Foggy Car Windows Diet Parable - by DianaDee Osborne

APRIL 8                                                                      SUBSCRIBE  
Hurrying home from the other city, 
decided to get in a super-fast workout before 
going home to grab some CDs and books for my guitar student 
plus print out 3-year-old sheet music from Sunday's solo--- 
before rushing off to the distant church. 

But I did start laughing as I got about 5 miles away from the gym: 
I hadn't THOUGHT I'd gotten in much of a workout, 
but apparently I did   more  than  I'd  hoped: 
My car window got so foggy -- 
so steamed up on my driver's side that
I couldn't see well through it for 10 miles!


<Photo Credit: CQOUT, Stop Foggy Your Car Windows>

SO often I hear others sympathize with me because
     THEY feel the same way:                                  

"Some days I wonder  'what   DID  I do today?'       
Seemed like a lot but I can't remember --           
    Did I accomplish more than I'd hoped?"          
           (Even thru Facebook, Pinterest, Blogs, Twitter....?) 

We just ask God to help us help us 
wisely use our time... 

Exciting Scripture Promises from God:

Ephesians 3:20-21.                        CLICK HERE FOR LINK

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,  

 

16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, 

to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,  

 

17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; 

that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  

 

18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints 

what is the width and length and depth and height—  

 

19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; 

that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

 

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly 

above all that we ask or think, 

according to the power that works in us, 

21 to Him be glory .....

... To Ephesians  5:16... wise use of time.  
                                                CLICK HERE FOR LINK

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, 

not as fools but as wise, 

16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

PRAYER

LORD GOD,  I *feel*  fear despite Your promises.
I Trust that the fear is stupid, BECAUSE of your promises.
Help me stand on Your Truth and not my true but Wrong Feelings.
I pray in the Mighty Name of Jesus, our Prince of Peace.

==========================================================
©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!
Contact via:  https://www.facebook.com/dianadee.osborne
With thanks to BlueLetterBible.org  for providing God's Word in easy-to-research format.  Additional encouraging resources at 
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

Contingency Planning Dieting - by DiansDee Osborne

APRIL 7                                                                       SUBSCRIBE  
You know you're gonna have them:
Moments when you can't stand dieting anymore.
Moments when Life is so frustrating
that you're going to eat SOMETHING to try to feel better.

What to do? Give up dieting?
Of course not.
Like everything:  JUST PLAN AHEAD.
Set up a contingency plan.... Decide IN ADVANCE what you will eat
when feelings make you want to quit...
By planning ahead, you'll be more in control.
Even if you follow the plan only awhile and then chuck it,
you'll be more likely to return... because you DID have success for awhile!

Suggested ideas that help me and others:
First -- Consider going for a walk, playing music,
calling a friend, writing a letter, writing in a JOURNAL (even if on computer),
playing with a pet, writing out some of your history for a future Christmas gift....

If these still don't stop your yearnings to eat:

1.  Consider high protein, which helps stop hunger and can be lower calorie:
- Eggs fixed anyway - except not with butter!, 
- Pan fried (1/2 water with the oil) chicken breast strips,
- Lower sugar meal substitute drinks like Boost >>  I dilute mine with coffee and ice. 
- Handful of shredded mozzarella cheese, eaten in strips. (Is rather low fat for cheese.)

2.  Consider some fat, which helps stop cravings --
adjust salt downward if blood pressure is not toward low end of normal:
- Microwave POPPER popcorn (not premix packages with additives). BONUS:
       The high fiber will help fill you up.
- lean beef or turkey jerky 
- Nitrite-free sliced turkey on English muffin- more chewy than bread.


3.  Plan ahead what sweets are healthier, like these that help me:
- Yogurt... even the kinds with M&Ms or cookies; stir in some PLAIN for less sugar.
         BONUS:  Greek yogurt is high protein, more filling.
- Faster cooking (3-5 minutes) PLAIN oatmeal: Stir in a bit of preserves
         or maple syrup for bit of sweetness... or honey.

