beast.feast (v.)- to scarf something to the point of vomiting
When was the last time you beast feasted?! Was it this past Thanksgiving?? Would you say that beast feasting and Thanksgiving go hand in hand??? Let’s say someone took away the traditional Thanksgiving festivities away from you… the food and the people…would you be disappointed? Sad? Bitter? Ask yourself: would you still be able to give thanks??
This Thanksgiving, I had cereal for breakfast, peanut butter and jelly for lunch and dessert for dinner! It didn’t bother me at all that I couldn’t stuff my face with turkey or mashed potatoes or gravy or stuffing. I could live without those things (well…ok maybe not the mashed potatoes. But the rest I can live without.) But what did bother me was the thought that for many people, including myself at times, the food and the parties and the things have become the motivation for celebration…the reason for the season, if you will.
I was convicted.
I started to think of the gluttony that consumes our life. Money, pride, lust, etc. I would argue that we beast feast every. single. day. on things that don’t sustain us. And because it doesn’t fill us up, we look for other things that will, but we end up turning AGAIN to things that don’t sustain. At the end of it, we vomit out things like insecurity, depression, and anxiety. And we’re right back where we started…hungry.
I want to encourage you to celebrate Thanksgiving day again! You can do it by yourself or with others, you can fast or you can prepare a nice meal, but I want to challenge you to do it the right way. I want you to feast on Papa—the only manna that does sustain. I desire for you to be thankFULL…to be full of thanksgiving, not just for the things that He has done for us, but for who He is—merciful, healer, loving, sovereign, powerful, life-giving.
Don't know where to start?! Well, I know for me, making lists of things that I am blessed with helps me to posture my heart in a state of praise and thanksgiving. I'd like to share with you a few things that I've found myself thanking Papa for these past few months…things that I would normally take for granted back home like…
1) Water pressure
2) Hot showers
3) Clean chonies aka underwear
4) Potable water
5) Eating three meals a day
6) Garlic
7) A comfortable bed
8) Oatmeal and crunchy peanut butter
9) My education
10) Regular bowel movements
11) Eyesight
12) Toilet paper
13) Toilets with a seat (not squatty potties!)
14) Shoes
15) Free internet
16) Worship music/ music in general
17) The freedom to praise and worship God
18) Quiet time with the Lord
19) Being alone (more than 100 feet from another World Racer)
20) My family
21) My relationship with God
So, what’s on your list?!
PS. Along the lines of being thankfull, I want to thank all of you for your prayers and your financial support! I wouldn't be here without all of you! However, if I don't reach the $10,500 mark by today, then I will be sent home. A few of my friends are also in the same boat. If you could please prayerfully consider helping us stay on the field, we would greatly appreciate it. God is the provider of EVERYTHING, and I know that HIS plan is for us to remain on the field.
Me… marianpadilla.theworldrace.org
$1,500
Amanda Brucki… amandabrucki.theworldrace.org
$1,550
Megan Miller… meganmiller.theworldrace.org
$1,400
Maria Rocha… mariarocha.theworldrace.org
$300
You can donate by going to these websites I listed above and checking out the "Support Me" link on the left side. Thank you in advance for helping us get closer to being FULLY funded! God bless you =)
