GLEANINGS from Claudia -The Abiding Life: Firstborns

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Gleanings from Claudia

I am forever changed by grief, but grief is not the full measure of my life in Christ. “GLEANINGS from Claudia — The Abiding Life” explores this life attached to the One True Vine.

“Offer right sacrifices and trust the Lord.” Psalm 4:5

I had the pleasure of spending time with our kids and grandkids in Athena this last weekend. Kristin is our firstborn and our granddaughter Helen is Kristin’s firstborn. I also bear that standing in my family. Helen is five and does the title firstborn proud. There were several times over the course of our few days together when she organized and directed just how a certain activity or experience should go. I took Helen and Patrick in to Pendleton for a McDonald’s lunch one day and Helen let me know in no uncertain terms that I was not taking the right roads to get to the restaurant. When we arrived at our destination she was willing to admit that the way I went worked, but it wasn’t the best way to get there! I laughed silently at her precocious directions even as I saw my own firstborn tendencies reflected in her.

I’ve recently started reading a chapter from the Old Testament, a chapter from Psalms, and a chapter from the New Testament together each day. Today’s reading really spoke to my firstborn tendencies. I read in Genesis 4 of the firstborn Cain’s rejected sacrifice. I puzzled over why the sacrifice was rejected and came to the conclusion that Cain brought ‘some’ of the fruits of the soil as an offering whereas Abel brought ‘fat portions’ from some of the ‘firstborn of his flock.’ Cain brought a lesser gift while Abel brought the best of the best. And then when Cain’s offering was not pleasing to the Lord he took matters into his own hands and attacked his brother Abel and killed him. I somehow sensed a first born entitlement reflected – an “I can do what I want in the way I want and woe to any who get in my way” attitude.  I then went to Psalms 4 and found the verse “Offer right sacrifices and trust the Lord.” What a great word from the Lord. When I bring the best of my first-fruits to the Lord, I can trust Him for everything else. His pleasure in my love-inspired trust offerings comes back to bless me abundantly. And then flipping to Matthew 4 I saw Jesus, the One who is the ‘Firstborn over all creation’ and the ‘Firstborn from the dead’ extravagantly love and follow Father God as he used scripture to tell Satan in no uncertain terms that He would trust God and not listen to Satan.

This morning’s readings felt like a Spirit orchestrated primer on offering my first-born tendencies and my right sacrifices to the One who is worthy of the best I have to offer. Praise Him!

 “Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Matthew 4:10

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GLEANINGS from Claudia: The Abiding Life – Stirred, But Not Shaken

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Gleanings from Claudia

I am forever changed by grief, but grief is not the full measure of my life in Christ. “GLEANINGS from Claudia — The Abiding Life” explores this life attached to the One True Vine.

“Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear …” Psalms 112:6-8

Never shaken … remembered … no fear of bad news … steadfast … trusting … secure … no fear.  This scripture passage doesn’t say the righteous man will never experience hearing bad news, bad news will come, but the righteous man will not fear it.  In the face of bad news the righteous man is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. How I would love to see these qualities characterize my life. 

The last week of life has been a challenge for me. Long laid plans were changed and then completely canceled. A day that was full of joy ended up also being full of deep pain. A couple of primary relationships in my life encountered some struggles that perplexed me and brought out my desire to impact and control things. And I spent a day soaking in tears again … something I’ve not done in a while.

In all of this, God has been faithful. I’ve experienced turmoil, and God gave me the freedom to completely express that turmoil to Him and wait on Him to answer. And He has answered … His message to me is simply ‘wait’. Don’t try to control the situations, don’t manipulate, don’t run away, don’t change anything. Wait.

Life’s situations – even those I’m in the middle of – aren’t always about ‘me’ or my happiness. Sometimes I get to sit in the situations squirming and uncomfortable, but present and praying. Waiting. What will God do? How will He redeem these situations? What does He want to accomplish through that which appears to be a shaking mess to me? I don’t know, but I trust Him immensely. He has shown Himself faithful over and over and over again in my life. He is present and speaking and not the God who is distant and silent. I know His character and I know He loves me and mine completely and without reservation. So I’ll wait and trust and be stirred, but not shaken. My heart is secure and I will have no fear.

“Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”  Isaiah 30:20-22

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GLEANINGS from Claudia: The Eternal Dimension

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Gleanings from Claudia

On December 29, 2010 my 32 year old daughter, Becky, lost her life in an automobile accident. ‘GLEANINGS from Claudia’ is a mother’s journal of grief.

“What we do see is Jesus, made “not quite as high as angels,” and then, through the experience of death, crowned so much higher than any angel, with a glory “bright with Eden’s dawn light.” In that death, by God’s grace, he fully experienced death in every person’s place.

It makes good sense that the God who got everything started and keeps everything going now completes the work by making the Salvation Pioneer perfect through suffering as he leads all these people to glory. Since the One who saves and those who are saved have a common origin, Jesus doesn’t hesitate to treat them as family, saying,

‘I’ll tell my good friends, my brothers and sisters, all I know about you; I’ll join them in worship and praise to you.’

Again, he puts himself in the same family circle when he says,

‘Even I live by placing my trust in God.’

And yet again,

‘I’m here with the children God gave me.’

Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it’s logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil’s hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death.

It’s obvious, of course, that he didn’t go to all this trouble for angels. It was for people like us, children of Abraham. That’s why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people’s sins, he would have already experienced it all himself — all the pain, all the testing — and would be able to help where help was needed.” Hebrews 2:9-18

He is risen; He is risen indeed! It is early on Resurrection Sunday and I’m eagerly anticipating worshipping the Lord this morning at Suburban, my church home. Jesus will be there joining us in worship and praise to God Almighty who raised Him from the dead. Holy Spirit will be there moving in and through us to magnify God the Father and Jesus Christ His son. And God Himself will sit enthroned on our praises.

We serve an amazing, ‘God is love’ God who doesn’t leave us to our own devices when we chose sin and death. Instead He takes on flesh to live out a life just like ours so that He can really come along side us when we struggle. And then in the ultimate act of servant-hood He becomes obedient to death and overcomes death as the Firstborn from the Dead! Talk about a ‘Servant Leader’! And oh how I love that title ‘Firstborn from the Dead’ because it implies that there will be more to come!

Resurrection Sunday affirms the truth that those who are lovers of the Lord and have died before me are more alive today than I can even imagine. Today I will worship in a timeless dimension and stand with Becky and my Mom and dear friends from my church family to praise and glorify the One who lives and gives eternal life!

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GLEANINGS from Claudia: Good Friday

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Gleanings from Claudia

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Today is Good Friday. This name for the Friday before Easter is not the God-given name for the day. You won’t find the term “Good Friday” in the Bible. It is a name that God followers throughout history have come to associate with this day.  In a way it appalls me to call the day Jesus was tortured and died “Good Friday.” Shouldn’t it instead be Black Friday … Grievous Friday … Fearful Friday … Failure Friday … or maybe that day deserves to be the one day with no name.

I don’t think I will ever be able to call the day that Becky died “Good Wednesday.” It would be an affront if someone was bold enough to call that day “Good.” And yet, in a tangible, “within my ability to grasp it” way, the day that Jesus died helps me to know how something that is the worst most catastrophic event can become the best thing that ever happened in the hands of God. We never would’ve called this Friday “Good” without the shocking truth of the resurrection following hard upon the heels of the day of death. The sure knowledge that Jesus’ death and restoration to vibrant life wasn’t just about Him, but also applies to us, makes His worst Friday ever the best Friday we can possibly know.

Death surrounds me. In just the past couple of weeks I’ve seen several people I love lose to death someone they love dearly. Joining in their grief has raised my own sorrow level again and I simply miss Becky. But at the same time the truth of Jesus’ death and resurrection affirms that Becky is alive. I love Easter Sunday! But let’s call it what it is: Resurrection Sunday or Life Sunday or Eternal life Sunday or Victory Sunday! On that day I sense that I stand in a ‘thin place’ – a place where all Saints from all of time and eternity stand together in joyful celebratory worship of the One who conquered death. He is risen! He is risen indeed!

“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39

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GLEANINGS from Claudia – The Abiding Life: Alive in Christ!

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Gleanings from Claudia

I am forever changed by grief, but grief is not the full measure of my life in Christ. “GLEANINGS from Claudia — The Abiding Life” posts explore this life attached to the One True Vine.

