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It's been quite an amazing few weeks. On January 9th I started my first fast. I found a 21 day fast that started on January 9th and ends on January 29th which just happens to be my 40th birthday. I went into this with the desire to ask God for direction for our family and for blessings upon my children. Fasting for me is a time to take my focus off of food and putting it on God. Everyday that I make the choice to sacrifice certain foods and focus more time on praying and reading the Word is a day of fasting for me. My prayer has been to ask God for His direction for my life to show me what He wanted for our family. I did not know how pleased God would be by this sacrifice. Since I have started this fast, God has shown us where He wants us to live, has directed us to a house that will bring us 5 minutes from our church (rather than the 35 minutes we've been traveling for the past year) and has made our family really evaluate what is most important to us material wise. We currently live in a home that has 4 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. We built it and picked out each detail from the trims to the tiles. It was so much fun. My husband and I generally had the same visions throughout the building process and it brought us closer. (I was warned that times like building a house can put a strain on a marriage when couples don't see eye to eye.) When we moved in, I had a 7 year old, a five year old and two one year old babies, one on either hip as I directed our friends where boxes had to go. Two months after we moved in, I discovered that I was pregnant with our 5th child. Life has been very busy and the last 8 years have made this house our home. Life has a way of changing though. We now have two children attending a school that is a half hour drive away and attend a church that is 30 -35 minutes away. I have been an on the go mom for quite a long time. I'm not complaining. I love that my children are in such a great school and they are loving their new church as are Rob and I. The thing is we are living out of two (actually 3) different towns. What was making the decision even more difficult is that my husband's family lives here in town and that Rob and I are very involved with our community's sports programs.
So what's a girl to do but start a fast and ask God for some direction as she approaches her 40th birthday. Isn't that what everyone does? Well, I certainly hadn't before. As I approached this fast, I explained to God that I am weak but I would give this a good try. I told Him that I had my doubts and didn't want to make this some superstitious thing where if I do this God will do that but if I "mess up" (superstitionsly walk under the proverbial ladder) then He wouldn't grant my prayer. So here I am 2 weeks later and all I can say is WOW. God lead Rob and I to a house very close to church and closer to the older kids' school. It is a rental house that has room for 5 kids and allowed us to have our 2 dogs and cat. It "fits" us. It even has a fire pit outside for those summer nights of roasting marshmallows and making s'mores, which is what we have at our current house. God has opened a door for us and we weren't even sure if we should go knocking. He has shown us that He wants us to move on beyond the material and prepare for what comes next. I'm not sure what that will be but I am happy to know that we are in His will. This sacrifice of food and material items (funny how willing my children are to give up the toys, clothes and books that they have outgrown given the opportunity) has lead us to clearly and quickly see what God's will is for us. What makes it even better is that my family knew I was fasting for God's direction and so they are all very aware that this is answered prayer. What an amazing testimony for them and us.
So I'm heading into week 3 of this fast. (A fast that I have failed at miserably by my own standards but God knows my heart is in the right place and that seems to matter to Him quite a bit.)
This has been an incredible way to start the new year. I'm looking forward to what comes along in the year to come.
Blessings to you,
So what's a girl to do but start a fast and ask God for some direction as she approaches her 40th birthday. Isn't that what everyone does? Well, I certainly hadn't before. As I approached this fast, I explained to God that I am weak but I would give this a good try. I told Him that I had my doubts and didn't want to make this some superstitious thing where if I do this God will do that but if I "mess up" (superstitionsly walk under the proverbial ladder) then He wouldn't grant my prayer. So here I am 2 weeks later and all I can say is WOW. God lead Rob and I to a house very close to church and closer to the older kids' school. It is a rental house that has room for 5 kids and allowed us to have our 2 dogs and cat. It "fits" us. It even has a fire pit outside for those summer nights of roasting marshmallows and making s'mores, which is what we have at our current house. God has opened a door for us and we weren't even sure if we should go knocking. He has shown us that He wants us to move on beyond the material and prepare for what comes next. I'm not sure what that will be but I am happy to know that we are in His will. This sacrifice of food and material items (funny how willing my children are to give up the toys, clothes and books that they have outgrown given the opportunity) has lead us to clearly and quickly see what God's will is for us. What makes it even better is that my family knew I was fasting for God's direction and so they are all very aware that this is answered prayer. What an amazing testimony for them and us.
So I'm heading into week 3 of this fast. (A fast that I have failed at miserably by my own standards but God knows my heart is in the right place and that seems to matter to Him quite a bit.)
This has been an incredible way to start the new year. I'm looking forward to what comes along in the year to come.
Blessings to you,
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