Fasting My Sorrows


I have been thinking about Lent for the past week or so and wondering if God would have me fast anything. I woke up this morning with this song on my heart and it really spoke to me.

The last year has been one of sorrow for Ann and me.. disability and wheelchair life has sucked the joy out of our lives.. we so need a break through. So today.. by faith I am declaring a season of joy for our family.. a time to fast from our sorrows.

We need your help.. please pray for us.. leave a comment with any practical way that you have brought joy into your life.. and stand with us as we proclaim:

I'm pressed but not crushed persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure
And his joy's gonna be my strength

Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord

Amen

11 comments:

  1. Bill TammeusWednesday, February 25, 2009 2:35:00 PM

    KB: I get joy just by looking in the eyes of my grandchildren and thinking of where they're going. Cheers, Bill

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  2. MillyWednesday, February 25, 2009 5:33:00 PM

    Praying with you and for you. God is good and He has given you Ann to love and you for her. Rejoice!

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  3. SusanWednesday, February 25, 2009 6:29:00 PM

    Praying for you two. Saturate yourself in His word and surround yourself with uplifting worship songs. I know when I went through the trying years in my life I watched Christian TV by the hour. We have never dealt with the type of situation you are facing so I know I cannot really understand. But, Bob, please know I care.
    Susan

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  4. UnknownThursday, February 26, 2009 7:30:00 AM

    Great idea for lent - what a reversal of what is usually fasting fare.

    Bless you and Ann.

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  5. Wayward SonThursday, February 26, 2009 11:37:00 AM

    I'm with you in this, bro, as much as possible from the Internet. I have so much respect for your honesty and vulnerability, and will be praying for you both, esp. for Ann.

    While I can't tell you some formula of what I do to bring joy in the midst of hard times...what I can say is that finding creative ways to minister from the place of pain has helped a lot. The first thought in my mind when you brought this up was how cool it would be to turn this around on your enemy, Satan, and while you await God's healing--find a way to use this situation to bring good to others.

    Easier said than done, so I don't mean it as a trite response, honestly. I just know that God has a way of redeeming everything for good, even the stuff the devil means for our harm. And I would love to see the devil's plans backfire upon him in this situation. :)

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  6. Ed G.Friday, February 27, 2009 8:19:00 AM

    You are off to a good start, because making the decision to be joyful gets you 95% of the way there.

    When I think of the two easiest bible verses to remember, they are the shortest:

    1. Jesus wept.
    2. Be joyful always.

    I think that pretty well defines everyone's job, don't you?

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  7. kc bobFriday, February 27, 2009 8:30:00 AM

    Thanks all for the encouragement and ideas!

    + You must have been spying on me Jeff.. I did a bit of jail visitation on Tuesday night :)

    + Grieving and rejoicing .. says it all Ed.. not something they teach you in school though :)

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  8. shaunSunday, March 01, 2009 10:35:00 PM

    Bob,
    I will be praying.
    I have a tendency to get overwhelmed by life and lately I do 2 things, really they are the same thing.
    when I come home at night I look up at the sky( since we moved out to the country, I can see a million stars that I couldn't see where we moved from) and I watch my kids.
    I guess just focusing on what I do have is the main way that I cope right now.
    I see that even when it's stressful here or when I feel like no one appreciates me, there is a lot of love in this house and God gave that love to all of us.
    Peace Bro

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  9. Therese ZMonday, March 02, 2009 11:51:00 AM

    Well, it's not fasting. Fasting is a powerful tool along with prayer (see Scripture) and it's the avoidance of a lesser good to keep our eyes on a greater One. Why does everybody feel that they have to reinvent a perfectly good wheel?

    But after picking that nit, I agree that deliberately clinging to the joy of the glory of the Lord and banishing sorrow from your lives is a very excellent thing and gives even more glory to Him.

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  10. kc bobMonday, March 02, 2009 12:04:00 PM

    Thx for the lesson TZ. What are you fasting for Lent?

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  11. Therese ZMonday, March 02, 2009 2:34:00 PM

    Fast food. Since I cook for nobody but me, it is totally easy to drive through after a long hard work day. This way, I have to

    1. plan ahead to have things ready
    2. eat healthier, less greasy
    3. care for my body better
    4. give up something I really enjoy. I actually LIKE Culver's and Boston Market and KFC!

    Also, I am bearing down on my tendency to indulge in useless talk and gossip, doing a mental tick-a-lock on my mouth when I know something or want to say something fast and funny. To shut up and not be the first or the fastest. That's way harder than the fast food.

    The gossiping/talking was a suggestion from a priest in confession, and it was a good one, it's even harder than the fast food.

    I am glad that you and Ann can continue to find renewed joy. Just the finding of joy must be joyful!

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