With that said, let me tell you something.  This isn’t an easy thing to do.  In fact, it has been very hard at times because sometimes I’ve been invited to parties in the past few weeks and the food that was served was mostly junk food.  In fact, last Sunday one of my favorite teachers retired after 37 years of teaching and at her party there wasn’t even salad to eat.  Thankfully they did have some fruit and lean meat I grabbed, but the rest was cheese, cracker, sugary sweets, sandwiches etc.

Today I was at another gathering at work and one of the women was leaving the company and the spread they served included cheese, crackers, sweets and thankfully some turkey and salsa.  There really wasn’t anything else that I could eat because most of it was junk food.

Which brings me to this point.  The lady who was leaving was telling me that at one time she tried to eat just fruit, veggies and lean meats and when she did she said she felt more energy and felt better.  I told her that I’m having that experience.  I actually have more energy now and I do not have the cravings I once did.  It is really really amazing to me.

This morning I had one of the best shakes I’ve had yet.  Here’s what you will need if you’d like to try it – it’s really really good and filling.

Since I’m using Standard Process you’ll need the Standard Process ingredients.

To make a great Carob Banana Shake follow these simple directions.

1.  Use two scoops of SP Complete and the recipe also calls for two scoops of Whey Pro Complete however, I don’t have any of that so I’ve made the shake without it.

2.  Use two tablespoons of carob powder.  Or teaspoons if you don’t want it to be too dark or chocolate.

3.  One half to a whole cup of soy milk.  I use Organic and it’s also unsweetened.

4.  Half of a banana (or if it’s small use a whole one)

5.  A hand full of ice.

6.  Then Mix until it’s all blended.

This is a great shake, not too bitter and if you want to sweeten it (I don’t) just use some natural sweetener like sugar.

Has this been easy? NO…NO…and NO NO. Are you kidding me! It hasn’t been easy, but it has taught me much.

Like I wrote a few days ago, it’s about reframing how I look at what I eat. Do I want to serve sugar or be healthy? Do I want to remain faithful in this area as much as I try to be faithful in other areas….that is a very different way of reframing it for me. Because if I choose to be faithful, then I am choosing to walk in the Spirit because one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is faithfulness. When we walk in the Spirit, we do not carry out the desires of the flesh.

And I have noticed that I really am not craving much of anything. I haven’t eaten sugar, wheat or dairy products and I’ve lived to tell about it.

Now what I find totally funny is that Oprah apparently is also doing a 21 day cleanse. Except she’s into her New Age guru and her false teachings. You can read about that here if you really want.

One thing I tried was “beef tongue” – mainly because the lady told me it tasted good, so I figured okay…I’ll give it a shot. The problem is that the beef had nothing on it and it tasted as bland as could be. It was AWFUL.

Well, this Korean BBQ is really cool because it’s the type where you actually get to cook you’re own meat. I liked that, because it’s like doing a BBQ inside and the meat smells great as it’s cooking. After I tried the beef tongue Mike came to my rescue and offered me some of the BBQ meat he had cooked and all I can tell you all is that THAT meat tasted GREAT! It was seriously some of the best tasting meat I’ve ever eaten. And so Mike, Opal and Randall and I will probably be making this restaurant an after church lunch stop more in the future.

But here is what I really wanted to tell you all. Please let me be your inspiration (at least when it comes to trying to change bad eating habits).

I realized that part of doing something new really has to do with being faithful. in fact, this is how I came to realize this. Before church I was listening to a sermon by Dr. Woodrow Kroll on faithfulness and he was contrasting whether or not an unfaithful Christian would benefit if God was the same way to us as we are in pursuing our relationship and knowledge of Him.

Well, that got me thinking about how I’m thankful that God is ALWAYS faithful no matter what and how I need to be more grateful for all He does do for me every single day. For example, because God is faithful, the sun rises every morning and the moon and stars appear at night. No man does that for the world, only God.

God also holds the universe together and he is aware of all the trouble and pain out there and He offers comfort and grace to anyone who simply asks for it. God is really good all the time, and none of us are usually most of the time, since we were born in sin and are battling daily to walk by the Spirit and not in sin.

For me, reframing how I look at eating healthier food is a battle. I’m being totally honest here, because I would much rather eat something processed and “fake” then eat the few real things that I’m currently striving to eat.

But I have to be faithful. I have to be more disciplined and so as I am able to walk through this process of change, that allows me to depend more on God, and also to become more like God.

And to become more LIKE God, is what followers of Christ Jesus are striving to do. Unlike New Ager’s like Oprah who actually believe they ARE God.

And here is a great thing, God rewards our faithfulness, and for that I’m also very thankful.

One month ago I was almost 15 pounds heavier. God has rewarded my faithfulness in eating real food by allowing me to lose weight. I still have 60 lbs to go, but I know that if I remain faithful and do the right things – I will be rewarded.

Now doesn’t that inspire you ?

I had the blessing and it sure was, I can say that honestly, of barfing up my morning carob and banana shake because something didn’t agree with me. My body went into overdrive and for about 3 hours today I felt like I was about to die. And even though a few of my critics may have rejoiced at that, I’m here to say, “Oh well, I’m still here. ”

It was very tempting to not eat lunch today and as it is I finally did eat a chicken salad around 3 PM. It’s about 4:30 now and I’m feeling okay, except a little bit weak.

