Courage

So recently I have been thinking about what it means to be a follower of God and how challenging it can be for people to truly embody the calling God has placed on their lives. How scary it must be to truly step into the call God has laid before us? I know that I am terrified of what God has placed on my life. Each time I look at my life and think...REALLY? Really? That is what I need to do...are you sure?

But I realized something tonight as I went for a walk along the lovely seafront of Greystones, Ireland...I never remember fully the times God has asked me to do something and I have done it. Rather it is the times that I have specifically felt God asking me to do something and I have not done it that I remember most. I remember it like it was a kick in the stomach. In those moments I realized that God had asked me to do something and I looked at this calling and turned away. Turned away from a specific call...a call God had placed on my life for that specific time. So, when I reflect on those moments I want nothing more than to be in the center of my call. To be at the spot where GOD can use me most for His purpose, even when I do not know what that may mean or why I need to do this particular thing, I will do it because God has asked me to.

Now I know this is not something I will get right every time but ask long as I can keep trying then I know something important will happen in the long run. Don't know if this makes sense to anyone else or if this even makes sense to me but I was just thinking about it. So, feel free to discuss! :)

Blessed

Today I feel so incredibly blessed by all of the many wonderful gifts that God has provided in my life...the gift of friends, the gift of amazing weather in Ireland, the gift of food with friends, the gift of laughter, the gift of a walk, the gift of a good teammate, the gift of stability, the gift of freedom, the gift of a loving family, the gift of passion, and the list is endless...I truly feel blessed today.

The family that we go over to for lunch every Sunday has been wonderful and in so many ways contributed to the amazing time I have had in Ireland. Today at lunch they really challenged me to look at what I am doing in Ireland and to be challenged by the tasks ahead. Their constant love and support have helped me in so many ways while being here! :)

I love them all so very much!

A day...

so...I love being busy but at times I get extremely burnt out! Like all my energy, motivation, will power and strength is no more...it is depleted...not been this way in a while. It seems as though life is just getting faster and I am running out of steam! Like I have only finished 13 miles on a 26 mile race, half way done and hardly anything left to run with...where will the energy come for the last half? Where can I turn to?

Honestly, I want to say I automatically turn to God but at times I do not, I run! I tend to run in situations...I don't go and do anything I shouldn't, I just kinda stop...stop life in general, just sit and be or put off the things I know I should be doing to not do anything at all...BURNT OUT is exactly how I feel!

And yes, as my dad says burnt out is a feeling, feelings change and you get over them...yes, I know this is true as well but right now I am going to turn to God to help support me! It is difficult but doable...I just got to keep with the race and HE will give me HIS grace to finish the race! What more could I ask for? Sure I will be exhausted and shall crawl at times but HIS grace is the only thing that shall see me through and for that I am FOREVER thankful!

Banana frozen for about an hour does kinda taste like ice cream...well at least it will have to do for now...yummmy! :)

four days...

Only four days into Lent and I am already craving bread...never really ate much bread before but that is what I am craving...bread...wow. crazy.

Although some realizations:

- I am grateful for my meals, honestly, I love being able to eat what is before me

- THANKFUL for all the people who care and are willing to give me fruit for dessert

- feel refreshed but a little sluggish at times

- has found it difficult to focus on prayer recently but has been really distracted with life issues

- THANKFUL for grace...His GRACE

...

Hello Caffeine Headache, I was wondering when you would arrive! Just so you know, I will not compromise...there are things to be learned and issues to be dealt with, so leave. And leave quickly PLEASE! :) Thanks.

Dia Numero Uno :)

So, already I am tired but I think that may be the greasy take away I partook of last evening before Lent began. No wonder my body hates me for having fed it such horrible food.

Today marks day one of this Lent. It was a little interesting to find foods available to eat in Ireland or in most supermarkets because the average item purchased in a store contains any of the follow: sugar, yeast, preservatives, dairy, meat or yummy stuff....

It won't be that bad but I need to remember why I am doing this. Jesus died for me and lavishes grace and love on me every single day...for me to go without the worldly indulgences of certain foods is nothing compared to what he did for me. Throughout this season I pray that God will show me his will and provide clarity in my life!

Thoughts: What do you fix with beans?

Lenting...

During this time of year many people begin giving up things, chocolate, soda (fizzy drink), tv, facebook, movies, spending money on useless things, ice cream, junk food, and any other variety of things people give up for lent...

This year I have decided to proceed with the Daniel Fast for my lent journey. No, I am not Catholic and I do not believe that Lent is something that should be only for religious reasons. I am partaking in Lent this year because I desire further clarity in my life. Recently, I have noticed the quantity of junk or unnecessary items I place within my body by way of food consumption.

Why you ask am I choosing to give up dairy, proceed foods, white bread, meat and anything else I would usually eat on a daily basis? Simple...

Daniel 1:1-21

¹ In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. ² And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.

³ Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— ⁴ young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. ⁵ The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.

⁶ Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. ⁷ The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.

⁸ But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. ⁹ Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, ¹⁰ but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

¹¹ Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ¹²“Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” ¹⁴ So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

¹⁵ At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. ¹⁶ So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

¹⁷ To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

¹⁸ At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹ The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. ²⁰ In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

²¹ And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.

Now I am not necessarily asking that God provide dreams and wisdom that he gave to Daniel but I am on a journey of discovery. I want to seek God's will for my life and give Him space to work in me. There are several things in my life that I need help with, things I need clarity on, things that only God may give me an answer to, and things I hope to be challenged with.

So, for the next 46 days I will be on a fruits, vegetables, and water fast. Throughout my fasting time I hope to look at how this fast will affect me mentally, physically, spiritually, socially, and financially. I am going to try and update this on a regular basis throughout Lent to keep track on my own progress but also to be able to have a record of the peaks or valleys or both. Plus, I can post really fun recipes on here for the things I have created. The link at the end of this post is a link to a Daniel Fast website, so if you would like to take a look, feel free and enjoy! :)

THE JOURNEY BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP OR IN MY CASE A TUMMY FULL OF PANCAKES, It has been a wonderful "PANCAKE DAY" in the Republic of Ireland.

http://www.daniel-fast.com/