Tag Archives: prayer

28 Days of Grace – day 11: The folded napkin

I got this in my email today, and it really hit me in the context of meals, eating, lifestyle, etc. I have reprinted it here:

So Why Did JESUS Fold The Napkin?
Do you know why? This is just beautiful.

Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin?

This is one I can honestly say I have never seen circulating in the e-mails so; I’ll start it.. If it touches you , You might want to forward it.

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? I never noticed this….

The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.

The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.

Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, ‘They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have put him!’

Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple out ran Peter and got there first. He stopped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in.

Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying to the side.

Was that important? Absolutely!
Is it really significant? Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day.
The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every
Jewish boy knew this tradition.

When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it.

The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished..

Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table.

The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, “I’m finished..”

But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because……….

The folded napkin meant,
“I’m coming back!”

AND SO HE SHALL!!!

And so He shall return –

Luke 18:8 Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Why is that in red? Because those are the words of Jesus as told to us in the book of Luke.
Jesus has just proclaimed that:

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. (Luke 18:7)

Prayer….
Though HE bear long with them….
God will avenge…

Mary Magdalene, along with all the others, felt that the Lord had left them all alone.
Jesus had told them about this judge that didn’t fear anyone, even God, but a widow had come to him over and over and over to be avenged of her adversary…and he chose to do so, because of her constant appeals.
Jesus said that we should pray like that widow.
In fact, Luke says:

And he spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; (Luke 18:1)

The point of the email was that Jesus is coming back…there is another meal being prepared…who is going to be found ‘worthy’ to sit at that table?
Servants of faith! (not fear – not to self)

Hebrews 11:1-3 says

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

By FAITH the elders obtained a good report!

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Without FAITH – it is impossible to please God!

I wrote a series of blogs about Giants in my land, and one of those giants was the Giant of Fear.

Fear and Faith cannot co-exist.
Fear holds me back,
Faith propels me forward.
Fear steals my happiness,
Faith impels me to joy.
Fear makes me paralyzed,
Faith compels me to LOVE.

(mcw 6/8/2012)

Why do I continue to climb my way forward?
Because I have faith that HE is coming back for me!
He folded His napkin!
By His GRACE, I’ll be ready!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
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28 Days of Grace – Day 4 – it hits!

Ok, today I have a funky headache like thing going on…not quite painful like a migraine, but with all the pressure of a migraine.
Light and noise don’t bother me, but I am having trouble focusing my eyes.

The only thing I have right now is “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me”
And, if hanging on Jesus is the only thing I have…then I have everything I need.

Cleansing my life from toxins is painful….
For years I didn’t take getting rid of grains, sugar and dairy seriously!
Cleansing my life from besetting sins would be painful if I would work on it…seriously,
Cleansing my life from besetting sins IS painful…the reason those sins are besetting is that we are drawn to them…

So, today, I am suffering the pain of toxins washing out of my system.
Do I like it? No.
Can I see the benefit? Yes.
Will I stay the course? By God’s grace, yes I will – both physically and spiritually.
I just need to remember that this is part of the storm…and I’m supposed to be keeping my eyes on Jesus!

Not sure what else I’ll post today, but at least, I have posted for the day!

Evening Addition:]
What else?
well, we ran to WalMart, and they had a sweet lady handing out samples….and I caved!
what were the samples?
chocolate?
Cake?
no – fresh fruit! I forgot that I was not to be eating fruit yet on these 28 days….
I suppose that tiny cup with a blue berry, a black berry and two slices of strawberry won’t totally derail my program.
But, I thought it…I really did think it!
Therefore…I had to lean on God’s GRACE to let it go!
If this wasn’t these 28 days, that would have been one of the best samples to pick up in a grocery store!

In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7

28 Days of Grace day 3

Take a little wine for your stomach

1 Tim 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.

Yesterday, I was reading about the GAPS diet.
One of the differences between the GAPS diet and the YEAST FREE diet is the fermented items in the Introduction Diet…

“Increase daily amount of homemade yogurt and kefir, if introduced. Increase the amount of juice from sauerkraut, fermented vegetables or vegetable medley.”

