So 21 days, no cheating, all the strength I had before, and a closeness to God I haven't had in a while. I love it. The kids have been on my mind constantly, you guys have been on my mind constantly, and on top of everything, I lost 14 pounds in 21 days. Amazing, makes me think about what I was eating before.
So I woke up this morning and was about to make my daily strawberry, banana, soy yogurt, soy milk, and OJ smoothie, when I realize, wait, I can have bread and meat. Right them my wife walks downstairs and lets me know that my brother in law and sister in law are on the way over to make me breakfast, and they are great cooks. I end up eating turkey sausage and blueberry cheesecake pancakes, yummmers. Then my stomach felt achy and then I hit the biggest sugar high I have had in years. 2 hours later.......CRASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am sure to take a lot from this fast going forward, and I love how Mark just put it, I need to take these lengths to get right in so many other areas of my life. You guys are awesome and inspirational, and I can't wait to go to Cambodia and see the work God does through us for these kids.
Sorry if this post made you crave food you can't have, but I am praying for you guys and know you can make it 7 more days. God Bless you guys, talk to you later.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Batter Up!
Like the rest of you I have been overjoyed throughout the fast, but yesterday it took an ugly turn. All this time I thought I was making progress, but the fast took it all from me in one short, revealing moment. Let me explain.
I went to Kroger on Saturday night to do some shopping - in the sense that most people mean shopping, not my usual dash through the store for a cart-full of sinner food. Since I started the Daniel fast, I have been spending more and more time in the grocery store. I walk up and down every aisle, run my eyes over each and every food item, and pick up a select few. Those lucky ones are then studied and scrutinized, each ingredient tested against my now database-like knowledge of Daniel-fast-approved foods. Tempted to cheat? Not on your life. If anything, I have undertaken a McCarthy-esque hunt for preservatives, sugars, yeast, and communists. Well, not so much the communists, but if I find any I'll out them as well.
I have even begun to cook. I take that back; since Laura will be reading this, I won't overstate it - I have begun adding a small variety of spices and seasonings to things that can be heated readily in the microwave. And I have been adding two or more foods together that I would not previously have mixed based on my pre-fast cooking, I mean, mixing knowledge. The results have been.... I'm not starving to death, and that's what's important. I have found foods to eat for breakfast, foods for lunch, foods for dinner, and even some snacky foods in between. I spend time preparing those foods so I can take them with me to work and plan to be home to eat between other activities. I avoid being anywhere without reasonably ready access to approved foods so that I will not be forced to choose between death or cheating. Being a pretty determined person, you'd probably find me with an untasted cupcake clutched in my lifeless hand.
So here's where the fast turned on me: after I posted all the stuff before about God giving us what we need and all, I really felt like I was growing spiritually and learning to truly rely on God. Then it hit me. When we go to battle against sin in our lives, God gives us what we lack which allows us to win. I thought I was at least facing Satan's shock-and-awe military campaign with my trusty whiffle-ball bat, delivering stinging swats between God's thunderous cannon-fire. But now I realize it has more closely resembled a three-year-old hiding behind his Father's leg while shaking an angry and trembling fist in the air.
I've had to face many personal challenges as God has called me closer to Him, but I have not put as much effort into overcoming any of those as I have put into succeeding at the Daniel fast. Don't get me wrong, I have won some battles and pushed many sins out of my daily life. But even when I desperately want to rid my life of something I don't go to such exhaustive lengths to reduce the chances for failure and maximize my chances for victory.
I'll use an example to which anyone can relate: getting angry at people who do stupid, stupid, STUPID things in traffic (sorry, still struggling!). I really want to stop and there are times when I do better. But in my efforts to curtail this sin I would never consider leaving for work a few hours early so I can just drive slowly and lower my chances for failure. I would never consider riding MARTA to make it a complete non-issue. After all, those things would be so inconvenient for me! But so is spending two hours in Kroger reading the ingredients off dozens of foods ("Wait, what are rolled oats? Is organic cane sugar really sugar? It's organic, after all..."), but I do it because I'm committed to the fast. I know the Bible tells us that in order to do His will we are called to choose inconvenience, even to choose suffering and death (Psalm 44:22) for His sake, but I never noticed how far I am from actually doing it when it matters.
