Join ‘Each One Win One’ and Share Jesus Christ with the World

By

Team Jesus

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Jan 20, 2020

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Teammates!

How many souls did you win for Jesus Christ last year? How many times did you share the love of Jesus with someone else last month? Last decade?

No worries. Whatever our answer, the following holds true: We can all do more work towards our great commission!

Our playbook tells us what our calling and purpose is, and it also sheds light on the challenges inherent in our call.

In Matthew 28:18-20, we are called and commissioned:

¹⁸And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

But, here’s the challenge in Jesus’ view (Matthew 9:37-38):

³⁷Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few;

³⁸Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.

**Join the Each One Win One Pledge!**

Be an active solution to the harvest problem.

Let’s be the team members who rise up as consistent, intentional laborers who work in the soul fields of our families, on the job, on public transportation, at the mall – everywhere the Spirit leads you and directs your opportunity to share the love and gospel of Jesus Christ.

We want teammates everywhere to join us in our “Each One Win One” campaign!

If you are intentional about learning and growing in your soul-winning game, take the E1W1 pledge with us and let’s play to WIN MORE SOULS!

Multiracial Churches Led by Black, Hispanic Pastors on the Rise

By

Christianity Today

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Jan 20, 2020

For four hours at a megachurch outside of Dallas, pastors of color shared their personal stories of leading a multiethnic church.

One, a lead pastor of a Southern Baptist congregation in Salt Lake City, recalled the “honest conversations” he had with his 10-member leadership team before it agreed that he would present “both sides” of the controversy over quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protests at NFL games.

A founding elder of a fledgling Cincinnati congregation expressed satisfaction with her “phenomenal church,” but said “Lift Every Voice and Sing”—a hymn often called the “black national anthem” that most African American churchgoers learn in childhood—is so rarely featured at her multiethnic church that her younger daughter learned it instead from Beyoncé’s version.

A pastor of a church in Atlanta adapted his multicultural services so that its prayers, food, and sermon illustrations included not only the traditions of blacks and whites but those of a member from India, who had noted that his culture had not been acknowledged.

Those leaders, who met at Mosaix Global Network’s Multiethnic Church Conference in November, are part of a decades-long, still burgeoning movement to integrate Christian worship services, aiming to refute the oft-quoted saying by Martin Luther King Jr. that Sunday mornings are the most segregated time of the week in the United States.

In 1998, 6 percent of congregations of all faiths in the US could be described as multiracial; in 2019, according to preliminary findings, 16 percent met that definition. In that time frame, mainline Protestant multiracial congregations rose from 1 percent to 11 percent; …

On MLK Day, Let’s Be Still and Listen

By

Christianity Today

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Jan 20, 2020

Years ago I sat alongside a dozen pastors in a sun-baked, mud-caked church in rural northern Mozambique. They’d gathered to test a recent translation of Isaiah in Lomwe, their local dialect. The Isaiah passage was familiar to me, but not the language. Still, as we went around the circle—each pastor reading aloud to hear how the new translation sounded—I picked up enough to pronounce some words. When it came my turn to read, rather than pass, I plunged in and read a few verses myself. The Lomwe pastors heard me speaking their language even though I didn’t fully know what I was saying. They beamed with delight. A white American minister had traveled all the way to their village to understand them without insisting they first understand him.

I can’t help but connect this experience to the first Christian Pentecost. In the wake of Jesus’ ascending to heaven and the Holy Spirit’s descent, Acts 2 reports new-and-improved Aramaic-speaking apostles speaking the gospel in the wide array of languages to the peoples gathered in Jerusalem (Acts 2:4). The crowds heard their own native tongues being spoken even though the apostles didn’t know the dialects (Acts 2:6). This is why we refer to Pentecost as a miracle of speech. But what if it was just as much a miracle of hearing?

