Preparing for the January 2019 fast

I know that God was helping me prepare for this fast.  I had fasted before and was prepared for it.  Grace # 2, God took my hunger little by little, over weeks.  About 5 days before the fast I realized I couldn't eat the portion sizes I had been previously.  A single chicken sandwich overfilled me.  God had me give mom my fasting book around Thanksgiving so He was preparing her too.  And I had time to replace the book for myself.  Dennis is on board and praying.  Dennis also mentioned having video resources.  So far I haven't found those, but I have a line up of christian movies and other enjoyable non christian movies to watch.  I am saturated in prayer and the Word.  Plenty of resources for both.  Dennis and I talked about reading the Bible all the way through and then my sister-in-law invited us to follow a reading plan with her.

My therapist had mentioned Chip Ingram and his teaching on Spiritual Warfare and it has come to mind.  The enemy was in full force in the days and weeks leading up to the fast but God kept me safe and protected.


In a previous fast, I had the vision of principalities crumbling in the spiritual.  This time it was within me, right behind my eyelids.

The theme of this fast is family so I am anticipating good things for family.  I don't know what that looks like but I am guessing strongholds will be torn down.

Can't I be a citizen in multiple heavens?

It's a funny question.  Multiple heavens???  There is only one as far as any of us know.  But this is what came to mind when I thought about my connection to different churches in the area.  Each of them has it's own beauty and it's own gifts and it's own call.  And I've found life giving friendships in all of them.  So my question is "Why do I have to choose only one to be a member of?".  Can't I be a citizen in multiple heavens?

 

Things turns out to be an excellent question and the answer is we, the Body of Christ, are one big family, and yes, there are multiple "heavens", also known as congregations,  where heaven meets earth but not all do all the time.  I'm so excited for Challenge 25 because heaven is coming to earth that day when all God's children UNITE to praise and worship Him GLOBALLY.   And it turns out that scripture says there are multiple heavens beyond the veil.

Giving what we've been given.

I learned to simply give what I've been given.

1 Chronicles 29:10-20 with emphasis on 14

But who am I and who are my people?


Giving beyond the tithe, if I want to give and I don't have it, I ask God for it.

Heart issue
  ~Do I believe God
  ~Do I do what He says

Luke 6:46  "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

Luke 6:38   Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

(sowing and reaping)


He wants our hearts.

God so Loved the World that He gave His one and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting Life.

Study the scriptures, discern Your heart and give.

Give/gave

Generously
God gave generously - extravagantly generous

No conditions. Nothing like "My son will die to give you life if you do xyz" 

No guarantees, no promise of repayment.

He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Be merciful, give, don't judge or condemn, forgive  Luke 6:32-40

EBC speaker 7/14/19 John Dickerson - God gave us everything He had at the cross

The Rescue Plan

At some point before we come into this world, we are One with the Father. (Thank you Papa for that snippet.)  Then we enter this dark world and sin begins to have it's way with us.  Sins upon us at first and then sins we commit later.  Jesus is the rescue plan.