http://www.lovereaches.org/index.php/news-events/the-daniel-fast
Dear Timberline Missions Leaders and Volunteers,
As you know, we are approaching our 2012 annual Missions Celebration Weekend. We have so much to be thankful for and at the same time so much to trust God for. We are "blessed to be a blessing." We have truly seen God challenge us with new vision to be used by Him to reach others. Whether it is House of Hope in Kolkata, or fighting for the kids at Son of God Orphanage, or One Day to Feed the World, or Rich's Ride, or the thousands of individual sacrifices in giving, going, serving, or praying..... God continues to show up in big ways when His people step out in faith.
The theme of this year's celebration is "What Can Faith Do"? God showing up in big ways has inspired even greater vision in the hearts of his people at Timberline. Even to the degree that three families and three single adults in our congregation are answering the call and moving full-time to serve in missions overseas! It often feels overwhelming to me that God keeps stretching us beyond our current resource and beyond what we can manage. As we have planned and prayed for this upcoming Missions Celebration, I am mindful that we need God to go before us in greater ways than ever to fulfill the visions that He has placed in our hearts collectively. For that reason I want to challenge you to consider participating with us in a fast for the 21 days of April that precede our Missions Celebration weekend. A fast is a very personal thing between an individual and God, but it is also an opportunity for us to sacrifice, seek Him, and believe together for God's leading and provision going into another year of participating in His Great Commission.
Please prayerfully consider in these last days of March whether God is leading you to participate with us. As I said, a fast is a very personal covenant between you and God. For that reason, I would say surrender whatever it is He impresses on your heart for 21 days. This can be food or certain kinds of food. It can be activities or habits that are part of our daily routine daily... like television, or lattes, or whatever. Fasting is a scriptural discipline in many instances including in the life of Jesus. Because
our term happens to be 21 days, I will refer you to a "Daniel Fast" as a reference. Daniel in the Old Testament fasted for 21 days. It was a partial fast where he ate only fruits and vegetables and drank only water. Please read the book of Daniel as a reference if you'd like. You may also use this daily reading guide to follow for 21 days (select "Start This Plan").
I hope that a number of you will participate with us in eager anticipation of what God has in store for us in this coming year. Please fill the time that you vacated by the activities you are sacrificing with prayer and reading God's Word. In addition to growing in faith for what God can do through our efforts in missions, focus on some areas where you are trusting God to break through for you and your family as you delight in His presence.
In Christ,
Mark Orphan
Timberline Missions & Outreach
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“He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.″ - Micah 6:8
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