7: an experimental mutiny against excess

If you want an overview of the book "7" , I highly encourage you to check out the trailer.  I'm just going to jump right into why I wanted our family to join this adventure of removing junk in our lives and redirecting our focus.

Last year I went to Peru on a mission trip that God had laid on my heart two years prior.  During that time He spoke volumes to me about waste and the "American Dream" in relation to His dream for us.  His desire for simplicity in our lives has been replaced with so many things other than eternal reward. Nearly a year later, I still haven't figured out how to take hold of this problem.  A problem of expectation, addiction, worldly desire, lust for a menagerie of things.  This problem is seeping into our children and we know our time to impact them is so limited.

For the purpose of this series of fasts, Josh and I will adhere to guidelines we formed from the examples given in "7".  The kids will not abide by the same criteria.  However, we are setting a standard for the family with an expectation that they will loosely participate. 

Month 1 - Food

We LOVE food.  I realize this is only the first of seven months of living with less but I truly believe this could be the most painful for me.  I'm reminded of our two-week Daniel Fast last year and nearly faint.  Not only do I love eating food but I love making food.  I love baking.  I love the smells.  I love the tastes.  I don't like how much my waist has grown in the last year but that's neither here nor there.  

We couldn't settle for 7 foods so we narrowed down to 10.  The 10 foods for the month of May include:

Chicken

Venison

Whole Grains

Spinach

Avocado

Sweet Potatoes

Peanut butter

Eggs

Oranges

Apples

..... as a bonus I included coffee in the 9th hour (of the morning of the 1st day) and declared it "necessary to my quiet time with God".  My mutiny against excess, my rules.  Don't judge.  

Day 1: The kids actually asked that I replace their cereal with eggs because, "they smell sooooooooo yummy!"  I had an avocado and spinach salad for an afternoon snack and I can honestly say that I don't foresee avocado growing on me, even in my desperation.  Once the coffee joined the party, the Holy Spirit was invited and it was good.  I started studying Nehemiah today.  Lord, tear down my walls and build new ones that glorify You!