Lord, as I fast today I desire to be with you. And while I rest my body from food, please purify it as well.
If I continually disobey God, not only am I disobedient, but I am a liar because I claim to have fellowship with Jesus. It is amazing how such things can truly squelch our witness for Christ! Thank God that if we confess - not only will He forgive, He will purify us. A lot of times, especially with food, I don't know if I get to that second step. It's like I don't trust that He will purify me. I know He will forgive, but He wants to purify me too!!
It isn't like I claim to be without sin. . . yet, I do. What I mean is, I avoid confronting the issue. If I don't step on the scale and see how much weight I've gained, or if I don't dwell on how much food I consumed, then I don't have to address the sin. I just sweep it under the rug and don't mention it to myself, God or others. Of course, it is still sin and avoiding the issue simply lets Satan have more of a foothold.
So, now that I think about it, a lot of times I am also not confessing my sin!
1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
I have to admit that overindulgence is a sin and I have to trust that He will forgive and purify. By not admitting it I am doing what 1 John 1:10 says, "If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives."
I guess what I hadn't addressed is avoiding the subject, ignoring the sin, is just the same as claiming that I haven't sinned!
Thank you, again, Lord, for a new understanding from Your Word today. May I apply it through the day. Please help Sam as she comes off a day of fasting to be moderate with food and immoderate for You. Please be with me and Michelle (I think?) as we seek You rather than food today. I love You, Lord. Your Child, Erin.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Thanks Erin!
Wow...did I need to hear that. It encouraged me so much! Today is my fasting day, and of course I didn't rest well last night, and therefore, only got about 3 hours of sleep and overslept this morning. So, I haven't done my study yet, but am fasting anyway. Do you think Satan knew I was going to fast today? :) I've already been met with some battles of will...of my own, but God is showing Himself faithful. Thank you Lord!
A Marathon
When I first started running this is how I started:
I literally began by jogging for 5 minutes. I would run for 2:30 one way and then jog back. Starting at such a small increment made it easier to accomplish my goals. I didn't just wake up one day and say, "I think I'll run 26 miles."
I even had a chart that I checked off as I completed each workout. If I looked ahead, I would feel overwhelmed that soon I would be jogging 10 miles . . . 15 miles, etc! But if I looked at the week I was on, I was confident. Last week I ran 2 miles. This week I'm supposed to go for 3 miles. I can do that!
So it is with training myself to be a woman of moderation. Small victories are important, just as you said, Sam. And the small victories, if consistent, can and will lead to larger victories!
Thank you God, for last night. I was planning and plotting through the evening that once I had completed a few household tasks I would "reward" myself with . . . I didn't know what, but I was plotting some type of pantry raid. Thank you for that still, small voice whispering to me as I was just about to head to the kitchen, 'You don't need that. What you need is Me and what you need to do is go to bed and rest.' God, thank you for the strength you gave me to obey. That small victory was like a 5 minute jog. I want to be a woman of moderation - I want to reach that goal, but I'm beginning to understand that it's the small things that I obey You in that will lead me to my ultimate destination.
I literally began by jogging for 5 minutes. I would run for 2:30 one way and then jog back. Starting at such a small increment made it easier to accomplish my goals. I didn't just wake up one day and say, "I think I'll run 26 miles."
I even had a chart that I checked off as I completed each workout. If I looked ahead, I would feel overwhelmed that soon I would be jogging 10 miles . . . 15 miles, etc! But if I looked at the week I was on, I was confident. Last week I ran 2 miles. This week I'm supposed to go for 3 miles. I can do that!
So it is with training myself to be a woman of moderation. Small victories are important, just as you said, Sam. And the small victories, if consistent, can and will lead to larger victories!
Thank you God, for last night. I was planning and plotting through the evening that once I had completed a few household tasks I would "reward" myself with . . . I didn't know what, but I was plotting some type of pantry raid. Thank you for that still, small voice whispering to me as I was just about to head to the kitchen, 'You don't need that. What you need is Me and what you need to do is go to bed and rest.' God, thank you for the strength you gave me to obey. That small victory was like a 5 minute jog. I want to be a woman of moderation - I want to reach that goal, but I'm beginning to understand that it's the small things that I obey You in that will lead me to my ultimate destination.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Small Victories!
Today was a bit easier to rise and do my study. God gave me a full night's sleep...I didn't wake once...until 4:40 a.m. That is so rare for me...I normally am up 2-4 times a night going to the bathroom, etc. But not last night! Thank you God!
I had some small victories yesterday, and although small, I want to make sure I give God the glory! "Small" is the one thing I don't want to overlook, because that is SO what Satan wants me to do. It is those "small" things that lead us away from the Lord, and ends up chaining us to bondage. I've been made aware that it is the "small" things that get me rolling down the hill of depression-not the big things. Satan does not come and ring my door bell and say, "I'm here...can I come in?"So I am praying for more small victories today...reminding myself that every time I say no Satan, I am saying "yes" to God. And every time I say yes to God, my communication with Him is getting better and better.
