Last year this time, I read a blogger's post about giving up sugar. My immediate thought was "I could NEVER do that." Some time passed and a second blogger I follow gave up sugar. Again, "I could NEVER do that." But that I time I also thought, "Why couldn't I?"
My day starts with sugar...in my coffee. And ends with sugar...in my ice cream. I love sugar. Chocolate is my friend. And those sweet coffee drinks. MMMmmm!
Soon a couple of friends were doing the Daniel Fast. I love the tag line of this book, which says, "Sometimes you are so hungry that the only way you can be fed is to fast." And so I began contemplating not just giving up sugar, but giving up sugar, all sweeteners including artificial and natural, meat, diary, and EVERYTHING except whole grains, fruits and veggies, and drinking only water. (no coffee!)
As I began reading the Daniel Fast book and meal planning, I became excited. With the help of God, I could give up sugar, and all that other stuff. I set Feb 16 as my start day and decided to fast for 10 days. I did it for a couple of reasons.
1. To show God's power. I couldn't do it. I absolutely could not do it. But God in me could, and that is very exciting!
2. To deny myself. We live in a world of self-indulgence, not self-denial. I pretty much eat anything I want. I wanted to deny myself for God.
On Monday I'll post some things I learned as a result of my fast, but today is the 11th day. The end result?
I did it!!!! GOD DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Matthew 16:24 -- Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Daniel 1:12 -- {Daniel said} "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink."
Many of us have heard stories of miraculous healings as a result of feverent prayers. Just as many of us, however, have known or heard of someone who was not healed, who had seemingly just as much prayer support. What then, is the power of prayer? Why should we pray?
My 10 yr old daughter (I call her "Gigi" on the blog) is very smart. As a matter of fact she is an A student who has been labeled as gifted. She does remarkably well at school, and is reading well beyond grade level.
The other day Gigi had to write a report at school. She chose the animal and wrote a fabulous report. It had interesting facts and included beautifully drawn illustrations. It looked like "A" work. Her grade on the project? An "F." You see, while Gigi's report was beautiful and interesting, she didn't follow the guidelines the teacher had instructed. Each report was to include information about the animal's predators and prey. Each one of those topics was worth 20 points. Missing those 2 topics made her lose 40 points - and she received a 60. Her first F.
You know we often look at our own lives and think we doing fine. We're "good" people. Life is beautiful, or at least interesting. We don't need a Savior or a God. But truth is, if you look at the guidelines (the Bible), you'll see that even though we might think we're an "A", we're really an "F".
Like Gigi's report, if you judge us on own merit, you might think we're doing pretty well. But God provides clear guidelines in the Bible that we are meant to follow and we don't. We deserve to fail.
Gigi was quick to get with her teacher before she even came home from school that day. She requested and received an "extra credit" project to pull her grade up. Her teacher had mercy on her. God too has mercy on us. We don't even have to do the extra credit. Jesus did the work on the cross on our behalf, and all we have to do is accept him and believe in him.
With Jesus' extra credit work, we can earn the A, the gift of eternal life. Review the guidelines today, and then determine what do your grades look like?
**** If you were looking for the "Celebrity Doppelganger" post that I wrote yesterday, and clicked from your followers Reading List, please note I inadvertently published it. I meant to preschedule it, so I removed it. That is why you can't open it. It is scheduled for March 5 now.
“Why does love always feel like a battlefield?” asks Jordin Sparks, American Idol season 6 winner, in her hit song Battlefield. Truth is, I guess we’ve all experienced a wound in love. It doesn't have to be romantic love either. We can have pain in our relationships with parents, siblings, and friends. Even after you have children you find out that they too are masters of battle, with you and each other!
Even without relationship issues, sometimes it seems like just living a decent and moral life is an uphill battle. It’s hard to do what’s right, especially when no one else seems to care if you don’t, and they’re certainly not. Try as we may, we’re up against more than we can handle on our own. What’s a girl to do? Jordin Sparks continues in her song, “Better go and get your armor.” The Bible says we need to do the same thing! Ephesians 6 says we need to put on the full armor of God. What’s that?
