Just What The Doctor Ordered

Our high school Bible class is learning about submission and accountability this week. They were given an assignment by their instructor to write a piece as if they were a doctor giving advice or recommendations to a patient on how to avoid sin in their lives. I know I’m probably weird, but when I was in school, I loved assignments such as this one. I still do, and so I thought I’d give it a try.

From: Dr. Ounce O. Prevenshun

To: U.B. Carnal

Doctors Recommendations on How to Avoid Sin

 

The detailed instructions given below if followed, will aid the patient in abstaining from sin.

 

The DO’s

1.       DO have a regular time of prayer each day. Think of prayer as a daily vitamin, vitamin P (See I Thessalonians 5:17, Luke 22:40, Luke 18:1, Ephesians 6:18, Mk. 14:38)

2.       DO read your Bible each day. Think of it as your daily dose of vitamin B. Work on committing some Scriptures to memory, which can help you in times of temptation. (See Psalm 119:11, 2 Timothy 3:15, Proverbs 30:5,Matthew 4:4)

3.       DO make it a priority to be faithful in attending the house of God. (See Hebrews 10:23-26, Psalm 122:1)

4.       DO be submitted to the man of God in your life, aka your pastor. He is watching out for you. (See Hebrews 13:17, Jeremiah 3:15)

5.       DO fast on a regular basis. (Isaiah 58:6). It’s a way of saying no to your flesh, and when it’s coupled with prayer, it will help you draw closer to God. If you have a physical condition that prevents you from fasting, consider fasting an activity you enjoy (electronic games, Internet, going to WalMart, etc.) and spending that time in prayer.

The DON’TS

1.       DON’T put yourself into a place or a position where you know you could be tempted. This is also known as “not making provision for the flesh.” (For example: If you have struggled in the past with drinking alcohol, don’t go to a bar if you want some 7UP.)Even if you stay full of the Holy Ghost, remember this. Your flesh is weaker than you think!( See Romans 8:13, 13:14, Matthew 26:41)

2.       DON’T be lazy or allow yourself too much idle time. (See Proverbs 18:15) You’ve probably heard the saying, “An idle mind is the devil’s playground.” It’s true.  Stay busy with the things of God and working for His kingdom, and you will be less likely to sin.(See also Ecclesiastes 10:18, Proverbs 12:24, Hebrews 6:12)

3.       DON’T let your close friends be those who are not striving to live a godly lifestyle. They can lead you astray. (See I Corinthians 15:33, Exodus 23:2, James 4:4)

 

These recommendations, if followed, will aid you in your endeavors to avoid sin. Choosing not to follow the above instructions can result in a serious heart condition which would require major surgery that is costly. If this be the case, you would be referred to Dr. Pounda Cure, but it is strongly urged that you heed the advice of Dr. Ounce O. Prevenshun.

Living On The Hallelujah Side

Sometimes things will happen in our lives to prompt us to make changes. I didn’t have anything major happen in my life to make me want to change my eating habits. I think it was the fact that I am getting older and that my husband’s brother had a heart attack recently that got me thinking more about the foods that I eat. I also met a minister’s wife recently who told me about a diet she had been on for a long time. It’s called the Hallelujah Diet, and you can read about it here. With those things in mind, I started thinking, “Do I really want to wait until I have a major health problem to start taking care of myself and eating better?” I decided for me that the answer was no, so when January began I stared my journey on the Hallelujah diet. To my surprise, I find that I’m really enjoying this change, even though I have been spending a lot more time in the kitchen preparing food. I definitely have a lot more energy than I have had in a long time, and I’m not depending on coffee for it either.

It’s funny how we tend to put off things like dieting or changing our eating habits, even though we know we need to do so. Many people do wait until they have heart problems or other issues before they think seriously and make the choice to make some dietary changes. It seems like when it comes to our spirituality that we are even more hesitant to make changes. People can be living in sin, knowing it, knowing that they need to make a change, but yet they won’t seek after God until something major happens in their life, such as health problems, death of a loved one or a financial crisis.

My question today is, “Why wait?” Do you want to wait until a catasprophe happens in your life before you turn to God in repentance? The real truth is that not a single one of us have the promise that we will even live to see tomorrow. If we keep putting off getting our hearts right with God and decide to wait, one of these times it might be too late.

Putting off eating healthier is one thing, but putting off living for God is a decision that can affect us eternally. Scripture urges us not to put off concerning our soul’s salvation.

2Co 6:2

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

 

I know not everyone is going to make the choice to be a vegetarian and go on the Hallelujah diet, but I urge you today to work out your soul’s salvation and obey Acts 2:38. Then, as the old hymn says, you can truly be “Living On The Hallelujah Side”.

 

 

Living On The Hallelujah Side

 

Verse 1

 

Once a sinner far from Jesus I was perishing in the cold

 

And the blessed Savior heard me when I cried

 

Then he threw his arms around me and he led me to his fold

 

Now I’m living on the hallelujah side

 

Chorus

 

Oh, glory be to Jesus let the hallelujahs roll

 

Let me sing my Saviors praises far and wide

 

For I’ve opened up toward Heaven all the windows of my soul

 

And I’m living on the hallelujah side

 

Verse 2

 

Here the sun is always shinning and the sky is always bright

 

Tis no place for gloom in Christians to abide

 

For my soul is filled with music and my heart with great delight

 

And I’m living on the hallelujah side

 

Verse 3

 

And when this life is over and we’ve reached the other shore

 

And have safely crossed old Jordan’s rolling tide

 

You will find me shouting glory just outside my mansion door

 

For I’m living on the hallelujah side

 

The DIE in DIEt

Here’s my philosophy on dieting.  If you feel the need to do it, make it as fun as possible.  Thus, the poem.