* Lord, thank you for this quiet morning. Thank you for a great night's sleep...you know how important that is to me, physically and emotionally. Thank you for caring for our whole being...physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Thank you for the small victories yesterday, and I ask that you allow more today. Help me to walk worthy of those...taking one step at a time... I know Satan wants me stagnant, and convicting our hearts, allowing us to hear you, and then giving us the strength to obey are all steps toward glorifying you. Help us do that today...for I know that "whom much is given, much is required." Thank you for loving us!
As a footnote: I am going to change my fasting day to Wednesday instead of Thursday. It seems to work better with my schedule. I am home on Wednesdays with extra kids and I am gone on Thursdays. I really think God wants me to honor Him here at home first. I know that may not make sense to anyone, but for me it does.
I had some small victories yesterday, and although small, I want to make sure I give God the glory! "Small" is the one thing I don't want to overlook, because that is SO what Satan wants me to do. It is those "small" things that lead us away from the Lord, and ends up chaining us to bondage. I've been made aware that it is the "small" things that get me rolling down the hill of depression-not the big things. Satan does not come and ring my door bell and say, "I'm here...can I come in?"So I am praying for more small victories today...reminding myself that every time I say no Satan, I am saying "yes" to God. And every time I say yes to God, my communication with Him is getting better and better.
* Lord, thank you for this quiet morning. Thank you for a great night's sleep...you know how important that is to me, physically and emotionally. Thank you for caring for our whole being...physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Thank you for the small victories yesterday, and I ask that you allow more today. Help me to walk worthy of those...taking one step at a time... I know Satan wants me stagnant, and convicting our hearts, allowing us to hear you, and then giving us the strength to obey are all steps toward glorifying you. Help us do that today...for I know that "whom much is given, much is required." Thank you for loving us!
As a footnote: I am going to change my fasting day to Wednesday instead of Thursday. It seems to work better with my schedule. I am home on Wednesdays with extra kids and I am gone on Thursdays. I really think God wants me to honor Him here at home first. I know that may not make sense to anyone, but for me it does.
Monday, December 1, 2008
A New Month
Good for you, Sam, to be on Week 3.
Sigh. I just completed Week 1 today, but I too am preparing to fast this week and to study week 2 all the way through. I look forward to having friends fasting from food to feast on the Lord with me! Thursday, right?
Dear Lord,
Thank you for friendships and accountability. Thank you for your grace. Be with all of us as we begin the busy Christmas season. Of all times, we should be feasting on you over Christmas treats. Keep that in the front of our minds and please give us the continued willingness to obey and worship you each day in this study and throughout the day on Psalms. I love you Lord with all my heart, soul and mind. May I show you that through my actions today.
Your child, Erin
Sigh. I just completed Week 1 today, but I too am preparing to fast this week and to study week 2 all the way through. I look forward to having friends fasting from food to feast on the Lord with me! Thursday, right?
Dear Lord,
Thank you for friendships and accountability. Thank you for your grace. Be with all of us as we begin the busy Christmas season. Of all times, we should be feasting on you over Christmas treats. Keep that in the front of our minds and please give us the continued willingness to obey and worship you each day in this study and throughout the day on Psalms. I love you Lord with all my heart, soul and mind. May I show you that through my actions today.
Your child, Erin
Come Play
It is 5:51 a.m. The Lord woke me at 4:57 and asked me if it was time to meet with Him? I'm still amazed that He didn't tell me....but asked me. I felt as if He were a child asking me to make the time to sit and play with Him. I was saddened that I struggled with staying in bed and telling Him, "not right now, I am too tired." I so wish I could say that it was an attitude of joy that made me do my study this morning, instead of an act of obedience...only doing it because I know I am supposed to.
I did Week 3, day 1 today...preparing for a fast this week. Oh, how I needed it after this weekend. I find it a little more than suspicious that we over-stuff ourselves on the day we set aside to give Thanks to God. "Thanksgiving" is so entangled in sin! A day that we are reminded to give thanks for everything is the day that the world looks to indulge. ...I look to indulge. Aghhh, so here I am again Lord, asking for forgiveness, and giving thanks to you for loving me in spite of myself.
Lord, speak to me in ways that I understand, and then give me the WILLINGNESS to obey. I do love you, but help me love you more. I believe, but help my unbelief. Help me to focus on you today...not my list of things to do. Help me to focus on WHY I am making meals for others and not on the meals themselves. Help me work through this depression I find myself in, and thank you for opening my eyes to my lack of "doing my part" with this struggle. Be with Michelle and Erin and whatever is before them today. Thank you for my friends who are willing to walk beside me and love me, no matter what. May you bless them today in a way that they know beyond a shadow of doubt, that it is YOU. And thank you for gently asking me to come play this morning.