Dr McManus warned me that the GAPS diet was MUCH more strict than the Yeast Free diet I am on, but the principles are the same:
Heal the Gut so that the Body can be nourished.

Paul’s exhortation to Timothy may very well have been to avoid the water….as in Montezuma’s Revenge…and drink fermented grape juice(what wine was back then). The goal was to help Timothy be healed so that he could be used for God’s glory.

verse 22 says:

Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.

verses 24-25 say:

Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some [men] they follow after.
Likewise also the good works [of some] are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

It’s as if, in the middle of exhorting Timothy in his ministry, Paul remembered and just said, “Oh, by the way – stop drinking that water, dude! Drink some wine and heal that stomach so that you can get over all these infirmities! We gotta get you better, man!”

I was asking God yesterday, after the whole discussion about Peter getting out of the boat, should I ask you to ask me to get out of the boat?

now, understand, I had an hour drive…and I use this time to listen to the Lord…so, He had time to deal with me!

I could hear a faint ‘yes…..here I am’
I didn’t want to ask…
I didn’t want to hear “come”.
I knew what getting out of the boat meant…
It meant moving ahead with the art and writing!
It meant challenges to face,
It meant scary opportunities,
…people saying no…
believing for funds and helpers and provisions and ideas and HEALTH!!!

I finally got quiet…
“If it’s you Lord….”
‘YOU ARE ALREADY OUT OF THE BOAT – STOP LOOKING AT THE STORMS!”

WHAT???? When did I get out of the boat?
“when you signed the lease to the studio! STOP LOOKING AT THE STORMS!”

WHAT???
“When you said you trusted me with your whole heart, now STOP LOOKING AT THE STORMS!”

Stop Looking at the storms – WHY?
THEY ARE MAKING ME SICK!!!
…WITH WORRY
…WITH FEAR
…they are paralyzing me!
…they are preventing me from moving forward to do the work that God has prepared beforehand that I should walk in them! (Eph 2:10)

What about the wine?????

Psalm 4:7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time [that] their corn and their wine increased.

Then, HE reminded me of this verse:

Isiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

The point is, I have a job to do, I have good works that I am supposed to be doing so that God would be glorified. I have words that God has placed in my heart that need to be shared…
I’m NOT Christ, but I am CHRISTI, AND:

The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me;
because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek;
he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all that mourn;
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,
to give unto them beauty for ashes,
the oil of joy for mourning,
the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
that they might be called trees of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD,
that he might be glorified.
Isaiah 61:1-3

I’m already out of the boat – it’s my old nature that is looking around at that storm…
DRINK NO LONGER WATER – don’t pay attention to the things of this world…they are NOT PURE!
TAKE A LITTLE WINE FOR YOUR STOMACH – get your body healthy, with what I say!
AND FOR YOUR OFT INFIRMITIES – One preacher defined infirmities as those things that constantly come up and we constantly struggle with.
Mine is fear.
Lack of self confidence, even in my ability to hear the voice of the Lord.

Matt 26:27-28 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave [it] to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

The woman at the well asked Jesus for the Living Water, from which one would never thirst.(John 4:10ff)

Here is His reply:

John 14:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

My Father has provided, by His grace, a physical program to heal my stomach and gut. I need to follow it.
My Father, through Jesus Christ, has provided cleansing for my sins, and living water, pure and alive, for my ability to do HIS WILL to HIS GLORY.
I need to drink of HIS wine daily. I need to drink ALL OF IT!

I need to remember that sin is all around me, and always needing to be dealt with,
but in the middle of the storms of life,
God has provided me with PURE WATER – Water that HE turned to WINE by HIS BLOOD at the cross.