The Sword of the Spirit is the Bible. Armed with the verses in the Bible we can take on any challenge, as it is filled with wisdom and advice on relationships and love, better than anything Dr. Phil or Oprah ever came up with. The Bible even defines what perfect love is: "Real love isn't our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven." (1 John 4:10, CEV) Through our belief in Jesus we receive the helmet of Salvation…and it doesn’t even cause hat hair!
The Bible tells us that in God’s armor even our feet are covered with the peace that comes from knowing the truth about Jesus. Girls, that peace looks better on you than Jimmy Choo or Manolo Blahnik ever could.
Finally the shield of faith protects us from being harmed by the world’s attacks. That faith gives us the strength to fight the battle against sin, which is simply doing what the Bible says is wrong. As our faith grows, it gets easier to fight off the temptations to sin, even when the world says its okay.
Prayer too is an essential part of this warfare. As a matter of fact, “Prayer Warrior” is a churchy term for people who pray ceaselessly for others. Because whether we admit it or not, it’s a battle to do what’s right. We need to be considered armed and dangerous to sin and evil.
Relationships can be tough, and life can be tougher. We need every weapon God has issued to protect us. So take the advice of Jordin Sparks and the Bible, “Better go and get your armor.”
Ephesians 6:13 – 17 CEV -- So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm. Be ready! Let the truth be like a belt around your waist, and let God's justice protect you like armor. Your desire to tell the good news about peace should be like shoes on your feet. Let your faith be like a shield, and you will be able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Let God's saving power be like a helmet, and for a sword use God's message that comes from the Spirit.
To read more devotionals today, hop on over to the blog of Rachel Olsen who is hosting a devotional carnival.
1. Are you pleasant when you're ill, or are you a grumpy, fussy patient? Knock on wood, I am rarely ill. Whem I am, as long as you leave me to my sickness I am pleasant. Don't bother me, and I won't bother you.
2. When you find out that school is canceled (due to inclement weather) what is your gut reaction? Usually I'm really excited! A lazy day in PJs is just the thing. Playing in the snow is fun! However, in the past 13 days, my kids have gone to school twice. So, it's becoming less exciting each time, and school is closed again today for more snow!GO TO SCHOOL ALREADY!
3. What is one domestic skill you wish you could improve? Decorating! I can cook okay, and clean already, but my decor is nothing to write home about. I wish I could create a look for my home.
4. Do you decorate your home for Valentine's Day? See #3 above...that's a no.
5. What song is on your mind today? What song isn't? My mind is nothing but a mix of songs all the time. I've been singing American Dream by Nitty Gritty Dirt band, because with all this snow, I'm thinking dreaming about Jamaica in the moon light (sandy beaches drinking rum every night!). And no, I've never really been there.
6. Do you prefer contemporary movies or classic? Contemporary. I love watching a good modern movie. There are exceptions...Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, Sound of Music and the Christmas movie Miracle on 34th Street...adn all the Disney classics. Okay, I like all movies.
7. How well do you "compartmentalize" your feelings? For example, how well can you put aside a really trying moment to deal with the immediate situation which is not related to the trying moment, e.g., putting aside a tiff with your spouse in order to finish wallpapering a room. It depends. I can be the queen of cool, but get with a good friend and I let it all hang out so to speak. But pretty much I can compartmentalize.
8. What is the first thing that attracted you to your spouse? (Or if you're single, to your best friend.) His wit.
9. When was the last time your heart raced? If I can't remember that means it was too long ago. Probably the last time I went to the gym, and it's been months!
10. What are your memories of Valentine's Day at school? I don't really remember anything about elementary Valentine's day. But then I've blocked out alot of my childhood...I mean compartmentalized it. ;-)
11. If you were going to receive candy for Valentine's Day, which would you prefer? Godiva chocolates are the bomb! MMmmm. Or keeping it simple, a Hershey bar with almonds.
12. Red or pink? This is the toughest question. Hot pink & red are my two favorite colors. But Hot Pink wins it!!! (If its pale pink - I go with red).
