Kelly's Day 11: Disappointment.

Foodwise, today was awesome.
Breakfast: Fruit smoothie+scoop of peanut butter
Lunch: Chipotle tofu salad.
Dinner: I made this tofu curry recipe a friend of mine gave me. It was awesome. My body is thanking her right now. I feel fueled.

We need to remember that the LORD does not disappoint.
People?
Friends?
Spouses?
They will all disappoint.

"They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed." Psalm 22: 5

Kelly's Day 10: Freedom.

Yesterday was interesting.

Took our van to the Honda dealership. We were hit in December. The mechanic set our car on fire while they were fixing it, scoring us some new carpeting throughout! We had a rental for six weeks. After getting our car back, we kept getting locked in, and the turn signals would randomly stop working. And, the temperature gage would flat line. After our car sat there undergoing "diagnostic tests" for SIX HOURS, they could not replicate the problem. That's always nice to hear. I guess I should call them the next time my doors lock and refuse to open when I'm dropping my children off at school in the morning. !)

Dallas came to the rescue so I wasn't stuck at the dealership all day. We went to lunch at Luna's Living Kitchen. I chowed down unashamedly. I had a Volcano Juice, Vegan Chili and a scrumptious salad!

We had a nice conversation about legalism in the church. Brothers and Sisters...WHERE...did all the FREEDOM go?! If it was for FREEDOM that Christ has set us FREE, WHY...WHY...do we put ourselves back into the chains of legalism?! Granted, our fast is something along the lines of the epitome of legalism...can we have nuts? ...seeds? ...only raw food? Ultimately, Jesus did say "WHEN you fast..." We are called to withdraw from certain things for a period of time to refocus. Following a set of RULES is NOT what sets us apart! Following JESUS sets us apart! It brought me back to Matthew Chapter 23 again.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. Woe to you, teaches of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are." Matthew 23: 13-15.

We cannot become a stumbling block to people who are trying to seek out the kingdom of heaven! We cannot place onto them a set of rules to follow to "clean up shop." That is such a sobering statement..."you make him twice a son of hell as you are." If someone sees how I am living and only sees a hypocrite...a "son of hell," I am no follower of Jesus.

Lord, I repent.

Grace and Peace~
Kelly

Kristin's Days 9 & 10 - I am SICK and bean pasta sucks.

What gives? I now have a cold that is knocking the SNOT out of me. Like. Literally.

I went to bed at approximately 8pm last night and did not bother with a post. Honestly, I don't feel like doing one now, but...yep.

Yesterday was an average day - staying at home with Nate and Micah. We did go out to Act II (a local consignment store in Maugansville) because Peyton needed pants and Micah needed shirts/shoes. I scored on both fronts. Two pairs of pants/PJs for Peyton, Nike sneaks, and four shirts/PJs for Micah at $25? AWESOME! If you don't go, you should.

We then ventured to Martin's. I researched this no diary/no soy/gluten free cheese from Diaya. It seemed legit and I wanted to try a recipe out. I also stocked up on fruits and veggies. The price of raw cashews make me wanna cry a thousand tears of sorrow. WHY are they SO expensive?? Eh, I got a pound anyway. I will go back to BJs and pick up their two pound pack - it's a bit cheaper.

For dinner last night, I tried an 'Alfredo' recipe with my new found 'cheese'. IT WAS DELICIOUS!!! Here's the recipe: Mushroom and Garlic Fettuccine Alfredo | Daiya Foods

I mixed it with the bean pasta. Ugh. DO NOT buy bean pasta. It takes all of the saliva in your mouth to swallow each bite. I wish I could've extracted the sauce somehow, but eh. I ate it anyway.

Today was super hard. All of my joints ache and I feel like...well...just terrible. I had to pray through most of the day that God would grant me the strength to do what I needed to do without losing it on my kids. God granted that prayer and I got through the day! Phew.

I made this for lunch: Warm Potato and Chickpea salad 

It was so good, Andy had some and loved it!!!

God is giving me grace and strength - my physical is lacking, but my spiritual is refocusing. I feel like I'm at the optometrist hearing 'One or Two' 'A or B'. He is sharpening my focus because it got fuzzy over the year. The fast is acting as a 'check up' so far.

Have you ever just sat down at the end of the day, in the quiet and thought about how even though you are tired, even though you just wanna go to bed, God was with you ALL day. I can't say I ever consciously felt his presence today, but as I write this - I know he was with me. He gave me words to say in what could've been an awkward and hard conversation, he gave me grace when Micah ripped apart the boys' closet and threw tantrums, he gave me love when Peyton was a LOUD tornado running through the house, and patience when Nate talked, and talked, and talked, and talked, AND TALKED. God was with me today and he is with you right now. What an awesome God we serve!

Kelly's Day 9: rubber band spaghetti, cocoa, Daniel, and onion soup...hold the French.

My kids had a snow day today. We got...hear me now...ONE INCH...of snow. AND, there was NO SNOW ON THE ROADS. Cabin fever is setting in as we have had two two hour delays and two "snow days" this week...if you don't count the two hour delay we have tomorrow. You get the picture. 

Today, moving forward in total fear, I made my black bean "spaghetti." And, I used my roughly 6oz jar of $5 pasta sauce. I have a healthy gag reflex, y'all. And, after looking at my plate full of what appeared to be earth worms, you got it! I gagged. Then, I plastered it with my $5 pasta sauce so I couldn't see what I was eating (I still saw it), and just chomped it down. It tasted like rubber bands...the old kind. The kind that sat out in the sun too long and somehow started disintegrating? Yeah, that kind...not that I've eaten them or anything...

My kids went out to play in the "snow" and came back in sopping wet. Fortunately, I had some of Aunt Katie's famous hot cocoa mix on hand from Christmas! People. This hot chocolate looked amazing! It looked more like chocolate pudding than a drink. The kids loved it. Mom of the Year...right here. I can't say that often, so I humbly step up on stage and accept the award right now...with all five of you and Kristin as my witnesses.

And THEN...I realized what I've been missing.
Bread.
I make a pretty mean French Onion Soup with homemade croutons.
I'm actually eating a big bowl right now...minus the homemade croutons...minus the cheese.
So...I'm eating onion soup.
Can you feel the excitement?
No?

