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work for answered prayer

Fasting and Working for Answered Prayers

Have you ever been so desperate that you had to fast? You had to go to prayer? Your need was so critical that just saying you were praying about it wasn’t enough. A bedtime lay-me-down-to-sleep prayer wasn’t going to get it. You had to get down to business.

The question for the day is,

work for answered prayer

“Do we have to work for answered prayers? Do we have to fast continually, check off our Daily Bread chart and say so many “Our Father who art in heaven…” prayers?”

The answer is, “No.” We are the ones who need the changing, not God.

Fasting and prayer changes US, strengthens US, molds our character, changes our heart, mind and soul, gives US direction, wisdom, and clears up things that were muddy before!

The Bible tells us that the prophet Daniel fasted on a regular basis. It has even recorded three of those fasts for us to look at and observe. In one of them he goes completely without any food at all. “And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes…” Daniel 9:3 KJV.

In the other two fasts that are recorded in the book of Daniel, he participated in partial fasts where he ate some foods, but refrained from others.

Each time Daniel fasted, we can find one thing he was very consistent with; he never failed to pray!

Look at the verse above again in Daniel 9:3, to seek by prayer and supplications.”  Even when it doesn’t specifically mention prayer, we know Daniel prayed because he was a Hebrew prophet and a man of God. He would not have fasted without prayer! The Jewish people understood that the two went together.

God can speak to us because we have allowed Him to cleanse things from our minds when we fast. We have taken time to be with Him and pushed some things aside; things that we liked, maybe even loved, that were important to us. We laid them down in order to be with Him.

Our motives must be pure when we pray. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” James 4:3 ESV. We are praying for our needs, not necessarily our wants. Max Lucado said it so well, “You have to wonder if God’s most merciful act is His refusal to answer some of our prayers!”

Our heart must be right! “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me…” Psalm 66:18 KJV.

We must pray in faith, believing and we pray His will in all things.  “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” 1 John 5:14 ESV.  

Then we must pray with perseverance! “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Luke 18:1 NIV.

And we must be thankful. “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” 1 Chronicles 16:34 ESV.

When we fast, we show the Lord that we want to draw closer to Him and lay aside things that might hinder us in our walk. We aren’t bargaining with God and we are not begging God. We aren’t jumping through hoops or just checking off boxes. We just realize that if our flesh is submitted to Him, His wants and desires for us become OUR wants and desires. We begin to reflect His glory and not our own!

And even if the situation doesn’t change, WE have been changed, WE have been strengthened for whatever lies ahead.

The Daniel Fast Devotional

In The Daniel Fast Devotional, we talk about a different person in the Bible who sought God by fasting every day of the 21 day fast. Some of them were desperate like Hannah, she just HAD to fast too! Others did it out of selfishness as with Ahab and Jezebel. Each story is true, intriguing, and will teach us the good and the bad motives behind fasting. Also, at the end of each chapter, there are wonderful recipes that are Daniel Fast approved. Get your copy today!

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Holdju

Little boy, barely old enough to talk. A tiny guy of few words, he was always lovable. The last of three, he was definitely spoiled not only by his parents but by his two older brothers, one by 5 1/2 years the other by 11. He followed them around like a puppy, emulating their every move.

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He was everybody’s baby, passed around endlessly at church, fought over by teenage girls way before his time, with little blond curls that were just too hard to resist.

But when exhaustion had set in and he couldn’t take another step, he would melt everyone’s heart with two little words when he would come running up to  you, arms open wide like a funnel and say, “Holdju! Holdju!”

Whoever happened to be the recipient of his affection at the time would lean over, scoop him up and immediately that little head would plop on your shoulder. Victory.

He knew where to go, he knew what to do, he even knew what to say.

Hold you.

Do you? Know where to run when exhaustion has taken over your body, your mind and your very soul?

Do you? Know what to do when you cannot take another step, feel like your world is crashing in and even those closest to you can’t help?

Do you? Know what to say, how to cry out for help and be assured of a response?

When we have reached the end of our rope and are so overwhelmed with LIFE, Jesus is just waiting. Waiting for us to give in, to come running and to surrender to Him! He wants to scoop us up in His everlasting arms and give us the comfort, strength and peace that we so desperately need. “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms!” Deuteronomy 33:27

Hold you, Jesus? Yes, if we can reach up and call on His name, He will respond.

Don’t be afraid to let Jesus know your need.

Reach up, call out and let Him holdju.

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High Pockets, Haymakers and Flash

 

I hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane. You will see why I say The Sweetheart is a good sport. Be blessed!

After 43 years of wedded bliss, The Sweetheart has always, always preferred me before himself. He has been a gentleman and yet, at the same time, assumed the masculine role of Helper, Handyman and Hero all at the same time.

Except for one day in particular that stands out to me.

The year was 1982.

The place? That is a story in itself.

In high school, The Sweetheart was not known by the title I have bestowed upon him. That would have been weird. He had several names in his Joe Cool days such as,

  • High Pockets (six-foot-two-152-pounds-soaking-wet-all-legs)

  • Haymaker. This was his CB handle. Back-in-the-day we didn’t have cell phones, texting, Facebook, twitter or Instagram. Say what?! A CB (Citizens Band radio) was the coolest thing around for a country boy. “Breaker, breaker, 1-9, this is Haymaker, anybody on?” The Haymaker handle came from the fact that this good-lookin’ guy could heave bales of hay over his head like they were empty cardboard boxes. (Be still my beating heart!)

  • Flash. Yeah. Flash. This High Pocket Haymaker was a pretty good photographer. Again, we are going back in time for some of you…before the digital age, before you could take 1,000 pictures on your cellphone and not worry about how much it would cost. We had something called film that DID cost and we had also had flashbulbs on less expensive cameras and flash attachments on his professional cameras. They didn’t come with a flash, that was something you purchased extra. Hence, the nickname.

Flash spent much of his high school days with the journalism and yearbook staff. He was the resident photographer at many, many events. He landed a job at a photo finishing lab known for their same-day-turn-around. This was a major big deal in the late 1970’s folks. Take your film into the store and come back and pick it up later that day. Huge.

High Pocket Haymaker Flash gets married and decided to open his own photo finishing lab in a neighboring town.

Big dreams, no money, big dreams.

High Pocket Haymaker Flash has a Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife who delights in helping him in his adventures and most every day you would find them developing film and handing out pictures to happy customers.

The first couple of weeks after the grand opening, Flash and his Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife were driving their orders back to his former employers’ store for developing while awaiting the arrival of a piece of equipment. The Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife was designated most days to make the 30 minute drive.

Now, Flash had a car that fit his name perfectly. For his graduation present, his parents had bought him a brand new Camaro, firethorn red in color. Super cool. (I just happen to have a picture of it in his driveway.)

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Flash, being the loving young newlywed husband that he was, gave the car to his Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife and bought himself a truck.

His Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife hated the truck.

She didn’t dislike it because it was a stick-shift. Her first car was a stick and Flash had taught her how to drive it when she was only 16. She wasn’t fond of the truck because it just wasn’t cute. But the car went fast. The car was red. The car turned heads and she was Cute, Adorable and Very Young.

We should pause here and catch up the reader to the fact that Flash and his Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife were married almost two years when they were blessed with a Blond-Hair-Blue-Eyed-Boy-Wonder that turned their world upside down in a very good way. The super cool Camaro would soon be replaced with something more practical but, for now, they still enjoyed feeling young and invincible. And the Blond-Hair-Blue-Eyed-Boy-Wonder was staying with my good friend, The-World’s-Best-Babysitter.

high pockets

So back to the first two weeks of owning the new business…Flash has the order all ready to take north and his Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife is all set to jump in her super cool car and start the journey. But Flash decides she should take his truck, for reasons that this writer, who has aged many years since then, cannot remember. Still, he was insistent and even though she protested because she detested driving the truck, and hadn’t learned how to pout and get her way, grabbed the keys and jumped in the little Nissan.

Heading down the four-lane highway in the town where they had their business, Flash’s Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife had not gone far when an elderly lady in a tank pulls out in front of her. There was no time, people, no time at all to even think of finding a way out. All she remembers is a loud crash and pain. Lots of pain.

The Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife jumps out of the truck because she thought it was on fire (just the radiator ma’am) and takes two steps before she collapses in the arms of the leader of the Hells Angels, her knight-in-shining-armor and the only soul on the highway who stopped to help. He picks her up and sets her back inside the truck telling her to wait for the ambulance. (I am not making this up!)

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Well, that shouldn’t take long. Where does this accident take place you ask? Directly in front of the town hospital; and even then, all of those years ago, someone brighter than me and you decided that sending an ambulance to their front yard made more sense than the policeman just pulling in the driveway with the injured. Go figure.

In the Emergency Room all is a blur. There is blood everywhere but we deduce that it is all from a lost front tooth that met hard with the steering wheel. The doctor was convinced both legs were broken from the impact and they were preparing for x-rays. The nurse wanted to call Flash to come but the Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife knew he couldn’t leave the lab. There were no other employees at the time, Flash was all alone. Yet, the nurse insisted because she thought the injuries were severe enough that someone should be there. She dialed the number but handed the phone to the Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife and the conversation went something like this:

Flash: Photo Finish, how may I help you?

Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife: I’ve been in an accident and haven’t made it to the lab yet. Can you come?

Flash: I don’t have time for jokes, I’m very busy. Where are you and why aren’t you there?

Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife: I said I’ve had a wreck! I’m at the hospital now and they want you to come!

Flash: Listen, I’m glad you think we have time for humor but I am swamped now get going and call me when you are ready to head back.

Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife: But Flash, I’m really hurt, they think I’ve broken both my legs!

This is when my opinion of the nursing profession soars and I envision one of my children with an RN and many other credentials after their birth name. She takes over and grabs the phone from me:

Nursing Professional with Domineering Personality: Mr. Flash? This is the hospital ER department. Your Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife has been in a terrible accident. We are preparing for x-rays on her legs immediately. I strongly suggest you get in your car right now and GET HERE. Did I make myself clear?

Flash: On my way.

Flash does come to the rescue of his Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife. Her legs, fortunately, were not broken, only badly bruised and traumatized. The next stop was the dentist’s office, after hours, to deaden the root of the lost tooth. The driver of the other car, who was in her late 80’s btw, was not injured, thankfully, and was very concerned about the Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife.

The moral of the story?

We disagree on that, the two of us.

Flash and his Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife learned many things that fateful day.

Flash lost his beloved little truck and his Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife talked him into a new family car.

His Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife is reminded of that painful day every time she looks in the mirror at the new tooth that just doesn’t seem to belong.

Flash continued to shoot weddings and Little League teams before he made his way into the world of air traffic control. But the most important thing is that he now wears the title of Hero and has never missed a chance to rescue his damsel-in-distress since that unforgettable day all of those years ago.

p.s. His Cute, Adorable and Very Young Wife had a CB handle too! I was his Sunshine. Of course!
So, Happy Birthday, Flash! You’ve worn many titles since then including The Sweetheart but now you relish your most earned and beloved title of Poppy to your half dozen grands. We may have changed a bit since those glory days of our youth but we are still together, celebrating life and being thankful for the blessings of our God.

 

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Did Jesus actually sweat blood in the Garden of Gethsemane?

Today is obviously the day before Good Friday, the crucifixion. But today there is also The Cup, the agony in the Garden, and I just cannot get away from it. You can catch up on posts you may have missed this week: Hosanna, Hanging on His Every Word, What will you give me? and Because He Lives.

Most of us are aware of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. He prays to be spared the suffering that is to come. He knows the agony He must endure and He prays, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39, NIV.

When the mother of James and John approached Jesus with the request for her sons to sit on His right and left in the Kingdom, Jesus asked them, “Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” “Oh yes, we are able!” they replied.  But they didn’t understand what they were saying.

It was a cup filled with Old Testament and New Testament sins and judgment from the past and the present and it was filled with our sins too. Mine, yours, the ugly, the whispered, the hushed, the secret, all of them from the beginning of time were in the cup.

Jesus then leaves the disciples in the garden to go and pray. But it isn’t just, “Now, I lay me down to sleep” prayers. The Bible says, “…being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” Luke 22:44, NKJV.  

Luke is the only Gospel writer to mention this. Luke is also the only one to refer to Jesus as being in agony. Jesus was in such a state of physical and spiritual agony that he could have produced what is known as hematohidrosis, or hemohidrosis, a rare medical condition where a person may actually sweat blood! Acute fear and intense mental contemplation were found to be the most frequent inciting causes.

While the extent of blood loss generally is minimal, hematidrosis also results in the skin becoming extremely tender and fragile. Around the sweat glands, there are blood vessels that when under pressure and great stress they constrict. Then, when the anxiety passes, they dilate to the point of rupture and the blood then goes into the sweat glands. When the sweat glands are producing a lot of sweat, it pushes the blood to the surface, coming out as drops of blood mixed with sweat. (Barbet, 1953, pp. 74-75; Lumpkin, 1978).

True, we do not know if our Savior actually sweated blood, but it is interesting that it is mentioned and the scientific, medical facts make it even more interesting! We know that the agony of what He was about to endure caused Jesus to pray so earnestly that He did sweat, so intensely that it was dripping on the ground and the Bible says it was like drops of blood.

Sweat is introduced in Genesis 3:19, introduced with Sin. Matthew Henry says it like this: “And therefore, when Christ was made sin and a curse for us, he underwent a grievous sweat, that in the sweat of his face we might eat bread, and that he might sanctify and sweeten all our trials to us.”

Surely Jesus was aware of the suffering that was to come. We get our word excruciating from the word crucifixion. It was one of the most painful torture methods ever invented; perfected by the Romans and reserved for the most vicious of criminals. It was a hideously slow and painful death. “I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint.” Psalm 22:14. (Click here if you want to read an extensive medical breakdown of the crucifixion.)

It wasn’t just the agony of the crucifixion; it wasn’t just the taunting of the Roman soldiers, the beatings he would endure or the humiliation. The real stress and fear was the knowledge that He would bear the sins of the world and would be forsaken by the Father. He could have easily avoided all of this if He wanted to and called ten thousand angels to His side at any moment! “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.” Isaiah 53:5-7, NKJV.

But He faced the fear so we wouldn’t have to and kept praying, “Yet not as I will, but as You will.” Matthew 26:39,NIV.

