Perserverance

According to dictionary.com the definition of perseverance is:
1. Steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
2. Continuance in a state of grace leading finally to a state of glory.

I'm pretty sure there is very little that I have done that would equal the first definition and I thank God for His grace that I can live under the second. For the moment, pretend there is only the first definition. I hate difficult things, people, jobs. You name the difficult *insert here* and I run, sometimes walk, but mainly run from it. I never persevere especially when it comes to my diet. I always start with the best intentions, but then something triggers me off the track. Now if I would remember to live under the second definition then these words from 1 Corinthians 10:12-14 would apply. "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

God's truth is that I can persevere because 1)I do live under God's grace and 2) God has given the strength to endure through difficult *insert here*. I can live in perseverance victory, because He builds an escape route for me. Powerful thoughts for someone who has never truly finished anything.

Spiritual Nourishment

It is Day 4 of No Sweets May for me. I've been blah and cranky. Things keep coming up (like my screaming one year old, a disappointment, an old memory, a pound lost) that I would normally reach for chocolate or reward myself with dessert. I've been barely scraping by this week on my own strength until I read this today in Made to Crave, "If we fail to understand how to fill our souls with spiritual nourishment, we will forever be triggered to numb our longings with temporary physical pleasures." Another lightbulb went off: I have been numbing myself with substance that cannot answer what I'm truly longing for. So what am I suppose to be doing? Instead of filling my body with garbage, I should be filling it with the fruits of my Maker. Psalm 107:9 says, "For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things." I am definitely longing and hoping to be filled with good things!

Besides learning about spiritual nourishment, I've been reading up what my body truly needs to function. I've gained some great insight from those "eating clean" and considering how to adopt some of those practices into our family. Anyone out there eating clean?

Lamentations 3:22-25 "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;this mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning;great is your faithfulness. 24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him."

No Sweets May

Last year, Tim and I had a friendly competition in May. I had to give us sweets and he had to give up his beloved Mountain Dew. I had 3 "cheats" and he didn't have any. I ended up losing thanks to having butterscotch pudding after my 3 cheats were up. Oh well until next year... Now May has come upon us again and this time I'm in this competition alone. No need to torture Tim for another year :) My month will continue my 14 day journey of no bread, pasta, processed foods and sweets. Basically eating "clean" for the week and one splurge meal on the weekends (pretty sure I'm won't be doing Georgios again though). I will allow myself cheats, but only 2 this time. Mother's Day and our friend's daughter's birthday (she promises the best brownies ever!).

So cheers to another month of eating better then ever and growing closer to God!