Getting a little more challenging...

Good Morning, Crossroads.  Well, it's day three for the many, many of our church that are fasting from something that is vital to their every day lives.  For some, this will be a difficult day, especially if you are fasting from something that is a regular part of your schedule - like, TV, meals, caffeine, sugar, facebook.  How many times did you almost check your status on your phone yesterday or go to the fridge to get a snack or grab the remote just to see what was on?  I just wanted to encourage you today in a couple of things:

1. Don't give up!  Pray THROUGH the struggles.  That's an integral part of the fast...the sacrifice of something you enjoy or depend on, replaced by PRAYER and MEDITATION on God's Word.  You are going to feel weak and want to cave in, but pray through it.  Those hunger pangs or temptations to do what you committed to give up are great opportunities to turn to God and pray harder for strength and for ONENESS with His Spirit.  They are also great opportunities to pray for your partners at C2 who are facing the same struggle right about now.  YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS!
2. IF you do stumble, cave in to that cup of coffee, eat that piece of cake, find yourself in the middle of a facebook feast...don't beat yourself up.  Don't give up because you failed.  Pick yourself up, brush yourself off and recommit yourself to whatever it is that you have committed to fast.  All is not lost because you stumbled.  There are still 37 more days to focus.
3. Remember that fasting is about letting God get OUR ATTENTION through focused prayer and meditation in God's Word.  Fasting is not about GRABBING ATTENTION FOR OURSELVES.  Normally, a personal fast is meant to be kept just between you and God.  However, since we are fasting together as a church family, a "corporate fast", and everyone already knows that the other is fasting and since it is such a long fast of 40 days and since the focus of the fast is for ONENESS, sharing our fast with one another is intended for the opportunity to pray for one another and encourage one another.  Just make sure not to glorify yourself, your accomplishments or your sacrifices - we want God to get all the glory for what is accomplished in this focused time.
4. Don't compare your fast to someone else's.  Comparison is one of the greatest destroyers to ONENESS.  Wouldn't it be tragic if you allowed your sacrificial fast for ONENESS to be the actual cause of pride in your life and looking down on another brother in Christ?  Take comfort in knowing that each person prayed about what God would have them to fast, just as you did and celebrate that they are doing so for ONENESS with the Savior AND with you, their brother/sister in Christ.

I am so very excited about what God is doing in our church right now.  People are excited, they are encouraging and they are anticipating something incredible from God.  Someone told me yesterday that the "We Are ONE" Lord's Supper Service was the most incredible service they had ever attended...and they grew up in church.  YEAH GOD!!!!  It was an incredible atmosphere to have our worship center crowded, incredible worship, focused attention on God's Son and not ourselves...I just can't wait until Sunday!!!!  Don't forget, we are starting ONE SERVICE ONLY this coming Sunday, August 15th @ 10 AM.

Let me know how you are doing and how I can pray for you Crossroads.  I love you all!
Enjoying the Journey Together.

Padre