26 Jan, 2009

Mexico City, Mexico - 55 chefs worked together to create the world’s largest cheesecake on Sunday. The final result? A monster sized, strawberry covered, 2-ton calorie dessert containing nearly a ton of cream cheese, another ton of yogurt, 772 lbs. of pastry, 551 lbs. of sugar and 331 lbs. of butter!

Now THAT is a cheesecake!!

Story courtesy of yahoonews.com, 1/25/09, photo courtesy of google.com

Let Them Eat Cake!!!

Tastes great, less filling.
Ephesians 5:18 - Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about overeating? Is anything in excess a problem?

It's a problem that can have serious consequences. It leads us down a path of more problems, including poverty, or finding ourselves in great need.

Anything in excess that gives us a "high" is only temporary and leads to more actions that are out of control. It might be drinking, eating, sleeping, or (you fill in the ________).

What does Paul say is the better way to live?

Paul makes it clear that we are to be under the control of God's Holy Spirit rather than alcohol or anything else (food) that is only a temporary "high". Being "full" of the Holy Spirit brings self-control and lasting joy to our lives!

We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, not a monstrous cake!

How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?

  • Thank God for His Spirit at work within you. Confess any way in which you have been "filling up" with anything that produces a temporary "high," whether that be food, alcohol, or something else in excess. Thank Him for His forgiveness and ask His Spirit to fill you and control you every minute of every day.
  • Pray this week for God to show you anything in your life that could be described as gluttony and let His Spirit change this habit in your life.
  • Memorize Ephesians 5:18 as a reminder for you to live a life full of God's Spirit.
  • The next time you eat your favorite dessert, thank God's Spirit for working to bring about self-control in your life.

How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?

  • Use today's crazy record-setting cheesecake story to talk to your friends about what gives us fulfillment in life. Be ready to listen and share your own story of your attempts to fill your life with things that don't last. Let Jesus lead you to sense the right moment to share how His presence in your life fills you and will last forever.
  • Use this DAILYBIDE as a resource for your next small group or youth group meeting. Have some fun by making your own version of your biggest dessert . . . remember to share!
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The Daily Bide is brought to you by a team of writers from Youth for Christ/USA. The writers all have various years of experience in youth ministry but share a common bond in serving Jesus and discovering what it means to abide deeply everyday and to connect God's Story with those around them. A number of the Daily Bide writers have also written portions of our 3Story® resources. You can check out our resources at the 3Story.org website or connect with our writers at 3story@yfc.net. If you have a question or a story you would like to share, please reference the Daily Bide date in your email.

YFC works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.