"Sweet" Pleasures

Eating is for Pleasure?

Me thinks so.

Again, as I've said, we are conditioned (at least in this nation) that food is associated with ummm's and yummy expressions from the time we eat our first solid food "Gerber Rice Cereal". Then we moved on to jar "fruit" .... cause most mamma's know the baby spits out the spoon full of sweet potatoes and pureed chicken. God gave us taste buds for a reason.

Our mind states that it's all about our senses when we eat. But, we've developed a Lust for Food!

Look at the bazillion dollar industry of "Food".

Restaurants to the Food Network on TV

It's all about presentation and flavor/texture... oh la la

It isn't any wonder we are the FATTEST nation on earth (translates to most unhealthy and unfit).

Look around at any event - count the overweight vs the slim trim. Better yet,

who eats at Mc Donalds & Cold Stone Ice Cream Shops and who do you see shopping at whole Foods & Jamba Juice Shops.

I got it, you got it.

The Answer?

You can't find the answer until you find the real problem... you can't find the real problem until you recognize and are honest about the behavior/symptoms

As we Do in Nursing use the "Nursing Process":

Assessment (what is the symptoms )

Diagnosis (what is the problem)

Planning (develop strategy)

Implementation (take action)

Evaluation (was the diagnosis and strategy correct? if not start again)

back on track

Food is NECESSARY for life

Taste ... I think our

Our Creator

is "amazing" and loves to please us...

and delights in seeing

our pleasure with what HE has created ...

all in hopes that we choose to please Him

How sad we continually take what he has given us and made it OUR IDOL - Yap you heard. Food becomes our God at times. Seeking Food to satisfy our souls.

BUT, when Taste rules over Nutrition than.....

re discover enjoying and saying ummmm and Yummy over a bowl of Oatmeal with chopped up nuts.

No, I'm not kidding.

Ok, so we only use about 10% of our brain. Case in Point. We're stupid to choose

a Warm Apple Pie with Ice Cream over ... less sugary Apple dessert. No, I'm not going to look up a recipe for Warm apple cobbler with 80% less sugar. But, I've made it.

Plus, in this Journey, I have to say..... Twice in the past week I had the opportunity to eat Apple Pie (that's why this is on my mind). And to tella you the Truth (a phrase my Sicilian Grandma used a lot) I DIDN't WANT IT! Yipee to me, pat on the back.

NO desire to eat something so sickening sweet. Why, because I've redefined what I WANT.... food that makes my body strong. Food that makes my skin glow. Food that gives me energy (not the fatigue and emotionally in the dump next day if I ate a sugary desert).

And I didn't deprive myself of "pleasure" BECAUSE... my satisfaction, comfort and pleasure is in knowing that I'm taking care of God's Temple "Me".

My strength in saying no to the dense fudge cake at a party the other night ( a desire of the past) was ME recognizing for the 1st time..... That dessert MAKES ME LOOK and FEEL TERRIBLE.

Choices...... feeding my pleasures!

MY Pleasure is in my walk with the Lord

Psalm 119:103

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Lord,

Today may my walk and talk reflect your presence in my life.

May my light shine where ever I go. May the fruit of the spirit in me be

SWEET and PLEASANT .

And may all who meet me WANT to fill their souls with the SWEET PLEASURE of you in their life. In Jesus Name

AMEN and AMEN

SALUTE!

I'm off running (literally)

PS :

Exercise & Calories = Your Body 's Health THAT SIMPLE

(ok, some metabolic/disease issues need to be weighed in - but

are you listening?

I wanted to jot this down

When I'm having a time talking with the Lord.... I'm multi tasking!

Well, true.

As I'm giving him praise, talking to him... I get distracted and have to pull myself back.

I guess it would be different if he were standing next to me. Because that would be rude to be talking yet looking elsewhere.

I know I hate when I'm talking to my loved one and they are looking like they aren't paying attention. Even more rude, when they want to respond.... I walk away or start talking again. Not giving them a chance to "engage" in a conversation. Just a one way talk.

I've been thinking about how much I love the Lord and wonder ... well, no not wonder.

I know that I do this to God.

I talk... want him to listen... but then seldom give a moment of silence and time to HEAR Him. (I'm not talking about time with the Word-Bible). I'm talking about throughout the day... little conversations with the Lord. (such precious moments of engaging Him in my daily life).

I'm rambling.... bye

wake up

8:00 am

An expression and request - W A K E U P

It's time to wake up

Be honest

Take responsibility

Look behind only long enough to pull out and go forward (like driving)

Lazy?

Self Destructive?

Apathetic?

Fear????

what?

WHAT IS IT????

9:00 am

************************ Jumping Cartwheels (as if I could without VERTIGO)

I needed that Kick in the butt -

I threw on my workout clothes (simple to do) and exercised/stretched for 30++ minutes YES YES YES

I remind myself (self dialog is important) I feel SOOOO GOOD when I take care of me!

Maybe it's the years of taking care of others that makes it a difficult task to take care of me. Well, it's not really a ""difficult task"... maybe it's the Italian/Sicilian "sacrifice" junk. Oh, I'm not saying sacrifice for loved ones and for doing the right things is wrong. BUT, when ....

well, As I've said in my Blog - "my body is the temple of GOD" so for me to not take care of HIS temple is WRONG.

I know it's his temple when illness or injury affects HIS temple and I remind GOD.... I am your's, this is your temple .... fix it/heal it...

So, I better take it seriously when I look in the mirror and see how I'M taking care of his TEMPLE!

FEED my Spirit is 1st priority of the day

FEED my Body is #2 (food/exercise)

FEED my Mind is right there with One and Two

I'll get it sooner or later..... hopefully sooner!

