“LifeStyle Fasting”

 

I’d felt a burden last week to do something I’d never done.

I felt The Lord calling me to Fast. I’ve heard about fasting and I know it’s Biblical; I’ve read about it.

I really need to hear from God. I really need to receive His wisdom and clarity. I can’t imagine anyone wouldn’t!?

Well, actually….I know that’s not true. I know the idea of hearing from God scares the pants off of a lot of people. Some agnostics, some new believers…

However, I’m not writing to make friends or “tickle” ears – I’m writing to Shine the Light of God’s truth. The truth that will set us all free….

There has been a lot happening around us as I’ve mentioned.

Trying to make sense of it, we’ll that’s another story. Sometimes, we won’t be able to make sense of anything. And sometimes, the only thing we’ll get is the Peace of God that He allows to fill us and keep us calm in the midst of the storm – that is if we ASK for it.

I believe there is a storm coming, friends. I don’t think there’s any other way to say it.

I know I’ve mentioned on previous blog posts the book, “The Harbinger” by Jonathan Cahn. Well, in the years ’01 and ’08…those events happened during a Shemitah year cycle. The Shemitah is part of the Hebraic calendar. If you haven’t read The Harbinger, I encourage you to read it.

Right now, I am in the middle of the sequel: “The Mystery of the Shemitah.”  To be honest, I’d never heard the term Shemitah before last year.

Even before I started reading the Shemitah I felt the call to fast, but once I started it I knew I had to try. The reason is that God is working on me. He wants every part of me. He wants me to lean on HIM fully and completely. He wants me to know what it feels like to TRUST him and have no hesitations in doing so.

Whatever is coming our way in the next 12 months…I pray that each of us is ready for it. I have asked God for mercy and for his protection. That being said, nothing may happen…but that’s not what history of the Shemitah has shown.

If God’s Word is true, if what I’ve learned about the Hebraic calendar is correct…based on the patterns that have been laid out so far – then I am going to do what God has asked of me and be the “watchman” on the wall and sound the “WaKE UP!” call. Get to know who Jesus is – T O D A Y.

Back to FASTing:

Anyhow, as I “entered” my feeble attempt at my fast last week…I felt like I didn’t know enough about it to do it successfully. That I didn’t understand the mechanics of doing it right.

I shared my first attempt with a friend, expressing my dissatisfaction with my effort. Fortunately this friend is both grounded in Christ and has fasted a good deal, because her words kept me from feeling defeated.

“There is no right or wrong way to Fast. Follow the direction of the Spirit. Let Him lead.”

I also hadn’t had a clue as to how to pray as I fasted or what to pray. I wasn’t sure how God wanted me to worship Him, or how to present myself to Him; for him to know I longed for his presence.

What I didn’t know kind of surprised me.

Prayer and Fasting do go hand in hand but they don’t always have to.

Prayer isn’t limited to bowing your head, hands folded, sitting in a church.

PRAYER is conversation with GOD.

A N D

Fasting isn’t limited to Food. It’s not limited to the time of Lent.

Fasting is about putting aside that which we idolize or depend on – and REFOCUSing our minds on Christ. Seeking Him to help us, feed us and nourish ourselves through HIS WORD.

Now, when matched up side by side, Prayer and Fasting are a combination that touch the heart of God – Right where HE is sitting on his Heavenly throne.

The real point of fasting is to take our WORLDLY focus and fixate on HIM.

Allow HIM to fill us UP completely and in doing so remaining prayerful that HE will speak to us and confirm within us, what we need to know.

What I didn’t realize is the way I live is more or less a form of “Lifestyle Fasting.”

I don’t need much…I am a simple person. The only thing I crave is to know Jesus more….

I am now looking to him to help me write this blog because I just can’t do it justice solo.

I listen for his voice throughout the day.

I’m mindful that with every bite of food I eat, someone somewhere has none.

I’m more fully reminded as time marches on that the enemy is out there on the prowl, scheming to steal, kill and destroy – And that is what keeps me going here…because

above all, I recognize how many lost souls there are, everywhere. Maybe reading, right now….

People who are willing to “put off” and procrastinate on the “Jesus” thing because they are too wrapped in THIS world to learn about HIS world.

The World HE made for You and me. To share THAT world with HIM.

