Whole30 Week Four—He REDEEMS❤️

Above all else, guard your heart, For everything you do flows from it! — Proverbs 4:23

FOUR MORE DAYS!!!!  FOUR MORE DAYS!!!!  FOUR MORE DAYS!!!!  As I type this blog post I have just completed day 26 of my 30 day fast from dairy, diet soda, legumes, sugar, and grains.  This journey has been one of the best experiences of my life.   No, I’m not kidding.  

I’ve been taught and I’ve known for years that obedience brings blessing.  But to walk in it is something to behold, something that cannot be described with words.  Sin builds a wall and separates us from God, but obedience knocks down walls and builds bridges. 

I find myself longing to go and spend time with the Lord ALL DAY LONG!  I’m more sensitive to the Holy Spirit to stop and pray as He leads.  I am anxious for my coffee and bible in the morning, in the afternoon, and even at night, (well no coffee at night😊)  and I have fallen in love with my memory verse pack in a new, fresh wind/fresh fire way.  

Please know it’s certainly not perfect.  I forget to remember.  But God always rewards obedience.  Not for any works I could ever do, but for FAITH.  It’s not Mary-led, (I do this and God owes me that) it’s Holy Spirit led.  

Obedience is simply the key that unlocks the secret rooms in my heart so that God can come in and do HIS Work.  

As I choose to fast from those things that pull my heart away from God HE has been so faithful to pull my heart TO HIM.  

I realize that I have been having an affair on God with food.  I am guilty of running to this temporary lover when I need a quick emotional fix.  But, God wants me to run TO HIM.    

Food is a worthless idol

I love this verse.  It tells us not only to turn FROM, but that we have to turn TO the living God!

Food is not bad, it’s the LOVE (idol) OF food

The unhealthy love of Food is a worthless idol that only gives temporary satisfaction.  Maybe food is not your idol.  Others run to their own idols...busyness, alcohol, books, smoking,  pornography, television, etc.., 

The problem with turning to those things that make us feel better right away is that they are temporary and lead to bondage rather than FREEDOM.  

I saw a tv show this week where a woman died of anorexia.  She refused to eat even as she took her last breath....satan loves to fascinate, to go in for the kill, and then he assassinates.

What God is showing me, as I walk in Acts 14:15 and turn TO THE LIVING GOD, is that God’s way of doing things seems harder at first, but it leads to a LIFETIME of FREEDOM.  

I cannot just focus on turning AWAY, but I have to purposely turn TO!  I am choosing to turn TO HIM.  He has moved me to pray scripture because my words are not nearly as powerful as HIS Word.  I am running TO HIM in relational worship.  I am running TO HIM as I store up scripture in my heart through memorizing it. 

I surely have not arrived...I type this IN FAITH with HOPE!

Let’s talk about the practical experience of changing your lifestyle

I began water aerobics this week and the elderly women totally kicked my butt. (I’m just sayin’)

Blood Pressure Progress

I don’t want to brag or anything but check out that blood pressure.😉🤗🎉🤭😂  As a former nurse I’ve been watching it creep higher and higher and higher.  My head knows that this leads to heart attack and stroke and has caused me to pause. It was a delight to see these numbers.  My blood pressure on day one was 144/89. To GOD be the glory in all that HE is doing....”Out of the darkness and into His marvelous light”!

I am so blessed to have a husband who loves me and takes care of me.  He has been enjoying cooking while in his year off since retiring.  This was seared chicken thighs and tomatoes made in our cast iron skillet.  It was incredible.

These French fries are actually butternut squash.  I bought them already cut from Trader Joe’s and fried them up in coconut oil.  They were YUMMY!

Eating out has become less scary.  We took a trip to Ruby Tuesday’s this week and had the best lunch.  We had a salad made of lettuce, onions, green peppers, cucumbers, and chopped up boiled egg with dry grilled chicken. (It is much better than it sounds). When you ask them not to add oils or seasoning they call it dry grill, but it is still tender and moist and seared.  I used olive oil and sea salt as my dressing.  Scott was a little wilder an added red wine vinegar😉

My challenge this week was getting sick.  I used to run to carb-laden foods to make me “feel” better.  Chicken and dumplin’s, mashed potatoes, chicken NOODLE soup.  Instead I made this yummy chicken vegetable soup and it was AMAZING.  I cooked chicken thighs with bones and skin to flavor the broth and added:  carrots, onion, radishes, celery, and a whole bag of fresh spinach.  I also sprinkled granulated garlic powder, red pepper flakes, Himalayan mineral salt, and black pepper.  It was perfect for a tender tummy.  

I cannot wait to share next weekend.  I will have finished the challenge and begun the reintroduction phase.  I think I have an idea of what this is going to look like, but I am trusting the Holy Spirit to lead me.  One thing I think I would like to do this year is to check in with weekly blog updates to archive and remember what God is doing/has done!

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything...to STAND!”

— Ephesians 6:12-13