40 days

"Shout it aloud, do not hold back.

Raise your voice like a trumpet.

Declare to my people their rebellion

and to the house of Jacob their sins.

For day after day they seek me out;

they seem eager to know my ways,

as if they were a nation that does what is right

and has not forsaken the commands of its God.

They ask me for just decisions

and seem eager for God to come near them.

'Why have we fasted,' they say

'and you have not seen it?

Why have we humbled ourselves,

and you have not noticed?'

"Yet on the day of your fasting,

you do as you please and exploit all your workers.

Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,

and in striking each other with wicked fists.

You cannot fast as you do today

and expect your voice to be heard on high.

Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,

only a day for a man to humble himself?

Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed

and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?

Is that what you call a fast,

a day acceptable to the LORD ?

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice

and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free

and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry

and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter

—when you see the naked, to clothe him,

and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness will go before you,

and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;

you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,

with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

and your night will become like the noonday.

The LORD will guide you always;

he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like a spring whose waters never fail.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins

and will raise up the age-old foundations;

you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,

Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath

and from doing as you please on my holy day,

if you call the Sabbath a delight

and the LORD's holy day honorable,

and if you honor it by not going your own way

and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

then you will find your joy in the LORD,

and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land

and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob."

The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Isaiah 58

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I love this chapter in Isaiah. Thank-you to Joanie for posting these verses over at her blog. She is a wonderful example to me. She and I were on the same page this week.

I have been studying deep the book of Daniel and how filling it's been! I've been desiring to give up some things to the Lord, spending more time in His word and prayer, desiring to have resolve, self-control, and strength like Daniel. Beth Moore's videos have spoken to my heart about being a part of this Babylon. 'Our society of gotta have it, now, more, bigger, better, if I can afford it (or even if I can't) I'm gonna get it.' And can't we see that about to come crumbling down?

I agree with Beth's admonition to be in the world, influential in the word, without being influenced and like the world! We're to be set apart for holy use. Satan wants us to be common and unholy, not set apart for God's use but doing just like everyone else who does not believe in the Most High God. We are to be different. How can we be if we're craving and doing and busy being just like everyone else? I'm talkin to myself here!

I feel like I need to be different than the traditional Lent, though I'm not sure why. But I like a clean, non-stop break, for my fasting period. Beth Moore asked us to join her in a challenge, giving up rich meats for the first half of the Daniel study. That was just not giving up much for me. I barely eat any meat.

So I've thought and prayed and this my own challenge, and my own quiet 40 days of intentional time on my knees memorizing scripture, praying for our country and my family. I will seek His face! I anticipate the blessings of focusing on Him.

It's not legalism, it's not the law. There is nothing I can DO to make myself right with God. I cannot be holy without Jesus Christ. It is because of Him, and Him alone that I can know God and receive eternal life. But Matthew 25 has been speaking to me. As has Isaiah 58. It's not something I will talk about during the 40 days. I won't be preaching it, but I'm posting here to let my (5? ;o) readers know why I'm gone and write out my thoughts...

Small in the scheme of things, but large in my life, I will be giving up 3 things for the next 40 days...from tomorrow Mar 1st until April 9th. the day before Good Friday.. surfing, sugar and shopping.

Maybe you don't struggle with this and you just don't get it, that's okay, but it's good for me to write out my thoughts. :o) Though in and of themselves, these 3 are not sin, Satan uses them in my life. The internet is not so bad, but does suck me in. I love reading about others lives, being encouraged by how they struggle with the same things I struggle with, finding out new ways of doing things, ideas about homeschooling, gardening, photography etc.

Even sitting and uploading pictures, or emailing will be out and much time will be available for other things for this season. I will check emails from my phone, just to be sure not to miss appts and correspondence re: fostering and trainings etc.

Sugar, is highly addictive for me and saps my energy and my health. I struggle with moderation here. I'm betting the evil one thinks I cannot do it. But I can, and I will, showing His strength and resolve in me. Only in His strength. I bought some stevia and of course honey and fruit will be on hand. :o)

Chad will do the grocery shopping and I will be buying NOTHING for the next 40 days. I wonder how much money we'll save? Though truly that is not the reason for doing this. It is my hope at the end when I do return to the stores, that I will ask myself, "Is this a need or a want? Is this for our benefit or for self-indulgence?" He is sufficient for me. My satisfaction and happiness is found in Him.

What a blessing and a breath of fresh air to let go of some things that can hold me captive. And the best party of it all...with the extra time and money we will be caring for the oppressed and the poor as He's instucted me in my quiet time.

We will be proactively looking for ways to serve that will go hand in hand with homeschooling. Not burning ourselves out on ministry, but using our days to be used by Him.

I will be focusing on the boys and helping them with their struggles of fighting and unkind words. We will be praying more and reading scripture with them, each and every day. We will be volunteering at the Matthew House (name inspired by the verses below :o) here in our town, as well as clearing out our home of things we do not need, that others might be praying they had.

Please keep me in your prayers and I seek His best for our family's life. Love, Becca

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The Sheep and the Goats Matthew 25

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

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