Bacon, Brown Sugar, and Bread

This blog is intended be a daily record of my trials & triumphs during a month long fast from Friday November 29th until December 31st.

So, I have been called to fast...

But first, here is a brief back-up synopsis: In 2010 I married the man of my dreams. With this marriage came a sacrifice that I had never imagined having to face--giving up deep seated traditions I have loved my entire life. You see, my husband, his parents, and his sisters do not celebrate Christmas (or Halloween, or Easter for that matter). No, they are not Jehovah's Witness, and no, they are not Jewish. Their decision to separate themselves from these celebrations goes back to when my husband was very young. They believe all celebrations related to Christmas, Halloween and Easter are blasphemous, and that God's word says not to falsely worship Him with acts that stem from secular or pagan traditions. (admittedly)There is a secular and or pagan notion to nearly every aspect of human traditions, so my in-laws made a decision for their family and  ick-snayed those 3 holidays completely.

Growing up in a Christian yet traditional American home, I have many memories filled with trick or treats, Christmas trees and egg hunts. Leaving these traditions behind and following my husband as the spiritual head of our home--1 Corinthians 11:3 ESV But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.-- has been an incredibly difficult challenge for my worldly heart. I am sure throughout this journey I will get into more details about how I feel about this...but for now, the key thing for you to know is that the Friday after Thanksgiving until New Year's Eve is a very challenging time for me.

Ok. Fast forward to Sunday night...I was praying regarding the approaching holiday season.  I believe I was lead to look into fasting. In my search I found a website filled with Christian fasting resources--www.Freedomyou.com. I explored the website, and decided to prayerfully consider allowing the Lord to walk me through a 30 day juice fast.

 The answer to pursue this fast, came quickly, and today I found myself wandering the produce section of HEB stocking up on fresh "live" fruits and veggies. I think today's shopping trip was the first enlightening moment of this journey, and the fasting hasn't even begun! As I gathered my "juicables", it was as if I could hear God's words from Genesis 1:29  "Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food."(NLT). I picked up, bagged and placed in the cart, fruits and vegetables of every color--ones I would have NEVER picked on my own accord. Honestly, until today, I had no clue what a fresh/raw beet looked like, or whether a yam was the same as a sweet potato!

I swung through the frozens, picking up spinach (me, picking up spinach? crazy) and some other frozens of out of season freshies-- I am going to test these for juicing. I am not 100% sure about the "rules" of juicing...frozens may be ludicrous in the world of juicing, for all I know...if you know one way or another, please fill me in! From the frozen food section I meandered down the  packaged/processed meat, baking, and bread aisles, adding to my cart bacon, brown sugar and bread.

While unloading my goods onto the checkers belt I noticed how odd my lot must have seemed. Most baskets full of fresh fruits and veggies do not include bacon, bread or sugar. I sent out a few texts to my sister and a dear friend--reaching out for a dose of confidence. I tell you what, waiting in that line was trial number 1 of many to come! I could feel my flesh weakening, doubting, I was actually trembling! If I weren't surrounded by Thanksgiving shoppers, I bet I could have cried right there...what was I doing? Could I really give up bacon, brown sugar and bread? not to mention all the other delicious comforts that would be left behind once the fasting began--how will I sleep without my nightly dose of ice cream?! I was in the middle of a jam packed check out line, and inside me there was a body vs spirit battle  raging...all I can say is it was an intense wait to get rung up!

BUZZZ, my phone went off. A text and then another from my sister: "Don't be nervous." I needed to hear/read that.  Nerves calmed (triumph no.1!)...with a deep breath out and wallet open, I purchased my "juicables." All the while Paul's words to the Philippians ran through my head, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phillipians 4:13)

So with shopping completed, I am another step closer to my adventure into Juicing with Jesus...