So last night I joined a friend at her church's "Friday Night Live" - out of sheer coincidence her family and the church they fellowship with have done business with mine so I knew the majority of the Pastors, Apostles, etc...

As with most church "royalty" there's usually a dinner after service where everyone breaks bread and has their fellowship behind closed doors.

Although I'm a leader in my church I am not a minister or anything like that yet. I'm the administrator for my church. Taking direction only from my Pastor's and I direct the teams, ministers, praise, etc... basically I'm like the "manager".

Seeing this particular group of people was awkward because they had an issue with us over money. (How Christian like, right? lol)

Basically my Pastor agreed to bless them for 3 months of friday night services and after the 3 months he would charge his normal fee for speaking engagements. Seems like a fair deal. Evidently not so much, but I digress..

So they invite me to the dinner and I agree as graciously as I could. Although, if I remember right I said "I guess" and then a quick "thank you."

Awkward because 1.) I'm on a fast and 2.) they're supposed to be on a fast and 3.) The food being served was not fast friendly. And 4.) The above mentioned "disagreement" between our churches and 5.) they piled food on my plate like I was eating for 3 people. 6.) Again, aren't we on a fast?!?!?!

So I did my best trying to not be insulting to people, trying to finish what I could and stay as close as I could to staying on my fast...Not only that, but BAND FRIENDLY!

But as it turns out...Everything they had was NOT band friendly. I tried to eat just fruits and veggies...but they looked at me funny for not eating the fried rice, orange chicken and sweet and sour meatballs they had piled on my plate.

Oh and there's cake... oh and hmmm fruit punch, one sip. oh look it's carbonated. UGH.

I left out of there feeling like I was going to bust. The food was all things that would "expand" in my stomach and adding that sip of carbonated fruit punch fizz did NOT help!

The room was darkly lit light they were trying to set some sort of "romantic mood" the kind where you can see your plate, but if there was something wrong with your food, you wouldn't be able to see it. Yeah that dark.

I finished what I could and was SO thankful when they came around to take our plates. I was able to just throw my napkin over the top and act like I'd eaten the portions they'd given me. Even if I mostly just swirled them around on my plate.

Needless to say my band hurts today... not "hurts" but I can "feel" it today.. if I breathe deeply I swear I feel it.. Nothing but liquids today... this is NOT the business...

Next time I'll just say no, instead of "I guess" really who says that anyways???? "I guess" how rude of me... *sigh*

It's a journey! Oh yes it is! I admire you for your strength! You are doing extremely well. Stand firm, you can't worry about others. It's about you and your health and well being. I am proud of you!

just day "no" i have to learn to say that too.

Good that you did not give into the food... fasting?? seems more like a FEAST!!