The Finish Line

Today, is the first day after the Daniel's Fast. I feel rested, rejuvenated, and reenergized. God is awesome!

Consecration


Words will never be able to gather what really occurred inside of Wings of Love Ministries last Sunday. Praise and Worship was intense and from that point the Holy Spirit was in full control. A roar of Worship that sounded like thunder,  and probably could be heard on John R. The place was not packed at all, not even half way. However, the cry unto God in that place was if we were in Comerica Park with the stadium at capacity. The presence of God was there and there was nothing you could do but worship. For 2 whole hours straight, we worshipped the true and living God. It was clear, that through this fast, those that came; had experience God. They came ready for worship, they came ready to pour out their souls before God. God didn't let us down. He came in filling some with the Holy Spirit, some with the gift of tongues, some where healed. I asked for miracles and he showed me miracles.

The Results of the Fast

Most lost weight, I didn't. However the relationship I have with God is far greater than ever losing a pound.  In time I will. After having no sugar for 21 days, I tried to go back to eating Oreos and it was a "NO GO". They were way too sweet, including V8 Splash. I do believe my need to have sugar all day everyday has been lifted. I know the way I think about eating has definitely changed. I am sure to continue eating whole wheat, all natural foods. I will not be eating with butter anymore. Yet and still, a gal has to have really cheese and diary products. Soy and Rice products don't cut it. My husband and I are not quite sure what to eat at this point. We don't want to through away our 21 days of eating clean, and nor do we want to agitate our stomachs.

The Encounter


One of the things I set out to do was to stop cursing. I'm not all the way there, I still think curse words. That's not good enough for me. Because if I think it, at some point I'm going to say it. I really tried hard, but I need to try harder. So starting to day I am doing another 21 Days of no cursing. I am going to keep doing it until I eradicate the sin. I also wanted to pull together a more concise plan of growth. So today I am also starting 21 Days of 30 minute prayer and 30 minutes of Studying my word (over and beyond what I have to do for school). I have heard God speak to me, the word Discipline. I know its a very fitting word for me. So, it time to work my word and work it well. By this time next year, I should be able to say that I am some sense of self control, and less chaotic life.

I also heard God tell me my area of ministry is Discipleship. I still need more clarity. I know everything comes in His own timing. However, that along was a huge chunk of information. I'm still seeking more clarity and I am full of faith that God is going to prepare for where ever He is sending me.

Daniel Fast, Day 14- Just a Little Help with Snacks.

Well, we have 7 days left till we get to the finish line of this fast. I'm excited and overjoyed about how far we have come and soon this will be done (lol). Overall, I can't say that I have not given in to my weakness, because I have.  Ninety-nine percent of the time it was to my own carelessness of not looking at the ingredients of things I picked up. I failed twice, to just absolutely not even paying attention to what I was doing. For example, my sister was passing out gum two Sundays ago and I stuck my hand out for it because my mouth was still "toothpastey" and dry.  So I am just a chumping away on this gum, headed straight for my Pastor's Office. Of course the topic of choice that was going on was the Daniel Fast. I join in the conversation to say, "Yeah man, I'm doing great! I haven't fell yet", at the same time I'm grabbing peppermints to put in my pocket (totally oblivious, right?). Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding, the alarm goes off in my head that I'm chewing gum. I scream loudly, "O-M-G, I am chewing gum".  Of course Pastor, consoled my failure and told me to stay in the race, its okay. The second time I fell because I just wasn't paying attention, was at home. I had just poured my kids a cup of V8 Splash Juice. My baby girl, drunk hers half way and left her cup alongside of my cup of water. About 20 minutes past, I was finishing up a blog for this site and I reached for my cup, but I picked up her cup.  I took a good gulp of the juice that I thought was water. Then ding, ding ding ding ding, the alarm goes of that I am not drinking water. I spit it out on my laptop screen, and again I yelled "O-M-G, that's juice". Then I yelled "O-M-G, my laptop!" Now, after those two incident, I carefully look at what I am consuming before I eat or drink it.

