Day 11

Today was the first softball game I have had to play since fasting...the first game was really tough on me and I could feel the effects of fasting. I was lacking energy and could feel it in my entire body. Though I'm significantly lighter in weight since 2 weeks ago, it didn't feel like it when I ran. I was short of breath and it was a struggle. I knew I was getting dehydrated quickly, so...I was running to the drinking fountain every chance I got when I was not in the field or at bat drinking my weight in water. By the end of the first game, I was feeling good as new...my body just needed some good old water and hydration. I wound up having a pretty decent second game, actually...I played first base and had about 7 put outs, 3 singles, and 2 RBIs. I was really praying and relying on the Lord during the first couple of innings of the first game though...and he was faithful and pulled me through :)

The 40 Day Hunger Project - Day 10

I almost can't believe I am already a quarter of the way through the 40 day fast. I think beyond this point of the fast is where it will truly start to test me physically and spiritually...and honestly, I 'm excited for it! I have already seen God moving on my behalf during these first 10 days and I know he will continue to move in the next 30.

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your heart on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden in Christ with God." - Colossians 3:1-3

I often find it so hard to set my mind on things above when I am so stressed out with earthly things. It is so wonderful how much you're able to have a different mindset when you cut something out of your life. I cut out food...which, I will be honest...held a great deal of my focus. Now, with it temporarily out of my life...I'm learning how to refocus my mind on God. It is an amazing thing and am so looking forward to continue this journey! Day 11 is tomorrow...if I make it to day 12, that will officially be the longest I have fasted food and I have no doubt in my mind that I will be able to do so! God is good and I am submersed in his goodness!

Blessings to all :)

Day 8 and 9

I apologize for not blogging yesterday...I had a late night and went to blog just before bed, and...the blog system was down.

Anyway...I am nearly finished with day 9. Today was a bit of a struggle. I was feeling a little weak when I first got to work, but I drank some powerade, prayed a bunch, drank some water, and by the end was feeling so much better! I will say now I am ready for bed!

Once again, thank you for your continued support and prayer :) I appreciate you all!

The 40 Day Hunger Project - Day 7

Well, I have made it through a whole week! I have yet to really feel a toll physically, but I am being so fill spiritually I don't even know if I would notice!! Today was good! I went to Valleyfair and despite the scent of delicious fried food that filled my nostrils...I stuck to drinking water. Even when my friend ate cheese on a stick and popcorn right in front of me. She also kept asking me if I wanted some...she's so nice :) I will admit, though...that the more I say no, the more satisfied I feel! Even more so than if I would have given into having Cheese on a stick (and believe me...I wanted to)!

Praise Jesus!

Day 6

I'm still goin' strong and the Lord is so continually faithful! I am so eager to watch him move each and every day. Yesterday I was singing worship songs in my apartment alone and couldn't even sing because I was just so overcome with the holy spirit. It was truly amazing and I am so thankful for this journey God has led me to and am so excited for it to continue! Also, thank you to all of you reading this and praying for me. God has shown me more fellowship through this than I realize I have. God is using you all to bless me, and I can only pray that in someway, He will use me to bless you as well! I must be off to bed...tonight wound up being much later than I had planned, which...was a good thing :)

The 40 Day Hunger Project - Day 5

What a wonderful day!! I am just praising Jesus for these last 24 hours! I have seen God moving in ways where I would have maybe overlooked it. Last night I was sitting at home watching a movie when a friend of mine asked if he could come over and hang out for a bit. He came over and had actually brought me some pasta he was so proud of making. I felt bad that I couldn't try it and let him know how delicious it was, but...it's now in my freezer...waiting. However, his visit was a blessing :) We had fallen apart over the years, and it was really good to hang out and kind of re-get-to-know one another. It was one of the most fun nights I have had in awhile...and I'm very thankful for that! However, our hanging out put a damper on my sleep schedule. He did not leave until 12:30am...and I had to be up at 4am for work. So, I closed my eyes and prayed that the Lord would multiply my sleep so I could be energized for the work day ahead of me. Well...I woke up before my alarm feeling completely rested! I was energetic and full of life at work...and was even completing work quicker than usual. Prayers are definitely being answered and encouraging me to continue!!

Here's another verse I've been meditating on:

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up." - James 4:10

Day 4

So far...today has been a good day! I got much needed rest as I didn't have to get up early for work today because I only have a meeting from 4pm-7pm today. So, I spent the day playing guitar and singing to the Lord, and receiving council from family. Several members of my family have had reservations about me doing a food fast for 40 days. So, I decided to do more research on fasting and was given a good website from my younger sister today. After reading about fasts...I feel I have prepared myself well for it, but...the site mentioned good things to try during fasting. The site mentioned drinking all natural fruit and vegetable juices or purees during the food fast and also drinking broths from stewing vegetables and such. I might try a few of these things, as it may make it easier to endure a 40 day fast...and I think it will also help those concerned be more supportive of what I need to do :) So, I may be adding in V8 or something of the like but am really trying to keep it limited. I'm trusting in God and praying about just how much I should be allowing myself (other than water) during the fast. I do intend to keep the fast as healthy and safe for myself as possible and have promised my younger sister that I won't allow myself to pass out :)

So far...day 4 is going well! It is Wednesday...which means it's slimfast day!

Continual blessings to you all!

