Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Feasting and Fasting

Occasionally I listen to the podcasts from Mars Hill Church. They are always so full of teaching and the Word of God. I do recommend them because they are always fresh.

One such podcast was on feasting and fasting and what they truly mean to us. In the abbreviated form:

Fasting is taking the thing away that’s a barrier to God – it doesn’t always have to be food. It can be technology, a sport, a hobby, any distraction.

Feasting is transforming that very thing that could distract us from God, into that which takes us to God – we don’t have to feast on food alone either. We can feast on our sight and appreciate the world God created. We can feast on our hearing and praise His mighty Name. We can feast on the little things. We can even feast on our very breath. Feasting is finding gratitude toward God and knowing He loves us and wants us to experience joy.

I love the different perspective on these definitions. We can worship God through both.

20 comments:

Missie said...

I love this too! Yeah for Mars Hill's sermons!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

wow, that was a quick response, Missie :)

Karen said...

Very good! Thanks for sharing this....

Rochelle said...

Love this! Thx for sharing!

Sandy said...

Oh, how I do feast on His
creation daily. I love being
outside and seeing the birds
and flowers, smelling the
fragrances in the air,just
taking it all in. He is there,
everywhere. God is so good.
Blessings,
Sandy

Rita said...

When we feast on the blessings of God, we never hunger! Good post.

Beth Herring said...

oh, i love the message in this! feasting on His Word and fasting FOR a Word - love it!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

It takes practise to get these things right. We can fast without truly thinking of God or even solving the distractions. We can feast and get caught up in the feast itself and forget God. But when we do these things FOR God...wow!

Thanks again for all your encouraging comments :)

Betty Manousos said...

Great message and post!
And a great reminder!
Thanks for sharing it, Lynda.

Have a blessed day!
B xx

P.S.
I've being having big issues with my p/c. Hence my response is late.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

no worries, Betty. I often have technical issues :\ (I'm not very good with computers)

Anonymous said...

I like this, too. Thanks for your encourageing comments on my blog. They mean alot. :)

Blessings,
Tammy

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Likewise, Tammy

Unknown said...

What a great "food" reference and analogy.

Feasting on Jesus, feasting on His love, feasting on His goodness and creation.

I especially like the line, "We can feast on our sight and appreciate the world God created."

What a good word. Thanks for sharing...

Melanie

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

Yes I love to get, different perspectives of a word
kim

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Thanks again for your comments and insights...they are much appreciated :)

Alicia The Snowflake said...

What a great perspecive! I love the teaching from Mars Hill. It also brings a different perspective or light to an issue. I come away knowing more and being better for it. So thanks for sharing! Hope you're having a great week!

Nikki (Sarah) said...

the feasting part....letting myself enjoy the many things He's given me has been a struggle but I'm learning. Awesome post

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Alicia, yep, that's why I like them too :)

Sarah, it's a journey. Prayers and blessings for you

Deborah Ann said...

I just heard about the pastor from Mars Hill. I'll have to check it out, sounds like my kind of teaching...

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Deborah Ann, I do recommend it. You'll really respond to their teachings because it is Christ-based and it's passionate.