The Lord has been putting a lot of impressions on me recently... a lot to do with giving and money and the poor... and steps of faith and growth... and instead of simply restricting myself, seeking more ways to give...
Last year around lent, i saw an article that said instead of giving something up, give something away... perked my interest.
Then i read "The hole in our Gospel" ... the Lord was preparing my heart before hand- and it hit me, just as it has many others... read it.
Then i was studying I Timothy 6 and the love of money... leading to all kinds of evil.
And i read Randy Alcorn's chapter on money in "For the Fame of God's Name"
And all this happening in the midst of raising support, moving to a new place and beginning to set up a new home...
For the rest of the year i am going to do a type of fast each month... one i would like you to join with me. i'll still be eating... but i will be fasting
5 Is such the fast that I choose,
a day for a person to humble himself?
Is it to bow down his head like a reed,
and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?
Will you call this a fast,
and a day acceptable to the LORD?
6"Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
7Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you;
the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard...
10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
and your gloom be as the noonday.
11And the LORD will guide you continually
and satisfy your desire in scorched places
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail.
a day for a person to humble himself?
Is it to bow down his head like a reed,
and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?
Will you call this a fast,
and a day acceptable to the LORD?
6"Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
7Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you;
the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard...
10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
and your gloom be as the noonday.
11And the LORD will guide you continually
and satisfy your desire in scorched places
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail.
~ Isaiah 58: 5-8,10-11
The month of June will be a "Water" fast
No, not just drinking water... but when i drink something, it will be water... no pop, no coke, no frappacinos, no lemonade, no coffee, no alcohol... just water.
· drink water instead of pop, lemonade, coffee, alcohol, etc
o every time I drink water, remember to pray for those who have no water
o every time I drink a glass of water/ every time i crave another type of drink ask God to give me a deeper thirst for Him
· donate whatever money I would have spent on that drink i am choosing not to drink to WorldVision to help bring drinking water to those in need
· memorize verses on
o thirsting for God
o giving to the poor
Maybe this won't be a big challenge for you. i want to try to drink more water anyway - but it is still hard for me to resist other drinks... and even though i don't often choose to buy a pop, i still think about it... now when those cravings come i will pray and instead of hording that money i am saving for myself or using it on myself, i want to give it away.
The idea is, i will restrict myself, so i can give away to others... and also to develop my thirst for God.
That may not produce a whole lot of extra money, so maybe i will consider other things, like donating additional money for each bottle/glass of water i drink
i hope you will join me.
i believe as we give away, we will experience joy and experience the Lord.
Jesus said "It is more blessed to give than receive"
i know i enjoy receiving, so i can imagine how good giving can be.
As we give to the poor, we honor Christ and we reflect Christ's heart and attitude- esp to those receiving His love & blessing.
We do have an obligation to give & to help the poor if we are going to follow Christ.
And be giving away money, we are investing in eternal rewards and keeping our heart from treasuring wealth & stuff more than Christ.
i also will be praying for a deeper thirst for Jesus and think this fast will also show me how much i trun to other things -even a drink- more than i turn to Jesus.
1 "Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;
~ Isaiah 55:1-3
