The fool

O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
and speaks truth in his heart;
who does not slander with his tongue
and does no evil to his neighbor,
nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
in whose eyes a vile person is despised,
but who honors those who fear the LORD;
who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
who does not put out his money at interest
and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.
-Psalm 15

 What will we give up to enjoy Christ more deeply.
Who swears to his own hurt and does not change?!  Why!  We want the better deal! It is our money! Our time! Our _________!  We would look weak!  I would look weak, I would look the fool... I would be despised.

  God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise;  God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;  God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God... Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

Superior pleasure.
A higher calling.
That Christ may look as he is... precious enough, perfect enough, vast enough, powerful enough, ENOUGH, to hold us in complete awe and worship for endless time.

GOD promises us something far greater than our own looking strong, our own advantage.  People calling us clever, daft....
God promises us himself.

He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption.  Therefore, as it is written, Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.
-1 Corinthians 1:27-31

HELP us, enable us, to walk this road Lord!

A preference

What do we prefer?
What defines us?
What captivates us?
What must we have?
What is our true treasure?
What must we do?
What do we really love?
Where is our time?

Dear friends have asked us to discuss at length the concept of A Lifestyle of Fasting.
Some time has passed thinking on this.
It is with fear and trepidation that we walk this road asked.  I for one feel inept.  Not falsely stating.  But rather I know many massive weaknesses.  Seemingly black cavernous holes waiting for my failing feet.  But we will walk knowing

You are the God who works wonders;
you have made known your might among the peoples.
You with your arm redeemed your people...
Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters;
yet your footprints were unseen.
You led your people like a flock
-Psalm 77

God guides our feet.  Let us encourage and be encouraged.

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
-Matthew 13

At the core this is our understanding of fasting as a life style.  It isn't living simply.  It isn't being cheap.  Being frugal.  Rather
KINGDOM.
Driven joy-filled pursuit of the King. Spending ourselves for the sake of the kingdom.  Taking up the cross and going outside the gate.

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame,
-Hebrews 12:2

 So we take up our cross and follow him.

 And he said to all, "If anyone would  come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.  For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
-Luke 9

 Let us daily repent, pray, seek God, and evaluate how we can best lose our lives, sell them, for the sake of the good news of Jesus Christ!