I counted on such miracles most Sundays in my many years as a preacher. After a sermon, a listener would thank me for saying “just what I needed to hear.” When I asked what it was that I said, the person would relay the words they heard—words I knew I never spoke (being the manuscripted preacher I am). This was the Holy Spirit’s doing, I believe, making my words work in ways I hadn’t dreamed they …

4 Important Issues Regarding Pastors and Mental Health

By

Christianity Today

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Jan 17, 2020

Mental health issues in general and burnout, in particular, are real issues for pastors and leaders as we minister today in our complex world. We can’t ignore them. It’s easy to say, “I would never struggle with this” without realizing how much people actually do.

This topic is so important that this past December the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, in partnership with the Wheaton College School of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy, hosted a GC2 Summit on Facing Hard Truths & Challenges of Pastoral Ministry. Below I want to share four ways to think about these issues.

First, pastoral balance is a myth, but seasons without balance almost always destroy.

Ministry is not the kind of role where we get to create the balance that is in our lives. We may establish some regular routines or prioritize our lives in the order of disciple, husband, father, and then pastor.

That’s great in theory, but it doesn’t work that way in everyday life. There are times when that phone call comes: a tragedy has happened, and you have to switch those things around, and your routine is rerouted.

You don’t plan four funerals in one week, but sometimes they happen. Learning to say no when possible can help, but there are times when you have to drop everything and go.

Pastoring comes in waves. Waves come in, and waves go out. If you’re always at high tide, your ministry won’t last. Or to change the metaphor, we need both a thermometer and a thermostat in our lives to help us with the ebb and flow of ministry.

The thermometer says, “I’m burning a fever, doing too much, too fast, too soon.” It alerts us when we are about to crash. We also need a thermostat to help …

Is a Gluten-Free Diet a Healthy Way to Eat?

By

Jennifer Hunt, RDN, LD

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Jan 17, 2020

The Gluten-Free Diet

Over the last decade, the gluten-free trend has gained traction and positioned itself as a full-fledged movement. This way of eating is often viewed as superior. But is it really?

There are some strong proponents of gluten-free living and rightfully so. For some, this eating pattern saves lives. But, before you grab the gluten-free pasta for spaghetti night, OR the gluten-free cookies to pack in your kids’ lunch, OR that $6 loaf of gluten-free bread in the freezer case, it’s important to know what the science says and why you may want to rethink your decision.

Let’s begin with some of the basics…

What is gluten?

Gluten is a naturally occurring group of proteins found in several different types of grains, including wheat, barley, rye, farro, and triticale. It actually contributes properties like elasticity and helps hold dough together. If you have ever had regular bread (with gluten) and gluten-free bread, the traditionally made bread is squishy and has stretch, but gluten-free bread tends to be crumbly. Gluten is found in the whole and refined form of these grains, which means that if you are eating whole grains, sprouted grains, or refined grains, you are consuming gluten.

Remember, gluten is a naturally occurring protein in some plants (specifically grains). It is NOT man-made.

Is gluten harmful?

For more than 80-90% of individuals, gluten is not harmful. In fact, whole grains (yes, even those including gluten) have been linked to an abundance of benefits for the body including cardiovascular health, GI health, weight management, reduced risk of cancers, blood sugar control and more.

These grains contain a variety of vitamins and minerals involved in metabolism, which helps you take food and turn it into a usable form of energy. And, because grains are plants, they also contain phytochemicals and antioxidants that help ward off disease and many types of cancer. It’s important to note that the benefits are from whole or sprouted grains, NOT grains that have been refined and processed.

However, for a small population of individuals, gluten is harmful. According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, about 1-2% of individuals have Celiac Disease, a condition where the body attacks itself when the individual ingests gluten, even trace amounts.

Other individuals that need to avoid gluten are those with a wheat allergy and people with non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

Gluten is not harmful in and of itself. It is your body’s response to gluten that determines whether it is a nutrient that is right for you to consume.

Who needs to avoid gluten?

