Posted by Clare in Challenges, Featured | 41 Comments
21 Days to a Hunger-Free {and Healthy!} Holiday: Week 1-Sacrifice
Hey all! I am so happy to see that this challenge excites you as much as it does me! I am ready to do a bit of a detox after a long weekend of Thanksgiving goodies and whacked out exercise! 
Here is your checklist for this week:
1.) Get your jar/container that your notes and/or money will go in
2.) Print off the verses to glue on your jar or carry with you
3.) Establish a money or service amount that you will “pay yourself” every time you make the healthy decision
4.) Get to it!
Every Monday for these next 3 weeks, I’ll be talking a little bit about what I’m processing through this challenge. This week, I want to start out with the word SACRIFICE.
I want you to know that even though you are going after this with great intentions, it won’t be easy! We are indeed SACRIFICING something in our lives, be it our taste buds’ satisfaction, our time, or our talent.
(Photo taken by Grace Designs Photography)
But as our verse says,
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16
God is pleased with us doing good, and sharing with others. We are SERVING others, which means that we are humbly putting ourselves in a different position, sometimes bringing on heartache and pain, to help another. I guarantee you, that at sometime during this challenge, you will feel a little sting as you put that money or act of service in your jar! But as Christians, we are to be living sacrifices in everything we do…
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” Romans 12:1
The exact “reason for the season” is the greatest example of this sacrifice for us!
“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
I am so thankful for the birth of Jesus–the One who sacrificed His life to take away my sins!
♥♥♥
I know that God will be teaching you some things through these 21 days and I would love to hear about it! Please be sure to check in on my facebook wall, twitter, or even in the comments below here.
Finally, I would love to have a tally of how many are going to take part in this challenge. Would you mind leaving a comment below telling me that you are in?! (If family is doing it together, I’d love to hear that too!)If you are a blogger, feel free to link-up a post (be sure to add the button!) too!
Ready. Set. GO!!! 21 Days to a Hunger-Free {and Healthy!} Holiday has begun!!
P.S. It’s never too late to join us!
I forgot the link-up! Sorry! HEre it is!
I’m in and I will be doing this by myself, thank you for the wonderful idea and what a great way to help others too.
Can’t wait to start tomorrow!
I’m in starting tomorrow.
I will be participating with both money and acts. I plan to get my teenage daughters to participate as well.
I’ll be doing it and trying to talk two of my friends into it as well!
I’m in with you
Gonna join you!!
hi Clare,
Loving your site!
Inspired to share a bit…in the Catholic Church, the two holiest seasons we celebrate are Lent and Advent. Both are a time of sacrifice as we wait in anticipation for the birth (Advent) and Resurrection (Lent) of our Savior. As we prepare for Christmas, we celebrate Advent, which is the 4 weeks leading up to the birth of our Savior. Advent begins Sunday, Dec 2nd and is indeed a time of sacrifice and preparation; preparing for God made man – how awesome! We encourage our children to sacrifice during these 4 weeks as a way to prepare our hearts for Christmas.
What a perfect time to begin this journey with you – thank you for the encouragement!
Pax Christi, amanda
What a wonderful idea! Starting tomorrow
I’m so excited to start this challenge! My husband and 12 year old daughter will join in with me. We will be making our sacrifice for the Lottie Moon offering at our church! Good luck to all!
I’m so in! Thank you for your obedience to Him!
I’m in and SO excited!!!
YES YES YES! This is fabulous! Looking forward to the challenge…3 weeks…i…can…do…it!
thank you!
I am going to try to do this!
I’m in!!
Thank you!
Good morning! I already had my first sacrifice at 4 am. After being away from the office since Wednesday, enjoying a relaxing break with my family and recently upping my fitness routine to get over a plateau, I was NOT wanting to sacrifice my warm bed for the gym this morning. The thing that got me up (even my dogs weren’t budging) was knowing I could pay someone else with my sacrifice. I decided to give up my warm bed for the gym and in turn donate blankets so that others may have warm beds. Thanks again for such a great challenge!
I am in!! I just printed off the verses and note cards. I also lead a Women’s Study and we’re doing Made to Crave. I plan to make up a jar for each of the ladies and share about this challenge the next time we meet! I hope they are as excited as I am about it:)
I am in and very excited!
I’m in! This is a great idea!
I’m in! A friend posted this on facebook and the timing was perfect – I was planning to start on my own journey this morning so now I have a connection which will make it easier!
I’m in. Thanks for the inspiration.
I’m in! I’m so thankful Clare, that God gave you the wonderful vision for this and not only is it a healthy, exercise minded .. Fun journey were on but has a super and I think perhaps more important mindset focused on Godly things this Holiday season!
I am also reading a great book which ties in beautifully with your challenge right now…Greater Health, Gods Way.
I believe there is a theme here..lol.
God bless you girl!
I’m in!! Just the motivation I need to keep going with health goals through a time of sweets & parties galore!
This challenge fits perfectly with my fitness & life goals – I’m definitely IN!
Thanks for the challenge!!!
Getting my jar right now! Keep giving us ideas for this challenge. ☺
I’m in Clare! Thanks for all the work you do to keep the rest of us on track!
I’m in!! Thank you for challenging me
I’m in! Last week (the day you sent the email about the challenge) I came home from work and my 13 year old daughter was upset because she’d received mail from her favorite charity (which helps to support children in the foster system), but she didn’t have any money to send. In previous years, instead of asking for gifts for herself at her birthday party (which is right around Christmas) she’d asked for gifts for the children who stay in the temporary location before being moved to a foster home and donate all of them to the facility. This year, she wasn’t having a party, but still wanted to do something. I told her about the challenge and (we both love to workout) we decided that for every workout one of us gets in over the next 3 weeks, I’ll donate a $1 to her charity. She was thrilled and I was thrilled to see her so excited to give during this season
Great idea! I’m in!
Claire, I am in for the challenge. Thank you!
I’m taking the challenge!
Hi Clare, I’m so glad you are doing this. It’s perfect timing for me and I didn’t even know you were doing a challenge. I’m back to working out again and changing the way I eat {this is so hard for me}.
So I’m in!!
By His Grace,
Adrienne R
I’m in! Love this idea!
I AM IN…..SUCH A WONDERFUL IDEA
Chiming in a little late, but I’m in. I have been trying to pay myself for working out over the last few months. I’ve been semi-successful but paying me has not been the motivation I had hoped it would be. I’m joining the challenge and will be sacrificing for a single mom I know. The jar of bills will go to her at the end of the challenge. Now that I have a name, a face and a real need attached to what I’m doing, I have a new sense of urgency about this. I didn’t make to the gym yesterday as I had planned and I was grieved because I knew I was taking away from someone who needed me to go. Today’s a new day and today I will go – to bless this mom. Thanks for the challenge and thank you Lord for giving me a fresh focus!
I’m doing this!
I’m in. I started today and will link up a post tomorrow. Love this idea!
Hi! I am participating from the beginning. I have linked up and told about this challenge in a post on my blog. I am doing this challenge, by myself at home, but my children are very interested in this and are really helping me to stick to healthy resolutions.
We are going to donate something from their savings, too. And this is a great opportunity for them for helping other children and for me, of course!
Thanks for this great idea and inspiration!
Ludo
I’m in for sure! I need to teach my 12 year old daughter to be less self-serving and more helpful to others, so this example I set will be a good lesson…for both of us.
Hi! I am participating and am excited to finally finish my jar today! Got my verses printed off… Thank you for this challenge and inspiring many people to give of themselves this holiday season. May you be blessed through your faithfulness.
This has been fun so far. Sharing with all that I can..