Food Month

I was so excited to write about food month. I was going to write a blog entry everyday.  But then life happened. So I guess the first and last day will have to suffice.

This month was a lot like parenting.  It was hard but I loved it. I think I prayed very intentionally this month. Everyday I thought about how I could make this day not just about not eating 7 foods. It always came back to being intentional.  Food is very easy. I can have any type of food pretty much whenever I want. Taking some foods away and saying I'm giving this up so that I can live simply and allow God to move in me, led me to become more focused. Even in the midst of parenting, I was able to take a minute to talk to God or encourage someone, or pray.

One of the best things I learned is that fasting is feasting. You can't have one without the other. When you fast from 7 foods, God will fill you with His feast. 

When I thought about the last day of this month 3 weeks I ago, I thought that I would be so eager for this to be over. But I feel refreshed. Don't get me wrong, I'm making a big pot of coffee Sunday morning, but I'm not done. I'm already planning to restart this after the next 6 fasts are over.  

On Sunday, we move on to "clothes" month. We will be wearing only 7 items for the whole month. I'm excited to see what God does here. 

One week

It's been a little over a week since I started 7. This is hard. I'm still trying to figure out how to make this about more than just not eating certain foods. I've had some good prayer mainly for peace. In the book Jen talks about how the purpose of empty is to fill yourself up. So maybe God will speak more after this month is over. I am hungry for Him.

7

"As you walk close to me, saturating your mind with Scripture, I will show you how to spend your time and energy. My word is a lamp to your feet; My presence is a Light for your path." From Jesus Calling

I can get really excited about things.  From small things like shaved ice to big things like having a baby, I may burst at any moment.  My newest excitement is called 7 an experimental mutiny against excess. A friend thought I would love it and she was right!  Thanks Jenna!

So for the next 7 months, I will be riding my life of excess, by fasting from 7 different areas. And even more exciting is that I'm not doing it alone. We have formed a community.  I love community!

We decided to start on the 7th of each month.  This month we are fasting from food.  In the book, Jen Hatmaker(author), only eats 7 foods for a month.  I really wanted to do this but I'm still nursing and my little kids need variety.  So we changed to getting rid of 7 foods for this month.  Here is my list:  Cereal, Gluten, Chocolate, Red Meat, Sweets, Cheese, and Coffee.

The point of this exercise is to fill your self with Jesus.  It's a time to listen and a time to have faith that God will provide.  I'm excited to see what God will show me this month.  I want to saturate myself with God and know that He is enough.



Here is a list of what else we will be fasting from:

Clothing- next month I will only be wearing 7 items of clothing
Possesions- everyday for a month I will be giving away 7 items a day.
Media- I will stop using 7 forms of media for the month
Waste- we will recycle and find ways to not waste the blessing we have
Spending- only 7 places will get our money
Stress- we will stop a busy life and instead partake in 7 spiritual pauses.