A new Daniel Fast recipe from my daughters

We're experiencing unseasonably warm temperatures today in Missouri. It's 55 degrees, so we've been outside, enjoying this spring-like weather!

While I was washing windows on the back deck, the girls were busy cooking up a new Daniel Fast recipe, which they call Mud Cookies. These natural treats are extremely healthy, made with tons of fiber and only four ingredients - the soil of the earth, a little sand, crushes leaves, and water.

I thought you would enjoy seeing the girls hard at work, making their latest Daniel Fast creation!

It's Friday!

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” – Matthew 25:40

Today is Friday. The end of the week. The next-to-last day of my Daniel Fast. The day I see Miss Georgia.

I first met Miss Georgia in December 2010. It was a bitterly cold day, and she was walking down the sidewalk on one of the busiest streets of our city. All bundled up in a parka, she was doing her best to shield herself from a fierce headwind. As I passed her, I sensed the Lord saying, "You should stop." 

I kept driving, not willing to be inconvenienced. I'm ashamed to admit it, but my thoughts were directed toward myself: I want to get home. I'm hungry, and it's time for lunch. I have things to do. 

However, by the time I reached the intersection, my desire to obey the Lord was greater than the selfishness of my flesh. I turned the car around and offered her a ride. That day I simply helped out a stranger in need. That stranger became a friend, and now she is like a member of our family. 

Each Friday, my daughter, Jocelyn, and I have the privilege of taking Miss Georgia shopping. She only cares to visit two places - the Goodwill Store and Walgreen's. She likes going there because the employees know her and call out, "Well, hello, Miss Georgia!" when she walks in the door. It makes her feel special and loved and remembered.

Georgia never married and doesn't have children. Her closest relative, a sister, lives in New York. She doesn't have many friends, only the people in the stores she visits. For the most part, Georgia is all alone.

I have no doubt that God brought Miss Georgia into our lives for a reason. He wants us to show her the love of Christ, so that's what our family has been trying to do for the past year. We want her to understand that she is not only precious to us but to the Lord as well.

In your prayer time today, would you pray for Miss Georgia, that she would know Jesus? Ask the Lord specifically to bring clarity to her mind so she can understand her need for salvation. Believe with me that God is going to do a miracle in Georgia's life!

Who is your Georgia? Who has the Lord placed in your path that He wants to reach? Open your heart and extend your arms of love and compassion. Make a phone call. Take a bag of groceries. Give a stranger a ride. Whatever the Holy Spirit is prompting you to do, do it. When you serve others sacrificially, you're really loving the Lord. 

Father God, many times I get so wrapped up in my own life that I fail to see the hurting people all around me. Oh, Lord, change me! Help me to respond when you call. Give me an opportunity before this fast ends to bless someone in your name. Thank you, Lord.

*There's much more to the story of Miss Georgia, and I would encourage you to read it (scroll down on the Devotions tab, and look for "Her Name is Georgia"). Thank you for praying for my sweet friend.  

Expect God to answer!

"In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." - Psalm 5:3

This morning I awoke with an excitement swirling in my heart. Today is Day 1 of the Daniel Fast for many believers around the world, and I have great expectations of what's to come over the next 21 days.

• expectation - a strong belief that something will happen

When God tells us in Jeremiah 29:13, "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart," I expect that He will make good on that promise. Therefore, as we pursue Him in prayer during this fast, we can be confident that He will reveal Himself to us in powerful ways.

Start your morning with prayer. Don't even leave the house until you have had a few moments with your Savior. Lay your burdens at His feet, and then leave them there. Trust God to work in response to your requests, for He is faithful to answer the cries of His children!

My prayer for you today is that you will be filled with joy as you consider the unfailing love of our Lord. There is no one like Him, and He alone is worthy of our praise. May your heart be filled with expectation as you seek the Lord today.

NOTE: If you are participating in the Daniel Fast, be sure to sign up for my Seek & Find Newsletter (right sidebar) to receive daily encouragement and support.

Seek & Find Daniel Fast - Found!

Ultimate Daniel Fast Chat - Follow Up

Thank you to everyone who joined in our first chat session! Many great questions were asked, as well as helpful suggestions offered by others. Those who participated were encouraged and helped. You'll have another opportunity next week to join us, if you missed tonight's session.

Next Ultimate Daniel Fast Chat session: Thursday, January 12, 8-9pm CST. Talk to you then!

Questions about the Daniel Fast?

We are just days away from beginning the Seek & Find Daniel Fast, which starts January 8th. If you haven't already signed up for my newsletter, be sure to do so (info in right sidebar).

If you have questions or concerns about the upcoming fast, join me in a LIVE chat session Thursday evening (January 5th), 8-9pm CST. Plus, you'll receive encouragement and help from others who are preparing for the fast as well.

I believe God has much more in store for us than our minds can even conceive! Let's begin praying now for His will to be accomplished in our lives. Talk to you tomorrow!

Seeking...

Are you ready to seek the Lord in 2012?

Seek and Find - January 2012 Daniel Fast

Today I was privileged to be interviewed live on a radio station in Georgia (89.3 FM, The Lighthouse). Vickie, the morning host, asked me about the upcoming January 2012 Daniel Fast and why I chose the theme "Seek and Find."

When I asked the Lord to give me a theme for the fast, I immediately thought of the word seek. I quickly looked up all the verses on Bible Gateway that contained it. After reading through several passages, I came to Jeremiah 29:13, which says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." That's it, I thought.

To seek after something or someone means to look intently and with purpose. It’s not a casual or halfhearted attempt. When you seek, you search. You look carefully. Thoroughly. Completely. You don’t stop looking until you find what you want.

I want to encourage you to begin 2012 by seeking the Lord in this way through the Daniel Fast. Join thousands of other believers as we fast and pray for the Lord's will to be done in our lives and for His glory to be displayed in all the earth.

You can sign up for the Daniel Fast on my blog (to the right, under Seek & Find - January 2012 Daniel Fast). When you do, you'll receive daily encouragement, exclusive recipes, videos, and a chance to win prizes, such as book giveaways.

God promises that when we pursue Him with great intensity, we will find Him. However, in order to experience the Lord in this way, the Bible says we must do something. We must seek Him with all our heart. Are you ready to do that? The Lord is waiting. He wants to be found by you!

Merry Christmas!

Justin, Kristen, Isabelle, and Jocelyn

May you be filled with awe and wonder as you

celebrate the birth of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas!