Surprised

I had a super cool experience today. I was driving my friend home (because I'm 18 and that legal now, whoo), and she turned on the radio to secular music. Naturally, I had to explain to her that I couldn't listen to that music because of the media fast. Unlike the many negative responses that I have received to it this year, she was totally cool with it. It actually spawned a conversation about church and God. I told her all about Hume SD, and now she is thinking about going with our youth group. I was super surprised and excited to see her take interest in something like that. I love to see the God's work in my life and others. Happy media fasting.
-T

Yikes

Honestly, this year's fast has been the hardest it's ever been for me. You would think after four years that this would become a routine part of the year, but it's not so. Each year brings new challenges, but with that God reveals something new to us. I just haven't figured out what that is this time quite yet. I'm praying for you all. Have a spectacular month.
-T

WHOOP

Seeing less than 8 hours on the countdown clock thingy is so exciting. I'm spending my final few hours on the media fast with Megan so that we can keep each other accountable as the clock counts down. Along with newfound Christian movies and music, my relationship with Christ has been rekindled. It is not quite at that "post-camp level," but it is pretty darn close. This month I've been able to take a breath of fresh air and appreciate how God works in my life.

The month kind of started of slow because going into my third year, the fast had become sort of a routine. The fast is meant to break routine, so that was not a good starting point. With the help of encouraging messages from my sponsors and constant texts from Matt with the Remind101 thing, I was able to dive into the month as if it was a brand new experience. My goal this month was to hear and see God in the little things. I spent time sitting outside in the sun with my bible. It was nice because it was just me and God- no distractions. By looking for God in the little things, I realized the magnitude of who really He is.

I hope to savor these last few hours of the fast. There's no doubt that tomorrow I will begin to catch up on my shows, but I pray that the things that I have learned this month will stick with me. I love all y'all.

-T

T-minus 4 days

Dude, guys, we've practically made it. There’s less than a week left. I want to encourage everyone to push through these last couple days. I know that for me, in past years, these last days have been all about getting to the end. That’s not a good way to look at it. We all need to take each day as it comes. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble,” Matthew 6:34. I love this verse because it is so real. Yeah, everyday we're going to encounter adversity, but when we focus on tomorrow, we are just wishing our lives away. Instead, we should focus on the ways that God impacts our lives each and every day. That is what this fast is all about—removing secular media in order to be able to see God more clearly.

Also, this past Sunday I did the scripture reading thingy and when I was told the passage I found this super awesome verse. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord,” Romans 8:37-39. I don't know if it’s just me, but this sounds super legit.  First of all we are called conquerors and I think that it is extremely encouraging. Then there’s the really amazing thing, there is nothing at all that can separate us from God. Even as the media fast begins and we slowly fall back into old habits, God will always be right there calling to us. We just have to open our ears to what he has to say.

Have a spectacular last leg of the fast. I can't wait for all of the adventures on Missions Trip this summer that I will get to experience with all of you. I'm totally psyched. Love you guys and I am still praying for you.

Also thank you to my sponsors who have continually encouraged me throughout the fast. You are the reason that I have been able to keep going. You guys are awesome and mean the world to me.

Yeah, I Know This Is Late

Yeah, so I know that the fast is more than half way over and this is my first post, but better late than never, right? Blogging just isn't my thing, but I'm going to give it a shot. These past few weeks I have been so busy. Even without the distractions of media, I found myself struggling to find time to focus on God. I was so worried about AP tests, midterms, homework, and colleges. Then recently I realized two things: first, this is only my junior year, and the second thing was that ultimately God is control. I was trying to find my own way instead of listening to God's plans for my life. With this new mindset, I've been able chill (for lack of a better term) a little more. Two verses that have helped me with that are Jeremiah 29:1 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope," and 1 Peter 5:6-7 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." 
Have an amazing week. I love and am praying for you all.

-T

Halfway There

I know that I should have posted one of these forever ago, but I didn't, so I guess better now then never. Tomorrow marks the halfway point in the media fast and I can honestly say that this has been my most successful media fast I've ever done. Each year I've been successful in the fasting part of it, but this month I've read my bible so much, which is super exciting because that's always been one of my goals. These media-less Saturdays have given me plenty of extra time to spend in God's word. This month I've really focused on 2 Corinthians 5, so if you guys have any extra time you should check that out. Well, congrats on finishing the first half of the media fast and good luck to everyone in their final half! 

Last Few Days

Well, so this month  has been really long, but we only have a few more days! My weeks have been filled with Ted Dekker books and christian music on replay. So this month doing the media fast I was looking for something more than just avoiding secular media (that's pretty much how it was last year for me). Normally, I am terrible at reading my bible because I get really distracted, but this month I have actually read the bible and got something from it. My favorite thing that I've read so far this month is Colossians 3:1-4, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears then you also will appear with him in glory." I'm praying that we can have a successful last few days of the media fast!

The Beginning

hello! WOW! this is going to be way harder than i thought, and its only day 3! This is going to be a long month, but I know it will be good for me:)