Monday, February 2, 2009

It's Just The 1st Day....

Today is the first day of our all church Daniel Fast, well, it is actually the second day but many of us chose to start today since yesterday was the Super Bowl :-(

I have to admit...I am not doing very well on my first day. Honestly, I'm in a grouchy mood...lack of caffeine probably or because I know how hard it can be.

We had our first 21 day fast last year and I was excited about it. I had to learn a lot about what was involved in the Daniel Fast...it was truly a learning experience.

No meat, white flour or rice, fried foods, caffeine, carbonated beverages, food containing preservatives or additives, refined sugar, margarine, shortening, high fat...just...whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts, water, 100% fruit or vegetables juices.

This time...maybe, my grouchiness is because I know what is involved with the commitment to the Daniel Fast. The sacrifice this year will be more of a true sacrifice.

Last year...I was faithful until the very last day, which included the week that I was in Atlanta sitting by my son's bedside after his near fatal car wreck. I refused to stray even the tiniest bit from guidelines of the fast.

I think, that last year that my view was out of focus with what we were doing. I spent so much time trying to figure out how to feed my family, buy groceries, eat out and what to drink since I'm a Diet Dr. Pepper addict and was a water hater. My focus wasn't as much on prayer, growing in my relationship with Jesus Christ as it should have been.

I am praying that this year...my focus will be on the true sacrifice and that is the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for me on the cross. I desire to grow closer to him, dig deeper into His word, get more intimate with Him and watch what He wants to do in my life, my family, our church and in our community.

As a church our emphasis for 2009 is this:

Financial miracles(s)
An outpouring of God's Spirit
Salvations
The return of the Prodigals

As a church, 3 years ago, we have bought 72 acres of land to build a new church and we wanted to land paid off before beginning this project. We feel that the Lord is calling us to move "north" (which is where our land is located...north of our current location).

Deuteronomy 2:2-3 "You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north."

Insanity is doing the same things you have always done, and expecting different results! If we want to see changes, then we have to change!

This is for every person, family, church, community, city, state and our country. It is time for us to change! It is time to turn north!

We are looking for financial miracles as a church and as individuals. We have so many who are hurting financially in our current economy and job situations.

We can never get enough of the outpouring of God's Spirit on us...individually or as a church.

We should never stop longing and desiring for souls to come to Christ through salvation.

The last one is so dear to my heart...The Return of the Prodigals! I am praying and believing that this is the year that Brandon returns to Jesus Christ, submits to His calling on his life and will be used in a powerful way to reach so many others who are hurting, searching for satisfaction, something to fill the void in their lives and for those who have gotten so far off track. Brandon can be a living testimony that you can never be too far gone that Jesus Christ can't still reach you, even in the deepest, darkest pit this world and satan has pulled them in.

1/2 down and 20 1/2 to go!!! ;-)

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

14 comments:

  1. Thanks for stopping by and wishing for spring right along with me. Winter has seemed endless.

    This fast sounds VERY difficult. May the Lord abundantly bless your commitment to doing it. May he answer all your prayers...most especially the one about the return of the Prodigals.

    Love,
    Patti

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  2. Hey Jenn,
    Great post on the fast. You really hit it on the head about the purpose of this fast. We as a family are modifying the Daniels Fast for us. It also seemed like last year so much focus was on the food, what to cook, what to eat, "you can't have that", etc. And less time was spent focused on prayer and sacrifice.

    This year we are only fasting our evening meal because that is when we are all together and each of us is giving up something else sacrificially and we are spending our evenings with no tv and praying. Each of us are to come to the table with 3 specific prayer needs for us to corportately intercede for.

    I think too many times people get caught up in the food or lack of food and forget that part of the sacrifice is giving more time to the Lord to allow Him to remove some of the impurities that we have in our bodies and minds. Fasting without prayer really defeats the whole purpose.

    I know that you can do it!! And the miracle that is waiting on the other side of 21 days will be worth it!

    love Laurie

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  3. Jenn,

    This post so encouraged me, my friend. Praying for the return of the prodigals is something that you and I have in common and I think binds us close. I am praying for your son and so appreciate your prayers for my daughter.