Just a Little Help with Snacks

For those who need help with snacks, Trader Joe's is the places to go. There are several items you can get from there and be satisfied. They have Cereal Bars like Nutri Grain Bars, that are multi grain and no sugar. The Bars has no additives or preservatives and are very good. There is Trader Joe's Roasted Plantains, (The purple bag laying flat) they taste like Better Made Potato Chips. The pink yellow and green bag is a fruit and veggie snack, you can't taste the veggies at all. They also have the fruit only bag, called Ends and Pieces; but I have smashed them already.  Down at the bottom are some more fruit snacks, however these are by Trader Joe's. They are really sweet even though there is no sugar. They remind me of Fruit by the Foot. I don't suggest going to town on these because they are just that sweet.  Another snack, that can be purchased at any store is the Tostitos Artisan Recipes Corn Tortilla Chips. The flavor I have is Roasted Garlic & Black Bean. These are so good, especially with salsa or some left over Daniel Fast Meatless Chili.

I hope this a help to those of you who are on the fast or will be soon doing the fast.  The most important thing is to read labels. Its is very tedious work, to eat. Especially if you are going to eat out everyday. However, there are few restaurants that you can go to and stay on target.  I went to B.D. Mongolian BBQ and its a great place to eat at while being on the fast. You are in control of what you put on your plate because you fix it and they have brown rice. If you go to subway, the Veggie Delight Sub on Flat Bread or Salad w/ Vinegar and Oil for your dressing, and remember no cheese. Sounds plain, but its so good. I never knew how flavorful veggies really are until now.

For the Ministry I attend, we are almost at the finish line. Let's finish strong. Don't give up.

1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Everything Happens for A Reason

Well yall, its day 10 of the fast. I have no clue what else to cook (lol). I have just been smashing chili with whole grain tortillas, strawberry salad, and smoothies for the last two days. Ironically, I'm not really hungry for food.  This morning, I have just been reviewing the last year or so, and I realize all things happen for a reason.

This time last year, i was just starting at Liberty University. Liberty wasn't even a choice for me, as I didn't even know it existed. I was really interested in going to Regent University. However a friend of the family, saw my status on Facebook about looking for an Online Christian University to attend. She replied and told me she was a student at Liberty University. She said that the school was recommended by her Pastor, because she wanted to join a particular ministry at the church she attended. Her Pastor suggested that she get more training by attending the school. She expressed how much she loved it. So I actually applied to both schools. Liberty was was breeze. With in two weeks of applying, I was already enrolled in courses; I still needed to pay my $50 application fee for Regent. I was tossing and turning about the degree programs (nothing unusual, this has been a problem since I graduated from High School). Liberty has several degrees that work well in both the spiritual and the natural realm.  Not, that Regent didn't.  Yet, and still I wanted to go to Regent.  I really wanted to go to school for straight Religion. I am diverse in talents and hobbies. I do many things well, however, ministry is the only thing that I find satisfaction in.  It has been like this my whole life.

I always could see other peoples professions and what they possibly would be doing when they grew up. However, it was just a blank stare for my life. I wanted to sing like Diana Ross at one point, then I wanted to be a Pediatrician like my phenomenal Pediatrician, Dr. Pai. Then I wanted to be a counselor, because that's all I ever did was listen to other people's problems. Then I wanted to open a business, but what I had no clue. Nothing ever seem to be rewarding and satisfying for me.  I always ran from the thought of ministry (even now I'm shaking my head). I grew up around Pastors and preachers and their families. I always thought, "this is ain't a glamourous job to have at all". Even though all my life I always was told I would either be preachers wife, or ministering myself, or both; I never really thought much of it.  The reality of it is, I never took the opportunity to leave for college because I didn't want to leave my church. Church was everything to me from middle school thru high school, and it still is.  Ministry, its the one thing that I can relax and say "aaahhhhh" to.

Anyway, I was tossing the two schools back and forth. Finally by my best friend Toni, asked me "Why are you being so rebellious"?  I was a little appalled that she would go hard on me like that for school, but she was right. (You gotta have one friend in your corner that will tell you the truth at all times.) Everything was in place, and I was set for school to start January 17, 2010 at Liberty University. Why I was still considering Regent, I don't even know. Here I am a whole year later, and it was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. Since starting at Liberty, I have learned to embrace the fact that what everyone has ever told me about ministry, is true. I stopped running from the call. How foolish of me to think I could ever get away from it in the first place.  Ironically the forecast of being a preacher's wife and/or in ministry myself, proves to be true for both. My husband, is now embracing his call since he started at Liberty.

