The first month or so I really didn't know what to do. The whole process of unlearning what you've done forever was overwhelming. So I just sort of integrated "normal" foods with gluten free foods. My stomach was still a mess.
My next brilliant plan was to order every single boxed gluten free thing I could find with a 5-star rating on Amazon. Have you ever seen an overweight celiac? Really, ever? No, you haven't. And you know why? Celiacs don't absorb nutrients like the rest of the normal population. Except 5% of Celiacs. Waving the hand here people. I am that 5%! My boxed food experiment led me to gain almost ten pounds! What I didn't realize is that when you take gluten out of a cake mix, for instance, the sugar is usually doubled. Ha!
Finally, I went back to the doctor and told her I needed help. Someone needed to get me a plan and quick! I couldn't afford to keep replacing all of my clothes. Thank gawd J.Crew puts a little bit of spandex in their cotton shorts. And for that matter, God bless Lilly! The Elsa top is the greatest fat disguiser ever invented.
After meeting with the nurse/dietician I simply started over. Back to basics. After about a month I really started to get the hang of cooking conventional meals gluten free. Essentially, you use whole foods. I still use some boxed cake mixes for supper club (no one has ever noticed!). Because I have so many allergies I've enjoyed knowing exactly what is going into my mouth. My system is almost back to normal. One smidgen of gluten? I will be a sick hot mess all over again.
Last night was our weekly Mexican Monday. I made gluten free organic beef enchiladas. They were superb! I got a tiny twinge of a stomach ache. Because I knew the basic simple ingredients in the recipe I was able to trace back to the agitator.
This got me thinking, in a long drawn out kind of way, about our walk with Christ. In our effort to bring souls to Christ many churches have become productions. My oldest daughter loves the contemporary worship services with themed lessons. My husband,on the other hand, would prefer to wear a suit and sit stiff backed. I'm some where in the middle. I love some great praise and worship music. But I also was raised to dress for church.
The point? Maybe the church has missed the mark as a whole. Maybe we need to get back to basics. It seems to me that the more seeker friendly we've become, in good faith, the more entertainment oriented we've become. Maybe, just maybe, we should turn up the lights, turn off the iPads, open actual bibles, lower the amplifiers, and raise our voices in one accord giving thanksgiving for the One who died for us.
I don't think Jesus gives a flip what we wear to church. But I do agree with my husband that it's a sign of respect. I think the Lord wants us to praise Him to the mountain tops. And it doesn't matter if it's an organ or an electric guitar. Just praise!
I do think He cares if the Word goes out doctrinally sound. We need to teach the bible again in our worship services. In our good faith effort to mix it all together, intentionally or not, there's been a trend to bring in "unhealthy" truths. One iota of false teaching makes a congregation unknowingly sick.
When we are served a feel good service with lights, action, videos, entertainment? Well, we get fat on someone else feeding us. We have a whole generation of young adults who, I truly believe, love the Lord. They love the entertainment of good music, skits, the fellowship. But because they are a generation of instant gratification? They don't know their bibles. They don't know how to begin reading the bible or study it. This is an open invitation for satan to walk in and deceive. To make an entire youth program sick.
Your pastor wants the best for your eternal soul. Ask him questions. If he doesn't? Your eternal destination is at stake. Fill your whole body up with His Living Word. If you are being fed in a healthy way the Holy Spirit will alert you to any cross contamination. But it starts with you. Get in Gods word. Get the basics. Let His words heal you from the inside out.
"He rained down manna upon them to eat And gave them food from heaven. Man did eat the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance."-Psalm 78:24-25
