Passing the Blessing on
Posted By Pastor Rich on January 30, 2010
God is blessing all who are praying and/or fasting, or doing what ever He has called them to do during this time.
Rend Your Heart
Posted By Pastor Rich on January 28, 2010
As we are approaching the last few days for the fasting period, we should keep our eyes on God. We are reminded of this in 
Joel 10:12-13, “Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness……”
You are doing this, not because you have to, not because “all my friends” are doing it, but because God placed it on your heart to take part in this endeavor.
To “rend” means to tear apart by force. God tells you to rend your heart, to tear apart or open with force your heart, and turn unto the Lord. With all your heart, and with fasting and with weeping, and with mourning….prayer.
Those who aren’t fasting are praying from their hearts, as well as those who are fasting. God gives each of us a “job” to do to fit into the bigger assignment. But first and formost, Turn unto the Lord.
some personal thoughts
Posted By Joni on January 22, 2010
Before our church began the fast I told my husband Charlie “I feel like God has been impressing me this will be a difficult fast.”
But back then our bellies were full, our bodies were strong, and our hopes bright. Aren’t fasts always hard?
Within the first few days my car was in a fender bender, my son had torn a ligament wrestling, and then I slipped and jammed my ring finger which swelled to twice its size. About a week in, my vision, while not the greatest since I entered the forties, suddenly took a severe dip in deterioration. I could no longer read a thing without a pair of reading glasses.
One night I was thinking about all this while praying. I asked God why this odd series of events during the fast. I mean, c’mon! I am sacrificing FOOD for you Lord! Can’t you protect us? For a brief moment… No, not even a moment. More like a nano-second, I “saw” in the spirit realm a battle. A battle with an intensity that was fierce and brutal.
The next day I received the terrible news that someone close to our family had died.
The repercussions of this death will be felt for a long time to come.
And even as we continued to grapple with the news of this unexpected death, my physical health began to diminish significantly. Back pains, headaches, nausea. Stuff I had not experienced before. It has been taking all my energy just to get through the day. Forget about doing anything at all that is not utterly necessary.
Today, as I spoke with some fellow fasters and learned that they also had some of the most difficult times they had previously experienced during a fast, I finally began making sense of this. When the battle is fiercest, the burden we carry in prayer is heavier. We may feel pressed beyond measure, tempted tried, and torn. In heavenly places a battle rages and we are providing fuel through our prayers!
There is no guarantee of peace and prosperity just because we have sacrificed food or any other item for the Lord.
When we fast, we pick up a sword and step onto a battle field. Battlefields aren’t pretty! They are full of smoke, gunfire, the cries of the wounded, and even at times… loss of life. Yet without a fight, there can be no victory.
And somehow, even in the deepest of losses, still God will rise victorious.
It is time for me to step off this battlefield as I go to the house of mourning. But it is not over yet. The battle will be won, I believe it is being won even now. A number of answers to prayer have proven that. There has been spiritual movement in the lives of people who strayed, fresh opportunities to serve God, and reconciliations with past failures.
Those are just tremors. Just a sign the enemy is losing his grip on the things he now holds captive.
“Do not be afraid of them! Remember the Lord who is great and awesome and FIGHT for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” Nehemiah 4:14
“Though He causes grief, yet will He have compassion, according to the abundance of His steadfast love.” Lamentations 3:32
Difficult but Doable
Posted By Pastor Lew on January 20, 2010
Spiritual disciplines are both noble and difficult. Fasting is righteous when it is done for the right reasons. First of all it gives us time to pray. In the Scriptures the two are coupled together. (1 Cor. 7:5). Fasting without prayer is nothing more than a spiritualized form of dieting. Fasting teaches us self-discipline. It is you starving a natural appetite. When the natural man is dialed down it makes your spirit sharper and concise. Fasting is also a reminder that we can live without a lot less. When these dynamics are realized we are made to know that fasting is a noble disciple. Difficult but doable.
A fasted Lifestyle
Posted By Betty on January 19, 2010
Fasting is not only with food but it is a fasted life style that we live.
When it was announced in our church that we were going on a 21 day fast there was such an excitement built up in me. Because I knew the power of the living Lord God and what he has done in my appetite in destroying the wanting of the wrong kinds of food in my body. He has kept me this year and a half and I know he is faithful to keep me in this fast.
It is not something that we do on our own, for we are not adequate in our own selves but our adequacy is of God. It is the Holy Spirit that keeps us in our way of choosing.
