Author Archives: Nannette

About Nannette

Wife to The Sweetheart, Mom to the Fantastic Six, Nana to six of the cutest littles on the planet, Author, The Daniel Fast, A Devotional. UPCI ministers.

When Ye Fast: Shod your Feet!

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Moving right along with our month of fasting. You can read previous posts here! Today’s post seems most necessary after the events of yesterday. We need to share the Gospel of Peace! Now more than ever, we as The Body, The Church, must be the peacemakers that the world so desperately needs.

Continuing with the Armor of God, today we are looking at the feet in Ephesians 6. Yes, feet!
“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace…”

Studying for this piece of armor, I found in Elliott’s Commentary that the sandals of the Roman soldiers, the caligoe, were extremely heavy and were studded with hobnails; this helped the soldier to get a grip or a foothold and stand his ground.

We, too, must be steadfast and unmovable in this walk and the way to do that is by putting on the WHOLE Armor of God! We must be constant and prepared, having our faith in this Gospel of Peace, continually contending for it, unmovable!

Prayer and fasting helps us to be strengthened for any battle that we may face. Fasting clears our minds, our thoughts and helps us to think on the things of God. Our wishes and desires become more of the heavenly realm: salvation of others, assisting those in need, lifting the hands of the feeble and weak.

The enemy will scatter traps along the way, hoping you will trip up or be injured and fall by the wayside. But by putting on the armor of God every day, we are promised we will be able to stand. God will stand alongside of us, He fights for us!

This most necessary piece of armor, the shoes, helps us to share the Gospel of Peace. This is our job! The last command from our Lord was for us to go, teach and make disciples. Let us not become distracted with all that is happening around us. Pray to be focused on what God is doing in the hearts of men and women!

As you fast this month, and every fast from here on, be sure you are taking time to pray and equip yourself with each piece of armor that you may be able to stand against the attacks of the enemy and that God will put someone in your path who is hungry for this most wonderful Gospel of Peace.

If you don’t have a copy of The Daniel Fast Devotional you can get it here. 

Resting in the Shady Green Pastures

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Resting in the Shady Green Pastures. About five years ago, as a novice blogger, I wrote a post about my mother-in-law, Tava Katherine Elkins. (Okay, I am still inexperienced, still a novice and an amateur but I persevere.) You can go read it here, Tava said herself it was very good! (smile) And it might help you understand today’s post a little better if you read that one first. Your call. (Bigger smile and a wink emoji.)

My only mother-in-law passed away at 5:27 a.m. today. Thankfully, The Sweetheart and I had driven up Wednesday night after updates from family. We were at her bedside all night and when she went on to be with Jesus this morning. She suffers no more!

Tava and her beloved Charles Richard, were funeral singers. Sounds morbid, doesn’t it? It’s not. It wasn’t. They were the best at it. They sang together as a duet at their home church where Charles Richard, Dick as he was called, also led worship. Or as we used to say, he was the Song Leader. They were both well known for their singing; Tava for her rich alto and Dick for his strong, lead voice.

Together they were perfect.

It would have been grand if they had kept track of the number of funerals and weddings, they sang at over the years. They were a comfort to grieving families as they sang beautiful old choruses or classics such as Amazing Grace.

But there was one song, one that stood out from the rest, one that was requested almost everywhere they went, one that no one else could sing because it was “Dick and Tava’s song”. That song was In the Shady Green Pastures. Do not confuse it with God Leads His Dear Children Along, that is a beautiful song as well but not the same one.

It goes something like this:

In the shady, green pastures

Full of riches and grace

With my blessed Redeemer

In His tender embrace

Here I feed on the manna

Coming down from above

In the shady, green pastures

With my Shepherd I love

Beautiful lyrics, am I right? There is more to it but this paints the picture. 

As a young teenager, then an engaged young lady, then a newlywed in their family and a young mother to their three grandsons, I heard the song, liked the song, loved to hear them sing it but I don’t think I ever truly understood it.  Until recently, that is.

I had always pictured the writer of Psalm 23, King David, lying around in these luscious, green meadows or open fields covered in thick, abundant grass.

But maybe that wasn’t the way the pasture was in Jerusalem at all!

Jerusalem hillsides are dirt, sand, rocks, and little sprigs of grass or vegetation popping up occasionally. This area had its share of dry weather and maybe David was talking about what he was seeing in the pastures and what we would experience in our own lives when we were walking in valleys that might not be so plush.

There is just enough moisture  at night on the rocks to grow these tiny, little shoots of grass that you can see along the hillside, especially if you are looking from a distance.