In a way, I need to give up my whine for HIS WINE…and drink freely from the fountain of living water!
And HE has provided the strength by HIS grace!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
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Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

28 days of Grace – day 1

This morning, I went to get blood drawn…and before I even got to eat, I was confronted with temptation.
TRIAL/TEMPTATION #1
Fear.
I have written before about the giants that tend to attack me, and one that I wrote about is the giant of fear.

In that blog, I said this:

Another of my favorite verses about fear is this:

2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

When someone is standing up to the giant of fear, 2Tim 1.7 is the perfect stone to throw. What fears are not covered by power, love, and a sound mind?

This morning, I wrote my dear husband Jim and said
“I’m scared of failing or quitting”
Jim replied:
“You have not quit, therefore you won’t fail”

smart man.
love, power and a sound mind. I talk about it in that blog…but,
Jim’s text back to me gave me love.
The music that Jim had uploaded to my phone gave me power….Here I am to Worship
And with that love and power, I gathered myself up, and trusted in a sound mind!

I was able to pack my little cooler(I bought a cute one) with a breakfast, and head out to my blood letting session.

TRIAL/TEMPTATION #2 –
ENVIRONMENT – or location, location, location!
The corner of 6 Pines Drive and Research Forest is a very favorite place for me. In fact, I have used this medical building’s parking lot frequently!
Let me show you!

The Temptation!

See the hint?

There's one of my tables...Culver's!

No, not the butter burgers…the Turtle Sundae!!! Chocolate, Caramel and Pecans on top of frozen custard. NOT on a yeast free diet!

1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:
but God [is] faithful,
who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;
but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,
that ye may be able to bear [it].

God is faithful.

Amy Charmical, in Edges of His Ways, May 26th writes this:

The pressure of temptation is measured by One who knows what the substance to be tested can stand. The maker of glass would not subject his glass to a weight of 20 tons per square inch. Here lies our comfort. We commit our souls “as unto a faithful Creator. (1Pet 4:19)”
And there is more in this. Sometimes we are tempted to feel that even though the pressure would be nothing to another who is stronger, it is too much for us. But it never is: “He knoweth our frame; He remembereth we are dust. (Ps 103:14)”
The temptation to yield and do what the flesh would naturally do is meant to offer us an opportunity for endurance, and for the exercise of faith. This ‘is the patience and the faith of the saints. (Rev 13:10)”

As I read this the other night, it hit me…it’s not the trial or temptation that is too much…is whether I will choose to endure, whether I will choose to exercise my faith.
My Heavenly Father chooses tests for me that HE KNOWS are not to much for me. Because HE LOVES ME!
He is giving me the opportunity to exercise my faith muscles. Because HE LOVES ME!
I am in the position to CHOOSE whether I will exercise those faith muscles.
BTW, where did that faith come from? My Heavenly Father!

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

My Heavenly Father has given me the measure of faith, and with it, if I exercise it, I can move mountains, I can do the deeds of Christ, and even greater deeds (Matt 21:21, John 14:12)! Of know credit to myself…it’s ALL God’s power….given to me by GRACE!

So, first, God so LOVEd me that HE led me to this reading BEFORE I entered temptation!
Then, God gave me the grace to have the POWER to withstand temptation!
And, He promised to make a way of escape( 1 cor 10:13)…He gave me the STRONG MIND to prepare my breakfast and take it with me!

Let me show you the victory!

No milkshake for me!

Roast Turkey for my protein!

TRIAL/TEMPTATION #3
LACK OF PREPARATION
I forgot a drink, but I had a bottle of water in the car….not quite enough!
So, here’s my third TEMPTATION and VICTORY!

I forgot a drink!

so many temptations here!

the price is right...$1!

VICTORY!!!

LARGE UNSWEET ICED TEA!!!

It’s only noon, and I’ve had two trials, but I’ve also had two victories.
I’ve spent an hour writing this photo blog…and that has challenged me.
I give up on getting the photos straight, and the words right…I just want to post this blog…share my thoughts…and go paint.
In the mean time, I am going to be leaning heavily on God’s GRACE to help me through the next 28 days.

