Brighter Days are Coming
The other evening, I had a diverticulitis flare-up. It has been a while since the last one. Diverticulitis can be quite challenging, especially for someone like me who enjoys a variety of high-fiber foods. Last week, I may have exceeded my tolerance by consuming many high-fiber items, including raw carrots, spinach, unsalted nuts, corn, artichokes, apples, avocado, and strawberries. While these foods are beneficial for overall health, in excessive amounts, they can lead to complications for someone with diverticulitis.
I had to eliminate high-fiber foods and focus on a restricted diet temporarily. This typically includes clear fluids, broth, and low-fiber foods. I bought some white bread and cream of wheat to adhere to this restrictive way of eating. Diverticulitis really knocks you out - I felt engulfed in fatigue. After resting all weekend, and sleeping in until 11:30 a.m., I have begun to feel better. I cautiously reintroduced chicken breast sandwiches with lettuce and tomatoes on toasted white bread for lunch, which marked a positive step in my recovery. Although there is still some tenderness on the lower left side. It feels like my colon is bruised on the inside.
My son (Foodie), who is a dietitian, frequently emphasizes the importance of being mindful of my food choices. I'm now beginning to think that is why he accompanies me during grocery shopping trips, which tend to take nearly twice as long due to his habit of reading labels diligently. Not my labels but his labels. He points out various potentially harmful ingredients such as seed oils, artificial sweeteners, and high-fructose corn syrup. It makes me really think about all the artificial stuff in processed foods - While he acknowledges that moderation is key, he also believes that the typical American diet poses various nutritional challenges and contributes to our overall bad health.
It’s a cool, rainy day, but it’s not the kind of winter rain that weighs you down. I can feel Spring peeking through—everything is so green, and the sight of trees with fresh leaves brings a sense of hope. It’s a reminder that even as old man Winter holds on, change is on the horizon, and brighter days are coming.
🎱
The husband came back from church, ate lunch, took a nap, and is now down at the VFW playing pool and connecting with his buddies.
Oh, April feels much busier than I prefer. I’m working on finding ways to reduce or even eliminate some of my activities.
We’re on Revelation 20:11-21:8 this week. With three more lessons and final reflections, it’s been a year filled with blessings for me and my ladies. What a wonderful study!
We have one week off before we're done for the season. I am eagerly anticipating the summer away from BSF, but not from studying God’s word. The Word Go app by BSF offers short Bible studies during the summer. Plus, I still have my study of Isaiah with the church Ladies, which I truly enjoy.
One key takeaway from Revelation is the profound importance of staying close to God. By knowing Him, understanding His character, and immersing ourselves in His word, so we can guard against the deceptions of false teachers and teachings. These false teachers often mix just enough truth to create confusion.
Are you confident enough in the word of God to recognize the false teachings and doctrines of these Christian cults and false teachers?
That's it for this post.
1Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
Regarding what the false apostle Bill Johnson said:
Jesus performed miracles as both fully God and fully man during His earthly ministry. Though He lived within human limitations, He retained His divine nature and authority. Philippians 2:6-7 emphasizes that He, while being God, chose to become a servant, limiting the use of His divine attributes and relying on the Father and the Holy Spirit.
His miracles served as signs of His identity as the Messiah, revealing His authority over nature, sickness, and death (John 20:30-31). They were also acts of compassion, reflecting His love for humanity and affirming that He was God in the flesh, come to bring salvation and reveal the kingdom of God.


















I'm sorry you've been dealing with this flare up. I have some of those issues too and I agree with Foodie. It's hard to know what to eat sometimes! I think I should just grow my own food... :)
ReplyDeleteI know you've really enjoyed BSF this year. I did it quite a few years ago and I know it's so good, but lots of work, especially for leaders.
Growing your food or at least buying good local produce.
DeleteWhat are the beautiful orange flowers? I had diverticulitis attacks for many years, finally had to have surgery for it. I am so sorry, I know how painful and miserable it is!!! But you are doing the right thing with food to give your colon a rest.
