Head Cold Diet Parable Sorta ........ by DianaDee Osborne

JANUARY 21

I am blessed:  I very very (very) seldom am sick.  So when the sore throat on just one side started last Thursday, I knew:  UH, Oh,  a cold is coming.

I'm rather pleased with myself. I haven't grumbled too much.  
After all, yup I'm miserable and it's amazing how long nights feel when I can't sleep.  
But "this too shall pass" in a few days.  So I haven't been too especially wimpy.

But I figured, Hey -- what's a Romans 8:28 
that God can pull out of this?  I feel rotten, I can't sing so we couldn't record any songs, I shouldn't go around other people so I haven't been able to go places.  Housework sure ain't at the top of my wish list, so the cats have extra toys to play with (trash can treasures, for example).  Surely there must be something good about having a rotten head cold.
Well, my first thought brought a laugh.  Remember Grandma?

"Feed a cold, starve a fever."

Well there's  exciting good news for someone trying to watch calories.  Permission to eat!
I survived the temptation.  Pretty Much.  And did enjoy the laugh.

But then figured out  the Romans 8:28 of it.
I'm too sick for a few days to enjoy life, enjoy food, enjoy friends.

Many Many people are too sick for these for years.  I am blessed.

I'm too sick for a few days to do much outside my thick blanket and soft chair.
Many Many people are sick out in streets, or drafty apartments, under bridges.  I am blessed.
I'm too sick for a few days to feel productive.  To serve God.
But God MAKES us "lie down by still waters."   Psalm 23:2.

God TELLS us to "Be still and know that I AM  God."  Psalm 46:10.

So here's the Parable sorta 

                              of a head cold and a diet:

We can dedicate ANYTHING to God 
           and He WILL bring something good from it.

PRAYER
Father God,  I put myself in Your hands, 
even feeling as weary and in pain as I do.  
And I bless Your Holy Name and thank YOU for 
this remembrance through a simple head cold:
I am blessed by You.

   I REST in You.  And wait on You to provide the health 

    and opportunities to serve You in YOUR power.... not   in mine.  Even when I'm healthy.

©2013 DianaDee Osborne;  all rights reserved.  But feel free to print with copyright info, & share for nonprofit usage!
Other encouraging resources:  http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

A PURPOSE for Dieting .... by DianaDee Osborne

January 20     a PURPOSE for  DIETING

Ephesians 4: 1 and 2 and 11 and 12..... and 13......

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 

with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,  

And He Himself gave some [to be] apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 

for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ...

How often do I forget....

God can get a good Romans 8:28 PURPOSE out of anything that I dedicate to Him.

Even my dieting.

Dieting is a small way to honor Him... to "walk worthy of" His calling.

"Longsuffering" in dieting is assuredly nothing compared to what many have suffered
       because they honored the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.
Teaching....... 
by my example,  what TEACHING can God use me to share with others? -- to
"equip"  others with faith that God DOES answer prayers...
even prayers for delivery from temptations to self-centeredness.....
--------
Ephesians 4: 12,   LORD GOD,  I pray:
Use me to "edify" -- to build up -- the Body of Christ, .... Ephesians 4: 13 on:
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;  that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

 

Gotta Be Some Changes -- ..... by DianaDee Osborne

JANUARY 19

(copyrighted song, ©2013 DianaDee Osborne;  permission given for private usage; all rights reserved)

CLICK HERE FOR FREE MUSIC SHEETS at my safe website near end of list.
DianaDeeOsborneSongs.com

CLICK HERE  to hear the AUDIO (also free)

1
There's gotta be some changes
    so I can be happy
There's gotta be some changes  --- so I'll have JOY and Peace.
I gotta CHOOSE the way I see
    stop thinking selfishly
        Have the mind of CHRIST....
Ephesians 4 describes the way God says to be --- 
with His HELP!   (with His help)  ---  

PRAYER-   “God, HELP!”    LORD,  I truly pray this.  I've failed so many times... THANK YOU that You do not abandon me.  I pray You will help me SEE that You indeed help when I ask and truly seek to change my attitude,  my mind to be like Christ's.     Philippians 2:5.     First Peter 4: 1. 