Follow your own doctor's advice of course, or your food preferences....
The basic concept is:
When we plan ahead, it is NOT failure, 
any more than keeping a spare tire is.
It's just another STRATEGY 
in our adventure journey of learning to
more and more REFLECT our LORD God to other people....

and His Holy Spirit promises that He will help us reflect God (2nd Corinthians 3:18)
and give us WISDOM  (James 1:5),
and HELP US PRAY   (Romans 8:26)
and HELP US REMEMBER all Jesus's Teachings >> John 14:26. JESUS said so!

PRAYER

LORD GOD,  I so much understand Romans 7...       Click for Link
I keep trying and failing so often... But I CONFIDENTLY know that
all Your promises of Romans 8 are true!                     Click for Link
Help me have wisdom to plan ahead, I pray.                  
I pray in the Mighty Name of Jesus, our Prince of Peace.

==========================================================
©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!
Contact via:  https://www.facebook.com/dianadee.osborne
With thanks to BlueLetterBible.org  for providing God's Word in easy-to-research format.  Additional encouraging resources at 
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

Laughing at Mistakes Dieting Parable - by DianaDee Osborne

APRIL 6                                                                       SUBSCRIBE  
My week: 
I grabbed some cottage cheese to put on my pears last night; discovered it was the Sour Cream container. (yucckk). 

I put the old-fashioned popper into the microwave to make popcorn; FORGOT the lid. 

I was talking thru the door to my hubby as I 
drained my HUGE seaweed salad at the kitchen sink; 
my hands slipped. 
Long Strands of seaweed hanging off the 
faucet, 
     countertop, 
           sprayer, 
                  cabinet knob below... Looked like some 
underwater ghost story... AND it's ONLY Monday!

There are always weeks with "those days". 
ach one gives a new decision point on how to react... 

Me: I just laughed & laughed at each (though a pause 
during moment of shock when seaweed landed on my bare foot!)...
Me: I *do* enjoy getting older. 
No, I don't love the reflection in the hall mirror. 

But I love how God keeps His 2nd Corinthians 3:18   promises: 
If we ask, He sends the Holy Spirit to help us grow 
better & better in reflecting Him... 
Such a joy to have grown able to laugh so much at myself!

PRAYER

LORD GOD,  I surely do goof a lot.
Some mistakes are silly like these. Some were... I'll be honest:
SINS. Things I chose to do because I wanted to.
Including some lazy moments. Including some gluttony moments...
how I hate that honest word.
Please do indeed Know:  I TRULY want Your Holy Spirit to help me
please You because You are so great and I want to give You pleasure.
Please help me grow more and more in better reflecting You. 
   IN   ALL   WAYS.

==========================================================
©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!
Contact via:  https://www.facebook.com/dianadee.osborne
With thanks to BlueLetterBible.org  for providing God's Word in easy-to-research format.  Additional encouraging resources at 
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

Ticking Watch Dieting Parable - be DianaDee Osborne

APRIL 3                                                                          SUBSCRIBE  

My watch ticks every day. 
Every hour. 
Every minute. 
Every second.

Every repetition in this paragraph is needed to remind me:
God seeks a relationship with me 
so close that I'm aware of Him  >>>>    
Every hour. 
Every minute.
Every second.

Sometimes it seems time moves So slowly....
Will I ever lose this weight?
Will I ever be able to eat like "Normal people again?

PRAYER

LORD GOD, please forgive me when I get impatient,
when time seems an enemy, a barricade.
Some days, I am truly so frustrated that, literally,
all I can do is pray, 
asking YOU Holy Spirit to pray FOR me as promised
through Romans 8:26....

asking YOU Holy Spirit to help me remember all Jesus's teachings
as promised through John 14:26, right before the PEACE scripture, verse 27:

Help me stand on Your Truth 
nd not my true but Wrong Feelings.
I pray in the Mighty Name of Jesus, 
our Prince of Peace.

==========================================================
©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!
Contact via:  https://www.facebook.com/dianadee.osborne
With thanks to BlueLetterBible.org  for providing God's Word in easy-to-research format.  Additional encouraging resources at 
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com++++++++++

Ecclesiastes 4 and Taxes Dieting Parable - by DianaDee Osborne

APRIL 2                                                                         SUBSCRIBE  

Scholars disagree (what a surprise) on
when Bible book of Ecclesiastes was written
(or by whom, tho Solomon in his old age is presumed).
Some say a few Persian- like words indicate 330- 450 years before Christ.

