Fasting, Beer, and Friends

So, fasting, beer, and friends, in no particular order…

Let us begin with friends. My favorite Man in the world *Moshe and I were visiting his best friend, and his best friend was talking about fasting late one evening, over beer, or whiskey, or perhaps both. It was a fine discussion, but in a nutshell, he described a spiritual practice of his family in which they would fast from something for a month, such as electronics, or alcohol, as a way of keeping things in check. The whole idea was also beneficial, because they would attempt new hobbies during that time, like cooking for example. The thought struck me curiously, and so I let it simmer.

Not too much later, God impressed on me that I should try it, and I should fast a month from alcohol as well. I do enjoy my beer and whiskey very much; perhaps too much lately,  ha ha! So, fasting from alcohol it is, I told God. He impressed on me to do it sooner than later, so in less than a week I began.

On a personal note, perhaps this will also reveal the more meaningful aspect of it of this choice of fast. Because of all my food allergies, there is not many beverages I can drink. I can have black coffee, unsweetened tea, but most real and artificial sugars really hurt my stomach, so I don’t drink any tea, soda, or juice, unless I have time to pay for it later (and I ain’t got time for that ;) So, most of the time, I drink my Bullet-proof coffee in the early morning, and otherwise I drink water. All. Day. Long. So, to give up any and or all alcohol, which typically doesn’t hurt my stomach, is pretty big for me. I have decided to take up drinking hot teas, ha! Embarrassing side note concluded.

I had been reading Job, and the historical parts of the Bible a lot recently, and in my mind I could see Job sitting in the trash pits outside his home and his town, covered in ashes and sackcloth, baking in the sun with blisters roasting and potshards carving, as he expressed his misery and moaned to God all that he would say. Then I began Daniel, and could see Daniel near the Chebar, waiting on answers from the Lord. In my heart I know my fast is no where near as holy as that, but I am excited still over the possibility of what this fast will reveal, and what is to be learned.

My dear Moshe always points me in a right direction. He reminds me of how, when we give up something for a fast, and then we think about the item, we are prompted to go to God and spend that time dedicated to Him in prayer.  My heart has been so disturbed lately over so many things, and this fast has so far been a great way to clear all that has bogged me down and focus with a more razor sharp clarity on God and His abiding presence. I am trying to retreat to my prayer closet and simply “be” in His presence. I’ve not realized any lofty things, nor been struck by any great ideas, nor came to any divine spiritual realizations, but this strange, sweet sense of His presence, His comfort, His provision of my spiritual needs, has been made more richly known. He is divine, in the realest sense.

Of course I miss beer and whiskey, but it’s a month. What is funny, is that after beginning the fast, our small group also brought up the fast idea, and after discussing it, they are also going to begin fasting in their own way. I’m so excited for each of them, and amazed at God’s timing on each of our respective spiritual journey, and how He provokes the Holy Spirit to prompt things in our soul’s. After our small group was near finishing Phillipians, there was a verse from it that struck me overall in particular, about unity, and how I felt about our small group, and that is Phillipians 2:1-2

“Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. “

It has not been an easy fast by far. Definite spiritual obstacles and challenges have come up, some rather frightening, some seem like a downright attack from the enemy. There was an emergency situation, and there was an unexpected plumbing issue, all within the first 9 days. The enemy doesn’t want to make this easy nor a walk in the park, but the struggle—during the fast—-mimics what also happened to Christ with His 40 day fast. There was temptation. We are told to expect it. Whether the temptation is to not complete the fast, or to disobey God, it will come in some form. So, to my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, I want to remind you to expect temptation, and be ready for it. Put on the whole armor of God, and stand firm to resist the enemy. But also be prepared, for all the blessing that will come as you strive to grow closer to our Father in heaven, who Loves us and cares for us and sees us when we are struggling. God bless each of you, and God bless our friends, our brothers and sisters in Christ who know the struggle is real.

*Moshe, my pet name for my dear Man, James

Entertaining Angels

July 29, 2015

I have humbly noticed that I tend to post money related answers to prayer, and have felt convicted to post more “Ebenezer Stones” related to the spiritual realm. So often, prayers are made that are answered directly through some financial blessing, and these types of answered prayers are very concrete and instant, and often times more obvious. However, this isn’t all that God is up to, and I want to be sure to speak of the more subtle things He is doing. 

