Road Trip and Father talks

Our family had a quick drive, from Knoxville to Nashville, the other night.  We had been apart for a few days, so we were all too excited to settle in the car.  No radio, or electronics for us..uh uh.  We talked ALL the way back.  Much of our time was remarkably spent talking about the Bible, our faith, and that awkward position we are in as Christians to walk a slightly different road.  Not a more privileged road, or one that, because of our declarations of holiness, gives us pass to be naughty with the Godly. You know slip with the bad words, not always submit to the husband, argue with the person who cut line, while we wait to register for VBS...with our children watching!

Lots of questions were talked about that night about how many times Daddy has read the entire bible?  He loves to do that.  He loves even more the fact that there is absolute new revelation every single time he reads.  And when a pastor speaks on what he's recently read, I hear the message with both ears haha!  As the talk of the bible and how to live by Gods word, and how to live in the world, and how to read the bible, and how to use the Bible to be a witness...We saw ourselves literally drawing a circle with our chat... and and and ...

And - how in the world are we supposed to get through the book of NUMBERS? 

And - how do we struggle with the mundane difficulties of the "set apart;"

And - the what abut that unfortunate seduction of the world that will never be able to satisfy our insatiable hunger for something. 

We finally, talked about one thing that started closing in that circle for all of the questions popping...every single name in the bible means something, to God and for us (the one who wrestles with God, a man after God's own heart etc.) God wants us to choose Him! He loves us so much, and he chose to create us to love Him. 

Somehow the lovers of Baal and that Spirit of Jezebel, wedded to satan himself, have seduced so many to love of power, fame, fortune...even in the churches. Different men and women wanting and fighting for their own agendas, as a mission of mercy for the masses. But, if the spirit of Jezebel keeps us questioning each other, and the big picture; we are less likely to focus on Him, our Almighty God, the most intimate lover of all and our eternal sustenance! Isn't that sneaky and deceptive? 

I tell my family, sometimes we are so busy picking at the details and psychoanalyzing the theories, we are missing the simple matter -there is the Kingdom, and the World; and we have been called to be set apart. In the end, the first will be last and the last will be first.  So as for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord; and, oh my God in heaven above, how delighted we are that it will be so worth it! Although, it seems everyday to be TOO much to bear, we rise and put on the mighty armor of God and press on. 

A good point to make right here, is that we do not spend all of our road trips with angels swirling around the car and children inquiring their father's wisdom about how to grow in the ways of the Lord...we just got a gift that night.  We often play the music, pick over the channels and volume and who's electronic gadgets are too loud and who's legs are cramping - all while I am seriously freaking out about how he might possibly wreck, us or cost us a fine if he does not get a grip on the road!  There!  Now you know we are real and you can maybe believe that we had a good experience that moved me to write.  Have a great week and a wonderful Father's day

HELP! I Need Your Input

Remember my 21 day fast??  Well, I want to share with you how that went.  This is day 21.  Do you know I did not hunger or want?  That was so bizarre to me.  I gave up all solid food.  I had liquids and some smoothie beverage, but no food at all.  Oddly enough, I did not feel hungry or deprived.  I always feel that way when I diet.  I am hungry and feel like I am doing without.  Not with this.  I was very focused on the desire to hunger for God's heart.  Hunger for God's blessing.  Hunger to be a better person.  My only weakness was on day 7.  I had some medicine I took and forgot about the fast...it made me very woozy to say the least.  Quite an experience for us all.  I learned my lesson fast, no pun intended, not to take that medicine; or watch carefully the amount and my activities, if I had to.

Here is where I need your help.  On day 14 of the 21 days I had to discontinue the fast.  I had to go to some one's home and stay for the week.  That explaining and re-explaining my not eating and the reason behind it, would have (for me) nullified my goal.  I was much better off to be quiet about what I was doing, rather than argue the point.  That would not make me a better person or purify my heart, which was my ultimate goal.  I want to focus on purifying myself and searching my heart for how I can be a better person.  How I can do more as one part of the body of Christ, to improve the overall body; to bring Glory to God.

Do you feel I should have gone through with the last 7 days and argued the point in my different surroundings?  Or do you think I should have stopped the fast, been quiet and cooperative in an other's home and left my personal goal behind?  Truly I want your thoughts.  Thank you.  Mary