In Ecclesiastes 5:4-5, it says, "When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools, fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it." I've made many vows to God in the wake of sin, surrendering my old ways to Him, only to return to them a day, week, or month later. And, as the fast tells me, it probably has a bit to do with my failure to go the necessary lengths to keep myself from willful sin, as David prayed in Psalm 19:13. It's almost embarrassing that my steadfast commitment to a symbolic fast shamed my commitment to obeying God, but then I realize that's actually the whole point of the fast and I am encouraged.
Now, where's my whiffle-ball bat?
I went to Kroger on Saturday night to do some shopping - in the sense that most people mean shopping, not my usual dash through the store for a cart-full of sinner food. Since I started the Daniel fast, I have been spending more and more time in the grocery store. I walk up and down every aisle, run my eyes over each and every food item, and pick up a select few. Those lucky ones are then studied and scrutinized, each ingredient tested against my now database-like knowledge of Daniel-fast-approved foods. Tempted to cheat? Not on your life. If anything, I have undertaken a McCarthy-esque hunt for preservatives, sugars, yeast, and communists. Well, not so much the communists, but if I find any I'll out them as well.
I have even begun to cook. I take that back; since Laura will be reading this, I won't overstate it - I have begun adding a small variety of spices and seasonings to things that can be heated readily in the microwave. And I have been adding two or more foods together that I would not previously have mixed based on my pre-fast cooking, I mean, mixing knowledge. The results have been.... I'm not starving to death, and that's what's important. I have found foods to eat for breakfast, foods for lunch, foods for dinner, and even some snacky foods in between. I spend time preparing those foods so I can take them with me to work and plan to be home to eat between other activities. I avoid being anywhere without reasonably ready access to approved foods so that I will not be forced to choose between death or cheating. Being a pretty determined person, you'd probably find me with an untasted cupcake clutched in my lifeless hand.
So here's where the fast turned on me: after I posted all the stuff before about God giving us what we need and all, I really felt like I was growing spiritually and learning to truly rely on God. Then it hit me. When we go to battle against sin in our lives, God gives us what we lack which allows us to win. I thought I was at least facing Satan's shock-and-awe military campaign with my trusty whiffle-ball bat, delivering stinging swats between God's thunderous cannon-fire. But now I realize it has more closely resembled a three-year-old hiding behind his Father's leg while shaking an angry and trembling fist in the air.
I've had to face many personal challenges as God has called me closer to Him, but I have not put as much effort into overcoming any of those as I have put into succeeding at the Daniel fast. Don't get me wrong, I have won some battles and pushed many sins out of my daily life. But even when I desperately want to rid my life of something I don't go to such exhaustive lengths to reduce the chances for failure and maximize my chances for victory.
I'll use an example to which anyone can relate: getting angry at people who do stupid, stupid, STUPID things in traffic (sorry, still struggling!). I really want to stop and there are times when I do better. But in my efforts to curtail this sin I would never consider leaving for work a few hours early so I can just drive slowly and lower my chances for failure. I would never consider riding MARTA to make it a complete non-issue. After all, those things would be so inconvenient for me! But so is spending two hours in Kroger reading the ingredients off dozens of foods ("Wait, what are rolled oats? Is organic cane sugar really sugar? It's organic, after all..."), but I do it because I'm committed to the fast. I know the Bible tells us that in order to do His will we are called to choose inconvenience, even to choose suffering and death (Psalm 44:22) for His sake, but I never noticed how far I am from actually doing it when it matters.
