FASTING: DAY 19 - Letter to Satan

Blair Wingo of P4CM.COM.......
"Letter to Satan" by Blair Wingo

Please click on the link in red above. 

New message from a new generation of Christian soldiers.

Clear and simple.  Simple obedience.  No excuses. 

No flirting with the enemy.

She says it perfectly in a way  her generation will hear.

Every generation should hear.

Will you?   Will I?  I ask myself after listening to her poem, what do I need to be where Christ want's me to?  I ask God to strip me of whatever holds me back from being pure in obedience to Him. 

Jealousy?  Unforgiveness?  Pride?  Fear?  Impatience?   I think I can say yes to all of those being some part of my life.   I pray Lord, cleanse me of these sins that stand between You and me.

Treasuring You in Him,
Karen

FAST: DAY 18 - The "WHY'S" of my fast

This picture was taken in our Pittsburgh front yard at the height of Autumn spendor last year.   I'm so happy today becaucse  it  finally feels a bit like Autumn in Florida.  Just cool enough to peak it's face in the door and say "Hey". (That's Southern for hello) 

Fall is a reminder to me that though growth and maturity often come via pain and discomfort, they propel us forward  into rewarding changes.  And if we take time to stop and look, we will find amazing beauty from the process of change.  Beauty that was not there before.   Like the fire red and golden ambers of the leaves on our trees. 

 Now those leaves have fallen to the ground and our trees are barren.  Soon, Mr. Winter will come and those very branches, that once were adorned by the blaze of color above, will be veiled in frosty shimmer.  What appears to be loss, has once again brought about another form of beauty.

Fasting has been this for me. 

I am about to move to a new state to establish a new life.  A life that I prayed and fasted for in 2007.  God blessed my petition and obedience to His Word with the marriage to the Man of God He has called me to be in marriage covenant with, Ross.   Yes, I'm thrilled.  But, the challenges have and are still difficult.  Two homes to maintain and sell.  Five young adult children to guide through this blended family transition at the point they are entering adulthood.  College costs.  Nurturing our new mariage and getting to know each other better.  Total adjustment.  Unexpected illness. 

These were the "WHY'S" that I started with at the beginning of my fast.

They are still there, but as God leads me during this time of humbling myself in submission to Him alone, interceding for so many people, and just being in His presence, those "WHY'S" aren't what is motivating me to continue.  It's the change in me that holds me.  I'm not doing this for God and not for those reasons.

God's fast is turning the "green leaves" of my heart and soul into bright red, pumpkin orange, and golden amber.  Their beauty is bringing me joy and pleasure.  Soon, they will drop off, with branches waiting for God's first lovely snow and will be adorned for a different kind of beauty.   I am decreasing so God can increase within me.

This has now become my WHY.

Tomorrow, I want to talk about Isaiah 58.  Take a look at it and see what you think.

I'm feeling great, by the way.  No hunger.  Just drinking liquids.  Less fresh juice or anything that might start digestion really.  This is the way I will go in the future for other fastings too.  My thoughts are clear and I hear God without confusion.  It's not easy, but it's wonderful.  I am praying you will join me in a lifestyle of fasting and see what God might have for you and yours.

Treasured and Loved,
Karen

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)

EARLY THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS!

    The hands of God are sometimes
   human, used to offer a gentle
   nudge to bring people together.
 

    Photo courtesy of Victoria Hinn of the Rhode Island
     School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island

FASTING: Day 13 - Spiritual Attacks During Fasting - Is there a purpose for them?

"Why should Jesus be tempted at all? Because innocent faith is not strong faith. The Garden of Eden is illustration enough. Innocent faith may be pure, but it needs testing to be strong." - Dr. Ralph Wilson

I like and agree with this quote by Dr. Wilson. One of the hallmarks of a passionate believer is their desire for greater faith in Christ. Faith to believe for every day needs like doing well on a test or making the mortgage payment on time, as well as faith to believe for answers that it seems aren't within our human capability to solve such as healing of terminal illness, financial collapse, broken marriages, or prodigal children. And a faith that continues to grow. That growth comes with trials and opportunites to use our faith.

We look at a small child and think how cute she is, but we don't think of her having great strength. We might ask her to take a bowl of cherries to the table, but we would not ask her to move the refridgerator to the garage. She has not developed the strong muscles to do such a thing. But, we would ask our college age son who trains at the gym or works out, to move that fridge. We know he is prepared and capable of doing so because he has already lifted much weight by training in the gym to do so.

