8 Days Left on Maker's Diet!

"In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not aquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." (Hebrews 5:12-14)


I thank God for all the strong Christians that I have come across in my life. They have done what the Bible calls "iron sharpening iron." Thank God for our health coaches that come every Thursday night to sharpen us. They pack up everything but the kitchen sink. In our class last night, they had everything from spelt to organic butter. Get this, they even brought in a toaster so we can taste the Ezekiel bread warm with melting butter dripping from it. Talk about show and tell!


I also thank God for weaker vessels in the Lord. They teach me to humble myself, love a little more, and exercise patience. Even more than that, in their zeal to share their newfound love of Jesus, they often tell me things that "I already know." Ever had someone do that? Perhaps quote a scripture and try to tell you the story about it, or the meaning behind it? What is your first reaction? "Oh, yeah, I know about that sugar-buns..learned it twenty years ago." That used to be mine. Until the Holy Spirit showed me how prideful I was.

He gave me this scripture: "To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all means I may save some." (1Cor. 9:22) We may know things, but in dealing with the weaker vessel, it may often benefit us to become weak. Imagine allowing someone the opportunity to just share their heart without us rattling off how many degrees we have, or possessions we own, or what we have attained in our lives? Jesus, knowing all things, always asked those he encountered questions. "Do you wish to be made whole? Where is your husband? Who touched me?" He asked these questions to allow for encounters with the weaker vessels...humanity that he created.

Paul said that all he gained he counted as a loss. And none of us could compare with what he had..education, money, status, political power...Paul had every reason to be puffed up in his vanity. But he counted it a loss, and he became weak when he had to. How awesome it must have been for Timothy. Timothy, once tutored by Paul, the great Apostle of faith, also saw this man of God at his worst state..ready for death. Here's the kicker: Paul invited Timothy to see him in this way. You know you're operating in humility when you can readily show your weaker side in front of those "under you" in the faith!


Almost every "dieting person" is very knowledgeable. Think about it. We have read every book out there, tried every diet, and know depths of information pertaining to health. But we have problems applying the information long enough for success. Our coaches have mastered this weakness we have. For myself, this is one of the main reasons I attend these meetings. It is humbling, number one, to admit that although I "know" the info..that is as far as I got sometimes!!!! Knowing is NOT ENOUGH!!! Application and follow through are most important! Secondly, I attend class to sit underneath the anointing that is there when we gather in one accord before God! I feel empowered and encouraged when I depart at the end of class.


In closing, I know we were all blessed by the many praise reports last night. Bravo to Natalie and all her success! She should be our "poster child" for this Diet! For all of us that have had any success, even changing just one thing, hats off to us as well! We win the war one battle at at time. Thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus!

XtremeFaith


Happy Valentine's Day Weekend Ladies! I will resume the devotions on Monday! God bless!