A spiritual friends thoughts

[Bemabound 11]

Hi all,

I have been heavy all my life...even in my kindergarten photos! I never saw too many people be successful on diets so I mainly just lived my life and got upto to 440lbs! Pretty happy with my life though...I have a wonderful but chubby husband (who is also doing the surgery after me) and two BEAUTIFUL daughters from China...the most exciting experiences of my life! Well, my deeply spiritual friend and I were having a discussion on my path to this surgery and she thinks I can do this on my own if I just believe and ask God for help. She is baseing this on the fact that I have lost 42lbs and my husband has lost 55lbs on Weight Watchers while we have done the 6 month supervised diet thing with our PCP. I have been a Christian for most of my life and have seen God do incredible things and protect me in the wildest ways!

I am not saying this surgery is the easy way out, I have been around this forum for a LONG time and see that it is not and I don't think she is saying that either. I just think she figures that God made our tummys the way they are and that he can restore our minds and hearts without cutting out a perfectly good part of our tummies. In a way, it makes me feel like "why can't I believe God" He has gotten me this far (I didn't think I could lose any weight on my own) or that it would be hell...well it hasn't! But my deal is I want to insure my success and move on....not spend the next however many years counting points! Am I impatient and not letting God work? I believed God brought this to me and have followed the plan to get here...my last PCP apt is June 2 and then my insurance will be submitted....so fellow believers...what do you think...I don't want to be a second rate Christian and God can do anything! Thoughts?????

Thanks for listening, Tracy W.

[Rootman 1,101]

I think that you are over analyzing this. I have been a Christian for 35 years now and have had a few surgeries that have helped me in my life, some like the sleeve can be controversial.

I guess he made eyes to go blind too, so we shouldn't have cataract or lasik surgery either, or made feet grow crooked with painful bunions so we should hobble around on nearly crippled feet. How about teeth that crack and open up painful fractures that make our lives miserable. When your teeth hurt seems like EVERYTHING hurts. I've had ALL of these things corrected and am glad I did.

God gave man an incredible intellect to be able to help with these many painful, debilitating problems. If you CAN take advantage of them then you should. Pray about it and go with God.

[Nancy Rivers 24]

Why can't the surgery be the way God is helping you? Perhaps it was through him that the medical community discovered that this procedure helps so many people who are overweight. Perhaps it was through him that this opportunity was able to be presented to you as an option. I have always believed that he provides us options to learn about new things and part of that is through challenges for us. If we make a mistake, then usually another option to correct that mistake will "mysteriously appear". Why can't that be God helping?

[ShellBear 26]

Hi all,

I have been heavy all my life...even in my kindergarten photos! I never saw too many people be successful on diets so I mainly just lived my life and got upto to 440lbs! Pretty happy with my life though...I have a wonderful but chubby husband (who is also doing the surgery after me) and two BEAUTIFUL daughters from China...the most exciting experiences of my life! Well, my deeply spiritual friend and I were having a discussion on my path to this surgery and she thinks I can do this on my own if I just believe and ask God for help. She is baseing this on the fact that I have lost 42lbs and my husband has lost 55lbs on Weight Watchers while we have done the 6 month supervised diet thing with our PCP. I have been a Christian for most of my life and have seen God do incredible things and protect me in the wildest ways!

I am not saying this surgery is the easy way out, I have been around this forum for a LONG time and see that it is not and I don't think she is saying that either. I just think she figures that God made our tummys the way they are and that he can restore our minds and hearts without cutting out a perfectly good part of our tummies. In a way, it makes me feel like "why can't I believe God" He has gotten me this far (I didn't think I could lose any weight on my own) or that it would be hell...well it hasn't! But my deal is I want to insure my success and move on....not spend the next however many years counting points! Am I impatient and not letting God work? I believed God brought this to me and have followed the plan to get here...my last PCP apt is June 2 and then my insurance will be submitted....so fellow believers...what do you think...I don't want to be a second rate Christian and God can do anything! Thoughts?????

Thanks for listening, Tracy W.

Don't doubt your faith! I love our Lord above very much, but I'm not quite ready to meet him yet. That is why I have decided to go forward with this surgery. I know that if I don't do this for myself my Diabetes and the weight will continue to take years off my life. I have prayed so hard and God always guides me through. Ask for guidance, and he shall lead you as well.

Good luck and God Bless! <3

[Lots Of Hope 4]

I don't think our bodies are what is most important to Him. If one thought this, then WE should take care of it the best we can. For me, the sleeve is helping me to take care of this body better. Pray Big ...have faith...and trust that God loves you no matter what. Serve the Lord, love His Son, and enjoy this gift of life. If I come across anything scripture I will pm you!

[Bemabound 11]

Thanks guys! I think the "great accuser" loves to get us doubting anyway! We alone cannot be "good enough or believe enough" for HIM, We have to accept the works, death and resurrection of Christ...we can do nothing without him! Thanks again, Tracy

[Hubie 1]

Hi,

I too am a Christian. I prayed and prayed for years for the Lords help with my weight loss. 70 lbs higher and 8 years later, I had my VSG. I tried several different diets and weight loss programs during the last eight years and gained 70 lbs. We I started the journey to surgery and pray about this also, I asked God to stop the path at any time. But most important, it is written:

Proverbs 3:6

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁶ Seek his will in all you do,

and he will show you which path to take.

The promise is: if we seek, he will!

it is also written:

Proverbs 23:2

New International Version (NIV)

² and put a knife to your throat

if you are given to gluttony.

A knife to your throat means do something serious, like five holes in your belly. Acknowledge him and he will direct your path.............believe in the WORD!