John Piper says it so beautifully, “If we were to look at Jesus’ death merely as a result of a betrayer’s deceit and the Sanhedrin’s envy and Pilate’s spinelessness and the soldier’s nails and spear, it might seem very involuntary. And the benefit of salvation that comes to us who believe might be viewed as God’s way of making a virtue out of a necessity. But once you read Luke 9:51, all such thoughts vanish. “As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.”

He planned it all and He appointed a time, for you, for me. “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” 1 Peter 1:18, 19

“From these factors, it is evident that even before Jesus endured the torture of the cross, He suffered far beyond what most of us will ever suffer. His penetrating awareness of the heinous nature of sin, its destructive and deadly effects, the sorrow and heartache that it inflicts, and the extreme measure necessary to deal with it, make the passion of Christ beyond comprehension.” -Dave Miller Ph.D. Apologetics Press

Even in the midst of this difficult week leading up to Calvary, there is hope and there is comfort in the fact that Jesus CHOSE to go, for you and for me. He chose the pain and suffering.

Be encouraged in this dark time for our nation and our world, Jesus paid the price so we wouldn’t have to!

For the kingdomS

Barbet. P. (1953), A Doctor at Calvary: The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ as Described by a Surgeon (Garden City, NY: Doubleday Image Books).
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The Friday that was Good

Good Friday everyone. This is the Friday that was Good. Blessed be the Name of the Lord! Thank you Jesus for Calvary! Thank you for the cross. And even though it’s a couple of days away, I am so thankful He didn’t stay in the tomb. It is empty!!

You can read my other posts on Holy Week here, here, herehere and here. Please come back tomorrow and Resurrection Morning (before or after church!) for our final conclusion. 

“And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” Mark 15:37, 38 NKJV.

The veil in the Temple separated the Holy Place from the Holiest of Holies. Only the High Priest could even enter the Holiest of Holies, no one else was allowed. Inside was the Ark of the Covenant, which held the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s rod that budded, and Manna. The High Priest could only go into the Holiest of Holies once a year to roll away the sins of the people for another 365 days. (Day of Atonement)

This Holiest of Holies represented the presence of God.

The Israelites could not approach God for themselves. They had to have others to plead for their sins.

But everything changed on the Friday that was Good.

It is a Holy Friday and with good reason! We cannot talk of the Cross without realizing there was a Holy God, a Good God, paying the price.

Look at all that was going on in the spirit world when Jesus was dying. 

When Jesus took His last and final breath, the earth shook violently, thunder rolled and a magnificent thing happened in the Temple. The massive curtain, which, according to Jewish historical descriptions, was approximately 30 feet wide, 60 feet high and three inches thick, was impossible for man to rip apart! It was said that it took 300 priests just to wash it. That’s big.

That veil separated man from God’s presence. So when God literally tore it into two pieces, from the top to the bottom, it was very significant.

“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2.

When Jesus died, things changed forever. We could now enter that Holy Place, God’s Presence, all by ourselves. Without fear!

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh…” Hebrews 10:19-20.

Now the priests were no longer the only ones who could WORSHIP!

Worship was now for everyone.

Do you realize what that means?

We are able to worship the Savior personally, have a living relationship with the One who hung on the cross!

And…it gets better.

We  can, and should, worship God anywhere! 

  • In a church, yes, please worship Him there!
  • Out in the woods? Worship Him!
  • Walking down the road? Worship Him!
  • Driving in your car? Worship Him!
  • About to have a meal? Worship!
  • Breathing today? Worship, worship, worship!

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16.

Because of Calvary, because of “It is finished”, we have direct access to Jesus Christ.

Don’t be discouraged today if you are quarantined on this Friday that is Good. Rejoice because the veil was torn and wherever WE are, HE is!

Friday is Good because without Friday there would be no Resurrection Sunday. Join me tomorrow as we anticipate the Risen Savior.

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So, where were you when…?

I remember very well July 20, 1969. It was my eighth birthday and with my siblings, parents and grandparents, we ate cake and I opened presents. But before I could even take a look at the new Barbie I had just received, Mom was clearing things away so that we could rush into the living room and watch the first man walk on the moon. 

So, where were you when…?

We all have memories such as that when our lives are forever changed. 

Every time that date comes around, or is mentioned, we are immediately transported, Star Trek style, back to the place and moment where we were…

  • When John F. Kennedy was assassinated
  • When Elvis died
  • When the Challenger exploded . 
  • And 9/11/2001

So, where were you when…?

Our family had just moved to a new city just about three weeks before 9/11/01. The Sweetheart was still working, as an air traffic controller supervisor, three hours away. I had taken two of My Three Sons to school and the oldest was still at home preparing to leave for work. I always had the radio on in the mornings and we both heard it come over the airwaves that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. 

Yes, we had cell phones way back then and I immediately called my husband to see if he was still at the control center or had he already left. He was working the third shift at that time and was already on the highway heading out of town.

I was trying not to panic but when the next plane hit and then the Pentagon and finally Flight 93, no one knew what was coming next. But it seems we all realized our lives were never to be the same.

And that has proven true. We have been changed and we remember that day and all of those who perished. We have heard story after story of people who “should have been there” but circumstances delayed them or they called in sick or something kept them from being in the towers that day. 

We have also witnessed the first responders who literally gave their lives to help another live. They very likely knew when they started up those stairs they were never coming back down.

Today, life is perplexing. It is stressful and even depressing at times if we dwell on all that is happening around us. So many uncertainties and unknowns, who do you believe? Who can you trust? Who is spinning lies and does anyone report the truth any longer? 

It is very easy to become disheartened and to constantly dwell on the negative; there is plenty of it! The enemy would like nothing better than for us to be distracted here in what is surely The Last Days that the Bible refers to. If we are squabbling over every little thing then we aren’t focused on the task that was given to us when we became a Christian:

Go and Tell.

There are millions of people in this world who do not know Jesus! They may be afraid, they may wonder if there is any hope left and they likely sit across from you at school or share a corner in an office or ride the bus every single day; your bus.

What if we were focused on The Message that Jesus saves instead of whether the person beside us was wearing a mask? We would be better off if we were spreading hope to the hopeless and healing to the broken. Being the hands and feet of Jesus would keep us so busy we wouldn’t have time to argue on social media.

There is hope, there is healing for the mind, body and spirit; His name is Jesus. He still speaks and uses people like you and me to accomplish His will; it IS His will that all would be saved! We don’t have to wonder if He wants us to reach out to that neighbor or co-worker or desperate family member. 

  • He does. 
  • You can. 

Someday soon I picture us around the throne, worshipping the One who saved us with the millions and millions of others who crossed over Jordan into Canaan. We will be marvelling at the beauty surrounding us, the new body we have (Hallelujah!) and the unbelievable thought that this paradise is FOREVER. 

And I see us standing there in awe as we turn to the one beside us and say, “So, where were you when the Lord came?”

May we never forget those that paid the ultimate sacrifice twenty years ago on September 11, 2001. Honor them today with a moment of silence and a prayer for the families they left behind.

Join the conversation and share where you were on that fateful day.

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When God is Silent

Surely there have been times in your life that you have asked the question of the ages:

Why is God silent?

Does He not hear me? My prayers are not being answered, maybe He doesn’t love me. Have I done something wrong?

  • I don’t feel Him.
  • I don’t hear Him.
  • I definitely don’t see Him.

I am surely all alone in this world!

when God is silent

Haven’t we all been there? Maybe we have even lived there for a time? It isn’t easy.

Can we say it can be just plain difficult?

I am not one of those that is fortunate enough to hear the Lord speak in an audible voice to me every morning and say, “Good morning Nannette, time to get up, Sweet Daughter of Mine! Here is what I have planned for you today…”

But He does speak to us, in a variety of ways, mostly through His Word and prayer. And the two of them together? Even better chance you will hear that still, small voice of the Lord.

But sometimes, there is silence; and He is teaching us to trust Him.

Do you remember Thomas? Poor Thomas is still getting picked on as The Doubter. He said he wouldn’t believe that Jesus was alive unless he could see the nail marks in his hands and put his hand in his side. But Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 NIV.

Compare it to a marriage relationship. If your spouse is away on a trip, are you panicked that they don’t love you anymore?

  • You can’t feel them next to you.
  • You can’t see them.
  • You can’t talk to them if they are busy or in meetings.
  • You can’t hear them.

Does that mean that just because there is silence that their love means nothing any longer? Of course not.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Would it not be wonderful to think that the Lord is preparing us in the silence, to teach us to long for Him?

Of course, we want to be sure that there is not something keeping us from hearing from the Lord.

  • If there is sin, repent.
  • If there is anger, get rid of it.
  • If there is someone you need to forgive, go do it.

Clean up the heart. Draw nigh to Him and He will draw nigh to you. His Word promises that.

Can we trust God even when we don’t hear from Him? When we don’t feel Him every day? He promised to never leave us or forsake us, when there is silence we lean on His promises!

Can we keep on loving Him, serving Him, telling others about Him, just because we love Him, and not because He owes us anything in return?

C.S. Lewis said, “Though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not.”

He never changes, He is always the same. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8. And in an ever-changing world that is full to the brim of uncertainty, we can encourage one another by reminding ourselves of His faithfulness and remembering prayers that He has answered in the past.

You can trust Him, even in the silence.

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The story behind America, the Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies…

When we hear that first line of one of our most beloved national hymns, the emotions of Love for Country stir within us. Do you know the story behind this Independence Day song?

Katharine Lee Bates (1859 -1929), wrote the original poem in 1893 and revised it twice in 1904 and 1913. The words of this song came from a poem of the same title by Bates. It was originally published in the July 4th edition of The Congregationalist, 1895.

Bates was a teacher and professor of English at Wellesley College, poet and author of books such as America the Beautiful and Other Poems, which was published in 1911.

She made a trip to the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado, which was her inspiration for the lyrics to America the Beautiful. There is a plaque there today and the story is best told by Katharine herself: “We strangers celebrated the close of the session by a merry expedition to the top of Pike’s Peak, making the ascent by the only method then available for people not vigorous enough to achieve the climb on foot nor adventurous enough for burro-riding. Prairie wagons, their tail-boards emblazoned with the traditional slogan, “Pike’s Peak or Bust,” were pulled by horses up to the half-way house, where the horses were relieved by mules.

We were hoping for half an hour on the summit, but two of our party became so faint in the rarified air that we were bundled into the wagons again and started on our downward plunge so speedily that our sojourn on the peak remains in memory hardly more than one ecstatic gaze. It was then and there, as I was looking out over the sea-like expanse of fertile country spreading away so far under those ample skies, that the opening lines of the hymn floated into my mind.”

The original melody was written in 1882 by Samuel Augustus Ward, a composer and organist. It was titled Materna and was first published in 1910. It was sung for many years to the tune of Auld Lang Syne. It was said there were as many as 74 different melodies tried out on the poem before deciding on the one we hold so dear.

Ward died one year before the song was published as America the Beautiful. Ward and Bates never did meet.

Interestingly, Ward’s family never obtained any royalties for the song and Bates received $5 when the poem was first published and then gave up all royalties to the title.

Along with My Country ‘Tis of Thee and The Star Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful was considered for the national anthem. But President Herbert Hoover signed a law giving the right to bear the national anthem to The Star Spangled Banner. Many disagreed and have lobbied down through the years for it to be changed to America the Beautiful. There are still many active petitions today.

 
America The Beautiful:
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev’ry gain divine.
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears.

America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.

Many things have changed since Katharine Bates first penned these lyrics. Some might say she would hardly recognize her Beautiful America today. Yet, we are still among the most blessed people in the world to live in a free country. May you enjoy the patriotic unity we feel on this wonderful holiday of Independence Day and let us pray that we always enjoy the freedoms we hold so dear.

From sea to shining sea.

Ray Charles’ rendition seems to be beloved by so many…enjoy!

Do you have a favorite memory of Independence Day? What are you doing to celebrate this most patriotic of holidays? Share with us!

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Fasting: I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!

Missed any of our 31 Days of Fasting in January? All of the posts are in one place just for you, see them here! So thankful for everyone that has been here, whether you come every day for encouragement or pop in now and then, you are so welcome to gather with us. Be blessed as you fast unto the Lord.

How many of you have seen the commercial where the older woman is sprawled on the floor, obviously without choice, and calling into a little button,

“Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”

That phrase quickly became a byline for many a situation. Not that it was funny that an elderly person had fallen, it was catchy and memorable and it probably sold product like crazy.

If you have been on the fast for any length of time you may have fallen…off the wagon. There’s another one! Where did that phrase, fallen off the wagon originate? According to WiseGeek.com, when you say someone has fallen off the wagon it means they had vowed to stick with one thing but they failed along the way. It was especially referring to the consumption of alcohol. Dating back to the temperance movement, those that consumed were encouraged to get on the water wagon instead of drinking hard liquor. The water wagon was a horse-drawn cart that watered down the dirt roads to control the dust. Those that were encouraging abstinence said they would rather drink from the water wagon than even think of touching alcohol, so if they slipped up it was said they had fallen off the wagon. Who knew?

Maybe if you have been fasting for a few days or even a couple of weeks, you have possibly had something that you didn’t intend to have, found yourself sitting in front of a dessert or favorite food and took a bite before you even thought about it. Maybe you have been on a water-only fast and became so weak and hungry that you just had to have a little bit of nourishment. Either way, you gave in and then as soon as you did, Guilt showed up.

Guilt is not from God. Let’s get that out of the way. He doesn’t put shame or condemnation on His children, He doesn’t sit in Heaven shaking His head and rolling His eyes every time we fail!

Guilt and Shame come from the enemy. It is his specialty! He loves to make us feel as if we have failed, that we aren’t good enough and we might as well give up. Sometimes the pressure is so bad that we feel as if we have to pay penance for a wrong. We have to fix it, undo it or cover it up somehow by doing a good deed.

Friends, this is not what God intended! Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.…” Romans 8:1,2

There is no condemnation if you are walking with God.

He has set you free from Guilt and Shame!

If we do make a mistake, we ask for forgiveness, He hears, forgives and forgets and we pick right back up where we left off. Naturally, we do not think in advance that if we fail we can just say we are sorry and start over again. We don’t intentionally stumble knowing He is always gracious, which He is, but we try to do what is right, in this case with fasting, we pray and do our best to stay committed. But if we do forget, and absentmindedly eat something we shouldn’t, we don’t beat ourselves up over it. We just keep going!

