YOUR BODY: A LIVING SACRIFICE

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies (body, as a sound whole, literally or figuratively) a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1,2.

Thinking about our bodies, as we listened to our Pastor this Sunday morning, he spoke on Romans 12. When our son, Zach, his wife, Roxy, their children Lilly and Elijah came home with us this evening after dinner in a restaurant, my husband decided we should read Romans 12 before ending the evening with dessert. Then I opened a Bible devotion, a favorite book before going to bed, Romans 12: 1 was explained.

Your body, our bodies: they are a temple of the Holy Spirit when we have believed in the gospel, the work of Jesus on the cross as He died for our sins. “ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel… how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” I Corinthians 15:3,4. 

We will be renewed, encouraged, strengthened, built up in our faith as we present ourselves to Him in full surrender. “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.

YOUR WHOLE SELF: INCLUDING YOUR BODY

 The one body you were born with is all you will have: given as a gift; and the only one you will have the responsibility for - of living in. Is that a surprise? 

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" 1Corinthians 6:19. Is it also a new thought that how you "live" in your physical human body is important?  Is God, the Creator of heaven and earth interested? "But I'm so small."

You may feel small on the "sands of time" and insignificant, but that is only a feeling. "For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1Corinthians 6:20. 

You can glorify God in your body by living by the Word.

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1Thessalonians 5:23. Sanctify is to set apart, holy. 

Well, blameless is a hope, a try, but that is what we can try for without being perfectionist about it. You know, I know and our Creator, Jesus Christ knows that we are not blameless. On a personal note, this knowledge was drilled into me from my childhood. The fourth of eight children, my quiet, sense of being "one of the crowd" grew into an introspective, overly conscientious sense of unimportance. So that as I grew, that actually became a positive direction: I wanted to be perfect, the best I could be. This led to the health emphasis that eventually led to a belief I hold today. 

The Bible is, in truth, to be lived out spirit, soul and body. It is for our fulfillment, happiness and blessing. The Spirit of God has written to you through holy men of God. "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2Peter 1:21  

Finding mentions of food in the Bible can be new inspiration for you!" And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." Luke_4:4. Mention of food is throughout the Bible from beginning to end. I believe that we will be insightful and wise to look at the context of mentions of food in Scripture. Whether it is a spiritual truth, a figurative truth or a practical one, that food is what God created for mankind. Are we discerning enough to take a serious look at that food? If it is what God created for you to take into your body are you doing it?

 

 

SAVED BY HOPE

 Often, in a world that is all at my door by the worldwide internet, a gray cloud threatens my peace and calm. A single word “hope” changes my outlook. The fear subsides. “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for?” Romans 8:24. The question: hope in what? Here is our relief: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” Psalm_42:5 .  But as if to say, “Are you paying attention?” this Psalm and the next repeat this verse three times. Disquieted is to be in great commotion, moan, cry aloud mourn.

We struggle with weight management, our health, pain, both emotional and physical. In one way or another life gets hard. But when hope in our All Powerful God, through the words of Jesus said, “I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you…” hope emerges. We are saved from many of the fears, hopelessness and grief emotions that threaten to destroy us when we believe the Bible.

Months ago a struggle with pain began with a pause in concentration on a downward slope on my bicycle: I went down hard. I did it all by myself. A route I’d taken for many months, but this time I didn’t see a branch from a tree right at eye level. The accident caused three fractures put me in the ER and a wheelchair for a few months.

I gained weight and was glad to sit in that wheelchair until the very fit therapist told me to hide the wheelchair. I was shown how to walk looking straight ahead, rather than looking at the ground, practiced balance, did chair squats and got confidence back. Yes, surprises like accidents happen. Today in our culture a lack of knowledge in what we should feed ourselves (and everybody around us, if we’re the cook in the house). We slowly but surely lose our health. Our current culture has been interested much more in their bottom line than selling or serving whole food.

We do not need to be part of this. By the grace and wisdom of God through the Bible, you and I have the knowledge at hand, the wisdom and the power to get on the path that leads to abundant life. “The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10. Whole food, described in the Bible and in above Posts brought my weight down without counting calories or following a fad diet.

EAT WHOLE FOOD

Thinking about health our 51 years of marriage and growing up…

Let me help you…

It is becoming clearer: serious health problems are common in the United States, beginning with children and on we know that what we put into our bodies is critical.

Think about it for yourself: study the food you often eat. This subject began with my father as I grew up. His passion along with my mother for reading the Bible through time after time gave all eight children a keen sense of eating whole food, whole grains, real butter and milk and fruit and vegetables. You will experience for yourself that good quality food becomes as habitual as “fast food.” The highly processed devitalized food bioengineered and with chemicals added are up and down grocery stores’ shelves. Read the labels. The long lists of ingredients, sometimes so tiny and unreadable are a message: return it to the shelf.

