Proverbs 30:8-9 ...feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "who is the Lord?" Isn't it interesting how our attitudes can change when we are denied something? Even something as simple as our morning coffee? This proverb is a reminder that it is when we are denied something, or simply given that which we need, we are in an appropriate place of recognizing God as the giver of all things good. When I have plenty I am in danger of thinking that I attained something on my own, or that I can manage things well enough without God. We may not say it in so many words, but our attitude can oh so quickly shift. May a little going without draw us to our God as needy people. Sustained wholly by Him.
Hey, variety is the spice of life, so if you have found a way to maintain some variety during the fast please let me know. Personally I can get in a rut of the three things I like...but seriously how many plates of rice and beans can one person eat in a row? Anyway, email me with your ideas on maintaining variety in your Daniel Fast diet. pastorcarlyn@harvestcomchurch.org
Let us be in prayer for our elected leaders today. Election years have their own drama, but let's pray that those who make the laws of the land be confronted with the truth of the gospel and respond in faith. God may you not be a political plaything, thrown about according to the whims of the user, but rather may you be recognized as Lord, sustainer and giver of Life and all things good. Amen.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
It's not just a physical thing
When Jesus was tempted by the devil after He had just completed a 40 day fast (upon which the idea of Lent is based) He responded with the Words of Scripture. Jesus reminds us that it isn't simply about the physical, but rather that there is a Supernatural reality that God calls us to. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God".
By not perhaps you are like me in that the mechanics of the Fast are less on the mind. We now have food around here that I can eat, some recipe ideas, and now some successful days from which to take encouragement. But let's not stop there and feel good about how we are doing/feeling physically (not to take away from the physical, but not to stop there either), but let us now move on in the midst of the Fast to consider the Words of God. May that be our true sustenance, may God's Words be our meat.
Let us be in prayer today for the proclamation of the Gospel from the Churches of our town/state/country. God let there be a revival of interest in Your Word, rather than the words of man. Amen.
By not perhaps you are like me in that the mechanics of the Fast are less on the mind. We now have food around here that I can eat, some recipe ideas, and now some successful days from which to take encouragement. But let's not stop there and feel good about how we are doing/feeling physically (not to take away from the physical, but not to stop there either), but let us now move on in the midst of the Fast to consider the Words of God. May that be our true sustenance, may God's Words be our meat.
Let us be in prayer today for the proclamation of the Gospel from the Churches of our town/state/country. God let there be a revival of interest in Your Word, rather than the words of man. Amen.
Monday, February 27, 2012
The Faithful Lord
...great is Your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-27). Jeremiah has seen his share of affliction and yet he is able to count on the steadfast mercies of our Lord. I especially like the last part of this passage where he encourages us to wait on the Lord, to wait, and to 'bear the yoke in his youth'. Jeremiah is encouraging us to look upon our waiting on the Lord as a yoke, as something that we are tethered to in order to bring us to a place where we have been trained to peer beyond the circumstances of life and rather to see into the perfect eternal and supernatural realm of our Lord. He is always there, He is always faithful, He is always merciful. There is no reason to simply grit ones teeth until an ultimate and final day, rather we can rejoice in His goodness and wait for the unfolding of His good and perfect plan. May our fasting lead us to a patient waiting!
Let us be in prayer today for those who are sick or infirm. As they are forced to wait patiently, let us lift them up and ask that God would shower His mercies upon them today.
Let us be in prayer today for those who are sick or infirm. As they are forced to wait patiently, let us lift them up and ask that God would shower His mercies upon them today.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Encourage One Another
Being with God's People is an encouragement as we become aware that the battle we fight isn't ours alone, but rather the battle belongs to the Lord. Gathering with God's people reminds us of this and gives us the resolve to fight on another hour, another day, another week. I was especially encouraged in my own spirit today...I hope you were as well.
More recipe info:
Here is an update from Annie on the Udon Noodle Recipe she shared earlier.
for the Udon Noodles recipe: after tossing veggies and noodles, the mixture should be stir fried in wok or large skillet on med-high heat for about 15 minutes or until veggies are cooked but still slightly crunchy.