If the enemy is whispering in your ear that you are a failure and that your fasting is all in vain, he realizes the power in prayer and fasting and would do anything to get you to stop. Don’t succumb to his pressure but pick yourself up, grab your sword (the Word of God), find a scripture or two that you can pray out loud and do just that.

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.” Jude 1:20, 21

Have you fallen and feel as if you can’t get up? Jesus is waiting for you to grab His hand; He is your biggest supporter and He will encourage you to keep going because your relationship with Him is worth every sacrifice. Fasting changes the inner man, changes YOU and helps you hear the voice of God. Fasting breaks chains that cannot be broken by prayer alone. Warrior angels fight in the spirit world on your behalf!

Be encouraged in the Lord today, even if you have stumbled on your fast, just dust yourself off and keep going. Victory is ahead!

Don’t forget to grab your copy of The Daniel Fast Devotional! Good for any fast, it is a great, easy read with devotions for every day of a three week fast. Get yours on Amazon here!

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The Daniel Fast: That their eyes would be opened

Moving right along with 31 Days of Fasting in January, we are almost there! You can read posts you have missed by clicking here.

We have discovered that prayer and fasting together have the power to tear down strongholds, to shake heaven and give us strength to overcome. Today, let’s look at Saul, who later became the great Apostle Paul. You can read the entire story here in Acts 9.

Saul was the biggest persecutor of the early Church. He didn’t just talk about his hatred of Christians, he literally had them hauled out of their homes and into the streets, beaten and then sent to prison! He showed no mercy. On the road to Damascus, he and those traveling with him were struck by a blinding light. The Lord asked him why he was persecuting Him and instructed Paul to go into the city where he would be told what to do.

It is not clear whether Saul (who was later called Paul) chose this particular fast or not. We will assume that he did. After an encounter like he had just experienced, who would feel like eating? He waits the three days. He cannot see. He isn’t eating, and he isn’t drinking.

We can be sure he is doing quite a bit of thinking.

“What is going on? What is going to happen to ME? I have been persecuting these people that are chosen of God for years and now I find out who HE really is. The Messiah! What is HE going to do with ME? Go into the city and wait? Wait, for what?”

Jesus did have plans for Saul. Without Saul, (here Jesus changes his name to Paul), we wouldn’t have 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament. Jesus had intentions for him to be the rocket that would help launch the Gospel around the world. As he stood before King Agrippa, Paul explained to him in detail what happened on that road so long ago.

“But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people and from the Gentiles, unto whom I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” Acts 26:16-18 KJV.

For this purpose: To open their eyes just as Paul’s eyes were opened.

We have the ability through prayer and fasting, to help open the eyes of those that are lost, those that are blinded by the darkness of this world, and help them to see the Light and the Truth that is in Jesus Christ.

God wants to deliver them from this darkness and bring them into His Kingdom.

That is where we come in. We must have a burden for souls, which only comes out of consistent prayer and fasting.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV.

Humbling ourselves, denying ourselves, realizing without Him we are nothing but with Him we are powerful and unstoppable…then He will heal our land! Prayer and fasting can set our friends, neighbors, and family free from the chains that have them bound so they can be like Paul: their eyes can be opened to see Truth and see who Jesus really is.

Be blessed as you fast unto the Lord. You are breaking chains in the spirit world and preparing yourself to be used in the Kingdom.

Don’t forget to grab your copy of The Daniel Fast Devotional! Good for any fast, it is a great, simple read with devotions for every day of a three week fast. Get yours on Amazon here!

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Why does the lion roar?

Why does the lion roar? Winding down our 31 days of Fasting Together! You can read any missed posts here. Be blessed!

“Does a lion ever roar in a thicket without first finding a victim? Does a young lion growl in its den without first catching its prey?” Amos 3:4 NLT.

God has given Satan permission to rule on Earth until He comes again for His Bride. Since that time, there has been a constant struggle for good and evil. Satan, the slanderer, was cast out of heaven after he revolted, wanting more power, authority and control; He wanted to be like God. He took one third of the angels with him in the fall and has been trying to increase his army for centuries by stalking and devouring his prey.

The lion roamed freely in the Middle East when Peter warned us to “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8). Today, we are most familiar with a lion that we see in a concrete jungle. He is subdued, maybe even tame, just sitting around waiting for something to happen. It was not so in Peter’s day. He used the analogy of the lion as a comparison to the devil for good reason.

Spiritual warfare is real; it is active and alive just as much today as it was thousands of years ago. Satan is still vying for that #1 position and he wants to destroy anyone who follows Jesus Christ, his archenemy.

Lions are a unique breed. A pride of lions typically includes about five females and two males and their young. Lion prides that have plenty of food available to them have no trouble being territorial. They will go along and mark their space with their own bodily fluids and also by roaring. The male prides are by nature the most vocal whereas the females and young cubs are usually silent. Each male has its own distinctive sound.

“We know that we are of God and the whole world is in the power of the evil one.” (1 John 5:19).

The roar of a lion exudes power. Even though they might look a little comical trying to pull off a giant roar there seems to be a feeling of great accomplishment to the perpetrator when he exhales his cry of muscle. Does that sound familiar? Satan’s biggest weapon is intimidation and fear yet he can only go as far as the Lord will allow him.

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” James 2:19.
To answer the question in Amos 3:4: Does a lion roar without a victim? No, he will not unless he can see it and has it in his grip. He will roar when he first spots the creature, leaving it paralyzed with fear. It would, under normal circumstances, perhaps be swift enough to escape but the terrifying sound of a lions’ roar renders it helpless. He then will roar over his catch, usually inviting others to enjoy the take with him.

The devil is much the same way. He prowls, looking for opportunity to sneak up on us, catching us when we are most vulnerable and then pounces quickly for the attack. Satan means adversary, or enemy. He is just like a lion circling his prey, hoping to catch one straggler that is weak and has left the security of the Shepherd. He wants to intimidate! The color of a lion’s coat is a natural disguise, they blend into their surroundings and even though they can weigh up to 500 pounds and be ten feet long, they are still nearly invisible.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.” Luke 22:31. Jesus knew the enemy was prowling after Peter, looking for an opportunity to trip him up. He fell asleep when he should have been praying. He jumps up and hastily cuts off the ear of Malchus and then he ultimately denies his Lord. Peter was being stalked. He was being hunted!

Satan also wants to accuse us of past wrongs or bring guilt upon us to make us think we have not been forgiven. That kind of guilt is not from God and will keep us from believing in the grace and mercy of the Lord. This is where Satan uses his hunting ability to its fullest advantage. He knows that those who do not pray, who have become complacent, are easy prey.

The lion will roar at any time of the night but most usually just before the sun comes up. The air is thinner and the sound would travel further. Sometimes, if conditions are right, the lion can be heard roaring miles away. Our archenemy is just as stealth in his attacks. So many of our fears come upon us at night when we are alone and vulnerable.

He doesn’t destroy right away but to those that may have dropped back a little from the herd he attacks first. He may cause great pain by pinning down his victim and inflicting wounds of doubt, fear and overwhelming failure.

Understand how very real spiritual warfare is. Author and pastor, A.W. Tozer knew this. He had visited Africa many times, maybe even living in lion country. He remarked once after a difficult trial in his life this: “But I will tell you something – it is a delightful thing when you know that you are close enough to the adversary that you can hear him roar! Too many Christians never get into “lion country” at all!”

He makes it all sound glamorous. He didn’t mean it that way at all. He was saying that because spiritual warfare exists, and it will not be going away any time soon, we, as children of God, should not be afraid of our enemy if we are in relationship with Jesus Christ. He overcame death, hell and the grave! We also can overcome any situation that presents itself if we know Him.

If you aren’t doing anything for God, you do not pose a threat to the devil. If you do not pray, fast, witness in your walk and talk, you do not give Satan anything to be concerned about. Maybe you aren’t even on his target list because he already has you right where he wants you. Complacent, satisfied with the status quo, maybe a little smug thinking you can handle things all alone.

Friend, this is so dangerous! We must recognize the works of the enemy of our souls! “…so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.” 2 Corinthians 2:11.

 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.”  2 Corinthians 2:3-6.

The weapons that God has given us are more powerful than the roar of any lion! They are divinely powerful to destroy fortresses. Powerful enough to destroy  speculations (rumors, gossip) and every arrogant or proud argument raised up against the knowledge of God. In the Holy Ghost, we are able to take every thought captive. Every thought! And the last line is so important. We are ready to punish all disobedience. When? When our obedience is complete.

Let us resolve in this new year to be on guard against the wiles of the devil and his schemes. Praying every day and fasting on a regular basis , pouring ourselves into the Word and living in an atmosphere of praise will bring victory and overcoming power. Greater is HE that is in YOU than he that is in the world!

How are you coming along with your fasting? Be sure and pick up a paperback or Kindle copy of The Daniel Fast – A Devotional! With 21 days of devotions depicting actual Biblical fasts and how they relate to us today, it is a valuable resource to have handy for years to come. Also includes recipes for each day of the fast and three days of preparation devotions and information on fasting! Available now on Amazon!

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Fasting together: The dust I can’t see

Today’s post is from a conversation the Lord started with me a while back. I hope it is a blessing to you. You can read all of the previous Fasting Together posts here.

“You really have to hand it to short people; they usually can’t reach it anyway.”

So, it’s no secret I am vertically challenged. I stopped growing upward when I was about 11. Yay, me. As far as I am concerned, there should be a law your body follows that says you cannot spread out if you cannot grow up. And yet we all know that rule never has gone viral.

Some short people problems?

  • I automatically start swinging my feet like a little kid when sitting in a chair that’s too tall for me.
  • I am simply giddy when I meet someone who is shorter than me.
  • Would you believe I have never looked out into the hallway through a peephole in a hotel room?
  • Awkward hugs from people taller than me are just that: awkward.
  • People who think they are cute when they take your things and hold them over their head where you can’t reach; yeah, not cute.
  • You never know who is giving the sermon at church because you can’t see over or around the person in front of you.
  • Worse than above, sitting behind someone with a hat on.
  • And the award for most embarrassing goes to those that bend their knees when having their picture taken with you.

 You get the idea. It’s a curse.

But there are other things about being short that can come back to haunt you. One of those is not being able to see the dirt in your own home.

I literally have to remind myself every few months to dust the top of the refrigerator, the hutch and any tall cabinets. I can’t see them, out of sight, out of mind, but taller people can and what I think looks great, they see nothing but a layer of dust.

 

The Lord seemed to remind me of this yesterday when I was cleaning the house. It was as if He whispered, what about the dust you can’t see? What things are hidden from me but yet are in plain sight for others? Do I have faults and failures that are obvious to friends and family but I am completely blinded by them?

Thankfully, the Lord will reveal things to us in prayer if we will listen. He will show us those things that maybe we have swept under the rug, or to the back of our minds thinking they aren’t really hindering us in our walk or that we will deal with them later…when we have time.

But that dust piles up! It grows and becomes more and more of a problem. When we finally do decide to clean it up, it takes more than just a dust rag to get it all. It becomes a process that may involve a vacuum, then a rag, maybe furniture polish or a wet cloth to get the greasy residue that has collected, such as on a refrigerator.

We all get busy, our prayer lives are neglected, Bible reading is minimal or rushed through and checked off and fasting? Yikes, it’s something we intend to do, know we need to do and wish we did more but in reality, it is like a faraway friend; we might visit once a year.

Matthew West sings a powerful song I have heard many times but yesterday the words struck me (also a powerful story behind the song!)

I don’t wanna go through the motions

I don’t wanna go one more day

Without Your all consuming passion inside of me

I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking

What if I had given everything

Instead of going through the motions?

So, how can we remove this dust we can’t see?

We must become intentional.

Intentionally rise a few minutes early and find a good devotion and Bible study. Intentionally turn off distractions and take time to pray. And finally, intentionally set aside time on a regular basis to fast and pray.

Stop going through the motions and become intentional about our walk with God!

The good news is there will be instant rewards! We will begin to get our passion for the lost back and start to fall in love with God all over again. We will start to crave the Word and look forward to reading it when we realize the power that it holds.

Recently, a beautiful new convert at church was sharing her excitement over the power of prayer. She believed what she heard from her pastor, that if she had the Holy Spirit, she then had authority and power to pray and ask God to intervene in a situation and He would…and He did. She was blown away to realize that she didn’t have to stop and ask anyone else to pray the prayer for her, she went straight to a Holy God herself and by the power that He had given her, Christ IN her, He heard and answered that prayer, according to His will.

My friend has been clearing the dust away, (she’s a shorty too!) and allowing God to show her areas in her life that still need cleaning.

If you don’t want to spend your entire life asking; “What if I had given everything?” Then get out that dust rag, dust pan, vacuum, etc., whatever it takes, and ask the Lord to help you start that cleaning process.

He will be glad to help.

(You can read my other humorous post about being a shorty here and I would love to hear your own stories about being the small-fry.) 

Don’t forget to grab your copy of The Daniel Fast Devotional! Good for any fast, it is a great, simple read with devotions for every day of a three week fast. Get yours on Amazon here!

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Fasting together: Pulling down strongholds

Fasting together: Pulling down strongholds. Catch up on any posts you have missed this month here

Friends, it is no secret that there is a war taking place right in front of us. This isn’t a political war, this is SPIRITUAL WARFARE. What do we do? We have most likely heard it preached our entire lives but maybe we never could wrap our heads around the fact that it would actually happen in our lifetime.

It’s here.

But read on, fasting and prayer pulls down strongholds! You say, “We have been praying, we are fasting, but nothing has changed, it’s getting worse!”  Remember the early Church? The Book of Acts church? Yes, they suffered, they were persecuted, many gave their very lives. Yet because of the persecution, the fact that they had to scatter and basically run for their lives, the Gospel was spread around the world!

This is our focus now: Souls!

If we can keep from being distracted and get on our knees, fast and get in the Word, God can lead us to people we never thought possible. Even if we lose our social platforms, we have neighbors, co-workers, friends and family that do not know Jesus. Surely many are scared and apprehensive, if not they will soon be looking for answers and direction.