If we could see even closer, we would be amazed at the dirt paths where the sheep would graze on those little shoots of grass. There isn’t much there and you wonder how they could possibly benefit and stay nourished!

But it’s enough. Why?

Get a little mouthful, take a few steps, get another little mouthful, take a few steps…get the picture? It’s enough for that day, it supplies the needs of the sheep for that day!

Isn’t that like our God?! This is what a Shepherd does, no wonder that analogy is used over and over in scripture. Our Lord might not set us down in meadows  that are so full we are overwhelmed and expectant that it will always be that way. No, He takes us out to the pastures where the little shoots are and we get just enough. Enough for today’s trial, today’s difficulty or today’s sustenance.

Just as the children of Israel in the wilderness were fed manna from above, they received just what they needed for that day! They weren’t to hoard it or store it or eat more than they could hold, God would send another supply the next day, and the next, and the next!

And that is just what God did for The Sweetheart’s mother. She walked with her Lord for almost her entire life, at least 85+ years, found Him to be true, found Him to be faithful, found Him to be enough! When she sang about those shady, green pastures, she had been through “stuff”. She had seen God answer prayer and she had seen Him walk beside them, carry them if need be when the going got tough.

He supplied their NEEDS.

Lean down Tava, get a little mouthful, take another step, get a little mouthful, take another step. In other words, get on your knees, Tava, open the Word, spend time in prayer. The next day? Get on your knees, Tava, open the Word, spend time in prayer. You get the idea.

And the key was to keep walking! Keep trusting, keep believing in what you had seen God do in the past and know that He was able to deliver again. He never changes!

Today, my mother-in-law has more than enough, I am confident. She has reached her one, lifetime goal, to “…make Heaven my home.”

I would give anything to hear them sing it one more time and I am sure we have a recording somewhere, I wish I could have shared it with you today.

Thank you, Tava, for your faithfulness to the Kingdom so that your children and now ALL of your grandchildren and great-grandchildren are following in your footsteps. You walked in those pastures when it seemed there wasn’t going to be enough, but God was faithful, you were faithful and we will forever reap the benefits and rewards.

For the kingdom

 

 

 

Fasting: Putting on the Armor

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Fasting: Putting on the Armor. Today we are talking about putting on the Armor of God, basics of any fast and also the particulars for those on The Daniel Fast. We are posting every day in January for those that are beginning the New Year with fasting! You can read yesterday’s post here, here and here.

For the next several days, we are going to look at the whole armor of God and it’s relationship to fasting. Jump here and read the scripture first! I will wait for you! Awesome, so now we know that putting on the armor of God gives us power to resist the enemy. Paul tells us the battle is not with people, it is “against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places”.

Spiritual warfare. This is serious stuff. In order to stand, in order to be effective in our own circle, to be a witness, to have the strength and wisdom to recognize an attack from the enemy and how to resist, we must put on that armor every day. A soldier wouldn’t think of going out to face his enemy without all of his gear!

Today’s average soldier carries at least 60 pounds of gear, including weaponry and body armor, which we will discuss later. If they are going on an extended mission, that weight could double! And their cold weather load could be over 100 pounds. Yikes!

They have to be strong, they have to be prepared to even suit up. The soldier will have spent hours upon hours in training and much practice on how to even get all of his gear on.

While on a fast of any kind, we must be aware every day of what we are putting on.

  • Is it godly?
  • Is it necessary?
  • Is it beneficial for the Kingdom’s sake?

Fasting is not just going without food; if we are not praying and asking God to reveal our shortcomings and ways to draw closer to Him, we are wasting our time. God will speak to you during your fast and begin to show you things that are not part of your necessary armor. And He will also reveal those things that you may have discarded that are crucial to your walk.

So, whether you have begun your fast or not, consider things that might be getting in the way of your armor. Remember, the armor of God will strengthen you, not drag you down! Ask God to show you things that have crept in and you might need to address.

Tomorrow we will begin talking about each piece of that armor and how it benefits us while fasting. The rest of today’s post is very helpful for those considering The Daniel Fast. If you are on a different fast and want to skip all of that I will see you tomorrow!

Some particulars for those on The Daniel Fast:

In the first chapter of the Book of Daniel we read that Daniel and his three friends were put into a Babylonian training program while in exile under King Nebuchadnezzar. They did not want to defile their bodies with the rich food brought in by the kings’ servants so they requested that they be given only vegetables and water for ten days. Their meat was also likely sacrificed to idols, a strict no-no for the Jewish people.

