If you read my blog entry yesterday, I posted the spiritual autobiography that I plan to share in my EFM class. One section talks about the plans I made when I was a teenager. NONE of them worked out! ha! I should have learned then that I need to be more flexible with my planning. I am finally learning that in my 50s! Yikes!
Yes, it is not always easy for Christians to plan, at least the way that I usually plan. It is good to plan, but being flexible in exactly how God plans to execute those plans can be key. I could relate to the story in the devotional after having malady after malady in my life. I loved the way she radiated God's love no matter what situation she was in, whether sickness or health. That is the main point for all of us. Our plans can change for several reasons -- we didn't consult with God before we made them, the timing is not right in His Eyes, or some things just aren't meant to happen. So what should we do? I suggest the title of this entry: "pencil it in". I say things like "OK, God, what will have me today? Please speak for your servant is listening." I then go on with the things I planned like housework, spending time with friends. reading my EFM lessons, etc. I try to be flexible to switch things up if God has something else for me to do. He knows best. It is not always easy to understand!
Lord, please help us pencil in our human plans so we can make room for your Heavenly plans!
Wellness Wednesday
I have been finding several useful articles each week, so I am going to share two with you this week. I hope they help us with our wellness!
Break Your Anger Habit
In summary, here is what the article says:
TRAP IT
When you feel anger coming on, flag that emotion. Notice the symptoms, such as clenched jaw or tight shoulders.
MAP IT
Identify the ticker tape thought that's going through your head that's causing the emotion.
ZAP IT
Challenge the thought. Is it true? Can you be sure that your boss is out to make you miserable, or is she also under a lot of pressure? Do you really think your husband doesn't care about what you have to say? Don't let that anger-fueled thought get off so easily.
10 Ways to Ditch Your Cravings for Sugar, Salt, and Fats
Here is the summary. Click on the title of this section to read the full article.
Here are 10 more tips to get you excited about ditching the sugar, salt, and fats:
- Sauté or roast your veggies to bring out their natural sweetness. Properly searing your chicken or meat brings out the inherent sweetness by way of the Maillard reaction. This is a fancy name for what happens when you create that nice, brown crust on your meat.
- Play with herbs like cilantro, parsley, dill, basil, and oregano to add flavor and phytonutrients! Finish a meal by adding fresh herbs before plating or serving. This last-minute addition kicks the flavor up a notch!
- Healthy fats found in avocado, coconut, and tahini not only increase the flavor of your meal, they also add that creamy, luscious texture found in many rich foods.
- Try creating a savory, umami (Japanese for "delicious") flavor. Add moderate amounts of tamari, umeboshi plum paste, balsamic vinegar, tomato paste, dried mushroom, or sea vegetables to your next stew, soup, sauce, or stir-fry.
- Cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, clove, ginger, and even cayenne or chipotle pepper powder are all extremely flavorful additions to a meal. Spices like these excite your taste buds and grab your attention. This is helpful, because, as studies show, when we are focused on actually tasting our food rather than mindlessly gobbling it up, we actually need less food to feel satisfied.
- Befriend some kitchen must-haves like real vanilla extract or vanilla bean or coconut butter. Or use common, every-day foods like lemons in some creative ways. For example, use lemon zest to add real zing to any meal!
- For the most flavor, eat seasonally and locally. Canned or packaged foods or foods that have traveled great distances in the back of a truck just can't compare to the succulence of a fresh piece of locally grown fruit.
- Check your hydration. Digestion starts in your mouth with your saliva, which helps us taste all the magnificent flavor in food. If you are dehydrated and not producing enough saliva, you won't really be able to enjoy your food.
- Check your medications. Believe it or not, most medications interfere with the body's ability to taste and smell. Some of them can even create an unpleasant metallic taste in the mouth. Wondering how you might decrease the number of pills you take? Learn more about functional medicine.
- Got nutrition? Nutrient deficiency is an important cause of improper taste perception. A lack of certain vitamins and minerals can markedly impair your ability to smell and taste food. Most Americans have several nutrient deficiencies, but there is one in particular that can especially keep you from enjoying your next meal: zinc. Try adding foods like oysters, pecans, sunflower seeds, and lentils to increase your daily intake of this important mineral.
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Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. - 2 Thessalonians 3:16
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