Counter to what several trending diets promote, a gluten-free diet is not a superior way of eating and is not necessary for all individuals. The science just doesn’t support that message. However, there are people that do need to avoid gluten:

1. Individuals with Celiac Disease

The presence of gluten in the small intestine signals the body to attack and in doing so damages the villi, the small finger-like projections that help your body absorb nutrients. This autoimmune response contributes to over 200 known symptoms that include,

Gastrointestinal pain and bloating
Diarrhea
Constipation
Fatigue
Weight loss
Itchy skin rash
Joint pain
Damage to dental enamel

Because the body isn’t absorbing nutrients well, it can lead to a host of long-term health concerns including vitamin and mineral deficiencies, infertility, early onset osteoporosis, neurological issues and much more. To be clear, it is essential that those with Celiac Disease give great attention to removing ALL gluten from their diet.

2. Individuals with Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS)

These people often have similar symptoms to those with Celiac, but they test negative for Celiac Disease. The gluten does not damage the small intestine or create the same immune-mediated response. This condition is considered to be less severe than Celiac but they too feel better on a gluten-free diet.

Researchers and healthcare practitioners are still trying to learn more about this condition and how to effectively identify and diagnose it. It’s reported that about 6% of Americans have NCGS but there may be many more. Increased funding is necessary to better understand this complex condition.

3. Individuals with a Wheat Allergy

Affecting less than 1% of the population, individuals with wheat allergy can experience symptoms – including hives, stuffy/running nose, sneezing, headaches, asthma, gastrointestinal symptoms or anaphylaxis – after consuming wheat.

Their body is responding to a group of proteins found in wheat (including gluten). This specific IG-E mediated reaction is diagnosed using a skin prick test or blood test. They do not require a gluten-free diet, but do need to eliminate all wheat and wheat products from their eating plan.

What should I do if I suspect that I have Celiac Disease or an allergy or intolerance to gluten?

While many people may complain of frequent fatigue as well as the occasional gas, bloating and constipation, that does not indicate that you have Celiac or NCGS or a wheat allergy. In fact, there are a variety of reasons why someone may suffer from constipation, gas or bloating. And, if you are a parent, especially of young kids, then tired is a part of life.

However, if you suspect that you might have any of these conditions, your best plan of action is to contact your healthcare provider and a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for an assessment. These individuals are trained to inquire about your nutrition and medical history and assess signs and symptoms in order to help you find answers. They will also refer you to a specialist if required.

Removing gluten from your diet without the assistance of a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist can be frustrating, costly, and unnecessarily restrict your diet. It’s also important to note that removing gluten before testing can produce inaccurate results.

Which foods are gluten-free?

Eating a gluten-free diet does not require you to purchase food from a special aisle in the grocery store. Many foods are completely free of gluten, particularly whole foods. Some of these naturally gluten-free foods include:

Legumes, beans, lentils, peas
Vegetables
Fruit
Dairy
Meat, poultry, fish, pork
Oils
Nuts and seeds

Gluten-free whole grains include millet, buckwheat, amaranth, brown/wild rice, and oats. Quinoa is a common gluten-free grain substitute, but it is actually a seed. While oatmeal does not contain gluten, it is commonly processed in plants along with gluten-containing grains leading to cross-contamination. Packaged gluten-free oatmeal is available for those requiring strict elimination of gluten.

Will eliminating foods with gluten make me healthier?

Some of the healthiest, well-researched eating plans out there, including the Mediterranean Diet and DASH Diet promote a variety of whole foods, with a particular emphasis on produce, beans, healthy oils & fats, nuts, and seeds. These are anti-inflammatory foods that promote wellness, reduce inflammation (a trigger for many diseases) and fuel the body well. All of these foods are not only included on a gluten-free diet, but can be eaten liberally.

As a society, Americans tend to overconsume grains, therefore the reduction or elimination of them may help promote the consumption of more produce (plants!) at meals. However, when individuals simply swap in gluten-free products for the traditional ones, it may actually reduce their nutrient consumption.

