Tuesday, September 25, 2012

A Different Type of Fasting

Several people in our church are going to fast for a time, during the 40 days leading up to the election.  I think this is a good idea.  Did you know that there are other things to fast besides food?  In the Bible, married people may separate themselves from intimate acts for a short time for the purpose of prayer and devotion. 

I like to give up the radio as a fast.  I enjoy hearing the voices in the background while I'm working.  It keeps me company.  I just quit listening to it as a gift to God so I can get a new perspective from Him.  I often fast during the church seasons of Advent and Lent.  Also, if I find myself too drawn to something, I'll give it up as a fast.  That usually breaks the wrong attachment to the ojbect so I can enjoy it later and not be so dependent on it.

Often I give up sweets as a fast.  Once my daughter and I fasted magazines.  Here is what often happens.  Just when you give something up, you get tempted to break the fast.  I see my favorite dessert at a restaurant or a special guest is going to come on the radio.

The more you give up as a sweet sacrifice to God for His purposes, the more you will receive - even if only God's nearness and that is a lot. Spend the time praying for the election.  Let the process purge self attitudes.  It can be powerful.

This is not like a diet where you goof and -oh well.  When you give something up, you do it. If you should slip, get forgiveness and go back on your fast until your time is up.  God actually works with you to help you.  Write down the things you have learned from your fast.

Give up the thing you love.  David said, "...nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which cost me nothing."  2Samuel 24:24  Don't give up TV if you don't watch it.  The greater the sacrifice, the greater the blessing.  We're talking spiritual blessings, but God does hear and He knows everything we need.

Items you may want to fast besides food: radio, TV, books, sweets, pop (soda), magazines, jewelry, CDs, whatever.  May God bless your fasting.  May God  bless America as you fast for Him and for His plans to  come forth.

Monday, September 17, 2012

A Prayer for my Father

Here is a letter I found when I was going through my writings.  It was written for Valentine's Day in 2003, but any day is a good day to thank my Heavenly Father and I'd like to post it now.

Dear Father,

If I should die tonight, I would be content, knowing that I am in the arms of a faithful Father. There is nothing I am afraid of right now.

I am very confused, but You will supply me with answers.  You are my divine source, for truth, for all I need.

There is so much to do.  I know that you will help me choose what is best.  You are my shield.  There is only goodness in You.  You are my delight.  I think about how wonderful You are to me.  You give me all good things in due season.  You will not withhold any good thing from me.

You are my provider, my friend, my shelter.  My thoughts turn to songs about Your majesty.  You are so faithful.  I know there is never a time when You are not looking after me or caring for me.

You forgive me of my sins and faults because of Jesus, my Savior, and remove them far from me.  You are not upset when I ask questions.  You don't get mad when I am confused.

I have little areas of interest to me which I cherish and would like to keep, but they are yours if You want them.  Everything You do for me is to help me, so I can be blessed to be a  blessing.

You promise to fulfull my heart's desire when I am delighting in You.  You are the joy of my heart.

Accept my praise this day.

Your Nancy 

Monday, September 10, 2012

The Question Is Answered

On my last blog, I left you with a question.  Where did the "Letters, we get letters" song come from?  The name that fits in the blank is Perry and the show was The Perry Como Show.  No one got the answer or even offered a guess.  Just to make sure I didn't make it up, I checked on my search engine and found that it is indeed a song and you can even get it as a Ringtone on your phone.  I don't think I want to carry it that far.

Thinking of Perry Como reminded me of one of my DVDs, Blast from the Past.  In this movie, a couple lives in a fallout shelter for 35 years and their son was born there.  When he finally comes up to earth, he is riding with a girl and a Perry Como song comes on the radio.  He is exuberant.  He says to the girl, "here comes the good part."  It is a good part.  There are several other Perry songs in that movie.  While I do recommend it, I want to mention that it is PG-13 and there may be a few things that might offend.  Except for these the movie could be PG.  Mostly it's a joyous romp that shows how truly wonderful the 50s and early 60s were.  We get so see a young person in our world who respects his parents, prays naturally, is curious and has great manners.  This is in contrast to most movies that show this era as repressed, dull, and oppressive.  This main character isn't repressed, he is full of joy.

Having said all of this, I think I might have to put a Perry Como CD on my with list.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Memory, A Mysterious Thing

Last night, I was putting away a box of wooden alphabet letters that my grandson had been playing with.  I shook it and sang "letters, we get letters, we get stacks and stacks of letters.  Dear ______, would you be so kind, to fill a request and sing the song I like best?"

Now I have a question for all of you.  I know the younger ones won't know, but those from the fifties?  What T.V. show is that song from and who is the singer whose name fits in the blank?  There's no prize except the title of "Boomer Trivia Extroardinaire."  Here's one clue:  the letters mentioned are letters in the mail, that you put a stamp on, not alphabet letters.

None of the 14  people at our house knew the answer.  So what I want to know is, how and why did that little jingle get into my head at that time?  I haven't thought of that singer and certainly not the show for ages and ages.  My son, Ben, said that songs and jingles stay in your head.  That's why they are so good at advertising.  At which point my daughter, Dawn, (who is home again, yeah) sang a building advert. with the phone number and all.  And someone else, son, Joe, I think sang another ad to prove the point.

But why would I remember something long buried from an old  program?  I just don't get it.  I know that I can still sing the Greek and German alphabets even though I learned the German one in 7th grade.  I can sing the books of the Old Testament.  That's how I can look things up quickly.  I learned those when I was about seven.  I can remember old lullabies and verses of songs from the sixties and old hymns.  I can remember tunes like The Twelfth Of Never.

Now before you think I am bragging, I admit that I rarely remember dates, the numbers that go with my scriptures, geography or lots of history.  If you put these in a song, I probably could. So that explains it I guess.  I can remember most things that were sung, even long ago.  That still doesn't explain the "why" question.  Why did I sing that song then?  It's a mystery.

If you have an answer for my little quiz, I'll reveal all in my next post leaving many young people to say "what?"  "who?"  I may think of another question for my "Boomer Trivia Extroardinaire" to answer some time in the future.