The time for the requested prayers of the elders is over. When I craved food before, I would stop and pray. Now, I pray, but there's not the request that I had before. I need to add purposeful prayer to my fasting again in order to fight these cravings. I'm praying and fasting now for a little toddler on our church's bulletin prayer list.
The new verse of the week is from Numbers 11:4. The people that accompanied the Israelites who were not fully Israelite or who loved the Israelite people so much that they were allowed to go with them began to have "intense cravings". Their cravings gnawed at them. Day after day of eating this "Angel Food" (see an earlier post) got monotonous. They began to remember their home foods - meats, fruits, vegetables. They especially craved the meats.
Because of their disgust of this good manna, God became angry with them and killed some of them with fire. Moses had a "talk" with God and God gave him instructions of how to obtain meat for those who were craving it. Although they were getting the meat they wanted, they died because of it and the place that they died was called, "Kilbroth Hattaavah" (meaning "graves of craving") because there they buried those who yielded to craving.
Quite a story, huh? Why is it included in the Bible? I believe it's included for the lessons that can be learned. Here is the lesson I get from that story...
God had given the Israelites and those with them the perfect food. It is, after all, included in Heaven along with the Tree of Life to be consumed by those who spend etertnity there. (Revelation 2:17 - although this could be figurative, but I don't think so). Rejecting it was rejecting God's gift of life.
Today, rejecting good foods straight from the ground, closest food to the hands of God, so to speak, might just be the same thing as rejecting God's gift of life to me. Every bite of life giving food gives just that: life. Every bite of dead food, takes a little bit of life away. And, too much of either of those has its problems, too. The Israelites were only allowed a certain amount of manna each day. Trying to get more got them into more trouble.
Fighting cravings: prayer with purpose and thankfulness to God for His life-giving foods. It has to be easier to deal with cravings the more battles we win.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Friday, September 7, 2012
Taking Advantage of the Opportunity
Yesterday, I read all of my posts on this blog. The one about the angels' food had a sentence in it that struck me numb all over - again. It was something like: "If we could eat the food of the angels now, would we?" We do have food that is closest to God's hands - raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. I mean, these foods come directly from the Creator as a gift of life to us. So, why do I go to the processed dead foods instead? Cravings. Cravings come from what we are habitually used to doing.
The opportunity is there to take advantage of God's gift of life-giving foods.
Today, a new day. It's new every morning. I gained a pound from yesterday's over-eating, even though I stayed within the margins of the fast-five. I fooled myself into thinking that I'll be okay as long as I stay within the time. Today, I take advantage of the foods available to us directly from God's creation.
And... praying for peace and for liberty to continue in our God-blessed country.
The opportunity is there to take advantage of God's gift of life-giving foods.
Today, a new day. It's new every morning. I gained a pound from yesterday's over-eating, even though I stayed within the margins of the fast-five. I fooled myself into thinking that I'll be okay as long as I stay within the time. Today, I take advantage of the foods available to us directly from God's creation.
And... praying for peace and for liberty to continue in our God-blessed country.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
New Every Morning
The verse of the week is: Lamentations 3:22-23 - "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."
More verses in that chapter are good to reflect upon, but I'm limiting it to these two for here.
Every day begins with a clean page. I'm glad God's mercies are new every morning. Remembering to start fresh every day is a challenge in itself. But God doesn't forget. Our heavenly Father is full of compassion and mercy and is not without feeling toward our physical needs.
Our elders in the church had asked us to pray for a week about some possible changes that could take place in the church. I decided to fast and pray and not talk to anyone about it until the time was over, which is nearly a week ago now. I was wanting to do a pure fast - just water, but instead, I fasted this 19-5 hour way. It was better than no fasting. Still, this fasting increased my strength in prayer. The elders decided in the way that I was hoping for, but I prayed for the best to be done. Naturally, I thought the best was "my way", but that's just human nature. I believe we should pray for God's will in spite of our own will be done. It's how Jesus prayed, after all.
I'm continuing the 19-5 fast. I hope to continue it until I lose the weight I need to lose. I'm SOOOO heavy. I want to lose half my weight. I need to lose no less than 100 pounds, but 120 pounds would be what I want to lose. Actually, since the elders asked us for prayer and I started back in daily fasting, I've lost 4 pounds.
