Can you believe it?? I did it!
And I did not cheat- NOT EVEN ONCE!!! No licking of the fingers while I made my kids food or a even secret nibble. I really felt that I made a covenant with the Lord about the Daniel Fast and I wanted to honor Him in abstaining from certain foods in order to fully rely on Him.
Twenty-One days... no dairy or sugar of any kind, no meat, no fried foods, no white flour and nothing but water or 100% juice.
Sounds easy huh? Well, you go try it, it was hard! Of course it was harder on certain days/moments than others. Day 5 and 14 were especially tough, but each time, I had to die to what my body wanted and choose Christ.
On that note- My husband said that he learned that by focusing on God you can control anything in your life. The example he gave was his thoughts, emotions, food or any area of struggle seem to fade away when you are truly focusing and relying on Him. (I told him, I wished I would get this into my brain!)
What have I learned about food:
-I am a total dipper. I struggled with once I made my food, I wanted to dip it in ranch, ketchup or ANYTHING to make it creamy and yummier. Well, that was not an option here as everything seemed to have eggs or sugar.
-Food is a source of comfort. When I was emotional or mad at the kids, I would want to eat. Irritable, eat. Not hungry, but bored, eat. Well, there is only one true source of comfort and that is Christ Jesus.
- We needed to expand our food repertoire. Even in 21 days I did not have all the veggies/fruit. I did not have green beans or blueberries, there lots of things out there, most people just choose not to eat them or learn to prepare them. We need to keep breaking out. I tend to shy away from new foods or they make me nervous. The word adventurous needs to be my song in many areas, but being adventurous is so challenging!
- The foods we are SO keeping in our house that we did not buy/make before are: hummus, cutie oranges, smoothies, wheat wraps, almond milk, homemade pizza dough (recipe at bottom), Larabar's, fruit preserves, pistachios and all baked chips.
-What did I miss most?- one word- CHEESE!
What have I learned spiritually...Oh boy have I learned a lot!
I pretty much have summarized it daily in my readings. Putting the good stuff in, definitely brought the bad stuff out. I am dealing with some issues, but that is part of life, isn't it? Not going for perfection, but relying on the One who is.
Reading:
The book of Daniel. GO, read it! Cannot even begin to summarize. Read it and let God show you amazing things. It is 12 chapters, I rarely read a book straight through, I challenge you to do it, it helps make so many more connections!
Menu:
Homemade Pancakes w/ apricot preserves and grape juice
Pizza w/ Hummus
Green bell pepper wrap w/ guacamole (I am good at guac now!)
Cereal
Fruit smoothie (I feel good at those now too)
High/Low:
One in the same...
- Preparing our Easter meal for tomorrow, soooo rewarding, looking forward to that!
- Preparing the Easter meal, not licking the cheesecake spoon, icing, having bacon, chicken or anything else until tomorrow. Press on for the prize.
Funniest thing: My girlfriend said, well I guess I should say, "Happy Diarrhea" instead of "Happy Easter." SO true. I am not sure how my body will feel adding all this back in. BUT one thing I know, more than adding food back into my life, is the importance of adding time in with the Lord Jesus.
My Easter prayer is that you too will seek Him and have His peace, His presence and His Word flowing into your life. Amen.
RECIPE
Pizza- (this is my new all-the-time thin crust)
No yeast pizza dough:
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp baking powder
2/3 cup water
1 TB veggie oil
Kneed and quickly roll out a very thin layer on baking sheet.
Poke holes with a fork and drizzle additional veggie oil on top and rub in with fingers.
Sauce: (This is my Daniel Fast sauce, but also a new fav.)
1 can stewed tomatoes undrained
1 TB minced garlic
½ tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp onion flakes
½ fresh ground black pepper
Mix and put onto uncooked pizza dough
Topping: (Any you want, the simplicity of this was unbeatable)
Thaw spinach, wring out until dry, crumble on top
Add a healthy amount of fresh ground black pepper over whole pizza
Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil
(I think the EVOO and fresh black pepper are the key at any pizza!)
Bake 425 for 20-25 minutes or until edges are crisp
AMAZING!
Thank you for following along!
Happy Diarrhea, I mean EASTER,
NHP
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Day 20
Reading:
Luke 7:36-50 - Jesus anointed by a sinful woman. Just one of the most beautiful things ever. I read the version of this story in my daughters children's bible and it was soooo amazing- I cried. Then I read it in my NIV Bible and it was good, but the way they put the wording in her's was especially touching.
