Details on the 21 day fast for Seacoast Church. Click play...
Awake21 website here
FAQ:
- When does the fast start? Sunday January 11th at sundown
- When does the fast end? Saturday January 31st at sundown
- Do we fast on Sunday? No. Sunday is a celebration day so we do not fast from sundown Saturday to sundown Sunday.
- Why are we fasting? Watch the video, I go into some detail about the "why?".
- Is everybody at Seacoast fasting? That is a decision between you, God, and your doctor. We are asking everyone too, but you must follow God's leading on this.
- What can I expect during the fast? To experience God's presence more intensely, surprising answers to prayer, a sense of being a part of something significant, and to be a little grouchier than usual at times : )
thank you, sir.
will direct people to this tomorrow, instead of going into it myself. good 'ol technology!
have a good day
Posted by: joey svendsen | January 10, 2009 at 10:35 PM
I'm very excited...should have been doing this every year!
Posted by: gregsur | January 11, 2009 at 08:56 AM
I am so excited to see what God has in store for our Church during this fast, along with the things I will be Praying about in my own life.
Posted by: Rebecca | January 11, 2009 at 04:22 PM
This is going to be awesome!! I can't wait to be ever so close to the presence of God. I know this will help make life impacting decisions in our church and our personal lives.
Posted by: Angie | January 11, 2009 at 05:39 PM
Fasting is amazing! More of God is what we crave! It is just true how close and clear God is when you fast. I pray his presence is all over us. "Savior, He can move the mountains, He is mighty to save!"
Posted by: Sarah Claire | January 11, 2009 at 07:07 PM
There's a little group of us from LifeChurch.tv in Edmond who are in with you guys! We started earlier but will continue with you. Go God!
Posted by: Kendra Golden | January 11, 2009 at 10:48 PM
I knew there was a remnant of true believers at Lifechurch.tv : )
Posted by: gregsur | January 11, 2009 at 10:56 PM
As always Greg I am all in on whatever our vision is as a church and I am excited to see where God leads us.
Posted by: Rick Reed | January 12, 2009 at 07:40 AM
Thank you Greg for the baby feeding analogy. It really hit home for me. Partly because I have a seven month old and truly understand that although it's really cute to watch them try to eat at seven months, it's soooooo not cute at my age. I also watched as my son tried to do it entirely by himself and failed miserably, which just reminded me to let my Father help/guide me. Thanks again!
Posted by: Krista | January 12, 2009 at 11:48 AM
I am a big fan of fasting and was excited about this opportunity. However, I prayed all day yesterday about what should be my focus. Then, last evening, my beautiful friend and neighbor, Ms. Betty Brown, visited my family and told me that her wonderful son Matthew had been arrested and was in jail for the next 3 weeks. While there, he has already accepted Christ and keeps saying, "I'm so happy! I can't believe how happy I feel!" Praise God! Matthew will be my focus. Can't wait to see what God will do in his life! Thanks!
Posted by: Beth DeHart | January 12, 2009 at 01:49 PM
I signed up because I thought it said 21 Day Feast - gotta get spell check.
Posted by: Wes | January 12, 2009 at 07:36 PM
Ate my first apple in 14 years it tasted like steak.
Posted by: Wes | January 12, 2009 at 07:37 PM
I started the fast and yesterday, I was under fierce attack from the enemy. It was a tough first day, but I know that God is Faithful and this sacrifice is important to show my Faith and Trust in him, to reveal what only he can in my life and our Church.
Posted by: Rebecca G. | January 13, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Greg,
Just wondering how your fasting is going? As food, which you admitted, seems to be your one evident struggle in life, I imagine that it is harder for you than most who chose to follow this activity. Beth is correct, there needs to be another focus, because the more one thinks about fasting, the more one wants food... the old quantum physics at play. Fasting certainly demands lots of prayer in an outside direction. Thanks.
Posted by: Marilynn | January 13, 2009 at 02:39 PM
My husband and I just joined the Summerville campus and were very excited to start the fast. He's doing great, but I have to be honest that I am not...the first day went ok, but today the devil went into overdrive. I didn't hold to the fast today, but I would like everyone to hold me in prayer...tomorrow will be a better day! Satan will not steal my joy and I will reach a new level of closeness with God and the church. Amen!
Posted by: Rachel | January 13, 2009 at 05:25 PM
The fast is going well on day 2. Day one was tough! I think fasting caffiene had something to do with it. Didn't realize it had that much power!
Posted by: Greg Surratt | January 13, 2009 at 05:42 PM
The Day 2 was really tough for me. It was the first day back to school and there was a stand of doughnuts and coffee for the commuter students (which I am). It was hard to say no. It seems like there is an array of sweets everywhere I go, but of course prayer has helped me fight off the heavy temptations (cookies!).
I think that one of my focus for this fast is to hear God's plans for my life as far as school goes. Its funny how God has shown me so much already.
Good Luck Everyone!
Posted by: Shardai | January 13, 2009 at 07:18 PM
We got a phone call yesterday that a good friend of ours up North was feeling very financially desperate because he has not had any steady work for quite some time. He was going to set out on Friday by bus making his way to Alaska on the promise of a job there. His wife was not on board with this, of course, and they were very much at odds. We sat down to pray last night (with many others who love them, I'm sure)asking God to give them wisdom and that they would be in one accord. He hates where they live and has for as long as we have known them, so this is not a whim. He called us this morning (not knowing that we knew about this and we haven't talked to him in months)and told us about what he was thinking but that last night, God intervened and through many tears, they have come to an understanding and are forming a plan for them to pray and research where God would want them to move. Isn't that awesome!