GOD'S ENCOURAGEMENT

Galatians 5: 16   I say then: 

Walk in the Spirit, and  you shall 
     NOT   fulfill the lust of the flesh. 

From Galatians 5:17.

“The sinful nature wants to do evil, 

which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions... “ -- Galatians 5:17 (one verse), New Living Translation ....

The HOLY SPIRIT is our Changer.  

See Galatians 5: 18  to the end   for the changes... [NASB = link]

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law....

 

©2013 DianaDee Osborne;  all rights reserved.  But feel free to print with copyright info, & share for nonprofit usage!
Other encouraging resources:  http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

Satan's Dream Job (song) ....... by DianaDee Osborne

JANUARY 18
"Satan's Dream Job" Copyrighted ©2013 DianaDee Osborne;  all rights reserved.  ALBUM:      Amazing LORD 'n' Life  
FUTURE  Song location: http://DianaDeeOsborneSongs.com/NEW-Songs.php

    (recording scheduled for February 2013)

4/4 time,  approximately 100 beats per minute

1

Sa-  tan's  Dream JOB,   Sa-  tan's  JOY  is
See Verse 6 of Hosea Four:  ____
Sa-  tan's dream  is       to des-  troy __
God's  peo-  ple, (cut them)  off from Him. __

2

Sa-  tan's  Dream  is     to draw us   to

think God Lies  about   Needing  Je- sus. ___

Sa-  tan's  Joy  (is to)   steal  your HOPE. ___

SAY "you've failed to   ever  earn heaven." ___

3

SA - TAN'S DREAM JOB is real clear: ___

Jesus  said it,   John    8:   forty-  four.  ___

Sa-  tan's fun  is          tricking __  us,   __

to doubt  Jesus can    be  Sav-  ior  ___

TAG

Saving  us  __  from   sins.  __ __ __

Begging us __ Choose Him. __ __ __

You're the WORLD  Jesus  came to  save, __

SMASH  Satan's dream __ ig- nore him and

Turn to Jesus no  MATTER __ your past

sins.

SPOKEN READINGS

Jesus spoke this, John 8:44,  to religious leaders who had personal reasons for drifting from God's WORD to trick people to believe them... like many false teachers and preachers today.

"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.

HOSEA 4  is what Satan YEARNS to stay true forever.  God is speaking to His people.

GOD IS DESCRIBING  AMERICA  in this century:

Hear the word of the LORD, You children of Israel, For the LORD [brings] a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land. [By] swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed. 

Therefore the land will mourn; 

And everyone who dwells there will waste away With the beasts of the field 
And the birds of the air;          Click for LINK.
Even the fish of the sea will be taken away. LINK
"Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; For your people [are] like those who contend with the priest. Therefore you shall stumble in the day; The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; And I will destroy your mother.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. "The more they increased, The more they sinned against Me; I will change  their glory into shame.  They eat up the sin of My people; They set their heart on their iniquity. And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, And reward them for their deeds.

For they shall eat, but not have enough; They shall commit harlotry, but not increase; Because they have ceased obeying the LORD.

HOSEA 4:  1 through 10.   God NEVER changes.
His opinion of people like this remains the same.
 Ah beloved.... turn your heart to God and He WILL smash Satan's dreams to destroy YOU. 


PRAYER
LORD HELP ME SEE YOUR TRUTH....
Help me depend on Your Word.... study Your Word.... learn the wisdom You offer me,
along with Your Holy Spirit's help so that I can understand this:
That when I think my sins I keep repeating will eventually make you too mad to love me,
well -- that is Satan's dream to convince me of. 
In Jesus's name,  I  CHOOSE  to believe your ENTIRE Word... I choose You my
LORD,  and am saved by YOUR promise, Romans 10:9.
Help me put on Your armor.... Ephesians 6's end... and
smash Satan's dreams of hurting You by getting me to hurt you.  I pray in Jesus's Name. 

©2013 DianaDee Osborne;  all rights reserved.  But feel free to print with copyright info, & share for nonprofit usage!
Other encouraging resources:  http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

Compassion Amid Diet "Woes" ..... by DianaDee Osborne

JANUARY 17

We have read about the "miracle feeding of the 5,000" so many times that perhaps we don't really READ the story anymore. We think "Oh yeah, I know that one."

