Cathedral Cafe

Hello!  I have enough thoughts & things to share to probably make 3 blog posts, so I'll try to go chronologically and get started.

#1

One thing I forgot to mention about my respite trip was the very unique Cathedral Cafe in Fayetteville, WV where Lynn and I ate lunch after zip-lining.  Lynn is very outgoing, like Mike, and as we were driving/hiking along the New River Gorge, we saw 3 people gearing up to go hiking. Lynn stopped to talk and see what they were doing. In the course of the conversation, the guide said that his shop was across the street from the Cathedral Cafe in town. Lynn asked if that would be a good place to have lunch and he said "Yes, tell them Steve sent you!"  It was a very quaint cafe with bookshelves lined with books, unusual menu items, and a very casual, comfortable atmosphere. I ordered a beef and brie sandwich with reduction onions that was amazingly delicious. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. If you are ever in the area, I would definitely recommend putting Cathedral Cafe into your GPS and heading on over for a delightful culinary experience. Your taste buds will thank you!

 With all of the travelling and eating out, sometimes it is hard to have self-control. During the weeks surrounding this trip, the Lord was bringing me to verses regarding living by the Spirit rather than yielding to the sinful nature. I used to have no problem eating until I was full, then stopping even if there was food on my plate. Over the years, I have gotten away from that and especially this past winter with the stress, boredom, loneliness and, yes, depression of this never-ending trial. Seems I always wanted something in my mouth. Clothes that fit last summer, are too tight this summer and my self-control definitely non-existent. So I have been reading and meditating on Galatians 5:16-26 for a few weeks. Then Romans 8 joined also. These verses especially have spoken to me:

Galatians 5:16 & 24

"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature."  

"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature 

with its passions and desires." 

Romans 8:6-8

"The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;

 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 

Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God."

As believers in Christ Jesus (those who belong to Christ Jesus), ones who have given our lives to the Lord, we are called to "live by the Spirit". This not only applies to self-control when eating, but also to being self-less in my dealings with Mike, even when I feel like I'm going to lose my mind in respect to his behavior and incessant repeating. I have to keep my mind focused on Christ or the sinful nature takes over. The language in Romans is very strong - "hostile to God", "death", "cannot please God" when I am living in the sinful nature mindset. I want to please God, not be hostile to Him. I covet your prayers as I seek to live by the Spirit