Lord you have assigned me my portion and my cup. You have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places, surely I have a delightful inheritance. ~ Psalm 16:5-6 (NIV)

Day Eighteen

Today’s lesson was about setting Godly boundaries. I loved the examples given of Nehemiah and Jesus. These boundaries are so much more than “wait for a zero to eat”.

I think I tend to go to extremes with other boundaries too. I’m either too open or two closed. Finding that middle ground isn’t easy. I’m either too available or refusing to be available at all. I’ll let something suck up all my time or deny it any time whatsoever.

Boundaries are a good thing. They protect us. I’m praying about the boundaries God is calling me to. I really do want to know where my boundary lines have fallen.

Pleasers, Teasers, and Total Rejects

So, the food portion of today’s lesson was about identifying with foods we find pleasing and which ones tease us… as well as foods that we reject altogether. Basically, what foods benefit us (taste, smell, nutrition). My list probably wouldn’t look like yours… and your list wouldn’t look like your neighbors. We’re all different with various likes and dislikes.

I liked the exercise of identifying pleasers, teasers, and total rejects. There are several foods that I thought I loved that I won’t touch. And there are some that I would eat because “it’s good for you” that I won’t eat anymore either. I kicked artificial sugars to the curb years ago. Recently I tried to revisit them but the taste made me gag so I don’t even bother wondering if I should go “sugar free” again. With Oreos and Swiss Rolls, I can taste the chemicals in them… blech… so I don’t eat those anymore either. Certain french fries and chips are “too greasy” for my liking. There is a vegan “butter” that tastes awesome, but it gives me indigestion – so that’s not worth it either. These are total rejects for me.

Observations and Corrections

O=”Office”

I have decided that there is nothing wrong with sipping coffee in my office while I work on my morning Bible study. I am not going to consider this “distracted eating” unless the Lord convicts me otherwise, and for now, at least, I don’t sense Him prompting me in this area. I was feeling rather legalistic about sitting alone sipping my coffee… it’s coffee. I am not addicted to it. I am not using it to “comfort myself” rather than going to God, so I don’t see it any different from having a cup of herbal tea while I read. I’ve gone back and forth as to whether to include it on these charts or not. So, this will be the last time I do include it. If all I have is coffee (or tea), I’m going to treat it like I do water and not log it.

Overall, today was fairly uneventful. Except I have been in a lot of pain lately. I’m not sure why either. The pain had subsided when I first started using essential oils, but it seems to be returning. Maybe I’m reacting to something I’m eating. Maybe it’s related to the hormonal issues I’m dealing with. I just don’t know.