I teach Holy Yoga Thursday nights. I love teaching Holy Yoga. As God asks of us, we worship with all our heart, soul mind and...STRENGTH! My girls and one guy did that tonight! It was a great class, and several people tried NEW THINGS...headstands and wheels galore! I was so proud of my student, Lisa, who won her battle with breast cancer about 2 years ago. The scar tissue left behind leaves her lacking in the flexibility department in her shoulder joint. We've been working through that, and I almost cried when she got herself into a nice looking wheel tonight! And, my Lauren (my young friend I mentor after Holy Yoga on Thursday nights) tried headstand tonight, too!

It was Lauren's week to lead our little Bible study. She took us to Daniel Chapters 1-4. We tried to focus on Chapter 3, but we couldn't. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were facing a death sentence before King Nebuchadnezzar because they refused to bow down and worship gods that were not the God of Israel. Their response to the King?

"O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Daniel 3: 16-18

It just  makes you think...in the face of death, would we stare at the person capable of sentencing death, and boldly tell them that:

1~I don't owe you an explanation. Translation: My GOD is who I answer to!

2~God is able to save me. He will rescue me.

3~EVEN IF HE DOES NOT, I will NOT serve your gods, and I will NOT worship your idol. Translation: I'm willing to go down in flames over this. I am THAT sold out for my God.

How does this story end, you might wonder? The king sentenced them to death by fiery furnace. The three men were tightly bound and thrown into a furnace that had been heated to seven times its normal temperature. Nebuchadnezzar looked into the fire and saw, NOT THREE, but FOUR men walking around. He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." The king summoned the men out of the fire with the whole crowd of officials watching: 

"They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them." Daniel 3: 27

What the king saw was Jesus, not "a son of the gods," but THE SON OF GOD, walking around in the fire with them! See, Jesus is ALWAYS ready to walk around in our fires! He is ALWAYS waiting for us to boldly proclaim our faith! He is WAITING to save us from the heat! And, when JESUS walks around IN IT...WITH US...we come OUT of the furnace UNSINGED...UNHARMED...not even SMELLING like smoke!

And, that being said, I will tell you that my energy level has been dropping, and I don't know what to do about that. Maybe I'll swing by Luna's tomorrow and grab some juice. I felt pretty good on that juice cleanse, even though I couldn't keep up!

Grace and Peace!

~Kelly

Kristin's Day 8 - Warning...

Warning. If you come near me at any given moment, I may or may not smell funny.

Y'all. This plant based diet (haven't eaten chicken in a few days) is giving me GAS like no other. Like, sorry if that grosses you out, but straight up? It is major. I think I could be a life preserver because I have so much air in my system.

What gives? I thought this was supposed to help with digestion and all that jazz. Maybe it gets worse before it gets better? LOL. Yep, that's my life currently.

In other news, I subbed again today. I'm wiped, but working so much in the last two weeks makes me miss teaching. It almost makes me wanna go back. ALMOST. Eh, if anything, I'll just become a full-time sub. That way I get to see a lot of students!

During my down time at school, I picked up 'The Pursuit of God' by Tozer. I read five chapters over the summer and didn't finish it. I have to read it very slowly because of the wording, but it is an incredible book. I tend to write down excerpts of books as I read, so I can think them over and talk about them. My favorite paraphrase from today is:

The bible is limited to ink and paper but the voice of God is alive and free. God's word in the bible can have power only because it corresponds to God's word in the universe. God's word is ALIVE and ACTIVE!!!

LOVE IT! We serve a God who is ALIVE and ACTIVE and still speaking today. I pray that God would continue to work in and through me so that I may know his voice like a child knows the voice of their Mama.



Food:
Breakfast: banana and tea (I always drink Hot Cinnamon Spice cause I'm COLD)
Lunch: Refried beans with peppers/onions, guac with carrots, and apple slices dipped in PB mixed with raisins
Snack: Tea and raisins
Dinner: A baked potato with sautéed mushrooms/spinach cooked in olive oil and sprinkled with nutritional yeast flakes
Snack: Tea

Kelly's Day 8: The space where only grace fits.

The surface level benefits of this fast are obvious: Better health, digestion, hydration to name a few. The deeper benefits are not quite as obvious...a cleansing of the soul, perhaps? Ultimately, God knit us together (Psalm 139: 13) and knows us inside and out. He knows how to find these deep places in our souls that need to be addressed, and if we come to Him, He will do the work with us.

I typically do this kind of work with Jesus on my yoga mat. In the yoga world, there is a saying, "Where there is no effort, there is no benefit." Some of my practices are beautiful. Everything feels right. Everything works. I feel energetic and strong. Some of my practices are awful and ugly. I get nasty. I snap. My hips don't work with me. I can't get into poses. I quit (no effort, no benefit). Consequently, those are the days I should just continue on and "do the work" with my God. Either way, God does what He came to do. If I know one thing about God, I have learned that what He begins...He finishes~on OR off the mat! And, no offense to the yoga community, but I subscribe to the idea that grace (no effort) entirely benefits me! It is lavished on me! How could I possibly give enough effort to deserve LIFE when my defect condition is sin? When it comes to grace, the effort is null. The benefit? SO extravagant! The work I do with Jesus on my mat is a work of the Spirit, and always ends in grace.

In the yoga world, there are certain "spiritual observances," one of them being "Saucha," or "purity." Yogis would suggest that eating a vegan diet, practicing good hygiene, practicing your asanas (what we know to be "yoga"), and breath work, to name a few, will result in purifying the mind, body and soul. Although the yogic paths to "purity" are alternative to the path to purity that Jesus provides, the idea of becoming pure is something we share in common. See, God wants us to love Himself with all our "heart, mind, soul and strength." He purifies us. He enters in to the picture, does the work with us, and we come out "on the other side" purified.

There's no "fake it 'til we make it" here. The purification process must be done, and the reshaping can be painful. Jesus greatly condemned people who put on a facade, pretending to be pure, but who were corroded on the inside in Matthew Chapter 23. His rebuke was harsh:

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." Matthew 23: 23-28.

OUCH.
GUILTY.

We consider the way we should act or the way we should look, and we "clean up" accordingly with no lack of effort on our part! We "clean up" the outside of the cup, patting ourselves on the back, but forget to let Jesus "do the dirty work" within the deep recesses within our souls. We, like whitewashed tombs, put on our plastic smiles and go about our day, meeting anyone who asks us how we are doing with a "FINE" and a smile, when inside, we are "full of dead men's bones and everything unclean." When will we surrender? When will we allow Him FULL access to those places? What are we waiting for? I know that revisiting the painful times and hurting places with the promise of grace and healing on the other side sounds like a horrible plan, but if we are to be fully purified...fully restored, we must.