Untested faith is uncertain faith. Fasting and trials are actually a blessing because they allow us to gain greater, stronger, more productive, effective faith. Like working hard in the gym is required to build well sculpted, strong muscles, building faith is painful and requires time, willingness and trust in God to lift the heavy burdens that come with stress and trials to do the faith building. James 2:20 says,"Faith without works is dead". Our faith does not produce results unless it is put into action, according to this passage. The action builds our faith at the same time as we see God move and change circumstances. A result of faithful prayers and living.

I believe one of the reasons God allows the enemy to war against us during our time of fasting is so that our faith will increase. As we battle against the temptations and attacks of the devil during our fast (which is intended to wear us down so we give up the fast either in fear or exhaustion), we tend to have a greater resolve to fight because we have a personal sacrificial investment in our own faith. As in the case of motherhood, the pain pregnancy and childbirth requires gives motherhood even greater value to a woman. Not to say that women who adopt children cannot understand the sacrifice required to be a mom, but I do think enduring the physical pain of bringing a child into the world through your own body contributes to the passion every birth mother feels for her baby. I praise God for every woman that adopts a child and voluntarily becomes a mother. Her sacrifice is no less than that of a birthing Mom with the exception of the physical toll of childbirth. The human mind tends to associate past physical pain with events, time, places, and things. I cannot stand to use gray anywhere in my house, and especially not on the walls, because I associate it with the seven months of expecting that made me so ill (I lost over 35 lbs.) when the walls of my Toronto apartment were painted gray. I would have to lay in bed and stare at those walls all day. To this day, gray walls make me nauseous. But I also believe our human mind has the capacity to weigh the cost of entering into that pain again to determine if the result is worth the pain investment.

The pain of fasting isn't enjoyable at times, even though there are some benefits like clearer thinking, less preparation for meals and more initimacy with the Lord (of course!!!) I can attest to that today, as my body is not doing very well. In fact, I am going to move to a Daniel Fast as of tomorrow to prevent any complications that might occur long term with the type of juice fast I chose to begin with. I've worked through all that with God in the past 24 hours and I feel good about my decision. The fast is still on, but it has just had to change in implementation. Even so, I know at the end of this 40 Day time, the results will be worth the cost. After researching many testimonies of fasting, many Christians find that the result of their fast may not be immediately seen, but will come with time. I am asking God, if this is the case for me, that when the harvest comes, He will in some way encourage me by allowing me to know my fast was a part of the deliverance at hand.

Living Treasured in Christ,
Karen

DAY 12 of My Fast - How Can We Know God is Calling Us to a Fast?

Nancy and Karen cooking Thanksgiving Dinner 2008

At the beginning of this past summer, my daugther, Ashton, joined me and my close friend, Nancy, for breakfast at a neighborhood deli that is just wonderful (shameless plug for TooJay's of Lake Mary, Florida!!!). I hadn't seen Nancy in quite awhile and was looking forward to experiencing the joyful fellowship in Christ we always share. Ashton asked me where I was headed to that morning, so I told her to meet Miss Nancy. (Yes, MISS Nancy! Shugah, fo gudnez saikes, ya'll, I em from the South and we refah to evary lovely ladah as "Miss", an they arah jus fine with it.) She asked if she could join us. I smiled to think that this beautiful young woman, my baby girl "forevah", wanted to spend time with two ole dames like Nancy and me. I had a feeling God was in this unplanned social event.

Ashton drove in her car so she could meet friends after and arrived after Nancy and I were already there. We were having breakfast, laughing and sharing what Christ was doing in our lives and the lives of our families. I must have said "God spoke to my heart" as we talked, because Ashton stopped and asked me what I meant. Did I hear His voice outloud? Was it just a feeling? Was it a voice in my head? How did I know it was Him? I knew she was seeking to own her own faith at this point in her life and I can understand why she might not understand that terminology. Some call it Christianese, and imply it's something negative. But, I think speaking in terms the Bible speaks to us is okay.....well, actually, it's biblical to be exact. I'm not ashamed if someone says I speak Christianese and just offer to teach them. Now, there'a a novel idea....teaching the world how to live life in Christ as opposed to having Christ fit into the lives of the worldly.