Forgiveness again. Starting again. Mercies again. New every morning.
More verses in that chapter are good to reflect upon, but I'm limiting it to these two for here.
Every day begins with a clean page. I'm glad God's mercies are new every morning. Remembering to start fresh every day is a challenge in itself. But God doesn't forget. Our heavenly Father is full of compassion and mercy and is not without feeling toward our physical needs.
Our elders in the church had asked us to pray for a week about some possible changes that could take place in the church. I decided to fast and pray and not talk to anyone about it until the time was over, which is nearly a week ago now. I was wanting to do a pure fast - just water, but instead, I fasted this 19-5 hour way. It was better than no fasting. Still, this fasting increased my strength in prayer. The elders decided in the way that I was hoping for, but I prayed for the best to be done. Naturally, I thought the best was "my way", but that's just human nature. I believe we should pray for God's will in spite of our own will be done. It's how Jesus prayed, after all.
I'm continuing the 19-5 fast. I hope to continue it until I lose the weight I need to lose. I'm SOOOO heavy. I want to lose half my weight. I need to lose no less than 100 pounds, but 120 pounds would be what I want to lose. Actually, since the elders asked us for prayer and I started back in daily fasting, I've lost 4 pounds.
Forgiveness again. Starting again. Mercies again. New every morning.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Philippians 4:13
This well known verse is my "verse of the week" to encourage myself in daily fasting.
I want to make something clear on this verse. Paul was talking about his personal history of being poor and being wealthy. Then he says that either way, he has learned how to live in Christ.
He says, "I can do all things in Christ who strenghtens me".
We use this verse to tell ourselves that we can do whatever we set out to do through Christ. While that may or may not be so, this particular verse merely states that whether Paul was poor or rich; hungry or well-fed - he could do all of those things in Christ.
This is a verse about circumstances, not projects. Are you poor, yet you have children depending on you and going to work would either leave them alone or rob all your paycheck to see they are care for? "I can do all things ... " You see, God is not going to leave us unattended when we are first doing His will. He is more powerful than a 9-5 job. A good job that allows you to care for your children too will come to you.
Are you rich and are beginning to think that you have it all - you don't need God? Think again. Deuteronomy 8 is an excellent chapter to read to make us realize we must never forget the One Who gave us our riches. And, everyone is rich compared to someone else, just like everyone is poor compared to someone else. It all depends on how you look at it yourself.
The promise here is to those in Christ - so make sure that you are in Christ, if you are counting on this promise. Read the scriptures, especially the book of Acts to see the history of the church and how the people were added to it, which is being in Christ. Go read.
For me, this verse helps me to know that God is providing what I need, which is not a continual supply of food going in my mouth. (Bleh!) I'm thankful for this verse this week.
To change the subject, I feel SO much better with less food. I had a great day yesterday - I actually went up a small mountain with steps rather than take the shuttle, walked around the folk demonstrations & shops at the top of the hill and came back down the steps. This was the first year I had felt like doing this in about six years. We go to the same place every year on their opening weekend. (Ozark Folk Center at Mt. View, Arkansas, if you are interested). Even though I stopped twice going up, and once going down, I was proud that I did it. My goal is to be able to go up and down without stopping by the end of this summer.
I want to make something clear on this verse. Paul was talking about his personal history of being poor and being wealthy. Then he says that either way, he has learned how to live in Christ.
He says, "I can do all things in Christ who strenghtens me".
We use this verse to tell ourselves that we can do whatever we set out to do through Christ. While that may or may not be so, this particular verse merely states that whether Paul was poor or rich; hungry or well-fed - he could do all of those things in Christ.
This is a verse about circumstances, not projects. Are you poor, yet you have children depending on you and going to work would either leave them alone or rob all your paycheck to see they are care for? "I can do all things ... " You see, God is not going to leave us unattended when we are first doing His will. He is more powerful than a 9-5 job. A good job that allows you to care for your children too will come to you.
Are you rich and are beginning to think that you have it all - you don't need God? Think again. Deuteronomy 8 is an excellent chapter to read to make us realize we must never forget the One Who gave us our riches. And, everyone is rich compared to someone else, just like everyone is poor compared to someone else. It all depends on how you look at it yourself.