1 Samuel 16: 7 says, "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." We are not talking about the physical heart and whether or not it has arterial blockages, friends! The LORD looks into the deep spaces of the heart~the soul. He begins the work there. And, because I know my God, I can say with confidence, that He will also finish thew work there...in the recesses.

See, ONLY Jesus can reach those deep recesses to release what is holding us captive. Only Jesus can bring my dry bones back to life. No fast. No clean eating. No exercise. No yoga. Only Jesus. Maybe He will choose to use a fast as a means to "do the work" with you. Maybe He will "meet you on your mat" as He meets me on mine in my yoga practice to "hash things out." Ultimately, it's simple. Jesus cleans the cup. He is the dishwasher AND the detergent. He is the whitewasher. He is the paint AND the paintbrush. WE are the cups and the tombs, and we benefit from His supernatural healing. We benefit from "hashing it out" with Him and allowing the Holy Spirit access to those deep spaces, the spaces where only grace fits.

Grace and Peace~
Kelly

Kristin's Day 7

I had to look at our past posts to figure out what day we were on...

WHOOP WHOOP - ONE WEEK, DONE!!!!!!!

Today was a SUPER long day. We had a Young Life crew stay the night to go wake a poor unsuspecting girl up this morning at 6am. See the results:

I subbed again today. Working is actually good for me. When I am at home all day, I am left to be tempted by coffee, food, TV, computer, and more haha. Working gives a schedule I have to follow and subbing for this particular teacher means I have no cell service and very limited internet access! 

During planning, I starting reading Galatians and I could not get past one verse. I even tried to read further, but this verse just kept bringing my attention back to it.

Galatians 1:15-16 - "But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man."

Paul wrote this about himself. Paul's transformation from Saul was HUGE. To think a man, who once murdered Christians was set apart from birth and God was pleased to reveal his Son in him? In a word? Crazy. Not only did this murderer's life completely change, but he went on to reach thousands with this good news of Jesus and write a bunch of the bible! I chewed on this most of the day and even talked to Andy about it.

God, who set Kristin apart from birth and called me by his grace. God is pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among...WASHS, family, and friends. Whoa.

We had Young Life club tonight. My high school friends face so much more drama and ridiculousness than I ever did when I was their age. When I see them at school or at Young Life, I wonder if they understand this love that changed my life. I wonder if they know God set them apart and is PLEASED to reveal his love in them so in turn they can reveal this amazing, incredible, indescribable love to others. I pray that someday they will.

Kelly's Day 7: "Cheese," Profiteroles and Still Waters.

Today was a smorgasbord of events. I had my typical "get the kids to school" drill. I teach a yoga class at 9:15 on Tuesdays, but the last two Tuesdays have been canceled or "no-shows" because of snow. I practiced my Ashtanga practice at the studio like I always do on Tuesdays. I had a massage. Hit up Chipotle for a salad. I went to my daughter's Girls on the Run club to teach them some stretches to do before/after running. Came home and did the homework drill, made dinner, and then made dessert with my budding Chef Naomi. Throw in two trips to Walmart, and voila! You have my Tuesday.

I had a fruit smoothie for breakfast.
Chipotle salad for lunch.
Vegan quesadillas for dinner.

Can we have a little discussion about vegan cheese? Whole Foods ran out of pre shredded vegan cheese, so I bought a block of this orange "cheddar." I'm talking ORANGE, folks. As in, GO CLEMSON! After gagging while shredding it due to the slopping noise, Dallas took over. That stuff doesn't melt. Soybeans should be outlawed. Disgusting. HOWEVER. If you close your eyes while you eat it, it actually tastes pretty flavorful.

My daughter, Naomi, keeps checking out cookbooks from the school library. I can't figure out if she's actually just interested in cooking, or if perhaps she is trying to get out of actually reading. Either way, she checks out these cookbooks from different countries. We have the French one right now, and she wanted to make profiteroles before she had to return the book, hence Walmart trip #2. I'm typically one to mess up pastries and fancy baked goods. I have two "go to" chocolate cakes and one most amazing chocolate chip cookie recipe, but aside from that, I fail. Don't ask about my "15 layer Lemon Cake" episode. First of all, cakes should have no more than two layers. Fifteen? Come on! Who are you trying to impress? I digress. The information I just served you is valuable. You needed to know that so that you can appreciate my victory! All it took was a simple Elementary School 3rd grade level cookbook! !) I have no idea how they taste, but my French friend said they looked amazing from the pictures and made her miss home. I'm not about making people homesick, but I have to be real here...it felt good to have a French lady tell me they looked legit. And, my friend, Agnes, is proof that the "Dumb and Dumber" guys are wrong. The French are NOT "A-holes." !) Just sayin'.

Yep. I made that.

Wish you were here.

Overall, it was a very busy day. I do better when I'm busy. Down time mades me tired. Bored. It makes me think too much. I had about 30 minutes in the yoga studio where I just put on a Christian music playlist, stretched my hips and worshiped. Did I sit down with my Bible today for some vigorous study that lead me on a wild goose chase through Scripture...devouring God's very word? No. Today, I sat at the foot of Jesus between running around. It was a perfect "He leads me beside still waters" moment. 

"The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows."~Psalm 23. Amen.

Juice Cleanses and Vegan food~Big Bang Theory Style

Kristin's Day 6: Hello my Name is...

Hello, my name is Kristin. I am not self-disciplined and often lack self-control. I do not do well if I try to do things on my own. If I want to exercise, I join a class. If I want to study the bible, I join a bible study. I start things well, but often don't finish.
I binge watch Netflix/Amazon Instant Video. I watched all 9 seasons of Gossip Girl in two months, all 5 seasons of the Good Wife in a month, and 4 seasons of the Hart of Dixie in about two weeks.

When I sit down with a container of tortilla chips or cheezit, I ALWAYS eat more than I intended.

Kristin Friedman: Lack of Self Control Extraordinaire

Since I am not watching TV, I am noticing that I am on Facebook more. I am watching the videos in my newsfeed and spending more time in front of the the computer than I ever do normally. I made myself a snack today because I was bored. (See post:Spicy Roasted Chick Peas) I ended up eating the ENTIRE bowl. I felt terrible afterward. I actually texted Kelly.

