Day 27

Day 27

What an awesome week!  7 days ago I wrote I was going to focus on the blessing of God instead of the daily failures. Guess what? Best week of fast yet.  Have there been stumbles and set backs, yes, but those stumbles and set backs allowed more opportunities to talk to God to ask for  strength and the one thing I have the hardest time asking for…..help. 

Being a teacher, the end of the month is always tight money wise.  It was touch and go a couple of days as the groceries began to wane. Then I begin to find all of these new recipes that have the items I have in the pantry.  Now here we are, 3 days before payday, and I have a plethora of options.

Here is the plan for the next 13 days.  Increase my portion size…of Gods Word and decrease my portion size of food.  I want my soul to grow and my belly to shrink!  Changing habits is hard. I want to change my love for food into a love for Gods Word. My body is big enough, my soul needs growth.  Mathew 4:3-4 tells us that man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.  I want to feed on the word of God and drink from the living waters. 

I am so fortunate to work with a group of coaches that are Christians.  Once a week we meet at 6 am to have a Bible study.  Just knowing that I can turn to anyone of these guys when I struggle and have a bad day makes each day easier.  These men are helping me to desire the Word of God more.  They are strong in Bible knowledge and that makes me want to know more.  We all need people who are strong in God to be in our lives for our bad days.  I am blessed I get to work and coach with mine.

My prayer is a praise, Lord thank you for the people in my life that prop me up on bad days. Thank you for increasing my hunger for your Word Amen

Day 25

Day 25

Man God is good!!!!!  It is amazing how much easier it has been this last 5 days.  Have there been temptations, faltering and cravings? Most definitely, but when the food cravings come, I turned to God. When I faltered, I turned to God. When I was tempted, I turned to God.  You know what, all went away.  Now have any of these things been world shattering, no, but they have just proved all I need is God. 

In my devotion this morning the author asked me to ask these three questions:

1.      How can I become more rooted in God?

2.      What are three things I can do to increase my knowledge of Him and His ways?

3.      What time am I willing to set aside for the sole purpose of studying the Word of God so I can become firmly established in the truth?

This fast is teaching me to be more obedient and to lean on God.  I have talked about the storms of life in the past.  If I can fully answer and follow these 3 questions, when the big storms of life occur I will be able, through Gods strength, be able to withstand them. 

I have 15 days left on the actual fast, but a life time left to deepen my roots in God.  I know I must continue to drink from Gods Word to nourish my soul.  A diet is a short term solution to a long term problem.  Yes I have lost weight on this fast, but if I go back to my old ways, it will all come back.  I must strive to continue to build my mind, body and soul for the Lord’s glory long after day 40.  I do believe I have begun life’s journey

Day 23

Day 23:

Much better today.  Storms last night made me think of all of the storms I have lived through in my life.  Just as last night when I was not sure which way the storm would travel, I have been unsure of the path the storm in my life would take me.  I didn’t know what kind of lasting damage it would inflict.  But looking back on them, not a single bad thing lasted, only the post storm blessings God granted.  I honestly can not think of a bad instance in my life that God has not turned into a positive. However, when a storm rolls in, I am shackled to my fear.  I forget God has already given us the victory; we just have to be willing to receive it. 

The Children of Israel were brought out of bondage, witnessed many miracles, yet were afraid to enter the promise land God had given them.  10 of the spies said the land is everything God promised, but the people are giants. 2 of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, said we can do this; God has given them over to us. All we have to do is go collect our reward.  What did they do? They wandered around in a desert for 40 years instead of living in the promise land.

I have a slavery mentality.  I don’t believe I should have the promised things of God.  I am not good enough. I haven’t done enough for the Lord the gain the gifts.  If God gave me what I deserve, what I earned, I would be in hell at this moment.  We have not because we ask not.  God’s grace cannot be earned by earthly works, but given as freely as Christ blood fell from the cross.

