Unafraid
Fear attacks us right where our faith lives, and keeps us from stepping into the plans God has for us. God has a plan to help us overcome the "spirit of fear", and transform it into faith and obedience. This series will focus on how to find courage and hope from God, to face the fears in our life.
Church Fast 2018 (February 20 - April 1, 2018)
Dear Uplift Family, It is with great excitement that I announce our church fast starts tomorrow, February 20 - April 1, 2018. These days of fasting and prayer are symbolic of Jesus’ fasting and prayer while being tempted in the wilderness (Matt. 4:2). I am excited because I know that fasting and prayer have the power to make positive changes in our lives and in our church. The focus of this fast is Deliverance. I want to encourage you to start your day off with prayer and participating in the New Testament in 40 days Bible reading plan. The fast will be split into two distinct fasting periods. We will spend the first 19 days (February 20 through March 10) doing a personal fast focused on fasting from something that occupies too much of your time or something that you have allowed to move from a Want to a Need in your life. Focus on one area of your life that you desire God to restore and identify something related to that area to fast, if possible. This should be something impactful and should not be foods or beverages, but activities or behaviors. Examples of personal fasts are abstaining from social media, certain tv programing (reality tv, soap operas, sports, etc.), phone games (Candy Crush, Ruzzle, etc.), unnecessary spending, and anything else that takes away from you focusing on God. These are just examples to help you identify the areas of your life that occupy too much of your time. Between March 11 and April 1, we will participate in the Daniel Fast for 21 days. The Daniel Fast is based on the fasting experiences of the Old Testament Prophet Daniel. It’s a partial food fast where some foods are eaten while others are restricted. Foods to include in your diet during the Daniel Fast: All fruits: These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Fruits include (but are not limited to) apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, and watermelon. All vegetables: These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Vegetables include (but are not limited to) artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, and zucchini. Veggie burgers are an option if you are not allergic to soy. All whole grains: including (but not limited to) whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes, and popcorn. All nuts and seeds: including (but not limited to) sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, and sesame. Also, nut butters including peanut butter. All legumes: These can be canned or dried. Legumes include (but are not limited to) dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black-eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, and white beans. All quality oils: including (but not limited to) olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame. Beverages: spring water, distilled water or other pure waters, as well as 100% fruit juice with no additives or preservatives. Other: tofu, soy products, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs, and spices. Foods to avoid on the Daniel Fast: All meat and animal products: including (but not limited to) beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and fish. All dairy products: including (but not limited to) milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs. All sweeteners: including (but not limited to) sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, and cane juice. All leavened bread: including Ezekiel Bread (it contains yeast and honey) and baked goods. All refined and processed food products: including (but not limited to) artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives. All deep fried foods: including (but not limited to) potato chips, french fries, and corn chips. All solid fats: including shortening, margarine, lard and foods high in fat. Beverages: including (but not limited to) coffee, tea, herbal teas, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol. You can drink only water and fruit juices containing no added sugar or other ingredients. For more information regarding the Daniel Fast, please watch this YouTube video: https://youtu.be/kdiio6odw0w It is my prayer that the presence of God will become closer, dearer, and nearer to you during these days of fasting, reading the Bible, and prayer. God bless you!