5pm add on – today has been great.
The concern about workout recovery was answered with coconut milk!!! Better than anything else I’ve ever done to try to handle the crash when I perspire a lot!
I am behind on my water, but have had unsweetened ice tea twice.
After supper, I’ll do my evening protocols, and day one will be over!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or ‘like’ me!

If you like The WildBerry Patch, follow me with the RSS feed.

We have email subscription! Just sign up for an account, and you can manage your subscription from the dashboard!
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

Naomi's Heart Mission

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

28 days of grace, day 0

Tomorrow I start a 28 day yeast free diet designed by a medical doctor that is also a naturopath.

This is to cleanse my body of toxins from unhealthy living as well as UN health.

As I start this journey, I can’t help but wonder what spiritual parallels will come to light.

So far I am learning that any journey takes preparation and counting the cost. In addition, I need to learn to say no to things that are not good for my body, like a specially made carrot cake or cool whip chocolate pie.

Commitment is always strongest at the beginning, and I have already eaten some sugary things for which I’ve paid a tummy price.

Tomorrow is bloodwork, and the first day of the rest of my life.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or ‘like’ me!

If you like The WildBerry Patch, follow me with the RSS feed.

We have email subscription! Just sign up for an account, and you can manage your subscription from the dashboard!
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

Naomi's Heart Mission

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

Daniel Fast – Starting again and quiting

WHAT IS A FAST?

Isaiah 58 -THE FAST

Isaiah 58
:6 [Is] not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
:7 [Is it] not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
:8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.

WHY FAST?

I wrote about Isaiah 58 and Finding the Purpose on 1/7/2012.

I wrote about beginning the Daniel Fast with the world on 1/8/2012.

I wrote about starting the fast on my own on 1/1/2012

I have confessed my difficulty with going to food and TV shows to comfort me, or distract me in times of stress.
I have confessed my need to be set free from TV and food.
A quote that I have in my signature line explains my dilemma clearly:

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Running to food and/or TV/movies in times of stress is NOT running into the name of the Lord…the strong tower.

Prov 18:10 The name of the LORD [is] a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

I am not allowing the Lord to be my shepherd, and lead me beside still water, or allowing him to make me to lie down in green pastures – and that means, my soul is not restored! (Psalm 23)
I am NOT casting my cares upon the Lord – and maybe, it’s because I don’t believe that HE cares for my struggles?

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

It’s all about PRIDE!!! And Fasting is about humbling myself – putting my flesh into subjection so that I can be changed into the likeness of Christ.
I NEED HELP!

Here’s my promises:
Is 58:6 [Is] not this the fast that I have chosen?
to loose the bands of wickedness,
(and)
to undo the heavy burdens,
and
to let the oppressed go free,
and
that ye break every yoke?

I NEED TO HAVE THESE BANDS BROKEN, THESE HEAVY YOKES BROKEN!!!
I have tried to get free of the comfort replacements for God – and I can’t do it on my own…I am oppressed – and I want to be set free!

Here is more of the promises:

Is 58:11 And the LORD will guide you continually
and
satisfy your desire in scorched places
and
make your bones strong;
and
you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
:12 And
your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
(and)
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
(and)
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
(and)
the restorer of streets to dwell in.

MY BONES STRONG!!!! I NEED THIS PROMISE TO BE FULFILLED IN MY LIFE!
There are places in my walk that are dry and scorched – the battle has been hard –
I need my bones to be strong…
A watered garden – in the midst of a drought – this will draw folks to me so that I can share Christ’s living water with them! It will also revive the dry bones in my life – and create an army’s worth of power against the kingdom of darkness.
Raise up foundation of many generations – both Jim and I have some Godly heritage, and I desire to raise up that legacy to God’s glory.
I don’t care for any accolades – but to be used as the repairer of the breach and the restorer of the streets – that is HUGE!

Is 58:8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning,
and
thine health shall spring forth speedily:
and
thy righteousness shall go before thee;
(and)
the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.(rearguard)

I NEED THESE PROMISES IN MY LIFE!!!
I want my light to shine – Matthew 5:14
I need my health to spring forth!
Righteousness – a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ – I want this!
And the glory of the Lord being my rear guard – WOW!!!