I did Week 3, day 1 today...preparing for a fast this week. Oh, how I needed it after this weekend. I find it a little more than suspicious that we over-stuff ourselves on the day we set aside to give Thanks to God. "Thanksgiving" is so entangled in sin! A day that we are reminded to give thanks for everything is the day that the world looks to indulge. ...I look to indulge. Aghhh, so here I am again Lord, asking for forgiveness, and giving thanks to you for loving me in spite of myself.
Lord, speak to me in ways that I understand, and then give me the WILLINGNESS to obey. I do love you, but help me love you more. I believe, but help my unbelief. Help me to focus on you today...not my list of things to do. Help me to focus on WHY I am making meals for others and not on the meals themselves. Help me work through this depression I find myself in, and thank you for opening my eyes to my lack of "doing my part" with this struggle. Be with Michelle and Erin and whatever is before them today. Thank you for my friends who are willing to walk beside me and love me, no matter what. May you bless them today in a way that they know beyond a shadow of doubt, that it is YOU. And thank you for gently asking me to come play this morning.
Happy Thanksgiving
Sam, I just ready your post...I, too, fought to get out of bed this morning. I wish I could say that I got up because God was telling me He wanted me to come play with Him. I just knew that if I didn't get up to do what I know I need to do, I would be denying myself any hope of hearing God talk to me. Perhaps the same thing, just not as personal.
We just got back from our holiday weekend. We go out to Tim's grandparent's farm where we are on gravel roads and have no cell service, no internet service and we're 1/2 an hour from town. It's the modern day sticks, but I love going. Unfortunately my allergies were in rare form and I couldn't breathe the whole time I was there. I don't think I've used my inhaler so much, ever. But, we're back and I'm ready to get into the groove again. Yes, I took a "vacation" from getting up. The down side to that is that I never thought about the study the whole weekend.
I made Fannie Mae Fudge while I was there...somewhat of a mistake. We never got more than half way through the fudge, but still, I was visiting the pan all the time. While we are at the farm, there is nothing but good "farmer" meals. For breakfast we are usually on our own. I will make biscuits and gravy one morning for everyone, but the rest is up to us. However, lunches and dinners are always fairly big. The point is that we eat and we eat well. Except for the biscuits and gravy, I do believe I did well on self control...and that darn fudge.
Erin, how are you doing?
Sam, how are you doing?
Girls, what week are you on? I am getting ready to start week 3 tomorrow. Should I stop and wait? I'd like to be caught up with you guys. For now, I will just do week 2, day 5, "Come, All Who Are Thirsty" and the passage is Isaiah 55.
The waters of God are free. He says, "Come, all who are thirsty..." its free. I wanted to drink of God this morning and found myself, my mind, all over the place.
He says, "Incline your ear to Me and listen that you may live."
"Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near."
Like precipitation falling to earth waters the earth and allows for things to grow, eventually providing food for us, God's Word doesn't return void to Him. It rains on us allowing us to produce fruit and grow. If we do not respond to God's Spirit, soon it will be hard to hear Him and hard to find Him.
We just got back from our holiday weekend. We go out to Tim's grandparent's farm where we are on gravel roads and have no cell service, no internet service and we're 1/2 an hour from town. It's the modern day sticks, but I love going. Unfortunately my allergies were in rare form and I couldn't breathe the whole time I was there. I don't think I've used my inhaler so much, ever. But, we're back and I'm ready to get into the groove again. Yes, I took a "vacation" from getting up. The down side to that is that I never thought about the study the whole weekend.
I made Fannie Mae Fudge while I was there...somewhat of a mistake. We never got more than half way through the fudge, but still, I was visiting the pan all the time. While we are at the farm, there is nothing but good "farmer" meals. For breakfast we are usually on our own. I will make biscuits and gravy one morning for everyone, but the rest is up to us. However, lunches and dinners are always fairly big. The point is that we eat and we eat well. Except for the biscuits and gravy, I do believe I did well on self control...and that darn fudge.
Erin, how are you doing?
Sam, how are you doing?
Girls, what week are you on? I am getting ready to start week 3 tomorrow. Should I stop and wait? I'd like to be caught up with you guys. For now, I will just do week 2, day 5, "Come, All Who Are Thirsty" and the passage is Isaiah 55.
The waters of God are free. He says, "Come, all who are thirsty..." its free. I wanted to drink of God this morning and found myself, my mind, all over the place.
He says, "Incline your ear to Me and listen that you may live."
"Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near."
Like precipitation falling to earth waters the earth and allows for things to grow, eventually providing food for us, God's Word doesn't return void to Him. It rains on us allowing us to produce fruit and grow. If we do not respond to God's Spirit, soon it will be hard to hear Him and hard to find Him.
- God, I so want to hear your voice regularly and I know that it's because I ignore you often that I don't hear you as much. Forgive me of that. Talk to me today. Talk more to Sam and to Erin. Don't let us fall to the sin of food so much that we are overrun by it and only hear it and not you. Thank you for Erin and Sam and what their friendships mean, but don't let us be more concerned about these earthly friendships that we don't listen for you, best friend of all. Thank you for loving us when we love other things. Help us to do what's right and master the sin before us.