Here are a few forgotten-usually details,  from the account in Mark 6 starting at 29.

1.  Jesus has just been told that His cousin and probably-childhood-friend John (the Baptist) has been brutally murdered and his body mocked.  (verses 19-29).

2.  The disciples give Jesus a review of "both what they had done and what they had taught" (verse 30).  We know from other verses that the possibility is pretty good that they didn't exactly follow Jesus's teaching with strong faith.

3.  Now Herod who has beheaded John is seeking to see Jesus (Luke 9:9 parallel story).

4.  Jesus says "Let's go to a quiet place" in verse 31 away from people, and we have no scriptures saying that THEY had eaten yet.  The parallel telling in Luke 9:13 shows they had no food.

5.  But the people will not leave Jesus alone... they follow him.  Does Jesus hide?  NO --

6.  Jesus RECEIVES the "multitudes", teaches them about God's Kingdom (per both tellings), and heals many (per Luke 9).  We can imagine how LOUD 1,000s  of people are.... perhaps PUSHING to get closer to Jesus for healing....

ALL OF THIS HAPPENS  right BEFORE  Jesus has compassion and does the miracle feeding because they have followed Him in their hunger to hear and be healed.
--------

This disciples did what I probably would.  

They whined.  

They said "The Hour is late. Send them away"  with of course an excuse reasoning that this is good for them (Mark 6:35-36 and Luke 9:12).

 What does this have to do with a diet  blog?

MOTIVE.  GOALS.  

Willingness to set myself ASIDE to serve God by helping others.

The disciples ALSO were tired and had not eaten.  

They were self-focused so much

that they didn't really care about the hurts of the people around them.

Jesus had to help them see the need to help others.

And I need Jesus to remind me -- constantly -- to

quit focusing so much on me &   my little pains, EMOTIONAL    as well as physical,

that I don't even see the needs of  hurting people.

That I don't sacrifice my time and resources,  my self-centeredness-- to help them.

GOD'S ENCOURAGEMENT

The story of the "Good Samaritan" came LONG before Jesus:
Leviticus 25: 35 on:
"If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you.  Take no usury or interest from him; but fear your God, that your brother may live with you. You shall not lend him your money for usury, nor lend him your food at a profit. I AM the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan [and] to be your God. 'And if [one of] your brethren [who dwells] by you becomes poor, and sells himself to you, you shall not compel him to serve as a slave"
PRAYER
GOD  I AM SO SELFISH.  Please help me to focus on YOU..... to help others,
in Your Wisdom (James 1:5) and Your empowering (Ephesians 3:20)....
for Your GLORY and not mine.  Ephesians 3:21,  all for you. 

©2013 DianaDee Osborne;  all rights reserved.  But feel free to print with copyright info, & share for nonprofit usage!
Other encouraging resources:  http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

Praying for Wells ....by DianaDee Osborne

JANUARY 16
It's easy to fall into selfish prayers.
The title of this blog is "Praying for wells".
What do you assume it as about?

I know that if I read in a bulletin that the morning's sermon had this title,  I'd be thinking 
OH COOL... What wells of blessings should I ask God for?     How 'bout you?

Nope.  This one is about John 4 -- the woman at the well that 
Jesus WENT to meet.
DELIBERATELY CHANGED HIS SCHEDULE   to go to meet.
SENT AWAY HIS FRIENDS    on a shopping trip
so he could meet this woman at the well PRIVATELY....
to avoid embarrassing her.
To avoid having thoughtless people butt into His conversation with her.
        (Probably with questions like  
             "hey.... you know she's got a Really bad reputation, right, LORD?")
In John 4 we read what Jesus HAD to have later told the disciples....
for no one else was there to record the conversation:


The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
You can     click   here         to read Jesus's answer via BlueLetterBible.org.
My point in this blog:

ALL AROUND US ARE HURTING PEOPLE.  Thirsting for HOPE,  for PEACE....
We who KNOW  Jesus is the Living Water Who gives US hope and peace.... are we so constantly focused on OUR hurts and OUR needs that we don't see other people
grappling for any strands of hope?  