Its amazing to me that I choose to take Church Ministries in this season, and its not even apart of my degree program. It was perfect timing to take the course while being on a fast. The course is gear to help those understand their call or position in ministry, and what ministry is all about. When my books came, I was on Christmas break. I started reading the Ministry Is..... book, by Dave Earley and Ben Gutierrez and almost finished it. Then when the class started and the fast started, things became illuminated and uneasy as if certain words were jumping out at me. A lot of my prayers were answered through this class. A lot of revelation came through the books that I had to read for this class.

God is amazing. He knows us all by personality. He is careful to deal with us all by our personalities. After all he fashioned us, right?. He knows just how to reveal things to me because I'm always skeptical of myself. I think I have said this over and over, but timing is everything.  I often think if I was working would I be where I am right now. I know I wouldn't! I wouldn't even be able to discern when God is speaking. Nor would I probably be looking for Him to have anything to say to me. But the very fact that I'm home and out of my element, I'm desperately looking for Him. God know just where to put you so you can listen and depend on Him.  I hated being at home. Don't take this wrong because I love my children. However all my life I have worked for everything I ever wanted.  Being fired from a job that I had just been awarded employee of the month and several other privileges floored my self esteem and independence. However, I didn't get it then, but I understand it now. There was a plan in place to get me right where I am today. I'm in school, I'm learning every day to depend on God and be submissive to my husband, and to tend to my first ministry- my family.

Daniel's Fast, Day 9 - Confirmation on the Call and One Word

My last post was on the One Word Journey, that I decided to embark upon. I mentioned that I believe God was telling me my word for 2011 is "Discipline". Today, my word is confirmed. Today, I was reading the book Ministry Is... for my Church Ministries course. This weeks required reading is chapters 11-20.  The book is an easy read if you are in ministry, thinking about ministry, feel you are being called into ministry and etc. I get to chapter 15, "Refusing to Coast" and the second heading of the chapter is............ "Discipline Yourself". I think that is enough confirmation for me. (LOL).

In all actuality the entire chapter is on discipline. Pastor Dave Earley gives a synopsis of the things that he put in place to get himself disciplined for growth.  And he says:
      "Over the next few years of being aggressive with my growth plan, I had slowly made big strides in all the key areas of my life. I had read hundreds of books. I had listened to hundreds of hours of Bible teachings or leadership training. I had written 12 books. I had read through the Bible several times. I saw answer to prayer almost every day. 
      When I got intentional about my personal growth, every part of my life became better, including my ministry. My church doubled in attendance. God multiplied my small group numerous times. I enjoyed life more than ever.
     The secret of growth and long-term effectiveness is found in your daily habits and weekly plans. Effective ministry leader build necessary disciplines in their lives and live those disciplines daily. Personal, spiritual, and professional fitness are like physical fitness. They come from learning the right exercises and doing them regularly until they become habits."1


This passage of the chapter really did it for me. I am often stressed and tired because of the many things that do on a daily basis. Today, is the first day of whipping my spiritual , physical and emotional life into shape.  It's imperative that I do. As I continue this fast, the call on my life intensifies and the only thing I can focus on is the Church (on a universal level). The Great Commission, is all that is ever on my mind. Throughout this fast I am asking for clarity of my calling, "What am I teaching and to who?" Matthew 28: 18-20 is repeatedly coming up. I of course am thinking back and forth about how much of a mess my time management is at home, and feeling a little overwhelmed that God is calling me to make Disciples. I am such a mess all by myself, let alone trying to lead anyone else to live a life of servitude for God.  However, as I  pray more every day, study more everyday, I am comforted that God makes no mistakes about any person He calls into a life of ministry. Who am I to tell God "Why me?  am I adequate enough? I'm not disciplined enough, nor am I faithful enough." The fact of the matter is that God chose me well before I even could think on anything spiritual. Thus the reason for the One Word Journey. 

Timing is everything. I'm learning that everything works in His divine order. Amazing just as we started the fast, I decide to ask God for one word to help me through the year and at the same time asked for clarity on the call of ministry He is requesting me for. My answer for the One Word : Discipline, my answer for the Call: Go Make Disciples.

