Days 6 and 7

Yesterday (Day 6) was a much better day for me. I'm still having many struggles at work with certain students, but they didn't affect me the same way yesterday. 

Yesterday was also my sweet husband's birthday. We broke our food fast to celebrate. The first two or three years we were married, we did first-of-the-year fasts and we were always fasting on his birthday. The last couple of years we have allowed ourselves to break the fast so we could celebrate. Last night we had our families over for a chicken dinner. It was a lot of fun. There are ten kids under the age of twelve between our two families right now, and eight of them are under seven! It was loud at our house last night. :) My husband hadn't asked for anything in particular for his birthday, but each gift he received was perfect for him! Our families know him well! Isn't he handsome??

In the beginning of the fast, I mentioned that I would reflect on the week before I decided whether to continue with the food portion of the fast or if I felt it was complete. I've decided to go on with part of it. I'm keeping away from candy/sweets. 

Today (Day 7) has been a gorgeous, sunny day. I'm so glad. The gray days are killer. I wouldn't survive in Alaska! 

I got a chance to meet up with an old friend today. We talked for a long time about some things that are very tragic and devastating, that seem to be epidemics: infidelity and failed/failing marriages. The longer I am married, the more I see them. Today I have been praying over my marriage and the marriages of my family members and friends. I want to be completely committed to my husband and I want to have faith to know for certain that he will be committed to me. I should NEVER have to call that into question, and neither should he. I think our kids deserve to have parents who are committed to one another through good times and bad. I know the bads can be REALLY bad, but I also know that we humans CAN do just about anything if it's for something we WANT. What's that quote...? "If you want to do something you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse." I know there are circumstances that are beyond our control sometimes, and I don't claim to have a perfect marriage. I just think we need to work harder at guarding our marriages. No one goes into a marriage expecting to cheat, or be cheated on, or for it to end for any reason. If someone did, they'd be considered one messed up individual. People go into marriage with forever in mind, fully intending to be in love for life. We must protect that intention by sacrificing of ourselves for our spouses. I've heard it said that marriage is not 50/50...it's 100/100. Both spouses have to be 100% committed 100% of the time. 

I'd like to encourage you to help me pray for marriages all around us, for love and laughter and forgiveness, and understanding and wisdom and patience and all the things it takes to last for decades. Let's reverse the epidemic. 

21-Day Journey

I've had this blog for several years, but it's been 18 months or more since I've posted anything. I'm a busy, working momma...what can I say? I've decided to start blogging again, but this time I plan to be more intentional. In the past, I've posted random thoughts and ideas along the way, but now I want to write with purpose. 

2014 is just getting started, and like in many previous years, I am starting out with a fast. My husband and I are wanting this year to be a break-through year in our youth group and we have many family and personal goals as well. 

For the next 21 days, he and I will be fasting social media. (He told me blogging doesn't count because it's like writing a journal. ;D ) This is a big thing for both of us because we are very connected through social media. We put out updates and reminders to our students. To be honest, it's where I come across most of the news I know about! But we recognize that we need to unplug from it, even for just a little while. 

Another part of our fast is based around our diet. We will not be eating meat, dairy, grain, pasta, or sugar for the next 6 days. After 6 days, we are going to evaluate how far we've come and go from there. 

I will be blogging each day about my feelings/progress/epiphanies...whatever my heart is led to blog. You're welcome to come along with me for the next 21days. Who knows?? After that I might be a regular blogger! 

Above all else, I welcome your prayers. I'm believing for many things this year (hopefully things I will be able to share over the next 21 days..) and I know The Lord is strong enough. 

Rachel

back on the blog-wagon

so, it's been a year and a half since i have written anything. i didn't mean for it to be that long, but i guess i've been busy.

2010 was a big year for michael and me. we started january with a 21-day fast. our goal was to cleanse our bodies from sugar, caffeine, and other things that we don't need to live. at the same time, we were praying for some huge needs in our lives. michael had been out of a job for three months and his severance was quickly coming to an end. we had been trying for a baby since late july with no hope in sight. it was becoming clear that the youth department at our church was not big enough for two youth pastor positions, one of which michael had been filling part-time since april. there was much to pray about. the three week fast was difficult, but we did it, and i truly believe it set the stage for some great things to happen for the rest of the year. in april, we found out we were going to have a baby. after working a couple of small jobs, michael landed an excellent position at a successful communications company downtown in october. he was laid off from the part-time position at the church, but it didn't affect our family financially because of the new job with which God had blessed him. our baby boy was born healthy and whole in december.

now, here we stand, on the front edge of 2011. we began the year with a different fast. we each fasted for two weeks, but we fasted different things.

this year, michael is on a personal journey, seeking out who Jesus actually was and is. he feels like the Jesus we speak about today is often someone we have conjured up in our minds, one who fits our lifestyle and mold. he is spending a great deal of time studying and researching how the Jesus we read about in the bible did things, and is trying to pattern his life after that.

my goal is to spend more time in the word, finding out what the Lord wants my next steps to be. i feel like all the goals i had for my life have been achieved. i have graduated high school, earned a college degree, landed a job in a teaching position, completed courses in biblical studies, married the love of my life, and given birth to 9lb 3oz of perfection. and i can't help but wornder, "what now?" have i just been living for myself? were my goals truly HIS goals? what can i do to find His heart, his passion for my life?

so far this year, i've read about prayer, obedience, and courage in the bible. i feel like i'm becoming stronger with every line i read. i definitely still have my struggles, but i'm gaining strength.

i'm not sure how this year could be better than the last...maybe michael will be switched to the day shift... no matter what, i know the Lord has tremendous plans for me, for us.

"and as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. so we will not be afraid on the day of judgement, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world." i john 4:17