God Preparing the Way series.....#3

 Sometimes God totally takes away the temptations. Today's post is a great example of that. 

Over the last several years my husband and I had gotten into a routine of going to Dickies at least 2 -3 times a month. My husband loved the BBQ and I loved the baked potatoes with the tanglers (little crispy onion rings) on top. YUM! And I especially loved that they had an ice cream machine so you could get an ice cream cone with your meals. 

Then there was a time or two that they were out of tanglers and/or ice cream so we went other places for a while. Then one day we drove by and noticed they had completely closed down. In a month or 2 the building was torn down and a Murphy's gas station built in its place. 

Now that I've gone to a WFPB diet- I am thankful that Dickies is NO longer in the area. That temptation has been removed. Praise God! :O)  

The Two Weed Eaters and Me

One Friday morning found me weed eating. There is a lot of weed eating to do around here. I have raised garden beds so my garden area has to be weedeated. Then the fence around the garden and around the front yard, and so on. 

We have 2 weed eaters. My very first weed eater was a Black and Decker. I loved it and used it for quite some time. Then my husband bought a Dewalt Weedeater. And I shyed away from using it. Till one day I had a LOT to get done and the grass had gotten really tall. My husband suggested I use the Dewalt and I tried it and I was hooked. It is much more powerful, and I can get so much more done is a shorter time period. It was well worth getting used to using it. Oh, and I can't forget it's worth the having to wear pants (even in the HOT Texas Summers) because it is so much more powerful that it shoots rocks and such around and they hit my legs. And it really hurts if I am not wearing pants. Sometimes it really hurts with the pants on. 

As I was weed eating, I thought about the difference between the 2 weed eaters. And how I feel so much more powerful not that I am eating a WFPB (whole foods plant based) diet. And how when I ate the SAD (Standard American Diet) I still was able to do things but a lot less and just not as efficiently. 

Going against the grain is challenging sometimes but the difference that I feel now makes it SO very worth it. I would much rather feel like a Dewalt weed eater than be the Black and Decker one I once was. 

“The Background and the Birth of Moses” | Sabbath School Panel by 3ABN -...

Sitting with the Discomfort

 My sister found a youtube channel that has really been speaking to me. I am sharing a link to the video that I got the quote below that really spoke to me. I wanted to share the link just in case you wanted to check this video out. 

"It's hard because you've healing things that most people won't touch. You're doing the 

emotional work 

mental work

spiritual work 

and it's heavy. But it means you are growing. " 

When you have spent most of your life running to food to soothe you- when you step away from this habit, it's hard. 

When I read the 40 Day Sugar Fast book in January of 2024 - this started me in the direction that I needed to go. The direction was the opposite of running to food when the going got hard. And it has caused me to experience those uncomfortable feeling that I have tried to escape for years. 

Several years ago, a speaker at a Camp meeting said that God not only wants to heal us physically but mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well. Many times, we run to him for physical healing but then forget He wants to heal all part of us. 

Im thankful He wants to heal those other places because truthfully, He is the only one who truly can heal us. So as we go along our journey, let's remember to not only ask him for our physical healing but also for our mental, emotional and our spiritual healing. And praise His name as He does. 

So here is the youtube channel that I heard the quote above. I have really been blessed by this awesome lady and all the things she is sharing along her journey. 

God preparing the Way series.....#2

 In this series I've been sharing how God prepared the way for my decision to transition to a WFPB (whole foods plant based) diet. Today will expand on post number 1. 

Chicken Express Sweet Tea 

I used to love to stop by Chicken Express and get myself a LARGE, sweet tea. I loved the tea, and I especially loved the ice it was served with. Plus, it was only $1.00! 

But when I gave up caffeine this tea had to go. It was hard at first. And truth be told there have been a time or two that as I drove by a Chicken Express I have wished I could buy one. But I know that for my health it is best to just let that stay in the past. 

I am really glad that God slowly took things out of my life. Had He expected me to get rid of everything at 1 time, it would have been overwhelming. But God has been faithful to slowly prepare me to best take care of my health. 

