The First Two Bites

Today the book talked about how the first two bites of food are always the tastiest and most flavorful. There of course are times when you eat more than the first two bites because, well, you are hungry. However, with things that are just "extra calories," it emphasized thinking about and savoring those first two bites, then deciding whether or not you really want to eat the whole thing.

At first when I read this, I was like, "yea yea" and that it didn't apply to me, but then I realized that for things like sugar, candy, etc., this would be really good for me. Especially things that I resent not eating because I'm trying to watch my calories. I have this thought it my mind "it's all or nothing." I either eat the whole cheesecake (mostly over time) or I eat none of it. One, because I don't like to waste, and two because I just figure once you've stepped over the edge you might as well finish yourself. Like yesterday, I really wanted to eat this stupid duplex cookie that the girls had for snack. I looked at the back and it was 160 calories for TWO. Just TWO cookies. So I was like "eff it" and ate one. Well, I felt like since I ate one, I might as well eat two because that was the serving size and yea. So I ended up eating two, not even really enjoying it. Then I ate some airheads and pretty much gulped them down.

Moral of the story, is that I like the fact that this book encourages me to take two bites and be done. That it's ok to try stuff and then stop. I'm not going to do it all the time...sometimes you just need an effing piece of cheesecake, but most of the time, it's a good practice. Today I'm going to try to "savor my first two bites" and see what this whole thing is about :)

I'm having a rough time wanting to get up this morning by the way. I'm extra tired for some reason, even though I pretty much went to bed on time. Eh.

"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin....But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished--he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Where then is boasting? It is excluded." Romans 3:20-27

I love how Paul systematically points out in the first couple of chapters that we are all under some kind of law--the Jews have their law, and the Gentiles (every one else) have the law of their conscience. And guess what? We've all broken the law. We've all failed one point of that law at one time or another. Knowing the law cannot make us right. It cannot give us grace, forgiveness, mercy, or righteousness. The ONLY way that we can have righteousness is faith in Christ and what he's done. To believe that Jesus was our sacrifice, and to know that no matter what we do, we can not earn salvation. "God is the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." He does it. It's amazingly good news.

I don't have to strive to earn God's love and forgiveness. I just have to believe that he loves me, that Jesus willingly died for every single mistake that I've made, and to accept his forgiveness and mercy. How beautifully simple and foolish that it. It's...so incredibly simple. So guess what? There is no boasting. There should be no "I'm better than you because...." We could compete day by day trying to be the best person and do the best things, when, in the end, it's all worth nothing. Works, acts, are worth nothing without faith...without this simple knowledge and accepting it humbly and with a thankful heart.

It's good to be reminded of the simple message of Christ. So many times as a Christian I get caught up in the "oh I'm doing really well, look how Christ is working in me, I must be something special" kind of thinking when it really has nothing to do with me. Yes, God works through us. Yes, he will change and transform us, but it's because of his sacrifice that we are even able to do this. It has nothing to do with our ability to change or our worthiness. It has everything to do with how good God is. That's a good word for me. <3