“He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us!  Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.” Ephesians 2:5-6 from “The Message”

I’m steeping in the truth of Easter this week. It is a rich and simple truth yet full of depths and shades of mystery and meaning. I see my sin so clearly, but I see God’s love overshadowing that sin. I see love, original seminal ‘God is love’ love in existence since time began, expressed in death that gives way to life … and all this for me and you. Our own nature, created in the image of God, tells us that love births life, and so it is with the love of God expressed in Christ.

I so enjoy the way ‘The Message’ version of the Bible expresses this truth in Romans 8:

“But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won’t know what we’re talking about.  But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells — even though you still experience all the limitations of sin — you yourself experience life on God’s terms.  It stands to reason, doesn’t it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he’ll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ’s!

So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent.  There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life.  God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?”  God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children.  And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us — an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!” Romans 8:9-17

 I love the Lord and I love living life in Him in my imperfect ‘not-yet-out-of-the-flesh’ way. The reality is that life, even life in Christ, isn’t always easy … in fact it can be hard unto death at times. But there is a super-reality beyond this reality – life in Christ is not a solo journey—it is a lively adventure with a trusted guide who has walked the path before me. It is an exciting and sometimes perilous trip with a sure and good end. In fact I know the end from the beginning – I am alive in Christ and today I sit with Jesus my Messiah in highest heaven! PRAISE HIM!

“That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all — was put to death and then made alive — to bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18 from “The Message”

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GLEANINGS From Claudia: The Abiding Life — Christ Tramples Death by Death

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Gleanings from Claudia

I am forever changed by grief, but grief is not the full measure of my life in Christ. “GLEANINGS from Claudia — The Abiding Life” explores this life attached to the One True Vine.

“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying  that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:54-57

Easter is by far my favorite holiday of the year. It isn’t about eggs, or bunnies, or chocolate, or fancy clothing –although I take delight in all of that. Rather it is about the incredibly amazing truth that life wins!

When you ponder mankind it is so clear how much of our lives are consumed in either fearing or trying to outsmart death. Our culture is oriented to avoid death at all costs. We spend billions on exercise machines and memberships, drugs and doctors, facelifts and cosmetics, and all kinds of insurance. While much of what we do isn’t inherently wrong, often that which compels us to do it is a deep-seated faithless fear of aging and death. We so often live our lives caught in fearing death and thereby experience the loss of true life that comes with abiding in fear. We are so consumed with fear of death that in a real way we experience death every day.  Christ changes all of that. He conquers death and by living again offers us that same power exerted in Him!

I’m participating in Easter Choir this year and one of the songs we are singing includes this line: “Christ is risen from the dead, Trampling over death by death, Come awake! Come awake! Come and rise up from the grave!” I love the line “Trampling over death by death!” Death – the very thing that causes us the greatest fear is the thing that Jesus experienced to conquer death. It is the greatest and most beautiful paradox of all time! Jesus entered into that which we fear to prove that eternal life is true. Jesus entered into that which we will also enter into, unless He should come again first, to prove that we too can have eternal life in Him. Today in and through Jesus Christ I experience life – eternal life — and that together with all of the Saints for all of time. Incredible!

Can’t you just picture Satan taking immense satisfaction in the death of Christ only to realize a short time later that the very thing that should have brought him victory brought his final defeat?! Our God is awesome and amazing and I PRAISE HIM!

“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes — I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Job 19:25-27

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GLEANINGS From Claudia: The Abiding Life — The Lord Bless You!

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Gleanings from Claudia

I am forever changed by grief, but grief is not the full measure of my life in Christ. “GLEANINGS from Claudia — The Abiding Life” posts explore this life attached to the One True Vine.

“Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.  For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” Isaiah 30:18

I’ve been enjoying a compressed time of study this week. The girls are on Spring Break and at the last minute were invited to spend the first couple of days of break on the family farm in Junction City. They were glad to go – farms tend to be very interesting places – and I was thankful for a time for them that will be inherently free from that ever-lurking cloud of boredom!

 The study time is also a blessing to this introvert primarily because I have the privilege of teaching a session at Suburban’s Spring Retreat at the end of April. The theme of our retreat is “When We Listen” and I get to teach on hearing God’s voice. What an important and, I confess, intimidating topic! I’ve been using my concordance to look at all of the scripture I can on ‘hear’, ‘listen’, ‘said’, ‘speak’, ‘say’, etc., etc. In addition I’ve been reading various authors and gleaning what they have to say and the experiences they share regarding this topic.

