Fasting Day 3 – Jan. 10, 2010

Along with finishing the devotionals for the day on wisdom, I am also reading Joey Bonifacio’s The Mystery of the Empty Stomach. I have seen this small book several times before but have never taken much of an interest in it. However, in the VCF website, it is recommended reading. So I decided to pick it up and study it this week. I have not regretted that impulsive decision.

Pastor Joey Bonifacio’s book is small – only 81 pages in all. It has 10 chapters with 7-8 pages per chapter. It makes use of a lot of white spaces. It’s very easy reading. It looks simple but its size and simplicity is deceiving. Within the pages of this small book is a world of understanding. As I read every chapter, I have come to understand more about fasting. This book spurs me to keep on going. It showed me what fasting is truly about. It took my focus away form the food and hunger and directed me to focus on God alone.

We are midway through our week-long fast. If you find yourself growing weaker and facing the temptation of breaking the fast earlier, read The Mystery of the Empty Stomach. You will know and understand the power of fasting.

If you are encouraged to join this fast, Victory Christian Fellowship has uploaded the manuals and devotions on their website. You can find it here.

This book is available for sale at any VCF bookshops for only P220.00

Day 1 Fasting – Jan. 8, 2010

(This should have been posted earlier but I was busy with another writing assignment.)

Today is Day 1 of our fast as we follow VCF’s schedule for this year. My husband, two children and myself have committed ourselves to this week-long fast. Gary D. is quite busy at work with an erratic work schedule.

To start, Gary D. and I committed to waking up early today so that we can still have the devotion and pray together. We woke up an hour late but refreshed and ready. We spent about 45 minutes on our devotion and prayer, then he had to go get ready for work. As he was preparing, I continued to meditate on the verses today and keep on praying. I prayed to God to let my two little ones sleep late today so that I can have more uninterrupted time with Him. This was not His will, though, because in just a few minutes, both littles started to wake up. I had to stop and attend to their needs.

While I had them out to play, I attempted to read more and pray. As I was doing this, Artsy Princess came out of their room and asked me for help with her devotion. We had devotions while the two littles were playing noisily. She was distracted so I had to tell her to let the noise go and focus on the devotions.

As we were doing this, Guitar Babe woke up and also asked for help with her own devotions. Normally, we would have done this all together. But because I wanted to take hold of every opportunity, I said “Yes” to both immediately and did the devotions one-on-one. After finishing devotions and prayers with both children, I thanked the Lord for the opportunity to disciple our children. I praised God for their willingness to learn and for their desire to obey God’s word in their lives.

The Lord is good!

Victory Christian Fellowship’s Seven Days of Prayer and Fasting 2010

 

Two years ago, when hubby was still working in the USA, I decided to join VCF’s Annual 7 day Prayer and Fasting. I was still breastfeeding then so fasting from food was out of the question. Instead, I decided to fast from the TV and the internet. This was already a big thing for me because I like to relax while watching my favorite TV shows. Plus I use the internet a lot. My plan was to only go online so that I can call up hubby in the US.

Of course, one of my prayers before starting was that I can ask my hubby to join me in the fast. We have never fasted before and this is very new to us. Add to that the fact that he is in another country going to another church. I was not really sure if he would agree to join me. I discovered that VCF uploads their devotionals on their website in English and Tagalog. I told Gary D. that I’m planning to fast and asked him gently if he would like to do it also. I told him that the devotionals are online and he could easily download it. My heart jumped with joy when he agreed to it.

At that time, we were struggling so much. He was so far away, I had just given birth, and his work was not steady. In fact, the reason he was able to go on the fast with me was because he was not scheduled to work that week. No work means no pay and we were very worried. But we decided that only for that week, we will focus on learning more about God and praying.

During that fast, there were just so many breakthroughs for us. Just the fact that we were doing it together was a big breakthrough already. Everyday, we had a schedule to talk. Both of us would go online, work through the Bible study together and then pray. Those were really the best times for us. The Holy Spirit was moving in our marriage mightily. We were able to talk about so many issues in our marriage and family in light of what God’s word is telling us. Before, when we tackled those issues, we would end up fighting and not resolving anything. But during the fast, we would talk to each other very gently and agree to pray about our issues.

It was an amazing experience! After that, whenever we had something major going on in our family, we would both fast and pray together. Despite being so far apart, the Lord brought our hearts together. When we fasted, our prayers are one and won. We saw God’s mighty hand working and we experienced His blessing to our family.

This year we are joining the VCF Fast again. This time, we are so blessed because our two eldest daughters have decided to join, and of course, Gary D is here with us now. This is Guitar Babe’s 2nd year to join the fast and Artsy Princess’ first year. Tonight, we are attending the Worship Night in order to kick-off the fast for tomorrow.

So no matter where you are, you can still join the fast. You can download their devotionals here.

O God, you are my God,
       earnestly I seek you;
       my soul thirsts for you,
       my body longs for you,
       in a dry and weary land
       where there is no water.

Psalm 63:1

 

One Change only for 2010

As I have been viewing many blogs everyday while I’m dropping EC, I’ve noticed that there are so many people posting their New Year’s Resolutions for 2010. Despite having been so busy myself last December ‘09, I still had time to think about my own resolutions. Basically, New Year’s resolutions are the changes that we want to make for the year. In the past years, every year I would write down what changes I want to make in my life. As we all have the tendency to do, because of old habits, we slowly but surely forget those resolutions. I know I do. So last year, as I have been praying and meditating on what changes I want to make for the year 2010, I decided to make just one change. It is only one but on it hinges all the other changes that I am praying to see in my life. Here it is:

* Read the Bible everyday

and pray consistently. *

It may sound very simple but I confess that I am a very inconsistent Bible reader. And though I like to pray and have seen many answers to my prayers, I also do it inconsistently. I believe that with just this one major change that I make in my life, all the rest will just fall into place. As Matthew 6:30-33 says:

“And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

(New Living Translation)

My plan for this is to follow the devotions set forth by my Mosaic Bible. I have reviewed this Bible in the previous post. The first part of this Bible are the readings following the church calendar year. I have started reading through it since I received the Bible for review and I am immensely enjoying it.

However, for those of you who are also challenged or moved by the Holy Spirit to read through the Bible this year, I found a website that is challenging people worldwide to read through their Bibles in 90 days. This website encourages people to buy The Bible in 90 Days. Since this is not easily available to us here in the Philippines, I found another blogger, Robin Sampson from Heart of Wisdom, who has a Bible Reading guide that you can print and follow along. You can also register yourself in the Bible in 90 days website and receive daily messages in your email. For my fellow bloggers out there, you can also join Mom’s Toolbox. She is hosting Blogging through the Bible in 90 days in conjunction with Bible in 90 Days.

Read the Bible – it will change your life!

 

My Top 10 Entrecard Droppers for December 2009

I have recently joined Entrecard so that I can grow my blog. So far, I’ve been dropping EC like crazy. The blogs I’ve been visiting have also been visiting me back. As thanks for dropping EC here faithfully, here are my To 10 Entrecard Droppers. You can click on the badges and visit their blogs, too!

Thank you very much!