Posted by: Sue and John Peckham | January 15, 2009 at 01:44 PM
Caffeine has been the hardest thing for me to overcome. I took one hour naps on day 1, 2, and 3 b/c I was so lethargic. Also had a splitting headache all of day 1. Today, day 4, I'm happy to report I am in great spirits and full of energy thanks to God!!
Posted by: Steph | January 15, 2009 at 01:46 PM
Shardai - Stay strong!
Sue & John - Incredible testimony
Steph - You don't realize the power something has over you until you try to quit.
Posted by: gregsur | January 15, 2009 at 02:09 PM
I can't tell if it's God talking or my stomach!
When I say I am doing great, it's not about the food part, I mean I am, but that is just a side note. The parts that make me doing great are the things I am in fact giving up have been replaced with reading spiritual books, Christian music, music with no words that make me think, bible reading, time with my husband or wellll ahhhhh chopping vegetables. It's not just about how your diet is going but how is the prayer, how is the growth, are the spiritual impurities getting flushed also? I could eat cheese, and man would I love a piece, but if I am not letting this fast work in my spiritual life as well then the physical lose is the only gain and on the big scale of things, my spiritual faults still make my butt look big.
Posted by: Shellie | January 15, 2009 at 02:16 PM
FYI veggie burger does not eqaul flamed grilled red meat.
I have a new love for all God's creatures, that is if they are sitting along side my french fries on a dinner plate.
16 more days.
Posted by: shellie | January 15, 2009 at 02:21 PM
Since day one, I have been under attack from the enemy. Splitting headaches on day 2 and 3, and today we found out that my husband has gotten laid off. :-(
There is a blessing in disguise here though. I applied for a job at his company several months back, and even though I was in the top 3, I did not get the job. We found out today that the lady who was hired instead, has also been laid off. I feel bad for her and pray that she and all the other people who were laid off today would find new jobs soon. But PRAISE GOD I didn't get that job, we'd both be unemployed now. HE knows what HE is doing, I just need to trust in HIM. HE will continue to lift us up and HE will care for us during this time. I pray that this time draws my husband and myself closer to HIM.
Posted by: Gabi | January 15, 2009 at 02:28 PM
This is the first time I have done a fast like this, though I have fasted on smaller scales. I have always found that when I am hungry physically, I am hungry spiritually. I feel God working in me and hopefully through me. I am excited about what we will learn individually and also as The Body!
p.s..... hint... make vegetable soup, it helps fill you up!
Posted by: johanne hussey | January 15, 2009 at 02:59 PM
My husband has never fasted and really didn't understand it all. So we started last Friday cutting back and created a menu that works.For 15yrs I never really made him breakfast or lunch during the week. Now I can harldy wait to prepare his meals, we have grown closer to each other and the Lord. Our prayer life together has also grown. Of course we have each given up the things we love but there is no way that I will ever let those things come before my love for Jesus or my family. We are so blessed to be apart of Seacoast. Don't count the days enjoy the moments
Posted by: Frank and Lynn | January 15, 2009 at 03:06 PM
The fast is still going ok for me. Fasting is not as much of a challenge for me as others, and I Pray for each of you now. I have challenges in other areas. I will tell you a Blessing, during this time of sacrifice. My oldest daughter who is 9, was asking me several questions yesterday about Jesus and the devil. We were able to talk about so many things on a deeper level, and I think because of this fast. She accepted Jesus to be her Lord and Savior, she did this when she was younger, but I can tell now that it has a deeper meaning for her. Now she wants to be baptised in March. Praise be to God!
Posted by: Rebecca G. | January 15, 2009 at 03:17 PM
My wife and I are very excited about the fast and have been doing well for the first 4 days. She misses the caffeine. When I think of all God has done for me, I become focused on Him and while reading my bible at night, I am proud to do this small thing for him. Apples, pears, fruit juice and raisins have replaced "the royal food". It is funny how your kids always want what you want (even now). My 6 year old twins have a bowl of maccaroni and cheese or spaghetti my wife has prepared and they start eating MY grapes. Don't they know that I need those grapes to survive tonight! Ha! Trusting and believeing that Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins is the only way to go to Heaven (John 3:16) and I'm so happy to do this with/for Him. I'm proud of all of these other posts as well in whatever capacity you are performing this fast. We are together during this time and ALWAYS in Christ.
Posted by: Mike Kidd | January 15, 2009 at 04:48 PM
This is my first fast and am very excited to be doing it alongside my christian family. I have been reminded of how many options we have when it comes to food, nevertheless, most of it is junk. like fruits and vegestables. God has a more simple, healthier way to go. I guess we just choose to feed our body more often than we choose to feed our soul. God is teaching me to worry less about what I am going to it and focus more on him to bring the comfort and joy that sometimes I seek in food.
Posted by: carolina wells | January 15, 2009 at 04:51 PM
Hey guys!
Im Caylee Mizzell Smith, Im 15 and I have been with seacoast for a year. When I came in September 2007, I had no clue what was in store for me. I come to church every sunday alone, and im apart of the west campus. I decided to do the fast mostly because my mentor asked me too. But I knew it was coming. I knew God wanted me to. But decided that it was time. Ive never done a fast before. I did lint, even know im not catholic because im a kid and we all like trying it. I usually failed to do it though. Id give us sugar, or something like that. But I decided to try it. So, I fasted facebook. Thats right, no facebook for 21 days. On January 12 when I got home from school, I quickly got on sent one message, and deactivated my account for 21 days. Im excited to overcome my want for it, but I know i can do it. i just need the strength from God. ive had the urge, but I pray and ask God for the strength.
Posted by: Caylee | January 15, 2009 at 04:55 PM
We are fasting from fried foods and drinking alcohol
Posted by: Erica | January 15, 2009 at 04:57 PM