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Day 17 of 21..What fasting has taught me Part 1

Psalm 16:2(NLT)  ² I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!

      Every good thing I have comes from you.”

Everything that's good comes from God!! In this 21 day fast, God has been reminding me of how good He has been to me.  I have so many reasons to be thankful.  The pace of my life has had to slow down to prepare each day, and that's been much needed discipline for me.  Here is what I want to do different:

1. Thank God for every opportunity to be used by Him.  Its the greatest privilege on earth!

2. Thank God for what He has NOT allowed me to do.  Its a hidden blessing!!

3. Tell Stephanie specifically what I'm thankful for in her and tell it to her more often.

4. Tell Landon, Catherine and Caroline specifically what I'm thankful for in them and tell it to them more often.

5. Tell the people I serve with more often how thankful I am for them.

Day 6 of 21.."Are You Limping?"

Gen. 32:24-32

 24 This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. 25 When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob¹s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. 26 Then the man said, ³Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!²

 

   But Jacob said, ³I will not let you go unless you bless me.²

 

 27 ³What is your name?² the man asked.

 

   He replied, ³Jacob.²

 

 28 ³Your name will no longer be Jacob,² the man told him. ³From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.²

 

 29 ³Please tell me your name,² Jacob said.

 

   ³Why do you want to know my name?² the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.

 

 30 Jacob named the place Peniel (which means ³face of God²), for he said, ³I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.² 31 The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping because of the injury to his hip. 32 (Even today the people of Israel don¹t eat the tendon near the hip socket because of what happened that night when the man strained the tendon of Jacob¹s hip.)

 

This is one of those passages that messes me up. There are times we need to wrestle with God. "Wrestling with" means to not let go of, calling out to Him, and asking Him to align you with Him, to show you where you need to surrender, and for a miracle in the needs of your life. When we prevail in prayer till the answer comes, it leaves me different (limping). Have you given up on a burden in your life.  Are you still the same or are you limping? As we close in on the first week of fasting, keep wrestling!!

Daybreak is coming!!

Title: Day 4 of 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

Matt. 8:18-22(NLT)

 ¹⁸ When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake.

 ¹⁹ Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

 ²⁰ But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

 ²¹ Another of his disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

 ²² But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.”

In Jesus' economy obedience is to be instantaneous!!  The Wow is in the Now!!  What step of obedience have you have called me to that I'm reluctant to obey?   

 

 

Daniel Fast Recipes

Garden Vegetable Soup (tried and true)

 

4 tbl olive oil

2 c of chopped leeks white prt only (about 3)

2 tbl minced garlic

Salt – to taste

2 c carrots, peeled and chopped (I got mine in the pkg to save time)

2 c potatoes peeled and diced

2 c fresh grn beans broken into ¾ pieces

2 qurts of veg broth (4 cans-14oz)

4 c peeled, seeded, and chopped tomatoes (4 medium)

2 ears of corn (kernels removed)

Pepper-to taste (I used about a tsp)

1 tsp parsley

3 tbl minced onions (or use fresh onions)

 

1. heat the olive oil in lg heavy pot over medium-low heat. Once hot add leeks, garlic and salt and sweat until they begin to soften. (about 5-7 min)
2. Add the carrots, potatoes, and green beans and continue to cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add the stock, increase the heat to high, and bring to a simmer.
4. Once simmering, add the tomatoes, corn, and pepper. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the vegetables are tender (for us it was about 35 mintues)
5. Then remove from the heat add parsley and serve (you can add salt and pepper if you need).

 

My kids loved it!

 

Greek Vegetable Stew

 

2 tbl olive oil

2 onions chopped

1 lb grn string beans (broken in ½)

1 pkg of spinach (frozen or fresh)

4 c water

6 zuchini

4 yellow squash

2 c celery leaves (I like celery-so I used it all)

4 tomatoes, quartered

1 tsp salt

8 lemon, slices

1 tbl dried oregano

3 tbl fresh basil

2 cloves chopped garlic

2 tbl lemon juice

 

1. Lightly brown onions in a hot, dry skillet in 2 tbl oil
2. Add oregano and garlic, cook 1 min.
3. Add 4 c of water and tomatoes. Cook 10 minutes.
4. Add remaining ingredients. Cook covered for 40-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Serve with a lemon slice.

Day 3 of 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

Matt. 9:10-11(NLT) "Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.  But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with such scum".

This verse deeply challenges me when I read it because this move by Jesus was unprecedented!  Rabbis didn't do this and if they did their teaching opportunity was trashed!  What step do you want me to take today Jesus, that leverages my reputation? 

Aligning & Designing

This 21 Day fast is not about what we can get from God, but what God can get from us!!  If I'm not careful I want to God to move on what I want, instead of me moving to where He is moving!!  Psalm 25:4(NLT) "Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow."  I encourage you to start your day reading your bible and praying.  I use the one year bible reading plan at www.oneyearbible.com. I also write in my journal what I sense God is saying to me.  He has designed a plan & purpose for me and I want to align my heart with what He wants.  Here are some questions I ask Him: 1. What do you want me to hear from you? 2. What do you want me to see?  3. Who do I need to talk to?  4. What do you want me to say. 

I'm praying for you today that you will experience God's very best!!

Fasting supplies

21 Day Fast

Tomorrow night(Sunday), Stephanie and I and the Lifepoint Family will begin a 21 Day Fast together.  We are also joining hundreds of churches around the world(awake21.org) in fasting for a divine movement of God in our churches.  I am so excited about this opportunity, and I deeply believe that God is going to change my life!  You might want to know why we have chosen to fast?  The answer is because we want to get closer to our great Savior relationally, and we want to experience His very best for our lives and for our church.  Doing without something we crave(Fasting) and taking the time to pray specifically when the cravings hit draws us closer to Jesus.  Secondly, God has placed some "God Sized" goals in front of us for 2010.  1020 in 2010 is goal for this year: 1020 baptisms by October 1, 1020 new members( middle school age and above) by Dec. 15, and our overall weekend attendance to grow by 1020 by Dec. 31.  We will not hit these goals or even come close without a miraculous movement of God!!  Will you please join me in fasting for the next 21 Days?  There are numerous types of fasts to do, and the key is to specifically do without something you love(Food, caffeine, facebook, etc.).  Stephanie and I are choosing to do a "Daniel Fast", which is doing without meats and sweets.  If you visit www.awake21.org, there is some helpful info regarding types of fasts.  If you so choose to join Stephanie and I in the "Daniel Fast", she will be posting recipes here on my blog over the next few days.  I am praying for you and we are going to see the Miracle!! 

What I'm Leaving Behind in 2009!

Today is the final day of 2009, and tomorrow is the beginning of a fresh,new year!  I love fresh starts!  This past week has given some downtime with my family, and the opportunity to evaluate my life and leadership. I want to grow personally to a new level in 2010, and God has made it evident to me that there are "MUSTS THAT MUST GO" in 2009. 

1. Petty Arguments.

    Action Step: Reconcile!

2. Regretting Regrets.

   Action Step: Enjoy & Engage Today!

3. Giving Fear Room & Time.

    Action Step: Focus my thinking on Gods Promises!

4. Delaying Difficult Conversations.

    Action Step: Pray about the approach, Clarify the Issue, Schedule the Mtg., Leave it @ Office!