Daniel Fast 2010

It's that time of year again at Portage Free Methodist Church! The Daniel Fast will convene on February 17th with a potluck meal together and will end on March 10th. That's 21 great days to honor God through prayer and fasting together as a church family. Each Wednesday night following our meal together (5:45), we will join together in prayer in the Sanctuary (6:45 pm). Each Wednesday night we will have a different prayer focus.

If you would like to read more about the Daniel Fast, Please Refer to Daniel 1, and read the following explanation at wikipedia: Daniel Fast . Please look for a complete brochure and cookbook in the lobby area on February 13th. Mostly, we live on fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, rice and whole grains. No sugar, no meat, no processed foods, no cheese, etc.

Yes, we do miss coffee, and yes we do miss chocolate. But the Bible says Daniel was more physically and spiritually fit from honoring God through the most basic of foods. This is an opportunity for us to live without some of the pleasures we take for granted every day and to be reminded of how God provides for us and how our body is a temple. How we treat it matters to God. When we live without, we also force ourselves in to dependence on God. We are reminded in our hunger that He sustains everything. In that way we draw near to Him.

This year our focus comes from the Latin word "proximus." It basically means to draw near. As I write this another earthquake has hit Haiti. It's a good time to come to our knees, pray for our world, our nation, our community and our church. Won't you consider fasting with us and taking some time to "draw near" to God?

(P.S. This is not an all-or-nothing deal. You won't get pelted with raw vegetable if you decide to eat eggs. Know what I mean? You do what you can, and what you feel will help you draw near to God! This should be something you choose to do joyfully not out of guilt)

Please send me any recipes you have discovered since last year, or something you really liked from last year! Send it to Jen at clergygirl@yahoo.com