AHHH!

Anyone else ever go online to look at your credit card balance only to find yourself feeling like the kid on the right? Well, today Macaulay and I have found ourselves in the same boat!

Don't ask what possessed me to do this, it's was a whim I suppose. It's amazing how we can swipe and forget. Apaprently we've swiped a few things this month and I've forgotten ... a few plane tickets here, a new mattress there and lots and lots of restaurants in between have caused an anxiety attack. Yikes, it kind of made my stomach hurt to see all the places we ate out this month too. Moreover, it reminded me of how little I cook.

I want to change that.

I resolve to do better.

In lots of areas.

Starting here: cook more, spend less and be satisfied with what I have.

I think to accomplish that would be a good thing. Unfortunately, sometimes for me it takes fasting from those temptations to get there. I love to fast, it helps to put life back into perspective and to bring the focus back on what really matters - people, relationships, honoring the Lord in all that we do. After seeing the bill (which really is okay, I just never look at it, Grayson always takes care of it for me). But after seeing how we spend our money, I'm extremely convicted to fast and cut back on a few things. Not forever, mind you, but just long enough to re-focus, get a clearer perspective and put things back into their appropriate place of priority.

For example, if I go the grocery store on a more consistent basis I can quickly erase "Taco Bell, Subway, Sonic, El Patio" from the credit card statement. I can put a few more pounds on Grayson so he won't look so thin. If I aim for more creativity in my wardrobe I can easily take away the unnecessary stores from the statement. If I plan ahead for birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions I can use coupons for gifts and not pay to overnight presents :) See, I know it's not that hard to be frugal and act as a faithful steward of the blessings God has given us, but it takes a reminder. A mental acknowledgement that we are to treasure and cherish what the Lord gives us. So without going to the extreme, I don't think it would hurt for me to fast for a few weeks by not eating out, not purchasing clothes or items for the house and avoiding the $5 coffee from you know where.

I'll let you know how it goes. In my experience though, I always feel better after a good fast prompted by a pure spirit.

"Create in me

a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right,

persevering,

and steadfast spirit

within me."

Psalm 51:10