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

Enjoying and Sharing the Bread of His Presence

More Ebenezer Stones: The Bread of the Presence

“The LORD is my portion, says my soul, 

therefore, I have hope in Him”

https://www.bible.com/bible/100/lam.3.19-25.nasb

I love it how God will lead deeper into His presence by sensitizing me to a theme of something I'm to learn. It's like a lovely maze, or a game now, whereas I used to feel like it was a case study in repetitive lesson learning: “Oh yea, We’re still working on patience, are we God?” Now, this tutoring has become what unconditional love looks like after a while. I'm no Andre Seu Petterson, however.

These past few weeks, I have been guided to look deeply at the bread references in the Bible. There was the bread of the Presence in the Holy place, Representing...His presence. He tells us to eat His body (Matthew 26:26). Do we take His word into our spirit to sustain our soul? Man is nourished by bread. Bread is the staff of life, so they say. 

This journey began inside with that verse that Jesus gives in response to the Devil in the desert:

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” Matthew 4:4.

It always impressed me how, of all the things Jesus could say to our enemy number 1 on earth, He replied with the word of God—-scripture. Curiosity beget questions, and the perplexity of the statement that mankind, who needs food to sustain him or he will die—- cannot live by physical bread alone, but needs life giving spiritual nourishment as imperatively as the physical. 

Also, as I have followed the daily Bible reading plan (I choose Historical from “youversion" this year), I have gone through the Prophets already, and it was interesting to think about Elijah being fed bread in the desert, and also when he ran for 40 days and was sustained by God till Mt Horeb 1 Kings 19:8. That is what I think about when I read "man shall not live by bread alone…"

Additionally, Moses, on Mt. Sinai, living in the presence of God for 40 days without eating bread or drinking water (Exodus 24:18, Exodus 34:28, Deuteronomy 9:9, Deuteronomy 9:18, etc). Moses was called a “friend of God” Exodus 33:11. It fills my heart with joy, to contemplate how God wants this type of relationship, this type of communion with us!

I also think of "take this bread... My body, which is broken for you”  and combined with Jesus when He was at the well speaking with the Samaritan woman, and the disciples were amazed at him and wondered where/how he ate, and He responds "I have food to eat that you know nothing about" John 4:32: what is He talking about? Is He speaking about doing the work of the Spirit, and being “fed” by the Spirit? Was He nourished by God's word that day?  The disciples respond with such finesse, like me learning lessons on patience “no one brought Him anything to eat, did he?” John 4:33. And Jesus cryptically answers them “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to accomplish His work” John 4:34. That’s enigmatic to me.

One of our dear Catholic friends gave James and I a book called Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist, by Brant Pitre. Fascinating read, that I’m enjoying immensely.

Then I began chapter 4 of the Jewish Eucharist book. Then p. 81 caught me. Referenced Exodus16:16-20, where the Jews only got an Omer a day (about a liter). They had to trust God for a daily allowance, and as I read it, it was like a Rhema moment, where the Spirit of God just jumped off the page again: “give us this day, our daily bread” Matthew 6:11. What if Jesus is hinting at more than food in the Lord's Prayer; what if He's referencing His own body, the word of God, to nourish our soul?

        As a Christ follower, I am part of a kingdom that was prepared for me and others, since the foundation of the world. Part of my task is simple and straightforward: be kind to those  around who are in need. Give water, give food, give shelter, give comfort, because each act of kindness to those who have lesser is a direct act towards God Almighty Himself (Matthew 25:34-40). God knows my limits, and He has no limits when it comes to lovingkindness, so we are challenged to do what we can.

All humans have the image of God in them (Genesis 1:27). What if I began to view all my fellow image of God-bearers as souls instead of bodies? What if I began to share all the Bread/His Word (John 1:1) that He has stored up in my soul, like the loaves and the fishes, and I earnestly began to see the starving souls, so desperate for His nourishment, and simply start giving it all away? One of the first things that my favorite, beloved counselor, Randy Hamrick said to me was “I’m just one beggar, telling (you) another beggar, where to find bread”. What if I have this bread in me, and Being mindful of His everlasting Presence, I began to part with all my loaves stored in my heart, and I try to give this to fellow souls also? His word. His presence. His sustenance and life giving soul nourishment, along with my acts of service? "Give us this day, our daily bread"

Next week I will be writing about beer, friends, and fasting. 

Here’s a tasty, simple bread recipe from another blogger, just to make this all the more savory.http://www.alexandracooks.com/2012/11/07/my-mothers-peasant-bread-the-best-easiest-bread-you-will-ever-make/