Jessica has this to add after the Women's Fellowship Time Friday evening:
More recipe info:
Here is an update from Annie on the Udon Noodle Recipe she shared earlier.
for the Udon Noodles recipe: after tossing veggies and noodles, the mixture should be stir fried in wok or large skillet on med-high heat for about 15 minutes or until veggies are cooked but still slightly crunchy.
Jessica has this to add after the Women's Fellowship Time Friday evening:
My contribution to the get together last night was refried black beans with baked vegetable corn chips and sun dried tomato basil hummus with assorted vegetables for dipping. Both tasted great and I would recommend them to Daniel Fasters and non.
Slow Cooker Refried Black Beans
1 lb dry black beans, rinsed and sorted
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, chopped
1 tsp cumin
4 14oz cans vegetable broth
Place all ingredients in a slow cooker and stir to combine. Cook on low heat 8-10 hours or until beans are tender. Remove excess liquid and then mash with potato masher or electric mixer.
Sun Dried Tomato Basil Hummus
3 garlic cloves
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tsp sea salt
3 Tbsp tahini
1/2 cup olive oil
2 15oz cans garbanzo beans
1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes (either oil packed or dry)
2 Tbsp minced fresh basil
In a food processor combine cloves, lemon juice, salt and tahini until smooth. Add beans and olive oil, process until smooth, scraping sides as needed. Add in tomatoes and pulse until minced well and mixed throughout. Finally, add in basil and pulse to combine. Serve with assorted veggies, chips or crackers.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Weekend!
Keeping up with a fast (or any personal commitment really) can take on added difficulty when our schedule gets changed up like it probably does for you on this weekend. Make a strategy for how you will keep to the fast! You may need to be sure you have some appropriate snack items around. One thing I am trying to do is to have some 'free' foods; something I can have whenever so that I am not tempted with something I shouldn't have. So far for me that has been grapes and pistachio nuts...that may not be your choice but it works for me.
Let us also remember that all of life is life before our God. When the schedule changes or we are just plain hungry for something we can't have we need to turn our focus Godward. Psalm 121 starts out, "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth". The tremendous value of any fast is that when we feel the lack, it can be a driver to look to the Lord. May that be our focus today whenever we are tempted otherwise!
As a special point of prayer today let's pray for those who continue their jobs through the weekend to take care of us. I am thinking today especially of those in the medical profession who maintain care around the clock. Thank you to those who are doctors, nurses, support staff and EMS personnel...we are praying for you!
Another recipe:
Tried a simple recipe from www.ultimatedanielfast.com that Jami and I both enjoyed. If you look under recipes/vegetables there is a dish called pan roasted broccoli and cauliflower. Mmm. I recommend it!
Let us also remember that all of life is life before our God. When the schedule changes or we are just plain hungry for something we can't have we need to turn our focus Godward. Psalm 121 starts out, "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth". The tremendous value of any fast is that when we feel the lack, it can be a driver to look to the Lord. May that be our focus today whenever we are tempted otherwise!
As a special point of prayer today let's pray for those who continue their jobs through the weekend to take care of us. I am thinking today especially of those in the medical profession who maintain care around the clock. Thank you to those who are doctors, nurses, support staff and EMS personnel...we are praying for you!
Another recipe:
Tried a simple recipe from www.ultimatedanielfast.com that Jami and I both enjoyed. If you look under recipes/vegetables there is a dish called pan roasted broccoli and cauliflower. Mmm. I recommend it!
Friday, February 24, 2012
Taking up the Cross
Hurray! Survived day two! I had a couple of ideas for Daniel Fast food sent to me yesterday so I will copy those at the end of the blog post. Great ideas...send me yours at pastorcarlyn@harvestcomchurch.org
Here is what Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 16, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me...". Now of course for those of us on some sort of fast during this Lenten season we can be pretty sure that we are following our Lord's instruction. Or are we? The reason that may not be the case is that there is a gulf a mile wide between self denial and denying self. Let me see if I can explain. I would put self denial in the category of giving up things or going without with a view toward something better. It is kind of like driving my old pickup around another year or two so that I can save up for a nicer one later. Giving up certain foods can be in that category too. Perhaps we give up certain foods with a view toward knowing our God better. So, self denial can be good...it can be selfish too because it stays in the realm of the external.