It shined a beacon on a weakness in my life. Look, I read Made to Crave. I understand the signs, but I have never allowed the Holy Spirit to cultivate these fruits in my life. Even in my fast, I am just transferring my idols into 'fast approved' things. Lord, help me. In fact, before this fast, I knew I needed to do this, like BAD. I sent this to Kelly two days before we started (sorry for the language, but 'stuff' or 'crap' just didn't capture my thoughts).

I need this fast. God doesn't need me to do this fast. I need it. I need to hit 'reset' and allow the Holy Spirit to work in me. I humbly pray this over my life today.

"But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to this cross and crucified them there. If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another." (Galatians 5:22-26 NLT emphasis added)

Food:

Breakfast: An avacado halfed/heated 45 seconds with salt and pepper, tea, and a clementine

Snack: almost half my daily calories in a Chick Pea snack (sigh)

Frankly the rest of the day doesn't matter, right?

Peace, love, and hugs,

me

PS: I will be singing this over and over for the rest of my life. The words are true, but this truth in my life will take a lifetime to grow.

Kelly's Day 6: It's not about the food.

Can I just say that today, my cup OVERFLOWS! Nothing in particular has stood out to make this day extraordinary. In fact, it's been completely and entirely ORDINARY. I'm talking, got the kids to school and still had to tell each of them to get shoes on roughly 5 times. I got stuck behind school busses and in traffic on my way to Ashtanga. My Ashtanga practice today was so-so, and because I got stuck in traffic, it was shorter than usual. My car has been going beserk since they "fixed" it after the guy rear ended us and the car mechanic set it on fire and replaced all the carpet...the kind of beserk where the blinker won't turn on, and the car randomly locks you IN? Yeah...totally ordinary kind of day. But it's in the ordinary, mundane beautiful that God arrives and reminds you that He is over it ALL! If ALL of our days were extraordinary, the extraordinary would be the mundane! ...and THEN what?! Everything would be a plane! There would be no mountaintop experiences! No valleys to walk through and come out on the other side a stronger, better, wiser person! There would be no "WOW" moments! No breakthroughs! No room for growth!

Piggy backing on my post from yesterday, as I petitioned God for energy and strength, He made me aware that in our "fasts of the past," I was not nourishing myself! OUCH! I spent my fasts clinging to Jesus...praying...seeking...turning away from my idol, food. I THOUGHT that I was doing my "temple," my body, a favor by withholding the things I loved. I THOUGHT I was doing my temple good by feeding it protein and veggies and fruits, but what I was ACTUALLY doing was feeding it WITHOUT nourishing it! Lord, I turn away. Help me. In the past, I was eating things like french fries and chips...carrots and hummus...avocados...black beans...salsa. Some of those are good choices, but what I'm finding this go around is that I was SNACKING. I was content in the past to just feed myself so I wasn't hungry. I was taking the small bit here and there so I could proceed until the next hunger pang. I wasn't FULL. I wasn't ENRICHED, WHOLE, SATISFIED!

Today, my husband reminded me not to SNACK on Jesus, but to sit with Him...to abide IN Him...to love, to learn from, to BE WITH Him, to be WHOLE, SATISFIED, ENRICHED with HIM! He is the WHOLE MEAL, friends! Yes, He is the Bread of Life! YES! He is the Living Water! He is the I AM! He's the WHOLE Shebang! He is the feast. Devour Him! Eat Him up! Dive into life with Him!

There's no snacking on Jesus! Revelation 3: 15-16 are sobering verses, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Oh, Brothers and Sisters, we cannot snack on Jesus. Snackers are lukewarm...half full...He desires our full attention...our full commitment...our full love. He wants us hot! The consequence of being snackers? That the Savior of the world would spit you out of his mouth. OH, I don't want the God of the Universe to chew me up and spit me out! In case you're wondering, that does seem harsh to me, friends. Yes. It totally does. But, the Creator made this grand plan, and the plan is full of grace. He calls all of us, "COME TO ME, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest! Matthew 11: 28" Grace beckons. Grace abounds. It's the NEW Covenant...available to everyone.

I can't believe that it has taken me three years of doing this fast and journaling my way through it through this blog to realize that fasts are not about withholding! They are all about praise! They are an offering, however small our offerings are to the Almighty God. They draw us in! They beckon us into His presence! They prepare us! They restore us! They redeem the things we shove into the depths and pretend are not there! Fasts are for us because God is for us! If we see them as a burden or a cross to carry, we come to it with the wrong mindset. We strip away the things that draw us away from our God..with joy...SO THAT we can find our way back! So beautiful a relationship this is that He would draw us in, romance us, restore us! So amazing a God we have that nothing and no one, no circumstance is "too far gone." No one is beyond His reach. No pit too deep. No sin too great. No one is too cold for grace to cover over. The Everlasting Father has seen to it that there is always a way out through His Son, Jesus. He is NEAR to the brokenhearted. If YOU are brokenhearted, he is right there with you..."YOURS is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3" Grace beckons. Grace abounds. It's the NEW Covenant...available to everyone.

"I have come so that you may have LIFE, and have it to the FULL!" ~John 10:10 Amen.

I sat down to tell you that Chipotle now has tofu as an option. I sat down to tell you about my amazing breakfast. This is what came out. It's not about the food anyway, friends.

All my love~
Kelly

Kristin: Spicy Roasted Chick Peas - Delish!

I added chicken and eliminated corn, soy, TV, and french fries. At this point, I'm eating chicken once a day. Kelly and I are taking somewhat different approaches this year, but that's ok.

I'm a stay at home mom most days. My usual morning includes dragging myself out of bed, making coffee, getting the kids breakfast, packing lunches, getting older kids off to school, and the TODAY show. Today is the first day I actually miss TV and snacks.

So what's a girl to do? Cook. That's what.

I remembered that I made a board on pinterest.com last year during our fast. Wonder if I have the ingredients for any of those recipes? I did!!

Spicy Roasted Chick Peas.

http://www.shugarysweets.com/2014/01/spicy-roasted-chickpeas

The only problem is that she recommends shelling the skins of two cans of chick peas. That sounds easy enough, but really? It took forty minutes. Between Nate wanting to help and ditching me, Micah getting into stuff every 5 minutes and then pooping? The process took awhile.

In the end, I had a whole bowl of chick pea skin. The skins have some nutritional value right? 

Idk, I didn't want to throw them out, so I sautéed them in a little olive oil and salt. 

Surprise! Delicious. Almost like bacon. ALMOST.

The final result was a Pinterest win! These chick peas are crunchy, flavorful, and delicious. 

The downside? The process takes awhile, but I think it's worth it. I have eaten most of the bowl. Sigh.