The promise here is to those in Christ - so make sure that you are in Christ, if you are counting on this promise. Read the scriptures, especially the book of Acts to see the history of the church and how the people were added to it, which is being in Christ. Go read.
For me, this verse helps me to know that God is providing what I need, which is not a continual supply of food going in my mouth. (Bleh!) I'm thankful for this verse this week.
To change the subject, I feel SO much better with less food. I had a great day yesterday - I actually went up a small mountain with steps rather than take the shuttle, walked around the folk demonstrations & shops at the top of the hill and came back down the steps. This was the first year I had felt like doing this in about six years. We go to the same place every year on their opening weekend. (Ozark Folk Center at Mt. View, Arkansas, if you are interested). Even though I stopped twice going up, and once going down, I was proud that I did it. My goal is to be able to go up and down without stopping by the end of this summer.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Eight Good Thoughts
The verse of the week changes today. When I begin to think that I can't accomplish something, like daily fasting; when I begin to talk negatively to myself, I will pick out each of the eight things to think of in the verse of the week this week: Philippians 4:8 - What ever is ...
These eight guidelines to keep my thoughts positive will help me all week.
- true Fasting is a healthful thing to do for my spiritual as well as physical life
- noble Also, "honorable" in other versions - Fasting is an honorable thing because of the sacrifice
- just Fasting brings to justice my over-eating habits
- pure Fasting helps to purify the body and the mind
- lovely Not only a lovlier body, face, nails and hair, but everything around - all nature seems more colorful, more lovely when the body is not overstuffed with food
- things of good report The reports going around of me losing weight and gaining health will certainly be good reports
- virtue Virtue means good, moral and clean. Fasting is definitely a good and moral and clean way of getting control of eating habits
- something praiseworthy about fasting - I can certainly sing the praises of fasting, even daily fasting.
These eight guidelines to keep my thoughts positive will help me all week.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Prayer and fasting just go together
I've learned something interesting why perhaps it's so important to combine fasting with earnest prayer. Each time I thought of food, or felt hunger, I prayed for the man needing to find a job. When I was eating for the five-hour period, I didn't pray as earnestly. Hmmm.
I can see why fasting and prayer go together. Like peanut butter and jelly, love and marriage - prayer and fasting are a perfect pair.
I can see why fasting and prayer go together. Like peanut butter and jelly, love and marriage - prayer and fasting are a perfect pair.
Monday, April 9, 2012
For the sake of prayer
I've been O.F.F. the daily fasting for I can't remember how long. But, I'm starting again.
What happened? There is a man at church who lost his job due to downsizing in the company where he was employed. Now, his wife does work, but he is without a job and they have three daughters - one in college and two about to be in college.
We, in the church, really don't want this family to have to move. Since they have moved here, we've gotten very close to them. They are like family to us now. I think they feel the same way. We are hoping and praying that he will be able to find a job close and stay here.
Sunday, I asked him how that job hunting was coming, and I told him that I would pray for him on that. I had already decided to dedicate all day Monday with fasting to prayer for him if he hadn't found a job yet.
That's why I'm back on the daily fasting today. Everytime I thought of food or was hungry, I lifted his family up in prayer. I've decided to go back to the Fast-Five type of fasting with this prayer. I will lift this family up in prayer daily until the dad has a new job that he will be happy with and one that will have good bosses and co-workers.
What happened? There is a man at church who lost his job due to downsizing in the company where he was employed. Now, his wife does work, but he is without a job and they have three daughters - one in college and two about to be in college.
We, in the church, really don't want this family to have to move. Since they have moved here, we've gotten very close to them. They are like family to us now. I think they feel the same way. We are hoping and praying that he will be able to find a job close and stay here.
Sunday, I asked him how that job hunting was coming, and I told him that I would pray for him on that. I had already decided to dedicate all day Monday with fasting to prayer for him if he hadn't found a job yet.
That's why I'm back on the daily fasting today. Everytime I thought of food or was hungry, I lifted his family up in prayer. I've decided to go back to the Fast-Five type of fasting with this prayer. I will lift this family up in prayer daily until the dad has a new job that he will be happy with and one that will have good bosses and co-workers.
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