I can do All things through Christ who strengthens me! Not some things. Not just the things I think I can do, but ALL things.  Where does this strength come from?  From quenching the thirst of the Spirit with Gods words.  For every cup of liquid you put into your physical body, feed your spirit with a verse from the word of God. 

Lord, give me the thirst that can only be quenched by your Word. Amen

Day 21

Day 21

Hello!  I made it to day 21.  The last 10 days have been really hard.  I have faltered in all three areas, mind, body and spirit, but the good news is the Lord allowed me to wake up this morning and have a chance to make the next 20 days the best 20 days.  I am through the hard part of the fast, so I think the food temptations will subside. This will let me focus on renewing my efforts on my spiritual and mental growth.

As I have looked back over my blogs, I have notice a trend. I whine ……. A lot!  I get so focused on the negative; completely overlook all of the positive.  So days 21-40 all positive. Am I going to falter again, absolutely, but instead of landing on hard rocks I’m going to land on a trampoline and bounce back even better! (How’s that for being positive)

I have been a water drinker for the last four years. I haven’t had a caffeinated beverage in four years. Just water.  I know I need lots of water to keep my body hydrated to perform at the level it needs to.  While reading my devotion this morning, I realized I have been starving my spiritual body of the Living water it needs.  What if I gave my physical body as much water as I give my spiritual body?  I wouldn’t make it a week.  How can I expect my relationship with God to grow, if I never water it?  I’m just glad God’s love it like an aloe plant.  You can neglect an aloe plant for long periods of time, and it will live on. Are we not told in John 7:37 If anyone thirsts let him come to Me and drink.  I don’t drink from the Word of God, I sip.  My goal this week it to guzzle!

Please forgive me for this next quote. Dr Phil says married couple when having problems should not turn the outside world for help but turn to each other.  How often do I have a problem with my relationship with God and seek answers elsewhere. I am dusting off my 5 stones and going to increase my time with God this week.  I bet by day 28 I will be better off.

I am looking forward to the next 20 days.  I will face the pitfalls and snares with the grace that Gods gives me. 

Day 16

Day 16

Wow how to start?  I’ll start with the bad and end with the good.  

If a gold medal is given for stumbling and falling, I make Michael Phelps look like…..well me.  It has been a rough several days.  I have had multiple failures in all 3 areas of the fast, mind, body and soul. 

Days 13 – 15 are always the hardest for me.  I, on several occasions, have “snuck” non fast foods.  The cravings got strong and I caved in.  It was never a lot of food, just a bite here and a bite there, but none the less, cheating.   I would like to say it tasted bitter in my mouth, but it was good.  This happened to me when I did the 21 day fast last year. It made me realize that we do the same with God.  We commit a little sin here, a little sin there and before we know it we are miles away from God.  Some of these “little sins” no one ever knows about but you and God.  Are these little moments of hidden pleasure really worth the distance WE move from God? Ask any parent of a toddler, it doesn’t take long for a nice outfit to be ruined with just a small snack. 

I did manage to get up and get my 30 min in this morning.  I had a great quite time with God as I ran.  It allowed me to focus on what I wanted to do this week: the steps I need to take to move closer to my goals. A conservation I had yesterday at church with a dear friend helped me focus on just taking it step by step, not looking at day 40 but focusing on the short term.  I told her I am trying to do this fast as public as I can to force me to be accountable.  So when I fail lots of people are going to see it.  Failing publicly is a major fear of mine and scares me to death.  But if I fail publicly then I will get up and succeed publicly.  I keep asking the Lord to be glorified in my failures. 

