Worshipping God with our bodies

Food… it’s the sustenance we need to fuel our bodies.  Like in a car, different engines require different octane levels.  Sports cars take the high octane while more standard vehicles take the regular, big work trucks take diesel…  It’s all in how they run that requires the different fuels; the same rule applies  Knowing the mechanics of how a gas system works, would you ever purposefully put dirt or sand in your gas tank?  What about radiator fluid?  Sure the substances go in, but they’re sure to ruin your vehicle.  Doesn’t the same apply for our bodies?  Do you expect to put garbage in your system and have it run the way it’s supposed to?  Of course not!  One benefit I suppose that a vehicle has over us is that you can only fill the tank with so many gallons before it overflows – it’s wasteful to your wallet but not harmful to the car as you watch those dollars spill to the ground.  But in our bodies, we require only so much – and exceeding that limit unfortunately doesn’t allow anything to spill to the ground, but we do put our money where our mouth is in that regard.  Excessive eating is just as wasteful as spilling gasoline.  It’s bad for our bodies, its bad for our health, but we have a choice.  We can choose to fuel up with the proper ingredients, or we can choose to fuel up with what will run us down and make us unhealthy.  Before you go chasing that fad diet or crashing your system, have you ever thought to put God first when making decisions about how you fuel yourself?  Sure you fuel your spirit and soul with God’s word and communion with him, but have you ever looked at how you take care of your body – the temple of the holy spirit?  We as believers are called to seek him first, and to worship him in spirit and in truth.  Psalms 103:1 says, “Bless the Lord, O My soul, and ALL that is within me, bless his holy name”.   When confronted with an illness, our white blood cells rise in number to fight off the infection, when in health, our body is harmonious and we feel well.  What if you could bless the Lord even through the cells in your body?  The bible says that even the rocks will cry out for him – so if a sedentary thing like a rock can praise the Lord, I’m quite sure a cell can praise the Lord.  A basic search on the Internet defines a cell as a basic building block of all living things.  A building block!  When bricks are in the right climate, they last a long time – when our cells are being taken care of – WE last a long time.  The bible tells us in Genesis 6:3 that our lifespans should be 120 years.  Knowing the current average – we’re falling short of that.

So what’s my point?  My point is this… “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” 1 Corinthians 10:31.  We are to honor God through the food that we eat.  To glorify God means to have a good opinion towards him or something that he created.  He created our inmost beings (Psalm 139:13).  So to honor him and give him glory, the food we choose to fuel our bodies with should be fitting for a King – the King of Kings!

Organic foods have been on the rise.   Maybe you have heard of GMO’s or Monsanto?  A GMO is “A genetically modified organism (GMO) is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. GMOs are the source of genetically modified foods and are also widely used in scientific research and to produce goods other than food.” (inlander.com) 

Monsanto is the company that has developed and promoted GMOs.  Monsanto’s theory is “We are focused on empowering farmers—large and small—to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world's natural resources such as water and energy. We do this with our leading seed brands in crops like corn, cotton, oilseeds and fruits and vegetables. We also produce leading in-the-seed trait technologies for farmers, which are aimed at protecting their yield, supporting their on-farm efficiency and reducing their on-farm costs.”  Monsanto.com  It all sounds so innocent.  But the reality is – GMOs are genetically altered to produce pesticides within themselves that stave off pests from ruining the crop.  The main idea behind this was so that farmers could use less harmful chemicals on the crops and soils, producing a safer product for us to consume.  So, putting two and two together, now we’re not eating pesticides that have been sprayed on the foods, we’re eating the chemicals that have been injected into these plants.  So, if we are constantly filling our bodies with chemicals, what does that do to our liver and kidneys that constantly have to process out these toxins?  And what happens to the toxins that get ingested or absorbed?  We already know that our skin is one means of absorbing things from our environment.  It gets hot, our skin perspires; we spill bleach on our skin, it burns.  Just reading the warning label on a pesticide bottle should be enough to make you wary. It clearly says not to drink it – so why are we purposefully eating them?  (granted that "organic" pesticides are "safe for consumption")  Sure the bible doesn’t say anything about organic food – that’s because back then – everything was organic!  There wasn’t anything to harm the plants.  When you KNOW that something is bad for you, it is unwise to continue that behavior.  So what is organic food anyway?  According to Organic.com, organic food is “Simply stated, organic produce and other ingredients are grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. Animals that produce meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products do not take antibiotics or growth hormones.”