For example, many brands of gluten-free pasta are lower in fiber, protein and overall nutrients compared to the whole grain version. But bean pasta is actually higher in nutrition. If we assume we are purchasing a superior product just because it has gluten-free labeling, that may not be true.

The box of gluten-free cookies will still raise your blood sugar and insulin levels. The gluten-free brownie mix isn’t a healthier treat. The gluten-free pasta sauce is just a marketing ploy for food that shouldn’t have gluten in the first place.

If you are pursuing a gluten-free diet for medical, health, or personal reasons, it’s important to create your eating plan from whole foods. A gluten-free diet can be a very healthy way to eat, but not when relying on a variety of packaged gluten-free convenience foods. Similarly, a diet containing a variety of whole grains, including those that do and do not contain gluten, is not harmful for many.

Most individuals generally do not need to eliminate an entire food group in order to be healthy, energetic, reduce the risk for disease, and improve their quality of life. But, for a small group, removing gluten dramatically improves their health and well-being.

Bottom Line

A gluten-free diet can be an exceptionally healthy diet when it is rich in whole foods including beans, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, healthy oils and fats, and quality protein. Individuals that ‘feel’ better following a gluten-free diet or those who suspect a medical issue with gluten would benefit from an assessment with a health professional to ensure their body is absorbing nutrients properly, and that their eating plan is rich in the nutrients they need.

Gluten-free cookies, pasta, and other packaged foods often carry the same calories as the traditional counterpart and may or may not have a superior nutritional value. Don’t assume that gluten-free labeling means it’s healthier. That is a false assumption. In fact, if it has a nutrition label, it’s worth comparing to a whole grain version to identify which one is more nutrient-dense.

Because this gluten-free movement has continued to gain momentum, there are more individuals discovering undiagnosed issues and empowering themselves with knowledge.

So, what’s the play call?

You don’t have to get swept up in fads and clever marketing. You are the steward of your temple. Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment about how to care for, nourish, and pay attention to your body. Seek out a healthcare professional if necessary.

Lastly, eat more plants. He said they are good.

So God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of the entire earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you. Genesis 1:29, AMP

U.S. Court Ruling Renews Iraqi Christians’ Deportation Fears

By

Christianity Today

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Jan 16, 2020

The Iraqi Christian at the center of a class-action suit challenging the detention of fellow Iraqi nationals in the Detroit area was granted a major victory in court Tuesday and will be allowed to stay in the US and become a citizen.

The decision in favor of Sam Hamama comes days after a legal setback for hundreds of others who had been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and released more than a year ago so they could litigate their individual cases.

Last Friday, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the classwide decision freeing the Iraqis from detention, potentially leading to redetainment and a renewed threat of deportation.

“The whole point of the federal litigation was to give people time to fight their individual immigration cases,” Margo Schlanger, one of the lead counsels in the case, told CT. “Hundreds of people assisted by the class action have done that, and, while some have lost, lots of them have won. For many others, the individual immigration cases are still pending. So Sam’s victory is one of many, we’re happy to say.”

In 2017, more than 1,400 Iraqis living in the United States, most of whom had either overstayed visas or have criminal convictions, were living under “final removal orders” that made them targets for deportation. Hundreds of these Iraqi nationals were rounded up in ICE raids and held in detention facilities meant to house them until they could be deported.

The move was part of a policy shift spurred by the Trump administration’s travel ban, as Iraq agreed to begin accepting deportees in exchange for being removed from the list of banned countries.

But the process faced a major obstacle. America has committed itself …

Letting Go or Keep Holding On: How to Discern Your Next Move

By

Alecia M. White

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Jan 16, 2020

Mmmkay, so every week when I go into my office, I typically have quite a bit to print – from letters to deposit slips, to checks. Now, we did have a copier in my boss’s office, but it conked out on us and they opted not to have it repaired (they didn’t ask me). Instead, we now have this big beast of a copy machine in our copy room. It’s huge and it does everything – even staples. All the ladies in the office think it’s so great.

