Eat Reasonable Amounts

Yesterday, I went out to eat after the musical. I was STARVING and I knew if I didn't decide what to eat before I went I would indulge in a large calorie meal like this past Monday when I went...fries included. So, the whole time we were driving to the pub, I was like "I'm going to eat a salad with chicken strips. It's going to be great. I'll dip it in ranch, I love the way the onions, olives, and lettuce mingle with the rest of the flavors to make it really yummy." Seriously. And I thought of how Augustine had a chicken salad the other day, and that it wouldn't be that bad if I kept the ranch on the side and didn't dump it on. We got there, and the bartender was like, "you need to make a quick decision!" and if I hadn't been already coaching and thinking ahead of what I was going to get, I know I would have gotten something not as wise because I was ravenous. I'm also happy because I didn't finish the second drink that I foolishly got. I felt like I should...that I would be wasting it if I just...let it go...but I didn't. I let it go! I am proud of myself. It was definitely good...even though he accidentally gave me bleu cheese. Blech. I've been doing this for almost 20 days, and I can see how my habits are slowly changing. It takes a bit of time to retrain yourself, but it does and will happen. :)

Ok, so back to the book. Today the chapter talked about portions and if we really know what right portion sizes are. I'm still at the point where I'm measuring everything out for myself. Today I made spinach chicken alfredo and had my little measuring cup out haha. But I do think it's important to know serving sizes when you go out. I like the "handful" method they talked about, and I liked that it emphasized that different people might need different things according to their diet/body. I'll just continue to measure, and I suppose I will practice to see if I can get the servings right without measuring cups as well. It is important :)

"Do you not know, brothers--for I am speaking to men who know the law--that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives?.....SO my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God" Rom 7:1,4

I love this imagery that we are no longer controlled and condemned by the law. When we were under the law, all we could see was our sin. All it revealed was our sin. There was nothing more it could do. We are called to live and serve "in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." v 6 When they only had the law, they had to do a bunch of rituals, and enact a lot of things to get forgiveness of sins. We are freely offered forgiveness. And this doesn't mean that we sin more...instead it's supposed to invoke feelings of freedom. It's like when someone tells you not to do something. You want to do it. You can't help yourself. You almost feel compelled. That's what the law did to us. It stirred up our sinful nature. And we were condemned.

But with Christ's death, we have forgiveness, and no condemnation. It makes me want to serve and love the one who gave it to me, not continue to sin and live the life in bondage to my own rules and stipulations. This is true freedom, true grace, true forgiveness. It's wonderful and overwhelming and frankly, I still can't get my head wrapped around it cause it's too good to be true. I honestly never cared for Romans...I think I partially felt condemned by it and didn't understand it truly, and I felt like I took the "good news" for granted. Not any more. This is an phenomenally eye opening and humbling book. I'm really enjoying how he breaks things down and logically reiterates points. Love it.