I’ve lost a total of 7 pounds.

I plan to gain all 7 pounds in the form of Pioneer Woman Cinnamon Rolls this evening. And eggs. Bacon. Pancakes. Sausage.

The food I’ve missed the most is certainly breakfast.

After tonight I begin OPERATION: USE EVERYTHING UP. I have a decent amount of potatoes and onions left over so my menu this week is as follows…

• Sunday: Potato Soup (I will not hold back on the cheese and cream in this batch)
• Monday: We’ll be eating dinner out with a college friend who will be in town for a job interview
• Tuesday: Chicken kabobs (uses up my onions & peppers)
• Wednesday: Meatloaf muffins (only uses 1 onion but it’s meat – and that sounds so fabulous right now)
• Thursday: potato skins and chicken sausage (again, no skimping on the butter & cheese on these skins)
• Friday: *Life Group* Italian – Chicken/Spinach Florentine lasagna
• Saturday: Pan Fried Pork chops & scalloped potatoes

And when there’s extra time, I’ll be making a gluten free apple crisp to use up the extra granny smiths I have.

NOW – because I’m starving and craving anything I can get my hands on – I know someone is wondering….Why even bother? or What’s the point?

And my answer is simple: When I sacrifice things I easily take for granted on a daily basis (food) it’s a prominent thought in my mind all day long. I crave to be satisfied by good food. My body has the nutrients I need, but my flesh desires more because it knows it can have it.

It’s that sacrifice of the flesh that helps draw me closer to God. Because the thought is with me all day long (as I watch people eat Chik-fil-a and chocolate) – God is with me all day long.

And when God is with you all day long, powerful things happen.

Take X for example. Saturday, on a fasting food day, she voluntarily cleaned the house with us…doing things we didn’t ask her to do and asking if she could do more.

Also, during this Fast, she has spent hours and hours writing letters to raise money for the Philippines mission trip. She has voluntarily gave up ALL PRESENTS that would be bought for her throughout 2012 in exchange for that money so she (and the rest of the team) can spread the Gospel and serve those less fortunate.

She gets it.

Not because I’ve forced her to get it, but because she willing sacrificed something everyday. She drew closer to God and God moved in her life in a powerful way.