In Ecclesiastes 5:4-5, it says, "When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools, fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it." I've made many vows to God in the wake of sin, surrendering my old ways to Him, only to return to them a day, week, or month later. And, as the fast tells me, it probably has a bit to do with my failure to go the necessary lengths to keep myself from willful sin, as David prayed in Psalm 19:13. It's almost embarrassing that my steadfast commitment to a symbolic fast shamed my commitment to obeying God, but then I realize that's actually the whole point of the fast and I am encouraged.
Now, where's my whiffle-ball bat?
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Oh and..
Tonight I locked my keys in the car. I mean really they are much better off in the cup holder don't you think? Who needs to drive their car! After calling AAA I have decided as a team you guys need to get together and drop 'rice cake crumbs' that will lead me back home. Perhaps that was one of the best highlights. Would this have happened if I had meat and bread in my tummy? Not really sure but I do know that it made me laugh!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Life is more than cookie dough ice cream
I struggled writing this blog. Being out of words is very rare for me. However, I really cannot even begin to explain in words how much God has shown me his amazing love through this process. But, with a little prayer and some fingers that are running on rice cakes I will try to put in words what an amazing journey I have been on for the past 15 days. I am in awe to say the least on how much I rely on food instead of going straight to him. When times get stressful I will admit I run to the fridge instead of running straight to God’s arms for comfort. Right around day 8ish eating everyday meals became a pleasure instead of a task. My relationship with God has grown by pulling out the bible during meal time where I normally would be stuffing my face with a Chick-Fil-A sandwich. Some highlights of my experience have to be going down the aisle in the grocery store looking at all the wonderful flavors this past Saturday. The people around me carting their bread and meat could not help but stare at me when I sat in front of the freezer eyeing all the delicious flavors especially cookie dough for at minimum of 8-10 minutes. I then realized perhaps the Devil was taunting me to cheat because I was so tempted to give in so I made a dash for the produce section.
I too dream of my Grande Vanilla Latte. Although, I have come to realize the things such as ice cream and Starbucks that normally make my day wonderful have subsided. I do not need ‘extra things’ to make my day great I just need to pray a tad bit more for him to top my day off. This has been the most eye opening experience. I have shared my faith by telling the Daniel and the Lion story 30+ times which I believe is what the fast is 50% about. I am so proud to be part of such an AMAZING group. Thank you for all of your inspirational blogs. CAMBODIA HERE WE COME!
I too dream of my Grande Vanilla Latte. Although, I have come to realize the things such as ice cream and Starbucks that normally make my day wonderful have subsided. I do not need ‘extra things’ to make my day great I just need to pray a tad bit more for him to top my day off. This has been the most eye opening experience. I have shared my faith by telling the Daniel and the Lion story 30+ times which I believe is what the fast is 50% about. I am so proud to be part of such an AMAZING group. Thank you for all of your inspirational blogs. CAMBODIA HERE WE COME!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
10 Days and Counting...
I started the fast on May 10th so today is day 10 for me. My biggest concern when starting was how I was going to go without caffeine for 21 days. I know it sounds a little bit ridiculous, but I don't think I have gone without a morning cup of coffee for more than a few days here or there over the past 6 years. I took some time the week before to gradually not drink any more caffeine in order to avoid getting a headache. I think that was in the best interest of both my students and myself :). Sadly I even have to admit that on day 3 I had a dream where I was happily drinking some coffee in the morning...think it was on my mind??? Anyway, this time of year is very busy for me with all of the end of the year activities, grading, and just a lot to finish up. I usually would rely on chewing a lot of gum and drinking a lot of caffeine to stay awake and get it all done. Not being able to have either one, I have had to change that.
Throughout the fast, I have learned that my body needs much more sleep than I was getting! I have also learned that God can provide the strength and energy I need and it isn't about me trying to do so much myself. I have reflected on how much of what I have been keeping myself busy with is really His will for my life and how much is simply that...busyness. Each time I eat a meal, I am reminded why I am doing this and what it is really all about...strengthening my relationship with the One that created me. Each time my stomach growls, I am reminded again. This constant reminder of why I am here has really focused my days in a different direction. There is really so much that I feel like God has been sharing with me during the past 10 days. I don't think I have fully sorted through all of it yet.
