Challenges and other thoughts...

Two days before Christmas and all my purchases have been made and all but one or two have been wrapped!  I believe this is the first time ever that has happened!  Although I had been baking a lot, then realized I didn't need to - it has still been a challenge.  What has?  Eating all this good stuff!  Well, tasty good, not necessarily good for me!   I do love baking and giving it away.   And today, my Princess Bethany is coming over to bake and do our 'Christmas thing' together.  This has always been the highlight of my year with the grandchildren - them coming over to bake. Now that this one is on her own, didn't know if she would still want to come - but she is and it makes me happy she still wants to.  At least this year!   She has come to grandma's house since she was about 2 years old to make crafts and/or bake cookies every Christmas.

Another challenge is getting my body is shape for the upcoming mini-marathon in 5 months.  Yes, it is 5 months away, but I can not wait until the week before to plan on training for it.  It has been about six weeks since we had walked so after walking nearly 4 miles the other day, my hip joints are feeling it some.  Not bad, but I acknowledge there is some discomfort.  I'm still walking and still pushing to get in shape.  For my retirement, my little sissy had sent me the Nike sensor and the shoes it goes in - I love it.  I would encourage you to get one if you want to track how far and how fast you are walking.  At this time, my personal best pace time is 15.02.  Got to improve on that if I'm going to do this!  Well, not IF, for we have paid for it and we are going to do it and we are going to finish it!   Would appreciate any encouragement and prayers for this!

Another challenge - which is not really a challenge - is I am leading our church in a 21 day fast beginning on January 1, 2012.  Not a total fast, but a partial fast.  I will give more details later.  Why are we doing this?  We are to give God the first-fruits of all we receive - why don't we give Him back the first-fruits of the year?  I am so excited, in a sense, to do this - for I know that God is going to honor the church in seeking His face and His will for our families, our church, and our community.  I ask that you think about this and see if you also are called to a fast - to give back to God the first-fruits of the year.  Yes, I read about this in a book by Jentezel Franklin - and it makes a lot of sense to me.  See what God says about it in Malachi 3:

   ⁸“ Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say,

‘ In what way have we robbed You?’
In tithes and offerings.
⁹ You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me,
Even this whole nation.
¹⁰ Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the LORD of hosts,

“ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.
¹¹“ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
Says the LORD of hosts;
¹² And all nations will call you blessed,
For you will be a delightful land,”
Says the LORD of hosts.

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I am believing and trusting in God that when we bring the first of everything to Him, He will in turn bless us and our households.

What about you - want to receive a blessing from God this coming year that will affect you all year?  Think about giving something up - something that means something to you.  If it doesn't mean anything to you to give it up, it won't mean anything to God.

Blessings!