ReplyDeletethe orange flowers are on a manzanita bush - native to California
DeleteI understand, I suffer from IBS and have to watch what I eat...oh but I would like to have this or that, nope. TMI, I know...anyways, I hope you get back on track and feel better soon. smiles
ReplyDeleteIt's a drag when you've always enjoyed food
DeleteMy not so precious, diviticuli are on my left high side right under the waist. your son sounds really smart . I live by my chart of yes, no, maybe, sometimes food and it took almost 2 years to get that list. I have a safe list and as long as I eat from that and only add one small helping of maybe and no I do ok. nuts are a no. so are raw apples, but unsweet apple sauce I eat every day, its on the yes list. also I don't eat bread with preservatives. french, sourdough, white mountain from the bakery that bakes each day. I slice them and put in freezer and take out what I need. have you tried rice pasta from the gluten free aisle? Beau and I live on rice pasta, with different sauces and veggies. yellow bell pepper, olives, shredded lettuce, tuna, chicken and squash work well.
ReplyDeleteBeau has the same symptoms I do and FAT is a trigger food as is Raw veggies...
I've always eaten sourdough. I think I am in the hit-or-miss category now. Trying to find out what works and what doesn't. So fun!
DeleteSorry to hear about your digestive issues, but it sounds like you know what to do to take care of the problem.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying...
DeleteSo sorry you had such a bad flare up in your digestive track, Debby - that has to be so painful! Foodie sounds a lot like Danny when he's shopping, so aware of the bad ingredients contained in so many foods we once thought were safe to eat. And yes, may we stay close to God and trust His word alone, so that none may be fooled by those who promote falsehoods. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteIt seems like the food has gotten worse in the last 10 years or longer
DeleteGosh so sorry you have all those digestive issues going on. I hear it can be extremely painful and overcast skies don't help. Glad you were able to 'see' the flowers. I will have to look the bible study site up and foodie. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThe pain is often confused with an appendix attack.
DeleteI'm glad you are feeling better, Debby. I'm not familiar with this illness, but it's good to hear you have it under control with your diet. Your son is absolutely right regarding the preservatives in foods and especially the sweeteners. A sweetener called Aspertame is so bad for our bodies. Your chicken sandwich with lettuce and tomato sounds like a good healthy lunch. It's raining here today too! I love that picture of the water. The area around it looks so green! This rain will be good for the plants and flowers.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
My daughter-in-law is deathly allergic to artificial sweeteners, and through her, I am finding that it is in many pre-packaged foods.
DeleteI know how bad those issues can be. Dave has struggled with them too. Nuts were a big culprit for him. Better since he stopped eating them but it seems everything that's "good" is so bad for us..what to do?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed BSF for quite a few years but haven't been involved for a long time. Getting into the word is always the way to go.
Hope you continue to feel better and taking some time off to just enjoy the outdoors is good medicine.
Sue
I'm hoping that I can still eat them, just not as much as I was...
DeleteHi, hope you are feeling better soon. I would like Foodie to help me read labels, it is such a chore... I bet he has gotten really good at knowing just where to look.
ReplyDeleteCarla
It takes me twice as long to shop
DeleteOh no! I'm so sorry your issues have you in a poor state. I adore nuts of any kind and yes, I know what they can do ... but darn. It's like being attracted to the 'bad boys' all over again. I'm glad Foodie's taken the time to accompany you while shopping and appreciate you raising the flag of awareness. We need to be our own best friend.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, they are the bad boys for me. I like nuts in everything! Salads, cookies and cakes, and breads -
DeleteSorry to hear about the flair up. Sounds like you have it under control. I thought that with that you had to eat fiber but drink lots of water.
ReplyDeleteNo, no, no, you can drink water, but during a flare-up, you need to go low fiber. Eating more fiber with during a painful flair up is actually dangerous.
DeleteHope the flare up subsides. Glad Foodie looks at the labels for you. I have been making homemade vinaigrette dressings using olive oils, fresh fruit and vinegars. We use olive oil for everything. I just recently found out about seed oils so out they went. Janice
ReplyDeleteIt's already subsided—just a little tender. I need to stay off fiber for a few more days.
DeleteYes, seed oils are horrible, and they are in everything. I use California Olive Ranch—100% Californian—which is rated as one of the best. Making our own salad dressing is best. After making our own, I don't like the bottled salad dressings anymore. Yuck.
Sending hugs and prayers your way. ((HUGS))
ReplyDeleteI have heard of diverticulitis I know there was a time Tim thought he suffered from it but I don't think he does, I know that a few of his mates have it. I know it isn't nice and I am sorry you have to deal with a flare up of it. Many of us do not eat right as in healthy it is what it is.
ReplyDelete