You have the answer! Keep fasting, keep praying, continue to ask God to send you to hungry souls and He will do it. Let’s look at another example in the Word:

We have discussed in earlier posts that Jesus told His disciples that some things do not get taken care of except by prayer and fasting. Matthew 17:14-21.

If you are fasting for others, a loved one, a prodigal, someone dear to you for whatever reason…these battles of spiritual warfare will take dominion over the power of the enemy!

Ephesians 6:12 KJV. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Our fight is not with flesh and blood, or with people, but it is against the powers that influence people.

This is a spiritual battle, seen or unseen. We must have a disciplined prayer life and couple that with regular fasting!

Fasting breaks strongholds! It can literally set people free from the chains that bind them. But in order to do that, that strong man must be taken care of first. 

“For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.” (Jesus speaking) Matthew 12:29 NLT

Did you catch that verse? The strong man is Satan and he has slaves that do his bidding and are yoked, or bound, to wickedness.

But prayer WITH fasting can literally break that yoke and set people free from bondage.

Then they will be able to come to God without hindrance. 

The story is told of how praying intercessors in the country of Panama overcame the strongman that had a hold on their nation. Some may remember the people of Panama suffered much under the reign of the dictator, Manuel Noriega. Maybe you have heard the stories about helicopters flying overhead and dropping large garbage bags with the dead bodies of those he considered a threat to his agenda. Noriega allegedly was involved in the occult and even practiced voodoo.

There were, fortunately, some spiritually in tune, godly people in the country that decided they could overtake this strongman…without carnal weapons. Their weapons were mighty through God to the pulling down of those strongholds! This prayer army prayed all night…on buses! Once a month, one leader would pray over the radio broadcast then those on the buses would begin to agree in prayer and intercede along with those who were also praying at home.

Noriega likely never knew that he was up against the most powerful force in the universe. Prayer and fasting will change us and will change the world.
Reading in Daniel 10 when he was fasting for 21 days, angels were loosed to fight on his behalf. They literally had to fight devils in order to get a word from God to Daniel. His prayer and fasting were shaking things up.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 98B76598-ADE7-43B0-8F3B-C0B1958B295F-1024x575.pngPrayers were answered; chains were broken.

Get that Bible out and start reading scripture out loud when you pray. Take authority in the Spirit and watch what happens while you are on this fast. You may face opposition…but keep pressing in and pressing on. The battle is the Lord’s; you are just clay in the Potter’s hands. He will take care of His own!

There is power in prayer and fasting, God is going to do great things in these last days and YOU are a part of it! He didn’t leave the apostles here for the Last Days, he left YOU! Be strong in the Lord and encouraged, if you have the Spirit of God in you, there is more power than you even realize and God is just waiting for you to let it be activated.

Be encouraged! I’m sharing an easy Daniel Fast recipe for a great peanut butter smoothie. Enjoy and meet me here again tomorrow for another Biblical devotion.

Daniel Fast Recipe:

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Here is a great morning pick-me-up/on-the-go recipe. We have mentioned that on the Daniel Fast you drink only water, and most usually smoothies are used as meal replacements on the Daniel Fast, not as a treat, dessert or a reward.

This one calls for peanut butter, but it is NOT regular peanut butter. This is natural peanut butter without added sugar, which is easy to find in the same location as the others, just read the label. There are good organic peanut butters and there are store brand peanut butters with no added sugar.

All you need is a banana, (I freeze mine! Peel and wrap them in plastic wrap. When you need one just let it sit out about ten minutes. This replaces the ice.)  2-3 Tablespoons of natural peanut butter, a splash or two of unsweetened almond milk. Blend together and you have breakfast!

Don’t forget to grab your copy of The Daniel Fast Devotional. Good for any fast, it is a great, simple read with devotions for every day of a three week fast. Get yours on Amazon here!

Noriega Reference: Cindy Jacobs, Generals International, 8-17-15

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The Daniel Fast: What if my prayer isn’t answered?

The Daniel Fast: What if my prayer isn’t answered? How are you doing on your fast? If you have already started your fasting, whether it is a complete fast, a partial fast, juice fast, Daniel Fast, no matter what you have chosen, you have probably already encountered a bump or two in the road. Do not despair! Just keep going, start over, whatever you have to do. God isn’t sitting in Heaven with a ruler in His hand ready to smack you every time you make a mistake. Just determine to stick with it and remember to pray; that is where your strength comes from.

Today, we are talking about what to do when you fast, you pray, you petition God but He doesn’t answer your prayer the way you had envisioned. (Catch up on missed posts here!)

In the 11th and 12th chapters of 2 Samuel, we read the shocking and heartbreaking story of David and Bathsheba. If you aren’t familiar with the story, you can read about it here. The shortened, condensed version is that David had an affair with another man’s wife, Bathsheba, and had her husband killed. He then took Bathsheba as his own wife and that is where we enter the story with Nathan, the prophet, confronting David about his sin:

“Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’’” 2 Samuel 12:7-10 ESV.

King David acknowledged his guilt and Nathan goes on to tell him his sin has been “put away” but the child born out of the sin will die.

What does David do next?

“And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick.  David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.” 2 Samuel 12:16-17 ESV.

David was a man of war, a mighty man of valor but he was also repentant and always readily admitted his sin. He was humble and petitioned for the life of his son even though this child would be a continual reminder of his sin! He knew HE was the reason for the Lord’s displeasure and so he humbled himself with prayer and fasting in the hope that the Lord might change His mind. And, surely, he even felt it was his DUTY to petition on behalf of his son.

David fasted until the seventh day but the baby died.

“Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

The members of David’s household were confused and told him so. David replied that he was hoping the Lord would be gracious, that He would spare the child’s life, yet it was not to be. There was no need to fast once he was gone. Matthew Henry’s commentary says it so well here:

matthew-henry

“Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped…” David worshiped the Lord because He knew that God had spoken, He had answered and He was sovereign. If God does not answer your prayer the way you think it should be answered, and you even accompany that prayer with fasting, it doesn’t mean your fasting was in vain! Remember, we talked about the fact that fasting changes that inner man, it changes YOU (and me!). David knew life was to go on; he had repented, he had prayed, he had fasted and God had answered. Yes, he had sinned but he had found forgiveness and restoration through his repentance and humility.

He fasted and prayed because there was still life and when that life was gone he knew to worship God.

The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” Job 1:21 NIV.

Obviously, in this post, we are looking at David’s mistake, his sin that cost him, big time. But your prayer may not have anything to do with your actions. But yet, God’s answer is not what you wanted to hear.

Fasting prepares your heart for God’s answer, no matter what it might be. We may not get the answer we want but we can rest assured God is working all things for our good. If He says, “No”, we can trust Him that He knows what is best, He can see down the road! Remember, we don’t fast to change God, we fast to change US; to make us more like Jesus and cleanse us from things that would hold us back or cause us to stumble.

Fasting brings hidden things to light! And while fasting and praying, God can reveal things to us that may be a hindrance in our walk. Because we are fasting, our mind becomes more clear and nothing is in the way of our hearing His voice.

So be encouraged today, if your prayer isn’t answered the way you preferred, it doesn’t mean God doesn’t love you, in fact it means HE DOES LOVE YOU, He is protecting you, covering you, leading you and He knows that His answer is the best answer. And you will too, one day soon.

Be blessed as you continue to make fasting a regular part of your spiritual walk.

Don’t forget to grab your copy of The Daniel Fast Devotional! Good for any fast, it is a great, easy read with devotions for every day of a three week fast. Get yours on Amazon here!

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Fasting together: He will deliver you

Fasting together: He will deliver you.  You can read any posts that you missed here. Be blessed!

Daniel the prophet wasn’t just pleasing to God, he stood out among his peers as well. Let’s see what others thought of him and why: “Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him…” Daniel 6:3 KJV.

An excellent spirit was in him. He was loved, he was trusted, and he was preferred. Other translations say “…he proved himself more capable.”

The other administrators and officers were a little bit jealous and tried to find fault with him. They could find none. They decided they would try to trip him up concerning “…his God.”

They came up with a plan, and approached King Darius, asking him to make a declaration that if anyone prayed to someone, or something, other than the king for the next 30 days they would be thrown into the den of lions.

This did not keep Daniel from doing what he did every day: at the time of prayer he opened his window toward Jerusalem and he prayed, three times a day, just as he had always done before the decree.

Immediately the prayer police went running to King Darius and reminded him of the decree and informed him that one certain Daniel-the-Prophet was breaking the rules.

The king was extremely upset because he was so fond of Daniel, yet he had no choice but to follow through with the consequences because rules are rules and he was the king.

As soon as they put Daniel into the den of lions, the king’s faith went into action, “Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.”

What a great example of faith from a man who didn’t even know the God of Daniel. He believed in Daniel and so he believed in his God.

They sealed the den with a stone, the king put his seal on it and he headed back to his palace where he fasted all night long. He didn’t eat, he didn’t sleep and he did not listen to music!

See the variation of fasts? No food, no sleep and no entertainment.

The next morning he ran to the den and called for Daniel, “Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?”

“My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” Daniel 6:20-22 KJV.

Delivered.

Saved.

Rescued by Almighty God.

Intercession was made for Daniel by a friend. Fasting and an all-night prayer meeting by the king and David’s life was spared.

Is there power in fasting and prayer? The answer is a resounding, “YES!”

Day after day we are finding more and more wonderful stories in the Bible, true stories of encouragement and real testimonies of how God used ordinary people to change history.

Who do you know today that needs deliverance in their life? Who do you know that is in need of meeting the Savior? You are the hands and feet of Jesus, allow Him to use you for His glory and become an intercessor for souls.

Don’t forget to grab your copy of The Daniel Fast Devotional! Good for any fast, it is a great, easy read with devotions for every day of a three week fast. Get yours on Amazon here!

Blessings to you on your journey while denying your flesh and drawing closer to God. You will see revival in your church, your family and your world!

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Fasting together: Keeping mercy for thousands

Praying that you are being strengthened in your fasting and praying. Don’t forget to spend time in the Word! Fasting opens your eyes and understanding so you can see more clearly and hear HIS voice. You can read any posts you have missed this month here.

And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…” Exodus 34:5-7 KJV.

The children of Israel kept Moses busy, very busy. Continually breaking the rules, Jehovah would want justice and Moses would “stand in the gap”, intercede and literally beg for God to give them another chance. And as we see in the above verse, the LORD was continually forgiving, “keeping mercy for thousands…”

So, there he was on the Mount a second time, he had already broken the Tablets containing the Ten Commandments the first time God had handwritten them. He was back up there alone.  Joshua was waiting a few hundred feet down the mountain and Aaron was in charge back at home.

“And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.” Exodus 34:28 KJV.

Forty days and forty nights!

No bread. No water. This isn’t a Daniel Fast. Many might ask, “Did Moses really feel the effects of the fast since he was with God?” We do know when Jesus fasted that the Bible says afterward, that He was hungry. Moses was human so he surely was hungry as well.

The results of the fast showed the effect it was having on Moses. “And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.” Exodus 34:29 KJV.

His face was shining with the glory of God! Maybe it was not just the result of seeing God because the Bible says that the nobles and the elders also saw God in some form or fashion when they all first went up on the Mount. (Exodus 24:9-11). But Moses had been fasting, denying his flesh and his focus was God and God alone. 

The people could not even stand to look at Moses because of the glory of God, and as a result, He had to keep a veil on his face when he spoke to the people. He could only take it off when he went into the temple to minister to the Lord. When Moses finished speaking with them, he covered his face with a veil.” Exodus 34:33 NLT.

What do we look like after we have been with God?

What do others see after we have spent time with the Savior?

Is there a difference?

Is there a light on our faces of the glory of God?

Should there be?

Yet again, shouldn’t there be something about us that will draw others to us and point them to Christ?

Fasting, praying and spending time in His Word is what will continually build a relationship with the Savior and will radiate His glory.

They will also notice it if we DON’T do it.

We might not actually see God face to face, but we can spend time with Him every day, in His glory, in His presence. We can have the spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, dwelling IN us, with us, ALIVE!

Let us be like Moses: fasting and praying on a regular basis is definitely good Christian character-building.

We can give back by giving our lives as a sacrifice, wholly consecrated and fully devoted, reaching for the lost, keeping mercy for thousands, and living full of joy and hope and watching for His return.

Don’t forget to grab your copy of The Daniel Fast Devotional! Good for any fast, it is a great, simple read with devotions for every day of a three week fast. Get yours on Amazon here!

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Fasting together: Recognizing the Promise

If you have missed any of our fasting devotions you can catch up here!

“Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. Luke 2:36-37 NKJV.

The story of Anna, the prophetess, as found in the Gospel of Luke, is fascinating on so many levels. Let me introduce this amazing lady to you…

Anna was elderly. The Bible tells us she had been married for seven years and then widowed. Then it is a little difficult to decipher whether she had been a widow for 84 years or she was 84 years old when we encounter her in Luke 2.

If it is the former, then she was around 105, which would not be out of the question, and many scholars agree this could be the case. She could have married at 14, a very common age to have married then, became a widow at 21, and then we come upon her at the temple 84 years later, at the ripe old age of 105.

This lovely lady served in the temple, night and day!                             

The Word even tells us she didn’t leave. She is the only woman mentioned by name in the New Testament as being a prophetess. (Philip’s daughters are said to have prophesied as well in Acts 21:9 but were not titled as such that we know of) Anna was highly honored in this regard as someone who could touch the throne of heaven with her prayers.

What is her significance here today?

Joseph and Mary had brought Jesus to Jerusalem to “…present him to the Lord…” Luke 2:22.  As was the custom in those days, every Jewish male baby had to be brought to the temple and a sacrifice made to the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

The parents of Jesus first encountered Simeon when they arrived at the temple. “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.”

“Waiting for the consolation of Israel.” What does that mean?

The same word used here for consolation is the same word Jesus used later when He described the Holy Spirit as the Comforter. The word is paraklesis and it means “…one who comes alongside to help, one who pleads a cause…”

So Simeon was waiting for the Comforter!

He was waiting for the Messiah. When Mary and Joseph handed the child, Jesus, to him the Bible says, “Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”

The Comforter, the Consolation, the Messiah, had come!

As far as Simeon was concerned, he could die in peace. What he had been working for, waiting for and living his entire life telling others about, had finally arrived.

