So, I noticed every piece of Chocolate or candy my students ate today at school. But I was able to overcome that with God's help. What I noticed though is that my awareness was raised tremendously. I have found myself waking up before my alarm goes off and praying. I LOVE IT! God meets us like a willing lover as soon as we show the least bit of interest in spending time with him. I have a hard time reading or carving out time to read my bible every day. So, I decided to live beyond the self condemnation and use modern technology to my advantage. I downloaded the Bible on my old iPod and I am going to attempt to listen to it while I am out and about. After all Jesus said "Faith comes by HEARING" not reading. So, he wasn't caught up in the HOW but the discipline.
As far as sweets are concerned I am not living in a jail on this. I did have a reasonable piece of the cake my wife made. Funny thing is that, while I did not feel condemnation, I also did not feel any strange satisfaction of an urge to eats sweets. Perhaps God is going to deliver me of the "urge" and let it be an occasional pleasure.
And I did great being positive today...until. My wife and I were looking at some photos of a friend who is destroying his marriage. Let's just say I got sarcastic and angry with him. Mainly because I know he is choosing the wrong path and will, maybe, live to regret this. And I am watching him secretly destroy the inside of his wonderful bride. God is a God of mercy and justice though. I need to leave the sarcasim and cling to prayer. After all, "but for the grace of God go I".
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Lent? Why should I do it?
"Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ - his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection."
I found this definition on about.com and thought it was a great description. Although recently a Catholic friend of mine said that her priest has encouraged their church to not focus on giving up something but "adding something to your life". A little less sacrificial but a good spin on this traditional Christian practice.
But I am not Catholic or associated with any of the few non-Catholic denominations that practice Lent. This could be my out right now. I should run to the candy machine while I still can.
But, as a believer, I am held to all of the above regardless of my church affiliation. "Fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline" are not Catholic, they are Christian. Reflection on the the sacrifice of Jesus for us all is required regradless of what group you are associated with.
My attraction to Lent I think comes from my deep desire to be closer to God. It has nothing to do with affiliation. I have met several people, especially in the African American community, that set aside the first month of the year for fasting, praying and seeking God for direction.
No matter how you label, spin or decorate it, as Christians we are called to such practices.
So, how do I start my journey this next 40 days? Well, I know God is behind me on this. First, I have become aware of my clear addiction to sweets. I crave them. That addiction has kept me from losing weight any more. I reached a 55 pound loss and stopped. I found that the cycle for me was craving salts and sweets every day throughout the day. I know that this is an addiction that keeps me in a constant cycle and it is a way of coping with my emotions. Let's face it, chocolate and sweets give us a rush of endorphens. These make us feel good. Nothing wrong with that. Except for me, I am constantly chasing that feeling. And he entire time I am poisoning my body. I am going to try to stop that cycle. So, how does my wife help me? Bakes my favorite chocolate cake last night. LOL She didn't do it intentionally. I called her evil though.
Second lent item was a challenge fromt the foreign language teachers to do together. We are going to try to not be critical of anyone for 40 days. 40 days!!! I need some chocolate. But this is a good practice and one that Jesus would encourage I am sure. So here goes nothing on that one.
Third, I am going to practice what my friend suggested. I am going to add somthing to my life to improve it. Daily prayer walks for both prayer time and exercise. Constant awareness to pray. And when I crave a sweet I am going to read the Word and/or pray. Even if it is a verse in the Bible.
We'll see how this goes. Keep me in Prayer! (And don't say anything negative and less you have a fist full of chocolate to give me when I fall. LOL)
I found this definition on about.com and thought it was a great description. Although recently a Catholic friend of mine said that her priest has encouraged their church to not focus on giving up something but "adding something to your life". A little less sacrificial but a good spin on this traditional Christian practice.
But I am not Catholic or associated with any of the few non-Catholic denominations that practice Lent. This could be my out right now. I should run to the candy machine while I still can.
But, as a believer, I am held to all of the above regardless of my church affiliation. "Fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline" are not Catholic, they are Christian. Reflection on the the sacrifice of Jesus for us all is required regradless of what group you are associated with.
My attraction to Lent I think comes from my deep desire to be closer to God. It has nothing to do with affiliation. I have met several people, especially in the African American community, that set aside the first month of the year for fasting, praying and seeking God for direction.
No matter how you label, spin or decorate it, as Christians we are called to such practices.
So, how do I start my journey this next 40 days? Well, I know God is behind me on this. First, I have become aware of my clear addiction to sweets. I crave them. That addiction has kept me from losing weight any more. I reached a 55 pound loss and stopped. I found that the cycle for me was craving salts and sweets every day throughout the day. I know that this is an addiction that keeps me in a constant cycle and it is a way of coping with my emotions. Let's face it, chocolate and sweets give us a rush of endorphens. These make us feel good. Nothing wrong with that. Except for me, I am constantly chasing that feeling. And he entire time I am poisoning my body. I am going to try to stop that cycle. So, how does my wife help me? Bakes my favorite chocolate cake last night. LOL She didn't do it intentionally. I called her evil though.
Second lent item was a challenge fromt the foreign language teachers to do together. We are going to try to not be critical of anyone for 40 days. 40 days!!! I need some chocolate. But this is a good practice and one that Jesus would encourage I am sure. So here goes nothing on that one.
Third, I am going to practice what my friend suggested. I am going to add somthing to my life to improve it. Daily prayer walks for both prayer time and exercise. Constant awareness to pray. And when I crave a sweet I am going to read the Word and/or pray. Even if it is a verse in the Bible.
We'll see how this goes. Keep me in Prayer! (And don't say anything negative and less you have a fist full of chocolate to give me when I fall. LOL)
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Finding the Diamond
Seems these days I spend half my time sifting through the coal of my thoughts searching for the diamond of God's perfect will for me and my family. I see several opportunities to do the work of the Kingdom, or just plain work, and no clarity to which one is "the diamond". Or is it that I have a bag full of diamonds and just don't know which one to choose? I is really just a choice what we do for God? Do we over spiritualize instead of just living? For most I would say they have mastered the art of just "living for God". But as someone with a call to ministry I find it hard to just "live". I am compelled to do.
But which way do I go? Past experiences make me feel unsure. Presently realities make me feel unprepared or, at least, unwise it certain directions. Yet the fantasies of where I see "the diamond" are so grand and beyond my scope of possibilities that I find myself dreaming and not acting. But perhaps I must be reminded that diamonds aren't made at jewelry stores. They are made in the blackest of places under the most intense pressure, buried under an incredible amount of resistance from being freed. Perhaps my "diamond" is still in the rough.
But which way do I go? Past experiences make me feel unsure. Presently realities make me feel unprepared or, at least, unwise it certain directions. Yet the fantasies of where I see "the diamond" are so grand and beyond my scope of possibilities that I find myself dreaming and not acting. But perhaps I must be reminded that diamonds aren't made at jewelry stores. They are made in the blackest of places under the most intense pressure, buried under an incredible amount of resistance from being freed. Perhaps my "diamond" is still in the rough.
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