So in short, there is no time to waste in getting disciplined in every area of my life. It behooves me to do so, so that I can lead a more relax and happier life. On the other hand, I can't lead people to want to follow Christ effectively if I don't have the time to teach them what they need to know. Our call into ministry isn't a hobby but a mandate. I do realize that upon acceptance (as if I had a choice), I have made a vow to God to put aside my ambitions, my personal goals, to deny myself for His Glory. As athletes train before their seasons begins, I am also training for yet the greatest position I could ever take.

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:18-20  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Supported Quotes
   Whether I hear God's call or not depends on the condition of my ears, and exactly what I hear depends upon my spiritual attitude. If we will allow the Holy Spirit to bring us face to face with God, we will hear what Isaiah heard-"the voice of the Lord.' In perfect freedom we too will say, "Here I am! Send me." ~ Oswald Chambers 2


  We are not workers for God by our own choice.... Never choose to be a worker, but when once God has put His call on you, woe be to you if you turn to the right hand or to the left. God will do with you what He never did with you before the call came.... Let Him have His way ~ Oswald Chambers 3


Notes
1. D. Earley & B. Gutierrez, Ministry Is... How to Serve Jesus with Passion and Confidence (Nashville, TN: B& H Publishing, 2010)
2. O. Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest (Burns, TN: Discovery House Publishers, 1963), January 4 entry 4.
3. O.Chambers, Approved unto God (Grand rapids, Mi: Discovery House, 1946), 9.

One Word, Discipline

So today is the 7th day of the fast, two more weeks to go. I will admit today I was overwhelmed and unprepared. I didn't have a clue what I was praying for or who to pray for. I didn't have a meal strategy. I really am dying for something tasty to drink other than water. Ced keeps hollering about Short Ribs, Mac N' Cheese and Greens w/ all the fattening stuff in it. Yet, and still God is still worth this next two weeks of sacrifice.

The Fast

As I stated above, I had no plan for food, so I didn't really know what to eat. Mondays are always hectic for me, so I really didn't have time to cook for myself (I'm actually cooking Chili again, right now).  I prepared Daniel Fast Friendly Oatmeal for my kids for breakfast. Ced, brought home a chicken salad for me. It had globs of melted cheddar and mozzarella cheese on it. So we had to take all the chicken off of the salad, and of course we couldn't use their dressing. Yep, Lettuce and tomatoes. At least we could keep the egg whites. I just added my all natural balsamic vinaigrette. I made the kids some of Meijers brand BBQ chicken wings and oh my gosh it was torture. I couldn't lick my darn fingers. However, I didn't give in.  Tonight I kinda got a lil' smorgasbord of left overs from last week. It's just enough to satisfy my hunger and go to bed.

The Encounter

Sometime last week, I think maybe the 3rd or 4th day, I read a blog post on the Ultimate Daniel Fast Blog on "The Power of One Word", by Kristen Feola. It was about, her friend asking God to reveal one word that she could theme her year with. This one word is the the word that she would work on throughout the year. Kristen decided to join her friend, Nicole in the "one word journey". I also took the challenge. After reading the blog post, I prayed for revelation of the word that God would have me to work on for 2011. All week I have been praying about better time management so that I could spend more time in my word , in prayer, and with my family. Sounds like "DISCIPLINE".  Yesterday, wrote about my Pastor preaching without notes. I was amazed at his "DISCIPLINE" in studying the text that he preaches until he is able to preach it without notes. I ended my note by asking "Could I ever become as discipline as he is, in studying the Word of God". 

This morning when I woke up, the first word I said was "DISCIPLINE". I thought to myself "You are crazy girl, go brush your teeth"! About, two hours later, I was rushing to get my girls to school and I said " I gotta get more DISCIPLINED". Then I realized I had dreamed about being lazy and needing to be DISCIPLINED. I don't remember my dream, however I do remember feeling overwhelmed, discombobulated, & seeing the word DISCIPLINED in my dream. Im going to take that this as God saying I need to be more DISCIPLINED. I am awaiting confirmation, although I feel secure in it; I can't lie I do need to become more DISCIPLINED. In fact Friday night, Ced and I got into a debate about me being more DISCIPLINED. 

