Excited to share "7"

Just started a Bible study with the college girls from our class at church...gave them three book options, and they chose "7".  When I told my hubby, he said he wanted to do the food "fast" with me this time, too.  So, now I have 18 other people standing with me as we go through a week-long food "fast".  Due to the school schedule (so that we will finish by exam time), they decided to try week-long "fasts" for each chapter, and then if they decide that want to continue for a full month, the "fasts" will overlap.  We will see how it works out.  We met last night to go through what we had learned from reading the first chapter, and discuss how the "fast" was going to look for each individual.  I am very excited to see how God is going to work in each of our lives.  Already this morning, I heard from one of the girls, and she wondered if we could do a service project to go along with each week.  Blessed by her heart.

The only drawback to our meeting last night was my overanalysis when I arrived home. I don't want to talk too much about my personal experience, and I am afraid I did that.  Even though I think it is natural for humans to filter everything through our own perspective, I just want to listen and learn from what I see Him doing in the girls' lives.  I want to draw closer to Him and listen for his voice as I focus less on myself.

I am still working on my "poisons" for my month #2.  Finding that the procrastination one is probably the hardest for me at this stage in my life. Each day, I just come before Him and ask for motivation, for conviction, and then for forgiveness when I fail.  I am being challenged for sure...

All bets are off...

I am hormonal today, and therefore, I have been a procrastinating, voice-raising, question-asking nag with perfectionistic expectations.  Oh well...at least I wasn't concerned with pleasing others.

Month 2: Status

1-It is almost impossible for me to have a conversation without questions.  I have been surprised by how many questions I attempt, only to be reminded of my fast.  It seems like a small thing, but this fast is revealing to me how much I like to control a conversation instead of listening.

2-Struggling with the procrastination thing over the last couple of days because I have been really tired, but still no excuse...

3-Don't think I have raised my voice...and that is BIG.

4-People pleasing...umm...still an issue.

5-I think I am still inflicting expectations on some of my family members...gotta GET.OVER.IT!

6-I've made strides in the nagging, but obviously, still need some work.

7-Ah...perfectionism.  This is the controlling factor with expectations and nagging, I believe. Therefore, see #5 and #6.

My goal in "fasting" from these behaviors is to become more about peace in Him, and less about the excess of me.  I wish I could say that had always been "my thing", but judging from the above, I don't believe that is the case.  STILL a work in progress.

Month 2 & Food Irony

In the book "7", the second month was "Clothes".  I still plan to do that month, but I have dubbed my second month "Pick your poisons".  Maybe I am the only one who struggles with these particular issues, but I am really going to be intentional about fasting from these "poisons" in my life over the next 28 days:

1-Questions.  My teenagers tell me I ask too many questions.  I ask questions because I want to know what is going on with them.  Have you ever met a teenager who just opens up and shares every minute detail of their lives with their parent?  Yeah, me either.  But, hey, I am going to find out what happens if I don't ask them about anything.

2-Perfectionism.   In a message based on Phil. 3:12-16, our pastor recently said we should tell ourselves, "I am not perfect, but I will pursue perfection." Because I struggle with my own ideas of perfection, I had to modify that statement to read, "I am not perfect, but I will pursue HIS perfection."  I want to be more like Jesus this month.  

3-People pleasing.  I have ALWAYS been a people pleaser, but I am going to make every effort to let go of that this month, and focus only on what pleases Him.  

4-Procrastination.  I am going to try to avoid putting things off on every level (household, work, exercise, etc.).

5-Expectations.  I sometimes (okay, often) have unreasonable expectations because I want our home to be this perfectly peaceful refuge for all.  I tend to overreact if things do not go according to my expectations, and my overreacting destroys the whole "peaceful refuge" idea. My goal is to ignore my silly expectations and let our family just BE.

6-Nagging.  I have been told I nag one person to brush their teeth, put on their deodorant, etc.  I nag another about who they are texting, and I nag the big one about schedules, etc.  I think by eliminating questions, the nagging will decrease, but beyond that, I am giving up on reminding people of basic hygiene, phone courtesy, and time commitments.  It's over, Rover.

7-Raising my voice.  I don't want to be a yeller, but I sometimes am.  When I have asked someone to do the same thing 3 (or more) times and it still has not been done, I tend to get a little testy.  I MAY even raise my voice.  I am going to give my vocal cords a rest this month.  We will see how it goes.

So there you have it...my fast for February.  In other news, I ate some cheese today.  You know how I was missing it?  Yeah, well funny thing is, after eating it today, I didn't feel all that great.  I think it was a shock to my system.  So, tonight for dinner, do you know what I had?  Rice, green beans, spinach and garbanzo beans.  Yes, 4 of my 7 from last month.  I don't think God is done with me on the food thing.  The novel I was reading today had a focal verse of John 4:34: "'My food', said Jesus, 'is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.'"  May I be hungry to do His will and work.