Prayer and Fasting

I can't believe I haven't had a post on here since September of last year-and yet, I can. I didn't really think anyone was reading what I posted here so I was content to post the occasional thought as a "note" on my Facebook page.

My daughter, Naomi just turned one. I am no longer nursing her, and that is where this post begins.

You see, fasting is a complex challenge posed to Christians. While still pregnant and during her first year of life, I'd heard multiple pastors/teachers speak on fasting. "It doesn't have to be food" was the most popular phrase. "Fast something that costs you and take the time you would use to spend praying and drawing close to God."

I fasted from Facebook, I fasted desserts, did lots of different things, but none of them really resounded with that depth in my heart that I'd had in the past when I fasted actual meals.

A friend of ours was seriously hurt and the day we found out, I felt strongly that I should fast that day until dinner, and be in constant prayer for this friend. It was amazing what happened. The early part of the day I would pray whenever I thought of him, but as the day progressed and my three girls interacted with myself and each other, I wasn't thinking of him at all. Then, I had a hunger pang. And when I say pang-it was a real pain in my stomach saying "Why haven't you fed me yet?"

At that point, I remembered our friend and began praying again. This happened throughout the day. At the end of the day, I was famished and broke the fast at dinner, but it was a breakthrough in my mind of why the Bible speaks of fasting. Specifically food.

There is a physical consequence that goes beyond our selfish desire to only care for ourselves-and that is where intercession takes place. If I fast something that is outside my body-it may not be a true need. I may dearly miss it, but if it's just a want, it is not the life-giving sacrifice that shapes my heart.

As you read this, perhaps it is a completely different experience for you. Fasting is not dieting. That is the number one reason why I wouldn't recommend fasting for long periods of time. Fasting is for us, but really it shouldn't be about you at all. This was specific and I was able as I wasn't pregnant or nursing (for the first time in almost six years!)-and I knew it was for a short period of time. There was a pressing urgency on me-it wasn't an idea I came up with myself.



I am still in prayer for our friend and hope you can be too. "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. -Romans 12:12"

Presentation

I attended church this weekend and celebrated my seventh wedding anniversary. As it was a special occasion, I took extra time to look nice. Growing up, we always dressed in our "Sunday best" for church, then changed after getting home into playclothes. There is nothing wrong with wanting to dress nicely for church. In fact, I anticipate every Sunday as a chance to get dressed up-my stay-at-home life doesn't call for much dressiness. I usually dress practically for the chores/playing with my girls.

During the service, I was observing people in attendance. We meet outdoors for the summer and this was our first regular indoor service. I saw a lot of new faces and shamefully, I felt a bit of snobbiness soley based on appearance. Some of the new people seemed unpolished, and looked as though they had perhaps been through some hard times before coming to church. This was wrong and I was quickly convicted by the sweet, gentle Holy Spirit as I watched a young lady during the worship time.

She had a contagious joy during the worship-and I am pretty sure she was a new Christian. Most of the time, a new Christian is unhindered in their emotion as they rejoice in their newfound faith and hope. She was ecstatic while clapping and singing, and I couldn't help wishing I had her energy and excitement. At a later point in the service, we had open communion and she was weeping loudly while others comforted her.

At this point, I recalled the rebuke to the Pharisees that Jesus gave. He called them whitewashed tombs.
As I remembered the story, He called to my mind that God looks at the heart. "Tammy, you spent all that time preparing your appearance, but did you prepare your heart today?" What good is it to look presentable if you are not presentable inside?
How thankful I was that it was a communion Sunday and that I could ask forgiveness, then take the elements as a remembrance of God's grace and forgiveness for our prideful hearts (and all other shortcomings we have).

There is so much yet that I must learn as I walk in God's grace, but I am thankful to have friends like you to help me on my way. I am turning 30 next month and in some ways I feel grown up, but this was a reminder that I am still very young and immature in some ways-and that God will be faithful to complete His plans for me if I will yield to His leading.

~Tammy

Housecleaning and thankfulness??

Laundry, laundry, how I love thee-you mean I have clothes to wear
Dishes, dishes, thank you, thank you-you held food that I prepared
Dirty floors that I am cleaning-how I thank you very well-
you hold up the ones I love-glad we have a place to dwell
I coined this poem this morning while doing some baby laundry that was unexpected. (no more huggies diapers for me-we're pampers people for good!)
Regardless of our circumstances, our attitude bears so much on our life and mood. I pray to have a thankful heart and to be cheerful as I work. (and we have been watching Cinderella a lot)

I was blessed to have 16 people in our home for lunch after dedicating our youngest, Naomi, to God at our church this past Sunday. (our entire house is 864 sq ft). Then we had 15 people in our home for dinner as some left and others came. How blessed we were (and stressed but in a good way), and as we clean, we can thank God for each guest and pray for them. We underestimate just how much prayer affects others. Praying is the single most important service we have for each other. Far beyond our physical capabilities, we can call on the power of the Almighty God for each person we bless as we lift them up to our powerful Creator.

I believe we do a disservice thinking that our words will be more helpful than our prayers. Not to say that we shouldn't interact personally-I think face to face time continues to be of importance as we lose so much personal connections to technology. Often though, we really don't know what to say and can say something that really DOESN'T help.

May you find joy in your work today as we journey onward toward heaven-where work will cease to be anything but joyful!!