Almost for me…

Well since Chris published his final post I thought I might include that I’m not done…yet. I added 5 days to my 40. I also had a 2 day fast of water in there. Don’t do that unless your told by God to. I seriously thought I was going to die. Anyway I’ll be done with my 45 tomorrow (sunday) and will begin breaking the fast Monday morning.

 

Thanks for your support everyone.

Dustin

 

hunger

I’m so hungry…for God. One of the biggest lessons I have learned so far during this 40 day food fast has been how to be hungry for God. I have learned that if I can be this hungry for food then I NEED to be even more hungry for God. I have always been really good about keeping God in everything that I do, but I am loving this time with Him. I love that in everything I do I take Him along and ask Him loads of questions. I spend time loving on Him and receiving love from Him. I have had to learn how to receive love from Him even though I don’t “feel” it. 

What I have discovered about God’s love is that it is ever present. I know that isn’t anything new, but I have seen His love in a deeper way. I have seen Him be faithful in times where I have been unfaithful. I have seen His love for people when they are acting completely against Him. I have seen His passion for the lost and I have loved to see them grow and find Him. His love for us is so consistent and constant. He loves us beyond measure. He loves us greater than we can ever fathom. I love the idea that God’s love in inexplorable. It cannot be explored enough. I love that I have all my life and eternity to find out how and why God loves me so much. 

Thank you for your love Father,

Dustin

 

time to change

It isn’t merely enough to call for a change in the way we love people we must actually love people. Why is it that we are so proud when we have a good thought about loving people, but never act on those thoughts? I hear people all the time saying, “Oh it would be cool if we did this or that for this person!” Their excitement is full and their passion is set, but the connection is never made.

Part of what I see is a lack of vision from God. Let me unpack that thought. If someone doesn’t ever feel like God has “approved” of them or that he “gives them the ability” then they won’t act. Their insecurity and complacency will always get the best of them. What is the problem with this besides immaturity? I mean let’s call it what it is. The bible clearly talks about the fact that Christ indwells us. So if Christ indwells us then we have all we need to love. You see, we can’t love God without Him giving us the love to give Him. That is because nothing in our flesh desires to love God, so the only way we can actually reciprocate His love is because we have His love. John says, “We love God because He FIRST loved us.” So if God put us into Christ and Christ in us then we have a source for every need that ever comes up. If God tells us to love Him and love people then He is going to provide us with the needs that we have. 

Secondly, regarding the issue of insecurity. The problem with insecurity is that it puts the solution on us. That isn’t biblical at all. Our strength isn’t what loves people, it’s God’s strength. God uses us not because we are special, but because He is special in us. The love that comes from us, again, isn’t ours. The love that we need to demonstrate to others comes from above. If this is true than our validation isn’t found in our abilities, but rather God’s. If we can dwell in His ability to fulfill what He wants then we don’t look to ourselves, and therefor bypass the need to be insecure because our security comes from Him. 

I hope all that makes sense. All I know is this. Christ loves us, so we need to love others. AND it isn’t the “thought that counts” when it comes to people. They don’t know your thoughts, so they need to see your thoughts put to action. So go out today and love someone extravagantly because that is how you are loved!

Dustin

 

hunger

I’m so hungry I can barely contain myself! Holy smokes it’s gettin me. Must….press…..in….

dustin

 

a bit crazy…

It is day 13 and I have been lousy at documenting this, but there really hasn’t been anything for me to write about. It is typically the same every day- hunger, tiredness, seclusion etc. Although my hunger has been diminishing over the past few days I am just choosing to ignore it. At this point I really don’t care if I am hungry I just want God to be my hunger. I can’t seem to get Jesus’ words out of my head, “Man cannot live on bread alone, but by every word of God.” Luke 4:4  I have a peace when I realize that this isn’t about me wanting to eat, but a deciding factor to live on each of God’s words.

So, then I began a quest today. What is every word of God? Sure it’s referring to scripture, but it’s also referring to the spoken word of God into us. I can only tell you that every day is different and every minute can change. BUT one thing remains the same the love. The one word that will never change in the heart of God that we must learn to live off of is love. His love beats for us as steady and consistent as our hearts. Every pump of our heart flows life into our mortal bodies, but every pump of God’s heart flows an eternal love that we can have now. This eternal love never fails. This love casts out fear, confusion, anxiety and impatience. So the word that I am feeding on today is love. I will eat up the love of God by acknowledging his goodness, faithfulness, and compassion today. God is love.

