So, here we are at day 11, and I was wondering how you are feeling today. Have you found yourself driving circles around your favorite Starbucks thinking of that cappuccino?  Or standing outside Chick-fil-A inhaling that chicken and waffle fries scent?  Yeah, uh…me neither.

What I have found is that I am getting bored with eating the same food. And a bit tired (overwhelmed?) by all the prep to eat.  And not completely satisfied when I know my belly is completely full.  And I thought you might be feeling the same.

As your coach, I’m here to cheer you on and to tell you the truth. This time you just have to push through!  Unless there health reasons to stop, you must continue.  If you have slipped up on the fast, pick yourself up, take a deep breath and start again.  When this is difficult… pray. When you are bored with the food… pray. When you want other food and you are angry about it…pray.

My best times of prayer during this fast were when I didn’t go and eat right away but stopped and spent time with God.

But as your coach, I want to give you some tips on how to push through this.

1. You can try one new food or recipe this week. Even if you hate it, you have tried. And it makes for a great story.
2. If you are doing this fast alone, find someone in Captivate to cook with one night this week. Plan the night and the menu.  And make enough so there is plenty left over for a few more dinners!
3. If you are a family and have told a person doing this fast alone that they can join you anytime, schedule that time.  Call them and make a date for them to join you.  And allow them to pitch in if they offer.

You’ll notice the last 2 include other people.  If you are having a tough time pushing through, then call out to someone.  They can help and pull you through this time.  This is a wonderful way to build relationships.  Who knows how God can use us as we learn to push and pull together.

The last thing has to do with what we want not need.  We may find ourselves not  feeling satisfied after our bellies are full.  It’s a good time to think about what we put in our bodies that may not be necessary or even good for it.  But we have grown used to eating it and we WANT it so bad.  We have grown used to replacing what we truly need with what seems good to us.

I know I sometimes I do that with God.  I do things for him and read books about him and how to please him.  But what I truly need is to be in God’s word and praying to him.

What truly satisfies is God.

Push through, Captivate!

Remember, it’s not about the loss, It’s about the gain!

Jesus wept. – John 11:35

The shortest verse in the bible.  Jesus wept.

Here he is, God incarnate.  Holy One.  Emmanuel.  Lord. Savior. Weeper.

Why was the all powerful Jesus weeping?  Look to verse 33.

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

Jesus knew of the miracle he was to perform.  He knew at the end everything would be okay but in the middle of it all there was much commotion and emotion. How many times throughout scripture do we see that Jesus had compassion on people?  Many.  Most of Jesus’ miracles were performed when Jesus was in transit between two locations.  It was his compassion, his heart that allowed him to stop to help and to heal.

Here we see Jesus so in tune with the emotion of those around him that he broke down in tears.

Lets look at today as an opportunity to notice the world around us.  Truth be told we often don’t notice the emotions and circumstances of others because we’re completely wrapped up in the emotions and circumstances of self.  If we follow Christ’s example however we will begin to perceive the welfare of others as worthy of getting our emotion.

There may be times as a Christ-follower when you’re up against your own mountain of pain.  You may ‘know’ that it will all be okay.  You may completely trust that Jesus will proverbially raise the dead but in the middle of it all you may just need to release a few tears.  It’s okay.  Allowing yourself to have emotion isn’t sin. Even when you know with your mind that God will come through there are times when your own faculties just need to weep. In the midst of your weeping don’t lose sight of Jesus because He is indeed the One with the power to turn it all around.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. - John 10:10-11

This passage is one of the most promising in all of scripture. Jesus sets himself apart from all of the other phonies who have existed.  There had been crazies before who had the Messiah complex but they were all in it for themselves.

Do you know what it’s like to be around people who only care for themselves?  Have you ever been around a ‘thief’ in a relationship?

The thief comes into your life for what they can take… emotionally, materially, spiritually… but Jesus sets himself apart and reminds us that he came that we might actually experience and abundant life… a life to the full.

The options are set. On one hand we can live for many of the imposters and phony false gods or we can live for the one true Messiah who laid his life down for us.

Today as you live you will have many opportunities to live for Christ your shepherd or to live for some other phony false god.  Do your faith a favor, choose life. Choose to live for the One who died for you. In doing so you will find what it’s like to live an abundant life, a life that is rich in Christ and His love.