Thumbprints, fasting and praying!

 We have discovered the funnest items for creativity! I was exploring all over the internet for different ways  the girls can get their hands dirty and have fun at the same time. Now that may sound easy for your children but both of mine have sensory issues and this is really hard for them. So, while we were in Texas we bought some Melissa & Doug stamp pads and a Drawing book for thumbprints. The girls love them! Of course, we have a box of baby wipes right by their little tables for wiping off the ink:)

 Lottie has an incredible imagination. See how much fun she had? She made a lion for a sun and she made a little tienda outside where people were lined up to buy tacos for only 10 pesos.  What a bargain!  She has a little forest on the left with a Mexican cactus and even a snail on the flower.

She also made a knight riding on his horse to kill a dragon!  Oh and the blue fingerprints above are raindrops:)

Emma doesn't enjoy it as much as Lottie but she is trying. This is a mermaid family. Anytime that Emma draws anything....there is a Daddy, a Mommy, and a little girl:) Always! Check out the beak on the little baby bird in the tree! Emma was so upset because she said she messed up, they are both perfectionists (sigh). We giggled together when I told her that his beak was so big because he liked giant fat worms! 

There are many different types of these books and we can't wait to get some more when we go back home! Your kids will love them and for us ....they are wonderful sensory activities:)

After much thought......I have decided to fast and pray for 30 days.  I have never fasted before for a long period of time.  I have noticed since I came back from Texas that I am drinking way too much Diet Coke, craving sugar, potatoes and bread. Those are all comfort foods...and drink (well, not as much as Diet Mountain Dew...but I digress) and my focus needs to be elsewhere....on the Lord. So...you ask...what is fasting?

I'm certain there are tons of way that people fast and pray and often times I'm sure it is not even a spiritual type of event.  For me, fasting will be a way to give up something that I am depending on to make me feel content when what I really should be doing is focusing on prayer and fellowship with God.  What I am really trying to do is force myself to focus and rely on God for strength, provision and wisdom.  I know you must be thinking, why does a missionary have to force herself to focus on God? Well, because I am human and I live among people who are desperate in more ways than you can imagine and often....I just feel darkness all around me and I yearn to just feel the light of Jesus shining so brightly down on me that I think of nothing else except Him.

I have been searching through the bible for the different scriptures and situations regarding fasting and praying. Moses fasted for 40 days and 40 nights on Mount Sanai when he was receiving the laws from God. (Exodus 34:28) David fasted when he learned that Saul and Jonathan had been killed (2Samuel 1:12) Darius, King of Persia, fasted all night after he was forced to put Daniel in the lion's den (Daniel 6:18) Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights before his temptation by Satan (Matthew 4:2) and there are many more in the Old and New Testaments.  

Fasting is not a "diet" nor a reason to abstain from food rather it is to take my mind off the things of this world and focus on God. I am yearning for a deeper fellowship with Him.  Instead of turning to anything or anyone in this world for comfort.....I want to only get contentment, joy and true fellowship from the Lord.  I am looking for a personal revival asking the Holy Spirit to reveal any unconfessed sin in my life, to guard my walk with Him against complacency, to praise Him and give thanks to Him no matter what my circumstances, to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to meditate on His word and hide it in my heart and to pray without ceasing. 

Fasting is a very personal thing.  I am sharing this with you because I want to be held accountable and I desperately need your prayers. I will begin this Sunday the 5th, if you want to join me in doing this I would love to have the opportunity to be in prayer for you also. I love ya'll!!!