But look again at what Jesus is asking for. He wants us to 'deny self' which is way more difficult and cuts to the core of our being. Denying self is to actually set self aside; to take up the cross gives it the imagery of death. What Jesus is asking is no mere setting aside but is in actuality a call to die, to in fact take up the Christ life as opposed to continuing on the self course. This is all of life, not just a steak or two here or there.
Let us think on this today. I am ecstatic as I have heard of the number of us who have embarked on some form of self denial. May it be part of the formation of Christ in us that finds its way to denial of self, death to self, and the Christ life in us.
As a prayer focus today let's be in prayer for our teens. The pressures to conform to a life that asks for and gets whatever it wants, when it wants, how it wants it is enormous. However, nobody is telling them that in all that getting they may in fact miss the Savior.
The Recipe Ideas
From Annie
Here is what Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 16, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me...". Now of course for those of us on some sort of fast during this Lenten season we can be pretty sure that we are following our Lord's instruction. Or are we? The reason that may not be the case is that there is a gulf a mile wide between self denial and denying self. Let me see if I can explain. I would put self denial in the category of giving up things or going without with a view toward something better. It is kind of like driving my old pickup around another year or two so that I can save up for a nicer one later. Giving up certain foods can be in that category too. Perhaps we give up certain foods with a view toward knowing our God better. So, self denial can be good...it can be selfish too because it stays in the realm of the external.
But look again at what Jesus is asking for. He wants us to 'deny self' which is way more difficult and cuts to the core of our being. Denying self is to actually set self aside; to take up the cross gives it the imagery of death. What Jesus is asking is no mere setting aside but is in actuality a call to die, to in fact take up the Christ life as opposed to continuing on the self course. This is all of life, not just a steak or two here or there.
Let us think on this today. I am ecstatic as I have heard of the number of us who have embarked on some form of self denial. May it be part of the formation of Christ in us that finds its way to denial of self, death to self, and the Christ life in us.
As a prayer focus today let's be in prayer for our teens. The pressures to conform to a life that asks for and gets whatever it wants, when it wants, how it wants it is enormous. However, nobody is telling them that in all that getting they may in fact miss the Savior.
The Recipe Ideas
From Annie
The following is a family favorite from our CSA this past summer. To accommodate the Fast, delete the brown sugar. Rice vinegar and Sesame Oil can be found at the health food area at Coborns and don't let the peanut butter throw you! I also exclude the red pepper paste etc. and use a variety of veggies. Instead of the Asian noodles I use whole wheat spaghetti.
Udon Noodles with Asian Vegetables and Peanut Sauce
The combination of peanut butter (peanuts being a legume) and udon noodles provide complementary proteins in this quick-to-make entrée.
- YIELD: 4 servings (serving size: 2 cups)
- COURSE: Main Dishes, Side Dishes/Vegetables
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons water
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dark sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon chile paste with garlic (optional)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 8 ounces uncooked udon noodles (thick, round fresh Japanese wheat noodles) or spaghetti
- 4 cups sliced bok choy
- 2 cups snow peas, halved crosswise
- 1 cup shredded carrot
Preparation
Combine first 10 ingredients in a small saucepan; stir with a whisk until blended. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Set aside.
Cook noodles in boiling water 8 minutes. Drain well. Combine noodles, peanut sauce, bok choy, snow peas, and carrot in a large bowl, and toss well to coat.
Note: Chile paste with garlic can be found with other ethnic foods in the supermarket. It can be omitted if you perfer a not-so-hot sauce. If udon noodles are difficult to find, try an Asian market.