    May the Lord bless your sacrifice, my sweet sister. Sending you a great big ((hug)) this evening!

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  4. Would you believe that I was just reading that story about the prodigal in my devotion time today?

    I will be lifting you up in prayer friend. With my four still growing, there are times when I wonder...will one of you walk away? Praying for all of us moms today.

    I had your blog up under my 'blessed blogs of the month' in January. I pray you got a few visitors from it. I will be changing this week sometime.

    Love your new look.

    Hang in there friend.

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  5. Swwet friend, I am holding you up high in my prayers. Asking God to give you strength to get through this fast. I pray that the prodigal returns. I love you.

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  6. Hey Sweetie,

    I know that once the sugar leaves your system, you'll soar. I did the same thing as you the last time I did a 21 day Daniel fast. I focused a lot on the food instead of the prayer aspect. However -- God honored it and some serious breakthroughs happened.

    I pray your church sees God's Hand move, but pray the same for your own family!

    Love!
    Beth

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  7. Jennifer,

    That is awesome! I will be praying for you!

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  8. Wow, that's quite a list. No wonder you needed time to think about what to cook. God is faithful and He will strengthen you to do this.

    I never fast from food. My body doesn't seem to do well on a liquid fast. But I have fasted from drinking diet pepsi.

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  9. Jennifer, I wanted to stop by and thank you for your comment on my blog about change last week. It was hard to "bare all" for the world to see, but I was so much more encouraged after reading that I'm not the only one seeking change in my life.

    I pray as you begin this Daniel fast that God will give the strength you need to sustain you each day. I pray that on the other side of this fast you will indeed be changed and closer to Christ.

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  10. I have really never fasted before. I have thought about it and well...that is where it ended. Yesterday we had a guess speaker at our church who fasted 120 days last year. His testimony was awesome! He lost his wife and 4 out of 5 children in a car accident where he and daughter were only suriviors. Siran Stacy broke all records when he played football at University of Alabama and went on the play pro-ball. 1 year and few months after the murder(that is what he calls the accident) of his family and he is telling people how God is helping him and talking about fasting. I have talked about his message all day to co-workers and then I read your post of fasting. I wonder if God is trying to tell me something? I have always been the type of person who gets the joke after everyone else has stopped laughing. I will be praying about this and seeing where God leads me. I too believe this is the year for prodicals to return home.
    Thanks for the encouragement!
    Darlene

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  11. I have fasted several times in my life. I have to admit that the last day is always a proud time for me.- for MANY reasons.
    However, the road to the end is a long one and can definitely be bumpy. I love the emphasis!

    I will be your cheerleader from the TN sidelines!! :o}

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  12. I am so glad to read your post. God has been showing me so much on the subject of fasting and that if we want to see mountains move we must seek him with all we have. We must remove all obstacles in our lives. Fasting draws us into the very presence of God.

    God Bless you sacrifice!

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  13. Hi Jennifer,
    There is such a blessing that comes from fasting it does take a lot of discipline, I can't really fast do long fasts because of health issues, but I can do it for a certain time each week. Thanks for sharing your journey and for being open about your feelings. Thank you for your visit and for sharing your heart with me when you stop by.

    Hugz Lorie

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  14. I have not been able to stop by in a while... I will pray for you as you fast. Fasting is very powerful... I used to fast regularly... then I had kids, it is just hard to do it when you have kids. However, I keep hearing about fasting and really feel like the Lord is calling me to start fasting again... I just need to obey!

    Blessings!

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Thank you for stopping by today and sharing your heart felt thoughts with me. As we ride "Through the Storms of Life" together, chances are...your situation is different than mine. However, we serve the same awesome God, King of Kings who is in complete control and it all belongs to Him anyway...He wants to give you the very best. Be encouraged my friend, God loves you!

Thank you again for taking the time to visit me at "Through the Storms of Life".

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