Organic = no extra stuff  - simply the way God created it.  If I’m not sick, why do I need to eat meat with antibiotics in it?

“Where are these hidden antibiotics found? Mostly in meat. Animals such as chickens and cows that are farmed for their meat are supplied with a cocktail of antibiotic medications as a way to keep them as healthy and large as possible. This is a practice that is more common in the US than other countries, and indeed it has been steadily reduced in many areas around the world.”

“Evidence has helped to determine that regular, low doses such as those found in meat or dairy can actually create the ideal environment for the breeding of extremely resistant bacteria. With new generations of bacteria birthing in as little time as twenty minutes, prolonged exposure to low doses of antibiotics that cannot fully kill them off can be very detrimental and encourage the growth of so called ‘mutant’ strains.”  Adrenalfatiguesolution.com

You can buy meat that is Organic, Look for labels that say “free range” or “grass fed”, the packaging will be clearly labeled if the animal has been raised free of antibiotics.  If an animal gets sick and needs antibiotics, that is the only time it will be fed antibiotics.  Many little farm stands are popping up as local farmers bring their wares to the general public and bypass the grocery stores.  These little stores tend to have more opportunity to know the farmer, and to have visited the farmlands where the animals were raised.  Not only will you be putting money directly into the pocket of a local farmer but also you will have a more direct relationship to where your food is coming from.  And isn’t a safe food supply better for us in the long run? 

So, I’ve shown you what antibiotics can do to your system.  How about we look at what pesticides do.

“Some people are unaffected or are mildly affected, while others become severely ill from similar levels of exposure. Some possible reactions are:”

*  Brain Disorders •   Fatigue •   Skin Irritations •   Nausea •   Vomiting •   Breathing Problems

•   Blood Disorders •   Liver & Kidney Damage •   Reproductive Damage •   Cancer •   Death

www.globalhealingcenter.com

The one obvious that I know you might be thinking about in buying organic foods is the price.  Yes, overall the price of organic and non-GMO food is higher.  With limited budgets, making this change might be scary.  There are many ways to be able to afford organic food.  Type in your web browser “afford organic food” and several websites pop up explaining different ways that this can be done.  I know I was nervous at first.  I started in the meat section and purchased a chicken.   I was used to paying around $5 for a roasting chicken, the organic is around $13.  But what I didn’t expect was that the flavor of the chicken is so much better, and without all the chemicals to plump the chicken, I actually felt full on less.  So it may cost you more up front, but like with anything – you get what you pay for.  I was pleasantly surprised – even with steak how much richer the flavor is.

I also did a simple experiment with eggs.  I had a package of regular and a package of organic.  Even the eggs are affected by the hens diet.  All of the uncooked eggs from the regular package were larger in yolk than the organic.  Taste wise, I can’t tell the difference but I feel better knowing that there aren’t any additives to what I’m eating.

As for dairy milk, studies are starting to show that there are no noticeable differences between organic and non-organic milk – so there’s a $4 savings back in your pocket if you (like I have) bought the organic milk gallon.

Of course, research for yourself – knowledge is key when it comes to taking care of your body.  And don’t forget to exercise.  I’ve been following the nutrition and healing trend for a few years now and research keeps growing – proving that we can heal our own bodies through nutrition.  There’s a cookbook out on healing MS through nutrition, and I’ve heard first hand that it has even healed a case of Parkinson’s disease, There’s a documentary on YouTube about type 1 and type 2 Diabetes clients doing a study for one month eating solely whole foods and leaving behind not only weight but all of their medications, I’ve done a study on how nutrition can help those with PTSD… You can live healthy and free!  Choose life!

Thank you Jesus for my friend reading this.  I thank you for the wisdom and discernment that you give us God, that enables us to live our best life for you.  I praise you that we can honor you and worship you in many ways.  I pray today that a life change will be made possible through your holy spirit working in me.  Lead me to all truth in everything that I do.  In Jesus name Amen!