Jeremiah 39 and 40 -The Fall of Jerusalem. 39:17-18, "But I will rescue you on that day, declares the LORD; you will not be handed over to those you fear. 18 I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in Me, declares the LORD.' " AMAZING. Jeremiah had full favor of the Lord and was given freedom.
Romans 8- v. 4, Do not live according to the sinful nature, but according to the Spirit. This meant a lot to me today as I was very tempted and almost followed through with manipulation.
Luke 6:27-45, v. 36, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." v. 42,"You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." v. 45, "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."
Menu:
Fruit smoothie
Apple w/ p.b.
Cutie orange
Pizza w/ hummus
Mixed nuts
Juice
High/Low:
- Huge lunches are my staple. I really enjoy getting full from a good meal at lunch time. Its probably the reward for a busy morning and the cause of not much energy in that afternoon- ha!
- Adam and I didn't really eat a good dinner. We, along with the kids, were in major moods in the morning because of our low blood sugar.
NHP
Luke 7:36-50 - Jesus anointed by a sinful woman. Just one of the most beautiful things ever. I read the version of this story in my daughters children's bible and it was soooo amazing- I cried. Then I read it in my NIV Bible and it was good, but the way they put the wording in her's was especially touching.
Jeremiah 39 and 40 -The Fall of Jerusalem. 39:17-18, "But I will rescue you on that day, declares the LORD; you will not be handed over to those you fear. 18 I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in Me, declares the LORD.' " AMAZING. Jeremiah had full favor of the Lord and was given freedom.
Romans 8- v. 4, Do not live according to the sinful nature, but according to the Spirit. This meant a lot to me today as I was very tempted and almost followed through with manipulation.
Luke 6:27-45, v. 36, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." v. 42,"You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." v. 45, "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."
Menu:
Fruit smoothie
Apple w/ p.b.
Cutie orange
Pizza w/ hummus
Mixed nuts
Juice
High/Low:
- Huge lunches are my staple. I really enjoy getting full from a good meal at lunch time. Its probably the reward for a busy morning and the cause of not much energy in that afternoon- ha!
- Adam and I didn't really eat a good dinner. We, along with the kids, were in major moods in the morning because of our low blood sugar.
NHP
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Day 19
Reading:
Psalm 19- I picked out my favorite verses:
1 and 3, 4: "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." Isn't that cool to think about? That in every language of the world the skies are proclaiming the glory of God...
8 "The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart." Precept meaning- the rule, law, instruction and direction of the Lord is right and brings joy.
9 "The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever." Probably my favorite. It is amazing to me that 'fear and pure' can be used in the same sentence. Only the fear of the Lord is pure, all other fear is not of God.
10 "They (the ordinances of God) are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb." This is for AB, we had talked about honey for the Daniel Fast. Here is a good reminder, God's ways are sweeter than honey- amen.
11 "By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward." So true. Spend some time with the Word and God's ways and we are truly warned and rewarded- among many other things!
Menu:
Oatmeal cereal w/ strawberries and raisins w/ almond milk
Grapes and o.j.
Homemade pizza- to die for people, I'll share my recipe soon
Cantaloupe and peanut butter
Hummus, chips and cutie oranges
High/Low:
- For sure the crust on the pizza w/ homemade sauce. Ahhh-maze-zing!
- Mediating on Psalm 19 while playing with the kids. Realizing that He is my true honey, not earthly honey.
NHP
Psalm 19- I picked out my favorite verses:
1 and 3, 4: "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." Isn't that cool to think about? That in every language of the world the skies are proclaiming the glory of God...
8 "The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart." Precept meaning- the rule, law, instruction and direction of the Lord is right and brings joy.
9 "The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever." Probably my favorite. It is amazing to me that 'fear and pure' can be used in the same sentence. Only the fear of the Lord is pure, all other fear is not of God.
10 "They (the ordinances of God) are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb." This is for AB, we had talked about honey for the Daniel Fast. Here is a good reminder, God's ways are sweeter than honey- amen.
11 "By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward." So true. Spend some time with the Word and God's ways and we are truly warned and rewarded- among many other things!