God, let your love pour down and shine down on us this day and every other. May we learn how to receive your goodness and joy at this present moment.
Amen

Dustin

 

One day down…

Well today was quite a revelation…and not in a good way. Today felt like day three of the fast. Normally I become irritable and impatient on day three not day one. Today was absolutely frustrating. hah Everything was getting on my nerves, but I was patient at the same time. 

The morning started off where I was protected from an accident that could have been really bad. Two cars t-boned and I could have been right in it. Thank God for His angels that were watching over me. Maybe I will get to see them during this fast? hmmm 

After my semi-close call with an accident I went to work. It was quite a frustrating day for numerous reasons, but I’ll just pass on by with those events. During lunch I went to the DMV to get my drivers license renewed because it expired yesterday, my birthday.

Side Note****If there was one thing that I hate in the world it is the DMV. I have such a passionate hatred that it rivals that of Satan. HAH I REALLY REALLY REALLY HATE THE DMV! 

Ok, back to the story. As I was standing in line behind 10 people who were annoying not because of anything they had done, but because I just thought they were annoying. The guy in front of me turned around and looked at me not once, not twice or even three times, but five times! I wanted to just punch him in the face. Ok, by this point your thinking, “Jeez this guy needs Jesus and this fast!” Your absolutely right. I’m not normally so easily irritated, but today sucked. The revelation that I mentioned in the beginning was that of my true self. 

The problem with what happened besides the obvious is that those things that I was experiencing were in me already. The people (AND THE DMV!! CURSE YOU DMV!!!) simply brought it out of me. I was sad because that stuff was in me, but at the same time I’m thankful that it came out. I don’t want to be like that. For everyone who knows me probably would say that I’m not like that at all, but I guess this is just part of God’s refining process. I seriously don’t experience things like that, but I think I’m just being bombarded with attacks by the enemy. He has tried to discourage me all day telling me that I’m not worthy to do this fast, or to seek God in the ways that I am. I am going to hold his face up to the DMV and destroy them both! Ok, not really, but I will get the enemy back. 

Trust me that I have already asked for forgiveness for my flesh rising up like it did, but I know that God let it happen to show me who I am apart from Him. Needless to say I don’t like who I am apart from Him. I love who I am in Christ and I love who I am becoming. I am seeing how incredibly loved I am, and how incredible God’s love for people is.

Sorry for my honesty, but that’s what this is about! heh I’m going to love people….and I guess the DMV. GRRRR

 

Dustin

 

Two Days left

GRRRR I’m all of a sudden not looking forward to this fast. hah I’m really excited about it, but the first three days are going to kill me. I never realized how much I eat and that I eat out of habit. I don’t even always eat because I’m hungry, but rather because I want to. How sad is that? I think I’m really going to benefit from disciplining my body to obey my spirit. I’m so excited to start. I think it’s the anticipation that is killing me.

2 more days…

 

dustin

 

In all things

I have been wondering something lately. Is it wrong to pull something positive out of something negative? Let me explain. Someone told me a dream about a year ago and I knew that the dream was not directly from God. I took that dream and gave them an interpretation to turn it around and make it something Godly. So I ask again, is it right to pull something positive out of something negative?

I believe the answer is not only an absolute YES, but it is a necessity. I believe that part of the problem with this world is that we are so directed by what problems we face rather than finding the positive in the negative. I believe that it’s actually what God expects from us. If we are to change this world it must come from focusing on the things of God and not the obvious physical things that are so apparent.

For example. One of my friends has a major frustration with a family member because of their pride, and judgmental attitude. You can’t say anything around this person without them needing to tell you how you are wrong, why you are wrong, and what problems you are having. Let me say that the desire to be right is an absolute ruling passion. And I don’t mean that in a positive way. I told my friend that instead of responding to the negative attitude she could speak truth into her life without her even knowing. If my friend can love inspite of her frustration then she will win her family member to truth in God. So my idea for her was to write her everyday or every couple of days something positive about her. I encouraged her to speak something loving and encouraging about this family member. It may not change anything in them, even though I think it will, but it will change something in my friends heart.

That being said I feel an overwhelming yes to the original question. I believe God expects us to find the poison in the world and learn how to develop a cure for all the people affected by it. For every action there is an equal or opposite reaction…How much more true is that in our life? For every action against us we need to respond in an opposite reaction so that they are won over by our love. Let’s heap some coals on their heads…

Romans 12:20 in a couple of versions

But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him. For if he is thirsty, give him a drink. If you do this, you will pile burning coals on his head.” (ISV)

But, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. If you do this, you will make him feel guilty and ashamed.” (Good News)