The 40 Day Hunger Project - Day 3

Today was...rough. I had to work in the kitchen the entire day cooking a bunch of food I just wanted to EAT! I also had a meeting where everyone was munching on candy or something right in front of me. However...I was able to resist it all and held strong. It is really amazing to me how, after just 3 days, I find myself focusing so much more on the Lord. By fasting...I have put myself in a position where I NEED to talk to God. Whenever I'm hungry my thoughts immediately go to the Lord for strength...before they went to "hmm...what should I eat to fix this?" Praise note for the day: powerade was on sale in my store. Hallelujah! You better believe I bought a ton of it! The Lord also put me in a position to bless someone today. I was filling up with fuel after work and the car next to me wouldn't start...so I offered to jump her vehicle. At first we weren't able to get it started and she was about to give up and told me I could go, but I really felt like I needed to check the connection of the jumper cables again...and...poof! Her car started. Praise Jesus!

Anyway...I've decided to also post a verse pertaining to fasting every day if I can. Here is one from the book of Matthew :)

"Jesus answered, 'It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" - Matthew 4:4

Thanks for reading :) May God bless all of you fully!

The Hunger Project - Day 2

At 4:00 this morning...my alarm woke me abrubtly. Day 2 had begun and I was on my way to face a 10 hour work day. Work was INSANEly crazy thanks to the fact that it was memorial day. We had our truck delivery... we unloaded 4000 lbs of ice and a bunch of other crap. Needless to say...it was a physically more demanding work day than most. However, the fact that my day was so busy was such a blessing. I didn't even have time to take a break, which...honestly kept my mind off the fact that I was hungry. Praise the Lord! I was invited to my sister's place for a BBQ, but...I opted not to go in order to resist any temptation. So...after work I came home to visit my parents...in the middle of dinner. My mom said she felt bad for eating in front of me, but...it was ok. I grabbed myself a glass of water and sat down. My dad also asked me to go golfing...so...away I went! I picked up a powerade on the way and drank it throughout the round of golf. I have consumed maybe 50 calories in the last 48 hours...and so far so good :) However, I have noticed my joints have been hurting more than normal...but for now I am blaming that on the 4000 lbs of ice I had to unload. Day 2 is nearly gone...and God has been faithful in sustaining me. Bring on day 3!

The 40 Day Hunger Project

Have you read the book or seen the movie Julie and Julia? If you haven't...allow me to give you a brief synopsis: A woman by the name of Julie decides to find a sense of fullfillment in her life by setting a goal. The goal? To cook her way through Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" containing 500+ recipes in one year and blog about it everyday. As I watched this movie for the second time...I began developing a similar idea: give myself a goal and blog about it to keep some form of accountability.

So...what should my goal be? I searched my heart and hardly had to think twice about what I needed to do. For about a year now, God has been instilling in my heart the importance of fasting. I thought I had been really great about this fasting thing...I mean, I did a Daniel Fast for lent this year...and...earlier this year I fasted food for 11 straight days! So...I have to be doing this fasting thing right...right?! Well...I don't think I have been doing it right...at least not for me. I find myself in a position where God truly wants me to be hungry for Him. So far...the fasting I have done has been rather easy and not much of a challenge to me. Is it really fasting if it's easy?! I don't really think so. The Daniel Fast forced me to give up certain foods...but...I never went hungry. Fasting food for 11 days was a little tough, but...my goal had been 21 and I had given myself an excuse to quit early. I have yet to truly fast to the point where I am literally relying on God for strength to get through my day...increasing my hunger for his love and testing my faith.

So, today i'm starting what I am calling a hunger project. At first...I thought I'd give myself a goal of 21 days. Nothing but water for 21 days. However, the more I meditated and prayed...I feel God wants me to be really hungry. Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights before he was crucified. Jesus had to completely rely on his father for strength...and Jesus had the faith in his father to bring him through his fast. I want to know a faith like that...I want to have that hunger God is calling me to have. So...this is it...my 40 Day Hunger Project.

I've been told that starvation doesn't set in until after 21 days, however...for the average American I am sure that number is quite a bit higher. So...40 days. 40 days is the goal. However, I am not going to do a "nothing but water for 40 days" fast. I feel I need to personalize the fast for me as an individual. I will be drinking water and gatorade throughout the fast because I have an obligation to honor my employer by being able to still perform mentally and physically 50 hours a week. I will also allow myself to have 1 Slim Fast on Wednesdays throughout the fast as I will be needing extra energy to also honor my teammates by being able to perform athletically for my Wednesday night softball games.

By gaining hunger for the Lord through fasting...I truly believe I will gain insight for my life and be better able to see the path God has set before me. You see...fasting is like an intense form of prayer. Not only does it test your faith in God to see you through...but it forces you into a state of action. The book of James tells us that "faith without action is dead." It does no good to pray with faith if you're not willing to put a little action behind it. God is not a cosmic genie or mystical Santa Claus. He requires us to step out in faith. Taking a step is an action. Fasting is me...taking a step...becoming hungry for God.

At 4am this morning...Day 1 of the 40 Day Hunger Project officially began. July 8th will mark the end. Should you find yourself reading this, I ask for prayer as I endure my fast. I also invite you to join me in fasting...if only for a day. Know that I am fasting with you and you with me. Where ever two or more are gathered...God does big things.

Hungry,
Tami