Then they encountered Anna, who had spent her time much like Simeon, fasting, praying and telling everyone she could about the One who was to come. She saw Joseph, Mary and Jesus with Simeon and this is what the Bible had to say about their meeting:

“And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” Luke 2:38 KJV.

Look closely, or you will miss it. She comes up. She was not introduced. But immediately, in that instant, she gave thanks, and began to give God praise. She didn’t hesitate for one moment to tell everyone there that this was the REDEMPTION of Jerusalem!

How did Anna know?  Because she fasted; she prayed daily. She spent time with God, she knew Him and she was waiting for the promise.

She recognized Him when He came.

Will you know Him?

Will you recognize Him in an instant?

Like Anna, we must spend our days in relationship with Jesus Christ. We cannot afford any less than to love Him, to delve deep into the Word and into prayer and fasting. We must deny our flesh the pleasures of this world and realize that these things will pass away. We will not be taking them with us!

Only what is done for Christ will last. Only reaching for the lost will be what really matters in the end. Reach out to Him today…He is waiting for you!

The Daniel Fast, A Devotional, is a great tool for ANY fast that you choose as a sacrifice to the Lord. 21 days of devotions and recipes too. Available in Kindle or paperback!

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Fasting together: Our eyes are on You

“Fasting is abstaining from anything that hinders prayer.” ~ Andrew Bonar

Learning about another great man of faith in the Bible who turned to fasting and prayer. Catch up on our previous posts here.

Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was about to be attacked by the Moabites and the Ammonites. “Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi).” 2 Chronicles 20:2 ESV.

Jehoshaphat did what any smart man of God would have done; any king that knew of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would call a fast! Not just any fast, but all of Judah came together to pray and seek their God for His help. Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.” 

Did you notice the repetition of the word seek? Jehoshaphat was known as a king who “sought the God of his father.” Seek, in the Hebrew, means “to trample under foot,” or even interpreted that you go there so often you have made a path in the dirt!

The king’s prayer is interesting in that he doesn’t mention the problem that he is facing in the first four verses, he mentions GOD. And even when he gets to the problem, his focus is still on the One who can fix it.  O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12 ESV.

That focus soon pays off because suddenly, the spirit of the Lord comes upon Jahaziel, a Levite, and he says, “…Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s…Tomorrow go ye down against them…and ye shall find them at the end of the brook…Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.” 2 Chronicles 20:15-17 KJV.

What an answer to prayer!

What power!

What authority!

The next morning they got up early and headed into the wilderness and King Jehoshaphat said, “Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.” 2 Chronicles 20:20 KJV.

I love what he does next. He appointed singers, “…unto the LORD, just to praise the beauty of holiness, and as they went out before the army, just to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.” Wow!

They took time to praise the LORD in the MIDDLE of the battle!

God had told them that it was HIS battle and they took Him at His Word.

When they began to sing and praise, then the LORD began to act. The Bible says He set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moabites and Mount Seir and they were all smitten!

The children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, trying to destroy them. So when they had accomplished that then they destroyed one another.

When Judah showed up at the watch tower in the wilderness they looked out at the multitude and all they could see were the dead, “none escaped.”

“And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they head heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel.”

God had delivered His people once again because they turned to Him in fasting and prayer, believed and trusted in Him.

What can you believe God for today? What are you needing an answer for in your life? What battles are you trying to fight on your own?

Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord!

He is your VICTORIOUS WARRIOR and this is HIS BATTLE, not yours, Let Him take care of it for you. Trust Him, put your confidence in Him and then do what King Jehoshaphat and his people did…

Worship and give Him praise for the victory that is coming! Whether you see it today or tomorrow doesn’t matter. He is in control and His timing is perfect. Trust Him for the victory and then rest in His promises.

Our eyes are on YOU, Lord!

The Daniel Fast, A Devotional, is a great tool for ANY fast that you choose as a sacrifice to the Lord. 21 days of devotions and recipes too. Available in eBook or paperback!

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Fasting Together: Daniel Fast Basics

We are posting every day in January for those that are beginning the New Year with fasting! You can read the previous posts here and here. I have a wonderful Daniel Fast approved recipe for those that are participating in that fast. Some have already begun the fast, others are starting later in the month. Some may be doing a different type of fast.

Whatever type of fast you are doing, do it unto the Lord.

The more we know about fasting, the more we delve into the Word, the closer we will draw to Jesus Christ.

You will experience rewards from fasting! You will see chains broken, lives changed and prayers answered.

Most of all, in the days leading up to the fast, or the first few days of your fast, no matter when you start, (and it doesn’t matter when you start!), prepare your heart! Ask the Lord to show you things that need to be brought out into the open and dealt with, or done away with altogether. He will do just that because He loves you so much.

Your flesh is going to rebel during the fast, especially at the beginning. It is going to be a fight to stay away from the things that you normally put into your system every day. That is why it is so important to PRAY and FAST together! Keep focused on why you are doing what you are doing.

Always remember that God will honor your sacrifice. “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 KJV.

It is said that a New Year’s Resolution is something that goes in one YEAR and out the other!

But it doesn’t have to be that way with fasting. The New Year is a great time to begin implementing spiritual disciplines. January is an ideal month to detox your body and your mind but don’t make it the ONLY time throughout the year that you fast unto the Lord. 

Fasting changes the inner man, fasting changes you!

Some particulars for those on The Daniel Fast:

In the first chapter of the Book of Daniel we read that Daniel and his three friends were put into a Babylonian training program while in exile under King Nebuchadnezzar. They did not want to defile their bodies with the rich food brought in by the kings’ servants so they requested that they be given only vegetables and water for ten days. Their meat was also likely sacrificed to idols, a strict no-no for the Jewish people.

At the end of the ten days, they were not only well, but had also prospered physically and spiritually above all the others in the court! Daniel was appointed an advisor to the king and began to interpret his dreams.

Later on, in the tenth chapter, Daniel had a vision of a great war that caused him to mourn and fast for three weeks. This is where The Daniel Fast originated. Daniel ate only plant-based foods for three weeks. That is why you see so many people, and now so many churches, starting the first of the year on a three-week Daniel Fast. They typically go without meat, dairy, sugar, breads and no artificial or processed foods. Basically, they eat only fruits, vegetables and whole grains and drink only water. (And plenty of it!) We will explore this chapter more as we go along.

There is nothing in the Bible that commands God’s people to fast as Daniel fasted but it certainly brings many benefits when done in the right spirit and for the right reasons.

Also, because you are cleansing your body of unwanted toxins you will feel so much better during those weeks and even afterward.

Did I mention to be sure to study and meditate on the Word during the fast?

Set aside time every day to meet with the Lord. Pray, and then pray again. He desires to meet with you, so do your best to keep at it and make time for Him. While you are denying yourself things that you enjoy, such as sweets, colas, coffees, breads, etc., remember WHY you are doing it. Don’t just check off the days on the calendar. It would be such a shame to only complete 21 days of a vegan diet and not accomplish something in your spiritual walk.

You may even want to journal. If you have never been one to journal, maybe now would be a good time to write down your thoughts as you experience this unique time with God. You might be surprised how He communicates with you during your quiet time. Keep your heart, mind and Bible open.

Here is the food list for The Daniel Fast. There are no hard and set rules, but these are the given guidelines that most follow when on the Daniel Fast:

Foods included in your diet during the Daniel Fast:

All fruits. You may eat them fresh, frozen, dried, canned; anything without added sugar. Fruits include, but are not limited to: apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon.

All vegetables. These also can be fresh, frozen, canned or even juiced! Vegetables include, but are not limited to: artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini.

All whole grains. Again, no added sugar. Be sure and read the labels. Whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes and popcorn.

All nuts and seeds. You can have sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame and any other member of the nut and seed family. Nut butters are allowed, including peanut butter (but only all natural, with no added sugar).

All legumes. These can be eaten either canned or dried. Dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, navy beans and white beans.

All good quality oils. These include: canola, grape seed, olive, peanut, sesame and vegetable.

Beverages. You basically only consume water and some juices on the Daniel Fast! Spring water, distilled water or other pure waters. Water is cleansing and will detox and purify your natural body; drink plenty of it! (You will be making some smoothies but these are usually meal replacements.)

Other: All herbs and spices are allowed, as are soy products, vinegar and tofu. (It is best to limit your salt intake.)

Foods NOT to EAT on the Daniel Fast:

All meat and animal products. This includes fish.

All dairy products.

All sweeteners. Sugar, raw sugar, syrups, molasses, and cane juice are not allowed on the Daniel Fast. (Some do consume raw honey; others consider it a pleasant food that Daniel would not have eaten.)

All leavened bread is excluded. This includes any Ezekiel Bread that contains yeast and baked goods.

All processed foods.  Artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives are forbidden.

All deep fried foods. Examples are potato chips, French fries, and of course any breaded, fried foods.

All solid fats. This consists of shortening, margarine, lard and foods high in fat.

Beverages. Coffee, tea, herbal teas, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol are all prohibited on the Daniel Fast.

Again, not everyone does it exactly as it is written above. Some use honey as a sweetener or natural maple syrup. Others would strictly forbid it, which is just an example. Some use Ezekiel Bread, but it does have yeast in it, which is leaven, and would be forbidden on the normal Daniel Fast.

A good alternative would be whole grain flatbreads. Remember, WHOLE GRAINS. Regular wheat bread doesn’t count. If it contains wheat FLOUR, it is not a whole grain. If the ingredient list begins with whole wheat, rolled oats or whole corn as the first ingredient then it is likely a WHOLE GRAIN item. It cannot contain yeast, sugar, wheat flour, flour, high fructose corn syrup, etc.

You can find some good organic products at many health and organic specialty stores. They have many ready-to-eat foods that are acceptable, such as whole grain flatbreads and tortillas, which are great for making a veggie sandwich. Again, READ THE LABELS!

The Daniel Fast DevotionalSharing a recipe out of my book, The Daniel Fast Devotional. There are recipes after every devotion in the easy-to-read book. Have you ordered yours yet? Get it here on Amazon in either Kindle or paperback version. 

Tortilla Soup

1 carrot, chopped 1 celery stick, chopped 1 medium onion, diced fine 3 garlic cloves, pressed 2 Tablespoons olive oil 8 cups vegetable broth 4 cups water 1 can of black or kidney beans 16 oz. frozen corn 1 red tomato, chopped 1 yellow tomato, chopped ¼ cup chopped cilantro 2-3 teaspoons sea salt 1 lime 6 corn tortillas

Heat oil and sauté the first four ingredients until soft.  Add everything else except the tortillas.  Simmer for about 30 minutes.  Brush tortillas with olive oil and cut into strips. Bake in oven for about 15 minutes on 350 degrees. Top with tortilla strips, fresh chopped avocado and green onion to serve.

Blessings to you on your fast unto the Lord! Join us tomorrow for support and encouragement through the scripture!

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Stay in the ship!

Now, more than ever, we need to pay attention to the scripture. Today’s encouragement in your fast (or even if you have completed your fast or haven’t started yet) is a good message for EVERY DAY. We can clearly see we are living in what is called The Last Days. We are the Church, called to be His witnesses to those around us. Jesus has entrusted us to “Go and Tell” and time is quickly fading away. We must Stay in the Ship ourselves in order to hear His voice and do His will by sharing the Gospel with everyone who will listen. Catch up on our 31 Days of Fasting in January posts here!

The Book of Acts only has 28 chapters and we are looking at number 27 today. Paul was running out of time. He was being taken to Rome to stand trial, (along with some other political prisoners), and ultimately, eventually, he would become a martyr for the cause of Christ.

But the issue at hand was the ship.

He was in the hands of a capable man. Julius was a centurion who was the commander of a cohort. A cohort was a band of soldiers between 400-600 men. This was a large ship and quite full! The end of the chapter tells us that 276 people were on board.

They had already changed boats and changed routes, because of the weather. Choosing the longer course meant they could use the island of Cypress to shield them from the rough seas, or so they hoped.

The inhabitants of the ship had stopped in the city of Fair Havens for a time. It doesn’t say how long, but Paul and others aboard had been fasting, since it was the time of The Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur. They realized they were facing rough weather ahead and Paul tried to convince them to stay in Fair Havens and wait it out.

“Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.” Acts 27:9-11 KJV.

Here is the dilemma: God had revealed to Paul that the weather was to become perilous and for them to stay where they were. Paul warned Julius, but do not forget that Paul is also a PRISONER. Julius was in quite a predicament. He had the experience of the pilot and captain in one ear, and this man of God in the other.

What they wanted to do doesn’t sound so bad. It would have only taken them a day to get to Phoenix and that didn’t seem like such a risk. It was a bigger town and was close to Fair Havens which was better protected from the weather. The sailors would be thrilled because there was more to do there.

But God said, “Stay. Abide.”

“But Lord, I see a storm coming!”

Does this sound like anyone else you know? Or does it sound like ME or YOU?

How often do we go ahead and do what we want to do even though God says, “STAY.”?

He wants us to wait, listen, and trust Him. But we insist on doing our own thing anyway.

So the ship sets sail.

“But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.” Acts 27:14 KJV.

This wind was so strong that it had a name! Things started happening quickly. The second day they began to lighten the ship, throwing things overboard.

“On the third day, they threw the ships tackle overboard with their own hands.” Acts 27:19 NIV.

Now, they were getting rid of some of the ship’s gear. Desperation had set in. If only they had listened to Paul!

“When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.” Acts 10:20 NIV.

They were in trouble; big trouble. They should have listened; they should have stayed in Fair Havens to begin with but they didn’t. All hope was gone as far as they were concerned.

How many of us, just like Julius, have rejected the voice of God, had our own way, only to fail miserably?

Did God make us come crawling on our hands and knees begging Him to take us back? Never, and He doesn’t require it of these men either.

He shows mercy.

Paul stands before them and brings them good news. “And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee…for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.” Acts 10:22-25 KJV.

Even after he gave them this great news, the storm grew worse and some of the men tried to abandon the ship. We may have done the same in a state of panic!

But Paul tells Julius and the soldiers, “Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.”

The next morning, Paul urged them to eat because it had been 14 days since they had started fasting. They needed their strength.

He reminds them that God had promised that not a hair on their head would be harmed as long as they stayed in the ship!