From the beginning, we haven’t gotten along… me and the copier, that is. Initially, it wouldn’t print anything I’d sent, or it started printing everything double-sided. Of course, this made my job difficult because everything I typed up needed to be printed. And before you think it, yes, I sent the files correctly – my boss double-checked… lol.

Well, it’s been a while and you’ll all be happy to know that we are on a level playing field now and the copier cooperates with me. There is, however, one catch. You see, no matter how long I’ve been in the office working, around three o’clock, the copier starts storing my copy jobs so that I have to manually send them through. What I mean is, instead of pushing the “print job” button, I have to press that and then go into the copy setting to change the job status to print. That’s like three more steps than I should have to take. But it only happens around this time. Right when I get in the flow of my work, that doggone copier shows me who’s boss.

Know When It’s Time to Persevere and When It’s Time for Letting Go

I know I may be pushing it, but I think it’s the copier’s way of saying, “Girl, you’re tired, go home.” Whatever it means, it’s a sign that I should be done printing stuff because it only does it to me… I asked.

It reminded me of seasons in our lives, things start off rough, but we eventually get the hang of it. Then, when our time is up and letting go is the move, stuff just doesn’t go the way it normally would.

How many times do we overstay our welcome in a situation? All the signs point you to the door, yet you’re trying to hang around.

Have you ever had a time in your life where you felt it was time to change direction and you chose not to? Didn’t go so well, did it?

So, What’s the Play Call?

There will be seasons in life when the next steps aren’t so apparent, and times when the need to “quit printing” is obvious. Here are a few things to remember when you’re trying to discern whether it’s time for letting go or whether you should keep trying:

You’ve got to endure. In order for me to even get that machine to do what I needed, I had to go through the process of learning how to properly use it. It was a task, but I couldn’t complete my daily tasks without it. So, don’t quit too soon before you learn how to move through your process and master the lesson. “Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:3, NLT
Finish your season. I had to keep trying before I even got to the point where I could use the copier. But my reward was it actually doing what I needed it to do. You’ve got to go through your entire season to get the victory. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9
Know when your season is up. Just like my 3 o’clock hour, I had to realize that me and the copier beast were done for the day. Don’t ignore your signal to exit. “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” Ecclesiastes 3:1
Always seek God. He will let you know when it’s time to let it go and He will also lead you to your next. “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:6

Knowing that we must move on from where we are isn’t always easy. We get comfortable and sometimes stay too long, no matter how much we want what’s next. Don’t get stuck in the middle of your process, go on through it. But, please, don’t miss your 3 o’clock to let it go.

Top 50 Countries Where Christians are Most Persecuted

By

Christianity Today

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Jan 15, 2020

persecuted christians — Christians mourn for 21 Coptic Egyptian men seized by Islamic State militants. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Every day, 8 Christians worldwide are killed because of their faith.

Every week, 182 churches or Christian buildings are attacked.

And every month, 309 Christians are imprisoned unjustly.

So reports the 2020 World Watch List (WWL), the latest annual accounting from Open Doors of the top 50 countries where Christians are the most persecuted for their faith.

The listed nations comprise 260 million Christians suffering high to severe levels of persecution, up from 245 million in last year’s list.

Another 50 million could be added from the 23 nations that fall just outside the top 50—such as Mexico, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—for a ratio of 1 in 8 Christians worldwide facing persecution.

Last year, 40 nations scored high enough to register “very high” persecution levels. This year, it reached 45.

Open Doors has monitored Christian persecution worldwide since 1992. North Korea has ranked No. 1 since 2002, when the watch list began. The 2020 version tracks the time period from November 1, 2018 to October 31, 2019, and is compiled from reports by Open Doors field staff in dozens of countries.

Last year, CT noted “Asia Rising” as India entered the top 10 for the first time while China rose from No. 43 to No. 27.

