heaven's celebration

I had an unexpected, yet sweet moment on the way to taking our son to preschool last week. It started when he asked what happened to all the people in the bible. I said that they lived a long time ago, but those who loved Jesus are in heaven now and we'll get to meet them someday when we are in heaven. The conversation continued with questions and thoughts about Jesus and heaven and it came to a point where I asked him if he wanted to ask Jesus to come and live in his heart. He said yes and said he would pray. But when he began, he didn't know what to say. I asked if he wanted me to pray first and he could repeat. When he said yes, I pulled over to the side of the road because this wasn't just any old prayer to say while driving. So, with the engine running and the car parked just outside of the round-about by our neighborhood, he asked Jesus into his heart. When we finished, I looked back in the rear view mirror and he had his shy-looking smile on his face. It was a simple, yet powerful moment.

We talked about his prayer on the rest of the drive to preschool. I kept telling him how excited Jesus was and that there was a big party going on in heaven. I also told him that when ever someone asks when he asked Jesus into his heart, he can tell them he was sitting in his car seat, pulled over on the side of the road and he prayed the prayer with his mom and his little sister sitting next to him. I pray that the moment does hold firm in his heart.

What a humbling moment to be able to share that prayer with your child. I was shaking with reverence all morning and I realized the impact that his prayer was having on my own heart. I also recognize that when the holy spirit is prompting you, don't shy away from it. Our son is pretty young to make such an important prayer and I could have just let the conversation about heaven fade away. But something was telling me to ask him if he wanted to ask Jesus into his heart. That moment and opportunity may have been lost. God is working and it's amazing to see Him work in little hearts too.

Hello it's Molly here. Just taking a moment to clarify, I AM NOT PREGNANT! The last blog was authored by Ashley. That's all:)

Dirty Little Secret...

It all happened today. Dirty little secret exposed.

As far as month one goes for 7 and myself I got the long end of the stick on this one... and my beloved friends all got the short end. Being newly prego (with our fourth...wait wha??? oh yes, the FOURTH) my Dr. nixed the 7 foods. She gave a very very long explanation as to why, and I have to be transparent in saying that relief filled the back of my head. We came to an agreement... she said I could try and stick to 15 (ok, come on, one of them is flax oil... that is NOT a food) foods but that I needed to pay attention to what my body was wanting and make exceptions. Especially seeing as I'm not typically a big meat eater, and our house is dairy/gluten free due to my kiddos allergies, I got the "listen to your body" issue she wanted to cover. So I have been... although I have been avoiding driving down Eastern so I dont pass by Krispy Kreme donuts. I'm pretty sure that is NOT something my body craves... just my spoiled, uncontrolled, out of discipline head. So ya, I can eat... but no sweets. Tell that to another prego lady and see what happens.

So today I almost didn't send the text that revealed the dirty little secret to my fellow 7 sisters... I felt guilty. Like I had another little pass that I should have shared with them earlier. I have seen them, heard them, and have read about them doing an amazing job with 7 foods, for half a month now. My 7 sisters aren't fragile people, they are AMAZING and completely after His heart, His will and His plan for their life. I want to be just like them when I grow up!! Or when my belly grows down...whichever.

So here is my dirty little secret...

Sent via text

Here is the response I got within hours-

I am not alone!!! I thought to myself "what would Hatmaker say???" then I realized she would probably want to kick herself for not discovering Molly's mint choc chip ice cream gum. I mean seriously... awesomesauce.

Hi, It's Molly again...

All I can say today is... OUCH! Who knew that there was so much work to be done in me? Ok, don't answer that. It was completely hypothetical. But really all this time all I needed was a limited menu and bland food to bring to light all my idols and perfectly disguised sins. Sounds simple enough but why does it happen to be so painful?