7th month update

 Just jumping on here to give a little update. Today marks the 7th month of me doing my new diet - Whole Foods Plant Based WFPB diet. I am still so glad I made the decision to make these changes. But I do have to say that this past month has been challenging. I am really not 100% sure of what is going on, but I believe I may have a pinched nerve in my back, causing some numbness and tingling in my right leg. This has caused me not to be able to go to sleep in my favorite position on my stomach with my left leg bent up. When I am in this position my right leg starts to get tingly. So, I am having to try to sleep on my back. It seems like I am doing alright - except - that my cpap mask doesn't seem to be having a good seal so I am having a lot of leakage- and then having more event and I am waking up not feeling rested. It has really been causing havoc for me. In fact - starting on Friday I have been struggling more with emotions and sadness. And this morning when I went on a gentle shorter walk - I figured out that I felt like I had lost my joy. Thankfully I decided to listen to a couple of my favorite Christian songs, and they reminded me that the Joy of the Lord is my strength, so I spent some time praising God, and I am feeling better. I just continue to do what I can do to help clear up this issue. I would really appreciate it if you, my sweet friend would pray for healing for me. 

So, 7 months in - how much weight did I lose during this past month? 3 pounds. Grand total of 47 pounds so far. At first when I realized it was only 3 pounds, I was pretty discouraged, but then I realized that any weight loss is a win. May not be as much as I would have hoped for, but it is still going in the right direction. With how poor my sleep has been lately I am pretty lucky to have lost the 3 pounds. I am sure hoping that next month I am able to come on here and report back that the issue with my leg has cleared up and that I am feeling so much better. 

For now, I will need to close. My grandson will be coming for a visit, and he will get here pretty early in the morning, so I need to get a few things ready for his visit. And get myself to bed at a decent hour. Please pray I can have a really good night's sleep. Thanks :O) 

God's Glory

"My Story God's Glory" 

Victory in Jesus Christ in 2025 and beyond!!! 

Be watching for a 7th month update coming soon :O) 

“Images of the End” | Sabbath School Panel by 3ABN - Lesson 13 Q2 2025

Worth Repeating

 If I've shared this before, I am sorry but itis very helpful and I felt it went right along with the post I shared last week. So here it is again. 

When we see the ultra-processed foods, we used to eat - we can just say, " I don't eat that anymore." There is something powerful about clearly stating that fact to yourself. 

For years and years we had bad habits of how to cope with life and many times it was eating things that did not serve us well. And if we just get used to telling ourselves we don't eat that anymore, it gets easier and easier. It may seem silly or too simple but it works. Try it for yourselves. 

"I don't eat that anymore." 

God Preparing the Way series....#1

 Over the last 31 years I see where God has been leading the way so I could learn all the things that have helped me in deciding to go with a WFPB(whole food plant based) diet. I have also seen how He has taken things out of my life over the years as well. I have decided to make this into a series since I came up with at least 4 things to talk about in just a few minutes. Plus, I would rather have a few shorter posts than a really long drawn-out post. 

Number 1~ I have actually shared about this one before, but it fits right into the things that led me to taking better care of me. In 2011 area I realized that I didn't handle caffeine very well. And that it would be best to stop it altogether. 

Many times, on Sabbath afternoon I would end up with a really bad headache. I finally figured out that it was because I hadn't had a coke yet. I would then drink a coke, thinking that it should help the headache go away, but it was too late. I got really tired of that headache and decided to no longer drink caffeine drinks.  

This became a real blessing to me because about 2 years after I gave up the cokes - I had a hysterectomy which, of course, threw me right into menopause. I soon learned that caffeine is known to make hot flashes worse - wow! I was so thankful that God had already released me from its grip. 

Not only that benefit, but caffeine wouldn't have fit into my WFPB diet. So, I am thankful I was able to let that go years ago. 

When a Song Speaks to You!

This song speaks volumes to me. It's really amazing really, how this speaks a bit about my testimony. 

For years and years, I followed my own way - and flipped from here to there and not finding success or victory. When I finally followed God's way - that is when things fell into place, and I am SO very grateful. God's way is better! It always has been, and it always will be!! 