Menu:
Oatmeal cereal w/ strawberries and raisins w/ almond milk
Grapes and o.j.
Homemade pizza- to die for people, I'll share my recipe soon
Cantaloupe and peanut butter
Hummus, chips and cutie oranges
High/Low:
- For sure the crust on the pizza w/ homemade sauce. Ahhh-maze-zing!
- Mediating on Psalm 19 while playing with the kids. Realizing that He is my true honey, not earthly honey.
NHP
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Day 18
Reading:
Nehemiah chapter 1-2, spurred on by the verses that kept coming to mind all day from Nehemiah 8:10, "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." and Nehemiah 6:9, "But I prayed, now strengthen my hands."
Chapter 1- Nehemiah (great name by the way, that means "God's compassion") wept over Jerusalem, he fasted and prayed over the condition of the fallen city. V. 9 remembered the promises of God. V. 11, prayed that God be attentive to the prayer of His servant who delights in revering His Name. Asked for success and favor from the King. (King of the land)
Chapter 2- The King noticed his sadness and even though Nehemiah was afraid he told the King about wanting to go to Jerusalem. Verse 7, he made plans to go and men with with him. V. 12, didn't share too quickly what God planted in his heart about rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. V. 17, he shared with them and then everyone began the good work.
We always loved the book of Nehemiah and the meaning of the name, which is why we named our son Nehemiah. When we came home from Vietnam a local Vietnamese pastor prayed for Nehemiah and he said, "May Nehemiah live up to his namesake and rebuild the walls of Vietnam as Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem." Talk about tears!!! Such a precious memory.
Menu:
Pear and o.j.
Coconut Larabar
Sweet potato w/ stir fry and rice
Cherry smoothie
P.B. and Triscuits
Pasta salad
High/Low:
- A super salty soy sauce lunch. Without sugars in my life, I can tell I have enjoyed salty more.
- Most of my food intake is before 3pm (a lot between 8-12pm, like 4 times). I will eat a mini snack about 5ish, but I am so hungry throughout the morning. My low is that I feel bad not eating big meals with family because I just cannot stuff it in. It makes me feel stuffed and frankly, anxious. Its an area to work on...
NHP
Nehemiah chapter 1-2, spurred on by the verses that kept coming to mind all day from Nehemiah 8:10, "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." and Nehemiah 6:9, "But I prayed, now strengthen my hands."
Chapter 1- Nehemiah (great name by the way, that means "God's compassion") wept over Jerusalem, he fasted and prayed over the condition of the fallen city. V. 9 remembered the promises of God. V. 11, prayed that God be attentive to the prayer of His servant who delights in revering His Name. Asked for success and favor from the King. (King of the land)
Chapter 2- The King noticed his sadness and even though Nehemiah was afraid he told the King about wanting to go to Jerusalem. Verse 7, he made plans to go and men with with him. V. 12, didn't share too quickly what God planted in his heart about rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. V. 17, he shared with them and then everyone began the good work.
We always loved the book of Nehemiah and the meaning of the name, which is why we named our son Nehemiah. When we came home from Vietnam a local Vietnamese pastor prayed for Nehemiah and he said, "May Nehemiah live up to his namesake and rebuild the walls of Vietnam as Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem." Talk about tears!!! Such a precious memory.
Menu:
Pear and o.j.
Coconut Larabar
Sweet potato w/ stir fry and rice
Cherry smoothie
P.B. and Triscuits
Pasta salad
High/Low:
- A super salty soy sauce lunch. Without sugars in my life, I can tell I have enjoyed salty more.
- Most of my food intake is before 3pm (a lot between 8-12pm, like 4 times). I will eat a mini snack about 5ish, but I am so hungry throughout the morning. My low is that I feel bad not eating big meals with family because I just cannot stuff it in. It makes me feel stuffed and frankly, anxious. Its an area to work on...
NHP
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Day 17
Reading:
I had a question posed to me by a fellow participant in the Daniel Fast. She asked, "How is God leading you to the scriptures you are reading?" Thought about this question throughout the day... specifically the "how" part.
I think (more like I know) that I have to have God's Word in me daily to live in victory. I don't have to read the Bible, I want too. It is the only thing that keeps my head sane, my actions appropriate, my words gentle and keeps me focused on Christ instead of sin.