Here's how it all went down. I am being super transparent now people so don't judge me! Last night as I am checking email(insert idol), reading blogs(insert idol), checking Facebook(insert idol), you get the picture. I am overwhelmed with a sense of discontentment and quite frankly, envy. Suppressing the inner nagging voice.. or otherwise affectionately known as the "Holy Spirit" I continued on with my night time rituals and went off to bed. Sleep came quick and morning came even quicker along with the overwhelming heaviness on my heart. Immediately God speaks to me.. I'm serious. Literally says "Molly, get on your face and repent!" So I obey. Because that is what you do when God calls you out. And He began to reveal the truth behind my envy and discontentment.

Time out... I know this is alarming and somewhat gross but it gets better, wait for it...

At this point I began to realize that the really messed up thing is, what I was longing for was not name brand purses, sports car, or the perfect body. It was the peace I read in the words of other believers, the excitement I hear in the voices of people who are experiencing God sized answered prayers, the walk I see in my fellow sisters as if they are levitating before my eyes. And all along Jesus is pursuing me relentlessly because He wants more of me. He wants to bless me with more of Him. But, sadly I've been too distracted to notice the intimate relationship that my Savior longs to share with me.

Yes, He and I are close. No denying He is my first love.. But He wants to be more. And as I wept this morning with the realization of what I long for most in this world, He is waiting to lavish exactly that on me if only I'll make room for it. Here we go..... pruning the weeds and overgrowth of the American Dream to inherit the Kingdom of God here and now!

Truth really does hurt. But, brings so much freedom.

Valentine's Day

I’m Emily and my choices of food are chicken, cheese, bread, lettuce, sweet potatoes, apples, and eggs. Quite a few good choices, I’d say, that when prepared the right way would be fit for a king.

I am doing well in this endeavor as I like structure and must somehow like to feel confined. I have barely eaten any lettuce or sweet potatoes, so my digestive system has not been quite right since the beginning of this. I love bread and eggs, and could eat that my entire life. But man, how I’d love a coke and some chips, some wine and salami, oooh, beer and pizza.

Our council decided to allow a free pass one meal this month. I chose Valentine’s Day with the family at a steak restaurant. The beer was full bodied and very tasty. I loved each sip. I ordered filet mignon, sautéed spinach and a loaded baked potato- perfect anti-7 mentality. (I feel like I haven’t learned anything in this experiment if I simply order the “American consume way” at my first opportunity.) However, this was a taste of remembrance of what I have left behind- of what all of us seven girls have left behind when we committed to this experiment.

May we emerge from these seven months as changed individuals. Hopefully, it will be lasting and evident in our decision making.

By simply removing many food choices this month, I have forced myself to have forethought on my decisions and restraint when faced with choices outside my committed foods. I have a sense of thankfulness for all that I have- the amount of food, my family's health, the comfort of a home….

May this experiment show us specific areas in which we are too consumed in our busy lives to focus on the things God gives. I hope we will be thankful everyday and that we will strive to meet the needs of others that do not have what our privilege life has given to us.

I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

-Gandhi

My goal is to not be like the Christian that Gandhi observed.

bread

Hi! It's Megan here. I'm kind of excited to jump into this blog and share my heart. I've had some thoughts swirling around in my head so I guess it's time to put those thoughts into action and share them with the world. As we cross the two-week mark of this intense journey, there have definitely been some big changes in my heart and in my body.

On day nine, I wrote the following in my journal "Beyond the food, I don't feel deeper spiritually. I know it's not always about a feeling, but I pray that God would move in my heart. I pray that I can be more aware of what He has for me. God, are you there?" It's funny to read that statement because the very next day He spoke.

Bread is not on my list of 7 foods this month. But a big, thick slice of homemade bread invades all my senses and makes my mouth water constantly. Oh, how I crave just one piece of that bread! As I was taking a long walk on day ten, I realized that not only was I craving literal bread, but I was craving spiritual bread too. I knew instantly that it was not just a coincidence, but a lesson in the making. You see, I grew up on bread. I was around it all the time. It was a staple at our family dinner table. Bread was always a part of my life and although it was important to me, there was no need to miss it or wish for more of it. What I had was satisfying and comforting. But as I have gotten older, I have noticed that even though bread is usually a part of my daily life, I don't each much of it. I've even tried different types of bread that end up being more processed or are filled with lots of extras that are supposed to make it more healthy. Hmmmm, ironic, isnt' it.

