Sunday, March 30, 2014

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.  Including, sad for me too: Gluttony.
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.
Sometimes we're FALSELY  told we are NOT sinning, &
   thus we 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  -- including my focus on food --
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. First version published 29-30 March 2013. 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

Saturday, March 29, 2014

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

MARCH 29
For the music that goes with these lyrics,     CLICK  HERE  

For your own copy of the lyrics or music (free),   CLICK HERE
and go to the line JAMES FOUR SEVEN on my website  DianaDeeOsborneSongs.com

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.                               BIBLE   LINK  HERE
-------------------------

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. Song copyrighted 2011.
Blog first published 29 March 2013. 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

Friday, March 28, 2014

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. First published 28 March 2013. 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

Thursday, March 27, 2014

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. First published 27 March 2013. 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

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

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. First published 26 March 2013. 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

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

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. First published 25 March 2013. 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

Saturday, March 22, 2014

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. First published 22 March 2013.
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