The food part hasn't been as challenging as I thought it would (I know I am not even half way through yet though!). I haven't felt too much of a pull to eat any of the foods we are not supposed to. The limited food items has challenged me to try new recipes (which I always enjoy doing) and caused me to really notice what is in different things I eat. I made a few recipes that I sent out. The only one I have really enjoyed was the vegan sauce recipe. This is with mushrooms, fresh tomatoes, green peppers, basil and onion all cooked together for about 20 minutes and then over whole wheat pasta. I have tried the stuffed peppers recipes and the "Mrs. Jones' Brown Rice Dinner" recipe from the original e-mail Jon sent out. Both were very good. I took the brown rice dinner and made some simple guacamole with an avocado, garlic salt, and lime juice. I put the rice mixture and guacamole in a wheat tortilla which was pretty good. I also have found hummus to be a nice snack. Today my sister said that she noticed Triscuit crackers only have whole wheat, soybean oil, and salt in them...so they might be ok too??...not sure about the soybean oil.
Reading everyone else's posts has been very helpful and encouraging for me! Thanks for sharing your stories! I am up for breaking our fast together once we are all finished.
Throughout the fast, I have learned that my body needs much more sleep than I was getting! I have also learned that God can provide the strength and energy I need and it isn't about me trying to do so much myself. I have reflected on how much of what I have been keeping myself busy with is really His will for my life and how much is simply that...busyness. Each time I eat a meal, I am reminded why I am doing this and what it is really all about...strengthening my relationship with the One that created me. Each time my stomach growls, I am reminded again. This constant reminder of why I am here has really focused my days in a different direction. There is really so much that I feel like God has been sharing with me during the past 10 days. I don't think I have fully sorted through all of it yet.
The food part hasn't been as challenging as I thought it would (I know I am not even half way through yet though!). I haven't felt too much of a pull to eat any of the foods we are not supposed to. The limited food items has challenged me to try new recipes (which I always enjoy doing) and caused me to really notice what is in different things I eat. I made a few recipes that I sent out. The only one I have really enjoyed was the vegan sauce recipe. This is with mushrooms, fresh tomatoes, green peppers, basil and onion all cooked together for about 20 minutes and then over whole wheat pasta. I have tried the stuffed peppers recipes and the "Mrs. Jones' Brown Rice Dinner" recipe from the original e-mail Jon sent out. Both were very good. I took the brown rice dinner and made some simple guacamole with an avocado, garlic salt, and lime juice. I put the rice mixture and guacamole in a wheat tortilla which was pretty good. I also have found hummus to be a nice snack. Today my sister said that she noticed Triscuit crackers only have whole wheat, soybean oil, and salt in them...so they might be ok too??...not sure about the soybean oil.
Reading everyone else's posts has been very helpful and encouraging for me! Thanks for sharing your stories! I am up for breaking our fast together once we are all finished.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Not just fast, Daniel fast....
Seven days complete, and God has really been propping me up! I stocked up on groceries at the beginning of the week, or so I thought, but I've definitely been eating about 1/3 of my usual caloric intake. Although I've been hungry most of the time I really haven't been tempted to cheat. Of course, work has been unusually busy so I averaged 12+ hours/day. Because the fast wasn't hard enough already!
I ran a charity 5k on Saturday morning after getting about 2 hours of sleep, and still finished under 30 minutes (a good time for me!) and felt alright. The whole time, I was reminded of the fact that Daniel and the others were actually stronger than the ones who ate the king's food. That shut down all the negative thoughts, like "You can walk a little, you only slept two hours and ate almost nothing." Small thing, but it was encouraging to know God doesn't need food or sleep to do His will, and He gives us as much of them we need.
