart and I too know that God is in control of all things. We cannot possibly fathom why God chooses such things for our lives but we just have to trust in faith that He knows what He is doing. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

God can help us through all things. God can heal us. God can give us peace. God can perform miracles beyond our wildest dreams, but what He does not do is give us faith. It is by faith that we believe that He will deliver us from all trials whether it be on this earth or in our heavenly home. And it is by faith that we know that He is the Everlasting Father, the Mighty God, the King of Kings and the Prince of Peace.

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

In Loving Memory of Sister Eva.

Monday Motivation & Joy Update - Guest Author

Yes it's a real life posting on the actual day it's supposed to be here lol. I almost didn't make it in time but here it is anyway :-)

(A little reminder to the J.O.Y. women - Tomorrow is the last Tuesday of the month which means that we have a meeting tomorrow night. Hope to see you all there!)

This week's post comes from a friend of mine named Rachel who has set out on a quest to get healthy with the help of the Lord. She has lost quite a bit of weight and I am very impressed by her progress. Go give her some props for a job well done here at her myspace page and don't forget to leave her some awesome comments about how you love this blog posting!

Here is what Rachel has to say:

Maintaining Motivation in a Self-Pleasing World…

“Today is the day! Today is the day! Today is the day I begin my diet!” I’ve told this to myself a thousand times. A thousand times I’ve tried, and I’ve probably lost half myself over my lifetime, only to find more and more of me along the way.

I am overweight.

And, even though I’ve said it before…today is the day to begin my diet. Finding motivation was easy…I simply stood in front of a mirror and sized myself up. It took a while. I am definitely overweight. I turn from side to side. Yup. Overweight and at risk for health problems later on in life. That’s all the motivation I needed!

But, the day rolls on and life is running a hundred miles an hour. Slowly the plans I had made at 6am are fading away as I jump in the truck and think to myself, “Oh, I’ll just grab drive-thru on the way. Tonight I’ll eat a healthy dinner and make up for it.” For the thousandth time I’ve started out with good intentions and so easily gave in to easier and quicker choices.

But, not today. Today I began to really think about motivation and what it takes to set, make and achieve a goal. I think to myself of the lifestyle that we life. We fear the Lord, we honor him and his word. There are dozens of temptations out there and we bypass every single one of them. Why should dieting be any different? I didn’t go crazy, lose my mind or start condemning doughnuts back to wherever it was they came from…I simply decided to focus on the good things that God gave us, and let these things be what gives me life.

I had to decide to “eat to live” and not “live to eat.” I’d heard it before. It’s good advice. I think I’ll practice that today. Sure, it’s a self-pleasing world, and it’s so very easy to reach for things that are quick (and taste so very, very yummy), but that’s not what my body needs. I need vitamins and minerals. I need fresh fruits, veggies and a whole lot less grease and fats!

I started at the fast food restaurant where it seems that every greasy choice is set to doom my newly-adapted healthy lifestyle. I found a grilled chicken sandwich. I ordered it without the honey mustard and just put on a little bit of bbq sauce (½ the container). I got a side salad instead of fries, and used ½ a packet of dressing. Healthier choices, better for my body, better for me. It wasn’t so hard after all. Do I need french fries? Nope. I don’t need the calories or the grease. I think about my poor little heart and what I’m trying to feed myself. I think about the size of my little stomach in there and suddenly an entire plate of food seems overwhelming for my body to try and process. I cut back, I push away, I trim down what I consume.

And, it works.

I add in a little bit of exercise to strengthen my muscles and increase my metabolism. A walk with a friend, playing with my niece and nephew in the yard, a game of racquetball with my cousin. I check the scales a few weeks later…wow…it’s working! Right then and there I set myself on a course of better choices. Why? Because it works!

It’s been 3 ½ months and my scale says I’ve lost 32 lbs. My clothes fit better, I’ve gotten a few compliments and I feel a whole lot better about myself. I need to lose more, so I’ll continue to count every little calorie and work on strengthening myself along the way with some exercise. I am thankful for every day the Lord gives us, for every blessing he sends, and every meal he provides. I’ll try not to be ungrateful and I’ll try not to be selfish and self-pleasing. I’ll try to take care of my body and feed it all the good things he gave us. It’s not a glamorous plan, and the weight isn’t going to come off like magic. But, with a little bit of perseverance, I’m becoming a better, more healthier me.

(Recipe recommendation: Use applesauce instead of oil in your baked goodies.
It tastes just as well and saves on the fat and calories!)