Nancy began to share with Ashton how she hears from God and knows it's Him. I reinforced her as she spoke that this was indeed the way I hear the voice of God too. I saw the light go on in Ashton's eyes that morning. She knew what we meant and she would be listening for it. God works if we give Him time. Just like with fasting. It takes time to understand and practice it as a part of your life.

Do you know when God is speaking to you? Can you discern His voice from yours or the devil? When my faith was young, that was difficult for me. As I walk with Christ year after year, I hear much faster and clearer. Once in a while I get "static", but I just keep praying and listening to Him.

Ways That God Speaks To Us:

1. You may hear Christians speak of the "inner leading of the Holy Spirit". This refers to an urging, leading or direction they feel as they pray or study God's Word. Some call it a feeling in their heart or a still small voice in their thoughts. Isaiah 30:21 (New King James Version)
says, " Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “ This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand . Or whenever you turn to the left. " So, do not scoff at someone if they say they heard the voice of the Lord and they mean they REALLY heard it because that can be biblical.

2. Make sure what that small voice is saying lines up or agrees with Scripture. God will never tell you to do something that defies His Word or Scriptures.

3. Don't let a feel of peace alone be your confirmation that this leading is from God. I once counseled a woman who came to me very excited because she said God was giving her a new husband and allowing her to divorce her present husband, whom she had no grounds to divorce. She said because he didn't make her feel loved or beautiful and God wanted her to be happy, God had found her a man in her church to be her new "Godly" husband. She had total peace about it. So, when I brought out the Word of God to show her that this could not be from the Lord whether she had peace or not, she did not receive it. Sometimes, we make our own peace in our hearts so that we can do what we like and fulfill our own desires. Peace while you are disobeying God's Word is a sign that your life is not right in Christ and you need to search your heart and come back to Him.

4. If God is speaking to you about something, He will make a way for it to happen. Doors will open or close as you move along the path set before you. In this way, He can also direct your path.

5. There are those in the church with gifts of knowledge and prophesy that God may use to CONFIRM what He has already showed you. In that order! He confirms in YOUR heart and then confirms OUTSIDE your heart to follow. This is a less reliable form of seeking God's will, but cannot not be neglected in terms of how God speaks to His people even today like in the bible.

6. Now, don't come after me for this one, Ladies, but if you are a married woman, I Peter 3:1 tells us, "Wives, fit in with your husband's plans; for then if they refuse to listen when you talk to them about the Lord, they will be won by your respectful, pure behavior. Your godly lives will speak to them better than any words." If you feel God is telling you to do something and it does not fit into the life that you have with your husband OR he is not open to it, then continue to pray until God changes His mind or yours. God would not call you to anything that would cause you to violate that scripture in your marriage. However, do not confuse this with meaning that if your husband doesn't agree with you on something that you do not have the right in Christ to have your different opinion. You do, but it's God's will that you respect your huband's headship in your home and marriage, and continue to go to God (not the husband) for God to work between you. You are JOINT heirs of your inheritance and salvation in God. Equal but with different roles. Yes, I do believe in the principle of submission - both mutual and also by voluntary acknowledgement by a wife that the man is her head, and Christ is the head of the man.

I knew I was being called to this fast a month ago. In my personal prayer time, I felt a soft urging to think about a longer fast in response to some serious needs with our family, the move and my work. Each day, God would take me to Scriptures where fasting was entered into and miraculous results occured. He would bring books about fasting to my mind. I started re-reading them and my faith was being built. I hadn't entered into a 40 Day fast since I was younger. It scared me to be honest with you because of my health issues. But, as some situations in our family became acute and I was in the middle of dealing with their desruction to the ones I love most, I ran to prayer to talk about this fast with my Heavenly Father. At that point, I didn't think anymore about and just planned when I would start it. I now know because of my health issues, I needed to make a wiser plan than I have for such a longer fast, but I am not going to be legalistic or prideful about this and remember what matters is my denial of self.....not the destruction of self. Satan would love to even make fasting an idol in our lives. I realized today, that I have let it become more about the "how's" of fasting instead of the "why's".

I cover each of you in the Blood of Christ and ask Him to protect you and your families now and always. Put on your armour daily, Family of God. I wish I could meet each of you. Write and introduce yourself if you don't know me. We are already related in Christ! To my precious husband, Ross - Sweet Dreams.....this fast will bring me to you, Beloved.

Treasured and Loved,
Karen