Happy Mother's Day!

Have a great day all you Moms out there!


-- an iPhone post

It's been awhile. And now for something completely different.

It's been awhile since I posted. We have been busy (isn't everyone?). So today I thought I would post something.

We are coming up on our last few weeks of Father's House. It will be sad to see it go for the summer but it will give us a much needed breather. Producing that kind of quality and energy for 9 months is hard! But oh so worth it! The kids seem to really enjoy it.

We will be re-launching our website soon. The logo is getting close to being finalized. I can't wait to reveal it! So I guess you could say that the reason no new things have been on the website lately is that I been working to re-build it and re-theme it. So I guess, until then, it is under construction.





But then again, aren't we always under construction ourselves???!?

EggMazing Grace!!

This is the promo for this year's Easter event!! You will not want to miss this!

No Preservatives, Nothing Added

So. Today the fast is officially over. I really felt compelled to end the fast with Communion. Somehow that seemed theologically appropriate. Celebrating a renewal before God with a ritual that ushers in His Kingdom and reminds of it.

What a dichotomy of ideas and textures! The hard act of the breaking of Christ's body and the wonderful new flavors of bread not savored for 21 days. The painful loss of blood and the sweetness and tartness of the fruit of the vine rekindled and renewed through abstention.

I have been thinking to what end did this fast accomplish. I have been reading both the Fasting book and The Daniel Fast book by Susan Gregory. One more than the other speaks of what we get from the fast. There are still tones of success in both of them. This touts of magic wand theology. Our God is not a magic wand God. He is a God that does have our best in His plans, but that does not mean that by fasting we are ushered into an ability to have God wave His magic wand over our problems and afflictions to have God solve them.

However, this fast has taught me what I have been missing by not having certain disciplines in my life that should have already been producing fruit in my life. One of my goals that I believe should be a part of every fast is that of adding something spiritual to our lives when we are withholding something physical from our lives. I personally found that doing these during the time that I would have normally had that thing that I am withholding helps me truly appreciate God in an added way.

For me, I wanted to have a better prayer life. I wanted to commune with God in a more intimate way in order to have a deeper relationship with Him. I turned to the Psalms where God spoke to me as I went through them. Most of what I gleaned was not that of special insight or Godly revelation. Instead it was a methodical approach to reading and understanding how and what David was going through as he wrote them. The pain he endured. The feeling of separation from God. Yet, David recurrently praising God in the middle of the hurt he endured. He truly leaned on God. But it really wasn't a crutch type of leaning. It was total dependence on God.

How incredible! One thing that I learned through David's psalms and Susan Gregory's devotions was that it was through being prepared, having an ongoing relationship with God that is growing and deepening, that he and we are able to persevere. It is not so much that we run to God when we need Him, but rather by having an ongoing relationship with God we are able to be so close to Him that those times do not shake our foundation. Instead, they strengthen our foundation, because we have already become one with the Father (God). In our weakness, He is strong. Our strength comes from Him.

When we do feel closer to God, it is not because of what we got. I believe it is because of what we gave.

Sweet Leaf?

I was looking at a Daniel Fast website and found an interesting link. I was going to have a lunch appointment with someone and was wondering what I could eat if I did go have lunch with them. So I googled it.

It seems that a few restaurants do support the Daniel Fast but it isn't easy. On the same webpage was something called Stevia. I looked it up and it is a sweetener that is okay to have on the Daniel Fast. Also, it is diabetic okay which is cool because my Dad is type 2 diabetic.

Anyway here is the link to it: http://www.sweetleaf.com/

Oh, and just in case you were wondering here are the restaurants that have some okay food:

http://danielsfastcookbook.com/9.html

Hope this helps someone out!

The Daniel Fast

I was looking up some information on the Daniel Fast and came across this site.

I signed up and got an email with a list of foods that are "allowed" and "disallowed." It really helped me.

Many times I have seen people talking about fasting in order to receive some financial boon or for some super special end. I think we all know that God is not a "magic wand" God. So, instead, why don't we focus on fasting as a way to grow closer to God and His will. Let it be ANOTHER discipline that helps you remove things from your life that remove you from God.

For me, fasting is about Sovereignty. God is to be first in my life. Not my needs, not even my physical ones. I was reminded just tonight about Elijah that had to run for his life from a King that wanted him dead. God told him to go to a special place that would keep him safe. Elijah asked what he would eat. And God said, I will provide you with food.

God, you are my King. It is by your hand that I am able to do anything. Let me be reminded.

Practice Wednesday Night!

Hello!

I thought I would give a little more information about practice tomorrow night.

We are thinking about having the kids sing outside as carolers for the Christmas Eve Service. What do you think about that? Let me know by taking the poll to the right--->>

Practice is tomorrow night at 7 pm. It will be over at 7:40.

Dress for tomorrow night is what carolers would wear. They can wear nice clothes as long as they also wear warm clothes with warm hats, gloves, scarves, etc.

The Christmas Eve Service starts at 4:30 on Thursday the 24th. We would like to have the kids here at 4:00 pm to "warm" up and get ready to sing. They will sing from 4:10 or so to 4:35 pm. After that they will come back in to sit with their parents.

If you have any questions, give me a call!