| The Thief Comes Only to Steal and Kill and | | | | cheesecake or cookie? Of course not! But, what I |
| Destroy | | | | do want to say is make a cheat day or meal the |
| John 10:10 (NIV) 10 The thief comes only to steal | | | | exception, not the rule. Even set up one day a |
| and kill and destroy; I have come that they may | | | | week that you allow yourself to enjoy whatever |
| have life, and have it to the full. | | | | you want. I think you will find that once you start |
| If you have read my book, God's Temple 40 | | | | eating well and then have a full cheat day, you're |
| Steps to Total Transformation or read any of | | | | going to remember how lousy you felt before. |
| my articles such as, Your Body is God's Temple, | | | | Where we get into trouble is by having a cheat |
| you already know my stance on fitness for | | | | day followed by another, followed by a week of |
| Christians. I'm totally and completely for it and all | | | | cheating, followed by a month of cheating. I think |
| about it. | | | | you know where I'm going with this. Before you |
| I especially have a passion for Christian women | | | | know it you're eating is out of control. When we |
| over 40. I wish I had a nickel for every time I've | | | | get out of balance in one area of our lives it's real |
| heard someone say, "I might as well enjoy | | | | easy for everything else to follow. Pretty soon |
| myself now. I'm getting a new body in the | | | | we don't exercise, we don't read our Bible, and |
| hereafter anyway" as they get ready to devour | | | | we don't go to church. Why? Because we have |
| a huge dessert. Although they chuckle when they | | | | lost control and we really feel bad about |
| say it, I know in my heart that they don't mean | | | | ourselves. We have allowed the thief to kill, steal |
| it. They have given up and fed into the big, fat lie | | | | and destroy us. |
| that after the age of 40, it's all downhill from | | | | Let's get off the subject of eating and on to |
| there. Don't you believe it! | | | | exercise. Studies have shown that after age 20, |
| The thief comes to steal your dream of being fit; | | | | most adults lose about a half pound of muscle a |
| especially if you are a Christian woman over 40. | | | | year. By the time you're 65, you lose 25 percent |
| The thief would have you believe that it's vain to | | | | of your peak strength. |
| think of having a fit body. He would have you | | | | OK, before you get depressed about that |
| believe that once you become a certain age..like | | | | remember there's always another side to a story. |
| 40...it's all over. Just give up. Unfortunately many | | | | You can start building and regaining strength at |
| well meaning Christians would have you believe | | | | any age. If it has been a while since you've |
| the same thing. They believe there are more | | | | worked on your strength, don't worry. Research |
| important things than taking care of your temple | | | | shows that even people who begin strength |
| (oh really?) and I believe that they are absolutely | | | | training in their 90s can gain muscle and strength |
| wrong in thinking that. | | | | in as few as eight weeks. |
| The thief comes to kill any hope you might have | | | | As if eating wrong, not exercising and age isn't |
| of being a healthy and productive spiritual woman. | | | | enough, then we throw hormones into the mix. |
| If he can keep you feeling bad about yourself, | | | | I'm not an expert on menopause or hormone |
| having no energy or self-esteem to fight his | | | | replacement so I won't even go there. But, when |
| attacks, he's in stage two; he is killing you off one | | | | it comes to dealing with menopausal symptoms, I |
| hit at a time. | | | | can help you. |
| The thief comes to destroy your mind, your | | | | This is based ONLY on what works for me. OK, |
| body and spirit. You see Satan doesn't want you | | | | here comes the big secret; a balanced life. I notice |
| to be a warrior for God. If you don't feel good, | | | | that when my diet has too many refined carbs |
| have no energy, don't have the strength and | | | | (the white stuff) is when the hot flashes and night |
| confidence to fight him, he was won. He has | | | | sweats start in. I don't have the perfect diet (she |
| destroyed you. | | | | with the perfect diet may cast the first stone) |
| I think we absolutely have the responsibility of | | | | but normally I'm pretty good about balancing my |
| tending to our Temple; our bodies. Your body is | | | | eating, exercise, drinking water and time with God. |
| the place where God lives. Honor God by keeping | | | | I think taking time with God should be one of the |
| and renewing your health. It takes some | | | | basic nutrients but..that's another article. |
| self-control but, isn't that one of the fruits of the | | | | Christian women over 40, do not give up. Never, |
| spirit? | | | | ever give up. The thief comes to steal, kill and |
| 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV) 31 So whether you eat | | | | destroy but you have the power of God on your |
| or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the | | | | side. Yes, it's a lot harder than when we were in |
| glory of God. | | | | our 20's but, we can do all things through Christ |
| Am I telling you not to ever have a piece of | | | | who strengthens us. |