Valentine Flowers Dieting Parable - by DianaDee Osborne

FEBRUARY  14
The flowers my hubby gave me for Valentine's Day continue to give me smiles. Each time I pass them, I literally 'stop and smell the roses.' 

I doubt that he notices, though, 

the many-years-old  2 dozen dried-up roses 

that  I have on a ceiling-height shelf.  I not only smile but laugh at the memory of receiving one dozen that Valen-Day morning... and another dozen that he snuck into the house during a lunch break with the note on them: "One Dozen just isn't enough." 

Ah how I love remembering all the moments of shared love between us. And past surprise moments of loving help in unexpected & un-prayed-for ways from Loving Father God. Too many to be coincidental.

We are NOT  on our own as we diet.... as we struggle to stop over-shopping.... as we fight temptations against smoking or slumping in    front of the TV or computer all day to escape   thoughts of sorrows.....................                      

Too many times to be coincidental, you WILL see ---- if you just ask God.  His promises are TRUE.  READ OF HIS LOVE  in the SHORT  little book of First John, for a start. 

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it].  1 Corinthians 10:13.  

            THIS IS A LOVE LETTER            

                   FROM GOD          TO YOU.     

PRAYER

LORD GOD,  SOMETIMES MY SIN-DOING SCARES ME.  I'm afraid You'll stop loving me. You know, sometimes I don't love me.  How can You?  Please help me to trust Your word...
INCLUDING THAT YOU LOVE ME  even when I don't feel like it.
INCLUDING THAT YOU WANT TO HELP ME   even when I don't feel that You would
because if I were You,    I would have given up on me   oh so long ago.    Thank You.
==================================================================

©2013, 2015 (registered with USCO) by 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

Valentine for God Dieting - by DianaDee Osborne

FEBRUARY  13
Today is the day before  the DAY OF LOVE -- 
             VALENTINE's DAY..... 
It's good to consider a different valentine:
Ash Wednesday.  
A depressing day...
Remembering Lent, remembering that our Loving Father God let His VALENTINE to us, Jesus, die as His ultimate
sign of love....       HE first loved US. First John 4  (link)

A day when God's people join in prayers to Him, thanks to Him for All He has done. A day that surely Satan and his powers of darkness must hate as we remember God "more than usual" (Ephesians 6:12). 
A day to remember all my selfish choices.
A day to remember GOD.... When I think of Him first in priority above me,  it's not so hard to diet or make choices that would please God.  Problem is... I forget.  Not exactly.  Hard to explain.  I found (God's guidance) Brother Lawrence's 400-year-old book a few years ago, and it changed my life:  
"Practicing the Presence of God."  The KEY:

   Instead of talking to yourself all day -- just talk to God. 
Remember He's beside you.  Talk to him as your friend (see Jesus's invitation to friendship in John 15).
And work in some QUIET time -- Psalm 46:10 -- to "be still and know that God is God.

SATAN enjoys seeing that FEW people remember John 8:44
       and the MANY other times JESUS said Satan is real-- 
not just a symbol of evil.  Remembering God's power over 
this bitty-to-HOLY-CREATOR-GOD powerless-to-God angel
        will help you and me get through ANY temptation.

First Corinthians 10: 13

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; 

but God is faithful, 

who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, 

but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, 

that you may be able to bear it.

link to multiple translations of God's Word

Remember -- GOD.  Because Remember with God,  

James 4: 7 and 8 -- Satan HAS to flee when you invite God.

It's like "Tough luck, Satan -- God Loves me and ya can't stop Him from helping me!"                        LINK to God's Word

 PRAYER
I  DEARLY DEARLY   THANK  You, LORD GOD that we're not on our own.  Lent celebrates Your VALENTINE LOVE to us.... Reminds us of battles like have led to crucifixion.....
& yet Victories In God's Power that assuredly come! 
If we ASK for help. 
 Ephesians 6: 10 to end.  LORD God, I ask!  Help me to resist temptations to things You call wrong... SIN.... And help me serve You by helping others do the same, I pray in Jesus's Holy Name that I bless.