At the end of the ten days, they were not only well, but had also prospered physically and spiritually above all the others in the court! Daniel was appointed an adviser to the king and began to interpret his dreams.

Later on, in the tenth chapter, Daniel had a vision of a great war that caused him to mourn and fast for three weeks. This is where The Daniel Fast originated. Daniel ate only plant-based foods for three weeks. That is why you see so many people, and now so many churches, starting the first of the year on a three-week Daniel Fast. They typically go without meat, dairy, sugar, breads and no artificial or processed foods. Basically, they eat only fruits, vegetables and whole grains and drink only water. (And plenty of it!)

There is nothing in the Bible that commands God’s people to fast as Daniel fasted but it certainly brings many benefits when done in the right spirit and for the right reasons.

Here is the food list for The Daniel Fast. There are no hard and set rules, but these are the given guidelines that most follow when on the Daniel Fast:

Foods included in your diet during the Daniel Fast:

All fruits. You may eat them fresh, frozen, dried, canned; anything without added sugar. Fruits include, but are not limited to: apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon.

All vegetables. These also can be fresh, frozen, canned or even juiced! Vegetables include, but are not limited to: artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini.

All whole grains. Again, no added sugar. Be sure and read the labels. Whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes and popcorn.

All nuts and seeds. You can have sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame and any other member of the nut and seed family. Nut butters are allowed, including peanut butter (but only all natural, with no added sugar).

All legumes. These can be eaten either canned or dried. Dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, navy beans and white beans.

All good quality oils. These include: canola, grape seed, olive, peanut, sesame and vegetable.

Beverages. You basically only consume water and some juices on the Daniel Fast! Spring water, distilled water or other pure waters. Water is cleansing and will detox and purify your natural body; drink plenty of it! (You will be making some smoothies but these are usually meal replacements.)

Other: All herbs and spices are allowed, as are soy products, vinegar and tofu. (It is best to limit your salt intake.)

Foods NOT to EAT on the Daniel Fast:

All meat and animal products. This includes fish.

All dairy products.

All sweeteners. Sugar, raw sugar, syrups, molasses, and cane juice are not allowed on the Daniel Fast. (Some do consume raw honey; others consider it a pleasant food that Daniel would not have eaten.)

All leavened bread is excluded. This includes any Ezekiel Bread that contains yeast and baked goods.

All processed foods.  Artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives are forbidden.

All deep fried foods. Examples are potato chips, French fries, and of course any breaded, fried foods.

All solid fats. This consists of shortening, margarine, lard and foods high in fat.

Beverages. Coffee, tea, herbal teas, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol are all prohibited on the Daniel Fast.

Again, not everyone does it exactly as it is written above. Some use honey as a sweetener or natural maple syrup. Others would strictly forbid it, which is just an example. Some use Ezekiel Bread, but it does have yeast in it, which is leaven, and would be forbidden on the normal Daniel Fast.

A good alternative would be whole grain flatbreads. Remember, WHOLE GRAINS. Regular wheat bread doesn’t count. If it contains wheat FLOUR, it is not a whole grain. If the ingredient list begins with whole wheat, rolled oats or whole corn as the first ingredient then it is likely a WHOLE GRAIN item. It cannot contain yeast, sugar, wheat flour, flour, high fructose corn syrup, etc.

You can find some good organic products at many health and organic specialty stores. They have many ready-to-eat foods that are acceptable, such as whole grain flatbreads and tortillas, which are great for making a veggie sandwich. Again, READ THE LABELS!

The Daniel Fast DevotionalSharing a recipe out of my book, The Daniel Fast Devotional. There are recipes after every devotion in this easy-to-read book. Have you ordered yours yet? Get it here on Amazon in either Kindle or paperback version. 

Tortilla Soup

1 carrot, chopped 1 celery stick, chopped 1 medium onion, diced fine 3 garlic cloves, pressed 2 Tablespoons olive oil 8 cups vegetable broth 4 cups water 1 can of black or kidney beans 16 oz. frozen corn 1 red tomato, chopped 1 yellow tomato, chopped ¼ cup chopped cilantro 2-3 teaspoons sea salt 1 lime 6 corn tortillas

Heat oil and sauté the first four ingredients until soft.  Add everything else except the tortillas.  Simmer for about 30 minutes.  Brush tortillas with olive oil and cut into strips. Bake in oven for about 15 minutes on 350 degrees. Top with tortilla strips, fresh chopped avocado and green onion to serve.

Blessings to you on your fast unto the Lord! Join us tomorrow for support and encouragement through the scripture!