I didn’t know what I was going to give up, but then the thought came to me not to eat after 6 PM and so this is what I chose, except for Wednesdays we fast the day and go out after church, Mari and I. and by the Grace of God I have been able to keep it. What we give to the Holy Spirit he is well able to perform on our behalf for he truly is the very Grace of God.
I am so excited about the grace of God that will keep in the choice that I make in fasting and the grace of God is the Holy Spirit and when we give him the control of our lives he is well able to bring all the glory to Christ Jesus.
The Grace of God teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, [Titus 2:12-13]
We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness. [Message Bible]
On this fast life style I have been able to eat an apple a day. It was so hard for me to eat an apple I would buy apples and then throw them away, but since I started the fast day I put an apple in my food area to eat an apple every day. It doesn’t sound like a fast but just to eat that apple was so good. When I would eat the apple I say Father I am so thankful that you have given to me the grace to eat this and to really enjoy it.
Now I know how important that we allow the Holy Spirit to control every part of our lives not just in one area, but in every part of it. When we truly know and really have the Revelation that our bodies are the very sanctuary of the Holy Spirit and he lives within us we will be totally different people walking on this earth. And oh how He is so faithful to perform all for us. May each one be so blessed in their fast and not only in the fast but may we continue to live that kind of live style for the rest of our lives to the honor and glory of our blessed redeemer Christ Jesus our Lord and not to be ashamed when we see him face to face.
A Handmaiden of our Lord Jesus Christ
Betty
Putting Two and Two Together
Posted By Pastor Rich on January 15, 2010
Look at all the things that go together in the scriptures: Praise and Glory, give thanks and praise, Where two or more are gathered, Faith and belief, and now we are to another one. “Prayer and Fasting”.
When we pray, we are asking God’s guidance and direction in what we are doing, or are considering doing. We are putting God first, which we should do all of the time, asking Him for proper direction so that His will is done.
As we are a few days into this time, many have committed giving up things for a day or for 21 days. Some have devoted themselves to pray daily for those who are fasting. They too are giving up something; their time. If that is what God has called upon them to do, we know that He has a plan for them, and they too will be blessed abundantly.
Those who can’t fast for whatever reason, can still pray “a little extra” for those who are. God has made something for everybody to be able to do during this time. Are you listening to what God is telling you?
When we pray, we are asking God’s guidance and direction in what we are doing, or are considering doing. We are putting God first, which we should do all of the time, asking Him for proper direction so that His will is done.
As we are a few days into this time, many have committed giving up things for a day or for 21 days. Some have devoted themselves to pray daily for those who are fasting. They too are giving up something; their time. If that is what God has called upon them to do, we know that He has a plan for them, and they too will be blessed abundantly.
Those who can’t fast for whatever reason, can still pray “a little extra” for those who are. God has made something for everybody to be able to do during this time. Are you listening to what God is telling you?
A Word from the Pastor
Posted By Pastor Lew on January 13, 2010
As we are now a couple of days into our 21 day fast let me first of all say “thank you” to those of you who have agreed to participate. Devotion to God finds sweet expression in times of fasting. Our prayer is that this spiritual discipline will serve to enhance your relationship with God. Often times, intimacy and power are released on the heels of a time of fasting.
By way of a rudder, let me encourage you, as you couple prayer with fasting, to seek God for financial breakthrough in our church. On one hand we are experiencing spiritual renewal in the lives of many. However, no matter how spiritually blessed we are, it all has to be financed, through the hand of men. Let us also believe for a complete and total recovery for Mary Carter. These are two good areas to start with. I will inform you of other needs as we journey through this 21 day period.
Let me encourage you who are already into this with a quote from the back cover of a book called “Fasting” by Jentezen Franklin:
“When you fast, your spirit becomes uncluttered by the things of this world and amazingly sensitive to the things of God. Once you’ve experienced even a glimpse of this and the countless rewards and blessings that follow, it changes your entire perspective.”
Let that quote empower you as you walk out this 21 day period. If your relationship with God is strengthened it will have a profound effect upon our church. We are the sum total of our parts.
In Him,
Pastor Lew
Waiting On HIM
Posted By Joni on January 12, 2010
This year I chose the book of Acts to read during my fast.
I was immediately struck by verse four: “But wait for the promise of the Father.”
Waiting is an important part of prayer. Maybe THE most important thing. It is time to slow down… I mean… can you help it when you are fasting? Time slows to a dull crawl at times when the flesh is deprived of things it loves.
Yet in the slowness.. that is where we take time to just meet with God. Waiting in His presence. For what?
The promise of the Father. The promise of the Holy Spirit.
