SEVEN: the end?

Well we tied a bow on it and wrapped it up.  Seven that is.  Due to scheduling changes with small group, we combined the last 2 sessions-stress and wrap up weeks.  (i was so sad that meant i had to end my coffee fast 7 days early)  

It seems to me our week of stress (or de-stress? un-stress?) was met with a whole lot of spiritual warfare.  For real.  This week entailed 7 sacred pauses throughout the day-time to just stop for a few minutes and pray--regardless of what we were in the middle of and what was going on, being reminded that God is God, we are not and He will never change, acknowledging the Father who is constantly at work to bring about major change in us.  A mini-retreat if you will.  I think just about everyone of us was met head on by the enemy who hates us, despises us, hates that we are beginning to believe that we can be used to make a difference--a despicable enemy who will stop at nothing and will even use people we love if he can.  We are on to you, enemy.  And you lose.

So after 7 weeks of 7's what will i keep and to what will i say, eh maybe not?

• i don't need a lot of stuff.  stuff is overrated. 
• i am spending much less $$ on me
• i love the whole giving thing.  this part is fun
• more time spent connecting with real people and less time spent plugged in
• i hate squash
• peach-mango smoothies are fresh
• recycling is becoming 2nd nature but i will not go through my neighbor's garbage.  that's just too...
• rest is not a bad thing.  rest is biblical
• coffee is my friend.  thank you for waiting patiently for me to come back.  i will never leave you again.

my kurig greeted me all twinkling on the Friday morning of CLD (coffee liberation day)

All in all, i loved this study.  we lost a few folks along the way, i admit.  it's not easy.  i messed up lots.  my very first day, my very first meal of food week, i found myself at a Mexican restaurant with coworkers.  i ordered a plate of chicken and prayed that the pico de gallo would be turned into broccoli.  it wasn't.  during spending freeze week i ordered online without even thinking.  after clothing week, i said i would not buy anything new for 6 months.  but (why is there always a but?), one day at work i felt a little too casual for a meeting so i ran up the road to a discount store and bought a little nicer blouse (albeit, only paid $5.46 since it was 70% off) but... i could go on and on at my personal list of seven infractions, but will spare you the boring details. 

here's the bottom line and what i have learned:  i think a lot of myself.  i think of myself a lot.  i don't like self-denial.  i want what i want when i want it.  this is wrong.  my eyes have been clouded too long by too much justification and selfishness.  i am my brother's keeper.  the choices i make today make ripples in a pool that could and will make or break someone else's tomorrow.
thank you seven.  thank you jen hatmaker.