The greatest thing about this One Word Journey is, if you have never heard God speak or seen Him show you something; this is your chance. I admonish you to try this. It can't hurt, it could only make you better. God is so faithful and He desires a relationship with us. I know, from growing up I always thought that God only spoke to Pastors and Preachers. However, I am so glad that I decide to get to know the real answer for myself. Jesus tore the veil just so that we could have an intimated relationship and dialog with the Father. 

Be encouraged my brothers and sisters, God desires to give you an audience with Him. 

Amazing Gift in an Amazing Man

Today, is the 6th day of our fast. I was excited about coming in to church to see what God was going to do in our ministry. Pastor, preached and teach from chapter 2 in Joel, about Restoration of Jubilation. It was indeed an on time message for our ministry. I never even sat down (which isn't nothing new for me). He had three relative points for the text as usual.  At the tail end of the message, I retreated to the choir stand to wait for the time for the Praise Team to close out the service. I saw Pastor close his bible, and hand it off to Ms. Clara, the nurse. Only one problem, I didn't see NO NOTES. 

Now let me tell you a little about my Pastor.  Dr. Alvin E. Jackson, is the Senior Pastor of Wings of Love Ministries. He has served as the Pastor for 26 years. He is the most humble man I know. He is always thinking about others, never focusing on himself. Now because he is my husband's uncle, I have the great privilege of seeing him as just Alvin and not Pastor. I'm honored to say that what you see in the pulpit is what you see at home. In the Church setting he is known for his preaching, however in his home setting he is known for his studying. Any given time that you walk in his home, you will be sure to either catch him in the bible studying, or meditating on what he has been studying.

Now back to the fact that he had no notes. I began to search every Sunday that I have seen him close his bible and I quickly remember there is never any notes. I instantly started questioning, how does he do it? I was singing and still questioning how. I thought "oh my gosh, could I ever get that disciplined enough to study my word to the point I could deliver it without notes." I was amazed and overwhelmed at how well he delivers his messages in a concise order like a structured term paper. This is clearly a man that is disciplined in the word of God. I can remember when I first started school at Liberty and I was super excited about the things I was learning. I ran down the things that I would be and had been learning. As I started mentioning subjects, he instantly starting running down everything I had learned in a course of 4 weeks in a 10 minute conversation. Again, "Oh my gosh".

I pray that I get close to having the discipline he has. I'm so proud that he is my  Pastor. It goes with out saying that his discipline in studying the Word of God is a testament to the the 5 phenomenal Pastors that has come from his leadership. If you have an awesome Pastor, take the time to appreciate him/her and the time they spend in the Word to help lead you.

Thank you Dr. Alvin E. Jackson.

Scripture of the Day

John I 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us

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Scripture of the Day

Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

posted from Bloggeroid

Daniel's Fast- Day 4

So I didn't write yesterday because I really didn't have the time to do so. I got two out of three of my exams done, scoring an A & a B. I had  veggie spaghetti (squash, zucchini, asparagus, onions, green peppers, whole wheat pasta and all natural spaghetti sauce). I stayed up pretty late study, so I am extra tired  right now. Yesterday's encounter with God was confirmation. I posted a note yesterday, that I had actually wrote on Day 2.  The note is "The Importance of Transparency & Accountability in Ministry". I didn't post it because I had prayed for confirmation to do so first. So yesterday in my Church Ministries Course, my studies were on Confronting Sin and Accountability. HA! What a way to confirm! However that wasn't what did it for me.  I watched the video post that complimented our studies for the week, and every thing I had wrote was everything that was in the video. So I was grateful about  God confirming me.

Any who! As stated above, I am exhausted today. I have spent a great deal of time in the kitchen preparing meals, and a great deal of time praying & meditating. Today, was a challenge for me to stay focused, only because I was so tired and just burnt out. However I got some really great prayer time in. Again I had no strategic plan for what i was praying for. It just kind of came to me by happen stance. Or maybe it was all a plan by God. I received some mail for Church finance seminar. Don't have a clue why it came to me but after looking at it I was compelled to pray for the finances of the church, my household and the members of Wings of Love Ministries.  My morning and evening prayer were in regards to my attitude to serving at home and strength .