The next thing I wanna try? Cheesy (but not real cheese) Kale chips. The post CLAIMS they taste like cheezit (my most favoritest snack). I'm skeptical, but we'll see!!!!

Kristin's Day 5 - I'm a recovering elder brother.

Let me explain. I just finished reading 'Prodigal God' by Tim Keller today. It is an EXCELLENT book and it made truth come alive in a new way.

So often people teach the side of the prodigal son, how the Father lovingly embraced and welcomed him back into the family despite his disrespect and behavior. At least, that's how this parable was taught to me growing up.

Keller highlights that not only was the prodigal lost, but the elder brother was lost as well. The elder brother stayed with the Father, obeyed, worked, and then displays anger that the Father accepts the wayward son home.

I had an elder brother's spirit. I considered God more of a disciplinarian that really loved me, but was gonna wallop me if I got out of line. I thought my behavior dictated God's hand - in that I was in control and not Him. Let me quote an aspect of the elder brother that describes how my life was...

     'The last sign of the elder-brother spirit is a lack of assurance in the father's love...As long as you are trying to earn your salvation by controlling God through goodness, you will never be sure you have been good enough for him. You simply aren't sure God loves and delights in you.
     
     What are the signs of this lack of assurance? We have already mentioned one sign: Every time something goes wrong in your life or a prayer goes unanswered, you wonder if it's because you aren't living right in this or that area. Another sign is that criticism from others doesn't just hurt your feelings, it devastates you. This is because your sense of God's love is abstract and has little power in your life, and you need the approval of others to bolster your sense of value. You will also feel irresolvable guilt. When you do something you know is wrong, your conscience torments you for a long time, even after you repent. Since you can't be sure you repented deeply enough, you beat yourself up over what you did.
    
      But perhaps the clearest symptom of this lack of assurance is a dry prayer life.' (pg. 72)

Anybody? Can you relate? What a terrible way to live as a Christian! I taught classes and did ministry during this time. I was probably the reason someone seeking answers turned away. Thankfully God is in control and I now know that even my biggest mistakes could never ever mess with His glory, amen?

Friends, God loves us. He loved us first. He created us. He wants to see everyone, prodigal and elder son included understand how deep, how wide His love is. I pray that if you have not experienced, understand, and know His love, that you will. 'Taste and see that the Lord...HE IS GOOD!!!'

Food.
Breakfast: Tea and a banana
Lunch: Bean Thread stuff and chicken
Snack: Apple and PB with raisins
Dinner: Onions and green/red peppers on spicy refried beans. (Side note: Nate asked to try my dinner and upon taking a bite he looked as if he would barf until it was swallowed. LOL!)
Dessert: Mango, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, and green juice smoothie

Kelly's Day 5: Be of Good Cheer!

In the past, when we have done this fast, my body has been exhausted. My energy has been LOW. I have had to give up all physical activity after about two weeks in my fasts of the past (like my little rhyme?). I've really been praying that this time would be different. I've been praying that my body would respond like Daniel's responded when he asked the Babylonian King if he could forego eating the foods the Babylonians ate (Daniel was collected from the Israelites to be a servant for the King). Because of Daniel's belief in God, he believed that by assimilating into that culture by eating their food, he would defile himself. He asked permission to eat only vegetables and drink only water, but their supervisor was hesitant. After some discussion, the official agreed to give Daniel a 10 day "trial" period.

"At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead." Daniel 1: 15, 16.

I practice a pretty intense lineage of yoga called Ashtanga Yoga. I sweat a LOT during my hour and a half-2 hour practice 5-6 days a week. I'm talking, wring your clothes out after practice...sweat. Take a change of clothes and unmentionables because you're soaking wet...sweat. No, I'm not kidding. It's intense. The practice of Ashtanga Yoga does not lend itself to skipping days, much less weeks. I also have two more children to chase around and run around and keep up with this go around. So, I'm praying that my body will not LOOK, but will BE healthier and better nourished this time.

This morning, I had a HUGE fruit smoothie after my Ashtanga practice.

Later in the afternoon, my hubby and I went to a fun get together with my Ashtangi peeps! I knew I'd strike it rich in the food department there. Kale chips. Vegan chili. Avocado slices...Oh MY!

Ate some fries for dinner. Snacked on carrots and hummus. Had a seed "granola bar" with peanut butter on top (it looked like a bird feeder but was actually really good).
Probably making a small fruit smoothie for dessert.

I heard an awesome message about "being of good cheer" in church this morning! Pastor gave us a great reminder on checking yourself to make sure you are allowing the Holy Spirit to FREELY flow in your life...something I ask of God every single morning before I begin my yoga practice. :) And, he blessed us with Numbers 6: 24-26:

"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."

Grace and Peace be yours in abundance!
~Kelly

Kelly's Day 4: Wheeze the Juice!

In short, this is how I feel (courtesy of the classic "ENCINO MAN"):

SO.
MUCH.
JUICE.
I.
DIDN'T.
MAKE.
IT.

I'm talkin'...not even CLOSE! That's not even all the empty bottles I have!

Juice for breakfast.

Juice for lunch.

Juice for snack..and another snack...and another snack..and...

I'm glad I can check that juice cleanse off my bucket list. Actually, I'm not sure I can since I technically did not COMPLETE IT, but let's be real. That brown juice?!!! No...THANKS!

Then, Dallas wanted to take me on a date...to this Mediterranean restaurant called Ilios Noche.

We ordered Eggplant and Zucchini chips and hummus and veggies to dip for an appetizer. Then, I ordered chickpea salad, roasted cauliflower and these Italian white beans for my main course. I also had at least four glasses of water. Full doesn't begin to explain how I feel right now.

Ever gone shopping on an empty stomach? My college roommate and I did once...ONCE. We spent $150. One hundred and fifty bucks for two college girls who lived in a dorm and had a MEAL PLAN, for cryin' out loud! Tonight, after I ate my weight in Mediterranean delights, we hit up Whole Foods. When in Rome, right? Except, have you ever gone shopping when you never want to see food again in your LIFE?! I did that tonight. I choked out $56 on some black bean spaghetti noodles, a $5 jar of Spaghetti sauce (it was on sale. NORMALLY, it's $6.78 for 8 ounces), some "faux" cheese, some salad stuff and corn tortillas. I feel like I'm going to explode, and I've never wanted to be so far away from food in my life, but I ran in to one of my Holy Yoga sisters there, so here's my shout out to the lovely Sarah Henderson! Big City. Small World.

