Putting to death

Today is the last day of 7. But, it's not time to brew a cup of coffee or finally have a beloved cheese stick; tomorrow I head to Haiti for a week. However, I guarantee you once we land in Miami next Friday this girl is making a beeline to the nearest Starbucks... iced grande soy chai don't mind if I do!!

But as this challenge comes to a close I finally realize why I did it.

"For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." Romans 8:13

This is why I did 7 - the food chapter. And, this is exactly why I am not currently convicted about doing any of the other chapters. For me, the deeds of my body is a struggle with food. A craving for what brings death. A bondage to sin of gluttony. Yet, I want to live. Live in the freedom of being an heir of God and a fellow heir with Christ.

Living according to the flesh for me means allowing myself to eat foolishly. It's death. Not a physically death (although that could sure be a reality), but a spiritual one. A life with no hope, not glory, no love. That's not the life I want. I want a life of hope of the creation set free. A hope that is yet seen, but longing for patiently.

To have that life, I must, with the Spirit, put to death the deeds of the body. Oh! how thankful I am that this killing of my sin is not under my own strength. I've tried that way and it in fact leads to death.But here in Romans 8 I am reminded that the Spirit is how I put to death my sins. And, I only have the Spirit because I belong to Christ. It is through the power of the resurrected Christ that I have life!

Week 3...completed

This week I begin the last week of 7. I couldn't be more excited, but I'm also still waiting for this to be extremely difficult. I'm beginning to think adding both condiments and spices lessened the challenge greatly. So, for this last week, goodbye condiments. Let's be honest... it's really goodbye Sweet Baby Ray Chipotle and Honey BBQ sauce... damn that stuff is good!!!

Three weeks ago I really thought I was going to hate 7 within a few days. At day 22 I'm still okay with just these 8 items of food. For sure there have been hard times, but they have been rather few and far between. Don't get me wrong, I miss eating the gamete of food choices, but honestly, I'll probably continue this well after the 30 days are over. Well... I guess I should say loosely follow.


I did something this week (or rather didn't do something) that will haunt me until the Chicago Marathon.

Skipped a scheduled run.

Here's the kicker... it wasn't because I was so crazy busy or, better yet, because I was in bed with the flu. No, I was simply too tired and exhausted to get out of bed and run. For the first time in three weeks I missed a scheduled run. The training board in my living room was looking so great with all the x's through completed runs and now I have a big ole nagging 3 smack dab in the middle of the wall!! 

Thankfully after a doctors exam and complete blood work the only thing wrong with me is my iron count. Here's hoping the iron will crank up my energy level and this will be the only skipped run till October (minus next week while I'm in Haiti).

3 Week Mark

I honestly can't believe I'm in the middle of my third week of 7. It really has gone by so quickly and I'm scared to say easily.

I'm a little in shock of how easy and not awkward it is to not eat what everyone else is eating or to bring what I can eat. Maybe it's because my friends know and understand what I'm doing so they are super supportive. Here's a sample of what and where I've been since my last post:

• bowling with friends - hardly even noticed there was pizza there
• game night with tons of snacks
• huge cook out at a friends - I brought my own food to grill and share
• Open door dinner - my amazing friend grilled chicken just for me and I brought sides I could eat
• Chick-fil-a fundraiser - did you know their chargrilled chicken sandwich is on a whole wheat bun?!
• Community group - I didn't know I was able to sit around the kitchen table full of snacks and not eat any... it's possible and not really that awkward!
• And, last night's Whitaker's Music Festival at the Gardens...made a full 7 dinner for me and my friend, packed, and enjoyed!

After looking at this long list, it's no wonder I haven't had time to actually blog about it.