A Real Breakfast

I had to break my fast at lunch today. When I got home from my small group I felt kind of funny. I wasn't exactly dizzy. I wasn't lightheaded either. I just felt kind of strange. I went to bed hoping that it would go away after having more juice today.

I had a glass of juice when I first woke up, a smoothie for breakfast, and more juice in the morning. I still felt pretty weird. The best way to describe it is to imagine balancing a baseball bat on its end in the palm of your hand. I felt like the bat. I talked to Amanda about it as well as another experienced mentor and we decided that it was good for me to break the fast.

I don't think I have anything else to prove. I have done this twice before. I was looking forward to the spiritual benefits that come from being really broken over this, but I guess those will have to wait. Amanda kept making the point that she needs me to be as close to 100% as possible. I certainly feel much better after eating a salad for lunch. I'm looking forward to our pizza for dinner.

Plodding Along

One thing I considered this morning is that fasting makes the days go by slower. However, this is a good thing because my classes start on August 22, which will be my first day of solid food if all goes according to plan. I really should be savoring these days. I need to keep reminding myself that I need to get the focus off of me and my discomfort and on to the cross.

In this week's teaching Mike Cleveland asked us to share a verse that encouraged us. Here is what I wrote. I hope that it is at least somewhat encouraging for you.

1Sa 22:1-2 ESV
(1) David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.
(2) And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became captain over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

This refers to the people going to David when he was fleeing from Saul. However, as I read verse 2 I am reminded of:

Mat 11:28-30 ESV
(28) Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
(29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
(30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

I love it when I get a fresh glimpse of Christ while reading the Old Testament! Certainly this is not a perfect picture, but I do see it as a "shadow". Notice what happened to those who went to David. They came to him in various forms of distress, but he became captain over them and joined him. That certainly reminds me of coming to Christ in the distress of my sin and having the honor of Christ becoming my "captain".

Holding Fast

I am going through the Setting Captives Free juice fast for the third time. I am currently on day 4 of 20, which means that I'm actually on my second full day of nothing but juice (out of 16 total). It really isn't a lot of fun, but I look forward to the spiritual growth this will lead to.

I've been trying to explain this to Lily. She keeps saying that she doesn't think it's a good idea, which is a sentiment her grandmothers would probably echo. This morning she said, "I don't see you going up to heaven". I had to explain that it is a closeness in my heart, not really going to God.

Making Sense of Minneapolis

John Piper wrote some of his usually great stuff in the midst of tragedy. Check it out here.

I plan to talk about this tonight at my small group. I hope that it helps.

Fellowship

Out of laziness I decided not to pack my lunch this morning. Today is the last day of the month and I had some money left from my allowance, so I thought a trip for Eastern NC BBQ at Clyde Cooper's was just the thing. I emailed my friend Byron who is similarly disillusioned with his job at a rival bank and we agreed to meet.

This lunch reminded me of just how badly I need to have more close male friends. It's great that Amanda and I talk a lot. I really appreciate my small group as well. However, I think it's hard for me to get quite as deep in my small group because I'm a leader there. It was great to meet with a like-minded friend and talk about work, family, and what we're doing for the kingdom.

I need to figure out a way to make this happen more often. It doesn't necessarily have to be with Byron every time, but I do need to make time for deep fellowship.