Good Morning Girls!  I've missed writing to you all and pray you are all doing great!  I am hoping to get a full week of writing in, but we will take it one day at a time.  I have been sugar free for 7 days....well, I did eat 3 spoonfuls of my sons soggy cocoa crispies last night, as the thought of throwing them away was unacceptable, and it is the one thing I cannot feed my dog.  Other than that, I have made it through the first week!  Truth is, it wasn't even difficult.  There were a couple of times when I caught myself about to pop in a handful of frosted flakes or something as I was feeding the kids, but that was more of a habit thing than a craving thing. 
So how is it that one day I am eating a whole pan of peanut butter oatmeal bars (with chocolate frosting), and the next I am sugar free and fine?  The first couple of days I figured it was simply because I was so sick from all the sugar that I couldn't stand the thought of it.  However, by Thursday I was feeling really good, and I still made it through a weekend without any struggles.  That it when I knew as I knew that it was the grace of God, and the Lord was in fact the One who put me on the fast in the first place.
I believe the Lord had been telling me to give up sugar for many months now.  I kept telling Him I would.....I simply needed some time to mentally prepare for it.  Every time I thought about going sugar free I would hyperventilate at the thought of all the treats I would be saying goodbye to.  Seriously, life without banana bread, carrot cake, and the obvious.....chocolate, is no life at all!  Even though I felt the impression so strong in my heart to go on a sugar fast, I held on to that little piece that said "oh Jen, it's not God.....it's just you".  That one sentence was all the convincing I needed to hang on to my sweets.....funny how we grasp at anything when we really want (or don't want) to do something.
So why did the Lord put me on a sugar fast?  To be honest with you, I don't know......yet.  I have a couple of theories, but only He knows for sure.  It doesn't really matter why He did it.  What matters is that He did.  What matters is that I trust in Him....more than I trust in myself.  What matters is that He knows what is best for me.  He knows the plans He has for me.  He knows the best way for me to reach the dreams He has placed in my heart.  Remember that old tv show Father Knows Best......well ours truly does!
My question to you is: Is the Holy Spirit telling you to do something that doesn't really make sense?  Is He telling you to do something and you are waiting for the reason why before you respond?  Is there something you are hanging on to despite that strong feeling in your heart?  Go ahead, take a leap of faith and trust in the Lord!  I promise you.....if you respond in error, He will correct you.  Better yet, if you respond in faith, and you are correct.....He will reward you!

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Love, thanks, and courage to you all,
Jen