Fasting Day 1 – 1/12/2009
January 11, 2009 by pastor
Filed under 2009 Fasting Manual
Adult / Teen Journal
January 12, 2009
Day 1. Panting after God
Psalm 42:1-3
1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, “Where is your God?”
So, here we begin! I trust that you have committed to this spiritual journey not because you have been asked, but because your soul is thirsty after a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with God. Here the Psalmist equates the desire for God’s presence to that of a deer panting, perhaps after a long run, and so desperately needing a refreshing drink from a cool stream. After that drink, imagine that deer lying down for a rest, the sound of the brook nearby, close enough to know it has not gone away. It is then the writer says, “When can I come and appear before God?” My answer for you is, “Now.” Now is the time for you to begin to satisfy your hunger and thirst with the presence of God. Go ahead! Give it a try! You will find that as desperately as the cry of your heart is for God, He will be there with exactly the refreshing you need.
Children’s Journal
January 12, 2009
Day 1. God Loves Everyone
God wants everyone to love Him. He wants us to know that He wants to forgive us of anything wrong we have done. God wants us all to be a part of His family. He always wants the best for us.
Today’s Puzzle
Website Maintenance
January 11, 2009 by David
Filed under Uncategorized
We will be preforming maintenance on the website over several days during this week. During this time the website may be unavailable for short periods of time. Thank you for your patience. God Bless.
All-Church Fast
January 11, 2009 by pastor
Filed under 2009 Fasting Manual
Greetings,
Our church family has embarked upon a 21 day fasting journey. To this end I have assembled a journal of sorts for them to use during this intense time of prayer and getting closer to God. Each day I will be posting the Journal pages for the Adult/Teen and the Children’s books. Use them as you like in order to assist you along this journey. If you have questions about fasting, just ask. You can send me an email and I will respond as soon as I can. This time of prayer and fasting starts today and will be completed on February 1st, at the end of our morning worship service. On that Sunday we will be having what I call Miracle Sunday. A service directed to the building up of faith and then praying for all kinds of miracles. We will be praying for every individual who would like prayer for any need. If you would like to join with us on this journey of prayer and fasting, we welcome you. Just let me know you are with us so we can pray for you too.
Almost forgot – The theme for this year’s prayer and fasting is “Growing.” Through this fast you should expect and focus in on growing in your relationship to God.
Enjoy and Happy Fasting!
Serving Him by Serving You,
Joe
staff@wvag.org
Adult / Teen Journal
January 11, 2009
Day 0
Introduction
This year’s fast is about growing. Growing in your relationship with God, Growing in your understanding and knowledge about Him, Growing in your ability to hear Him, and Growing in your ability to see what He is doing and then join Him.
At whatever spiritual point you find yourself as this new year begins, 2009 serves as a starting point to your new growth cycle. There may be habits, or thoughts which you have picked up through 2008 which now need to be changed or dropped, or you may just now be at the threshold of a refreshing outpouring of the Spirit of God. Wherever you are, and whatever you find yourself needing, rest assured the answer can be found in your growth experience with God.
Beginning this year with a season of prayer and fasting, both for yourself and others is sure to get you started off with the proper nourishment for your spirit’s growth cycle.
Take some time to read each day’s short devotion and the scripture which goes along with it. Each day in this journal provides you with a short scripture and a few comments to get you started and help guide you along the way. I have left journaling space for you to record your adventure, write prayer requests and answers, or whatever you feel like committing to paper. It is intended as a launching point for your time spent with God. From there it is then time to get real personal with Him. Make these days count, and make your time spent with God more meaningful than ever by jumping into this fast with reckless abandon, determined to not withhold anything back from God. He tells us that He will measure blessings back to us with the same measure we use to give of ourselves to Him. The only question to ask yourself before you begin then is, “How much do I need from God in the next 21 days?”
Get Ready. Get Set. Grow!
Matthew 5:6
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
Matthew 6:1-18
8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Children’s Journal
January 11, 2009
Day 0
Introduction
Each day of the fast there is a hidden picture puzzle with a story for you to read in the Bible. Read the story with your Mom or Dad and then work the puzzle and color it if you like. There is also another puzzle just for fun. Remember to read the story, pray to God and have some fun.
