Lying Encouragement for Dieters Parable..... by DianaDee Osborne

MARCH 30
oh,   I suspect this title will "raise a few eyebrows"   as Grandmom would've said.  "Lying Encouragement for Dieters"...????
Whatever can this mean? 

       Sadly,  some people lie to give you hope.            Which SOUNDS compassionate, doesn't it?                But just suppose.....                                  


Suppose you went to a famous doctor because you had been feeling rather ill for several months.
1.  Obviously you hope it's coincidence... you're not sick.
2.  Obviously you hope if it "is something", it's easy to fix.
3.  Obviously you trust this famous doctor you're paying a lot.



Suppose this famous doctor knows you want to be told you're not really sick, a tiny fix will make you well.  But the doctor knows without a question:  You have cancer.  It is curable if you go through some VERY uncomfortable and even painful treatments.  But you'll die if you don't.
Yet..........

1.  Suppose the doctor hates to discourage you.

2.  So the doctor says, "take x and y vitamins once a week..."

3.  And send you home FULL of HOPE!  Thinking you're ok.

  SO YOU NEVER GET THE PAINFUL TREATMENT

        THAT WILL ENABLE YOU TO LIVE.         

That's EXACTLY what happens when we hear in

COMPASSIONATE  churches that what we are doing is

         not a sin.

This blog is about dieting.  There are plenty of other sins.....

This is what God says about

     so-called compassionate churches and preachers

            who don't want to dash your hopes.... so they lie.

Often they even come to BELIEVE the lie... especially if 

someone in their family is doing that sin.

And when you are FALSELY  told you are NOT sinning,

   you do not REPENT and get forgiven by Jesus.....

       requirements to enter permanent healing with God....

All through Jeremiah 27, where "compassionate" men are teaching that God will bring BLESSINGS  and VICTORY to God's people just because they ARE God's people:

"Therefore do not listen to the words of the prophets who speak to you, saying, 'You shall not serve the king of Babylon,' for they prophesy a lie to you;   for I have not sent them," says the LORD, 

      "yet they prophesy a lie in My name..." -- Jeremiah 27: 14-15a 

(God was sending Babylon to punish His people and draw them BACK to Him because THEY refused to draw near to God of their own willingness....... another lesson for us today.)

 PRAYER

LORD GOD,  Help me to see through the lies.... that ANY kind of self-centered-ness
is a SIN and  OFFENDS You in Your Holy-ness.  Help me to not yearn to hear the
encouraging words that "it's just a little sin compared to murder" and believe that ok,
I'm all right with You.  For You have clearly said:  Any self-centered choice, any PRIDE in self-choice.... is sin to You.  Please forgive me and help me, I pray if the name of our Holy LORD Jesus, my God.

God's Supporting Word
Jesus speaking of 'CHURCH' leaders.... the synagogue leaders... in   John 8:44:

"You are of [your] father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own [resources], for he is a liar and the father of it."

SAYING THAT WHAT GOD CALLS A SIN  IS NOT  a sin is.... lying.  

Satan-ic.

                                 Evil.                                

©2013 DianaDee Osborne (all material), all rights reserved. FREE personal usage; see website.  But feel free to print with copyright info, & share for nonprofit usage!
With thanks to BlueLetterBible.org  for providing God's Word in easy-to-research format.
Additional encouraging resources at 
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

James 4:7 Song and Dieting Joy........ by DianaDee Osborne

MARCH 29
I recorded the first draft of the song "James Four Seven"  (4:7) 
on a tiny voice recorder during the trip between Ohio's ALIVE music festival and PA's CREATION music festival.... 
tapping on my knee to give my studio producer the "beat" that
I sent to him by cell phone moments later.... and
very LOST.  I had read “SW” in the directions   as  “NW.”   

20 miles later,  I was sitting by some Ohio canal history sign at dusk, completely lost, but too excited about this song idea that I had to write down before I forgot it,  to care how lost I was!  

Through James 4:7 plus verse 8 ---
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (New KJV) ---

God gives us a WAY OUT when we feel

        overpowered by temptations            

       to overeat and over-ANYTHING!

And it is EASY..... Just draw near to God,

and He will take care of the rest.

Including helping you NOT give in... same as God said in
First Corinthians 10:13.