I've noticed:  My efforts to FOLLOW GOD'S WAY....
to not over-ANYTHING,  whether over-shopping or over-using Internet and TV
or, of course, over-EATING..... this  IS  a diet blog! ........
actually are easier when I not only PRAY FOR GOD'S HELP for me,
but
PRAY FOR GOD TO PROVIDE me with eyes to see the WELLS  where hurting people are sitting and hurting,
to share with them God's news of LOVE and HOPE....of JESUS  THE   Only Living Water for them.
When I talk to people that are hurting 
about the Love and Help they can have from Jesus,
I  am usually not at the same time selfishly OVER-doing anything to "comfort" Me. 

GOD'S ENCOURAGEMENT

Second Corinthians 1:  4,   
God "comforts us in all our tribulation, 
that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
  Clck here for  OTHER COMFORT VERSES
  
PRAYER
God, please open my eyes
to see others who hurt....
I pray for WELLS  where I can find people to share YOUR LOVE and SALVATION great news..... to comfort them and stop selfishly focusing on me.  


©2013 DianaDee Osborne;  all rights reserved.  But feel free to print with copyright info, & share for nonprofit usage!
Other encouraging resources:  http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com

Exciting FINDING Promise ............ by DianaDee Osborne

JANUARY 15

Have you ever found a verse in the Bible
that excited you so much that your heart was pounding for JOY!?
That you pondered,
prayed over,
thanked the LORD God over and over....
and then suddenly wondered:
WHY HAVEN'T  I EVER HEARD THIS IN CHURCH?
WHY HASN'T THIS WONDERFUL WORD
EVER been  EMPHASIZED
OVER  & OVER .... and over.........
IN CHURCH?
That's how I feel about   Hebrews 11: 6.
Here is how God's PROMISE ends in that verse:
He -- that is, God -- "IS A REWARDER
OF THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM."
I've always Believed In God".
But, as God tells us in James 2:19.... and I love the old King James wording:
Thou believest that there is one God; 
thou doest well: 
the devils also believe, and tremble.        
I sure  feel like my life -- including the dieting and food choices part --
would be easier If I could just keep in my mind:
WHEN I DILIGENTLY -- not like a wimp noodle (speaking of food) but 
CONSTANTLY and EARNESTLY seek to obey God 
and to know His Will through His Bible,  
to know His will through my prayers to Him,
to OBEY God's will   because I know through His Bible He loved me and
DOES want know and want what is BEST for me,
including choosing self-control over emotional eating....
When ANY of us DILIGENTLY seek God in ANYTHING,
God Rewards us.  He promises.  Hebrews 11:6.

But technically,  that scripture reference needs the letter C after the 6.
Because the promise is the CONDITIONAL PROMISE
that requires me.... that requires us.... to do part A before God will do Part C,
and is kindly explained to is in Part B so we can get to the Part C promise.
The condition in Hebrews 11:6 A is this:
God will reward us when we have faith in Him.
Without faith it is impossible to please God",
says God at the beginning of Hebrews 11:6.      
And isn't this PERFECTLY logical to us all?
Aren't  YOU  upset -- not pleased --
when people do not believe you,
think you might have lied?  Don't have FAITH in YOUR word?    
 

GOD'S ENCOURAGEMENT

Such great encouragement for us is already in Hebrews 11:6!
For more encouragement, read the entire section of God's Word, 
starting with Hebrews 10  at the very least.
There is much joy here for those of us who so often fail in our attempts
to do good in our diets, in our other habits, in our entire lives....
God's promise that he REWARDS those of us who
believe His promises.... who Believe that God tells only what is Truth.
Who believe that Almighty God  Who created the entire universe
assuredly had the power to keep weak little humans 
from putting mistakes in His Bible. 
PRAYER
LORD God, Like the Father in Mark 9:24 -- I BELIEVE  You.
Help Thou my unbelief,  I pray.
©2013 DianaDee Osborne;  all rights reserved.  But feel free to print with copyright info, & share for nonprofit usage!
Other encouraging resources:  http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com