But, my trip to Whole Foods got me thinking. Normally when I go there, I want to buy and try every last thing. Their veggies seem so much brighter...so much healthier! Their meat...organic...grassfed...free range goodness! Everything seems better at Whole Foods! I could buy one of everything just for kicks and giggles! I mean, who DOESN'T want to try YUCCA ROOT for dinner?! EVERYTHING about that store is TOTALLY TEMPTING...even the cool, weird airport escalator to get you and your cart down to the parking garage! SO COOL! But not tonight! I was SO DARN FULL! I just wanted to get OUTTA there! I felt entirely obligated to purchase, but wanted NOTHING to do with the food! NOT ONE THING tempted me in that store tonight.

Here's the deal. If you are stuffed, you will NOT be tempted when you're grocery shopping. Things that would normally TAKE YOU DOWN in the checkout line will make you queasy. I immediately thought of Jesus after he fed 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and two fish in John Chapter 6. He used the opportunity to teach these people that HE IS THE BREAD OF LIFE:

"I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty...For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." ~John 6: 35, 40.

If you STUFF yourself with the BREAD OF LIFE...NO OTHER "FOOD" WILL TEMPT YOU!

Even Jesus fasted. He fasted before God ushered him into ministry. He fasted forty days and forty nights and was tempted by the devil, as we are told in Matthew Chapter 4:

"The tempter came to him and said, 'If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.' 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: 3,4.

We LIVE on God's word!

We LIVE on the Bread of Life~Jesus!

There's no other name by which we are saved.

So, STUFF YOURSELVES, friends!!!

Just...don't stuff yourself with juice!

...or with too much Mediterranean food.

Stuff yourself with God's word.

Stuff yourself with the Bread of Life.

1~You will not be tempted beyond what you can handle!

2~You will have a good retort when you ARE tempted!

Grace and Peace~

Kelly

Kristin's Day 4 - Put away, pile up, and PB

Andy is a pile up person. Books, papers, clothes, you name it - it usually piles up somewhere.

Unfortunately, I am a put away-er. I enjoy clean, clear, and uncluttered.

Some days, I feel like we're in an all-out war. The dresser, the night stand, the desk, the kitchen island/table, and butler's pantry all get piled up and it DRIVES ME NUTS.

Over the years, I've learned that I need to be very careful when I move Andy's stuff. We have gotten in our worst fights over this very issue.

Today, while cleaning, I started to self-talk in the Mommy Martyr kinda way. You know...

'I am the only one who switches out the empty tissue boxes.'

'I am the only one who refills the toilet paper'

'I am the only one who...(you fill in the blank)'

It all started with the Andy piles in our room. There were approximately 5. Look, I already told you it sets me off. I started the Mommy Martyr talk and then a light bulb went off. WHY are those piles there?

Andy and I have been running like chickens with our heads cut off between kids, work, and ministry. Andy seriously does not have the time to take care of these piles and I do. My negative thoughts stopped and I went about my day.

Most of the time my negative thinking just stays in my head and then converts into a bad attitude/mood. I don't talk about it. I just get snippy, unfriendly, and just plain unhappy. Palm to forehead. Ridiculous.

This scripture comes to mind...

Romans 12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 

THAT HIT LIKE A BRICK. I was conforming to the pattern of the world today and this scripture and God's love brought me to the truth. Humble? Please, I was far from it, but His loving kindness corrected me.

In food news. I ate A LOT today. This morning I was operating in what I like to call 'fast' fog. You seriously feel like liquid lead. It's pretty terrible. So, I took a nap and forced myself to eat more.

I'm feeling much better now.

Breakfast: Cinnamon tea, avacado, and a mango smoothie

Snack: Raisins

Lunch: leftover Bean Thread stuff and an apple with PB

Dinner: Chicken, peas, and a potato

Snack: Raisins and a handful of cashews

I am pleased to say that I actually feel full right now, for the first time in four days.

A note on PB - Peanuts are naturally oily, but many manufacturers add oils, molasses, sugar, and more to peanut butter. As a result, it is easier to spread and swallow (say if you eat tablespoons at a time or something. ahem).  During the fast, I get peanut butter that's just peanuts and salt. Once I tried it without salt. GROSS. It's tough to eat, but as close the natural form as I can get without grinding my own. 

What are your thoughts on how our food has evolved over the years? I didn't used to care, like AT ALL. Since starting these fasts, I've become more educated about what we eat and I still haven't settled on where we stand as a family. We use coconut oil to cook with and still eat Kraft Mac n Cheese...eh, it's a process.

Kristin's Day 3 - Panera, BJ's, and Date Night...

Hey! So I'm writing this a bit late, but it was date night last night and I needed to devote time to Andy instead of write a blog post, so...yep.

Yesterday I needed to stay home and attack laundry and housework, but I needed food to eat. So, I piled Nate and Micah in the car and we headed to Chambersburg to check out BJ's. I'm currently a Sam's Club member, but our membership ran out and I like options.

On the way, we stopped at Panera. I got a 1/2 Power Hummus Salad thing and the boys got kids meals. Our bill was $23.31 SAY WHAT!? Panera...it was good and all, but terribly overpriced.

BJ's WAS AWESOME!! I asked to look around the store to see if I wanted to switch and just the PB section alone swayed me. Sam's carries JIF, Nutella, and Almond Butter. BJ's had organic, two natural varieties, almond butter, nutella, and more. SOLD. I loaded the cart with delicious food. I bought the wrong kind of cashews though, which completely stinks cause I wanted to do the whole soaking and making that pudding stuff for breakfast. Ugh.

Then date night. We searched on the computer for places in Frederick since we had to take Nastassja there for a birthday party. Andy wants what I can't have. We decide to figure it out on the fly. While driving to find a place with a card (I'm that Mom. The one that picks up your kids' gifts in a flurry of stress ten minutes after your party has started.), we found this.

It was cute, quaint, and DELICIOUS. We ordered an appetizer and dinner. Here's what it looked like.

Chicken with PB sauce and Achat (some oil, cucumber, red onion thing)

Spicy Basil - Sauteed Basil, chili, string bean, onion, bell pepper

The dinner came with rice, but I just ate the ginormous plate of veggies. It was spicy and garlicy and oh so good.

The trouble with eating a plate of veggies is that you get hungry no less than two hours later lol. Eh, I just went to bed hungry.

