What I've learned about grace... (this is a bit long)

So I'm on the last day of my secular fast, I originally thought I would conclude Wednesday, but turns out that I can't count to 7. So, on this ending day (the real day 7), I am going to post (fittingly, I think) what I have learned of the grace of God through secular fasting and turning more of my attention to Him and away from the world.

First note: God is good. I never really, truly understood it until lately. God is and really has been good to us. He has blessed our lives with large things as well as small things, and then again with microscopically tiny things. It is those teeny, tiny things, the things that are there that we look over and don't recognize as daily blessings. I see His goodness and grace in the way my husband looks at me after a kiss. I feel it in the peace he gives me when I get stressed. I saw it in the little 6 year old neighbor boy who came to our yard looking for his blankie in the middle of the night. All things that just seem to be a daily occurrence or even just out of the blue that we just brush off either so mundane or so small they are overlooked, are each in turn a teeny bit of God. He is good in that He has shown Himself to me in the smallest of things.

Second note: It was grace that saved me. I don't pretend to be a perfect person, indeed before October of 2007, I was a wretch. (And a wreck...) It was not until I fully accepted God as my Heavenly Father and Jesus as my savior, that I was saved from the claws of sin. (Again, still not saying I'm perfect) By sending His son to die for mankind, I was fully able to repent and lament my sorrows and know that after I did that, He would forgive me... and I could have life through His grace and goodness. Without the atonement of Christ and the grace of our dear God, I would not have been able to be lifted up enough to glorify or serve Him. Nor would I have the opportunity to be given eternal life through His words. The grace of God fell upon me that day in October, He showed Himself to me and just what He would have me do. I am ever so thankful that by His saving grace, His divine plan that I have a father and a savior who care enough about my soul that He would take the time to show me His most holy righteousness.

Third note: He is everywhere, in everything.. truly, He lives. God made the world and I think that people forget about it. I did. We take everything this planet has to offer without even thinking about the beauty of it. Yes, God gave it to us to use, but do we ever recognize just how much of Himself He poured into its creation? Every single thing, including mosquitos (I'm still of the opinion they are a waste of fiber) everything has a purpose and is on this earth to do their duty to God's purpose. How amazing it is to think that God thought to put the leaves on the trees in that specific color green, or that the yearling steer in our pasture is just the exact color and height of how God created it. Or even our own body, who's organs "talk" to one another without us even having to constantly think that our heart is beating, or that our lungs are inhaling properly. God's plan is in everything and is constantly being overlooked. Now I'm not going completely environmentalist on you here. I believe that the Earth was created for humans to utilize, and God even states he put the animals and plants here to sustain us here for the time we are on this planet. I'm just saying, God's beauty is everywhere, in everything. Truly, through His creation, He lives.

I have been at peace for the past week, and it has been a nice change. Am I going to keep my changes up? Probably most of them. I don't miss TV or movies as we don't have a TV. I know I will definitely be more selective in what I do watch though if I ever get a TV. I know I will be more selective in what I subject myself to listen to, or to read, or to look up on the Internet. I've decided all things in moderation and to be selective in cleanliness and morality and the more they glorify God and His teachings, the better. The farther off that topic they are, then I will try to stay away from. I have found more free time to be outside and to get things done that need to be done rather than to be lazy and decide that I am going to surf the Internet instead. I feel changed, my priorities have definitely changed. There is too much of Gods great, glorious words and world to waste on man-made ideas and ideals. I'm still not perfect, nor will I ever really be... but I feel this is a step in the right direction, and I have become a better person because of it. I think I may make this a monthly deal.

Through Him also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God. Romans 5: 2

Clarification

Ok... Ive had some questions as to what a fast is... here ya go:

Fasting = the abstaining or detoxing from something or things for a set amount of time, usually used for spiritual or religious purposes, although in some circumstances is very beneficial to the physical body as a detox.

Secular Fasting = abstaining from secular (worldly) things. For instance, in my current secular fast, I am abstaining from TV, Internet aside from the blog, any printed materials that do not glorify God (ie:newspaper, magazines, ideals of the world), radio & music, or electronic games.

What I call "normal" fasting = abstaining from food or drink for a 24-hour period, detoxes the body, causes you to be humble in prayer and hopefully in all things. Prayer ususally acommpanies any kind of fast, and therefore you can use a fast to pray for the healing of others as well as yourself.