After they had eaten, those 276 souls lightened the ship even more by throwing over the wheat. Do you see a pattern here?

Stay in the ship!

Abide with Him!

Get rid of those things that would keep you from walking with God, that would pull you down or drag you under. A little hindrance, a stumbling block…nothing is worth losing your soul.

The ship began to break apart in the back and the prisoners and crew grabbed hold of pieces of debris and broken planks to swim to shore. But not one of them perished!

“And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land. Acts 27:44 KJV.

Paul had been fasting, he was a man of prayer, and he had been shipwrecked two times previously. He trusted God when he heard His voice. He was strengthened by his time of prayer and fasting. God gave him wisdom to handle this situation and hold everything together.

Why else would a commander of an army trust a prisoner to give direction?

Only God would allow that to take place.

When we allow Him to have the authority in our lives, to rule, to give the direction and wisdom for every aspect and every detail, knowing He sees down the road…we don’t have to worry about the end result. He has it all in control!

Did you know He also cares? He wants what is best for us. The ultimate goal is our salvation and eternity in heaven with Him.

Believe that today. There is safety in the ship. Trust Him in the storms.

Stay in the ship!

I have a simple Daniel Fast recipe for you today but it is oh, so good! Enjoy!

Cashew Salad
1 cup salted cashews
¾ c slivered almonds
½ cup sunflower kernels
6 green onions, chopped
1 head Nappa cabbage, chopped fine

Sauté the nuts and sunflower kernels in a tiny amount of olive oil just until barely browned.  Add to the cabbage and onions and top with Oil & Vinegar dressing.

fasting unto the lord

The Daniel Fast Devotional

Don’t forget to get your copy of The Daniel Fast Devotional! Great for ANY FAST, it will be your go-to tool for years to come. Already have one in Kindle or paperback? 

 

 

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Fighting Temptation while Fasting

Have you just started your fast? You can catch up on our 31 Days of Fasting in January here!

I’m giving a little encouragement to those who are fasting today. Let’s get out our sword, the Bible, and fight some temptation!  Any time you decide to draw closer to Jesus, long to be more like Him or desire to hear His voice in your life, the enemy is going to be right there taunting and doing everything in his power to cause you to fail.

eeyoreEven Jesus was tempted! But He didn’t walk around like Eeyore with his head hanging to the ground and mumbling, “Woe is me…nobody likes me, everybody hates me…” You get the picture.

So, how did Jesus fight temptation when He was fasting?

With the Word of God! 

You have the best weapon in your arsenal to fight temptation and that is your SWORD, the Word of God. Let’s look at some powerful scriptures today that you can pray as your own.

“It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 KJV.

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 NIRV.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 NIV.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 NIV.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 KJV.

“And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:13.

It doesn’t matter what type of resistance you are up against, what kind of temptations are coming your way. Maybe it is your favorite food or your morning coffee, sure, it is difficult to drive past your most loved coffee shop on the way to work; but that is what makes it a sacrifice. When the temptations come, quote the Word out loud and the enemy has to go because the Bible declares it.

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16.

There is so much power and authority in the Word of God; He has left it with us as a weapon against the enemy of our souls. Greater is HE that is in YOU than he that is in the world! So, whether your temptations are physical or spiritual, God is able to give you strength to overcome.

I’m sharing a recipe that is a win-win! Go to my post here on Overnight Oatmeal in a Jar! It is the best breakfast with so many variations and it is Daniel Fast friendly. Enjoy!

The Daniel Fast DevotionalIt’s never too late to purchase The Daniel Fast Devotional! It is such a help to you during ANY FAST. Twenty one devotions and three days of preparation devotions, you will be encouraged and learn about nearly every fast that took place in the Bible. The good and the bad! Yes, there were those whose fasting was NOT unto the Lord. You can click on any of these links and order from Amazon on the Kindle or paperback.

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What will you give me?

“For you will certainly carry out God’s purpose, however you act, but it makes a difference to you whether you serve like Judas or like John.” ~ C.S. Lewis

Some scholars speculate that Jesus and the disciples rested on the Wednesday before the Passover. Maybe they stayed with Lazarus, Mary and Martha in Bethany, which was about two miles east of Jerusalem. It is just speculation but it had only been a short time since He had raised Lazarus back to life. And also, just a few nights earlier in Bethany, Mary had anointed His feet with expensive perfume.

Let’s look a little closer at Judas… It wasn’t just his betrayal, there were also the betrayals yet to come: Yours and mine. His blood covered them all. We have all been betrayed at one time or another and because of sin and iniquity, we have all betrayed Jesus. But the Good News is that His blood still covers!

“Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, ‘How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?’ And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.” Matthew 26:14-16 NLT. 

From this scripture text, and the account in Mark and Luke, it is apparent that Judas went to them. It doesn’t mention them coming to Judas and asking him to betray the Lord. He went on his own! Perhaps it would have never entered the minds of those in the Sanhedrin that one of Christ’s very own would turn on Him.

But he did. “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” Was Judas so desperate that He would sell out the Lord of glory for money? To give away the Everlasting for something that would not last, that would pass away? 

Did you know that Judas was the treasurer for the followers of Christ? He wasn’t voted on or suggested by the others, he was chosen by Jesus! According to Augustine, tradition says, “Jesus had delivered Judas often from death, and for his sake healed his father of palsy and cured his mother of leprosy, and next to Peter he honored him above all the other apostles.”

Judas became a traitor. A traitor is someone that is WITHIN the camp, so to speak. You can’t be a traitor if you are not in the inner circle! The enemy was in the camp, right with the disciples, one of the chosen, one of those closest to the Master. As many times as I have heard this story and read it over and over again I have never thought about what made him do it. What happened to him over time that caused him to fall away?

Luke 22:3 “Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot…” 

Maybe he began to doubt, perhaps he was listening to outside voices that were constantly berating that Jesus wasn’t who He said He was. We aren’t given all of that information but we are told that he was listening to one distinct voice and that was the voice of the enemy of our souls.  

It really wasn’t about the money because thirty pieces of silver, research reveals, likely would not set you up for the rest of your days. Whatever caused Judas to first become frustrated, aggravated or disillusioned with Jesus became an open door for Satan to come in and begin his whispering.

It doesn’t take long, when you entertain lies from the betrayer, you  eventually become one yourself.

And if it can happen to Judas, who walked with Jesus, shared supper with Jesus, heard Him speak, watched Him work and even saw Him pray, what will keep us from doing the same? What must we do to keep ourselves from straying from this Truth, from losing our way like a lost sheep or worse yet, turning on the very One who would give His life for us?

We look at the story and think we would never do such a thing as walk away from the Lord for 30 pieces of silver. Maybe not but are we replacing Him with other things in our life? Are we busying ourselves so much that we don’t have time for a talk with the King of Kings? Is our relationship faltering or failing because we no longer put Him first?

This Holy Week is a good time to reassess our walk with the Lord. He is either Lord of everything or He isn’t Lord at all. Let’s see what we might be allowing to get in our way. It may be the love of money or the accumulation of stuff.  Perhaps it is things that cause us to habitually waste time. Or it could be friends or co-workers, maybe family members that we know bring us down. We should take inventory every now and then and ask God to show us those things that may trip us up!

We must make sure that He is first in all things and our relationship with Him is the most important thing in our lives.

“What will you give me?” Judas asked this question of the Sanhedrin with the worst in mind; he was no longer a servant of Christ. Let us ask THIS question of our Lord, “What can I give YOU?” And then be prepared to offer ourselves as a LIVING sacrifice, holy and acceptable, which is our reasonable service.

 

For the kingdom
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The Daniel Fast: When desperation sets in

Just a few more days of 31 Days of Fasting Together in January! If you have missed any posts, they have all gathered together in one place…here!

Maybe you remember Hannah from the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel. Hannah was married to a wonderful man named Elkanah, who loved her very, very much. But Hannah was not his only wife, as was customary in those days, although never God’s plan. He had another wife, Peninnah, who was not particularly hospitable. Peninnah had children by Elkanah, but Hannah’s womb was barren, and Peninnah loved to boast to (and even torment), poor Hannah about the fact that she was childless!

Matthew Henry’s commentary on Elkanah’s wives: “The original cause of this division (in Elkanah’s house) was Elkanah’s marrying two wives, which was a transgression of the original institution of marriage, to which our Saviour reduces it. Matt. 19:58, From the beginning it was not so. It made mischief in Abraham’s family, and Jacob’s, and here in Elkanah’s. How much better does the law of God provide for our comfort and ease in this world than we should, if we were left to ourselves! It is probable that Elkanah married Hannah first, and, because he had not children by her so soon as he hoped, he married Peninnah, who bore him children indeed, but was in other things a vexation to him. Thus are men often beaten with rods of their own making.”

To not be able to have children in that time period was considered almost a disgrace, and the women took it personally, as if God had cursed them. Remember Sarah who tried to take things in her own hands and insisted Abraham take one of her handmaidens in order to have a child?

Sarah couldn’t wait and let God bring about the miracle He had promised!

Every year, Elkanah took his family out of the city to sacrifice and worship the Lord in Shiloh. This time was no different. As usual, on the way, Peninnah was being her contrary and annoying self, tormenting poor Hannah to tears.

Hannah would not eat, she was so upset. So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.  And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, ‘Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?'”  Hannah fasted and when she arrived at the temple she prayed to the Lord, “O Lord of hosts, if thou… wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.” 1 Samuel 1:11 KJV.

Eli, the priest, accused her of being drunk because in her deep anguish, her lips moved but no sound came out. She replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.” 1 Samuel 1:15 KJV.

With that, Eli told her to go her way, her prayer had been answered. And true to His Word, God gave Hannah the desire of her heart. True to Hannah’s word, she gave her son, Samuel, back to the Lord and he went on to be one of the greatest prophets ever born.

Desperate times require desperate measures!

Yes, Hannah was so desperate she couldn’t do anything but fast! Have you ever been so desperate that you had to fast? You had to go to prayer? Your need was so critical that just saying you were praying about it wasn’t enough. You had to get serious.

As we mentioned in an earlier post, we don’t have to work for our answered prayers! (Read that post here.)

But fasting changes our hearts, our minds so that we can hear the voice of God.

God can speak to us because we have cleaned things out of our minds. We have taken time to be with Him and pushed some things aside, things that we liked, maybe even loved, that were important to us. We laid them down in order to be with Him.

Praying that we will all become like Hannah, Daniel and many others throughout the centuries who were desperate for God to move in their lives. Fasting WITH prayer not only changes situations but it changes ME!

How desperate are you?

The Daniel Fast DevotionalA big THANK YOU to everyone who has purchased, shared, tweeted, or told someone about The Daniel Fast Devotional! It is a great tool for ANY FAST with devotions for every day, examples of people in the Bible who fasted, why they did it and what we can learn from it today. It also has DF approved recipes in every chapter. Get yours in Kindle or paperback on Amazon today!

Fasting unto the Lord, Nannette

 

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Never give up

The Daniel Fast: Never give up!

Praying that your fast is going well and you are growing stronger in the Spirit every single day. If you have missed any of our posts this month you can catch up here

We all know we need to fast; some of us just need to be encouraged to do so! Jesus didn’t say, “If we fast”. He said “When ye fast…” Matthew 6:16-18.

The prophet Nehemiah fasted when he heard that his beloved city of Jerusalem had been reduced to ruins.

“And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, ‘Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?’  Then the king said to me, ‘What are you requesting?’ So I prayed to the God of heaven.  And I said to the king, ‘If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.’ ….And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.” Nehemiah 2:2-8 ESV.

Nehemiah was heartbroken at the news he had received of his homeland.

He sat down.
He cried.
He mourned.
For days.
He fasted.
He prayed.

He asked for mercy when he went before the king. He also humbly asked for permission, for caution and wisdom. Then he headed to Jerusalem to rebuild the city!

Never give up

 Nehemiah was sold out and committed. The gate was being restored, the city was being rebuilt and he was in charge. The people were under fear of attack at any time. They worked from sunrise to sunset with half of the men always on guard. They never even took off their clothes but carried their weapons with them at all times, even when they went for water.  “…The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon.” Nehemiah 4:17

Nehemiah, and those working with him, would not come down from the wall until the job was completed!  They didn’t sit down and whine and complain that it was too hard. They didn’t stop the work and wait for the attack that they knew was inevitable. They kept on working and yet were vigilant at the same time.

Nehemiah even tells them in verse 19, “…the work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!”

Nehemiah knew he couldn’t do it alone. It took fasting, prayer and being totally committed to the work and cause of the Kingdom. He never gave up.

Have the walls of your life been broken down?
Does the enemy of your soul lie to you and torment you on every turn?
Are you filled with anxiety, fear and dread every day?

Then do like Nehemiah: Weep, mourn, fast, pray, ask for caution and wisdom. Then what?

Start rebuilding the foundation in your life!

If God isn’t first in your life; change that. Start your day with prayer and The Word and work on your relationship with Him. Put your faith and confidence in the One who delivers, heals, restores and brings peace to a troubled mind. Let Him give you the strength to put one stone upon another.

Never give up!

God answers prayers of sacrifice, desperation and commitment. What are you praying for today?Fasting unto the Lord, Nannette

The Daniel Fast DevotionalDon’t forget to get your copy of The Daniel Fast Devotional! Great for ANY FAST, it will be your go-to tool for years to come. Already have one in Kindle or paperback?  Blessings to you as you fast unto the Lord.

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The Daniel Fast: Fasting for all the wrong reasons

The Daniel Fast: Fasting for all the wrong reasons. How are you doing on your fast? Need help? Be sure and drop me a comment here or email me at ynannette@gmail.com. I would be happy to assist! You can catch up on our 31 Days of Fasting in January here. Be blessed and encouraged in this difficult day. God sees, He hears and He is speaking to His people. Fasting will help us to hear that voice and block out the things of the world that would distract us. 

Fasts are not to be used against others. Sounds ridiculous to even say it, but Jezebel tried it!

Ahab, King of Samaria, was not one of the nicest people in the world, back in the day.

As a matter of fact, only one person was known to be WORSE than ‘ole King Ahab and that was his wife, whose name has since become synonymous with a manipulative, controlling, and even wicked individual. Maybe you have heard it said that one has a Jezebel spirit. It is not a compliment!