Today we had Mushroom and Mash Potato Stuff Bell Peppers w/ some of the left over Chilli . It was pretty good. 

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Scripture of the Day

Ephesians 5:1-2 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved
Go children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

posted from Bloggeroid

The Importantance of Transparency & Accountability in Ministry

Themes Passage:


James 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.


This is a topic that has been on my mind for sometime now. I grew up in the church as many may know by now. For as long as I can remember, church folk are some of the best folk to cover up some stuff. Not that it's a bad thing to not let everybody know your business. However, I think the world would see the church in a different light if we didn't always cover up the things we struggle with. I also think that we struggle with our habits for long periods of time, because we have been covering them up for so long that we are unable to strip ourselves before God and ask for the deliverance we really need.


Let's examine my thoughts for a while, shall we. Okay let take me for instance, ( yall know I am transparent as it can get) as stated in a video on youtube that I posted; I have an ugly habit of profanity. I have had this issue for well over 15 years. I was able to get a hold of the situation about 10 years ago and did well for at least 2 years. I have just recently got comfortable with letting people know that I have this issue. Now, most would say, "Ro you do praise and worship, why would you tell anyone about that"?. My reply is (now), "I'm human, and "doing" praise and worship doesn't make me exempt from sin, in fact Satan attacks me harder". Now this isn't an excuse for what I do but an answer why I tell what I do. I realize at the ripe age of 20, oh I'm sorry 30, that I am never going to conquer this by myself. I didn't conquer this by myself the last time. I had a team of people (accountability group)  staying on my neck day in and day out until I got sick of them always correcting my language. These same individuals prayed for my deliverance, as well as myself. 


So here is my point, covering up our sins seem to be logical. No one wants to air their dirty laundry. I agree with that, but sometimes you have to in order to get accountability for what you are doing. If you are struggling with a sin and you see you aren't a help to yourself, then GET HELP!. OPEN your mouth and request help.  The more we cover up our sins, the more we believe the lie that we are not sinning. This is a very dangerous place to be in. So today, I am not asking you  to got tell the world of your sins. No, not all all. Im saying be transparent when its necessary so that you can keep yourself accountable to things. Especially if you are in ministry, its necessary to have accountability. Accountability keeps you in the pocket. There is nothing worst than being ministered to by a person who doesn't abide by their own words. 


Supported Quotes


 Ministry is...... 
1. Cultivating a culture of godly accountability for yourself and for those you serve. 
2. Developing spiritual believers who are mature and who will become leaders of their own    
   accountability groups. 
3. Grieving over those who choose to defect from the faith and praying for them to return home ~ Dave Earley & Ben Gutierrez


"I'm a "Christ follower" first and a Pastor second". ~ Matthew Willimgton


"One of the fastest roads to moral failure in ministry is a lack of accountability."~ Michael Todd Wilson & Brad Hoffman

Daniel Fast - Day 2

Today, was overal a very good day. I had no direction today as to what I was going to meditate on or pray for. I just kind of winged it all day. I am grateful that I was smart enough to plan for what my family was going to eat because it gave me more time to focus on meditating, rather than preparing food. .

The Fast

 Due to the weather, I had my children home from school. So I made veggie & grits (onions & green peppers w/ evoo), Veggie & Egg Whites (onions & greens) and veggie sausage, breakfast.  It didn't go over so well with the kids, however nothing ever does unless its "Panna-cakes".  I also made, a Vegan Vegetable Chili (Vegetable Broth, Almond Milk, Kidney Beans, Black Beans, Diced, Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce , Corn, Mushrooms, Artichokes, Green Peppers, Onions, Minced Garlic, Shallots, Cummin, Chili Powder, Jalapeno Peppers, Lime Juice, Lemon Pepper, Sweet Basil, Cilantro, and Parsley). It is soooooo good. It taste just like Wendy's Chili w/ a lil' more heat and tons of veggies. I made my kids Oatmeal Cookies w/  Chopped Apples in them. I made Pasta Salad w/ my own Avocado Italian Dressing (Avocado, Tomatoes, Onions, Shallots, Garlic, EVOO, Green Onions, Lemon and Lime Juice, blend it all  together).  Last I made  a Apple Berry Mint Smoothie/ Sorbet (Frozen Raspberries, Blackberries, 7 Chopped leaves of mint, Soy Strawberry Yogurt, Lime and Lemon Juice, Blend and drink or freeze till you get the consistency you want for ice cream).