That trend continues, as 2 in 5 Asian Christians now face high levels of persecution, up from 1 in 3 the previous reporting period. China’s crackdown on both state-sanctioned and underground churches and its growing surveillance network added 16 million to Open Doors’ tally of Christians facing persecution.

The point of the annual WWL rankings—which have tracked how North Korea has competition as persecution only gets worse, is to aim for more effective …

3 Keys to the Lesson of Contentment

By

Andrea Matthews

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Jan 15, 2020

Contentment Class is in Session

Most days I wake up eager to achieve. I want more than what I currently have and I am determined to work as hard as I can to possess it. Those feelings are natural to me, but in recent weeks, they’ve been the cause of conflict in my heart.

In today’s play call, Paul acknowledges that contentment is something that needs to be learned. It’s not an innate characteristic or a feeling that comes naturally. Most of us have to go through some unpleasant situations to be taught contentment. These unpleasant situations are often produced by our insatiable thirst for quick success, fast wealth, and comparing our possessions and achievements to that of other people.

Contentment takes Personal Commitment

We all know what Paul experienced during his time here on earth, and I doubt that any of us would volunteer to walk a day in his shoes. But, there is something so precious and genuine that happened in Paul’s heart throughout his journey of faith.

Here are 3 reasons Paul was able to stand firm and commit to being content:

1. Paul knew that God was sovereign and in control.

The apostle’s own conversion, documented in Acts 9, attests to his knowledge of God’s sovereignty. For God to choose Paul of all people to share His truth proved that God was indeed in control. Paul knew that despite what he might endure, all things worked together for the good of God’s kingdom.

Self-check: Do we trust the sovereignty of God today? Do we truly believe that God is in control and that He is a just and fair Father?

2. He lived his life for others.

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20

When we give our lives to Christ, we find new life in Him. That new life allows us to focus on God’s will for us to love others above ourselves. If we choose to put our attention on those who are hurting in this world, we forget our own struggles with contentment. Suddenly, we have enough and we find that we are equipped to do everything God has called us to do.

Self-check: Are we so focused on getting more for ourselves that we have no capacity to care for those who have little to nothing?

3. He was confident of his reward in heaven.

This life meant very little to the Apostle Paul and it is wise for us to heed his example. He had experienced every prestigious achievement possible. He was a man of knowledge and stature, but all that meant nothing without Christ. Paul was able to count it an honor to suffer with Christ because he knew that He was his exceeding great reward (Colossians 3:24).

Self-check: Is Christ truly our reward today? If we never achieve that goal, that level of achievement or success, does winning Christ mean more? Is Christ enough?

So, What’s the Play Call?

Pursue godliness with contentment – this is our greatest gain (1 Timothy 6:6).

I pray that we would all take the time to acknowledge the fulfillment we have in Christ alone. He is all we need and He has given us everything we need to live a godly life. Let’s make the conscious decision to be content in every situation we face.

When Your Sweet Tooth Aches: 6 Solutions for Afternoon Sugar Cravings

By

Jennifer Hunt, RDN, LD

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Jan 10, 2020

Sugar is as addictive as heroin…

As some claim.

There are many theories as to the cause of sugar cravings – reward pathways, hormonal changes, adrenal fatigue, nutrient deficiencies, maybe even allergies and more. While some of the reasons appear to be complex and unclear, I think everyone can agree – we don’t like them!

Sugar cravings can make us feel weak and compel us to make food or beverage choices we might otherwise have declined in a stronger state. Time after time, people blame themselves saying, “I just need more willpower.” But, when the moment is there, everyone feels that urge to go grab a sweet treat to satisfy the desire – it’s natural.

For many, these cravings set in mid- to late afternoon when we are trying to finish up our work and garner our last bit of energy and finish the workday strong.

So, are we completely at the mercy of these strong, impulsive cravings? Do we have to admit defeat, yet again, when they overpower our thoughts?