 

The DIE in DIEt

 

I would not know, I could not know, till time came ‘round to try it

Just why the word within the word, why is there DIE in DIEt?

 

I’ve eaten rich and sumptuous food that the holiday season brings;

Candies, cookies, sweets galore and a host of fattening things.

But now I lay those things to rest. Their beckoning, I must quiet.

I face again the simple truth.  There is a DIE in DIEt.

 

Oh, the aisles of the grocery store contain such tempting stuff,

Like cinnamon rolls and chocolate bars and jars of marshmallow fluff.

Their voices sometimes scream to me, “Hey, you’ve got to try it!”

So with authority, I must yell back, “There is a DIE in DIEt!”

 

I must confess a kind of stress. It’s really kind of hard

To bid adieu to grease soaked foods and those enriched with lard.

Some cooking methods now must cease. I won’t deep fry or pan fry it,

As I beseech the help of God to keep the DIE in DIEt.

 

1/1/09

Do or DIEt

There comes a time in some of our lives

due to the things we ate,

our expanded girth tells us that now is the time

to lay aside some weight.

 

I’ll be cutting back on food drastically

at the crack of dawn tomorrow.

I’d sure appreciate your prayers

in this, my time of sorrow.

 

It’s grapefruit and toast for breakfast;

and tuna and toast at noon,

if I stick to my guns and this diet

you’ll be seeing less of me soon.

 

With varied fruits and vegetables

and 3 ounces of meat at dinner,

and 64 ounces of water a day

how could I not get thinner?

 

So, I’m laying aside all my junk food.

Yes, I will be an absolute saint.

But please, could you send up some prayer for me?

I’m beginning to feel quite faint!

 

This is for real.  Monday is the big day.  My husband and I are going on a diet!  Aren’t you just excited for us?  Thursday night after Bible study, some friends of ours shared with us a diet that they have been trying that a friend of theirs got from her doctor.  You do the diet for 3 days a week and eat normally for the other 4 days.  This is what we get to eat the first day.

 

Breakfast – 1/2 grapefruit, 1 slice toast, 2 tbsp. peanut butter

 

Lunch – 1/2 can tuna, l slice toast

 

Dinner – 3 oz. any meat (we’re going to have steak, seasoned with salt and pepper only), 1 cup steamed string beans, 1 cup beets, 1 small apple, 1 cup vanilla icecream. (the reward for eating beets)

 

Of course, you’re supposed to drink 8 glasses of water a day too.  Diet sodas are not allowed and you can only drink decaffienated coffee with sugar substitute while on the diet.  Diets aren’t really something incredibly enjoyable, but I really want to try and make this fun.  Thus, the silly poem and this post. (and hopefully I’ll feel more accountable now that I’ve announced it to the blogging world)

 

You all pray our strength in the Lord.  🙂

Beware of Bagged Spinach

In an attempt to lose some weight(which seems to be working so far 🙂 ), I’ve been on a “salad kick”.  Because it was on sale, and because I like it, I purchased some bagged spinach yesterday to use in salads.  My husband just informed me of the following article about E coli bacteria being traced to some bagged spinach.  Here’s the link if you want to check it out.

http://my.earthlink.net/article/top?guid=20060914/4508d3c0_3ca6_15526200609141722804342

I wouldn’t want to see any of my blogger buddies sick from eating bad spinach.  As for me, I think I’ll be eating well washed red leaf lettuce for a while. 

Along The Trail

In an effort to kill two birds with one stone(I needed exercise. My son needed P.E.), Paul and I decided to take a bikeride along a trail that is close to our home.  It’s been a long time since I’ve ridden down this particular trail, and I forgot how peaceful and enjoyable it can be.  One of my favorite things about this bike trail is that it runs along a creek, and on many occasions, we have seen egrets in or near the creek.  Today was no exception, and as we were heading toward home, we saw 2 beautiful egrets.  Each time we would get closer to them, they would fly farther up the trail.  Finally both of them flew and landed in a tree in a field across from the creek.  I wished so badly that I had a camera, because it was one of those “Kodak moments.”  The two birds sat majestically perched in the tree for a few minutes, and then they gracefully took to the air.  It just made me appreciative of God’s beautiful creation.  He certainly is a God of variety, giving us so many beautiful plants, trees, flowers, birds and all of nature to enjoy.  I’m thankful I had some time today to admire His handiwork.

Bodily Exercise

1Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

 I decided to profit a little today(since I don’t usually profit at all in this area)by going on a bikeride with my son.  Although it was a short ride(about 20 minutes), it was enough to make me hot and sweaty.  While thinking about how I need to exercise earlier, I wrote this little limerick.

Bodily exercise profits little

 yet I’m hoping it sure helps “my middle”

for in my present state

I’m a bit overweight

but soon hope to be fit as a fiddle!

I know it’s going to take a lot more exercising and a lot less eating to get in shape, but maybe this can be a starting point for me.  Now, if I can just convince myself that we don’t have icecream in the freezer………………………………………