On the way home, Andy and I were talking about the extreme cold and how people seem to be less patient and more angry here of late. I wondered how places with extreme cold six months out of the year function. Andy told me that places like Alaska report higher levels of mental illness due to lack of sun, lack of light. That'll preach. 

Sometimes, we get so busy, so caught up, so off track that we do not seek our Light, Jesus Christ. 

John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”(emphasis added)

We are supposed to get another 3-7 inches of snow today and an inch of ice tomorrow morning. I'm SO over winter, but SO into Jesus. He is my light and warmth in this cold and blustery time. I will continue to seek him and I hope you'll join me.

Kelly's Day 3: Juice, Juice and more Juice.

Day Three.
The "normal" detox headache has set in. At least I know to expect it now. I remember on year one of doing this, Kristin and I were both like, "WHOA! WHAT THE HECK?! IS THIS GOING TO GO AWAY?!!!" Now I know it will. I'm just hoping it goes away faster than the other years because I'm doing this two day juice cleanse from Luna's Living Kitchen. In short, you drink a 16oz juice every two hours. If you know me, you understand that I have forgotten roughly every other time to drink these and now have about four juices to chug before bed. Bad idea? Probably. Maybe I'll just drink 12 tomorrow...I'm too Type A for my own good. How do I get all these juices IN ME before they expire Saturday?!
Suggestions welcome.

I ate two huge spoonfuls of peanut butter this morning for breakfast. I need to go to Whole Foods. My peanut butter is littered with sugar. I realize that. I have limited options because Tate the Great has been home sick from school this week, and everyone has had those stinkin' two hour delays, which throws a girl's schedule off.

Juice.
Water.
Lunch: these little sweet peppers and hummus.

Water.
Juice.
Water.
Water.
Juice.
Water.
Juice?

I don't even know how many juices I have had today. I'm totally off. I am just trying to keep my people alive here, and if I somehow also survive...awesome!

Juice.
No, water...
Juice AND water?

THEN...I decided to go to an Ashtanga class...after all those juices...after all that water...after the sugar-laced peanut butter...after the peppers and hummus...with a headache...and no energy.

You'd think it would have been a disaster, but after I peed three times before class and once after class, and then came home and peed...I realized I've come a LONG way in my personal Ashtanga yoga practice. God and I have done a LOT of work on my mat...and tonight I was reminded of that.

I made butternut squash for dinner and threw in some red curry powder. It was pretty good!

Water.
Water.
Water.
And, what the heck?
I'm gonna have a nightcap...
...Juice.

I'm tired, friends.
I made it through Day 3.
God is good.
Learned some good things about myself, and Moses, but I'm too tired to share them right now.

But, I WILL share this "Oldie-but-goodie":

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4: 6,7. Amen.

Grace and Peace~
Kelly

Kristin's Day 2 - Working Moms, I salute you.

I normally substitute in our local high school on average, 4 times per month. This week, I took three sub jobs on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday(today). Working moms, I salute you. I'm totally spent and Andy spends the night at his job tonight...dudeman.

In addition to working, Andy and I host Young Life Club (Tuesdays) and Young Life Campaigners (Wednesday).

Let me just tell you, I'm typing the first part of this blog at 12:30pm and I can barely keep my eyes open. A student in my 4th period told me I looked tired today. Nice.

For Breakfast: Cinnamon Tea and a banana
For Lunch: Green Pepper with hummus, sliced apple with PB, raw carrots and mushrooms. I also drank some green veggie/fruit juice that I think is actually delicious. It has a coconut after taste that's a bit strange but I'm down for it.

THEN...as I was starting the Hamlet video for 6th period, I see a text come across my phone:

'Micah might've swallowed a thumb tack and I need to know if I should take him for an X-ray'

1. I'm no longer tired
2. I'm the sub. The irony here is rich.
3. I leave my class, go in the hallway, and call the pediatrician. To the ER we go.

THANKFULLY there was no sharp pointy object in my son. Phew.

Snack: Smoothie

Dinner: Some bean thread, mushroom, spinach, garlic thing that was half way decent

Snack: Smashed banana mixed with PB

Tomorrow I will be here at home and I sure need to be!! The laundry is gonna eat me alive if I don't attack it. Again, working moms? I salute you. When do you get housework done?

Kelly's Day 2: The No Good Very Bad Terrible Day...or something like that.

Confession: I am still drinking energy drinks. I did it last time. I'll do it this time.

That being said, The Hubs and I started waking up early for "speed dating" sessions. Let's be real. We have five kids. Unless we talk in fast forward for five minutes BEFORE anyone gets up, it's a moot point. We will not be able to get a word in edgewise. The Pixie walked down about 3 minutes into our speed date. Date over. There's no stopping the girl when she decides it's time to eat.

Our kids had a delayed start because...drumroll please...it's COLD. It's like music to a mom's ears...getting that "two hour delay" phone call. While you're kids are jumping around in slow mo throwing confetti and calling the marching band in for the party, you're huddling in the corner wondering if your God still loves you (He does. He ALWAYS will, but let's keep it real...those calls are NOT good news). Update: I now have confirmation that TOMORROW will ALSO be a two hour delay. My bag of tricks is empty. I give up.

My oldest is on sick day #2...adding to my disdain of the day. We had to go to the plague factory, aka. the doctor's office, to get another illness. I mean, to get meds. We hit up Starbucks, where they STILL have not figured out how to cater to anyone who eats healthy. Tate the Great had a donut and hot chocolate. Me? Peppermint tea.

We picked up Tate's meds, and I had to run up to Charlotte to pick up my juice order from Luna's Living Kitchen...my vegan oasis for the next 40 days. When I got there, I realized I hadn't eaten all day and will therefore be hosed later today and tomorrow. You can only get so many calories from fruits and veggies, friends. I ordered some salad comprised of spinach, tomatoes, carrots and...dum, dum, dum...beets. I'm still not a beet fan, although they DO add some natural lipstick effects to your day. Come to think of it...I'm pretty sure that salad was supposed to have nuts. It was eleven bucks. I didn't get nuts. A girl needs protein.

I went to the yoga studio I teach at after that to get my Ashtanga practice in. In Ashtanga, you practice to your own breath, but after the morning of shepherding cats, I decided to pump the Christian playlist I have for my Holy Yoga classes during my practice. My teacher wasn't there, so he couldn't make me stick to the tradition today. MUAH-ha-ha! !) It was a very beautiful and worshipful practice...by myself...sunlight streaming in! Just me and Jesus.