NO!

Because you are spirit, soul, and body, it is important to combat cravings from all angles. This doesn’t mean you need to have a prayer meeting when the thought of grabbing a doughnut occurs. But, it does mean that these moments are opportunities to execute power, become proactive, and admit weakness.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

God doesn’t “remove” the thought because we beg him to. Nope. Paul tells us that we take our own thoughts captive. We make them submit to Christ. You and I determine the power we hold and how we execute it.

Your Heavenly Father promises that there is always a way out. Nothing is beyond your ability to handle.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

God always keeps His end of the bargain, are we doing our part?

Having Done All to Stand Against Sugar Cravings

While the war in your head and spirit cannot be neglected, there are some very practical and easy to implement strategies that can help you curb, cure, even defeat some of these sugar cravings so they don’t come back. Not tomorrow, not next week and not next month. That might sound highly confident and maybe even unbelievable, but the truth is that you have a lot more power than you think!

Sugar cravings are often biological signs that your blood sugars have dropped and your body is in need of energy – FAST! It often feels urgent, even if your energy is low. There are several ways you can combat cravings through food choices so that they don’t haunt you all afternoon!

Slay the Crave

1. Eat a Piece of Fruit with Lunch

Fruit is naturally sweet. The best meals are those that satisfy all of our taste buds- sweet, savory, salty, bitter, and sour. When sweet fruit is included as a part of lunch, it can satisfy your desires for sweet, rather than leave you wanting that sugary treat later. Grabbing a piece of fresh fruit may be one of the easiest ways to incorporate this sweet whole food into your lunch!

But for some creative ideas, try these out:

Add berries, chopped apple or mandarin oranges to a fresh green salad
Make an almond butter sandwich (or peanut butter) with sliced banana
Top low-fat cottage cheese with fresh melon
Pack up this Citrus Asian Coleslaw with Sliced Oranges

2. Include Adequate Protein at the Mid-Day Meal

Protein requires a longer period of time to digest, making it satisfying and keeping you full for longer! If you skip the protein at lunch, opting for a simple green salad or a plate of fruit or a “tomato sandwich,” you will likely find yourself hungry sooner as sugar cravings intensify.

There are many ways to include protein that are easy to pack up and won’t weigh you down.

Include grilled chicken or 2 boiled eggs on a salad or in a pita pocket.
Make egg or tuna salad with low-fat mayo or yogurt and seasonings.
Pack up ½-1 cup low-fat cottage cheese or ricotta cheese.
Include a 4-8oz container of greek yogurt (regular yogurt contains about ½ the protein compared with greek).
Add in a low-fat cheese stick or 2.
Stir in chopped chicken, tofu or tempeh into leftover stir-fried or grilled veggies.
Top a fresh green salad with ½ cup of steamed edamame beans (find these in your freezer section!).
Include ½-3/4 cup black beans into a tex-mex bowl.

3. Avoid Refined Carbs at Your Lunch

Simple, refined carbs like white bread, rice and pasta and processed snack foods quickly raise blood sugars, followed by an unpleasant crash. Once that crash occurs, cravings ensue. Not good! By swapping out refined carbohydrate foods with whole grains, beans, and more veggies, your body responds by adjusting to a slower rise and fall in blood sugars, allowing you to stay in control!

4. DO Include Healthy Carbs

While carbohydrate foods are commonly demonized, they really aren’t the bad guys. Unfortunately, processed carbs get linked to whole food carbohydrates when people say, “carbs.” Actually, healthy, whole food carbohydrates have fiber which slows the rise and fall in blood sugars and helps you stay full and satisfied, leaving the thought of sugary treats undetected.

Carbohydrate foods contribute to the production of serotonin, what Judith Wurtman, Ph.D. calls “nature’s own appetite suppressant.” This powerful neurotransmitter does more than simply make you feel good, Wurtman says, “you feel emotionally stable, less anxious, more tranquil and even more focused and energetic.”