The Encounter

Ephesians 3:16-19

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 Today I set out to watch no TV and for the most part I didn't. I pretty much did homework, prayed, meditated, and cooked.  Today wasn't about me or my family. At 9am I prayed for Marriages of members at my church and some of my friends. I'm passionate about people seeing marriages working. It was only right that I fasted and prayed for the marriages that I know that are struggling. I was once there and its only by the Grace of God that I'm not there right now. Praying for healthy marriages was on the list of things to pray for issued by Pastor Jackson. I didn't want to waist anytime with praying for that and I will continue to do so throughout the fast. After all someone prayed for mines.

Noon hour prayer, I prayed for my Church, Wings of Love Ministries and our leadership. There is so much to say in the part but I won't. I will just wait and let you see God work on our behalf. There is much work to be done in the Kingdom and Lord will, Wings of Love Ministries will do over and beyond its part to bring souls into the body of Christ in a dynamic and excellent way.

Evening prayer, was for other Ministries that has impacted my life. No need to name the names but I wanted to intercede on the be half of other Ministries' visions, plans, and growth. I thank God for everyone woman & man of God that has step into the call of Pastoring, Shepherding, Church Planting , Preaching, Teaching or what have you, to advance the Kingdom of God. I  am lifting you all up in prayer for a mighty move of God in the body of Christ (not locally, but universally).

I feel great about this journey and the time that I am spending with God. My husband is a lil' retarded right now. I think he on spiritual overload and is full of joy. I wish yall could see how stupidly happy he is right. Im excited about where the Lord is going to take him when this is all over.

Oh and praise report: This may be TMI, but oh well its Praise Worthy. I wanted to be regular by the time the fast is over. Today, IM REGULAR. LOL.

21 Day Corporate Daniel Fast- Day 1

Today, is the first day that my church has embarked upon doing the Daniel's Fast. I'm excited about this. I haven't did a fast in over 10 years. I know the power of God that shows up when you fast and pray. I started a business back in 2001 and I fasted and prayed for almost 3 months. God showed himself mighty and strong to me. My faith was strong and huge. I desire to get that back. I want to have God at my core being and everything conforms around Him.

The Fast

It's 6:25pm to be exact, I have followed my prayer schedule and have not fallen off course of the guidelines. I made Vegetable Layered Enchiladas w/ Vegan Cheddar Cheese.  I have had only water to drink. This was my first meal for the day. I will probably snack on some dried bananas or salsa and Wheat tortilla chips.

The Encounter
When I woke up this morning, Millionaire Matchmaker was on. I watched for a little bit and began to feel guilty about watching it, because these 21 Days are devoted to time with God. So of course I turned it off and began to pray. As the day went on as usual,, I got a little impatient with my kids as I was getting them ready for school. As soon as I fixed my mouth to raise my voice and snap at them I felt conviction. So again, I stopped and prayed. I was picking up my sons from school and seen a women who was severely obese, and I began to think "OMG". Before I could even began to think any further I felt bad for my reaction and I stopped and prayed for her health and strength. Every time I slip to curse or say something ungodly, I was convicted. The conviction isn't anything new, however it feels so intense because of the the fact that its being illuminated so I can't ignore it. Its sad, that it takes for me to enter a fast to heighten my awareness of how often I make an offense toward God.

Already, God is answering my prayer to show me my short comings so that I can fix them. I desire to  have the mind of Christ and desire to love people the way He does. As I write this I'm shaking my head at myself of how quickly I am impatient with my kids and how quickly I was forming an opinion about someone I didn't know. You may be thinking, "well Ro, these are all normal, everyone does it".  Well, I am thinking but its not ok. I don't wanna be like everyone else, I wanna be more like Christ. I was called to be set apart from this world. I was called for a purpose and so were you. I don't want to walk this earth and never fulfill the main purpose I was placed here for and that's to be more like Christ.

This is Day 1, I'm in it for the long haul. I need so much from God. Mainly more of Him. There isn't enough for me to sacrifice to equal just getting more of Him.  I'm in Phillippians 3:14 mode, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.