Lent Findings Round 1

Don't be confused with lint findings - I haven't been digging out the dust bunnies from under the couch cushions! haha

Seriously though, found some interesting and encouraging things on Wikipedia regarding Lent. Check this out:

The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer — through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial — for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Sounds right up my alley! I'm all about prayer, penitence (repenting of sin), almsgiving (what I took from the definition I read is giving to others from your material possessions), and self-denial ("take up your cross and follow me" Matthew 16:24). All in which to celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ!!!

Also, found this section interesting:

Converts to Christianity followed a strict catechumenate or period of instruction and discipline prior to baptism. In Jerusalem near the close of the fourth century, classes were held throughout Lent for three hours each day. With the legalization of Christianity (by the Edict of Milan) and its later imposition as the state religion of the Roman Empire, its character was endangered by the great influx of new members. In response, the Lenten fast and practices of self-renunciation were required annually of all Christians, both to show solidarity with the catechumens, and for their own spiritual benefit. The less zealous converts were thus brought more securely into the Christian fold.

Hard to think of terms of the "legalization" of Christianity isn't it? We're so used to our religious freedom. Our ability to choose, or reject, whatever beliefs and ideals we want.

I'm getting more excited about this journey!

Discipline: Spirituality

Once again... it's been awhile. I've been visiting my blog a lot lately thinking I really need to update this thing, but haven't taken the time to do it. Much of that coming from my lack of discipline, hence the title of this blog.

I think I should preface this blog with the terms in which I'm using the word discipline, because it has some different meanings, and in my head I do not consider myself a very disciplined person, but others may look at me, my life, the choices I make and agree or disagree depending on what they are judging it off of. I think this definition fits what I'm thinking the closest -

to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control. (from my buddy dictionary.com) There are 2 ends of the spectrum, like most things in life, and I'm talking about discipline in the healthy sense of the word. Not a robotic regimen, but the freedom that comes from being obedient.

I've decided to break this blog up into multiple posts, because as I got going it was getting lengthy...

First topic of discussion - Spirituality. As a Christ-follower (Christian) I believe that I need to be in the Word, in prayer, and in community. Due to my lack of discipline, I currently am in the Word... when I feel like it. Pray... when I get around to it. In community... when it pursues me. All of that needs to change. Not out of legalism, but because I know what it's like to have those things working and functioning proper in my life, and I like it - I feel God's presence and work through these things. With lent approaching I have been thinking about these things, and I'm starting to pray about what God wants this thing to look like.

I've never "celebrated" Lent, and I can't really tell you a whole lot about why it's practiced or where it started. I know it has to do with prayer & fasting leading up to Easter, and I'm sure Google can help me find some answers, but I believe in prayer & fasting all throughout the year, and have not felt led in the past to do anything in particular during the season of Lent. Until this year... so here I am!

Spirituality has to be the first area I start because doing anything of my own will is for nothing. It all has to be for God and His glory!

So what are the other area's of my life I'm dissatisfied with, and have gotten thrown under the lack of discipline train? Exercise/Healthy Living & Money

Galations 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Silent Night

Open heart, sky so bright;
almost like a silent night.

A sudden mist, across my face;
must I run, or just embrace?

Open sky, shines so bright;
it is anything but, a silent night.

I hear it again, oh so clear;
"Come, sweet child, please draw near."

Open heart, filled with light;
brings sweet release; yearning for, my silent night.

Blog-a-logging

Man, I did so good for like a week! haha Here it is December 4th, and my big 'ole baby is 7 months old! Check out this little cutie patutie!

My little guy is getting so big! 5 teeth. Saying Mommamamama, Dadadada, duck, quack, pig, up, & possibly God - what can I say... he's holy! hahahaha My dad also claims he can say Chugington... but, nobody else has heard him say that one. :) He's a sweet little guy, and ornery as can be. I'm excited to celebrate this holiday season with a baby in the family!

"But the Lord was gracious..."

Isn't that like the Lord? This is the beginning of 2 Kings 13:23, "But the Lord was gracious..."

Since the sentence starts with a "But" one can assume that the words before were contrary to the words that were going to follow. God's grace in it's most common form - obnoxious, undeserved, irrational.

I've been getting daily devotionals emailed to me from Moody Bible Institute and they have been going through the book of 2 Kings. I know, 2 Kinds, OT (no, not over time, Old Testament), snoozefest, right? Quite opposite, Elijah gets swept up into Heaven, Jezebel gets mauled by wild dogs - I recommend giving it a whirl! Anways, their verse was "But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with them" This verse couldn't have topped off my morning any better... I was kind of crabby before I left for work this morning, and it was a morning I had to drop Will off at the babysitters. We always pray, well, I pray and Will was sleeping, and I was speaking to God candidly and confessing that my heart and my mind were in way, shape, or form aligned. As I was wrapping up my prayers I was just thanking the Holy Spirit for interceding on our behalf, and I felt peaceful and hopeful.

Fast forward a few hours, I'm at work, and Bo sends me an email, like he usually does, and asks me to pray for a meeting he was going to have with a student. I emailed him back, and told him I already did! While Will and I were praying on our way to work, I prayed for Bo & that he would have an opportunity to share God's grace, love, and truth with his students today! The Holy Spirit was using me to intercede on Bo's behalf! How cool is that? It was a refreshing moment for me and my walk with God - something that I had also prayed for that morning!

Psalm 147:1 Praise the Lord, How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

A Widow's Story

2 Kings 4

Elisha and the Widow’s Oil

¹Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves." ²And Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?" And she said, "Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil." ³Then he said, "Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. ⁴Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside." ⁵So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. ⁶When the vessels were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." And he said to her, "There is not another." Then the oil stopped flowing. ⁷She came and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest."

Events of the Bible, like the one above, reinforce that God not only provides what we need - he provides in abundance. Unfortunately, I can't say that I believe that. I want to, but if I'm taking an honest look at my heart and actions, I do not. Sounds silly doesn't it? "God, forgive me for my disbelief and please increase my faith?"

This story also makes me remember my friends in a far off land. I often forget that there are people around the world who's lives and circumstances can reflect the same scenario above - a widow, with children, left to provide in a culture where she has no status, respect, or significance (other than to bear children). I think of my friends, and I miss them. I wonder what their lives will bring, or how they have changed since I met them 2 years ago. I will probably never see them again... even if we went back, they would probably be difficult to track down. If they ever become widow's they will spend their day's on the dusty dirt roads begging for charity. They have no status in their society. I hope they find Jesus, and His provision! He still performs tangible miracles like he did back in the day of the Kings. "God, find them, and draw them to you. May they see you and allow You to provide for them!"

One day...

Revelation 18:2
"Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!"

These words put me at ease, and stir my heart for what's to come. Peace, rest, and celebration await us!!!!