No Delicacies?

I am well into the new year and enjoying 2009. As I look back on 08' I can't help but feel in my spirit that the last year was a year of preparation. I love what one of my friends said in an email last week. "The pressures of 2008 have prepared us for the purposes of 2009." I totally agree and look with anticipation to God's purposes being fulfilled.

We began the year with a fast, that ended on January 11th, however, my wife Beth felt that she should continue and asked if I would want to continue as well. Let me back up and say that, the previous 11 day fast was a fast that consisted of eating healthier when we did eat (at least once a day) and then drinking shakes (liquid fast) for the other two meals. We have now begun a Daniel Fast, which comes from the passage in scripture, Daniel 10:2,3. In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. 3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.

Here is where things get fun. No delicacies? What?! Ok, meat is not a delicacy, it is life! We are meat-a-saurus' at our house. No meat in the house means, we go out and BUY MEAT! I'm sorry for the shouting, I was overcome temporarily, I'm fine.

So I picked up a great resource on the Daniel Fast, which outlines foods you can eat and foods to avoid. On the "foods to avoid" list the only thing that I will need to get over is my desire to first, eat meat and second, "leavened" bread. I am able to consume bread by the loaf, and yes I am proud of that, so much so that I meet the disapproving eye of my lovely spouse the second the multi-grain hits the table.

Truth be told though, my "flesh" is weak and that is what is so awesome during a fast. Fasting helps you to realize how truly weak you really are and it at that time, when you are seeking God during that fast, you get to see how truly strong God is.

Whenever I "put down" my flesh to seek God, whether for answers or most importantly His presence, He reveals Himself in such marvelous ways. I am amazed at His grace, mercy and love! Sappy, I know, yet true all the same.

While we fasted at the beginning of the year for God to reveal His purpose and plans for us this year, our Daniel fast is for someone very dear to our heart, our niece Marlee. She is in a fight with cancer and it has been a battle. Ultimately we know that she will win the war, however, we have a strong desire to see it come to pass in this life!

I take great comfort in the words from the book of Daniel 10:12 Then he said to me, a “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.

From the first day that I set my heart to understand and humbled myself before God, he sent help on the way. God is going to answer our prayers, not because I cut myself off from meat or bread, it will be because we sought first His Kingdom. We prayed, spoke in faith and believed.

I am adding a photo of Miss Marlee, she is beautiful. The dog in the picture is the hospital security dog and his name is Rudy, Marlee really loves him. If you think about it from time to time, say a prayer for her, everyone counts. Within a short time she is going to be quarantined for 30 days, her mom Adrian is going to join her, and we know that this will be tough season. Prayer counts!

As for me, I have resolved that "No Delicacies" is no big deal, especially in light of the fact the Marlee is going through a host of "No's" right now. I'll keep posting on her healing and look forward to more photos in the days and weeks ahead.

Later,

Eddie