No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees, no fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds. – November!
How true this saying. But we can all have a Happy Thanksgiving. Most of us have a great deal to be thankful for. I am fully aware that this magazine goes all over the world; and that there are many in poverty, distress, hunger and without the comforts we have in America. You must always know that many prayers are going up from all of us for all of you, wherever you are. Let us be grateful to God for what we do have.
I am deeply impressed, at this time of year especially, to focus on SUGAR. Do you realize that this, too, is addictive? Oh how I wish I could tell you what a hold it had on me at one time in my life! It was so intense that I could not go a day without my chocolate-covered ice cream bar, until one day, when I finished the LAST one to ever pass my lips, I threw myself across the bed and sobbed out my despair to God. I begged Him to help me. I knew I was eternally lost if I could not conquer this one addiction in my life. True to His Word, help came. But make no mistake, I had to resolve first, that I was ready to overcome before the real help came. This is the TRUE answer to all of our dilemmas. We have to feel our deep need of God and His power in our lives before He will come to our assistance.
It was not an easy decision. But once I “purposed in my heart” to do right, the Lord came through as He has promised, and took the desire from me. Praise His holy name!
Sugar is so addictive, that even the law enforcement agencies recognize it. In a former Land Marks I referenced the case of Dr. Bernard Mason from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, who headed the Nutrition and Behavior group. He testified, “as little sugar as possible for the imprisoned.” He stated that many bizarre behavioral attitudes, even homicidal and suicidal, came from sugar overdose.
We know from Counsels on Diets and Foods what the Lord has warned about this addictive substance, “Sugar clogs the system, it hinders the work of the living machine.” So why should we ever put sugar in our stomachs? Would we ever smoke a cigarette? Of course not! So why would we tempt our bodies by putting in a substance as addictive as sugar? As you are probably aware, all cane products are sucrose, not fruit sugars. What falls under this category? Anything that is made from the sugar cane family; all forms of sugar such as white refined, brown sugar, raw sugar, and even molasses. The most unrefined products have more food value, but they are still sucrose. So beware! Read your food labels, and remember that the first item is the most prevalent in that particular food product.
“True temperance teaches us to dispense entirely with everything hurtful, and to use judiciously that which is healthful.” Temperance, 138. May the God of heaven impress you as to what you are doing that may keep you from heaven. “Life with Christ is an endless hope; without Him it is a hopeless end.”
Recipe – Baked Bananas
6-8 ripe bananas or plantains
Juice of 2 lemons
½ cup date sugar
Ground nuts (your choice)
Peel bananas, slice in half and place in rows in an oblong baking dish. Pour the lemon juice over the bananas and sprinkle date sugar and nuts over the top. Bake at 325˚ until a delicate brown. (30-45 minutes.)