Fasting

Fasting. In Christian circles the term is very known. Most think of it as a day of not eating, if you can manage not to eat for that long. Most consider it a daunting task to not eat for an entire day but endeavor to do so to draw closer to God. It's often easy to forget the reason behind fasting. As Christians, we are commanded to fast in the Bible so it can often feel like another thing that should be done. Some Christians never fast.

But I believe that fasting can be done with not just food. I think that you can fast from anything that comes between you and God. Sometimes it's hard to judge what is most important to you. But I challenge you to figure out what you spend your most time doing. Ok I know some of you are in school right now and I don't think anyone would consider school as something they want to come between themselves and God. But school can be detrimental to your spiritual life. It can come from our ungodly obsession with being busy. Have you ever considered that God commands us to "be still and know that I Am God." That requires us to...Be still! Not moving, not busy, not interrupted by anything. I think we can over overvalue busyness and think people are not living up to their full potential when they are not running around constantly.

So, perhaps this is a call for you to put down what has been getting in the way of living your life completely sold out for Christ. I'm not saying that it will be easy but dying on a cross so that we could be forgiven wasn't easy either. And that is just one of the many things that God has done for us, how can we withhold anything that we are capable of giving to Him?

"But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that lead to eternal life."

Jude 20-21

"I have said these things to you, that in ME you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, But take heart; I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon ME and come and pray to ME, and I will hear you. You will seek ME with all your heart, I will be found by you,' declares the Lord..."

Jeremiah 29:11-14

God is good all the time! No matter what the circumstance! Sometimes it's hard to see but He often has to break you and leave you lying in the dust in order to raise you up.

"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed, always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies."

II Corinthians 4:8-11

I Don't Believe You

"I don't mind it

I don't mind at all

It's like

You're the swingset

And I'm the kid that falls

It's like the way we fight

The times I cry

We come to blows

But every night

The passion's there

So it's gotta be right, right?

No I don't believe you
When you say

Don't come around here no more

I won't remind you

You said we wouldn't be apart

No I don't believe you
When you say you

Don't need me anymore

So don't pretend to

Not love me at all

I don't mind it

I still don't mind at all

It's like one of those bad dreams

When you can't wake up

Looks like you've given up

You've had enough

But I want more

No I won't stop

Cause I just know

You'll come around, right?

No I don't believe you

When you say

Don't come around here no more

I won't remind you

You said we wouldn't be apart

No I don't believe you

When you say you

Don't need me anymore

So don't pretend to

Not love me at all

Don't just stand there and watch me fall

Cause I still don't mind at all.

It's like the way we fight

The times I cry

We come to blows

But everynight

The passion's there

So it's gotta be right, right?

No I don't believe you
When you say
Don't come around here no more

I won't remind you

You said we wouldn't be apart

No I don't believe you

When you say

You don't need me anymore

So don't pretend to

Not love me at all

No I don't believe you."

Closer to Love

Matt Kearney: Closer to Love

"She got the call today
One out of the gray
And when the smoke cleared
It took her breath away

She said she didn't believe
It could happen to me
I guess, we're all one phone call
From our knees
We're gonna get there soon

If every building falls
And all the stars fade
We'll still be singing this song
The one they can't take away

I'm gonna get there soon
She's gonna be there too
Crying in her room
Praying Lord come through
We're gonna get there soon

Oh it's your light
Oh, it's your way
Pull me out of the dark
Just to show me the way

Crying out now
From so far away
You pull me closer to love
Closer to love..."

Love for our brother and sisters in Christ. Being there when they are having a hard time and making them feel closer to love. It can be hard to bear one another's burdens but we are commanded to do so in the Bible. I pray that I will draw my friends closer to love and have friends that will pull me closer to love.

The video for this song couldn't be embedded or I would've posted that too. Youtube it sometime it's a cool concept!

Chimes, three
Tossing, turning
Eyes closed
Rolling, opening
Staring, yawning
Silent darkness
Ticking, tocking
Comfort void
Peace absent
Rising, walking
Sitting, thinking
Memories attacking
Chimes, four
Endless churning
Laying, musing
Face's hiding
Loudly weeping
Growing quiet
Finally sleeping.

Secret Ambition- Micheal W. Smith

I was in the basement putting away groceries and my dad had left his music running on his computer. This song was playing and it brought back many good childhood memories. The words also stuck out to me a lot more now that I'm older and a Christian. I thought I would share since it is an older song and I'm sure many haven't heard it.

"Young Man up on the hillside
Teaching new ways
Each word, winning them over
Each heart a kindled flame

Old men watch from the outside
Guarding their prey
Threatened by the voice of a paragon
Leading their lambs away
Leading them far away

But nobody knew His secret ambition
Nobody knew His claim to fame
He broke the old rules steeped in tradition
He tore the holy veil away
Questioning those in powerful positions
Running to those who called His name
But nobody knew His secret ambition
Was to give His life away

His rage shaking the temple
His word to the wise
His hands, healing on the seventh day
His love wearing no disguise

But some say death to the radical
He's way out of line
Some say praise be the miracle
God sends a blessed sign
A blessed sign for troubled times

But nobody knew His secret ambition
Nobody knew His claim to fame
He broke the old rules steeped in tradition
He tore the holy veil away
Questioning those in powerful positions
Running to those who called His name
But nobody knew His secret ambition
Was to give His life away

I tell you nobody knew
Until He gave His life away!"

-Micheal W. Smith

I am half the woman
I would like to be
I have half the zeal
Half the faith
Half the love
Half the patience
Most days I feel like I don't even have that much
Searching deep down for something to show
That reflects the Holy and Awesome God that I know
His love has been ever proven
I can feel His presence always
So why do I fail at trusting Him?
Why can't I instantly commit everything to Him?
But then I see that I am not half
I am completely nothing
Only by GOD am I half of anything
Only by His grace
His mercy
His salvation
Without Him I would not have life
There is nothing inside of me that is naturally good
He alone gives me the ability to please Him
He has made me the woman that I am
Even if I feel like a half
Jesus' sacrifice, death, resurrection
Has made me a whole
No broken pieces
No stained clothes
Perfect and complete in my Savior
Waiting for the Day
When I see Him face to face
And on that Day
I will be complete