Good Fences Make…
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June 29, 2007Continuing our series on 7 Strategies for Fighting Pests, we've discussed at some length the concept of leaf toughness as being a picture or model of saying "no" to pests that would consume us. Another way of looking at leaf toughness is the idea of setting boundaries. Everyone needs boundaries, not only to keep you out of trouble, but to keep trouble from invading your space. You must learn to set boundaries for yourself, what you will allow and what you won't. You must set boundaries for your coworkers, your staff, even your boss. Yes, there are boundaries that must be set for your family and friends too. Boundaries have two sides to them. The first side is the inside consisting of everything you want inside that territory, be that your time territory, your financial territory, your influence territory, etc. The second side, is the outside consisting of everything that wants to get inside your territory and consume your time, your finances and/or your stuff! What are some appropriate boundaries you should look at setting? Consider time boundaries for example. I personally set pretty strict boundaries as to when I will work and when I will be with family. There are few exceptions to the boundaries I set in that regard. Furthermore, you may wish to set boundaries (think of them as fenced off areas) for returning calls, answering emails, writing proposals, etc. When you group "like" activities, your productivity skyrockets! You get into the groove of the activity and each "like" task becomes easier and usually gets done better and faster. So take some time this week and check your fences, examine your boundaries and put up some new barb wire where needed. Until next time, be fruitful, then multiply!
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thanks for the reminder of boundaries. It is always a challenge as those outside the fence are at times so needy , or have the appearance of need, that while it is not good for me to attend to them, it is tempting. Running a business takes most of my energy and I am no longer young. I have been accused of screening my calls in the evening and while it bothers me that it is said in a accusatory manner, I feel it is the only way that I can refresh myself. The Lord has given me peace about this so I am marching on, under His orders. Thanks for the suggestion of barbed wire, Has a little more punch than the fences I have been imagining.
Frances Scott at 10:53am EDT - June 29, 2007
I sure needed to hear about boundaries today! This is a word from the Lord for me. I have to re evaluate my time. I have a growing business that's leaving me fighting for time for church activities, time with my family and little time for me. Time management has always been a battle. Thank you. Putting up fences this weekend.
Rose Mende at 2:50pm EDT - June 29, 2007
so fantistic,touching and challenging me for from today am gonna build astrong fence dat an enemy can not break be it on ma work or home and i thank u for that revelation.
kanungi Amon at 3:13pm EDT - June 30, 2007
John Piper writes in the book Don't Waste Your Life: \"God created us to live with a single passion: to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all spheres of life. The wasted life is the life without this passion. God calls us to pray and think and dream and plan and work not to be made much of, but to make much of him in every part of our lives.\"
I agree. We should all set our boundaries and not let anything get us off track on what our single passion is.
Kern
Kern at 9:23am EDT - July 1, 2007