The Beginning

 

Choose 7 foods and ONLY eat those 7 foods for an entire month.

Choose 7 articles of clothing and ONLY wear those 7 articles of clothing for an entire month.

Choose 7 items of media and completely get rid of them for an entire month.

Choose 7 items each day and sacrificially get rid of them for an entire month.

Choose 7 areas/ways that you can give back to the beautiful earth our Lord created for an entire month.

Choose 7 places and ONLY spend money at those locations for an entire month.

Choose 7 times a day and PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY

 

My sweet friend Hayley told me several weeks ago about a book called 7: an experimental mutiny agianst excess by Jen Hatmaker. This book is about a lady who spent 7 full months tackling 7 different areas of her life.  In each month she would select only 7 of these items to use the entire month, or she would select 7 items each day to sacrificially give away!  Sounds crazy right!! It gets worse!  The first month is Food and she can only select 7 different foods that she will eat the entire month. And did I mention that she did not include any condiments?!  WOWZERS!! I eat 7 different things in one meal!  How would this lady be able to only eat 7 items for an entire month?  She cray-cray! 

 

Hayley then told me that she would actually be living this experience out herself.  At first I thought she was coo coo for cocoa puffs and then something in side of me said, "No, this is exactly what you need!!!"  I am pretty sure that was God nudging me saying "This is your time to go EXTREME or go home!" I have been longing for a closer relationship with the Lord and here is my chance!!

 

I felt like God was wanting me to do this challenge with Hayley so that I could learn several things.

 

Here is what I want and plan to learn:

 

1. Realize that we live in a world FULL of excess!

 

2. Learn to live with less

 

3. Give back to the poor and needy

 

4. Spend more time with the Lord

 

5. Come closer to the Lord

 

I can't wait until the end of this 7 month challenge to see what all I truly learned!!!  Want to join us?  Go by and pick up a copy of this book at Mardel or Lifeway Christian Book Stores! 

 

I plan on blogging as often as possible to let everyone know how and if I am able to stick with it, what I have learned, and how this has brought me closer to the LORD.  I do not plan on taking anything away from Jen Hatmaker's work.  She did an excellent job of explaining things in her book, but I want more people to know about this experience and how it is affecting my life!  I am 100% motivated and committed to see this through!  There are several other people at our church that will be doing this challenge also.  I hope that they will be blogging along with me!  I hope that you get to hear from them soon!  And for those of you who know me personally NO my husband is not doing this with me!  This is something I feel like God wants me to do so I am doing it!  

 

I am asking up front that you forgive my horrible grammar and spelling!  Please and thank you!  :)

 

HERE WE GO!!!