Spiritually I have been all over the road.  I have struggled with my daily devotion, partially because I lost my book for a couple of days and partially because I just did find a way to study Gods word.  I found an excuse.  As a coach, I hate excuses!  Cant and wont give the same results.  I have always had a soft spot for those kids that just can’t do something and have never had much compassion for those that have the ability and just won’t do it.  Wait isn’t that me?  I have the ability to study Gods word, I just choose not to.  How does that make God feel when I put the world before the Word?  I just thank God that he has more compassing for me that I do for my athletes.  Bro Shannon made a comment yesterday that hit home.  The Devil always pays in counterfeit money.  That rich reward looming in front of us that the world says is important is not real.  It is only a mirage to turn our eyes from God until we reach the point of eternal separation. 

Even though I didn’t blog it, one of the devotions from this past week talked about always entering the house of God with something. Now I try to tithe regularly, but what about the weeks I don’t get paid.  What do I bring to Gods house?  This really hit home.  I find myself going to church for something instead of bringing something.  What more do I need?  I have been blessed beyond measure.  I am going to make a point from now on to bring to Gods house not take from.  How is this going to work….I have no idea?  I will figure that out as I go.  I have several ideas, but not sure yet.

Here is my prayer; Lord let me feed on your Word so I can better serve you Amen

Day 12

Day 12

Wow what a crazy last 3 days!!!  I have been struggling to keep everything afloat, but I believe I have righted the ship.

Running has been a myth since Monday.  It has been raining and now has turned cold.  Although this afternoon looks promising for a good long run.

I have stumbled several times on my fast.  Last night for example, I was cleaning in the kitchen and as I walked by the pizza rolls just popped one in my mouth.  I have always been a grazer, and I just did it without thinking.

That made me stops in my tracks and realizes how many things we do in our daily lives that we never even think about. We hurt people and most of the time don’t mean to and furthermore never realize we do it.  How many times a day do we hurt God’s feelings and not realize it. In reading today’s devotion, Col 3:1-2 says to set our mind on things above.  If we have our mind on things above, then those little hurtful things we do will be more obvious to us. 

I have let the world run me this week. My bible time has dropped off. My quite time has been almost nonexistent and will power for staying true to the fast has wavered.  I am going to set my mind on higher things starting today. Will I stumble and fall yet again? Probably. But I will get up, ask for forgiveness, refocus my resolve and continue to grow.  Sometimes we learn more in failure that we do in success.  Hard lessons are always remembered.

My prayer today: Lord let me set my mind on higher things. Amen

Day 9

Day 8 was an epic fail!  I faltered in the flesh and in the spirit.  I took two steps away from God instead of 1 step closer.  I know there will be days like day 8 and if I dwell on my failures, then day 8 will spill over to day 9, 10 etc. I am going to focus on making day 9 a great day.  Through the Lords grace and power, I will put day 8 behind me. I will feed the spirit today. I will gather my 5 stones and fight the defeat that Satin is trying to convince me I am in.  I am a child of God.  If I accept this defeat, then I am rejecting the victory won at the cross.  We all fall short of Gods glory, but thank God he forgives us, picks us up and helps us back on the path of righteousness.   I have asked for forgiveness and will start this day anew.

Day 9 Devotion Judges 6:13

Hello day 9!  I awoke feeling broken and defeated. I wallowed in self pity while showering and getting dressed. I made it to my area where I have my quite time and opened my devotion for today.  It was all about overcoming defeat.  The children of Israel had fallen away from God. They were being over run by anybody that wanted what they had. Gideon answers the call.  I’m not sure I have ever read this full chapter (6) of Judges.  This may have been written about Israel, but it might as well have used my name.

As always it seems, when God called Gideon he answered but he wanted a sign to make sure.  Why is it so hard to realize that we have won?  All of these bumps in the road we call problems are not worth the time we fret over them.  We are children of God.  He gave us victory over the world when Jesus died.  We are starving to death in the middle of a buffet. We are just too scared to reach out and take what God has provided.

Today I am going to eat of the bounty God provided.  I will fill my soul on His word.

My prayer for today.  Lord, forgive me for rejecting the power you gave me at the cross. Let me drink deeply from the living waters so that I might walk in victory instead of defeat. Amen