 

Fasting and praying may not be for everyone…but Jesus is.  He’s here, today.

What will you do when you can no longer procrastinate, because the opportunity to say YES to HIM is gone?

Scoff if you will, But Jesus didn’t turn his back on the cross.

and Jesus wouldn’t turn his back on YOU – Just give him a chance.

Give Him a chance to change YOU and then go change your corner of the world!

 

Allow God to change you and discover the Light you were made to Shine!

Wherever you are, I pray you discover who you were meant to be as a Child of God….

and that you are blessed by HIS presence,

-Kenzel

 

 

 

 

My True Valentine: A letter from John

I’ve been contemplating for more than a week about writing a Valentine’s post.

I thought about hosting a book give-away, but that would be hard since I’m as yet unpublished.

I contemplated a lot of options.

I contemplated because I was procrastinating. I was procrastinating because (unfortunately) Valentine’s is not one of my favorite “holidays”.

Yes, A lot of things about me are typically female.

I like flowers.

I like candy (ok, maybe I don’t need to eat it).

I’m not opposed to enjoying a nice glass of red (though I don’t drink much anymore).

I am procrastinating because of my frustration with the commercialization of Valentine’s Day; and our “American Affair.”

I don’t watch much TV anymore and I’m glad, because the onslaught of Valentine’s advertising turns my gut. I’m wouldn’t be opposed to jewelry, diamonds and gems…but every time I read 1 Peter 3:3 and balance that against the thought of so many that have to choose between putting food on the table and staying warm…well, you get my drift.

Yes, I think heavy; that’s how God made me. One of my former supervisors (my junior year in college) told me point blank that I was the most analytical person she’d ever met. I heard that with mixed reactions but have since convinced myself that being SO ANALYTICAL is a good thing.

The “Commercialization” of Valentines (or any other holiday) takes the meaning away from the intent. On Valentines, what are our eyes besieged with? Red and pink hearts, romance and love, flowers and on and on. I am not here to rain on anyone’s parade only to shed light on why getting caught up in this culturally driven machine of “more, more, more” and “spend, spend, spend” – “want, want want” WILL never satisfy or satiate us. We were not designed this way, even if the world we live in – is.

Here is my analysis of why:

We are people. People are created beings with immense potential to love.
The love we have can’t be taken from us

but the love we share with others offers exponential growth potential

I’ve been spending a fair amount of time with God in His Word. Curiously enough, I’m drawn to it. While I know many people shy away or fear opening those rice paper thin pages; each time I do God’s direction comes through loud and clear in some way, shape or form.

Ten years ago, if I tried to open the bible it literally read “like Greek” to me. Nothing made sense. That was frustrating.

Then 7 years ago; when I believed I was dying. It all changed. I will write about it…but that will be a day long project. On that day, that night…God got a hold of my heart and help me understand what Love is.

Love is about surrender. (Job 11:13-15)

Love is about sacrifice (Romans 12)

Love conquers All – want to know how I know? (1 Peter 4:8)

⁸ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

The message of Valentines day has much less to do with what you give or receive TODAY and much more to do with a promise made long before you and I ever arrived on the earth. The essence of Valentines Day is a spiritual one.  It’s one that leaves me content and feeling peace.

(Romans 5:8) ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Yes, I am banking my Valentines Day happiness on a verse from scripture. Why wouldn’t I?

I don’t know anyone who would lay down their life for me…(and God was aware of this problem as well)

Someone who LOVED me even with all my flaws JUST because. To save me from myself.

Someone who KNeW if they didn’t sacrifice, then I didn’t have a chance

In fact, the meaning of true love is perfectly shown through Christ’s remarkable gift of mercy.

Jesus Loved YOU, He Love ME so much….

that He was willing to put his life on the line

and die to prove it:

JOHN: 3:16

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The more I consider this post and this date on the calendar the more I realize that giving and sharing God’s Love, HIS Love, the love of Christ is what we were commanded to do EVERYday .

We all have a purpose.

We were born and created to be something…our presence HERE is no accident

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21)

It’s easy to look at Valentines Day as a material – event..but it is so much more fulfilling to live loving each other like Christ did:

Love the sinner, not the sin….every day.

So, when I speak of my letter from John as my ONE true Valentine I am referring to John 3:16 and rest assured: God knows that you’re worth it!

-Kenzel