CONFESS what I want to BE (SAY it out loud so I can really HEAR what I'm saying)

WALK the Walk of what I TALK (ACT on it! MOVE THAT BUTT)

TODAY IS and WILL CONTINUE TO BE A VICTORIOUS DAY -

Psalm 37:5

⁵ Commit your way to the LORD;

trust in him and he will do this:

Dear Lord,

Today, I ask you to infuse your word into my mind and heart and may it bear fruit.

May I see with the Eye's of Jesus Life around me.

May I feel and experience Life around me with the heart of Jesus.

May I reach out with Your arms to love those around me and be a blessing today.

May I reflect you today!

In Jesus Name

AMEN

SALUTE!!!! Now Sing !!!

Bread!

John 6:35

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life:

he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

There you go!

It occurred to me the other day.

If I became more concerned and focused on feeding

my Spirit than my body - "how healthy would that be"

So the past few mornings I've woken up - attempted to open my tired eye's and put a big fat fake smile on my face (fake until it becomes the real thing), and say to my self. Ummmm what'll I feed my spirit this morning! Instead of.... ummmm what'll I have for breakfast! ouch!

It's been an amazing few days with this in mind.

Again, as I have said. It's not for lack of knowledge that we fail. It's a lack of self control

Self Control is a fruit of the Spirit

So walk in the Spirit and produce "self control"

Walk in the Spirit, Walk in Faith... Walk, Walk, Walk... not talk, talk, talk.

ok, compromise by: Talking while you Walk

"now that's Italian"

Salute!

ps don't forget to drink your 64oz of Water kissed with a lemon

don't forget to love your self as Christ loves you so you can love those around you

don't forget to make healthy choices

don't forget, to not forget.... ahhh Ginko Biloba

Just a secondary thought as a Sicilian/American

Jesus is the Bread of life and He turned water into

Wine as his first Miracle while at a Wedding.

I'm sticking with HIM! (I think he'd laugh at that too)

ouch!

That's a me!

It might make a great movie "Death by Girl Scout Cookies"

It's like I fell off the wagon - I even ate the cookies that I don't like! What is that about!! That's what I've been trying to figure out these past few months.

In fact, the other morning I was listening to Joyce Meyers on TV. Wow, discussing the very essence of what I've been blogging about "HABITS".

One of the very important things I've discovered during the "21 day journey" is that my success during the 21 days was my daily blogging.

It seem to set my focus for the day

It seemed to center my thoughts

It encouraged me

It strengthened me

It motivated me

When I was without my ability to blog... I became apathetic, distracted... and back to the ol habits. I KNEW what I should do.... but "threw it to the wind... no, I threw it in my mouth... and sat on my big ... you know what"

So, I believe the truth is this

Healthy Choices are a product of Healthy Habits

HABITS are nothing more than repetitive pattern

21 days was only the beginning developing a rhythm and pattern

ahh all the years to re-do

ok, lets think about how when you were a child how were "sweets" present to you?

As you were introduced to your first birthday C A K E !!! Ummm says your parent as they shoved the spoon full of cake & frosting - SUGAR- into your mouth!

Come on! We were set up for failure from the beginning.

Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving... all about indulging in sweets! Like the "forbidden fruit!" If your good you can have a piece of candy, If your hurt... here's some ice cream, if your sad.... I'll make you a NICE piece of .... what is that about!!!!!!!

and the "Come on over for some coffee and C A K E!"

yikes!

I think it'll take more than 21 days to change HOW I see food, HOW I see exercise

HOW I see ME.

I seriously doubt 200 years ago any one had to "Think" about getting enough exercise!

If you could time travel to the 1900's and tell people that some day they'll have to find the time to exercise everyday! oh, ridiculous!

oh my Golly, Gosh all mighty. We are a lazy, self serving, indulgent, self gratifying society. THATS why there are a bazillion adds for weight loss and a bazillion TV shows and commercials about food! How messed up is that!

In social settings these past 2 weeks I found myself - ohhhh all messed up. Like Peer pressure! No, more like... ol habits. Falling in to my ol ways of seeing food "satisfying me", eating to be "politically correct".

Ok, enough

Get it together and

Well,

"Walk in the Spirit" - Yes, that is a ACTION! Walk Walk Walk...

I CAN not do this on my own.

Here's a story:

I once went to a party for ladies, ya know the "mary kay" thing. Well, I joked around about all the steps to cleanse, tone, moisturize your face.... all the process and all the products you need. I said out loud to the lady presenting the products... "wow, by the time I get to the 6th step of facial care..... It'll be morning". ha ha

but the truth is.... I'm doing it ! 3 steps every morning and every night! Why, because I'm desperate to avoid the knife! My real age isn't the date on my drivers license... it's in the mirror!

I think nothing of taking 3 steps every morning and every night to keep my skin from resembling an alligator!

So, again.... what about my arteries, heart, kidneys... etc.... what steps am I taking to keep them youthful!

What steps do I take daily to keep my heart free of bitterness, envy, resentment, unforgiveness... etc...

What steps do I take daily to feed my spirit, body and mind healthy FOODS.

No amount of Channel or Prada can cover up being unhealthy.

There is no fabulous outfit or jewelry that can cover up the fact that I'm OUT OF SHAPE - evident by my unhealthy choices!

I'm not a believer of "twiggy" figures. I'm a true believer in the temple of God reflecting the gifts of the spirit. And one of those gifts is "self control".

Wow, am I slapping myself silly tonight.

Ahh, I'll have another glass of wine and go to bed

Salute!

ps

kind of funny I just noticed it's the 21st day of February... ahhh 2 1

ya know 21 days!