As I reflected on and prayed about this month, thoughts floated wildly around my head. At first, I thought I would do another fast (as I had planned). Yet as I prayed and reflected more, I realized that this year is not just about giving things up (fasting), but also about learning to live a life that is glorifying to God...and living out the commands of the Bible on a new level. Even in this though, I realize a risk. Just as with fasting, I don't want it to just become about "doing." That's the last thing I want this Re-Challenge year to become is a lesson in becoming more legalistic. This is a danger I've seen from the beginning--and through God's grace will avoid. All the same, it is something that has been pressing on my mind very heavily.
All that being said, this month will be different than I had expected! This month will not be a fast, but instead an intentional month of loving my neighbors. Having just moved into a new apartment complex, there are many people around me that I don't know yet. This all basically began the day I moved in, and God began stirring in my heart a desire to meet my neighbors.
What does this mean practically? That part is still taking shape. I know for sure it'll involve praying for my neighbors. Taking intentional time to lift up each apartment full of people to Him. I also plan on going to each door and bringing a baked something to them. :) I'm not sure how it'll pan out realistically, but ideally I would like to go to a different door every day and meet new people. My roommate may do this with me...or I may go alone... I'm not sure. Although God often sent people 2x2 so we shall see!
Thank you for your prayers!
Saturday, September 1, 2012
September 1: August Wrap Up
As I predicted, life got crazy--and blog posts fell behind. This doesn't mean that Re-Challenge hasn't been on my mind. Quite the opposite. It has been on my mind probably more than ever.
Yesterday marked the end of August--and the no drinks besides water fast. So today I celebrated with hot chocolate and tea. ;)
The three hardest challenges of the month came at the very end. The first one was Wednesday of this week when the dad of the family I nanny for brought me home a smoothie. So there it was, sitting on the table, with all the members of the family waiting for me to drink it. Thankfully it was towards the end of my shift, so the parents understood when I said I thought I'd take it on the road with me. The seven-year-old however did not. She actually unwrapped the straw and put it in the drink for me. I was touched. She asked me when I would drink it. I wasn't sure she would understand the concept, so I just told her I didn't know (which I don't know when because it's still in my freezer ;) ). I fed the twin 17-month-olds their smoothie...and longed for mine...
Then I was on the plane flying to see my family for Labor Day weekend. And the drink cart came by. I had to ask for water...both times they came...
After landing my family went to Red Robin (family tradition really!). I could have had a milkshake...and my parents would have paid for it...but instead I ordered water.
This is not to mention the Keurig machine that's been staring at me since August 9...
Yet I'm thankful for this month. It has really gotten me thinking about the things I value in my life, and it taught me to treasure the tastes of different things like tea and juice and soda. It's not a right. It's a privilege. Many around the world do not even have clean water. Yet it's hard for me to only drink water? Water that is clean. I needed this month to gain perspective.
I was going to combine this post with my September announcement, but I think I shall separate them for the sake of keeping the reader on one subject. ;)
Yesterday marked the end of August--and the no drinks besides water fast. So today I celebrated with hot chocolate and tea. ;)
The three hardest challenges of the month came at the very end. The first one was Wednesday of this week when the dad of the family I nanny for brought me home a smoothie. So there it was, sitting on the table, with all the members of the family waiting for me to drink it. Thankfully it was towards the end of my shift, so the parents understood when I said I thought I'd take it on the road with me. The seven-year-old however did not. She actually unwrapped the straw and put it in the drink for me. I was touched. She asked me when I would drink it. I wasn't sure she would understand the concept, so I just told her I didn't know (which I don't know when because it's still in my freezer ;) ). I fed the twin 17-month-olds their smoothie...and longed for mine...
Then I was on the plane flying to see my family for Labor Day weekend. And the drink cart came by. I had to ask for water...both times they came...
After landing my family went to Red Robin (family tradition really!). I could have had a milkshake...and my parents would have paid for it...but instead I ordered water.
This is not to mention the Keurig machine that's been staring at me since August 9...
Yet I'm thankful for this month. It has really gotten me thinking about the things I value in my life, and it taught me to treasure the tastes of different things like tea and juice and soda. It's not a right. It's a privilege. Many around the world do not even have clean water. Yet it's hard for me to only drink water? Water that is clean. I needed this month to gain perspective.
I was going to combine this post with my September announcement, but I think I shall separate them for the sake of keeping the reader on one subject. ;)
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