As I continued to walk, so many analogies of bread, Jesus and my life came flooding through my head. God was so clearly saying I need more of Him to satisfy my heart and soul...just like I am needing the real thing in my physical diet. John 6:35 talks about Jesus being the ultimate bread of life and that those who come to Him will never be hungry, but rather, they will be satisfied and crave no more. Jesus is to the soul what bread is to the body.

When I was a little girl, my grandparents had the phrase "give us this day our daily bread" painted in big letters on their kitchen wall. I am beyond grateful for the heritage I have in my life and for being able to grow up in a Godly home. But I'm a big girl now and I'm raising my own family. I pray that I can exemplify and live out a Godly, Jesus-loving, soul-satisfying relationship that only Jesus, the ultimate bread of life, can fulfill. This is a crazy seven month journey we are on but the daily sacrifice that "7" is bringing to my life will be well worth the lessons and motivations that are moving in my heart. Amen.

Half way seems like a long way from finished.. I'm feeling like I've learned the lesson of too much food, choices, indulgence... So can we skip to month two now where I get to wear my sweats all month and feel great about it? I'm thinking maybe this means I haven't fully embraced the whole idea of food simplification yet. However, I am praising God more for what I do have instead of complaining about what I am denied. And all of this space that I am creating void of distractions is giving the Spirit a clear path to my heart. And let me tell you, I am hearing Him loud and clear! It's painful I say!! My weaknesses and my shortcomings. My missed opportunities and half-hearted attempts. ALL coming to the fore front of my life. Lord help me (literally) for what will be left of me when these 7 months are up. Praying I will look a lot less like the "hot mess" that I am and begin to look a lot more like Him.

So Close.

Today marks the half way point of month one.  In an attempt to rid our lives of excess we are dedicating the next seven months to seeking God rather than things.   This month I am eating only seven foods.  Chicken, spinach, apples, cheese, wheat bread, avocado and Shakeology (this one might be cheating, but the seven of us agreed it could count as one item...don't judge).  Days one and two were really hard as I had to get through without coffee, but as the first weekend approached (and I had stopped thinking about coffee) I felt it would be smooth sailing.  I picked REALLY good things.  If I couldn't live off the items I chose without complaining, I had serious issues.  Well, guess what?  I have serious issues.  I've been counting down the days until March since the day we started.  Grilled chicken breast stuffed with goat cheese over a bed of sauteed spinach just simply isn't good enough for me.  I need pasta with a Caesar salad, turkey surprise (one of my specialties) and chocolate!  I'm dying without Thai food and don't know how much longer I can go without frozen yogurt.  I need variety.  I need more than chicken.  I'm sick of chicken!  I stop myself as my mind goes through the things I can't have, the things I need.  Need?  How pathetic am I for thinking I NEED frozen yogurt.  I have so much more than so many people.  I have decisions to make every day regarding meals even with only seven items.  What should I have for breakfast?  Should I bake the chicken now so I can shred it over a salad tonight for dinner?  Tears fill my eyes as I think of the children I share this city with that won't get dinner tonight. As I cry for those without choices, I cry for myself as well.  I cry because I don't think about how lucky I am to have the things I do.  I cry because I have turned luxuries into needs.  I cry because I'm not the only one.  Are you like me?  Do you think you need more when in truth you have too much?  Today not only marks the half way point, it also marks the day I decide to stop complaining.  Two weeks left of only seven foods.  Two weeks for me to thank God for providing me with the luxury of those seven foods.  My only hope is that I hold the thoughts of this month with me forever, that I always remember I have more than I need and that I continue to seek God when I think I need more.

Julie