Here is another promise:
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;
for I am meek and lowly in heart:
and
ye shall find rest unto your souls.
:30 For my yoke [is] easy,
and
my burden is light.

I have chosen Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior – I believe that He is and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him!
Heb 11:6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

I want to diligently seek the Lord, I want to put off these yokes, have them broken from me, and put on the yoke of Jesus Christ, and learn of HIM!!!
For this reason, I will be starting this Daniel fast again…
NOT as part of the world wide 21 day fast promoted by many ministries
NOT as a diet – though I know that fasting does have health results
BUT TO DILIGENTLY SEEK MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST – AND TO LEARN OF HIM!

I will focus my prayers on the hungry, and the naked, the poor…I will seek the Lord as to how I can help and do things in these arenas…but mostly …I want to comit this temple to HIM, clean it out of the wickedness that has been allowed in, and fill it(me) with HIS word, HIS light, HIS love, so that I will shine – His light will shine through me into the world for His glory.

I am not participating in a Daniel Fast –
I am doing a Christi fast – I am seeking MY Lord – and it has NOTHING to do with Daniel!
This will be the last post about MY fast – any insights will show up on my blog, but not necessarily as ‘fasting’.

Thank you for reading!
Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or ‘like’ me!

If you like The WildBerry Patch, follow me with the RSS feed.
Soon, we’ll have email subscription.

Naomi's Heart Mission

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

Daniel Fast – Day 3 – Storms

~I am not sharing these to get glory, I’m sharing these to encourage those that are participating in the Daniel Fast.
Bring the Rain

Yesterday’s blog was my heart crying out.
I gave up several things that I was ‘fasting’ – and I gave up on the fast.
I had my husband bring me “Wendy’s” with a large fry. Wendy’s fries are my ultimate comfort food.
I also gave up my fast from TV shows, and just sat and watched TV while I was in pain…

…but something happened…

NONE OF IT HAD ANY SATISFACTION TO ME!!!

The hamburger was just blah in my mouth.
The fries were just salty warmth in my mouth.
The shows that I had previously enjoyed were just noise in my head.

My flesh was weak, but God strengthened my spirit!

Two verses that are very important to me are:

Is 41:10 Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Is 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

But today, this is my passage from the Lord:

Isaiah 40:27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, [that] the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? [there is] no searching of his understanding.
:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to [them that have] no might he increaseth strength.

THESE VERSES PRECEDE MY LIFE VERSE!

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.

I am praying to be set free from the things that hold be back, that poison my attempts to be Christlike.
The first day of this fast, my flesh gave up – but God, by the Holy Spirit, took the pleasure out of those things.
I have heard of Him doing that for drug addicts, smokers and such – but I never thought he would do it for me.

I am humbled.
I am convicted by:

Is 40:29 -He giveth power to the faint; and to [them that have] no might he increaseth strength.

Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

I know that verse is referring to ‘things’ needed – but I needed strength to go on.

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

I have always seen this as ADDING strength to me….and yesterday, I was without strength.

Is 40:29 and to [them that have] no might he increaseth strength.

I prayed – oh yes, I prayed…and there was a time in my life where I would have quit, in a very ugly manner.
But this time, there was NO thought of quitting…just praying, and confessing that I had no strength.

Ps 30:5 For his anger [endureth but] a moment; in his favour [is] life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy [cometh] in the morning.
Ps 30: 11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
:12 To the end that [my] glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Why is there darkness in the world?
So we can desire the LIGHT!
Why is there sadness in the world?
So we can appreciate JOY!
Why are there wars in the world?
So we can desire the Prince of PEACE!

My signature verse is….

Ps 63:7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

the next verse is:

Ps 63:8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
A nod back to the verses in Isaiah.

It reminds me thaqt God will never leave me nor forsake me….

