THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!
“Everything is permissible” but not everything is beneficial. 1 Cor 10:23
I have shared with all of you before that I am an addict, though not in the stereotype of the word. I am addicted to food and unhealthy eating. While I am not addicted to drugs and alcohol, I can guarantee you, if I allowed myself to use those things, I likely would be. Due to my past (alcoholic father), I have stayed away from those things.
This Christmas Eve I received an early Christmas “gift” from my doctor. A diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Sigh… Yes, I said it. I have been mulling over when, if, how to tell you all. If you all know me, I’m not a real secretive girl. Still, the diagnosis comes with shame (though I have been told the diagnosis doesn’t always come because of weight issues alone, I have had issues with my blood sugar my whole life and knew I’d likely become diabetic).
I am ashamed of my weight and I am ashamed of my diagnosis. So while others have made New Year’s resolutions because they want to, I have made a lifestyle change because I have to. Because my life now depends on it.
When I saw the chance to review Lysa TerKeurst’s new book, Made To Crave, I jumped on it! I am so very thankful I did too. Her book is so full of helpful insights and she is able to clearly say, what I have said before and haven’t totally been able to follow through on!
“We were made to crave — long for, want greatly, desire eagerly, and beg for — God. Only God.”
Every single one of us has a God given craving for Him. However, most of us will find another way to try to fill our void: drugs, alcohol, sex, nicotine, love, and food. If you have a craving for something other than Him, can you ask yourself this question?
“Is it possible we love and rely on food more than we love and rely on God?”
Yes! I hate to admit it but I know it’s the deep, ugly truth. I love food. Don’t we all? Some of us go beyond just having a bite or two, to indulging more than we should. I love with food. I party with food. I get down in the pit and pout about with food. I comfort with food. I plan my life and day around food. Do you?
Now, the irony of it all is that I now have to plan my day around food and being sure I am eating what I should and keeping my blood sugar controlled. I am determined to do this with diet and exercise alone, hopefully forever. So far, so good.
While everything is permissible, not everything is beneficial. Can I eat that bowl of ice cream? Yes, I can. Is there any benefit to it, other than a momentary sugar rush and taste bud tingle that doesn’t last? How much is your craving costing you? Mine is costing me my life. Sound mellow dramatic? Not really, think about it. From over eating, I can die from heart disease. Heart disease runs rampant in our family. Diabetes increases the risks. So yes, it could cost me my life. Sure makes me rethink how badly I really want that ice cream, or pizza, or any other unhealthy item.
Are you on a weight loss journey? Trying to eat healthy? I would love to host an online bible study on my Facebook Fan page. Check under the discussions tab and join in on the conversation. Grab a copy of Lysa’s book, Made To Crave and let’s make God what we crave most, instead of food or another idol.
You can also tune in tonight for a Made To Crave webcast, totally free starting at 8pm EST.
Get your own copy of Made To Crave! We are giving ONE Made To Crave book away to one lucky reader! To enter, just leave a comment! That’s it. I will draw and contact the winner on Monday, January 24th at noon.
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!!
PS – Forgot to mention I’ve now lost 10 pounds! If anyone is interested in a raffle to win the DVD set, please come join my Facebook fan page and let me know 🙂 Raffle tickets would be $1 each.
I’m so sorry for your struggle but in the end, God WILL be glorified through it. I keep hearing how wondrful “Made to Crave” is. When we have that ache in our hearts, we need to realize that it isnt longer for food, etc…its longing to be filled with more of God. Thanks for sharing this struggle and how God can use you!
kelli recently posted..Sometimes It Feels Good to Get Mad
Wow, I have been hearing all about this book and it looks awesome. I too am a food addict esp at the wrong times and the wrong foods. Going to bed earlier has helped me bigtime but i know I need more help. I think its time to get this book.
Alexis recently posted..A New Thought
I need to win this book! I read the introduction on http://www.madetocrave.com just last night. I’ve been wanting it for a while, but now I need it…because I think it’ll help give me the “want to!”
Elizabeth K recently posted..I dont want to be a yes mom
Sounds like a great book! I’m all for anything that offers inspiration. 🙂
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Sounds like you have a good mindset, though. Food is just food, but you are irreplaceable.
Good luck with your lifestyle change. You’re going to do awesome!
Lindsay Maddox recently posted..Comment on The Vicious Cycle by Mel
I first heard about this book when Lysa was on the KLOVE morning show. Ever since I’ve wanted a copy.