This song by someone who obviously was NOT raised to sing (or even listen to Hip Hop music!)   is yet another evidence that God's Holy Spirit  empowers even crazy people who yearn to do whatever is God's work for His Mighty kingdom.. far beyond what we'd even dream to pray for!  --Ephesians 3:20 and 21.
-------------------------

JAMES  FOUR SEVEN
ALBUM:      Amazing  Word 'n' Worship   
Song location:   http://DianaDeeOsborneSongs.com/Songs-2008-2012.php
CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO  download (FREE)  

Song is officially registered with the U.S. Copyright Office, ©2010 DianaDee Osborne; all rights reserved.  "FREE personal usage" means that you have my permission to download for your own use.

VERSE 1
Jesus,  I draw near to Thee __
So I know __ Satan must flee __
IF Satan refused to go __
No matter 'cause my Big Bro is
here __ right beside me (uh, huh). Je-
sus is right beside  me. __ __ __
 
        VERSE 2
        But I know __ Satan MUST flee  'cause
        that's what God's Word promises  me __.
        James Four __ verse seven (uh, huh).  James
        Four __ in verse seven __ __ and
 
                            BRIDGE                                           
                     God __ does not lie, No! NO! Titus
                     One __  in verse 2 __ __ __
                     God __ __ does NOT  lie!  No! NO!  Titus
                     One __  in verse 2 __ __ __
 
VERSE 3
Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and
He shall lift _ you up.  James
Four _ verse 10 (uh huh).  James
Four __ in verse ten. __ __ and
 
        VERSE 4
        Speak no evil of one another,  James
        Four __ verse eleven. __ __
        God __ helps you (Yes! YES!)   James
        Four __ in verse eight. __ __ __


PRAYER
LORD GOD,  help me to remember:  You've DONE Your part and are waiting for ME to 
act.... waiting for ME to draw near to You.  For You have with such love and grace already come almost the entire distance to ME when You sent Jesus to die on the cross for me... so I can be forgiven for EVERY sin... even these that I call "small" but YOU do not.  Please help me to fight my pride, to recognize Your Truth,  to reach to You so that I'll survive any temptation thrown in my path by Satan who YOU say is real... who JESUS said in many places including John 8:44 is a very real person who hates ME... wants to destroy ME.

God's Supporting Word
:...in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,... -- Titus 1:2

"God [is] not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? -- Numbers 23: 19

""And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He [is] not a man, that He should relent." -- God speaking to King Saul -- and us all --  through Samuel in First Samuel 15:29.



©2013 DianaDee Osborne (all material), all rights reserved. FREE personal usage; see website.  But feel free to print with copyright info, & share for nonprofit usage!
With thanks to BlueLetterBible.org  for providing God's Word in easy-to-research format.
Additional encouraging resources at 
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

70 Facets of God's Word.............. by DianaDee Osborne

MARCH 28
Perhaps you've noticed how you have read a Bible story for YEARS,
and suddenly you "see" something different... a way it has
new meaning for you.  The Jewish scribes have a tradition called 
"70 facets" in the Torah -- what most people call "The Old Testament", which is not accurate...  but the concept is understandable anyway:

   God's  Word the Torah is like a diamond --
   it has 70 facets ... 70 faces that  each  reflect 
   something new & exciting about God !       



So it's logical that when Jesus told us in
John 14:26  that His Holy Spirit will bring        (click here)
      God's Truth to  our remembrance, 
             that He    (the Holy Spirit as God is   "he"   and not   "it") 
        will help us to SEE more in the same
Word... to see how it APPLIES  to you and me.

Today,  sorrowing over yet another week of "ok" but not great food choices 

          and thus yet again no weight loss,

I saw something new in Jesus's HEALING of a man who had been sick for 38 years.  

The whole story is in John 5  (click here).  The summary:

The man thought to himself that he wanted to be healed

yet in 38 years never crept closer to the pool where tradition said God would heal.

A  question for me.... for you:  Do we really want to be healed of our bad habits -- even addictions,  whatever they may be (NOT just food... even complaining and gloomy attitudes of life are chosen habits)?   

If we do....

Will we quit looking at the hardships ("no one to help us") and instead     call to Jesus for help?

PRAYER

LORD GOD, Please help me to get over WIMPY CHRISTIANITY.
You have promised You WILL help if I ask!
You have promised WEAPONS against anything that comes against me trying to
     get me to sin.... Ephesians 6: 10 to end.  Yet I must PUT  ON  Your weapons. Choice.
Please strengthen me.... nag me even!  as my Friend.... I pray you'll keep at me to
         keep at Your Word.  For I yearn to make YOU  happy,  my friend.    (John 15). 

