Selfish

So funny how easy it is to get convinced that you shouldn't do what you are doing.  Or that you can't do what you are already doing.  I have been finding it so difficult to talk, minister and encourage on health and eating and exercise and proper nutrition because I have been dealing with people who have issues that are seemingly just so much more important.

Job loss, unemployment, health issues, foreclosures, wayward children, wayward spouses, anger management issues, drug abuse, alcohol abuse and on and on and on...How can I, in the face of such extreme and serious stuff can I talk about carrots and exercise?  And then God spoke to me.  Back to Eden is really about taking care of the thing we CAN do while you trust God to handle all the things we can't.  God makes provision for us, every day.  But He also has given us an example of the importance of taking care of ourselves.  When things get tough the first thing most of us cut out of our daily lives is the things for 'us' only.  We have been taught that 'selfish' is a dirty word.  Even though the etymology of the word selfish is anything but.  The word 'selfish' was meant to indicate 'caring for oneself'.  It evolved to have negative connotations and is often defined as 'caring ONLY for oneself'. 

So if that word 'selfish' doesn't sit well with you, get rid of it.  Let's use a different word, 'self-care'.  We have biblical substantiation for 'self-care'.  Jesus, himself, made sure to take time to 'minister to himself', if you will.  He gave and gave to the followers, disciples and his friends and loved ones.  But he also took time to care for himself.  When we find him walking on the water out to the ship - its because he was off by himself.  When we see him asleep in the bottom of the boat before they woke him - its because he was off by himself.  When we find him sitting by the well right before asking the woman to give him drink - its because he was off by himself.  Even when he went to the garden and took the 3 with him - he went off by himself.  The one who gave His ALL for us, took time for himself. 

Making healthy choices, getting enough rest, drinking enough water, eating the right foods, in the proper portion at the proper frequency are about 'taking time for yourself' - Just like Christ.  I hope today, before you reach for that soda or that hamburger or sitting in front of the TV instead of taking a walk, or choosing to eat instead of skipping a meal to finish your work, you will ask yourself, 'What would Jesus do?" and then remind yourself that you are worth it.  You can't take care of everyone who relies and depends on you if you don't take care of yourself.  

To receive your personalized Back to Eden:  A Christian Approach to weight loss packet and encouraging support for your journey call me at 704-493-2035.

Meanwhile...keep walking on water.

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FEARS

Fears....

We all have them.  Songs have even been written about them.  Some of our fears don't even follow logic.  I read about a woman who has a fear of stuffed animals - an inanimate object.  What about those fears that are somewhat founded - a fear of snakes?  or how about the one that hides and lurks in the backs of so many of our minds...the fear of failure? 

God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  (2Tim1:7)

Overcoming our fears is not often something we can do on our own.  Some of our fears are so deep rooted that we don't even acknowledge them and even the world says 'You cannot change that which you do not acknowledge.'  Some of the 'overcoming' that we need to do needs to begin with some 'soul searching'.  I used to be a smoker.  As a smoker, I used to smell like cigarettes and I had a smoker's cough.  I could treat those symptoms - I washed my hair frequently and used various cough suppressants and I could temporarily remove (or disguise) the effects of my problem.  My real problem.  The REAL problem was NEVER the cough or the funky hair.  It was the cigarettes.  (I could go deeper and actually show that the cigarettes were not the 'root' cause either, but for the purposes of this piece...you get the point). 

Obesity and being overweight is NOT THE ROOT CAUSE OF OUR PROBLEM.  It is a symptom.  We can treat 'symptoms' but we can't 'CURE' them because THEY ARE SYMPTOMS.  (You can't 'cure' a symptom you can only MASK it).  And to be brutally honest, we spend too much time trying to 'cover up' our symptoms and don't give ANY attention at all the the problems.  We wanna find a quick fix to the 'fat':  Juicers, prepared/pre-packaged food, ultra exercise, fasting, Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil, Oprah - who ever EVERY SINGLE THING out there is only meant to treat the symptom - our fat. 

But the root cause for many of us is that we don't value ourselves.  Yes, you'll disagree.  "I love myself' we say.  'I'm the bomb.com' or 'I love me some me'.  But just like the word of God says, 'If you love me, keep my commands' if we REALLY loved us we'd be doing what we need to do to get and be and STAY healthy.  It takes EFFORT!  YES!!!  But aren't you worth it?  Or are you just afraid that you'll fail anyway...so why bother to try?

I'd like to hear your answers...Don't worry - I'll wait...

For more info on Back to Eden:  The Christian Approach to Weight Loss call Lisa Thatch - 704-493-2035 or email thatchl@yahoo.com