Lighthouse Baptist Church
and Christian Academy

God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.

Ephesians 2:10 (NCV)

Childhood and adult obesity is an epidemic in America. There has been a dramatic rise in number of overweight kids in the last few decades.

When you struggle with weight issues, you have to face an unsympathetic world. Our country is steeped in the idolatry of the body, glamorizing thin ness at all costs.

When your body doesn't measure up, the reminders are everywhere.

When you get rejected socially:

• Do you tell yourself that you are doomed to be rejected forever?
• Do you see every rejection from another person as proof that you are somehow not good enough?
• Do you see it as a sign that no one will ever really like you?

Definition of Rejection is: resistance to the will or desires of others.

Everyone gets rejected at times. The only people who never experience rejection are those who never interact with other human beings.

Rejection is never fun to experience, and some people have a very hard time getting over it.

We often tie rejection to so many other ugly words that cause us even more pain.

• Humiliated.
• Inadequate.
• Useless.
• Loser.
• Not good enough.
• Pathetic.
• Lonely.

You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.

Psalm 139:15 (Msg)

The more you dwell on the negative aspects of getting rejected, the more unnecessary pain you will experience, and the harder it will be to approach someone socially the next time.

If you are very emotionally sensitive, lack confidence and self esteem, or are very shy, and you react to rejection. You will:

• Fear the risk of rejection far more than socially confident people do.
• Be more likely to experience rejection as a very painful and humiliating experience.
• Often assume you are entirely to blame if you are rejected.
• Are likely to interpret social rejection as proof that you are somehow at fault, or defective.
• Are more likely to imagine rejection even where none has occurred.
• Are more likely to avoid social interactions if you believe rejection might occur.
• Are more likely to believe that if you have been rejected by one person, you will continue to be rejected by everyone else, for the rest of their lives.

Six steps you can take to overcome your fear of rejection:

1. Remind yourself why you want to overcome your fear of rejection.
2. Remind yourself that your goal is to have a happy social life.
3. Change what you say to yourself about rejection.
4. Don't tie your self-worth to .whether or not you get accepted or rejected by other people.
5. Make many, many social approaches to other people.
6. Take a series of baby steps when developing new relationships.

Kids, like adults can medicate life's stressors and difficulties with food.

Food serves to:

• Food becomes a friend who never leaves and offers satisfaction
• Food is used to cope with stress or negative feelings. Weight gain results and can lead to feelings of self-hate and inadequacy.

How can overweight children or adults deal with negative feelings and the reactions of people around them?

1. Is it possible that you or your child overeats for emotional reasons?
2. Is there a history of family members using food to cope with stress?
3. Have you gained weight over a particular time, or began overeating as a response to changes, family transitions or problems?
4. Do your parents make verbal digs about weight or eating?
5. Are one or both of your parents constantly talking about dieting?

Here's the Point: If family stress is contributing to overeating, that stress needs to be eliminated, reduced or resolved. Food is not to be used for coping with family problems.

You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!

Psalm 139:16 (Living)

Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love.

Ephesians 1:4 (Msg)

Instead of comparing yourself to others and feeling rejection because of your weight, discover God's purpose in creating you.

I created you and have cared for you since before you were born. [4] I will be your God throughout your lifetime - until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you.

Isaiah 46:3-4 (NLT)

You are not an accident!

Five areas to explore

1. My Life Message includes my Testimony

You have a storehouse of experiences that God wants you to use to bring others into his family.

Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony of God in them.

1 John 5:10 (GW)

God wants you to share your life Message with those you have relationships with.

Your lives are echoing the Master's Word... The news of your faith in God is out. We don't even have to say anything anymore - you're the message!

1 Thessalonians 1:8 (Msg)

Your story builds a relational bridge that Jesus can walk across from your heart to theirs.

You have many other testimonies besides your salvation story. The lessons and insights you have learned about God, relationships, your problems, and temptations are unique to you and are a essential part of your mission on earth.

2. My Life Message includes my Life Lessons

Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, [16] but do it with gentleness and respect.

1 Peter 3:15-16 (TEV)

You have a story for every experience in which God has helped you. Use your story to help your unbelieving friend find the benefit of having God in their life.