God desires to
a) Pour out His Spirit into your life
b) Use you in a new way ‘
c) Develop your relationship with HIM
All as you wait. Resting at His feet. Loving Him and letting Him know HE is more important than anything you are sacrificing.
Prepare the Way!
Posted By Joni on January 9, 2010
Tomorrow our church begins a 21 day fast. Each person as the Lord directs.
I opened my Bible randomly this morning and found myself reading a chapter of the Bible that I always think of during this fast: Isaiah 62. It seemed very much like God was speaking through that chapter the meaning of the fast:
“Go Through, Go through the gates, prepare the way for the people, build up, build up the highway, clear it of stones. Lift up a signal over the peoples. Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: say to the daughter of Zion, Behold your Salvation comes, behold his reward is with Him…” (vs 10-11)
This fast will be a time of clearing the rubble out from the path that keeps us from just running to God! I see it like a castle in the distance, where we know our Lord dwells, and we long with all our hearts to be there in His presence. He is calling to us, but the road there is so littered with worries, problems, disappointments, and the world’s distractions, it seems we aren’t making progress.
As we seek Him together, that path will clear! We will “see” Him, and dwell in His presence and He will hear our prayers and respond!
It is also a time to climb on the wall as in verses 6-7 of the same chapter, and serve as a watchman. “You who put the Lord in remembrance take no rest, and give Him no rest, until He establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the Earth!”
Not sure why this blog wants to say I’m BenjaminGandy? I think its someone’s idea of a funny spam. But, hey, it’s a good pen name. I’ll keep it for now, until I can figure it out. 
Come back daily for updates and encouragement!!
Jesus Loves YOU!
Press Release
Posted By Joni on January 5, 2010
A Press Release from “Awakening America Alliance”
God Bless You in your committment to follow the Lord!
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – 21 DAYS for A NEW AWAKENING, a nationwide call to a period of corporate prayer and fasting will begin January 1, 2010 as we enter a new decade and crucial time in our country and in our history.
During the first decade of the 21st century, the United States of America witnessed the unprecedented persecution of Christians worldwide, a catastrophic terrorist attack within the homeland, the ordination of gay and lesbian leaders in the church, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and severe economic hardship from an on-going recession. The second decade is knocking at the door and many Americans are uncertain of what the future might hold in the coming days and years.
Billy Wilson, Executive Chairman of Awakening America Alliance said, “America’s greatest need is spiritual. The relative ineffectiveness of the contemporary American church pushes us to ask some hard questions before God. Have we allowed ourselves to be preoccupied with political, social and peripheral issues more than with the greatest need of our nation? Have we spent billions of dollars fighting political and social battles while losing the spiritual battle for the soul of new generations? Have we hoped for the easier way of carnal weaponry while neglecting God’s way of spiritual intensity? Have we found ourselves picketing more than praying, fighting more than fasting and lashing out more than loving? Have we been duped into hoping that righteousness would be installed from the top down rather than recognizing true awakening comes from the bottom-up? Does the church in America need to experience a fresh grace of repentance? Do we need a deep cleansing and renewal? I believe that the answer to these questions is a painful and convicting yes. The American church needs deep, transformational change so that we can affect our nation for Christ. Fasting changes us and positions us to change the world. Awakening America’s 21 DAYS for A NEW AWAKENING is calling on Christians across America to dedicate 2010 and this decade to the Lord. It’s a fast of contrition and repentance and humility,” said Wilson, noting that thousands have already committed to participate.
Lee Grady, editor of Charisma Magazine said, “I look forward to joining thousands of Christians for this 21-day season of consecration. We are at such a crucial moment in history. I believe the Lord is preparing our hearts for a significant national awakening and I am expectant that it will begin in this new year.”
Since Wilson announced the 21-day fast, many denominational leaders have called on their entire constituencies to fast. “We feel it’s like a ‘first fruits’ principle, as with giving and tithing, we’re dedicating this new year to the Lord,” he said. “ Fasting from a pure heart with proper motives will help lead us into the brokenness required to receive God’s next move in our nation. Fasting helps us humble ourselves. Fasting presses us toward personal cleansing. Fasting focuses our heart and weans us away from the earthly distractions that vie for our attention. Fasting allows for heightened sensitivity to God’s voice and positions us to bring deliverance to the captives. Fasting and prayer facilitate a personal renewal of our connection and intimacy with Jesus. His presence and pleasure becomes our reward.“
"Isaiah 62:6 & 7"
...You who call on the name of the Lord, give yourselves no rest! And give Him no rest...
Upper Peninsula Pray-ers