============================================================
©2013, 2015 (registered with USCO) by 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

Remembering in Dieting - by DianaDee Osborne

FEBRUARY  12
Yesterday I visited a friend in the hospital.
His room was near where I lived for 8 days with my daughter, years ago, after her appendix burst.  I REMEMBERED the room location because I could look outside and see the High School Track field and watch,
from the 5th floor across the road,  my son run his super-important race.
I REMEMBER the date
because I was still "living there"  while my oldest daughter was handed her H.S. diploma.
Some  things we would like to forget.  Like living in a hospital.

   God often brings to our minds   memories 
  that will bring LIFE.   As He  did THAT same week.

For the doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong.
And then my daughter's pain got better, so they wanted to release her from the hospital.  But we refused.

SUDDENLY,  from nowhere that I can take credit for,
I remembered someone having told me many years earlier how a specific older doctor was so gifted at diagnosing.  I asked for that doctor.  Although he had a reduced "retirement" schedule now,
 he "happened" to be scheduled at the hospital for the hour after I requested him.  God Providing.  He did a 3-minute exam and scheduled the operating room.  Her appendix had burst.  Had I listened to the doctors, she would have died at home. For it's a common occurrence that after the appendix bursts, the pressure is released so the pain diminishes.  Three months later,  a boy in a nearby town  DID die from that.

What does this have to do with dieting?
REMEMBERING.  God brings to our minds what we should remember.  Jesus promised this in John 14:26.
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name,   He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance   all things that I said to you." 


REMEMBERING.  God has MANY words of encouragement in His Word... and warnings we sometimes need to get us focused.  If we ask the Holy Spirit for help, He WILL bring them to our remembrance.  Jesus promised.

PRAYER

Lord,  too often I depend on my own skills, my own wisdom, my own "will power."  Please help me to REMEMBER  Your Truths and to obey them.  I study Your Word.  Please help me to REMEMBER Your promises as I fight temptations and self-centered living.  Thank you.

==================================================================
©2013, 2015 (registered with USCO) by 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

Winter Storms Dieting Parable - by DianaDee Osborne

February 11                                                                                      SUBSCRIBE  
Winter storms  are predicted all along the East Coast of the U.S.
Power outages as snow melts and re-freezes are predicted too.

I've collected buckets of water, and pitchers of drinking water.
I brought in firewood and collected some more dry kindling from the woods.
Checked my batteries supply... ok. Checked all the flashlights.
     I had already trimmed the wicks of the Hurricane kerosine lamps after last use... Ready.
Plenty of catfood, bread and milk. 
Got my supply of books I HOPE to be able to read thanks to not being able to leave home!

Find myself wondering:
Think of all the people over centuries who got surprised by storms!
         Here we are  with two days of warning.
How did they manage? 


They STAYED prepared. All winter.

And if the storm never came, then, ah well: 

        They rested in readiness.     

When you think about it:  That's what a DIET is.
Preparation  for whatever God has ahead for us.
Doing lots of work-- yes--- without any full idea what good it will do...
But RESTING in the readiness of knowing that when storms of life come,
      we've done the best we could to prepare... sacrificed time exercising...
             sacrificed  "comfort food" we would have loved... All to be READY for God.
 
 God's Supporting Word 

“You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected...

If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward."

-- Matthew 24: 44, 46            CLICK HERE FOR LINK      

PRAYER

LORD GOD,  It is SO easy to keep thinking "I'll do it tomorrow... next week..."
Whether it's a task I know I should do to be in Your will,
or choosing to eat wisely.
Please help me to remember:  EVENTUALLY this Time You have gifted to me will end.

Please help me to do what is right:  TO PREPARE,  as You said.

Including taking care of this body.  I dearly, desperately need Your help overcoming
my self-centered desires for "what I want when I want it."
I give You permission, give You this request, to keep reminding me to Follow You.
John 15 OBEDIENCE, to You as my Friend as well as my Savior and my God.