Every morning when I wake up, that is my first priority. I go to my closet. I pray outloud or on my face or on my knees or I write in my prayer journal. I want that intimate time with Him and He will never deny His children when they come to Him. On that note...
Every morning might not be THE BEST quiet time you have ever had, ever! Some day's you may read without thinking you got anything, but other days it is so meaty. Sometimes I want meat and cannot find it, sometimes I want to rush, but God is showing me something huge.
I have one book at a time that I read through and always come back to that when I don't know what my heart wants to read. I may want to read about Jesus' miracles one day, then about the fruit of the spirit the next day, I may need to go to the empowering verses of Romans 8 to conquer the day ahead or cry out to God along with the Psalms. Every day is different for me and I love the ebb and flow of God. I have tried many times to read through the bible in a year and it just does not work for me. Too ridged and structured. My personality is ridged and structured and I need my time with God, to be free and led by God, whatever He pops up into my heart. He is ALWAYS there to direct me into His Word.
Today when I woke up, I only heard one word: Josiah. So, I looked up all the verses about him. Here is what I learned.
Matt 1:11- Josiah is in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
Prophetic word in 1 Kings 13:2, "A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you (the alter) he will sacrifice the priests of high places (those worshiping idols)..."
Love what is recorded about him in 2 kings 22:2, "He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left."
Then chapter 23- JOSIAH CLEANS HOUSE! (Removing evil in the name of the Lord)
- Removed and burned articles made for Baal and Asherah
- Did away with pagan priests
- Tore down quarters of the male shrine prostitutes
- Broke the shrines at the gates
- Desecrated the alter to Molech so no one could sacrifice their children
- Demolished, cut down, burned, smashed, defiled all things that were against the Lord
- Rid of mediums, spiritists, household gods and all other idols in the whole town
23:25, "Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him tho turned to the Lord as he did- with all his soul and with all this strength..."
Menu:
Oat cereal w/ walnuts and banana
Grape juice and 1/2 date muffin
Avocado, Rotel, black beans/rice w/ chips
Pear with peanut butter (together, yum!)
Noodles w/ broccoli in tomato sauce
High/Low:
- Today, EVERYTHING tasted good. My husband and I were talking the other day how neither of us wanted to eat anything the last few days. I didn't eat dinner one night because it was like I felt sick that I couldn't have something fattening, so my stomach went on strike. BUT today, everything I ate was like manna from heaven. Full of flavor, very satisfying and a gift from Him!
- Got a little too excited putting our Easter menu together. We are hosting a family lunch and that is when we are breaking our 21 day fast. Don't want to zoom by the good work that God is doing just to focus on eating "real" food in a few days.
NHP
I had a question posed to me by a fellow participant in the Daniel Fast. She asked, "How is God leading you to the scriptures you are reading?" Thought about this question throughout the day... specifically the "how" part.
I think (more like I know) that I have to have God's Word in me daily to live in victory. I don't have to read the Bible, I want too. It is the only thing that keeps my head sane, my actions appropriate, my words gentle and keeps me focused on Christ instead of sin.
Every morning when I wake up, that is my first priority. I go to my closet. I pray outloud or on my face or on my knees or I write in my prayer journal. I want that intimate time with Him and He will never deny His children when they come to Him. On that note...
Every morning might not be THE BEST quiet time you have ever had, ever! Some day's you may read without thinking you got anything, but other days it is so meaty. Sometimes I want meat and cannot find it, sometimes I want to rush, but God is showing me something huge.
I have one book at a time that I read through and always come back to that when I don't know what my heart wants to read. I may want to read about Jesus' miracles one day, then about the fruit of the spirit the next day, I may need to go to the empowering verses of Romans 8 to conquer the day ahead or cry out to God along with the Psalms. Every day is different for me and I love the ebb and flow of God. I have tried many times to read through the bible in a year and it just does not work for me. Too ridged and structured. My personality is ridged and structured and I need my time with God, to be free and led by God, whatever He pops up into my heart. He is ALWAYS there to direct me into His Word.
Today when I woke up, I only heard one word: Josiah. So, I looked up all the verses about him. Here is what I learned.
Matt 1:11- Josiah is in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
Prophetic word in 1 Kings 13:2, "A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you (the alter) he will sacrifice the priests of high places (those worshiping idols)..."
Love what is recorded about him in 2 kings 22:2, "He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left."