Heb 13:5 [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

And that ties it all back to BOLDNESS.
I have been snared by things that are preventing me from being the Christian God wants me to be.
I have been snared by cowardice and fear.

Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

God is FOR me – Whom shall I fear? What shall I fear? Why shall I fear?

Ps 42:11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

I have a life that causes some people to ask why – and I love this song as an answer, an answer that I need to remember:

~Thanks to me dear friend, June Stephens, for helping me find this song again!

100 Spiritual Walking Steps #41 – John 3:16, football and boldness

Tim Tebow - www.timtebow.com

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Tim Tebow – the wonderful young man that is quarterback for the Denver Broncos – threw passes for 316 yards against the Steelers.
They said he couldn’t do it…but God is the one that writes the story of our life.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

This young man is an example to all who call themselves by the name of Christ:
Tim has embraced the reality of John 3:16, along with the following passages from John 3:

John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

I have posted my testimony as “Who Is ChristArtist?”

But here’s a question for all that want to ride on Tim Tebow’s coat tails…Do you think you’re going to heaven?

If you are a Christian, why aren’t WE being persecuted in the same manner as Tim Tebow?

Tebow has done what we as Christians are commanded to do – encourage one another while it is still day….Heb 3:13;
and

Heb 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Can we say:

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

And do we believe:

Luke 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and [in his] Father’s, and of the holy angels.

Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

I wrote about boldness in Step #37 New Beginnings, Again!

I have been challenged to be BOLD this year…BOLD for the LORD…and Tim Tebow has been a beautiful example of that this year.
You can see a ripple of boldness in the other football players, and the teams…being unafraid to share their faith.
I challenge anyone to live like Tim Tebow – imitating him as he imitates Christ.
We could all follow much worse.

Thank you, God, for bringing Tim Tebow into our lives for such a time as this! Bless him and his family, as they have blessed us, in Jesus’ name.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
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100 Spiritual Walking Steps #38 Choose to Move

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

These 100 Spiritual Steps are all about moving from one place to another – in the spiritual realm, which effects the physical realm.

The other day, I wrote about a journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step.
Today, I’m taking a first step.
Today, I am starting the Daniel Fast – because I can’t fast with no food, and because I need to bring my body under subjection.
This is a first step for this year, to effect change in me.

There are changes that need to be made in me:

Heart
Soul
Mind
Strength

Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment.

Everything and everyone changes.
Moving is Change and change is moving!

Some change just happens.
Some change is a choice.

Change is scary!
Sometimes change is because of a lack of a choice.
Not choosing is giving up your power to allow someone or something else to choose for you.
SCARY!

In this context, CHANGES could be replaced with CHOICES.
We have a CHOICE about how we react or respond to CHANGE.

From our birth, things have changed – in us and around us – and for the first years, we had no choice in the matter.
When we started becoming aware, we started to make choices, and our choices brought consequences, whether desirable, or not.
WE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED FROM OUR CHOICES.
SOME CHOICES DETERMINED THE DIRECTION OF OUR LIVES.

You can choose to move….

Gen 12: 1 & 4 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
:4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram [was] seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

Or be moved….by your choices:

Gen 3:23-24 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

The key is – the choices have their consequences:
Abraham:

Gen 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Adam and Eve:

Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed [is] the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat [of] it all the days of thy life;
:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.

We are asked to make a choice for our heart’s devotion, and that gives us a direction in which to go.

God, through Moses, asked the Israelites to make a choice before moving on towards the promised land:

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
:20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, [and] that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he [is] thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

God, through Joshua, asked the Israelites to choose whom they would serve before moving forward:

Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Jesus asks us to make a choice, and change our direction, and follow Him.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.

Jesus asked the rich young ruler to make a choice:

Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Jesus lets us know there is a cost:

Matt 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

I think of that poor rich young ruler. He’d done everything right, EXCEPT give his HEART to Jesus – his heart was tied up in his things.
I also think about the 10 virgins – they were all waiting for the bridegroom to come, they had all fallen asleep – but when it all came down to when it counted – there were five that had paid the price to have enough oil….

