These are the words I would say.

Drat. Neglected the blog again. Oh well, new year means time to try again.

I'm actually here with a purpose today. My awesome Northpark Church family is starting the new year with a 21 day fast. They did this last year too, but I chickened out and didn't participate. But this year I'm way on board.

Pastor Anthony asked us "what have we got to lose?" so that's what I started to think about. What do I have to lose? What is something that I could give up to honor God? A lot of the NP family are participating through a more traditional Daniel fast, which is a diet based fast. I really thought about doing that, but I knew that my mom might have a heart attack if I lost anymore weight, so I went back to the drawing board. I really wanted to give up Facebook, I even got really excited when I thought about how much more time I would have to focus on Him, school and my friends if I didn't have facebook to distract me, but then the reality of how much I actually use facebook to communicate for SGA dawned on me and it seemed less feasible. That actually really bummed me out.

I was in the car as this train of thought rolled on. I had the one of the local christian stations on and with out even thinking I switched it to G105, where I promptly got way too excited when I heard that Jay-Z was about to come on. That's kind of when it hit me, I'll let go of this music that is something that I enjoy, but it doesn't glorify Him or make me any closer to Him and that it is something that I find myself almost addicted to. And when I really stopped to think about it I realized how quick I am to switch from KLOVE to some top 40 station in the hopes of hearing Lady Gaga.
So that's what I have decided to fast; secular music. No Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Reba, Jay-Z, if it isn't glorifying the Lord I'm not listening for the next 3 weeks. Music is so powerful and important to me that I know this will be a challenge, but I know that music and prayer are the 2 things that makes me feel closest to God, so I'm really excited to see where I end up over the next 21 days.

Things I hope to gain from this fast:
1. A nearness to God
2. An ability to turn to Him before anything else when things are rough
3. Strength in my faith
4. An epic playlist of music that will get me through anything
5. Peace in myself, through my God


I can already feel improvements and see the obstacles. Textbook troubles hit this morning and I got really frustrated, but I turned on some of my fast friendly music and in just an hour my mood has drastically improved. But it's going to be the habitual things that will be the hardest to break. I walked in to my room to get dressed and I turned my stereo (set to what else? g105) then promptly shut it back off when I realized what I was doing. Same goes for the car and my nasty habit of switching back and forth with my radio presets. Right now, Pandora radio christian stations and my youtube playlist of some of my favorite songs is what is getting me through. (if you have any awesome music that you think I should be listening to during the fast, let me know, I'm totally open to suggestions!)
I know I'm not awesome with the daily updates, but I really want to use this blog to talk about my experience from this fast and see where I go, and where I end up at the end. So keep a look out.


So that's how I'll be starting 2010. I'm not big on new year resolutions, there is always too much that I want to do. I like to set goals that I really want to make happen. So I guess the top of my goals would be : graduate. get a job. start to pay of my loans. start to be an adult.

Man, 2010 is going to be way exciting.
Now, if you'll excuse me I need to go find some more music. :]

"Father I hear it growing louder
The song of your redeemed
As the saints of every nation
Are awakening to sing
From our hearts there comes an anthem
Oh, hear the heavens ring
This is our song, a song to our King!"