Now, at fifty-one years of marriage and growing in understanding, it has become obvious. God has provided and put in front of us powerful things grown, natural, whole milk, butter, honey, pure olive oil, unprocessed meat, vegetables and fruit and whole grains, all in “the things He has made…” and intended for our health.

The simplicity is amazing. But it will require you to believe God and the Bible and the Truth of it to avoid “positive” and very enticing messages that differ from Scripture, which is undiluted wisdom.

The focus is on God’s Word; the food He created right within the stories and teaching through the pages of the Bible. If we read the Bible, we will find in the most surprising places in Scripture what is good inferred by God Himself. "Ho, every one that thirsts, come to the waters, and he that has no money; come, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread and your labor for that which satisfies not. Hearken diligently to me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live..." Isaiah 55:1-3.

“A PURE RIVER OF WATER…”

After a bicycle accident three years ago, I was in a wheelchair and wasn’t walking for several months.  When I did get back on my feet, for three years the fear of riding stayed with me. Finally, the challenge to “brave it” grew strong.

Our neighborhood is extensive with thousands of homes, wide sidewalks and roads that wind. You don’t find your way here easily. Today, I got out there on my bicycle. It is hot (eighty-seven degrees). The rack I used for a water bottle had somehow disappeared in the three years off the bike. Hot weather, no water! Here is what came to my mind (as I heard my “Track my Ride” tell me it was five miles,” A great voice out of heaven…”And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” Revelation 22:1.

Funny, it was hot and there was no water as I rode today…the verse about a pure river of water of life became powerful. I thought about it the last mile. As I’ve thought about food from my father and mother’s Bible reading to their eight children, the light shined into my heart about the figurative and literal importance of water. A fresh revelation of the love of God. Water! Life saving physically. And “a pure river of water of life” the eternal life saving water. 

Do you remember what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well (who was obviously in need of life saving water):

“Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14.

Jesus the “Bread of Life” and the “Water of Life” loves you and me. His nourishment is obvious and life giving. Eat the literal food mentioned throughout the Bible. Take the gift of eternal life, the spiritual food. Drink the water of life.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9. I have.

WHOLE GRAINS...THINK ABOUT YOUR HEART

 Whole grains information:

A pungent, powerful and natural resource for your heart and health is eating whole grains. My recommendation is to leave white flour, bleached sugar behind and all chemicals behind. This information from Mayo Clinic is not to miss:

Whole grains: Hearty options for a healthy diet - Mayo Clinic

MY SIMPLE HOMEMADE WHOLE WHEAT BREAD

 BREAD RECIPE … By Lizzie

Yes, organic whole wheat costs a little more. I use it for breadmaking. After all it is for the people I love so much.

Inspiration for all of us: “And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengthens man's heart.” Psalm 104:15.

WHOLE WHEAT BREAD

Ingredients

6 Cups (or five ½: save ½ C for Kneading) whole wheat flour (room temperature. Cold mixture will not rise).

3 Cups slightly warm water

1/3 Cup Oats (soak in ½ cup warm water 10 minutes) or use cooked Oatmeal (leftover is good)

1/3 Cup Olive Oil

½ Stick Butter

1/3 Cup pure Honey

1 Tablespoon active dry Yeast

1 Tablespoon Salt

Directions:

First Proof Yeast and mixture: Mix 1 c. flour, ½ c. slightly warm water, 1/3 c. oil, 1/3 c. honey, ½ stk. soft butter, 1T. salt and 1 T. yeast. Let rise 15 minutes to proof. (Proofing is when Yeast causes mixture to begin to bubble).

When the mixture begins to bubble, (15 min.) add remaining flour (about 4 or 5 cups), water and oatmeal: it will be a soft ball.

In a large bowl, mix proofed warm water, oil, butter, honey, yeast, and salt. 

Add five ½ to 6 Cups whole wheat flour to liquid mixture. Mix well. (save one cup for adding to the kneading surface). Let dough rest for 15 minutes in bowl.

Knead

Put remaining 1 Cup flour on a kneading surface (countertop or large breadboard). KNEAD 100 X…as you work this dough into the flour, dough will not be sticky.

1. Prepare 1 or 2 cookie sheets, spread liberally with butter and flour. 

2. Cut dough into three rounds to form for loaves. Place on 1 or 2 cooking sheets.

3. Beat one egg. Add 3 Tablespoons Old Fashioned Dry Oats to egg. Mix.

4. Spread oat and egg mixture on round loaves with fingers.

5. Let shaped dough rise in a warm place for about 1 hour.

6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for about 35 minutes.

Bake until the top of the loaf sounds hollow when tapped, about 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for 15 to 20 minutes before removing from the pan and transferring to a cooling rack. Cover with towel. Let cool an additional hour before wrapping or slicing. 

STORE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

Let bread cool completely before wrapping it.

Wrap the bread in tight container or wrap (I use plastic wrap).

It will be good for seven days at room temperature.

FREEZE

Wrap loaves tightly: Freeze.