King Ahab married Jezebel out of the will of God and relinquished his power as king to her. 1 Kings 1

Their roles were reversed from the get-go and it spelled disaster.

Ahab came home one day upset because there was a beautiful vineyard that he wanted to have next to the palace but it was owned by a man named Naboth. He wanted to keep it in his family and did not wish to sell. Ahab offered him a very fair price but still Naboth declined. Ahab became so upset that he would not eat.

Jezebel was furious with Ahab for his weak ways and declared that the vineyard would be his (or better yet, hers). She began to plot her plan.

She wrote letters to the elders and the nobles saying, “Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.” 1 Kings 21:9-10.

Naturally her minions followed her instructions and Naboth was killed. But did you catch what has happened here?

Jezebel has proclaimed a fast!

Obviously religion was the furthest thing from her mind, or Ahab’s either. But in order to make it all look good, she must order the fast, as if to appear that either a threat had been made on Ahab’s life or a calamity was coming upon the kingdom.

She sat Naboth on high among the people, not necessarily as the guilty one, but because of his high honor in the community. Then, when the two men that had been planted to tell lies against him started their stories, Naboth was seated up where the guilty usually sat, where everyone could see him.

It worked; just as she had planned. He was convicted, and stoned to death.

When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he hurried down to take possession of the vineyard. News traveled fast because the Lord also told Elijah…

“Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. 19 And you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Have you killed and also taken possession?”’ And you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood.’” 1 Kings 21:18-19 ESV.

But that wasn’t all. Elijah had much to say to Ahab that day and began to tell him of all his wicked ways and how he was about to come face to face with judgment for the evil life that he had lived. His time was up!

You just don’t play around with the things of God and get by with it forever; there are consequences for sin.

Sometimes it is in this life, sometimes it is not until Judgment, but there are consequences.

Fasting and prayer are effective, life-changing, powerful ways to see things happen in the spirit world.

But…

God does not honor efforts that are used against others for harm & evil influence.

God was letting Ahab know there were to be consequences for the actions of his wife and that Ahab was just as guilty of murder as if he had pulled the trigger.“But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.” 1 Kings 21:25 KJV .

The New Living Translation says, “No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the LORD’s sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel.”

But something must have struck a chord in Ahab for the Bible tells us that he was listening to the prophet Elijah.

“And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.” 1 Kings 21:27 KJV.

He was fasting again. Not because Jezebel had told him to. Not because he was trying to deceive anyone and not because he was trying to murder anyone.

“And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? Because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.” 1 Kings 21:28-29 KJV.

He was fasting because he was broken, scared and humbled.

And the Lord said because he HUMBLED himself, he spared Ahab the judgment in HIS days. Jezebel still came to an untimely end as promised. She didn’t humble herself one bit as far as the scriptures tell us. But Ahab had learned his lesson for now.

There are fasts that are NOT pleasing to God.

  • Fasts that are only to be seen of men.
  • Fasts that make US look good or holy.
  • Fasts that are just to make us lose weight; we call those diets! (Of course we know if you lose weight from fasting, that is another matter entirely. We have had testimonies of lives changed permanently through fasting for their health. Our lives SHOULD be changed from fasting!)

Fasts are also not to be used against others. Sounds ridiculous to even say it, but Jezebel tried it.

The fast that works is the kind that is coupled with prayer, humility and brokenness. A fast should keep you on your knees and searching for more time with the Savior. Clean out the old and allow God to fill you up with more and more of His spirit.

Nothing is too hard for God. If he can humble a man like Ahab, there is hope for all of us!

Let our fasting be done with humility of heart and for the right purpose: to draw closer to Him, to reach for others and to seek the perfect will of God for our lives.Fasting unto the Lord, Nannette

 

The Daniel Fast Devotional

In The Daniel Fast Devotional, we talk about a different person in the Bible who sought God by fasting every day of the 21 day fast. Some of them were desperate like Hannah, she just HAD to fast too! Others did it out of selfishness as with Ahab and Jezebel. Each story is true, intriguing, and will teach us the good and the bad motives behind fasting. Also, at the end of each chapter, there are wonderful recipes that are Daniel Fast approved. Get your copy today!

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They sang a hymn…

You can read my other posts from this Holy Week here, here, and here!

“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”

I love the beginning of this passage. I don’t believe I had really noticed it before but I am so happy the Lord allowed me to see it today.

They sang a hymn.

Wouldn’t you love to know what the Lord sang with His disciples before Gethsemane? Before standing in front of those that would beat Him and mock Him? Before Calvary? Before “It is finished.”!
It is enough to know they did, even if we do not know the words. There is truly so much strength in song, in praise and worship. This week is one of the best for old hymns. I love the new songs too but I was raised with a songbook in my hands and on Easter mornings I can still recall turning to our favorite pages to sing songs such as He Lives!, The Old Rugged Cross, Jesus Paid it All, and Because He Lives.

But it’s the next part of the text that really spoke to me.

 And Jesus said to them, ‘You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.’  Peter said to him, ‘Even though they all fall away, I will not.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.’  But he said emphatically, ‘If I must die with you, I will not deny you.’  And they all said the same.” Mark 14:26-31 ESV.

You will all fall away.

One of the saddest passages in the Bible! Jesus knew that the disciples would leave Him, yet He went to Calvary anyway.
He knew Peter would deny Him, but He paid the price anyway.
Those that were the closest to Him for the last three years would walk away when He was facing the trial of His life.
The last part of that section says, “And they all said the same.” They all said, just like Peter, that they would never forsake the Lord, they would even die with Him. I believe at that moment they were sincere but when it came down to facing the soldiers, they couldn’t hold up.
We have all fallen away at some point in our lives. We might not have been like Peter and said, “I never knew Him!” but we have failed, just the same.
He knew we would. He knows we will again. Yet on to Calvary He went, enduring the suffering and agony of a crucifixion, the cruelest death anyone could face.
Why? Because He loved us.
Jesus looked ahead, PAST Calvary, to our futures, and endured the cross.

Without Calvary, we would have no hope and no future.

What do you need hope in today? Good Friday (the cross) and Easter Sunday (the Resurrection!). It’s all wrapped up in that weekend, but it didn’t end there. The blood that was shed that day still covers sin today. The price He paid all of those years ago is still good today! We just have to accept it.
Don’t just celebrate the cross…He isn’t on it…and not just the tomb…He isn’t in it!
But celebrate the fact that He gave and came out of that tomb so that we could also have eternal life.
Is it well with your soul? It was all for a purpose, friend, He IS coming back and the signs are all around us…turn to Jesus today!

Blessed Easter!

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What child IS this? The story behind the carol!

As a manager of an insurance company, you would not think that William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898) would have written one of our favorite Christmas Carols.

Born in Bristol, England, his father was a surgeon who had also written a biography on Thomas Chatterton, the poet, and also the reason for William’s middle name.

Dix became very sick and was in bed for a long time recovering. He had plenty of time to pray and read the Word of God and from this experience his life was truly changed for the better. He began to write hymns, three we may be familiar with today: As with Gladness, Men of Old, Alleluia! Sing to Jesus and What Child is This?

What Child is This? was written as The Manger Song, first published in 1865.

The tune is to the ever-popular Greensleeves, written a full century before Dix’s hymn.

In the beginning of the hymn, Mary is in the manger with the Christ-child on her lap, surrounded by angels and shepherds. We do not sing the second verse much around Christmas time but maybe we should. Here we discover the purpose of Jesus coming to that manger!

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and donkeys are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
the cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
the Babe, the Son of Mary.

Nails and spears will pierce Him, the cross be borne for me, for you. The true purpose of Christmas, of Christ coming to the manger as a baby, growing up to experience LIFE as we know it so He could understand our suffering. What a Savior!

The third verse tells us that this Gift is for everyone. Peasants, kings, it doesn’t matter, HE belongs to us all. Let loving hearts enthrone Him!

And don’t forget the unfamiliar word, laud, in the chorus. Ever wonder what in the world it means?

PRAISE! Hurry to bring Him praise…He is worthy!

What child IS this? This is Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Who loved us so much that HE gave that we might have life eternal. Again, looking behind but not forgetting the purpose of the birth of Jesus Christ: Ultimate salvation when He conquers the grave!

With Christmas, we look back at the manger but ahead to the Promise!

What child is this

Blessings to you today as you enjoy this beautiful hymn and Christmas Carol. Remember the Reason for the Season and let your loving heart enthrone Him!
What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary.
 
Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and donkeys are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
the cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
the Babe, the Son of Mary.
 
So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king, to own him.
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The babe, the Son of Mary
 
 

Nannette Christmas

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Where was Jesus in MY storm?

“He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” Matthew 8:26 NIV.

Every time we fly over the Big Pond, The Sweetheart teases me about my fear of water. When we first started traveling overseas, I would fret if our flight would be at night. I didn’t want to be over water in the dark. But then I would fret if it was in the daylight because I didn’t want to SEE all of that water down below. It was a lose-lose situation.

But being the loving husband that he is, Doogalas would remind me that it didn’t matter whether that plane went down in water or on land…the result would be the same.

He always knows how to cheer up this old gal.

So with my love of water, the ocean, and the sea in the back of my mind, I scheduled a day trip for myself, The Sweetheart, and our precious young friend visiting us from our home church in Indiana, Alyssa. We wanted her to be able to see Helsinki, Finland since we were only an hour and a half across the Baltic Sea.

I have ridden ferries before. I actually liked it! I have taken the larger ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn and it was a nice, big boat and a smooth ride.

I have ridden a CAT ferry from Maine to Nova Scotia; loved it. I was amazed at how fast they were and how nice inside, just like an airplane, only it almost feels like you are in first class because you can actually move and feel your legs.

We were no sooner out of sight from the beautiful city of Tallinn, Estonia, when we began to experience rough waters. The boat was rocking back and forth so much I was beginning to get queasy.

Alyssa? She was asleep. It didn’t seem to bother her at all.

Me? I crocheted even faster. I would occupy with anything to keep my mind off of the choppy waters and the swaying of the ship.

We glide into the Helsinki port on time and I was just thankful to be back on dry land. In the back of my mind I was dreading the ride back, but that was still eight hours away.

Let’s go explore Helsinki!

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When our day of exploring comes to an end, we returned to board for the trip back and look out across the sea, noticing the calm. We had rain earlier in the day and I am glad it is not storming.

On the way over, the boat rocked from side to side. It was horrible.

On the way back? It would hit waves as if they were brick walls. The boat would slam and then fly up into the air and hit just as hard coming back down.  The crew came on the loudspeaker to tell us to remain in our seats unless we just had to be up for necessities.

This was unnerving, friends. I was joking about it because I was afraid that Alyssa would be afraid. If she was, she sure hid it well and spent the trip encouraging me.

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When the storm began, I was in disbelief. I kept saying that Jesus would come walking across the water at any time to rescue us!

But He didn’t.

I kept praying for Him to calm the waters.

But He didn’t.

I asked Him to make things smooth as He did for the disciples that day.

But He didn’t.

Then the dreaded time came that I just could not ignore the need for the necessities. At our table, even though things were rocky, our drinks never spilled, nothing flew off the table and I assumed I could make it to the back with some assistance.

The Sweetheart, always the protector, said he would accompany me. We got up and started to take a few steps but were thrown against a pole. I tried to grab the next seat for support and am thrown against the other side.

Once into the lobby area, there was nothing to grab! We both were struggling just to stay up but we were laughing so hard that we surely appeared inebriated.

My biggest fear was ending up on someone’s lap unexpectedly.

When we arrive at our Destination of Necessity, we discovered it was almost impossible to accomplish our mission. We were literally thrown against the walls, back and forth, side to side; it was unbelievable how forceful those waters were attacking our little boat.

I prayed, “Lord, You calmed the storms in the Bible, You came walking on the water! Please calm this storm, in Jesus’ Name, so I can tell others how you came to our defense.”

The storm continued, the waters raged outside and we fought against all odds to return to our seats.

Why did Jesus not calm the storm?

Why did He not answer my prayer, my specific prayer?

I knew when I returned to my seat what He was teaching me. I knew without a doubt there was a bigger lesson for me.

Normally, in a situation such as this, I would have brought great drops of blood to The Sweetheart from the death grip I would have on his arm. During extremely turbulent flights, I have squeezed and dug in my nails on his forearm until he would have to pry them off.

But this time? Sure, I was apprehensive, and if you ask Alyssa, she will tell you that I repeatedly said, “Stop this boat, I want off!” But only so the two of them could hear.

Normally? I would have been in a panic. I would have been terrified and close to tears, if not sobbing, at least on the inside.

But this time, even though I was joking about occupying my mind and trying not to notice what was going on around me, I still had peace.

I had real peace.

I wasn’t really afraid the boat would tip over. I wasn’t truly terrified that I would have to try on that life jacket and get to act out what I had seen on the information screen when we started the journey.

No, I knew that same Jesus, the One who showed up for Peter, was with me too. He was there, He was right beside us.

Can I tell you that was bigger to me? Yes, it would have been amazing to say, “Peace, be still!”, and to see the waves calm and the journey to be smooth sailing all the way.

But the greater miracle was that in the MIDDLE of the storm, WE were calm! We had peace, we had assurance that no matter what happened, He was with us.

With anxiety, depression and fear keeping so many in prisons of their mind today, it is overwhelmingly reassuring to know the One who is never ruffled. Outside turmoil cannot take away the peace of God. He is there. He is constant. He is faithful.

He calms the storms that rage within us and gives us lasting assurance that all is well.

  • What storm are you pummeling through today?
  • Do you feel defeated because the rains won’t stop?
  • Are your wiper blades worn out from trying to keep up with the winds and never-ending downpour?

Precious friends, let Him calm your inner storm. He is more than able to give that peace that passes all understanding and you can ride out the waves with the comfort of knowing He is beside you.

Where was Jesus in MY storm

Kingdom2

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The Door is Still Open…

O Holy Night has been crowned with the title “Most Beautiful of all Christmas Carols” because of its superb melody and lyrics. Few would argue this fact, and we have sang it in churches, schools, nursing homes, hospitals and any Christmas gathering that called for it.

Where did it originate? The story is amazing. Placide Cappeau (1808-1877), wrote the lyrics in Roquemaure, France on December 3, 1847. His priest had asked him to write a poem and Cappeau, on his way to Paris on a business trip, received the inspiration for the lyrics to “Cantique de Noel” about halfway through the trip.