I took a study break today to take a walk in the fine spring rain and get the cobwebs out of my brain. I carried with me a little notepad with Ephesians 1:18-23 and prayed it into the lives of people I love. I also spent some time with a quieted spirit after saying to the Lord ‘if there is anything you’d like to tell me, I’m listening.’ As I walked in that listening mode, I came upon a walker coming my way and smiled and said “hello!” Nearly immediately I heard an internal “the Lord bless you!” It nearly stopped me in my tracks. The concept of the Lord’s blessing has taken on iceberg proportions in my life over the last couple of years. There was a time in my life when ‘the Lord bless you’ would’ve meant all the ‘good’ things … health, happiness, material goods, a job, solid and loving relationships. While those ‘good’ things are still wrapped up in a blessing supplication, it now goes so much deeper. Blessing is about peace and joy in adversity, it is the wonder of knowing God in a profound and personal way because of tough times, it is open-handedly receiving from the hand of God the blessing only He can pour out no matter what life’s circumstances bring. And sometimes because of what life’s circumstances bring.

My spirit leapt at the chance to greet the next walker with this salutation supplication. I was on the watch now for people to bless. I prayed ‘the Lord bless you’ over the cars that went by and the people I saw in the distance. I have to laugh because this was one of the least peopled walks of my life in this neighborhood! We live in an area with great walking paths, but today most people traveled by some vehicle. As I rounded one of my last corners before home, I saw a man walking away from me turn back toward me and draw closer. When I was within earshot I engaged him with a smile, heard him say ‘hello’ and answered back ‘the Lord bless you!’

I hope to continue this practice and one of the reasons I’m writing this down is that my poor brain is prone to forget! I know the Lord longs to bless people and deeply desires to be in relationship with people … what a joy to pray that simple prayer into the lives of the people He longs to bless!

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9

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GLEANINGS from Claudia — The Abiding Life: Listening

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Gleanings from Claudia

I am forever changed by grief, but grief is not the full measure of my life in Christ. “GLEANINGS from Claudia — The Abiding Life” posts explore this life attached to the One True Vine.

“He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” John 10:3-6

It is lambing season in Western Oregon. Last week a friend called and invited me to bring Amity and Dara to their farm to see and feed the newborn lambs. Harriet greeted us at the house, provided us each mucking boots and then led us through the property to their baby barn where we cooed over sweet little baaing babies. Soon we headed out to a nearby pasture with Harriet’s husband Doyle in the lead. We were directed to stand back off to the side where we wouldn’t be a visible obstacle or cause for fear and then we watched as Doyle opened the gate and began to call out “Lamby … Lamby … Lamby.”

The pasture held about 50 or so sheep and lambs – most often mothers with twins. As Doyle began to call out the sheep turned toward him, perked up their ears and then began to come toward him. They knew his voice and knew him and felt no fear at the voice of their shepherd. We stayed off to the side and watched as this little flock of sheep passed through the gate with Doyle trailing close behind. Doyle took note that there was a sheep down some distance further out and then he moved to the front of the flock leading them on to a new pasture nearer the baby barn. Harriet took up the rear and the girls and I followed along occasionally gently directing a straggling baby toward the flock.

I was blessed by this very visible picture of what Jesus said in the gospel of John. Doyle’s sheep clearly knew Doyle and felt no fear in his presence. They heard his voice and they came to his call, then they followed him to the place of pasture. When the sheep were in the new pasture the girls and I settled back in to loving on and feeding the little ones in the baby barn. A short time later I saw Doyle come to the baby barn with a tiny newborn lamb in each arm and a momma lamb trailing along behind him. The birth was fresh … the afterbirth was still not fully delivered from the mother sheep. These little twins newly arrived in the barn answered the ‘why’ of the downed sheep that Doyle had observed way off in the pasture. And being a good shepherd, Doyle got his flock to safe pasture and then immediately left his 60 sheep and went back for the one left alone.

What a beautiful picture of our Good Shepherd! What a joy to listen for His voice!

Doyle and Harriet's Sheep

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

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GLEANINGS from Claudia: The Abiding Life: Working for the King

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Gleanings from Claudia

I am forever changed by grief, but grief is not the full measure of my life in Christ. “GLEANINGS from Claudia — The Abiding Life” posts explore this life attached to the One True Vine.