God's Supporting Word
"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." -- John 15:8

"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full"  -- Jesus, John 15:11

©2013 DianaDee Osborne (all material), all rights reserved. FREE personal usage; see website.  But feel free to print with copyright info, & share for nonprofit usage!
With thanks to BlueLetterBible.org  for providing God's Word in easy-to-research format.
Additional encouraging resources at 
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

Game Show Goofs and Dieting ......... by DianaDee Osborne

MARCH 28
Yesterday a game show posted the answer to a question on its electronic board:  Driving wrecklessly. 
Probably most people didn't notice, 
many didn't realize it was a mistake, 
and no one really cared. 

We'd all live more happily if, after we made a mistake, we remembered:  
Probably most people won't notice, 
some who do   won't think it a mistake, 

      and anyone who responds to a mistake critically 

          is one we shouldn't let cause us heartache.

   God in HIS wisdom gives the solution:        

Philippians 3:  13, 16   New American Standard Bible                  CLICK HERE for link

".... but one thing I do: 

forgetting what lies behind and reaching     

        >>> forward >>>>

to what lies ahead, 

           I press on toward the goal 

             for the prize 

               of the upward call 

of God in Christ Jesus."...

     "But we must  hold on to the progress 

                          we have already made."  

Philippians 3: 13   Revised Standard Version 

Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

PRAYER

LORD GOD,  please help me to NOT give up.  

After so many mistakes,

so many failures,

I  almost convince myself that  I would give up on me, 
         so maybe God would.
Jesus repeatedly said Satan is real... it surely seems Satan is encouraging me
to be discouraged and just quit and eat everything I want or drink or look for pills to
make me feel happy,   or to "shop til I drop" looking for SOMETHING to make me happy....
LORD GOD,  please help me   to NOT give up.  


God's  COMPLETE Supporting Word:
Philippians 3: 10 - end   New Living Translation

"I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,  so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you.

But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.  Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.

For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.

They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.    He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control."

©2013 DianaDee Osborne (all material), all rights reserved. FREE personal usage; see website.  But feel free to print with copyright info, & share for nonprofit usage!
With thanks to BlueLetterBible.org  for providing God's Word in easy-to-research format.
Additional encouraging resources at 
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

Taxing Blessings, Dieting Blessings .... by DianaDee Osborne

MARCH 26
I was up until 4 AM finishing our tax papers... but each time I felt like muttering, I remembered:  So many people have too little to bother filing tax returns.  We are blessed.

 A similar blessing for our diets.....                

Think of all the people in the world who don't have to diet....

not because of super-efficient metabolism and "good genes",

but because

they're too poor to have much to eat at all.

This isn't a "guilt trip" devotion... it's a PRAISE devotion!

Thanking God that, not only do we have sufficient food that 

we need to be more careful about our timely disbursement of it

(that is, to not eat 2 days' worth of calories in one day!)

but

we have enough to share surplus with others...

taking food to the food pantry,

taking extra money to churches or other organizations which

share with persons in need.    

Dieting is not "fun."  But it's a lot more enjoyable when

          we see the blessings behind 

                      our need to watch our food choices more carefully.

 

PRAYER

LORD GOD,  I dearly do praise You for all Your many blessings.  Even if I had little of what people call "riches," I still would praise You for Who You are.  And I don't have little... I have an amazing abundance, all my needs met -- sometimes not the way I'd prefer, but always in the end, I see how Your hand has guided me.  Provided my needs even when I thought I wanted more.  Thank You! 

God's Supporting Word:  Isaiah 58's promises to you

6- 7

"No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. 

8- 9

"Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind.  Then when you call, the LORD will answer. 'Yes, I am here,' he will quickly reply. "Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!  

10 - 11

Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring"  -- Isaiah 58: 6 - 11

©2013 DianaDee Osborne (all material), all rights reserved. FREE personal usage; see website.  But feel free to print with copyright info, & share for nonprofit usage!
With thanks to BlueLetterBible.org  for providing God's Word in easy-to-research format.
Additional encouraging resources at 
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

Roller Coasters Dieting Joy? ....... by DianaDee Osborne

MARCH 25
"Who feels like Life is a roller coaster?" asked the preacher.

A teen near the front row eagerly raised her hand and waved it back and forth energetically.  Most  of us looked a bit confused amid being amused. Then I figured it out:  She thought the preacher asked   "Who LIKES roller coasters?"

