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Day #5 – Hunger Week 2010
This week has been amazing. Tonight we are going to end it with a time of prayer, as the elders lay hands on those who desire us to, and then we are going to celebrate and eat together. I have to say this was a fast fast for me, meaning it went by quick. I know this sounds strange, but I have enjoyed it so much that I am “almost” saddened that it is going to be over. I have been able to see and experience some of the most significant times of prayer and hear amazing testimonies. I thought I would use this blog to share some of the #hungerweek tweets and then open it up for you to comment and share what God did in your life over this fast. So please lets make this post a testimonial. What did god do in you?
Tweets -
@joshdailey – The best time in communion I have ever had. Lots of tears viewing our sin in light of the grace and mercy of Jesus on the cross. #hungerweek
@yourhairstylist – Last night was so humbling. I truly feel as if we have grown even more as a family in Jesus. #hungerweek
@mumsperez – Thank you Jesus for the cross, I want to live at the foot of it. You let me wear forgiveness as a crown. #hungerweek
@cdailey – Being convicted w/ the difference between coming 2 be fixed, & coming 2 fix my eyes on Him. #hungerweek
@ronni_christine – Excited bout theLord giving me words to write… And a passion to do so. He’s renewing my vision and reminding me of gifting. #hungerweek
@baplace – Wow i am so satisfied in Him. His intimacy is far greater than anything of this world. Oh how he loves us. #hungerweek
@hshouse – My salvation is not founded in me redeeming myself, but that God redeemed me…. Col 1:13-14 #hungerweek
@danadailey – I have been humbled, broken and loved by the Lord. The best part is seeing God’s grace, I don’t get it, I am blown away by it! #hungerweek
Posted in Announcements, Rants, what-cha-think?.
– January 22, 2010
Day #3 – Hunger Week 2010
I asked Dana to write down what God is showing Her. My wife is a huge blessing to my life and is constantly challenging me to glorify and reflect Jesus. Here is what she wrote:
Day three started for me rough. Not because I was so hungry or had the detox headache, but because I was fighting admitting that I was discouraged. This fast so far has been good. I’ve studied, prayed, cried, and journaled, however; I have struggled with feeling like I’m missing it. I had in my head this idea of what God was going to do with me during this fast. There was going to be some great move that totally changed my entire world in five short days! This morning I realized that wasn’t happening and we are already on the third day. According to my schedule I should be recovering from the initial spanking and on my way to life changing freedom!
Aaron and I got ready to pray and he asked what was wrong. I kept trying to say nothing (just because I didn’t want to admit-especially to Aaron-that I am discouraged in this fast), but finally I answered him and told him the truth. I knew as it came out of my mouth that I was wrong, but I couldn’t shake it. We started to pray, and through Aaron the Lord reminded me of what fasting is about. It caused me to repent and to find joy again in this fast. I’m not fasting for me. I’m fasting for Him. To bring Him honor with the death of my flesh. If that is the only reason for this fast, then I am grateful that I get to do it! The Lord has given me a tool to worship and honor Him with. A sacrifice that takes me out of my comfort zone and reminds me that He is my God! For this brief time I get the opportunity to dedicate all of my life, my mind, my will, my emotions and my body to Him. The truth is I am honored to do it. It is blessing me to do this fast. That is so humbling it hurts! I am wretched, prideful, selfish, and arrogant and yet He still chose me… and not only chose me, but gave me a way to bring Him honor with my body! My previously misused and incredibly dirty body has now become my venue to bring Him honor! My mind is blown and I am so overwhelmed! Thank you Jesus for giving me freedom from my sin and transgression so that I can honor my King! Why do you love me so much?!!
I am so convicted by this. This fast is to honor and glorify Jesus with my life, my mind, my will, my emotions, and with everything that is in me. Is that more than enough, or do I get frustrated if I am not getting something out of it? Lord, I pray that this whole thing would be all about you. Show us our hearts, break our selfishness and pride, and make us reflect you more.
Questions to meditate on…
(1) Why am I fasting?
(2) Would this fast be enough for you if He was pleased and glorified?
Posted in Announcements, Rants, what-cha-think?.
– January 20, 2010
Day #2 – Hunger Week 2010
I have to say that God is soooo good!! I love what happened last night and just the fact that God is working in us and that we want him to work through us. Blessings on all of you that came last night and participated.