Also, read here for a detailed explination http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting. It gives some insight to fasting throughout different religions and such.

Day 3

It seems like I've been doing this for such a long time now! And yet it has only been 3 days. I have decided that I need to do another day of normal fasting on top of my secular fast... I cant find the words to explain it right now, but even just a normal fast without the secular one is very humbling and enlightening. I am more at peace one the third day of a fast than I have been in about 6 months. It's quiet. I feel Gods presence moreso than before because now that I cut all the clutter and the noise out, I can hear Him. He really does provide for us and His word is the way.

I am finding out that when you take out all the media and the worries of the world and all the things that have a negative impact... like the news.. every hear anything uplifting? Ive found when you take all that out, the beauty of the Earth that God made becomes apparent to you again, as if you are seeing it for the first time again through they eyes of your 6 year old self. It almost feels like I am seeing everything for the first time, just in a new light.

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. - Psalm 100

Let us be silent, that we may hear the whisper of God..

It's quiet. I haven't turned on my radio, I don't have a TV, and I have no idea what's going on in the news, although I'm sure nothing has changed since the day before yesterday and this is the only Internet I have been on. I was right. My head is clearing. My prayers are easier to say and I am saying them more often. I'm focusing more accurately. It's nice. I don't have the radio on for the 1 hour drive to and from work, it gives me a chance to just be still. Or to sing. Or to get some thoughts in order. (road rage is also diminishing) I don't feel like I am on a super caffeine high, all jittery and moody. I've been able to cope a little better with my stresses. This is nice. I am looking ahead to next Wednesday, seems so far away and yet only 5 days to go. I cant wait to see the state I have progressed to by then.

So even though I am secular fasting for 7 days, yesterday I was also normal fasting too. I broke that with a trip to The Olive Garden. Had shrimp and stuffed ziti in cheese sauce. Not one of their better dishes, but kudos to me for trying something new. I am doing another normal fast today, and I think this will be the last day I do, although it seems to help my humbleness and my ability to be a bit more spiritual than normal. Perhaps I will add the normal fast in every other day until my secular week is over.

So far, I would recomend a secular fast to everyone. Its difficult in the beginning because we get into such a routine of reading and viewing that we get into a rut. But so far, I am liking getting out of the rut.

Musings of day 1

So it's still day one... and it's hard. Not to keep everything out, just to keep my mind from not shutting up. Throughout some prayers today, I have had a slight revelation that perhaps things are not as bad as I make them out to be. Perhaps God has us held closer than I realized. I am slowly getting some clarity, and as hungry as I am getting, I am starting to feel at peace. Man, give this a week and I'll be in Nirvana! (lol, just kidding) The weights feel like they are being slowly taken from my shoulders and my heart isn't as heavy as it was 5 hours ago as I am realizing that God is so much closer and willing to help if I just pray and ask for His guidance.

I think that a lesson from Job could come into play here. I know a lot of people who praise the Lord in times of great abundance, but when trials come, their faith wanes and they wonder "where is God? Why has He let this happen to me? I thought He loved me?" He does love us, and our trials are His tests of faith to remind us that we should love Him too. And as Job suffered trials, his faith stood strong and God did bless him for his steadfastness. I am learning this.

If anyone is reading this, I would much appriciate your prayers.

And it begins...

Ok Im starting early. The situation has come about that I feel strongly that I need to be fasting from secular things as well as doing a normal fast until further notice. I will continue on the blog as it is my "journal" of sorts, perhaps to keep track of how I do. I have no idea how hard or how easy this will be, but I know that with the Lords help I will be able to get through it and that I will come out stronger in faith that I entered in. I plan on no longer than a week. God-willing I will be at peace.

More on Secular Fasting

I think I will try this whole "secular fasting" thing for a few days this next week. Give me time to prepare. Although I will keep the blogging going more as a progress journal whilst I am fasting. Perhaps I will start after church on Sunday. This will be interesting.

Secular Fasting

I think I may try this. It was a fairly large topic at stake conference this past weekend, and seemed to make a world of difference in the life of the family who spoke about it. They went for one whole week without computer, video games, TV, radio, newspaper, anything that involved worldly issues or secular beliefs and media. Granted their whole family did this together and this time around I believe it would just be me, but perhaps it will clear my head a bit and give me some peace.