I managed to get home and take a couple-hour nap before working an extra job that evening. I was exhausted but everything went well until about 10:30 pm, when I answered a prowler call and caught a guy in the back yard of someone's house. He ran from me so I chased after him, praying, "Ok, Lord, you've got to make me Daniel! I really don't feel up to running a wind sprint over fences right now!" I caught the guy, physical altercation #501 ensued, but everything turned out fine (for me anyway). Point being, if you'd asked me if I could do the Daniel fast (eating as little as I have been) for four days, then run a 5k on two hours sleep, then work a long shift on an extra job ending in a foot chase with a crackhead (very fast considering THEIR dietary habits), I wouldn't have thought it would end well. But I have been granted exceptional endurance all week. All the glory goes to God for showing off on the little things as well as the big, and I'm really happy to be doing the fast!
Please pass along any easy, good foods you've tried. I got some Texas Barbeque Veggie Burgers that are an embarrassment to Texas, barbeque, veggies, and burgers. I also went to Smoothie King with a friend and quizzed the poor employee about all the ingredients in the smoothies. She finally told me I could have anything with blueberries or bananas in it, and suggested a "Blueberry Heaven," which also had honey and other additives, so I finally ordered a "Blueberry Heaven, hold the Heaven." She didn't think it was nearly as funny as I did.
Second only-funny-to-me story: as I went past the last road guard during the 5k, the woman posted there cheered me on, saying, "Great job, you're almost there!" I was well behind the pack (I finished 50th), but I figured she was bored and could use a laugh, so I asked, "Is there anyone ahead of me?" She looked kind of sad and said, "Oh.... man, yeah, a bunch of people..." like she was really trying to break it to me gently. Sailed right over her head... oh well, I tried!
I ran a charity 5k on Saturday morning after getting about 2 hours of sleep, and still finished under 30 minutes (a good time for me!) and felt alright. The whole time, I was reminded of the fact that Daniel and the others were actually stronger than the ones who ate the king's food. That shut down all the negative thoughts, like "You can walk a little, you only slept two hours and ate almost nothing." Small thing, but it was encouraging to know God doesn't need food or sleep to do His will, and He gives us as much of them we need.
I managed to get home and take a couple-hour nap before working an extra job that evening. I was exhausted but everything went well until about 10:30 pm, when I answered a prowler call and caught a guy in the back yard of someone's house. He ran from me so I chased after him, praying, "Ok, Lord, you've got to make me Daniel! I really don't feel up to running a wind sprint over fences right now!" I caught the guy, physical altercation #501 ensued, but everything turned out fine (for me anyway). Point being, if you'd asked me if I could do the Daniel fast (eating as little as I have been) for four days, then run a 5k on two hours sleep, then work a long shift on an extra job ending in a foot chase with a crackhead (very fast considering THEIR dietary habits), I wouldn't have thought it would end well. But I have been granted exceptional endurance all week. All the glory goes to God for showing off on the little things as well as the big, and I'm really happy to be doing the fast!
Please pass along any easy, good foods you've tried. I got some Texas Barbeque Veggie Burgers that are an embarrassment to Texas, barbeque, veggies, and burgers. I also went to Smoothie King with a friend and quizzed the poor employee about all the ingredients in the smoothies. She finally told me I could have anything with blueberries or bananas in it, and suggested a "Blueberry Heaven," which also had honey and other additives, so I finally ordered a "Blueberry Heaven, hold the Heaven." She didn't think it was nearly as funny as I did.
Second only-funny-to-me story: as I went past the last road guard during the 5k, the woman posted there cheered me on, saying, "Great job, you're almost there!" I was well behind the pack (I finished 50th), but I figured she was bored and could use a laugh, so I asked, "Is there anyone ahead of me?" She looked kind of sad and said, "Oh.... man, yeah, a bunch of people..." like she was really trying to break it to me gently. Sailed right over her head... oh well, I tried!