==========================================================
©2014, 2015 by 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. Earlier format published 11 Feb 2014. Additional encouraging resources at 
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

Bummer Monday Diet Prayer - by DianaDee Osborne

JANUARY 5
Bummer. These days, every day feels like a Monday:
And it's even worse to feel like a Monday 
after a week or 2 of fun days during the holidays.
Bummer.   I promised myself to start dieting again 
after I had some fun eating whatever I wanted
"for a little while.  I even promised God.
There is...    or should always come  ... a
time to focus on taking care of the body God gifted.
We get only one. And it has the purpose of
sharing God's News with others, to save them from
the horrors of the HELL that Jesus repeatedly described
as REAL.                         Click Here for Scripture Samples

 In Isaiah 41, God encouraged His people,
and encouraged THEM to encourage OTHERS.
So... as we diet or otherwise seek to reflect God,
with His help (2nd Corinthians 3:18), let us pray & rejoice!:
================================================================

Flow of ENCOURAGEMENT

Romans 8: 24 God ALREADY gave us hope....
Romans 8: 25   If we look forward to something we don't yet have, we must wait
     PATIENTLY AND CONFIDENTLY   (in God!). 
Romans 8: 32.  God Gave all for me.  He LOVES me.  2 Peter 3:9 -- God loves us ALL.
Romans 8: 33.  Yes, I've been self-centered including about eating. But
Romans 8: 35, that doesn't stop God from living me.
Romans 8: 37.  I am MORE THAN A CONQUEROR 
through Jesus who loves me.
That's because, when I ask, God will help me.
================================================================

PRAYER -- SPEAK TO GOD ALOUD....

LORD God -- I do ask.
With joy worshiping You for all You've done and all You ARE,
I thank You so much for loving me even though I've been selfish.
And I pray Romans 8:26 -- 
Holy Spirit, please help me pray.  
I  TRUST  God's Word that 
His Own Spirit shall help me.
I choose You, The One Trinity LORD God,  over my selfish desires.  
Including for more food than I should be eating. 
Please forgive me for past sins,
and please show me how I can not only draw closer to You like James 4:8 says,
but also show other people how much JOY they will find
in a daily relationship, a daily devotion to YOU through even daily dieting.

HINTS

GOD  DOESN'T  CARE  WHAT  THE  SCALE  SAYS.
Really.  All God yearns for is for US to SAY:
God, You are LORD of me.
I go forward in this moment,thinking my thoughts to YOU instead of to me.

JOYS  from  GOD through OTHERS:

From Brother Lawrence's THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD (written in the late 1600s;  Public Domain:)

“A little lifting up of the heart suffices; a little remembrance of God, an interior act of adoration, even though made on the march and with sword in hand, are prayers which, short though they may be, are nevertheless very pleasing to God, and far from making a soldier lose his courage on the most dangerous occasions, bolster it.  Let him then think of God as much as possible so that he will gradually become accustomed to this little but holy exercise..." 
==========================================================
©2012, 2015 (registered with USCO) by 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. Earlier format published 26 Nov 2012. Additional encouraging resources at 
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

Old Bridges Diets, by DianaDee Osborne

January 2

I live near an old city with very old bridges.
I find it amusing to read the city's main newspaper whenever
 yet again some bridge repairs are being done on the huge span that crosses a major river.  
Motorists keep writing in to say "The bridge keeps shaking!  Are we safe on it??"  
And the Department of Transportation keeps responding in the paper with the same words:

"We're working to improve the bridge -- but it's safe.  
The shaking is part of the design so that it is stronger 
by moving with the vibrations of heavy traffic.  
We made the trusses strong enough to endure the weight, 
and we keep checking them and strengthening them."

People looking at me on the outside 
see only the repair  MESS.  
They see how, too often, 
I've let the stresses trafficking through my life 
lead me to foods that assuredly do not strengthen me.  
              Maybe that's the same for you.    
But what they don't see is:
When we turn to God again for help, 
He begins the repair process!              
God begins rebuilding our dependence on Him instead of "comfort foods" -- 
or on TV or internet or The Home Shopping Network or the MALL, or whatever.  
Remember Peter? 
Of course.  Peter was shaken after Jesus was seized.  
But his turning away was no worse than ours, 
for God does not measure our sins in size or time.  
And Jesus lovingly called to Peter even before Peter's sin, the words below.  
The words that our Loving LORD shares for each of us.... John 17: 9-10  Click for LINK
He's praying for you and me.

ENCOURAGEMENT from God's Word for us dieters too:

"And the Lord [JESUS] said,  "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."  -- Luke 22:31-32,  encouragement and not condemnation even to Peter.  Even to us who tend to become self-focused including with food.

