Satisfaction

Psalm 107: 6-9 “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live. Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” NLT

Every day was cause for celebration, and everyday was cause for grief. One would think that if they knew my eating habits before. Judging by what I consumed, I was either celebrating or grieving...every. single. day. I ate when I was glad, sad, mad, proud, angry, hurt, happy, and bored. Bored. Most of it was boredom. Some of it was recreation. Parts of it was just to drawn the problems away by distracting myself with food. I have eaten to the point of pain on several occasions, and I never could get a handle on it. Another problem is that I’m a pretty decent cook and prided myself on making true southern dishes from scratch. Biscuits, gravy, chicken and dumplings, fried pork chops, fried squash, homemade mashed potatoes, and if I happened to be tired one night...fried bologna. You get the idea. Not only was the food unhealthy, but the portions were bad too. What’s more, I would even eat stuff that I didn’t even like. I don’t like chocolate, yet, on the very day that I realized that I had to change, I was eating Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. 

I hope all of this hasn’t made you hungry but see the common thread here. Self-destruction seemed to be my end game. From the outside looking in, others saw a strong independent woman that served God. Parts of that statement were true. I am strong, independent, and I served God, but there’s more to my story. Way more. Inside I was a scared, frightened, embarrassed, lonely little girl that had been rejected by far too many people that claimed to love God too. They didn’t like me, and quite honestly, I didn’t like me either.

Like the Psalmist here, I cried to the Lord in true distress. He alone would have to help me. “Lord, help!” I cried too. And like Israel, He rescued me. He led me to safety. What I had always classified as a physical problem was actually a spiritual one. The physical aspect of my life was just a symptom of what was really going on spiritually. I felt that if other Christians couldn’t love me, then I must be unlovable, and therefore, God must not take much stock in me either. I wouldn’t have admitted it to anyone, but in my despair, that’s how I truly felt. I was unlovable. Even in my service to Him, I always felt that I had to apologize to certain groups just because of my calling and my gender. It was only when I allowed God to take total control of my life that He satisfied my thirst and filled me with good things...both spiritually and physically. I no longer turn to food for comfort. I turn to Him. He has truly delivered me from my distress. And I will praise the Lord for His great love and the wonderful things He has done for me.

When we turn to anything or anyone else other than God for comfort and fulfillment, we will always come up empty. And when we turn to anyone or anything other than God to soothe our souls and find satisfaction, we will only find death and destruction. 

As I do my best to live a healthy life, I remind myself that it is only in Christ that I will find true satisfaction. Cravings are hard. But God is good. When I’m hungry, I eat healthy food. When I’m bored, I read His word. When I feel rejected by other people, I turn to the one who always accepts me.

What about you? Where do you turn for comfort and satisfaction? Do you separate your physical life from your spiritual relationship with God? He created our bodies, and He loves us extravagantly. Let Him fill you with good things!

Encouragement for Today

John 6:35 “Jesus replied, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” NLT

Skinny (and good) Chicken Salad

1 Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Breast Chopped
4 Green Onions
3 tbsp. fat-free mayonnaise
freshly ground black pepper to taste

So, basically, you just mix all this together, and voila! you have chicken salad (and it honestly makes enough for more than 1 sandwich). I personally eat mine on 40 calorie Nature's Own Honey Wheat Bread, but you can eat your's on Special K Cracker Chips or whatever you want. I used to make this with canned chicken, but I recently discovered that Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken is just as easier and sooooo much healthier.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 149
Fat: 2
Carbohydrates: 11.4
Fiber: 1.6
Protein: 22.2

Skinny Eating

I've always been a foodie. You can look at me and tell that I love to eat. I love flavor. I love cooking, and I love sharing my love of food and cooking!

It's only in the last few months that I've embraced...truly embraced the fact that I will not live forever. And if I don't change my eating habits...and those of my children, I won't be around or healthy enough to enjoy my grandchildren. Heath and I have started working out as much as time allows and we've started eating healthier. I quickly grew tired, however, of salad and plain boring grilled chicken, so I had to get creative. The best part about this whole new healthy lifestyle, though is that I've discovered new foods and new ingredients to make old time favorite recipes healthier. I made the following recipe tonight, and I have to say, I did pretty good!

The great thing about these little cheesecake cups is that they're healthy, and they actually contribute to your body. They're low calories and insanely high in protein!

Lemon Cheesecake Cups

9 cupcake liners

9 reduced fat vanilla wafers

8 oz. Greek Yogurt cream cheese (Yes, there is such a thing sold at Walmart)

1/4 cup sugar in the raw

1 tsp. vanilla

5 1/2 oz. cup of vanilla non-fat Greek yogurt

2 large egg whites (I'm going to experiment with egg beaters later)

3 tbsp. lemon juice

1 tbsp. all purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place a vanilla wafer in the bottom of each cupcake liner. 

Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl until well blended. Gradually add in remaining ingredients and evenly fill the cupcake liners. Bake in preheated oven for 20-30 minutes or until set. 

Cool until room temperature and then place in the refrigerator until chilled. I serve mine topped with fresh fruit (raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, etc.)

Nutritional Information per serving:

Calories: 106

Fat: 3

Carbohydrates: 13

Fiber: 0.5

Protein: 6.3 (Yes, you read that right!)