Once in Paris, he took the poem to Adolphe Adam, who wrote the music, and the song was performed a few weeks later on Christmas Eve.

Fast forward to Christmas Eve, 1906, where Reginald Fessenden, a Canadian inventor, makes history when he broadcasts the very first AM radio program. Not only do WWI soldiers get to hear a radio program from home for the very first time, but they also get to hear Fessenden playing “O Holy Night” on his violin and then sing the final verse! The beloved carol was one of the first pieces of music to be broadcast on radio.

O Holy Night
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Who among us has not felt the joy of Christmas and hope of the ages welling up inside of us when we reach that famous line in the song, “Fall on your knees! Oh, hear, the angel voices! Oh, night, divine! Oh, night when Christ was born!”

Dare we say there are few songs more glorious! The thrill of the birth of the Savior surely makes us want to fall on our knees in adoration and praise! The Messiah has come, the Savior of the World!

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6.

Let this song bring peace and joy to your heart and mind today as you are reminded of that Holy Night so long ago. Our Lord came for you, for me, and for all who would receive Him. He still opens His arms today and says, “Come…”. The door is still open for a little while before He comes again in all His glory and takes His Church, His people, those that are called by His Name, out of this world and that door of Grace closes forever.

Make sure it is a glorious day!
Meghan Smith, Kyle Elkins and Experience Music cover this beautiful song.
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Gloria!


One of our most beautiful Christmas carols is, indeed, one of our most ancient, for it came directly from the angels!

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’” Luke 2:13,14.

Shortly after Jesus was born, this angel appears to announce the birth of the Savior, and is soon joined by a “host”, or many other angels, who join in the rejoicing of the coming of Jesus Christ.

One account tells us that as early as A.D. 129, the “Angel’s Hymn” was being sung. Its most common English version was translated in 1862 by James Chadwick and contains the famous line taken directly from the angels, “Glory to God in the highest…” and sung in Latin, “Gloria, in excelsis Deo”.

In medieval times, French shepherds had a tradition of shouting to each other on Christmas Eve across the hilltops, “Gloria, in excelsis Deo!” as they watched over their flocks in the southern hills of France!

When Jesus came into the world it was the most humble of births, He wanted it that way. Born to a virgin, a miracle to be sure, He could have come in royalty but instead was born in a stable, some would say it wasn’t “fit” for a newborn’s entrance into the world.

Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply,
Echoing their joyous strains.
 
Gloria, in excelsis Deo.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo.
 
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be,
Which inspire your heav’nly song?

The shepherds came in a hurry to see what all the excitement was about. Something very important had taken place, even though so very few knew about it. A humble birth, humble beginnings, but oh, so glorious!

His birth radiated His Glory! Even though He arrived in a stable, amidst the straw, the animals, the smell, the chaos…He still brought Glory!

And He brings it even today…to our messes, to our chaos. He comes in the middle of our broken lives and humbly invites Himself in. He never forces His way, but with arms outstretched He offers the hurt, the lost, and all of the weary wounded a place to find rest and salvation. He gives life, hope and peace in a troubled world.

Exactly what He came to Earth for so many years ago.

Come to Bethlehem and see,
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

He still waits…won’t you come?

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The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t (or, Don’t let my Mom be in charge of the presents…)

“Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more!”  ~Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas

There was nothing I enjoyed more than Christmas when My Three Sons were younger and all at home. We lived in my dream home, the farmhouse where The Sweetheart grew up, seven acres with a stocked pond full of catfish, partially wooded, high on a hill. It had the scariest concrete driveway for riding a bicycle that a boy could ever want and a great slope for sledding; just ask the neighbor boys who were always sneaking down it when we weren’t looking.

Christmas was special.

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We had two Christmas trees, sometimes three. One in the family room, all dark and cozy with redwood paneling; that was the one room they wouldn’t let me touch when we remodeled. But that was okay, it was so homey and held so many memories for the family that we loved it. That tree was the one the boys decorated with the ornaments they had made, all of our family treasures. Oh, and colored lights, they insisted on colored lights on “their tree”.

Then the fancy one in the “pretty room” as they called it. That was my tree, they let me decorate it however I wanted and we would go from room to room opening presents. I cherish those days.

Now remember, if you have followed me for very long, I have mischievous boys. They were each about five and one half years apart. Kyle is the oldest, then Kristopher and then Korey is “the baby”, he is 29 today, happy birthday, Korey!

Boys will be boys and they would never leave their presents alone! I grew weary of them trying to figure out what was inside year after year and they always ruined the surprise.

So one year I outsmarted them all. I had it all figured out. I came up with a brainstorm and I was so proud of myself. I didn’t tell anyone, not even The Sweetheart. On Christmas morning I would show them!

I began wrapping presents as usual, several weeks in advance, and they would come home from school and always check to see if there were any under the tree. Sure enough, the first day they discovered their good fortune.

They ran and looked for their name. But wait! What to my wondering eyes should appear?! “This is not my name!” They all begin to holler. All of the presents had names like Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen. Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen! And do you recall? We can’t leave out the most famous reindeer of all…because we had to have three groups of three! Rudolph was included as well!

The only names on the presents were reindeer names.

The boys were NOT happy, they were not happy at all! They did not like it, not one little bit. How could they figure out what was inside if they didn’t know which one was theirs?

They had been tricked. Duped. By their own mother. What a Christmas this was going to be!

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(Probably in big time trouble with this picture! Yikes! Check out The Sweetheart’s glasses! And my 90’s poofy curls! Gotta love church pictures…)

But thankfully they quickly forgave me and actually thought it was kind of funny as the season went on. They started telling their friends about it and everyone chimed in saying how much fun it was going to be on Christmas morning.

We always get up early on Christmas. It is a written rule if you have children under the age of 30 that you must get up at the crack of dawn on Christmas Day to open your presents. In your pajamas. Before you brush your teeth….well the kids think that anyway. Ugh. You get the picture, they are anxious.

We gather in “the pretty room” and they are waiting for me to give them the go-ahead to start passing out the presents. I run back upstairs to get my list. You know, the one that tells me who each reindeer represents? Yes, I DID make one, I am not that incompetent, people.

It went something like this:

Kyle: Donner, Dasher, Vixen

Kristopher: Rudolph, Comet, Prancer

Korey: Cupid, Dancer, Blitzen…

Or was it Kyle was Donner, Comet and Dancer and Kristopher was Cupid, Blitzen and Dasher?

Or…where is that list?

We have a problem…I could not find the list. I didn’t find the list. I never found the list.

The Christmas That Almost Wasn't...hopeinthehealing

I was no longer the Christmas Queen. I was the Christmas Dope.

What was a brilliant idea, and still is if you want to try it, turned into a free-for-all as My Three Sons, morphed into My Three Monsters and started ripping into presents like there was no tomorrow.

All the while The Sweetheart sat in the easy chair with the biggest grin on his face, as if to say, “If I had thought of this…”

Well you didn’t you big oaf…

It was a great idea.

Saving it for the grandkids.

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Mamaw Tava’s Christmas Sock

Back as far as I can remember, at the Miller Christmas, my grandmother would pass around her Bible to one of the men in the family to read The Christmas Story from the book of Luke. All of the children were terribly impatient for him to finish because they knew that meant they could begin tearing into the presents. It was the longest 20 minutes of our lives.

Fast forward some 50 years plus and we still read The Christmas Story. My father now allows the grands to read. It seems a lifetime has passed while we wait on them to finish as they struggle with certain words such as Quirnius, lineage and Cyrenius. Even though the message has always been the same: Jesus came into the world to save sinners; it has greater meaning to me every year.

You can see one of the last times my dad read the story here. (I hadn’t noticed he was reading from a tablet!)

As years passed, my parents added to the anticipation of opening presents by going around the room and having each one of us tell what we were thankful for that particular year. Many families do that on Thanksgiving but we didn’t get that memo, so Christmas it is.

Tears flow as we recall the wonderful things God has either spared us from or brought us through and we rejoice with each family member as they share. It can be as simple as “I’m thankful for my parents and the ham in the oven” or “I’m thankful that God spared my life this year.” Whatever the sentiment or whoever the recipient, we all reflect and give thanks.

When I married The Sweetheart, I discovered every family had different traditions. My mother-in-law began a new one on my very first Elkins Christmas. This was after we had opened gifts and she was always trying to find a way to tame the chaos. She had a giant Christmas sock, biggest I had ever seen, and she had filled it with little gifts. It could have been a tube of Chapstick (an Elkins sibling WILL NOT be caught dead without one in their pocket) a pen and pencil set, fingernail clippers (another must-have jingle in the pocket of an Elkins) and of course candy or anything under $5. Then we would all gather around as she made a production of dumping the sock full of gifts on the floor. It was a literal free-for-all.

And you are wondering: why, in the name of all that is sacred, would grown adults scamper for fingernail clippers and Chapstick? Because Mamaw Tava had hidden money in one of the gifts, that’s why! And that first Christmas, the newbie, me, grabbed a blue change purse that said “Something good is going to happen” on the outside of it and on the inside? A five dollar bill! This was 1979 people, $5 bought a lot of gas!

Fast forward through the years and The Sock evolved. So did the monetary gifts. Mamaw Tava became more generous with this extra curricular activity on Christmas Eve. Now we gathered in the Dining Room around the table. Mamaw would draw names to see who would go first and then call those numbers only to draw again for your actual number to pick a present. I kid you not. All of the gifts were spread out on the table, wrapped of course, and you were not allowed to touch them. You chose a gift when your name was called and then waited until everyone had one and then she drew names or numbers again to see who opened their gift and when. There would be a variety of cd’s, books, alarm clocks, flashlights or new gadgets that had just made it to infomercials and As-Seen-on-TV. But inside one gift would be $20, another had $10 and one had $5. Some years she was even more generous and it was quite exciting.

Several years ago she was really feeling the Christmas spirit and she sang Jingle Bells as the family walked around the table and when she yelled stop, well, take a look for yourself at the mayhem that followed:


Times have changed, grandchildren or maybe the great grands will read the Christmas Story this year. New faces will be around the dinner table. The DIL’s are in charge of The Sock game; Mamaw Tava passed away almost five years ago. But, the bottom line is that we are family. We are children of the Most High God, gathered to celebrate His entrance into the world, His coming to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

And the older I get, the more I realize it was for me, it was for you. He loved me and He loved you, and would have died had we been the only ones that needed Him to. He loves us all that much.

You all have your own stories but for some, this Christmas is not a happy one. There is sorrow and sadness with empty chairs around the table. Jesus knows, Jesus is near. Love on those that need strength and comfort. Christmas is family with all their quirks and craziness and Christmas is Jesus.

While this might not have been your typical devotion, there are two key points I encourage you to focus on during this season. One of course is the true reason for the season. Second is that aside from reason number one, the most important thing is time we spend with family and friends. Making memories, and sharing experiences that will, like Mamaw Tava’s sock, last long after we are gone.

Is there any hope?

Is there any hope?

On December 17, 1927, USS S-4 (SS-109), an eight year old S-class submarine, was submerged just off the coast of Provincetown, Massachusetts. Right nearby, on the surface, the USCGC Paulding, a Coast Guard destroyer, was headed southeast. At 3:37 in the afternoon, the officer of the deck on the Coast Guard ship didn’t see the periscope of the submarine until it was too late. The Paulding unintentionally rammed the sub with a section of her bow, crushing into the hull of S-4 and punching a hole in the ballast tank and one in the pressure hull. 

Freezing water flooded into the boat and she immediately began to sink. The saltwater flooding the battery compartment mixed with battery acid and formed toxic chlorine gas, quickly filling any space not yet occupied by water. Soon the deadly gas was forced by the water into where the survivors were huddling. By morning, when the first rescue diver knocked on the torpedo loading hatch, he was met with six slow taps in response to his question about how many had survived. Six men were still alive.

But try as they may, help was not coming fast enough. The next to last communication heard from the remaining crew in Morse code was “Is there any hope?” But unfortunately, the toxic gas took the lives of all 40 men.

Hope comes in many different forms and we use the word, as we do the word Love, interchangeably for the big and the small all throughout our lives. We hope we get an A on our test. We hope the cute boy in the third row looks our way. We hope we receive a Christmas bonus. We hope for a boy or a girl…or both! 

We may also hope for enough money to pay the rent, buy milk for the baby that we hoped for and hope that our hope is enough to sustain us until, hopefully, something better comes along. 

We even hope for hope!

But Jesus said we didn’t have to live that way any longer. He came as the Hope of the World! Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” 

In a world full of darkness and seemingly constant despair, Jesus is our hope, our peace, our confidence and no matter what comes into our lives, even the unthinkable, He has promised to NEVER leave us or forsake us! NEVER! 

We like to think we live in a picture perfect world especially after we give our hearts and lives to God. Filled with His spirit, we can conquer anything according to the Word of God. But we are still living in a sin-filled world until Jesus returns for His church and we will face things here just as the disciples did many, many years ago. 

And just as the men on the submarine faced…..they wanted to know if there was hope and yet they perished. Why? Because we aren’t promised a life without trouble or pain but we are promised that Jesus will be WITH us, IN us and right beside us no matter what we go through. And news flash, we don’t live forever down here! Our hope is in eternity and no doubt there were men on that submarine tapping into their Hope, finding that perfect peace in their last moments; Jesus didn’t forsake them, He walked them into eternity!

The HOPE we have today is that He is WITH us, He is IN us, and the more we pray and read and depend on His Word, the more confident we become in that glorious Hope.

Hope has a name and it’s JESUS!

We don’t have to be afraid, we don’t have to live in a constant state of worry and anxiety. We can still live joyfully and accomplish what God has put us here to do: tell others what He has done for us; share the Gospel, the Good News, that Jesus gave HIS life for us that we could live FOREVER with Him someday. And until that day comes, we can live victoriously and full of hope here on this earth, abounding in the work of God, encouraging our neighbor and bringing that Hope, sharing that Hope, with those we come in contact with.

Spend this week studying about hope in the Bible. Look up scriptures pertaining to hope and see how Jesus has always been, and still is, that Hope that saved the world!

Then, remember that there are others watching you and desiring to have what you have, don’t keep Him to yourself, Jesus Christ, the Living Hope!

For the kingdom