PRAYER
Lord, I get so discouraged.  I see all the things wrong with me, with this "bridge" of mine.  Please open my eyes to see that You dearly love me and eagerly will repair whatever is broken, if I ask you.  Oh, LORD, I ask.  Help me to love You back more and more than I already do.  To trust your love as my One Comfort, I pray.

HINTS

"When He [Jesus] came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."
We frequently hear the truth that God helps us IN temptation.  But this Word of God in Luke 22:40 directly tells us:
When we arise in the morning,
as we walk through the day,
before it ever happens we should pray 
that God will help us not even ENTER into any temptation
that comes our way.
THIS,  Dear LORD,  I do pray.

==========================================================
©2012, 2015 (registered with USCO) by 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. Earlier format published  1 Dec 2012. Additional encouraging resources at 
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

Admitting Angering Encouragement ...... by DianaDee Osborne

January 1

A famous, small, thin Christian magazine contains article after article describing miracles that God has done for people....

         +  saving them from car accidents,

         +  providing money for bills at the last minute,

         +  giving guidance that is unmistakeably God's Word.

         +  Sending a barking dog to get help when someone is dying -      
                       (and no, not the famous collie).

I reached a point where I was actually angry when the magazine showed up in my mailbox. I gave away the copies unopened. I asked the gift-givers to please stop sending me that subscription.

And yes... I do question my anger.

AND NO.... it hasn't been an anger at God,

despite all the times He didn't "come through" with an answer

the way I in my little mind thought He should've & knew He could've.

  I think my anger has been because I've seen so many Christians 
              act like Job's  friends ---

VERY lovingly,  wanting to encourage.   Unlike Job's friends, many of these... perhaps  even most of those you or I know... are not being arrogant or Religious  

         +  when they say "Smile, God Loves You."  

         +  When they declare "God Will Work It Out."  

         +  When they warn, "Trust God, He Knows what He's Doing."

WHEN I READ THAT MAGAZINE,

     I THINK OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHOSE STORES ARE   NOT   in there.

     I THINK OF ALL THE PEOPLE who may not yet *know* God  loves them and will work it 

        out   and even cares --- much less will  do something to help them.

   I THINK OF THE DESPERATION of people struggling....

including against temptations... not yet a "success".

      Why did I decide to write a diet blog?

      I think it's because I  *have*  failed so many times.

I think God's guiding me to encourage people 
      who *don't* yet

have a success story to share....

Though I do.  At one time not that long ago, I had a success story 8 years long, including 3 years at 128 pounds. But then a combination of physical events and pain events changed my story....    
But with God's help, I shall resume at least
reflecting Jesus in my lifestyle, even when physical things won't show that on the scale or via my clothing size.

And I've prayed that God will help me encourage OTHERS also.....

NOT   with my former success story such as that magazine would considered publishing,

but with my Romans 7 style  FAILURE STORY.... 
FFN.... FAILURE FOR NOW,    
but not permanent,  
as long as we keep turning to God sincerely seeking His help.

Because, as a pastor once inspired 200+ people to laugh at his accidental joke:

ROMANS 7  is always followed by

 ROMANS 8  when we turn to THE God of the Bible,  and of Us.

SCRIPTURE LINKS:       Romans 7            Romans 8           Ephesians 6:10-18   ARMOR OF GOD 
 

GOD'S  ENCOURAGEMENT

Romans 8:20 and 21:  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;  because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

  
PRAYER

FATHER God,  I do indeed seek Your help.  
You know I get discouraged when -- like Peter -- 
I look down at the waves and I look into myself 
to see my weakness  
and do not keep my eyes on 
Jesus in the storms, on the dangerous waters.  
Please help me stay aware.  Ephesians 6: 10 to end.  
Please help me keep praying.  Ephesians 6:10 to end.  
Please help me do more than just say words to You, 
but to also ACT on Your promised Word.... 
to put on Your Armor each minute as I  fight temptations... 
In the Name of Jesus Our Lord, Your Son, I pray.
I pray  BOLDLY,  as YOU invited me:  Hebrews 4:16,
"So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, 
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, 
or he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.  
 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. 
There we will receive  his mercy, 
and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."


==========================================================
©2014, 2015 (registered with USCO) by 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. Earlier format published 10 Feb 2014. Additional encouraging resources at 
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com