Sometimes, the prayer requests and answers are things I haven’t even begun to think of praying for. Sometimes, they are things that are answers to other peoples’ prayers. Sometimes, things are happening, and I know God’s hand is at work, doing something huge and divine, and I am an oblivious bystander, just incredulous because He is awesome. These are the things I want to tell you about also. Because He is always at work. Are we able to hear and see? Are we able to witness, and represent? I want to be, although I am a complete idiot at times, God forgive me.

So, today was normal, and yet unusual towards the end.

After the awful sickness from the preceding month, I was playing a lot of mom catch up on things to do. So, today, I caught up on some emails. At around 2pm today, I was going down my to-do list, and got to:

“Print Jack and Lily’s test scores”

Elias, Jack, and Lily were home schooled this past year, and even though we live in Charlotte now, out of comfortability with that which is familiar, I chose to have their annual testing completed in Fayetteville, where we resided for the past 10 years.

A very wonderful woman named Ronda oversees the annual home school testing co-op in Fayetteville, NC, which we had been a part of for almost 10 years, I want to say, and I loved it. Why rock the boat, when you’ve got something good, I say? So we stayed with relatives near Fayetteville, and tested there, like usual. 

Have you seen our Jack, lately? This kid is great. 

He makes quite an impression on people. Especially boys his age. They say he’s just so great. He is so nice. He is so kind. I’m old enough to know better (or maybe I’m just jaded) but I tend to not let it go to my head. I hear nice things about my kids, and I just try and assume every parent thinks their kids are awesome and well-mannered and make the same kind of impression on the other kids, and so yeah, right?

So I’m catching up on some emails today, and I find an email from the testing coordinator, back in mid-June, about another mom, whose son encountered the awesome Jack, and wants to keep in touch. Unfortunately, we have moved to Charlotte, and so we are no longer in close proximity to Fayetteville to maintain friendship for the boys. But I email the mom, on July 29, 2015, anyway, to let the mom know that I appreciate her email and to let her know that we are open to hang out and let the boys play whenever, if we are in Fayetteville, or she is in Charlotte. I thought it was incredibly sweet that another boy would want to hang out with Jack.

Hilariously, the mom responds, and just so happens to be in Charlotte. This afternoon. Can they hang out, even for a short time, this evening?!?!

Of course! I tell the mom our address, cell phone. It doesn’t occur to me till moments before they arrive, that I don’t know this lady, or her son, from Sam Adams. But, in laymens’ terms: my kids’ testing coordinator, Ronda: she’s got street creed. Like incredible creed. Enough creed that I’m giving out my cell and address to an absolute stranger that wants to bring her son over. 

Only hours later, after the short, sweet visit, does all this occur to me.

But this brave Mama. This Mama that listened to the requests of her son. I gotta love her for that. This simple, sweet, soft spoken Mama, whose circles I have walked on the outside edge of for 7+ years now, seeing her and her family at church and home school events, and not knowing them: Thank God for this quiet Mama’s courage, to contact an absolute stranger just because her kid hit it off with another kid. We’ve passed each other on the play ground and in the church hallways for years, always smiling and quiet and gracious. And Thank God for His absolute, amazing, perfect timing, where He arranges divine appointments with people who live hours away from one another, to meet in a large city unexpectedly. 

They showed up at 8:00, after Jack and Lilly’s swim lessons. They were in town to see missionary friends, who are headed to Sierra Leone. They only had a short time to visit, but the child just said that if he could see Jack just for a few minutes, it would be worth it. God hears 8 year old boy’s requests, you know? God pays attention to these sweet children, and blesses the Mamas too in the meantime. We were able to share a few small moments, and not even an hour went by, and they were gone. Her children were sweet: the girls played with Lilly and the boys ran around playing nerf guns with Jack. If it weren't for this kid, we'd never have this time.

Thank you God, for the moments. Thank you God, for the brief, still moments, where we just sit, and enjoy company for a small time, and none of it makes sense till later, but it’s all good anyway. Because You are all good.