Leaving whole carbohydrate foods out of lunch may leave you feeling deprived and eager to satisfy that sweet tooth not long after. A few creative and simple ways to add whole food carbs to your lunch include:

Add a spoonful of cooked quinoa to a fresh salad
Swap to 100% whole grain or sprouted grain bread for your sandwich
Make cracker sandwiches with 1 serving (per box) of 100% whole grain crackers with cheese and lean low sodium deli meat
Make a vegetarian Tex-Mex salad with black beans, greens, salad, low-fat yogurt/sour cream, salsa and some black olives
Mix 100% whole grain pasta with leftover roasted veggies and chopped chicken, tossed in a couple tablespoons of vinaigrette dressing

5. Choose Water and Unsweetened Beverages

Sugary drinks contribute almost 50% of added sugars among Americans. And according to the CDC, the prevalence of US adults reported drinking at least 1 sugar-sweetened beverage per day. While we know they are not ideal beverage choices, the soda industry boasts $80.6 BILLION in revenues in 2016.

Choosing water over soda could dramatically reduce your afternoon sugar cravings because all that sugar – 15-18 teaspoons worth in a 20oz bottle – contributes to the rollercoaster of blood sugars. Like stated before, those blood sugar crashes only make you want MORE!

Even 100% juice has about as much sugar as a soda. While it is not added sugar, it will still skyrocket those blood sugars!

6. Eat a Wide Variety of Whole Foods

Including a wide variety of whole foods from each of the food groups – vegetables, fruit, lean protein, dairy, healthy fats and whole grains ensures your body digests and assimilates a wide variety of vitamins and minerals.

Have you ever blamed your ice cream craving on your need for calcium or your chocolate craving on your need for magnesium? There is no blame needed if you are providing your body with an abundance of nutrients from different foods. You can get an excellent dose of calcium from a serving of yogurt and those dark leafy greens are rich in magnesium – so are pumpkin seeds!

So, What’s the Play Call?

Don’t allow sugar cravings to wreck your good intentions. YOU CAN take control, submit them to Christ and take some practical actions that will help you win again and again.

It’s also important to note that sleep plays a significant role in regulating appetite and supplying your body with energy all day long. Failure to get adequate sleep and poor stress management could literally be sabotaging your healthy eating goals, keeping you in an endless cycle.

Sugar might feel addictive. It tastes good and our body likes it. But you are not subject to the powers of this world. The God of the universe lives in you and has supplied you with power and a sound mind to conquer your cravings, no matter how powerful they feel.

Take captive and stay proactive.

This article first appeared on Healthy Inspiration.

REFERENCES

Westwater, M. L., Fletcher, P. C., & Ziauddeen, H. (2016). Sugar addiction: the state of the science. European Journal of Nutrition, 55(Suppl 2), 55–69. http://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-016-1229-6

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The Gluten-Free Diet

What is gluten?

Is gluten harmful?

Who needs to avoid gluten?

1. Individuals with Celiac Disease

2. Individuals with Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS)

3. Individuals with a Wheat Allergy

What should I do if I suspect that I have Celiac Disease or an allergy or intolerance to gluten?

Which foods are gluten-free?

Will eliminating foods with gluten make me healthier?

Bottom Line

Know When It’s Time to Persevere and When It’s Time for Letting Go

Contentment Class is in Session

Contentment takes Personal Commitment

1. Paul knew that God was sovereign and in control.

2. He lived his life for others.

3. He was confident of his reward in heaven.

Sugar is as addictive as heroin…

Having Done All to Stand Against Sugar Cravings

Slay the Crave

1. Eat a Piece of Fruit with Lunch

2. Include Adequate Protein at the Mid-Day Meal

3. Avoid Refined Carbs at Your Lunch

4. DO Include Healthy Carbs

5. Choose Water and Unsweetened Beverages

6. Eat a Wide Variety of Whole Foods

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