But she really had an excited attitude that      
we should all have for the actual question!     

It's often 

only when our lives are like roller coasters 

that we even notice
the hand of God moving, 
answering our prayers for help!  
And the noticing brings *SUCH* joy that God cares!


PRAYER

LORD GOD,  so often in my "roller coaster" life, I turn to food or shopping or
hour-long phone calls or hours in front of a screen  just to forget the valleys...
Please forgive me.  Help me to SEE all the many times when YOU ...
THE ONE TRUE GOD  of all this immeasurable universe... 
have helped me in the scary dashes toward an unknown bottom 
as well as the thrills of the upward climb.  I do Love You so much!

God's Supporting Word  - A PRAYER  of trust.

"Even when I walk through the darkest valley,

                 I will not be afraid, 

for You are close beside me. 
Your rod and your staff protect 
and comfort me."  -- Psalm 23:4 New Living Translation

©2013 DianaDee Osborne (all material), all rights reserved. FREE personal usage; see website.  But feel free to print with copyright info, & share for nonprofit usage!
With thanks to BlueLetterBible.org  for providing God's Word in easy-to-research format.
Additional encouraging resources at 
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

Fig Tree of Happiness Dieting ..... by DianaDee Osborne

MARCH 14

FROM GOD'S WORD:

Though the Fig Tree of Happiness may not blossom or bear fruit,
"still I shall Praise the LORD. 
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, 
I will Joy in the God of my salvation. 
The LORD God is my strength.... 
He will make me walk on my high hills. 
To the Chief Musician, With my stringed instruments." 
-- Habakkuk 3: 17-19 only slightly paraphrased... Guitar-ancestors in worship:)

When life isn't a "joy" and we don't see the 
LORD's hand,  still we rejoice!                         

And when we remember what a Joy  GOD Himself  IS,
we won't be so drawn to the temptations to SEEK joy
in silly things that won't matter a bit very soon in our lives... including food and stuff we buy and especially TV etc that numb our mind during our limited hours before death....

PRAYER

LORD GOD,  I do indeed worship you in all my days... even when preachers say I should be fully blessed with all sorts of stuff and I just see trouble after trouble coming in my life.  Please help me see all Your many blessings... starting with the breath of life you still are giving to me and to so very many of the ones I love... who are themselves YOUR blessings.

God's Supporting Word
Philippians 4
6-7

"Be anxious for nothing, 
but in everything by prayer 

and supplication, with thanksgiving, 

let your requests be made known to God;  

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and minds 

through Christ Jesus. 

8
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things [are] noble, whatever things [are] just, whatever things [are] pure, whatever things [are] lovely, whatever things [are] of good report, if [there is] any virtue and if [there is] anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
11-12
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 
13
I can do all things through Christ  who strengthens me"

Philippians 4: 12   in New Living Translation:

"I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little."

©2013 DianaDee Osborne (all material), all rights reserved. FREE personal usage; see website.  But feel free to print with copyright info, & share for nonprofit usage!
With thanks to BlueLetterBible.org  for providing God's Word in easy-to-research format.
Additional encouraging resources at 
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

Unexpected Step Help Dieting Parable ... by DianaDee Osborne

MARCH 22
When we moved into our place, I noticed a very odd thing in the bedroom tiny walk-in closet:  A low shelf had been built above the door on the inside -- not so odd. But wood plank pieces had been attached to the corner frame inside this weird little room.  The shelf is even low enough for me to reach, and the previous owners were tall.  But the "steps" up the wall were not in my way as I placed a dog bed in there to create my prayer closet.

After loving to meet God there in the quiet, cedar-smell room for some years, I began to have difficulty rising.  One day I just reached over and grabbed the bottom "step" and realized how much it helped me avoid pain as I arose.  I wondered: 

  Did God inspire the previous residents to     install that wood step years ago so it would be there when  *I*  needed it now?                        



Some people would respond, "That's ridiculous. You're just lucky."   But I look at ALL the many coincidences in my life from a math viewpoint.... STATISTICS.
 

And statistically speaking, there are FAR too many so-called coincidences in our lives to say there is no evidence that God  IS  and God CARES for you.
 

Anyone who is waiting for Proof that God exists will have to wait til he or she meets God after death.... for God will NEVER PROVE He exists... He allows us the freedom to refuse to have faith.

And faith cannot exist if we have proof.  ANGELS cannot have faith.   God's Word in Hebrews 11:1 --  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  (New KJV). 
   

