Christianity Oasis Forum

[debg71]

Yes, thank you! I did find where folks are posting what they eat. I'm working my nerve up on that one. Step five is tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it, but now I MUST get some sleep. Late to bed, early to rise . . This process is such a wonderful thing and this website is amazing, I wish I had more time to enjoy it. God Bess you!

[dema]

I'm sorry about what happened between your friend and your daughter. And I know that hurt. But, you can be friends without having her babysit your daughter. And you might be able to make new friends by having your daughter participate in sports or dance where other parents stay and watch.

I have found that many unhappy people hold themselves and others up to impossible standards. When an event fails to meet their standards, they frequently withdraw. If they can't have a perfect birthday party, they won't have any birthday party. If something unfortunate happened at the wedding, then the wedding was ruined.

Part of being happy is learning to focus on the good. Protect yourself from the bad - protect your daughter and your other children. But, also think about why you are still upset. Does it need to still be affecting your life - and how much?

It sounds like if you put the incident with your friend against that test that you would just never leave them alone together again. That you could visit your friend with our daughter and a pile of colirng books or polly pockets and it would be okay. Would it?

Many of these things need to be released to God and only barely remembered - just enough to avoid them in the future.

May God's light shine brightly on the good things in your life today.

[debg71]

Journal entry for today . . I have not read the next step yet, so I will begin tomorrow. The day was so full. My brother is coming home from the hospital tomorrow. My dad went in this morning. We are blessed to have a close family (we all live within yards of each other and we like it that way) so we rely on each other. I am the only "functioning" member right now so I'm getting up at 6 and trying to get in bed before 10. Juggling my two beautiful kids, work, clinicals, hospital visits, feeding everyone's pets AND a project to complete before Monday - I bought fast food, ate WAY too much and threw it all up. The entire way home, I thought "Why do I do this?" I asked God why. No answer. I feel stressed, but I can't excuse it because I am stressed at work and I don't act this way at work. It starts out when I'm on my way to the fast food place, restaraunt, wherever, and I'm planning what I will eat. I'm sure that I will order a snackwrap, cut the burger in half, no fries, etc. When I order, it comes out "Make that a meal - large". I eat half, then I hear "go ahead and eat the rest" so I do. Then, I'm sick to my stomach, guilty and incredibly miserable. All I can think is "Why do I do this??!??!" I hate that full, sick feeling so why do I do this to myself? I have to stop it, so I throw it up. Now I'm asking God for forgiveness because I've done this to myself yet again. My body does not belong to me and I have no right to do this. I must stop. Tomorrow is another day.

[dema]

Thinking on it, brooding on it, gives it power. To take away the power, you ask God for forgiveness quickly, you forgive yourself quickly and you think about other things. Make yourself a list of other things to think about. Have it with you. And get onto other things.

When we have a problem, we feel as though we should go in prayer until we get an answer - but that is a lie. God always hears us. The lie keeps us thinking about our weakness and the problem instead of releasing the problem to God. The lie makes us a thief, stealing the problem back and putting it back in our hands. If only we can pray enough it will be lifted.

NO!

You give it to God and shake out your hands, so they are very empty.

And every time you mess up, you ask for forgiveness quickly, forgive yourself quickly and think of other things. This is the way to freedom.

God bless you.

[debg71]

Yes, I do go to extremes. I did say that I have trouble with balance. God gently nudges me and I'm learning to listen to the little peaceful voice that says "that's enough". Cutting people out of my life when something happens - it's an excuse to have no social pressure. I expect way too much from people, as I do myself. I can admit that I do these things and I pray that God will help me to change.

I finally got to step five this evening. This one may take a day or two - big step. What's my problem? I have studied a couple of them, but I need to go back and study some more. Lord, help me with: Finding balance, managing emotions, finances, finding my career in His perfect plan. I'm almost done with school, but I lack direction. That needs to come from Him because my decision-making hasn't been trustworthy in the past. Temptation comes to go with the money, but I truly want what He has planned for me because I know it's the only way I'm going to be happy. I've spend enough time "getting by" and taking whatever came my way. I want to find my purpose and do what He made me to do. Making enough money to do more than just get by, well, that would be really nice also.

Mexican food tonight with my kids. I only ate half my plate and I'm still full. Resisted the "urge to purge" and won. My brother is home from the hospital and my dad is out of ICU and doing better. Thank you Father for hearing our prayers.

God Bless!!

[debg71]

Step 6. This 14 day program is such a wonderful help to me! I'm already reading my Bible daily and exercising (walking 2 miles, 2-3 x per week), starting my day/ending my day with prayer, so I'm on the charts This is an incredible journey and I am enjoying the walk.

[Dora]

Amen!

When you walk, take Him with you Talk to Him every step of the way.

[debg71]

Wonderful day today! Step 7 - weeding out my wrong thinking. I spend today with family, worked a little, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I love to get up, get God on my mind and keep my thoughts on the higher things throughout the day. It makes everything seem relevant on a completely different level. The little worries just don't matter in the big picture. I ate chocolate cake today. And I really really enjoyed it.

[debg71]

Step 8 - Reading my Bible every morning, tearing down the lies that I've dragged around with me for SSOOOOO long, replacing them with the Truth of God's Word. I am more peaceful than I've been in years. Events take place that use to upset me (throw me for a loop), but they don't have a hold of my mind now - that belongs to Jesus. I am more balanced! If you read this, please pray for my family. God gave me an incredible group of folks to call my own! Thank you Father!

[Dora]

Step 8 - Reading my Bible every morning, tearing down the lies that I've dragged around with me for SSOOOOO long, replacing them with the Truth of God's Word. I am more peaceful than I've been in years. Events take place that use to upset me (throw me for a loop), but they don't have a hold of my mind now - that belongs to Jesus. I am more balanced! If you read this, please pray for my family. God gave me an incredible group of folks to call my own! Thank you Father!

Praise God! Praise God! Praise God!!! That is awesome news. God is good.

[debg71]

Step 9. It's taking me more than one day each for these steps . . hope that's still progress. There are days when I don't have time to open my laptop, but I am still walking with the Lord, reading my Bible every day and praying through the trials. Just saw where I have 70 "views" of my Journal. Freaks me out a little. 70 people have found my little patch of earth interesting. I have been doing well, only a couple "binge" episodes and one purge. Yes, this has to do with self control, the feeling of being "out of control", but the idea is progress. I can see and feel progress. I'm not complaining, and I know that God has a plan, but please pray for my family. My Dad will be hospitalized for the next 6 weeks. My brother needs yet another surgery and I may have to quit my job because I can't afford daycare for the summer. The Lord has a plan for me. Even though it looks bad in writing, I know it will all work out for the best. We have a happy family, a nice home that we share, all of our needs met (although A/C would be REALLY nice) and so much hope, our cups run over! On to step 9 Praising ad thanking God as I go!

[Dora]

That is the way deb, leaning on Him through the troublesome waters.

No matter what we go through He is there and willing to help work things out.