Oh, the Challenge!

So, it's Lent.  I've given up flour & sugar, and it's been really good so far... until now. 

I'm sick, and all I want is some Mrs. Grass chicken noodle soup.  I just got my order of Girl Scout cookies yesterday too!  If I wasn't sick, I'd be craving those!!! 

There's a little voice in my head that says, "Just go ahead and make the soup, it's okay, it's not like you're being glutonous about it... you're sick, it's okay.  Jesus will understand." and then there's an answering voice that says, "WHAT?!  Jesus didn't get a 'time out' from the desert when He didn't feel well!  You can do this!!!" 

The cookies are hidden at work, and will remain there until Easter, at least.  Last time I brought a box to work, I put it away and then forgot about it!  It was a nice surprise a few months later.  (the package hadn't been opened, they were still fresh)

Fat Tuesday- Ash Wednesday... Dive IN!

Timothy 4:7-8 "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.  For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

The verse that I start with today is actually the verse-of-the-day from last week.  It seemed rather appropriate for a send-off into Lent.

I am quite literally enjoying "Fat Tuesday" before my lenton journey begins in 12 short hours, with a hot dog & cheetos for lunch, and my last Coke for 40 days....  I have made the choice to better my diet selection, in other words, I'm giving up processed flour and processed sugar.  At first it will actually be all flour & sugars, so as to get all the gunk out of my system.  It will be a challenge, but I've done it before- over 10 years ago!

During Lent this year, I will be focusing on the verse of the day every single day.  I'll journal about it, blog about it, pray about it.  I'm sure that it will - somehow, someway - tie into my junk-food-fast.  Keeping the focus on God, making the changes to better myself for God, in the name of God.... it all helps me stay focused on being godly, as Timothy writes.  Sure, it'll be great to eat healthier, and yeah, it'll be wonderful if/when I start to lose weight, but that's not why I'm giving up flour & sugar for 40 days.  A challenge, a sacrifice, a reminder of what Jesus gave up for us.... There's no comparisson here, 40 days in the desert definatly trumps anything we could give up or change, but, basically, it's the thought that counts. 

How will you be bettering yourself over the next 6 weeks?  One of my previous committments to better my life for Christ was to give up negativity.  You think not eating junk food or not using facebook or twitter for 6 weeks is hard, try losing that negative attitude, your own worst critic that sits inside you and whispers in your ear during your most insecure moments!  Rather than resenting Lent because you have to give up chocolate or coffee, think on a grander scale.  Take the money you saved by not indulging & give it back to the church, a charity, or a food bank.  Instead of living without caffeine for 40 days - or whatever you choose to give up - you helped that many more people with your small sacrifice.

365 Days of Prayer

For anyone who reads my personal blog, I was wondering what to do for 365 days.  I've heard of people doing 365 days of photos, interviews, recipes, etc... I am going to do 365 days of prayer!  Starting 01/28/12, I am praying for the same person every day - without telling that person.  Sort of an experiment, just to see how the Holy Spirit will work in their life, how they might grow over the next year! 

In the past, I've silently prayed for friends to find God- it took almost 5 years, but they got there!  When I was in college there was a guy on the baseball team who was just a real jerk.... I prayed for him every day for 30 days and by the last week he was actually brining his bible out in the dugout and on road trips- what an amazing turn around!  I'm really excited to see what an intense year of prayer will do!!!

Maybe I will tell the person, maybe I won't... we'll see.  Day 4 down, 361 to go! 

Power of Prayer

Do you ever wonder how prayer works?  I mean- really, and truly, why and how it works? 

The final confirmation class for the youth group was all about prayer, last night.  One of the things that was mentioned was how God's just like any other good parent- He knows what we want, what we need, and what's best for us, but He still would rather have us ask Him in lieu of silence.  I guess it's kind of like a parent asking for a wish list before your birthday?  They know what you want, they know what's best for you, but they encourage you to think about it. 