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."   (NIV)
PRAYER

LORD GOD,  thank you for ALL the many evidences that You DO INDEED care about me and help.... Help me to stop saying "I'm lucky" without considering how much You BLESS me.  In every part of my life.  Even about dieting.

©2013 DianaDee Osborne (all material), all rights reserved. FREE personal usage; see website.  But feel free to print with copyright info, & share for nonprofit usage!
With thanks to BlueLetterBible.org  for providing God's Word in easy-to-research format.
Additional encouraging resources at 
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

Starting Line or Swamp Dieting Parable .... by DianaDee Osborne

MARCH 21
When I was a little girl.... and a teen....
when I had been successful for awhile but then slipped back,
my mom wouldn't let me give up.
Wouldn't let me wallow.
Mean ol' mom,  I'd think. Thanking God for her 'meanness' still!

Mom would say, 

  Well,  back to the starting line.                      

I'm abashed to comment that it took me a long time to realize

that she was talking about races.  We never watched horse races,

and the first glorious Olympics experience I had was with my hubby on the tiny black and white TV that we could afford.

Paul knew, just a few years after Jesus was crucified and resurrected,  that the people enjoyed races then.  Footraces, chariot races... depending on what they could afford, racing was fun to watch.  So the people knew exactly what he meant by the "parables"  about races  that Paul provided in several of his letters --

which were, remember, inspired by GOD Himself (2nd Timothy 3:16):

Philippians 3: 8, 12-14

Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ .... Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.   Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,   I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

First Corinthians 9: 24-27

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes [for the prize] is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a perishable crown, but we [for] an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as [one who] beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. 

2nd Timothy 4: 6-7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 

 

Hebrews 12: 1-4

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares [us], and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of [our] faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 

So when we "go backwards" in our attempts

to obey God in "whatevers", doesn't it make sense to "go back to the starting line" -- God's

PROMISES to HELP us as soon as we ask?

That we CAN win the race with His help --

         First Corinthians 10:13

So I change Mom's wording a bit to this: 

         Better to go back to the starting line         

than to stay in the swamp you got yourself into.

PRAYER

LORD GOD,  You KNOW how discouraged I feel about this dieting thing,
and all the OTHER things I try to obey you in...
How discouraged I am when my own choices lead me away from the past successes
I had with your help in obeying you.   Please keep me aware, keep being my loving dad who disciplines me until I do what is best for me.  I pray in Jesus's Holy Name.
-----------------

©2013 DianaDee Osborne (all material), all rights reserved. FREE personal usage; see website.  But feel free to print with copyright info, & share for nonprofit usage!
With thanks to BlueLetterBible.org  for providing God's Word in easy-to-research format.
Additional encouraging resources at 
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

Defining the Sin Question .......... by DianaDee Osborne

MARCH 22
Perhaps you remember when you were a child... or teen:) ... and 
wanted something.  You went to Dad first to ask, confident that 
he was more likely to quickly say "sure, ok".  Remember how disappointed you felt when he instead said,

"That's up to your mother."

?
A very (very) famous pastor was recently interviewed, and the video "sailed around the globe".  The question asked:  "Does God call ______ a sin?"   (Detail omitted since detail not important to this question.)  The pastor replied, "That's up to God."

  But God ALREADY answered the question!   
  REPEATEDLY  in His Bible.  This isn't  a      matter of interpretation of a little verse or 2.   God has answered already:  It is "YES!"         

 

GOD'S BIBLE IS NOT A MENU.

WE CANNOT DECIDE WHAT IS or ISN'T a SIN

BASED ON our personal preference.

When God says "it's a sin",

we don't have to wait til we get to heaven to ask Him.

And we let others MOCK God when we
treat God's Word like this.... see God's declaration of
His opinion on our actions that lead others to blaspheme Him,   in 2nd Samuel 12:14.

 

PRAYER

LORD GOD,  I'd rather not think of the things I do as "sins."  Especially when they are as ordinary as just over-shopping or over-eating or "a little bit of innocent lying."  You know... just a little white lie.  Please forgive me for thinking I am Holy God who can decide what I shall think is sinful.  Please help me OBEY You.  To stop being self-centered.

God's Supporting Word
Ezekiel 16:49 - 50  (The "sex" chapter, but it includes other sins including a version of abortion in verse 36 as a way to get "good" from false gods): 
GOD is speaking:
"Sodom's sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door.  She was proud and committed detestable sins, so I wiped her out, as you have seen."


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