Tonight all the Gospel communities are meeting in homes, all over the valley, to gather around the Lord’s table to confess sin and boast in His grace. I think as people we tend to minimize sin instead of making much of sin. For some reason we have made grace into an excuse for sin instead of the motivation for deep, deep repentance. I pulled a portion of an article from Soma School, about ways we minimize sin, that I want you to read:
Six Way of Minimizing Sin
Defending // I find it difficult to receive feedback about weaknesses or sin. When
confronted, my tendency is to explain things away, talk about my successes, or to justify my decisions. As a result, I rarely have conversations about difficult things in my life.
Pretending // I strive to keep up appearances, maintain a respectable image. My
behavior, to some degree, is driven by what I think others think of me. I also do not like to think reflectively about my life. As a result, not very many people know the real me (I may not even know the real me).
Hiding // I tend to conceal as much as I can about my life, especially the “bad stuff”. This is different than pretending in that pretending is about impressing. Hiding is more about shame. I don’t think people will accept the real me.
Blaming // I am quick to blame others for sin or circumstances. I have a difficult time “owning” my contributions to sin or conflict. There is an element of pride that assumes it’s not my fault AND/OR an element of fear of rejection if it is my fault.
Minimizing // I tend to downplay sin or circumstances in my life, as if they are “normal” or “not that bad. As a result, things often don’t get the attention they deserve, and have a way of mounting up to the point of being overwhelming.
Exaggerating // I tend to think (and talk) more highly of myself than I ought to. I make things (good and bad) out to be much bigger than they are (usually to get attention). As a result, things often get more attention than they deserve, and have a way of making me stressed or anxious.
How do you handle your sin or others? I think many of us take one, or all six of these ways, instead of letting our sin be so dark that we are desperate for God’s grace. Today, as you are praying, and tonight, as you gather, I want us to really let the spirit convict us of sin in our hearts and/or actions. Refuse to defend yourself, pretend it is not there, hide it from sight, blame someone else, minimize the darkness of it, or exaggerate your circustances. Refuse to have any other out and fall hard on the grace of God. Let God’s grace be your only hope.
Questions to meditate on…
(1) What sins are in my heart and or life?
(2) What ways do i try to minimize my sin?
(3) What do i deserve for the sin I have committed?
(4) How great is God’s grace towards you?
(5) Do you know the Gospel and how Jesus has dealt with your sin?
Posted in Announcements, Rants, what-cha-think?.
– January 19, 2010
Day #1 – Hunger week 2010
Today I got up at 5 am and started reading a book, to prepare for a meeting that I have been graced to be a part of, with 5 other local pastors. I was so blessed to just sit with these men and hear their stories. I am really, really excited about the journey that I am going to be going on with these guys over the next 7 months, as we challenge each other doctrinally, practically, and relationally. I cannot share the name of the book that I started to read this morning, because it is a postscript to an unreleased book, but I will share something that just hit me:
Finally, C. John Miller speaks of a frontline prayer as opposed to maintenance prayer. Maintenance prayer is designed simply to maintain the existing life of the church. A frontline prayer meeting longs for God to act in life changing ways, believes he can, and so confidently expects change praying fervently for his mighty work.
There were so many things that the author said in this book about prayer, but this just jumped out at me. How much of my prayer life is just “maintenance prayer”? Is my heart for change? I was thinking that it takes so much more prayer to be on the frontlines of battle, than it does when you are maintaining. I can tell you this: my prayer life, for the most part, does not have the longing, expectancy belief in God that would reflect frontline battle.
I want to be on the frontlines! I want to see God’s mighty work! I want to pray because I know that He is the only one who can send me, empower me, and enable me to do anything that would glorify Him.
Questions to meditate on…
(1) What does my prayer life look like? A man on the frontlines or a man who is comfortable?
(2) What do I long for the most? Is that longing for God?
(3) Do I believe God hears me and is able to do what I ask in prayer?
Posted in Uncategorized.
– January 19, 2010
Sunday Wrap up – 1/10/10
Kyle Campos preached for me while I was gone and did the sunday wrap up. Thanks Kyle for you ministry and friendship. Check out His sunday wrap up and head on over to ourrisingsound.com
Posted in Sunday Wrap Up, Video.
– January 13, 2010
Matt Chandler Prayer Video
Matt Chandler is a man that has from a distance spoken into my life more then words can express. He and his family have fallen on very tuff times. This video shows such powerful truth about the support of the body of Christ and the trust in God. Check it out and join with others in prayer for Matt Chandler.
Posted in Video.
– December 29, 2009