And miles to go before I sleep......and miles to go before I sleep.

My friend and sister in Christ, Priscilla, sent me an email to encourage me in my fasting.  Her words pierced my heart.  Priscilla is a very intelligent, well educated woman of God, a gifted intercessor and is not afraid to do battle with the enemy.  Her words reflect spirital combat experience and I do not take them lightly.  They are relevant to what I have been going through as I walk this path.  Thank you, Sweet P, for pouring your wisdom into my life.  I love you!


Miss Priscilla's Words of Wisdom to Me (and you!):
"In fasting, one turns up the HEAT.. to allow what is within to manifest..... one gets edgy, angry etc. As we see it manifesting and confess it as sin before the Lord it has to leave. This is part of the purifying process and MORE OF HIM and less of me.. In the MORE OF HIM and less of me is HIS FAITH is made manifest and mine is diminished. HIS faith is the faith that moves mountains..:) lp"


As I write this tonight, the Robert Frost poem below comes to mind.  It's how I feel about this fast.  I have "miles to go before I sleep".  I know the toughest days are just ahead, but I believe they will be what brings tremendous change.  God is allowing me to stop in the snowy woods of the evening in His presence that I might rest and be still long enough to hear His still small voice within my spirit.  Read this poem.  Then take a moment to close your eyes and think of the snowy scene Frost has painted for us.  Think of this time spent with Christ.  Invite Him to your starry evening and fellowship with Him.  After all, to find intimacy with anyone, you must spend quality time with them.  Are you in need of quality time with the Lord?  Try to set aside a moment this weekend just for you and Him.  Sweet Dreams to you all.....


Love in Him,
Karen

STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING

By Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His House is in the village, though:

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there's some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely , dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

And miles to go before I sleep.

FASTING: Day 14 -

Hey Sweet Ones..... 


Pray for me today, please.  My body is filled with a resurgence of pain and inflammation from my RA and Fibromyalgia.  I can't use my hands enough to do my hair, (Terrible to let a good flat iron sit idle in my book), so I am really glad this isn't skype! Yes, I'm smiling. I thought this pain that has been slowly building each day was related to my lack or variance of nutrition, but as I am praying this morning, I believe it is an all out attack of the enemy because of my fast and this blog.  What nourishment I have had has all been good for me, so in the natural, my health issues should have gotten better with this fast.  But, the fast isnt' about that.  It's about breaking spiritual strongholds.  Enough said.


I hurt all over and I don't move very well today, but my spirit is not in despair.  I've been here before,  under far worse attack , and I can see he is just progressively going through his "Karen Attack Strategy" files.  Starts with one thing.  When that won't stop me, he takes up another.  Nothing new about his implementation plan , but still a harrassment.  That's what he is.  A harrassor.  A smoke and mirrors kind of player.  Illusions waiting to see if we bite and if we do, then he can bring the whole family of fallen angels with him for a feast at our expense.  (No, I'm not foaming at the mouth, so please don't worry)


Enter Jesus.  Jesus doesn't just even the score, he runs the ball down field to a  winning touchdown!  We are overcomers in Christ because he has already done the work of the cross for that purpose.  I admire theologians who can search the Scriptures and explain intricate teachings, time tables, and doctrines.  I'm not one of them and I doubt in my life time, God has slated me into that position.  I'm more of a bottom line, practical person.  Surely I like to decorate the bottom line and make it look and smell great.  I admit that.  To me, it's like icing on the cake (which, I might add is the real reason to eat cake at all!) 


What matters most to me (in this fast and my life) is that Jesus has put His plan into motion.  We goofed up and allowed Satan to steal life in the Garden from us.  He went to Eve.  God's creation of beauty because he was jealous and prideful.  She believed him. She and Adam took his bait. (This has to be the first couple with trust issues, pun intended)  They were cast away from God.  But, God's love was so great that He couldn't just let them go and suffer the fate He knew awaited Satan. 


So, yes, ENTER JESUS.  King of Kings.  Lord of Lords.  Lord of all!  Lord over Satan too.  The advocate for each of us before His Father.   We stand naked in our sin, without adorning apparel. Ashamed, knowing what we are left in our flesh.   But, He comes to us......offering a pure silk glowing robe to cover our naked sin.....because He loves and values us beyond measure.......and THIS is how HE presents US to His Father, Family.  In His royal garments!  Do you see yourself that way today?  Or are you looking in the mirror of regret and your own struggles?


When Satan send thoughts of worthlessness, shame or blame - remind Him  who you are in Christ by going to the Word of God and proclaiming it to Him.  This is what Christ did when Satan tempted him during his 40 Day Fast.  He didn't argue with him, but instead, just quoted God's Word. (I wish I could just quote anything I want to without Biblegateway.com, don't you?  That would sure help when doing a fast.)  Show Him the beautiful clothes of redemption Christ has purchased for you today with His own precious blood.  It's that same blood that Rev. 12:11 (my favorite verse) says will overcome him (Satan, evil) that will send him on his way.  He will return, but you will be armed.  "No weapon formed against you will prosper".


I'm not going to let him prosper today.  Are you?

Love in Him,
Karen

Holding my daughter's hand as she waits on

a train that will take her to a new adventure.

Though the enemy has bent my hands from RA,

  he cannot stop them from showing God's love. 

To her children, a mother's touch says

"I will always love you".

(Photo by Victoria Hinn/Rhode Island School of Design)