Monday, May 28, 2007

Day 1

I am using this as a diary of what happens in the next 40 days. 40 days of fasting media and whatever else God tells me to leave behind as I seek Him on behalf of our nation and the world.

I have started fasting food today. For the next 10 days I am drinking only a lemon juice mixture that is also good for bodily cleansing.

Unfortunately, I had a headache yesterday and it has continued to this moment. Should I take medicine for it? Hmm. I'm going to have to. I feel very foggy in the brain right now.

I had to cook dinner for my family and it smelled so good. The thought has occurred to me to not even try to give up food, but then I felt this righteous anger rise up. If I'm willing to fast and pray for this generation and if others are, what kind of difference can we make for the future of our children and theirs. I know that in 3 days it will be a little easier, so I march on.

I did have to work on a message about travailing today. And, yes, it was travail. Between my head and the fogginess, it was hard to do much more than read and pray. Wow, my body is really mad at me right now.

Thursday, May 3, 2007

about that last blog

Maybe my problem isn't about prayer. Maybe it's repetitive confessions. Still researching the Word about it. If we have a Word we believe and then confess it, over and over and over and over... you know what I mean, do we ever stop. 'Cause if not then I need to keep confessing scriptures about my healing, my kids, my neighbors, my husband's job, my future, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, forever and ever and ever amen. What happens if I've read it, got revelation on it, and confessed it? Can't I move on in faith? Or does it have to be a vain repetition that becomes no more than words with a rythym?

But last night was awesome anyway!

Praying

“And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

"When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again. Don't be like them, because your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!”

"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what's best - as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You're in charge! You can do anything you want! You're ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes.”

- Jesus, the Christ, in the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 6 (NKJV, NLT, Message)

Is this why some things just stick in my throat, unable to come out? Why can’t I just get along?

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

On Writing

Okay, so I saw Freedom Writers today. I have so many thoughts right now...

First of all, I was inspired by this movie, this woman, those youth. Yes, one person can make a difference in a community's legacy. I remember reading the Diary of Anne Frank and feeling the frustration of knowing she died. BUT, she left a legacy in her little journal. Her thoughts are timeless, and, to some extent, even what she went through is not much different than what many kids today go through.

I recall reading Uncle Tom's Cabin and being inspired. One women, Harriet Beecher Stowe, used her words to inspire change. Frederick Douglass autobiography, The Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass, was also a powerful tool in convincing the public that slavery was wrong. His philosophy was to "Use the power of spoken and written language to effect positive change for yourself and society."

What if everyone were a reader. Readers of good books, the Bible, blogs, history, whatever? What if everyone wrote down their thoughts, good, bad and ugly?

Sometimes we write just to get it off our chest, leaving the page (screen) feeling a little lighter. Sometimes we write with passion, to show others a point of view that has not been understood yet. Sometimes we write for fun, just a little smackeral of something that tickles our fancy.
Whatever the reason, write. You don't know who you have touched, even your own soul.

Some kids dislike school and maybe rightly so. Unfortunately, that hate steers them away from educating themselves with good books and a blank sheet of paper.

I don't know why I'm writing this except I feel the need to write.

So, tag you're it --- WRITE

Monday, April 30, 2007

First Blog

More to come. Trust me. With all the thoughts that roll around in this ole head, there will be more.