Awesome giveaway!! Would love to win and share it with friends/family as well 🙂 Good Luck to everyone! 🙂
I love Lysa’s books and I’m sure this is a good one as well. We all have some kind of struggle we are dealing with. I wish you the best of luck!
vicki haley recently posted..Special Saturday
Melinda, thank you for sharing. As a child of alcoholism myself this was very touching. It still amazes me how God takes messes and makes miracles. It is easy for any of us to find ourselves applying more worth to things other than our Lord.
I have never heard of this author before so it would be a blessing to win 🙂 Thank you again for sharing your journey,
-Theresa
God is amazing! I am so thankful for what he has done in my life!! ♥♥
Mel,
Awesome job on the 10 pounds! keep it up. You’re such an inspiration! 🙂 looking forward to reading the book myself.
God bless you! Thanks for sharing!!
Melinda,
You can totally do it. I am here if you need encouraging or a eBuddy. I am praying that God gives you peace about it all. Take it one day at a time.
WOW. This book has been on my radar for months. I am definitely going out to pick this up soon. I’ve gained 100 pounds over the last couple of years. My weight gain has nothing to do with food – it’s stress! I can go over a week and not eat – not good!
Brooks
Twitter: @YoungJBrooks
Brooks J. Young recently posted..NEW-IT’S MONDAY! WHAT ARE YOU WRITING
Thank you Brooks, that is especially sweet! I too have put on 100 pounds in the past 10 years though. 3 back to back pgs didn’t help. I am doing it and I am proud of myself so far 🙂
sorry to hear your diagnosis, you can do it. want to read made to crave
Thank you for sharing and congradulation on the 10 pound.
I have the book, but add me to the drawing…would love to give it to my friend!
Would love to offer the Made to Crave course to my church healthy living class…the “craving God, not food” concept makes such sense. I’m on board listening to the webcast…awsome. Thank you.
I have loved this book but have it on my Nook so I am not able to pass it on to anyone. My mother and I have talked about going through this together but she hasn’t been able to afford a book at this point and I haven’t been able to get one for her yet (I’m not saying this for pitty because the whole reason I can’t is b/c of my own boneheaded decisions from my past meaning very tight finances for the present). Anyway, I would love to win one for her. Thank you for your review of this book (it is amazing) and for giving someone this gift.
asking to be put in for book, Made to Crave.
Would love to be able to read and understand more of
all you speak about. Thank you for helping so many.
Thanks for sharing your story and I will be praying for you as you go through this challenge of Diabetes. I was pre and was able to reverse it by changing some of my eating and so it is possible to reverse it. Remember that with God all things are possible. God is doing wonderful things in the lives of his children and the weight loss journey has begun for so many in 2011 and will lead to victory through Christ.
I am doing the online bible study with Melissa Taylor as well as tuning into the webcast but I do not have a copy of the book. Would sure love to win this book which would compliment the study.
Great Post. Praying for your health. Thanks for the chance to win. The book sounds like a real winner. I struggle with this too…ps I lost 4 pounds. keep up the good work!
I am loving the Made to Crave webcasts. Congrats on your weight loss.
I AM EMPOWERED!! Determination! Holy spirit power determination. So blessed I found Made to Crave!:)
This book sounds so great, and I really would love to win a copy!! I am watching the 2nd Made to Crave webcast. Lysa is such an inspiration!!
I too am addicted to food, I try so hard to loose weight but can not seem to stay on a diet, am excited to see how much this book and program can help me do what I need to do. I need to turn my problems over to God, Hope to win this book so it will help me with my struggles. Thanks Lisa ! God is good!
Please enter me to win the book. Boy do I need it. I’m loving watching the videos.
This post is on the money! Over-eating seems to be one of those things we can rationalize so much that we never really look at it in relation to our relationship with God. I’d venture to say that on most days, I spend more time figuring out what to order off a menu than reading about the loving God who created me wants me to know Him better. How sad.
But as with any shortfall, God’s not surprised…and He offers the chance to change my habits starting now. Your post is part of that process. Thanks for sharing…and thanks most for being REAL.
God Bless,
Rich
Rich Hefty recently posted..What If We Win re-post
love this made to crave
Love your transparency and honesty girl!
Glad I found you through the webcast 🙂
Would love to win the book!
I too struggle with running to food, instead of God. Sorry about your diagnosis, I think I have been borderline diabetic for awhile but have not had it checked out. I come from a long line of diabetics and am determined it will stop with me. I would love to read more about the Made to Crave book. I watched part of the webcast tonight and loved it!
I would love to win a copy of Made to Crave book, thank you for sharing your story and glad that I found your site. Had it not been for Made to Crave, I probably wouldn’t have! Look forward to sharing more with you and in future.
Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of Lisa Terkeurst book “Made to Crave”. Watch the 2nd week webcast tonight and was blown away with the amount of information shared. I plan to apply these ideas to my latest weight loss journey, I know it is the beginning of the end and I can see success on the horizon. Thanks again and God Bless you.
Ever since I heard Lysa on KLove I’ve been hooked! God is incontrol & not me. I can’t wait to see all the wonderful things God has in store for me! I was Made to Crave God!
I missed the simulcast tonight, but I NEED this book!!
I would love to give this to my mom! Mine is in the mail, hopefully will be here soon!
Congratulations on the weight loss — and on taking charge of your health! I’m on this weight journey with you. I’m trying to get healthier because I’m getting married in May. That has less to do with looking good in wedding photos, though, and more to do with bringing fewer issues into our marriage. So I’d love to win this book!
Hang in there. We can do it! Or, at least, we can do the “natural” part. And God can do the “super-.” 😉
Lysa, I got the participant guide and would love to have a copy of the book. This year is going to be a better year for me.I lost my dear sister Monica on Nov 24th to liver cancer and I am a 2yr breast cancer survivor.
God is Good.
Lisa
I would love to win this book!
I’m sorry to hear about diabetes, but I know it’s fixable! I would love to read this book.
Jessica recently posted..The Truth of the Matter by Andrew Klavan
I would love to win this book!!! I really enjoyed listening to Lysa on KLOVE, and I downloaded the excerp onto my phone. I’m 5’3″ and I started working out and changing my eating habits a week ago. I started out at 178 and have already lost 3 pounds! I need all the help and encouragement that I can get right now!!! 🙂
I love this post Mel! Thank you for taking the time to read and write from your heart. And a big congrats on your weight loss!
Blessings, Lysa
Thank you Lysa! Thank you for giving me the right tools to cling to because this is a battle and it’s not going to be easy! ♥ Mel
MEL, THANK YOU FOR SHARING FROM YOUR HEART..AS A FOOD ADDICT MYSELF…YOUR WORDS WERE FULL OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND HOPE, JUST LIKE GOD’S WORD..BLESS YOU, AND YAY FOR YOUR WEIGHT LOSS…THIS BIBLE-STUDY IS AN ANSWER TO PRAYER FOR ME.. AND SO IS THE BOOK.
WITH LOVE &THANKFULNESS, GLORIA
This book has wide popularity. Would be interested in reading it. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway
dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com
Oh, yes, I would very much like to read this book. What a lovely surprise to find this giveaway as I am reading around in your blog! I have the opposite issue – low blood sugar, aka hypoglycemia. Same things help manage it as diabetes, and boy are they hard. Food cravings are SO powerful.
Patti recently posted..No paint for Him
Yes Patti, I was hypoglycemic for years! I would black out, see spots, get migraines etc. So watch it carefully because it can be precursor to diabetes. So glad you found me! Good luck 🙂
Hey Mel
I’m so glad to meet you. (thanks for visiting me @ Queenie) I’m really sorry about your diabetes news. I too am teetering on the edge of that! I hate it.
I know (being 44 and not eating healthy) are pushing me even farther into a lifestyle that I DO NOT want to face.
Praying for you as you whip up on this dude! YOU GO GIRL!
And yes! I’d loooooove to win Miss Lysa’s AWESOME BOOK!!!!
It is hard but we can do it! 🙂 Thanks for visiting Wanda! I really appreciate that. Good luck! Can’t wait to see who wins this one 🙂
Way to go on the 10 pound loss!!! I love reading your blogs entries! I am all for winning things too!!!
Praise God for your following and sharing the gifts He has given you. I am so proud of you for the way you handle the trials of this life. You inspire me and I love you friend.
Oh Diane, you made me tear up! Thank you for your kind words dear friend 🙂 Love you too and think about you quite often. We need to do lunch or something soon 🙂 Miss you! ♥
Isn’t it so amazing how the Lord will place people and resources into our lives just when we need them the most? I absolutely love how He speaks truth into our hearts through a variety of different means. It’s just up to us to stop and listen and hear the breath of truth as it is given. It is a joy to serve in ministry with you. Though we may be miles apart and never see each other face to face, our hearts are unified through the blood of Jesus. May He be glorified!!
Oh my goodness, Mel. I had no idea {{{hugs}}}. I am so sorry, but I’m eager to see how you will turn this around. You’re very courageous and strong in the Lord. I know He will be glorified in the end. God bless you as you had down this new path, and may the light of the Word lead the way!
Be Blessed 🙂
Debbie Dillon recently posted..Nothing Less Than Perfect
Thanks debbie! He will be glorified! I will tackle this too! 🙂 Thanks friend!