Gluttons

Did you know that gluttony is a sin.
It isn't one we talk about much.
But it is a sin.
I learned yesterday that gluttony is my sin.

Though the call to fast came on Tuesday, I didn't get the request until Wednesday. I had just finished my bowl of Frosted Flakes when I sat down for my morning blog reading. One of my favorite sites is Heather and Janiel's blog from NWHCM. It was there that I read Jody's call to fast for Haiti and decided now was as good of a time as any.

It was a great day of prayer. I found myself talking more to the Lord than I did when the kids were in Haiti. Mainly because I felt hungry all the time. (even though looking back, I never really got so hungry that it hurt) thoughts of food riddled my day. Every time I thought I was hungry, my thoughts went first to satisfaction, then to God. It was a great reminder to pray. Better than prayer bracelets, better than writing "quiet time" on my hand, better than post it notes on the bathroom mirror. I spent time in the word at lunch and journaled every chance I could. It was good.

It was also bad. Bad because I realized that I am spoiled rotten. Of course really, it's the being spoiled rotten that's bad, the realizing it - is good. I was overcome with gratitude that my biggest decision of the day was telling them we couldn't go out to eat before church and that we would have to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches if they were hungry. I didn't have to decide which one of them could eat. I didn't have to decide if I would feed my 9 year old or my 16 year old, my 13 year old or my 18 year old. I don't have to abandon my two oldest kids to their own provision for existence. I drank water yesterday, but I didn't have to walk any where for it, and it wasn't dirty, I didn't get it out of my toilet. I got it out of a dispenser at work that is cleaned regularly because government regulations demand it.

I held a plate of birthday cake and thought I was doing a spectacular pat on the back job by not sticking my finger in it to taste. And though I really did hold it and pray for Haiti, thinking of them and their struggles... I found myself a little prideful that I was resisting.

I learned yesterday that I like food way too much. I have to read books on how to "Lose it for Life" because I enjoy it so much. I check my Body Mass Index to see if I am too fat - I don't eat to gain strength, I eat to entertain myself. I don't eat when I am hungry, I eat when I want to. I eat what I want to. And there are people in this world starving.

Now don't get me wrong. I know that it isn't a sin to live in America. And it isn't a sin to be blessed with the ability to fill my refrigerator and provide for my family. But it is a sin when the thoughts of food and eating come to my mind more frequently than the struggles and pain of others, than the desire to fellowship with God, than the thought to serve. When what are we going to have for dinner? and I think I want a cookie (as I sit down to eat 5 or 6 or 7) are the thoughts that consume my mind. Maybe my mind is on the wrong thing.

I think I have some work to do.

The POWER of Prayer

From Jody: recieved Weds. after the day of fasting on Tuesday.

Is it possible to have peace in the midst of such unrest? We woke up yesterday and over 120 employees gathered on the courtyard and circled up in prayer. I told them about what the Americans were doing for them...praying and fasting. Many of them told me that while they fast nearly every day.....today it will be with purpose. Today they will fast for God.

How beautiful to see people gathered in their work areas with Bibles out. How beautiful to see the tears that fall every day but today they fall for HIM. How beautiful the emails of encouragement we got.....churches fasting and praying.....people all over the USA...people in CANADA - even BRAZIL?? There was a group that was in Brazil doing a mission trip who happened to check email yesterday who got their people there to fast. How AMAZING is our Heavenly Father?

There are layers of darkness here in Haiti....I felt God peel them back yesterday. I went to the courthouse downtown to talk with the judge about a matter and he said to me - "thank the blancs for their prayers today. I know it was because of them that I was able to handle this case in the way that I did" What? They knew downtown we were praying? Stories after stories of people telling me about something good that happened to them today and gave GOD the glory because they knew that everyone was praying and fasting on their behalf.

I want to THANK YOU for remembering us and our family here.

THE POWER OF PRAYER:

**BANK MONEY CAME YESTERDAY

**DIESEL TRUCKS ARE IN PORT-DE-PAIX (ROAD OPENED FROM GONAIVES TO PORT-DE-PAIX)

**PRICE OF DIESEL DROPPED YESTERDAY LATE MORNING

**NO SHOOTINGS OR MAJOR CRIME IN OUR SURROUNDING VILLAGES

**NEWS THAT OUR CRATES MAY COME THIS WEEK AND THEY'RE FULL OF FOOD AND SUPPLIES

**PEOPLE WHO DON'T NORMALLY TAKE THE TIME TO BE WITH CHRIST....TOOK THE TIME.


I spent a few hours reading through Psalms and Proverbs today. What PEACE I had as I read through the verses....for Haiti.....for us as leaders.....for me as I grow. Did it take a country to crumble for me to open up the word and study as I did? Can I have that same peace everyday by forcing the time to be alone with God. I'm sure it's the same for you as it is for us here.....God doesn't give you the time to be with Him......you have to TAKE IT. There is always someone waiting to talk to us......always something else left to do and so I can choose to shut my office door and pray....or let Satan distract me all day long with random things.

I found some comfort in so many verses.......here are a few:

Psalm 135:14 For the Lord will give justice to his people and have compassion on his servants

Psalm 144:14 May there be no enemy breaking through our walls, no going into captivity, no cries of alarm in our town square. Yes joyful are those who live like this. Joyful indeed are those whose GOD is the Lord.

Psalm 145:8 The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.

Psalm 146:7 He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry.

Psalm 146: 9 The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.


A COUNTRY DEDICATED TO SATAN WILL SURELY DIE. BUT IF WE CAN UNITE TOGETHER.....WITH GOD'S HELP AND WISDOM HE GIVES......HE WILL FRUSTRATE THOSE PLANS OF THE WICKED VOODOO......OF THE WICKED GOVERNMENT....AND WE WILL GAIN GROUND IN THIS COUNTRY FOR CHRIST.



In Kingdom Service,

Jody Castillo RN, BSN
Travel and Campus Manager
Northwest Haiti Christian Mission