[thinoneday 445]

Hi all,

I have been heavy all my life...even in my kindergarten photos! I never saw too many people be successful on diets so I mainly just lived my life and got upto to 440lbs! Pretty happy with my life though...I have a wonderful but chubby husband (who is also doing the surgery after me) and two BEAUTIFUL daughters from China...the most exciting experiences of my life! Well, my deeply spiritual friend and I were having a discussion on my path to this surgery and she thinks I can do this on my own if I just believe and ask God for help. She is baseing this on the fact that I have lost 42lbs and my husband has lost 55lbs on Weight Watchers while we have done the 6 month supervised diet thing with our PCP. I have been a Christian for most of my life and have seen God do incredible things and protect me in the wildest ways!

I am not saying this surgery is the easy way out, I have been around this forum for a LONG time and see that it is not and I don't think she is saying that either. I just think she figures that God made our tummys the way they are and that he can restore our minds and hearts without cutting out a perfectly good part of our tummies. In a way, it makes me feel like "why can't I believe God" He has gotten me this far (I didn't think I could lose any weight on my own) or that it would be hell...well it hasn't! But my deal is I want to insure my success and move on....not spend the next however many years counting points! Am I impatient and not letting God work? I believed God brought this to me and have followed the plan to get here...my last PCP apt is June 2 and then my insurance will be submitted....so fellow believers...what do you think...I don't want to be a second rate Christian and God can do anything! Thoughts?????

Thanks for listening, Tracy W.

You may or may not want to hear my side. . but it's great to rely on God for everything. . however there is a story in the good book about 3 brothers who were given talents by God. . . two of the brothers misused their talents however the 3rd used his talents wisely. . .he was blessed with the greatest rewards, the other two were regarded as fools. . . if we were to all be able to do this weight loss thing by ourselves by the shear of will, then America wouldn't have such an obesity problem right? We were all, however, handed talents to use wisely. . . by using our talents, we make decisions on what to do. . . we made the decision to have WLS, this talent is a wise one because it not only helps us loose the weight, it strenghtens us in every way INCLUDING in our religion. . . we give thanks to God for giving us the trusting surgeon and medical staff, we thank Him for everyday we can wake up and rejoice with our new found health and strenghts. . . sooooo I must beg to differ with your friend. . . if she/he can use their will powers good for them, for us we have found our talents to use in a new and better way. . . good luck and God bless

[chilo1 62]

For 10 years + I have prayed, asked, begged God to give me strength to be able to lose weght and keep it off. For some reason or another it didn't happen. When I found and was given this tool I felt completely blessed and protected by HIM, and I knew, once I had the operation done, that He granted this gift to me. Now the rest is up to me

[Becca 108]

I believe God made the sleeve possible. Obesity is a serious medical issue and treating it is no different than any other surgery. The sleeve really is a life changing miracle that will allow you to do great things with your life in a new way.

[Bemabound 11]

Thanks guys for all your responses...I love the talent story...very true. I'm have made my own decision to move ahead and now I am waiting for my insurance to approve it...keep your fingers crossed! God Bless you all! Tracy W.

[SKCUNNINGHAM 298]

I too am a Christian. Your question reminds me of a joke ( I am not making light of your question - there is a point to the joke.) It is not my intent to offend anyone's faith here.

A man lived in a house close to the river. The river was swollen with flood waters; the waters were still rising. Authorities were telling people to evacuate. The man refused to go, saying he was a Christian and God would provide for him. As the waters were rising and he was forced to go to the second floor of his house to get away from the flood waters, friends in a small boat came by to rescue him. He refused to go, saying again he was a Christian and God would provide. The waters continued to rise, and the man was forced to go onto his roof. A police yatch came by and told the man to get in the boat - they would take him to safety. Again, he said the same thing and the police reluctantly left him on his roof. A little later, a rescue helicopter hovered over him, dropping the ladder down so he could climb on - only the very highest part of his roof was still out of Water. And again - he refused to go - saying God would provide. Well - the man drowned. He went to Heaven, and stood before St. Peter at the gate. He wasn't very happy - and St. Peter asked what was bothering him. He told St. Peter he was surprised he had drowned - he had expected God to save him. St. Peter said to him "Who do you think sent the two boats and the helicopter?"

I view the sleeve as my personal ladder coming down from the helicopter. Dr. Nick did the surgery - but the man upstairs definately played a major role in my success with the sleeve.

[Bemabound 11]

So true!!!!! So true....where's the helicoter...LOL!!!! Tracy

[mythreechildren2001 7]

I struggled with this as well for a long time. The Bible says that "I can do all things through Christ..." but for some reason I was never able to lose weight and keep it off. I've lost 75 lbs at different times in my life only to gain it back over and over. I've tried faith-based weight loss plans along with most every other weight loss method to no avail. I am a teacher and the state's insurance covers wls but dh's company does not. Dh's insurance was cheaper so we took it when he hired onto his company 10 years ago. Our state doesn't offer open enrollment ever in that you can only sign on when you are first hired, have a baby, death of a spouse/child, divorce, or spouse loses job with insurance. But because of the new health care laws, our state was required to open it up to everyone. I have to pay $130/month penalty for 2 years to sign on to our insurance, but the policy itself is free to me. I had been in continual prayer regarding my weight when this became available. I discussed my concerns with how God might feel about this surgery with a friend/fellow teacher and she told me the same story that skcunningham told, so I signed on. Then I reminded myself about what the bible says about 'if your eye causes you to sin...' for ME my eating is gluttony and it is sin. I have not been overweight my whole life, but for some reason I cannot gain control of it. Please know that I'm not convicting anyone else in regards to their weight/eating, but for me I know it is sin. I'm soooo thankful that God has given me this opportunity, and I intend to make the most of it and give God the glory!

Best wishes to you!!

[Bemabound 11]

Amen....quick recovery to you....mine is on July 21st!!!! Tracy