Cooking Light APRIL 1997
From Emily
One approved food that many may not know about are Triscuit Original crackers. Their only ingredients are whole grain wheat, soybean oil, and salt. Thought you might want to pass along that tip! It's a lifesaver around our house during the Daniel Fast!
Plain Rice Cakes are also ok to have on the fast! They only contain whole grain brown rice and salt.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Day 2
How are you feeling today? I heard reports of headaches yesterday and so it is likely that the euphoria of participating in the fast has now fully worn off and you are not looking forward to today. The good news is that day 2 seems to be about the hardest in any fast so if you can make it through today (and you can) it will get progressively better.
I was thinking about 2 Corinthians 4 (I would commend it to your reading) where Paul is talking about the proclamation of the gospel in or through these bodies that he calls 'jars of clay'. But since it all comes together when we are raised up to be with Christ he says that we can endure what he refers to as 'light momentary afflictions'. Perhaps today as we endure what may be the most difficult day of the whole fast we can use that headache, or that hunger, or simply that desire for something we have committed to not having; perhaps we can take our difficulties of the day and redirect that desire to a thinking about the bigger picture. Today let us remember that in this life there will be difficulties yes, but that as we seek our Lord we can know that the glory will be far beyond anything we have endured here. Instead let's turn our attention to thanksgiving for all that our God has accomplished.
Hey, if you have a recipe that you have enjoyed let me know and I will repost it. Shoot me an email at pastorcarlyn@harvestcomchurch.org and we will let everybody in on the news. For our part there was a bunch of black beans in the crock pot last night and I heard rumors of black beans and rice today, so I am looking forward to that! How about you?
As you are in prayer today, please remember our military stationed overseas. Talk about going without! Our food is one thing but to be apart from family seems to me to be an even greater sacrifice. Lord, keep our men and women of the military out of harms way today, and more than that would you give them a sense of laboring for a larger cause. Lord I would pray that in the midst of separation from loved ones that each person stationed overseas would have a sense of your love for them, and that it might in fact be through this separation that many come to find their ultimate satisfaction in a relationship with you. Amen.
I was thinking about 2 Corinthians 4 (I would commend it to your reading) where Paul is talking about the proclamation of the gospel in or through these bodies that he calls 'jars of clay'. But since it all comes together when we are raised up to be with Christ he says that we can endure what he refers to as 'light momentary afflictions'. Perhaps today as we endure what may be the most difficult day of the whole fast we can use that headache, or that hunger, or simply that desire for something we have committed to not having; perhaps we can take our difficulties of the day and redirect that desire to a thinking about the bigger picture. Today let us remember that in this life there will be difficulties yes, but that as we seek our Lord we can know that the glory will be far beyond anything we have endured here. Instead let's turn our attention to thanksgiving for all that our God has accomplished.
Hey, if you have a recipe that you have enjoyed let me know and I will repost it. Shoot me an email at pastorcarlyn@harvestcomchurch.org and we will let everybody in on the news. For our part there was a bunch of black beans in the crock pot last night and I heard rumors of black beans and rice today, so I am looking forward to that! How about you?
As you are in prayer today, please remember our military stationed overseas. Talk about going without! Our food is one thing but to be apart from family seems to me to be an even greater sacrifice. Lord, keep our men and women of the military out of harms way today, and more than that would you give them a sense of laboring for a larger cause. Lord I would pray that in the midst of separation from loved ones that each person stationed overseas would have a sense of your love for them, and that it might in fact be through this separation that many come to find their ultimate satisfaction in a relationship with you. Amen.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Ash Wednesday - Be prepared
The beginning of Lent is upon us. Our Shrove Tuesday celebration was a lot of fun and the food was great. But today we begin a time of going without...a time to reset our focus on the One who gave His very life that we might obtain life which is life indeed.