2 Weeks of The Daniel Fast Completed
I signed in this morning to post, and thanks Mike for posting how you are doing. I have been through 14 days of the Daniel Fast, and it is incredible. I have talked to God more in the last two weeks than I did in the previous 2 months. That is why I love this and am glad we have a good group doing it. I hope this is right, and let me know if I am off, but I started Monday, May 4th, I believe Elizabeth re-started (haha) Wednesday, May 6th, Mike started Friday, May 8th, and Laura, Mikey G, and Mark started Monday, May 11th. So we are all over the board, but have a big group doing it, nonetheless. Hopefully Candace, Mistye, Erin, and Andy are prayer warrioring for us.
So I know I probably mentioned this in an e-mail earlier, but our theme verse for our week has resonated in my head the last two weeks. I am an eater, I love food. That is why I work out, so I can eat what I like. I am a meat eater, and love cheese and bread. So, this week, as I am craving those things and my body is screaming for them, I know it is just a selfish, flesh craving. I want "my portion" of these things. That is when I recite "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever." God is good, he will make us stronger through this. I have been reading Daniel, and if we have faith like Daniel, imagine the things we can do on our trip and beyond.
I hope you guys are doing well, you are an awesome group of people, and I can't wait to go on this trip with everyone. I can't believe it is only 2 months away. Our next meeting is two weeks from yesterday, Sunday, May 31st. That will be the last day of some of you guys' fast, so if everyone is interested, we can do a night meeting and break it together with dinner. Just a thought. E-mail me and let me know your thoughts.
God bless you guys, and let us know how you are doing.
So I know I probably mentioned this in an e-mail earlier, but our theme verse for our week has resonated in my head the last two weeks. I am an eater, I love food. That is why I work out, so I can eat what I like. I am a meat eater, and love cheese and bread. So, this week, as I am craving those things and my body is screaming for them, I know it is just a selfish, flesh craving. I want "my portion" of these things. That is when I recite "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever." God is good, he will make us stronger through this. I have been reading Daniel, and if we have faith like Daniel, imagine the things we can do on our trip and beyond.
I hope you guys are doing well, you are an awesome group of people, and I can't wait to go on this trip with everyone. I can't believe it is only 2 months away. Our next meeting is two weeks from yesterday, Sunday, May 31st. That will be the last day of some of you guys' fast, so if everyone is interested, we can do a night meeting and break it together with dinner. Just a thought. E-mail me and let me know your thoughts.
God bless you guys, and let us know how you are doing.
Daniel Fasting
Ok, so this has to be one of the hardest things EVER! This might sound bad, but I've never really been the type to worry about what I'm eating becuase I've always been the skinny guy. My metabolism just works fast and I can't help it. What I'm trying to say is that drive-thru's, sports bars, and any other places where you eat like crap just come naturally to me. It's easy, and I like that. I sometimes try to grocery shop, but that routine usually gets broken pretty quickly.
This Daniel Fast has really tested my patience and will. Keeping myself accountable has been the hardest part. I'm not going to lie, I have slipped up a little bit through this process, but not too bad. (Some of the things I've eaten have had some cheese on them...no dairy, i forgot). Most of the time I just find myself eating fruit or veges of some kind and usually finish still feeling pretty hungry. I try to tell myself that I'm doing for the group, but I keep wondering how you guys are doing. So?
I hope you guys are as hungry as me :) haha. Seriously, hibachi anyone? (After we're done w/ the fast of course).
.
This Daniel Fast has really tested my patience and will. Keeping myself accountable has been the hardest part. I'm not going to lie, I have slipped up a little bit through this process, but not too bad. (Some of the things I've eaten have had some cheese on them...no dairy, i forgot). Most of the time I just find myself eating fruit or veges of some kind and usually finish still feeling pretty hungry. I try to tell myself that I'm doing for the group, but I keep wondering how you guys are doing. So?
I hope you guys are as hungry as me :) haha. Seriously, hibachi anyone? (After we're done w/ the fast of course).
.
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