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.”
Ephesians 6:5-8

I’m nearing the end of a book I’ve been assigned as preparation for a weekend retreat I’ll attend about a week from now. The book is “More Than Ordinary: Enjoying Life With God” by Doug Sherman. I’ll be honest, the book started slow for me and I kind of slogged through the first section, but perseverance is paying off.

Yesterday I was particularly blessed by the reminder that my work is His work. Every task I come upon in my day is an assignment from the King and has Kingdom significance. Mr. Sherman shared the old story of a man in London in the Middle Ages watching a church being built. He approached a few construction workers to ask about their tasks and spoke to a couple of stonemasons. When asked what he was doing the first stonemason said “I am laying stone with mortar for the wall.” On the other side of the building he asked the same question of a second stone mason and heard “I am building a great cathedral for God.”

Mr. Sherman also directed my attention back to Ephesians 6:5-8. I love the emphatic reminder of these verses that I am serving God not man or myself. As I serve Him in my daily tasks I am building a reward that will come from the Lord. The book gives no clue about what that reward looks like, but there are parts of my day and tasks that I do where I can see the reward out there. Every weekday I get to go to my granddaughters’ home and wake them up, prepare breakfast, help them get ready for their day – just generally set the tone of the day for them. Then in the afternoon I get to pick them up from school and be a part of their afternoon hours until Jacob comes home from work. When I stand before my King waiting to see what the work He gave me on earth has accomplished, I fully expect to see these granddaughters in all their glory standing before Jesus. I will have been part of laying the mortar and bricks of their lives that brings them to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. This is not the life of a drudge. I’m not just getting up early and making breakfast, I’m the King’s craftsman participating in building beautiful lives for Him. Could there be a greater reward? Praise Him for allowing me to serve Him!!

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life — your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life — and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.” Romans 12:1-2

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GLEANINGS from Claudia — The Abiding Life: Fasting

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Gleanings from Claudia

I am forever changed by grief, but grief is not the full measure of my life in Christ. “GLEANINGS from Claudia — The Abiding Life” posts explore this life attached to the One True Vine.

“But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting , but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:17-18

On Monday of this week Steve, the staff of Suburban and many other men and women in ministry in the Willamette Valley headed off to Canon Beach for four days of prayer. I saw an opportunity in Steve’s absence to try a more complete fast than I’ve experienced in the past. From Monday morning until Wednesday at noon I drank only clear liquids. At noon on Wednesday I had a lunch appointment that I made prior to my decision to fast so I had a light lunch that day and then fasted again until lunch on Thursday.

I fasted into the teaching that I’ve been called to do for a Women’s Retreat the third weekend of April. I’ve been a Bible study teacher for many years and I’ve taught a single session at various times in the past, but I’ve never had the responsibility to craft a retreat and speak at all sessions. I’ve never formulated teaching for a group of women that I don’t even know. I have a deep trust in the Holy Spirit as the true teacher in every lesson planned and taught so my fast was really about hearing the voice of the Lord in regard to what HE wants to teach at this retreat.

The fast was amazing. I received and received the messages flowing into me and onto the page. I have a complete picture of the retreat now with details still coming. My week had challenges in it – several in fact – but my overall sense of the week is one of great peace. I loved the experience of freedom that came upon the heels of not worrying about what to cook, not taking the time to prepare food items, not having to spend the time required to complete clean up tasks. Those tasks are blessings of God’s provision in my life and I am truly thankful for each meal He gives us. But letting this all go for a few meals brought focus and joy.

In scripture a complete fast means taking water only for a period of time. For the culture that practiced this type of scriptural fast, food procurement and preparation required immense amounts of time and energy. In today’s world it may be even more effective to fast from sensory bombardment such as music players, social media, television, computer use and other electronic inputs.  Today a sensory fast experienced in tandem with a food fast gives sacred space and time within which to hear the voice of God.

One of the things that came out of the Prayer Summit for Steve and the other leaders waiting on the Lord at Canon Beach is a sense that God is calling us to more seasons of prayer with fasting. I’m eager to hear those calls to fast and pray and excited to see what God will do through His people waiting on Him in fasting.

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”  Acts 13:2-3

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