Then chapter 23- JOSIAH CLEANS HOUSE! (Removing evil in the name of the Lord)
- Removed and burned articles made for Baal and Asherah
- Did away with pagan priests
- Tore down quarters of the male shrine prostitutes
- Broke the shrines at the gates
- Desecrated the alter to Molech so no one could sacrifice their children
- Demolished, cut down, burned, smashed, defiled all things that were against the Lord
- Rid of mediums, spiritists, household gods and all other idols in the whole town
23:25, "Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him tho turned to the Lord as he did- with all his soul and with all this strength..."
Menu:
Oat cereal w/ walnuts and banana
Grape juice and 1/2 date muffin
Avocado, Rotel, black beans/rice w/ chips
Pear with peanut butter (together, yum!)
Noodles w/ broccoli in tomato sauce
High/Low:
- Today, EVERYTHING tasted good. My husband and I were talking the other day how neither of us wanted to eat anything the last few days. I didn't eat dinner one night because it was like I felt sick that I couldn't have something fattening, so my stomach went on strike. BUT today, everything I ate was like manna from heaven. Full of flavor, very satisfying and a gift from Him!
- Got a little too excited putting our Easter menu together. We are hosting a family lunch and that is when we are breaking our 21 day fast. Don't want to zoom by the good work that God is doing just to focus on eating "real" food in a few days.
NHP
Monday, March 29, 2010
Day 16
Reading:
Romans 2
Verse 16, "This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares."
Verse 29, "No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God."
Menu:
Apple w/ p.b.
Orange, banana, pineapple smoothie
Date muffin
Black beans and rice w/ veggies
Chips, hummus and hot sauce
Grapes
Tomato wrap w/ sauce
High/Low:
-Choosing to feel energetic with strength from God instead of energy from food.
-Wanting to go to the store for new foods, but we have food here. It forced me to go through and see what we have and what I can fix.
A NOTE TO ERIN...
Thank for leaving a comment! I cannot figure out your blog or email or contact for you. I know you left a VN question once as well. Could you please leave your info... Thank you! ALSO I wish I was eating Vegan. Vegan's can have all the sugar they want. I ended up not being able to use many of those recipes because of the sugars, but other than that- yes it is close. I will check out those sites.
Romans 2
Verse 16, "This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares."
Verse 29, "No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God."
Menu:
Apple w/ p.b.
Orange, banana, pineapple smoothie
Date muffin
Black beans and rice w/ veggies
Chips, hummus and hot sauce
Grapes
Tomato wrap w/ sauce
High/Low:
-Choosing to feel energetic with strength from God instead of energy from food.
-Wanting to go to the store for new foods, but we have food here. It forced me to go through and see what we have and what I can fix.
A NOTE TO ERIN...
Thank for leaving a comment! I cannot figure out your blog or email or contact for you. I know you left a VN question once as well. Could you please leave your info... Thank you! ALSO I wish I was eating Vegan. Vegan's can have all the sugar they want. I ended up not being able to use many of those recipes because of the sugars, but other than that- yes it is close. I will check out those sites.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Day 15
Reading:
1 Peter 3:3-6, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." Amen.
John 5:22, Didn't know Jesus was the final judge in Revelation, "Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son." (Rev 20)
1 Samuel 16:7, "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Menu:
Oatmeal w/ raisins
Lemon Larabar
Beans w/ corn chips (baked) and hot sauce
Date and Banana Muffins w/ raspberry puree
Tomato Pizza
High/Low:
- Having fun in the kitchen again baking Date Muffins
- Realizing how much comfort food really brings me, getting to that place each day saying things like- "Lord, You comfort me more than food. OR You, Jesus, sustain me more than bread."
NHP
1 Peter 3:3-6, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." Amen.
John 5:22, Didn't know Jesus was the final judge in Revelation, "Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son." (Rev 20)
1 Samuel 16:7, "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Menu:
Oatmeal w/ raisins
Lemon Larabar
Beans w/ corn chips (baked) and hot sauce
Date and Banana Muffins w/ raspberry puree
Tomato Pizza
High/Low:
- Having fun in the kitchen again baking Date Muffins
- Realizing how much comfort food really brings me, getting to that place each day saying things like- "Lord, You comfort me more than food. OR You, Jesus, sustain me more than bread."
NHP
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