Self-Control

Show me a plate of brownies and I'll show you a lack of self-control. Cookies, cakes, cream puffs, candy, cinnamon rolls...anything sweet and I'll accept. I've never thought this was a "real" problem until I realized that I think about dessert more than I think about God. When I am craving something sweet, I will obsess about it until I satisfy the craving. Don't get me wrong, I don't think there is anything bad or sinful about dessert or eating sweet things, I am just realizing that this is an area in my life that I need to work on. It may seem silly or trivial but I want to be self-controlled in the little things so that when I am faced with the big temptations I am able to resist.

Think about it, when a person decides to run a marathon, they don't just wake up one day and run the 26 point whatever miles required. They train for months, sometimes years, and prepare for the big race. In the past I have never thought about "fasting" from junk food and I have never noticed my cravings or inability to 'stop at one' as being that big of a deal. Just yesterday I finished off brownies I had made the night before. What started as a "little bite" ended up being four or five brownies (I lost track). Then later in the day I found myself prowling around the kitchen scoping out the counters, pantry and fridge for something sweet to devour. I thought to myself, "this is ridiculous." After all I was not hungry and I had eaten enough brownies to satisfy my sweet tooth for at least a week!

So, it was this morning while explaining my weakness to a friend that I had an epiphany...What if this small stronghold was given to me so that I would learn to train myself to open the Bible instead of the fridge every time I felt a craving? What if this is just a little sacrifice I am meant to offer the one who sacrificed everything for me? What if this is a simple test to show what my mind is really focused on? What if this is the Lord's way of drawing me closer to Him? It really does seem silly, I mean we're just talking sugar here but I'm not willing to miss the blessing that God may want to offer me. The word of the Lord is so much more satisfying, much more healthy and not to mention fat free! Now that's a blessing right there!

A healthy and low-fat dinner is on the menu for tonight: chicken with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and pasta.

Chicken with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Spinach
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about a pound total)
1 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, sliced and dry-packed
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
5 oz fresh spinach (half the 10 oz bag)
Parmesan cheese

In a large skillet heat oil over med-high heat. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add chicken and brown on both sides for 2 minutes. Add wine, tomatoes, salt and pepper and simmer 5 minutes. Top with spinach, cover and cook over med heat until spinach is wilted but still bright green and the chicken is no longer pink. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve with bow-tie pasta.

Bow-Tie Pasta
8 oz bow-tie pasta
3 tbsp butter or extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp dried Italian seasoning

Cook pasta according to pkg directions. Melt butter (or heat oil) in a small skillet over med heat then add garlic. Saute for 2 minutes then pour over pasta. Add Italian seasoning and toss.