It must be Januaury

"When you walk into the bookstore and see a table filled with books on dieting, you know it must be January."

When I read the first line of "Our Daily Bread" this morning I had to laugh because Chuck and I thought the very same thing when we walked into Barnes and Noble yesterday and front and center was the table filled with the latest diet books. I would have agreed with the author and thought, "of course, everything in moderation, yada yada" but it's when I read the second to last line I was reminded that this whole following Jesus thing isn't about following the rules, it's about getting closer to him. I'm grateful for wise people and orginizations like "Our Daily Bread." I hope this inspires you today as it did me to not focus on the gifts, whether food or clothes or money, but focus on the giver. Have a nice weekend!

"When you walk into the bookstore and see a table filled with books on dieting, you know it must be January.

After several weeks of overeating all kinds of holiday foods, people in many cultures turn their attention to not eating.

Food plays an important role in Scripture. God uses it not only to bless us but also to teach us. Our misuse of food keeps us from knowing God in ways He wants to be known.

In the Old Testament, God gave instructions to Adam as to what to eat and what not to eat (Gen. 2:16-17). Later He gave the Israelites manna to convince them that He was God and to test them to find out if they believed Him (Ex. 16:12; Deut. 8:16). In the New Testament, the apostle Paul stated the proper attitude for everything we do, including eating: “Whether you eat or drink, . . . do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).

When we think of food as a friend that comforts us or an enemy that makes us fat, we miss the wonder of receiving with gratitude a splendid gift from God. Obsessive eating or not eating indicates that we are focused on the gift rather than on the Giver, which is a form of idolatry.

 When eating becomes a true act of worship, we will no longer worship food".  — Julie Ackerman Link