Monday Motivation - Trust

Don't gasp or fall over, it really is a current post from me :-). I'm actually home and at the computer at a time convenient to post so I thought I'd put something up today. We will be talking about this at joy tomorrow night but I decided to post it one day early.
In the past few weeks we've been talking about eating fruits and vegetables. We talked about how awesome and wonderful it is to know that there is a God who cared so much for us that he gave each food a specific purpose to our bodies (I will post an interesting email I received on this subject at the end of this post or sometime tomorrow). God is not slack in His care for his children just as we are not slack in caring for our own families. He has given us a bounty of healthy and delicious foods that are not only beautiful to look at but beautiful in the way they work to take care of our bodies. It is amazing to think that something as small as a carrot is full of vitamins and minerals specifically designed for our needs and by eating that carrot we are trusting it to do it's job inside our bodies.
We all have faith in God and we know the right things to do without anyone ever telling us so, but to act on that faith is called trust. You can have the faith and knowledge that something is right for you and that God knows exactly what you need but if you never step out in faith then you are not fully trusting in God. You are not giving the battle over to Him. When we eat the foods God designed specifically for our every need you are telling God, yes, I do trust you! If we continue on the same road we've always been on (i.e. eating unhealthy and unnatural foods) then we will get the same result we've always gotten - unhealthy bodies. God said "here's what I've designed for you to eat, this will make you healthy and give you strength" but instead of trusting that we turn to ourselves and say "no I think this is what I want" and then we are surprised when the end result is not how we expect it to be. It is always a matter of seeking the desires of our own flesh, putting trust in ourselves instead of in God. The bible says to "seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." Seek God first and be amazed when you receive, in faith, the things you've been seeking all along - including a healthy body! The first step is a step of faith. You have to step out on that limb and say ok God, direct my path, I trust you, and no matter how much my attention is swayed to the left or right, I'm still going to trust you. Did you know that there is an actual diet plan laid out in the bible? It's in the book of Daniel. It is a wonderful story of trust:

Daniel 1
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;
Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.
Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

So for 10 days Daniel ate nothing but pulse, which is a mixture of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and water - foods all created by God's own hands. You see Daniel had to not only trust in God himself but he had to trust in God's creation to help bring him in safety from his situation. Daniel trusted so much in God's plan that he risked his own life to prove that God's ways are better. In the end, for his trust and obedience, he was rewarded with good health, wisdom and knowledge and the respect of the King. When we trust God there is nothing but good to be gained. God does not lead us to harm but rather to the safety of His arms. The process getting there may be a tough long road but the end result is worth every step of the way.

Ruth 2:12
The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

Monday Motivation - This do in remembrance of me

Today is Memorial Day. The day that we remember those in our lives that have already gone on. I was thinking about this and wondering what would people remember about me when I am gone? Will they remember that I was an intelligent, caring, and motivated person or will they remember that I was someone who struggled with her weight and had poor self-esteem? Is that really how I "want" to be remembered anyway? The more I thought about this the more I realized that when I am gone I don't want to be remembered for my outward appearance and if I am remembered by my outward appearance I want it to be a good memory for people. I want people to say "now that was a pretty and confident girl." When I remember my loved ones I don't think of their appearance but rather the people they were on the inside. I remember what it is who made them who they are. Some of those loved ones I have many good memories of, some of them there are memories that I wish I didn't have to carry with me. Those memories are the ones that make me think that I want to leave a lasting impression with the people I leave behind when I go. I don't ever want someone to have a bad memory of me when I am gone. I want people to remember that I was confident, strong, kind, compassionate, intelligent, funny, and willing to do the Lord's work. If I am not confident with who I am now, if I feel very awkward in my physical appearance then it is hard to be all of those things. My outward appearance affects how I feel inwardly. My weight makes me feel like I can't really accomplish what I want in life. I struggle even trying to pray some nights because of the confidence I lack. I don't want this to be the way I am remembered. We had communion at our church last night. We usually do this during passover but some things happened and we had to push it aside. I think it was very fitting however that we were able to do this during the Memorial Day weekend. We read the passages in the bible that explains about the communion and how Jesus said to do this in remembrance of Him. I thought it a very powerful line when it said "this do in remembrance of me." We can never remember the Lord as He was to the desciples but we can remember Him as He has worked in our own lives. I certainly remember and am in awe of all the things He has brought me out of. The Lord is not slack concerning His children and He has been there through every "need." We are His children so if we remember Him and all the things He has done for us then we too should leave a legacy for others to remember. One that tells about the wonderous works of God. What does it say of us as christians when the only thing people can see on us is poor self esteem and a physical body that does not match the inward spiritual body? It would be wonderul to have said of us when we are gone that we were true christians and God fearing people and served God with every part of us. How do you want to be remembered?

Luke 22:19And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Watch the video in the next post. It explains perfectly what I mean.