Whatever year:
Ecclesiastes includes a LOT of helpful hints!

~25 centuries before my husband and I have to calculate taxes owed
does certainly point yet again to God's inspiration thru Ecclesiastes 4: 9 >
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor." ... 
Well, it's not exactly a "Reward", but we caught each other's little error.
And can celebrate our Home Team victory -- We finished!

SO WHAT?
It's easier to accomplish goals
when we must be accountable to a person "with skin on"...
not only to God,
but to someone who will ENCOURAGE US, or gently CHIDE us
when we get careless,
or even deeply tempted to give up.

Supporting scriptures
First Thessalonians 5:11,

"Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing."

PRAYER

LORD GOD,  I need
help.... I appreciate Yours of course! But I do ask that You 
put into my life some persons to help me meet the goals
I believe that You have encouraged me to do:
Diet, Exercise, Reading the Bible Truths,
serving The LORD... whatever You call me to do, to Reflect my LORD;

2nd Corinthians 3:18  NLT.
So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and 
reflect the glory of the Lord. 
And the Lord—who is the Spirit—
makes us more and more like him as we are 
changed into his glorious image.

==========================================================
©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!
Contact via:  https://www.facebook.com/dianadee.osborne
With thanks to BlueLetterBible.org  for providing God's Word in easy-to-research format.  Additional encouraging resources at 
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

April Fool Dieting Parable - by DianaDee Osborne

APRIL 1                                                                        SUBSCRIBE  

April Fool's Day. No idea how it got its name. Don't care.

Mainly remember kids in school using it as an excuse to be mean...

and then act like *I* was stupid for believing their words...
Which I came to believe that I was: Foolish, careless.
Feel the same way about dieting....

How can I have gotten the way I am? Careless about food long enough

to start looking like this? Weary of dieting so much that now I'm less healthy?
Foolish indeed, it seems.  YET:  God still cares.       
Gives wisdom "without reproach"  He says thru
James 1:6, when I set aside my feelings,    my guilty 
feeling thoughts, and just call on Him....

SO WHAT ??

God told us the same centuries ago: 
People & Satan have NO ACCESS to control our minds>> 
Without us giving it to them. 

What does LORD God say ??  
The fool has said in his heart,  “There is no God.”
They are corrupt,  They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.
Proverbs 14:1   <click on link>

SAME WORDS in Psalm 53:1 were written into a SONG by the Psalmist!
It's MY choice and YOURS: 
Will we give up when we feel foolish?  NO!


What does LORD God say ?? 
DESTROY all wrong thoughts that come into your mind. 
2nd Corinthians 10:3-5


God gives us full control to decide to 
strengthen our minds, to  turn to HIM for help.
It's  NEVER FOOLISH  to turn to the
Creator of the Entire Universe  Who's offering help!

First Peter 1:13  -- written by the guy who gave in to fear,
                         denied he even knew Jesus, and was FORGIVEN
                         by God as soon as he repented:   Matthew 26:74

___________________________________________________________________
From actual Facebook parables posted... For future use in original songs at FREE 
music website with  ~400 MP3 audios & downloadable music sheets, at
http://www.DianaDeeOsbornesongs.com/
                        No registration needed to use music website!

©2015 DianaDee Osborne (all material), all rights reserved. FREE personal usage; see website. 
CONTACT via https://www.facebook.com/dianadee.osborne  if no Comment Box:)

With thanks to BlueLetterBible.org  for providing God's Word in easy-to-research format.

PRAYER

LORD GOD,  I *feel* so foolish for letting myself go... even when I
have medical reasons, I confess I could have turned to you more for help.
Forgive me all my foolish choices. Help me to have - to USE Your promised wisdom!

==========================================================
©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!
Contact via:  https://www.facebook.com/dianadee.osborne
With thanks to BlueLetterBible.org  for providing God's Word in easy-to-research format.  Additional encouraging resources at 
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com