My First Love

Last week the Lord told me to fast.  Now, I have fasted before when our church has done a 21 day fast at the beginning of the year.  My family gives up fast food, TV, junk food, computers, stuff like that.  Only once before have I done a total fast and I drank water and ate peanuts for 2 days and got SICK!!  Not just a little sick but the kind of sick where I wanted to divorce my stomach!!  So, I wouldn't say that was a total fast.  This time I felt like God specifically told me what I would be allowed to eat, when, and for how long!  I drank tomato juice for lunch, yogurt for a snack and vegetable broth with wheat crackers for supper.  I drank apple juice and water throughout the day!  I started on Sunday evening at 7pm and went through Wednesday evening at 7pm.  God is so faithful!!  I never once thought I wasn't going to make it (until I ran into some fig newtons!)  They were in the hands of a volunteer at church, but I all saw were the newtons!  I left the room quickly!  LOL!  I was able to focus on God clearly and was able to receive some answers to some long ago asked questions.  It was so awesome!  I have spent more time with God in the last week than in a long time.  I know that life can get in the way of putting God before everything.  Sure, I pray, when I have needed something but I have rarely given God the time to answer.  I am discovering my first love, Jesus Christ, all over again!  Makes me wonder why I ever stopped spending quality time with Him in the first place!

"Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance.  For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting.  Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."  Matthew 6: 16-18

Lord, I pray that I don't forget who You are in my life!  Please don't let me get so wrapped up in the everyday chaos of life that I don't put You at the beginning of my day, end of my day and every moment in between!  I love you, Lord, and I thank You that You never give up on me and that You oh so patiently wait for me with arms open wide! 

Welcome Home

As I walked into my home tonight I was greeted by hearty barks, wagging tails and happy whimpering.  The smell of a clean house with the aroma of autumn in the air tickled my nose and the soft snores of my husband sleeping soundly and peacefully reached my ears.  I closed my eyes and took a deep sigh.  There are few feelings that compare to the feeling of finally reaching your destination, home, after a long journey!  I had only been to Tennessee to visit my parents, a four hour trip one way, but I was quickly reminded that if it feels this good to return safely to my earthly home, how great will it feel to get to my eternal home.  Oh, what a welcome that will be!!!

I used to be afraid of death, but the older I get, the more of a relief it is than a fear to know that my life here on earth is only a blink in time to eternity.  Oh, how I long for days to walk along the Crystal Sea with my Lord and have long talks with Him... or just to sit and "be" in His company.  All of these things He has promised!!  Thank you, Lord!!

"In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  And where I go you know, and the way you know."  John 14: 2-4