Matthew 25 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

When the cry went out that the bridegroom was on the way, they all awoke, and five realized they didn’t have enough oil. Five refilled their lamps. The foolish five had to go buy oil – and while they were off doing that, the bridegroom came, the door was opened, the wise five went in…and the door was shut. Not to be opened again. Those that had not paid the price to be prepared, were left out.

The moral of the story?

Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Choices have consequences, and determine where we can go.
In our spiritual life – choices have spiritual consequences, and determine where we will spend eternity.

I am suffering the consequences of choices that I made many years past.
Some are visible, some are not.
Some are physical, some are not.

But the first step is to move away from those choices, and to choose to make a change.

Matt 3:2 Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

The word repent here, in the Greek, means:

to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins

That is also the first step of salvation.
It is also, the first step for change.

In Christ, I am a new creation. (2 Cor 5:17)
In Christ, I have gone from darkness into light. (Eph 5:18)
I have to choose to put off the old man, and put on the new man. (2 Cor 5:17)
But, thank God – I can do it just one step at a time.
This journey, of however many steps, starts with ONE STEP.
I just have to be stepping in the right direction!
I have to CHOOSE to MOVE!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
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Naomi's Heart Mission

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

Daniel Fast – Day 3-6 – Finding the purpose

Isaiah 58 -THE FAST

Isaiah 58
:6 [Is] not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
:7 [Is it] not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
:8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.

This chapter goes back and forth with If this, THEN that….

:9b If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
:a 10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

THEN

9a: Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’
10b :10b then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

And such a promise!

Is 58:11 And the LORD will guide you continually
and
satisfy your desire in scorched places
and
make your bones strong;
and
you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
:12 And
your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
(and)
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
(and)
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
(and)
the restorer of streets to dwell in.

I am not taking this fast seriously…I’ve been treating it like a ‘NEW WAY TO EAT’
I ‘say’ I want to set the captives free – but do I do what it takes to be heard and taken seriously as an intercessor before the Lord?
I ‘say’ I want to stand in the gap – but do I do what it takes to do so?

I see the key in Is 58:3:
‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’
Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers.

A Daniel fast is pretty easy, as far as fasting goes.
You can eat all the fruits and veggies and nuts you want!
No hunger pains….”not to hide yourself from your own flesh”

Matt 5:6 Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Do I HUNGER AND THRIST after righteousness? Can I even suffer a little discomfort in my flesh for my spirit to grow? With what do I want to be filled?
In the next chapter of Isaiah – the prophet says this:

Is 49:10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

What is the filling that I desire?
What is the comfort that I desire?
God promises this:

Is 49:8Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee:
and
I will preserve thee,
and
give thee for a covenant of the people,
(and)
to establish the earth,
(and)
to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
:9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that [are] in darkness, Shew yourselves.
They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures [shall be] in all high places.

Is 49:13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth;
and
break forth into singing, O mountains:
for the LORD hath comforted his people,
and
will have mercy upon his afflicted.

Committing to a Daniel fast is more than just changing my eating habits.
Committing to a Daniel fast is to be taken seriously.

Am I willing to give up pleasures to focus on the oppressed, those in bondage, those in need?
Am I willing to have a fasting mentality – focusing my whole life on the Lord God and HIS will and concerns?
Do I care enough about those in need, any need, to give up something that will cause me to look at MY FLESH and say “lay down and humble yourself before the mighty God”?

I am convicted – cut to the quick –
and
I pray that my heart, mind, and spirit will be prepared to join those participating in THE Daniel Fast – and Fasting for Food this year.
AND
I pray that I will have a heart that is so burdened with the causes of the oppressed – that it won’t be my diet that changes – but rather MY LIFE!
I love this Hymn – though it’s very hard to find it in an upbeat version!

FYI – I am not broadcasting this fast in order to obtain praise of men – I am sharing my journal to help others that may be participating in this fast.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.