Read my next post (which will be written after this one) to hear about yesterday’s eating success.

In Isaiah 55:11 it says,

“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

I LOVE this verse because not only is it powerful, but I have watched the Lord on numerous occasions bring people to the knowledge of Himself through the living word of God.

I remember when my mom was hostile to the gospel of Christ and how she would share with her friends some of the cards and letters that I sent her with scripture in them. She would often yell at me for the material and sometimes even sent it back to me, but I always knew that the Word of God doesn’t return void.

And over time, my mom would begin to send me cards with Scriptures on them. It always made me laugh because she did it because she thought I’d like it – even though at the time she didn’t like it.

Well, I’m happy to say that before her death my mom did receive the Lord and she is now in His presence happy and whole. It gives me much comfort.

But here’s the other point of this post. As some of you know, I have readers who like to quote the bible on their blogs who deny Christ and His word. These guys boldly proclaim their atheism and in some cases their brilliance in worldly religious matters, and all the time they are quoting scripture on their blogs.

It really makes me laugh on so many levels. The main one is that I know that even though they are mostly posting scripture verses, mainly out of context and sometimes to try to make their points, they are reading the living words of God. In time, that Word will pierce their hearts and lead them to repentance if the Father draws them.

For the sake of argument, let’s say that person who likes to mock God’s word is never saved, because he isn’t chosen. Well, who knows who else is reading that blog who will turn to Christ because that scripture is put there. God knows and that is what I rejoice in. Because no man can lead another to salvation, only the Father in heaven does that.

But you and I must pray, and you and I must be sure to proclaim His word, because it will not return to Him void.

DINNER LAST NIGHT

Last night when Randall and I went out for dinner, it was really hard to actually order anything on the menu the way they prepared it. So I asked for my meal to be made specifically and they were very happy to do it. I ordered a plain (boring) hamburger, wrapped in lettuce with grilled onions. (I LOVE grilled onions! And Randall doesn’t like onions )

And I also had some steamed vegetables….and the only issue I had with that was the carrots. I’m not crazy about carrots. But the squash, cauliflower and broccoli were pretty good. Well, except the broccoli was rather dry….it could’ve been steamed more.

EATING TODAY

Today is day 3 of the shake thing and so today I had two of the carob shakes and one of the apple cinnamon banana shakes. Yesterday I didn’t have any bananas because I learned not to freeze the bananas in the peel, because when the bananas thaw out they turn to mush.

Anyway, I’m feeling pretty good. I’m trying not to get bored with the food and it helps to have a variety of things to choose from.

I don’t think most people realize how little what Americans eat is actually “real” food. Practically everything is processed and if it’s not processed it’s not organic. The chicken and beef we normally eat has had hormones injected into the meat, and depending on whether or not your system can handle it will determine how well you digest it. It’s a very interesting thing.

In fact, in biblical times, the main diet was grains, fish, fruit and vegetables. And today, unless you’re extremely intentional, it’s anything but these things.

So one of the things I am focusing on is how Daniel, in the book of Daniel in the Old Testament, chose to eat the natural way as opposed to the King’s banquet foods. I think there’s a lot to say about Daniel and his friends and what they did – even separating themselves from the culture of food of the day…and they were healthier in the end.

Today was day two of me doing the special shakes and this morning I had a carob-banana shake with a few organic eggs for breakfast. My friend Hal asked me if the shake was a meal replacement and just so you all know, the answer is no. The shake is basically what you put all of your supplements in so you don’t have to swallow a million tablets….that and it has protein and a lot of other good things.

I have to put a total of about 13 capsules in each shake. In fact, I just had my second shake, which was a apple cinnamon one and I realized that I still need to take 10 more capsules later tonight if I’m going to get them all in. Basically there are two main supplements I’m putting in each shake, but if I have only two shakes, then I need to take the rest with water.

So how has this been affecting me – well, aside from one major almost migraine type headache for most of the day, I’m doing fine. I have had no adverse problems with the shake and I’m learning that I actually like this more healthy way of living.

And I am very thankful that I started doing the healthier eating about a month ago with my husband because since then I’ve lost 10 lbs – and that even without exercise. So my body is finally getting rid of some of the bad stuff and for that I’m really thankful.

Tonight Randall and I will go to our normal favorite restaurant and get some good protein…because believe it or not, I’m actually hungry, even though I feel like all I’ve done is eat lately. Yeah, eat salad, some eggs, chicken, more salad, more eggs, more chicken…although last night I did have a piece of steak Randall cooked up. Tonight…we’ll see

Until later.

Admittedly, I was slightly nervous about getting needles put into me, but Mary promised me that it wouldn’t hurt…and ya know what, IT DIDN’T!

In case you don’t know what acupuncture is I will tell you. Here’s the dictionary definition:

1. a Chinese medical practice or procedure that treats illness or provides local anesthesia by the insertion of needles at specified sites of the body.

After Mary put about 10 needles in me, I had to lay on the table for about 20 minutes. Once that was over, I got to leave. But here’s the cool thing, it actually was relaxing.

And I also started the Standard Process shakes today and after I found carob, which I had to hunt all over the place to find, I was able to make a carob shake with soy milk and some power stuff. Overall, the shake wasn’t too bad, but it also wasn’t sweet either. But I think it’s something I can deal with for a few weeks.