I was thinking today about this time and for those who will be fasting and am reminded of a wise Missions guy who with his wife and family served for a period of time in Iran. One of the things I recall him saying was that it wasn't the size of the storm that really mattered. The truth is you can't do anything about the storm anyway. Rather the important thing is to be prepared for the storm. He quite humorously (and memorably) illustrated it by suggesting that a person walking along the road and hit with a 100 mile an hour wind gust would be knocked off their feet (at which time he proceeded to roll head over heels on the ground). Not pretty. However if the same person were walking along and found something sturdy to brace themselves by it would fare much better for them.
The same thing is true as we enter this season of fasting. 1 Peter 4:13-14 says "Dear Friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." Though we certainly won't suffer like Christ did, yet through fasting we are entering into His suffering in order that we might rejoice at His coming. Therefore we ought to think ahead to all that may confront us in the days ahead and to begin to prepare our hearts and minds for all that may come our way. In that way we won't be knocked off course when something comes up, but rather we can brace for it and bring it to Jesus as the One who has been there, done that, and will carry us through.
Let us be in prayer today for our own right attitudes and preparations of the heart as we embark on this journey closer to Him.
I was thinking today about this time and for those who will be fasting and am reminded of a wise Missions guy who with his wife and family served for a period of time in Iran. One of the things I recall him saying was that it wasn't the size of the storm that really mattered. The truth is you can't do anything about the storm anyway. Rather the important thing is to be prepared for the storm. He quite humorously (and memorably) illustrated it by suggesting that a person walking along the road and hit with a 100 mile an hour wind gust would be knocked off their feet (at which time he proceeded to roll head over heels on the ground). Not pretty. However if the same person were walking along and found something sturdy to brace themselves by it would fare much better for them.
The same thing is true as we enter this season of fasting. 1 Peter 4:13-14 says "Dear Friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." Though we certainly won't suffer like Christ did, yet through fasting we are entering into His suffering in order that we might rejoice at His coming. Therefore we ought to think ahead to all that may confront us in the days ahead and to begin to prepare our hearts and minds for all that may come our way. In that way we won't be knocked off course when something comes up, but rather we can brace for it and bring it to Jesus as the One who has been there, done that, and will carry us through.
Let us be in prayer today for our own right attitudes and preparations of the heart as we embark on this journey closer to Him.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Lent Begins February 22nd
Today is the day before Lent, a day of partying one last time in many places and for many people before the season of deniel begins. While I recognize that for many there is no reality behind it all, it is simply an excuse to party. (And who doesn't love a party!) Yet if we can get beyond the formality and tradition of it all and get to the meaning of it and the intent, I think we find something rich and rewarding.
My intent is to here offer some reflections and encouragement for those of us who are choosing the 'feast of fasting' as one author calls it. A time to go without for the purpose of getting more of our God. I realize that all of our motivations aren't 100% pure. I for example am curious how I will feel as I go without some of the normal foods and beverages I am accustomed to having. Yet at the bottom of it all I hope that you will pray with me this simply prayer: "Lord, break down whatever it is in my life that keeps me from having more of You". May we seek His face and allow are hunger or our feelings of being deprived be met instead by the One who 'fills all in all'.
I and others are engaging in a 21 day 'Daniel Fast' for the first 21 days of Lent starting February 22nd. Some are choosing a shorter time frame, some even to fast in a different way. It is all good. In the days ahead we will look at Scripture and attempt to refocus on the One in whom our desires belong.
My intent is to here offer some reflections and encouragement for those of us who are choosing the 'feast of fasting' as one author calls it. A time to go without for the purpose of getting more of our God. I realize that all of our motivations aren't 100% pure. I for example am curious how I will feel as I go without some of the normal foods and beverages I am accustomed to having. Yet at the bottom of it all I hope that you will pray with me this simply prayer: "Lord, break down whatever it is in my life that keeps me from having more of You". May we seek His face and allow are hunger or our feelings of being deprived be met instead by the One who 'fills all in all'.
I and others are engaging in a 21 day 'Daniel Fast' for the first 21 days of Lent starting February 22nd. Some are choosing a shorter time frame, some even to fast in a different way. It is all good. In the days ahead we will look at Scripture and attempt to refocus on the One in whom our desires belong.
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