I got home, drank up one of my juices, ate a huge spoonful of peanut butter and two apples and created a new playlist for my Holy Yoga class tonight, which will focus on the GREATNESS of our GOD! How Great Thou Art, Lord! How GREAT THOU ART!

That leads me to my favorite hidden gem of a story in the Old Testament. I don't know why this story hits me like it does, but here goes: Joshua has just been anointed as leader over the Israelites by Moses. The Promise that Joshua had received was two-fold: 1~That God was going to give the land over to the Israelites. 2~That God would be with Joshua. I don't know about you, but I would have had 2 million and two questions to follow up. God is TOTALLY in the details, but WE are not usually privy to them. This brings us to the confusion at the end of Joshua Chapter 5.

Joshua 5: 13~ "Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, 'Are you for us or for our enemies?'"

See, Joshua could walk straight up to this man with the sword already drawn just to check as to what "team" he was on because he KNEW that God would be with him either way...whether this man was on his team, or the other guys' team. Can we face the fear with confidence like Joshua? Can we walk into the unknown without our sword drawn to ask the questions? What does that look like in our own lives?

Joshua 5: 14 (this is where it gets good...this is my favorite part)~"'Neither,' he replied, 'but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.' Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, 'What message does my Lord have for his servant?'"

NEITHER? WHAT? I don't get it. I'm not sure I ever will, but I LOVE that God sent NOT A SOLDIER...the COMMANDER of the army of the Lord to deliver His message! And...that commander was on NEITHER team?! But hear the reminder the Lord was giving Josh: "I have NOW COME" (ie. I AM WITH YOU...RIGHT HERE...SWORD DRAWN...READY TO WHOOP UP!) God is ALWAYS *FOR* us! He is ALWAYS *WITH* us! He is ALWAYS ready for battle! His ways are always superior to OUR WAYS! The "neither" part? Maybe it's because he is ALSO for the lost. The Lord knew the cost of Joshua's success would mean loss of life for the "other team." That's no victory, friends. It's a painful loss. That is how much our God loves us...even though there will be GREAT LOSS, OUR gain is His very great reward to us. Mercy.

Oh, How GREAT Thou Art, Lord Jesus! Your plans were marked out BEFORE TIME BEGAN! What YOU begin, You FINISH! In the end, my God, YOU claim victory! You HAVE CLAIMED victory! You WILL CLAIM victory! You already have! You stand before me with sword drawn! I stand behind you with my shield of faith. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of the dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6: 12! AMEN?!

This is exactly why Joshua's visitor then told him, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." Joshua 5: 15. Holy ground...a place where the LORD does the work. A supernatural place where supernatural things take place...a place where we stand before our God in faith that what He promised WILL come to pass...holy ground.

I have no idea what I'm eating for dinner.
It doesn't matter anyway. It's not about the food.
And, I guess it wasn't a no good, very bad, terrible day after all...
...because He is ALWAYS good. His plans ALWAYS prevail.
And, He ALWAYS stands ready to fight for me...sword drawn.
Grace and Peace~
Kelly

Kelly's Day 1: Unprepared.

Welcome to Kelly and Kristin's third journey into Veganism...
...is that even a word? I feel like I should know this by now. You know, since I've been "Beyond Vegan" for a full 120 days out of the last 1,440 days.

We need to explain ourselves, but you'll have to read the blog if you want to catch up. In short, I began this journey as a "make up" of Lent because I went to Israel during the Lenten season one year and felt God wanted me to give up something BIG because He lavished on me while I was in Israel. After telling my bestie, Kristin, she said I had to read this book, "Seven" by Jen Hatmaker. She said it "messed her up," so naturally, I was IN. And, after reading that book, we were both messed up. So, what do two messed up people do? We fast. That year, we went BIG.

NO...meat.
NO...dairy.
NO...grains.
NO...additives or preservatives or yellow #5s or red#2s.
Nothing.
Only pure, straight, clean, raw food.
ONLY...fruit, veggies, beans and nuts.

To be real, this WOULD be our fourth venture into this, but I was pretty angry with God one year and bailed on my fast after two weeks. Kristin was preggers, so that's her excuse...a much holier one than mine.

I'm a fan of BEING REAL, RAW, Transparent. So, expect that. A lot of "stuff" bubbles to the surface when you take your idol away. A lot of "stuff" surfaces that you go head-to-head with. I welcome that because, as God removes the dross, I will come away a more pure form of silver than I once was.

That being said, I've struggled with whether or not I should blog this journey this time because Matthew 6: 16-18 says, "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." I was entirely humbled the first year we fasted when I found out that Kristin's sister JOINED US...but never told anyone. At least Kristin and I had each other to whine and complain to...Janelle only had Jesus. Beautiful. Holy. She will be rewarded. However, I know that my Father sees the secret places in my heart and knows me. He knows my intention. He knows what WORK that He and I are about to do in my heart and in my life. HE knows what HE wants me to learn and how HE wants me to grow/change, and I welcome that. That, TOO, will be beautiful and holy.

I'm here to tell you from day ONE that I will probably NOT be entirely vegan this go around. I am going to allow myself grace to eat chicken or fish when I feel like my body needs it to maintain itself. After having done this several times before, and knowing the amount of activity my body is doing and the amount of energy I will need to sustain that amount of activity, I'm not going to void my body of what it needs to function at its optimum. There's my disclaimer. Judge if you'd like. !)

So...here goes nothin'!
Today:
Breakfast~fruit smoothie (God bless the inventor of the NutriBullet)
Lunch~Green apples with peanut butter, carrots, spinach with olive oil/balsamic/salt/pepper
Dinner~Umm...I need to go to the grocery store...

Grace and Peace~
Kelly

Kristin's Day One: I'm not ready for this

Here we are again - Kelly and Kristin's crazy lady Vegan with more restrictions Lent-ish fast is starting again. This time, Kelly and I decided that we needed some more protein sources to keep us going. I thought we added chicken and fish...she thought we added just fish. Oopsies haha.

So here's my list of what I can have the next 40 days:
Fruit
Veggies
Nuts
Beans
Oils
Spices
Chicken - straight up no fancy stuff
Water

Because I'm adding chicken this year, I decided that corn, French fries, and TV (unless sitting with Andy) - things I normally enjoy on my fast...are getting the boot.

I'm not going to do fish because it doesn't fit in my budget.

I also don't do soy cause it reeks havoc on my tummy.

Honestly friends, the TV thing is gonna get me the most. It's the #1 way I unwind and detach from stress. Jesus help me. Well...I hope so. That is the point, right?