“Precursors” | Sabbath School Panel by 3ABN - Lesson 12 Q2 2025

My Least Favorite Diet Advice

 I've heard some diet advice lately that sounds so good. And in a perfect world where we were able to totally control everything, this advice would be helpful. But to those of us who don't have total control these words can be discouraging. 

"If the food is in your house, it will be in your mouth." 

Logically it makes a lot of sense. The message is to get the tempting junk food out of your house. But what if you have a husband or other family members who also have a right to have the foods they like in the house? 

I have chosen to live a healthier lifestyle, but my husband has still wants his chips, cheese, and sweets and meat of course. According to the advice above I would be eating these things because they are in my house. But there is a better piece of advice I can give you because it is the solution for those of us that can't get rid of all the junk food. 

**Ask God to help you when temptations arise. ** 

When you see the tempting foods in your house- ask God to help you say No. It is totally in His will for you to have control over the flesh so you can count on Him to answer this prayer! 

So, if junk food is in our home, it is NOT a lost cause. You do NOT have to eat it. 

You can ask God to take its appeal away. And for Hime to help you enjoy and appreciate the foods that fuel our bodies the best. 

So please don't use the phrase "If it's in your house it will be in your mouth." Unless the person is the only one in their home. You may be discouraging them from the growth that God intends to provide. 

Common Thread?

 Someone mentioned that they worked out with their husband but he had had surgery so she was waiting on him to recover so they could get back to working out. 

Someone else stayed home from church because their spouse was sick. Changing this one up a bit since someone made a great point in comments. One spouse decides they don't want to go to church some the other one stops going as well just because their spouse doesn't go. 

A friend mentioned she would like to lose weight, but her husband wasn't on board with making the changes. 

What is the common thread in each of these stories? 

It is basing what we do on what those around us are doing. 

"If your friends all jumped off of a cliff, would you?" 

It's a response many of us heard while growing up. When we asked permission to do something and told our parents, so and so is doing it. 

It shouldn't matter what so and so is doing - if we see that working out is important for our continued health, then let's keep doing it. 

If our spouse is sick and unless they really need us there or are contagious- let's go on and go to church. It helps encourage those who have to go to church by themselves all the time. 

If we want to get healthy then it shouldn't matter what other people in our household or families do. Let's put our health as a priority in our lives and move forward in that direction. 

Just because other people are doing this or that does not mean we have to follow along and especially if it's something that will hurt us- physically, mentally or spiritually.

So don't base what you do on what people around you are doing. DO the things that you know you need to be doing. 

“Ruth and Esther” | Sabbath School Panel by 3ABN - Lesson 11 Q2 2025

What Do They Have In Common?

 What if something you said to someone were to be what they remembered every time they thought of you? What if every time they thought of you, they not only thought of the words you had spoken but also the way you made them feel? Would this change how you interacted with others? Would you think more carefully before saying careless words? 

Last week I was exposed to chiggers and ended up with a cluster of bites on one foot. The one here and there have bothered me some but NOTHING like the cluster of bits on that foot. And even though I got the bites 6 days ago they have really bothered me. 

 So, what does this have to do with how I started out this post? Alot actually. Chigger bites and cruel, ugly words can cause pain and suffering long after spoken. But thankfully there is a balm for each. 

I tried several different remedies for the chigger bites, but this seemed to actually work the best. 

So how about those cruel, ugly words that tend to pop up and try to inflict when we think of the person who said them, what is the best balm for that? God's word and praising God. See people may not value us very much but God places a huge value on each and every one of us. That is why He died on the cross so that we could be saved and live with Him for eternity. So when the hurtful thoughts start to come into you mind - choose to praise God instead of dwelling on that negativity. 

The hurtful words that were spoken to me were of something that someone else had supposedly said about me. And when I thought of that person - I would remember the cruel words. But God helped me realize that I can choose to praise Him instead of dwelling of things that have no virtue. 

Our words are powerful. I don't know about you but when someone thinks of me - I don't want it to be some ugly words that I have said to them. I want my works to be encouraging and uplifting. Ugly words and chigger bites can stay with us for a while but since we have a balm - let's use it and soothe those injuries. And when we keep choosing to praise God instead, we will find that they sting less and less. 

Meditate on These Things

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.

Philippians 4:8