God wants us to think about what we're asking for.  He wants us to grow in Him as we ask Him for help. 

Today's bible verse is James 4:10 "Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up." 

AMEN!  I mean, well, yeah- there are those incredibly human moments when I am convinced that this is a cosmic joke, that God likes to watch us squirm and suffer as He waits for us to finally catch on, but for the most part, that's not really what I believe.  At all.  That's more of a "I'm frustrated and lashing out" response.....

So, yes- the point of the verse?  To ask for help.  The lesson of the verse?  Humble yourself in the Lord and He will help you see what He wants for you, and that will lift you up above any of your own wants or needs.  It's true.  If you humbly say, "I want to win the lotto" that won't work... can you really humbly ask for millions of dollars?  If you humbly say, "Lord, help me to see where You want me to be, help me to do Your Will" then of course He's going to lift you up and show you the way! 

Food for thought:  Next time you think you need to pray for something, instead ask for the Holy Spirit to help you understand the why of your current situation.  The enlightenment will be beyond words...

Time

"Time is strange.  A moment can be as short as a breath or as long as eternity." ~ Cornell Woolrich

Have you ever had those moments that seem to last for an eternity?  Or the enigma of the car trip that takes for ever to get to point A, but returning home takes 1/2 the time?  Or how about God's timing? 

God's timing.... ha.  Something that I'm sure we all struggle with, I sure know I do!  No matter how much I journal, pray, meditate, journal, inquire, ask for guidance, journal, self-assess, etc, I cannot find an answer to God's timing & why I haven't met my husband yet.  (or even someone I'd want to date?!)  God's answered me as to why I didn't get hired into the job I'm in until I did, or why I ended up moving 3 times between January 2010 and January 2011, and I've gotten pretty good at trusting His timing over what I think my own timeline should be, but the whole spouse thing just really gets me. 

What issues have you had to give up to God's timing? 

I know I've talked about it before, but I'm gonna say it again because I absolutely love the anaolgy: what happens on God's clock at 2 o'clock won't necessarily make sense sometimes until 10 o'clock the next day.  Now- the thing to remember, is God's timing is different then our timing!  I mean- creating the world in 7 days, Moses being hundreds of years old... ???

What is time, but a "name" that we have come up with to measure the passing of ... time... ?

A Positive Soul Cry!

Last night I had a burning urge to call one of the families I know from youth group.  It was pretty intense, I was really, really worried that there was something happening that was bad, that they needed prayer for some unforseen tragedy- right?  This is how it usually happens for me! 

So, after the third day of feeling this feeling, I called them. 

Luckily, not a thing was going on!  It was just a quick conversation, a nice hello, and a "Gee, I'm glad that nobody died!" *grin*

Praise God for happy little miracles! *grin*

Just. Breathe.

Today has been one of "those" days. 

Terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day, and I think I'm moving to Australia....
(reference to a beloved children's book: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day)

I have a meeting at church tonight for senior high youth group regular planning & retreat planning.  Somehow, I've GOT to turn my mood around!  I don't feel inspired, patient, or grace-filled at all- not a good way to start the afternoon, and definately not a good way to go into planning tonight, and not a good time to be going to church- I feel like I could snap someone's head off and not realize it happened until tomorrow!!!

While venting to my mom, she reminded me that these are the times when it is best time to go to church.  Even if it's not a service, even if it's not mass, just be present.  She's right!  (of course she's right, she's Mom.) *grin* 

While Australia might be a fun retreat, I don't think running half-way around the world is going to resolve my mood. 

~~~

Dearest Mary, Mother of God,
You have the power to bestow graces upon us- please help me find the grace to forgive those around me.  Please help me find the patience within to quiet my soul, and help prepare me so that I may be a vessel, bringing God's message to the table tonight.  Help me to be present in your Son, Jesus Christ, and help me to feel His presence in me. 

Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.