Prayer: The Gate

I like Lent.  My husband says it appeals to my minimalist side.  It is a time of preparation.  It is a journey of the spirit.

1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, gird your minds for actions, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  1:14  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,  1:15 but like the Holy one who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.

Father God, help me be holy.  Help me to be as Peter says with my mind ready for action, sober in spirit (steady, reliable) and my hope completely on the grace brought by the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Yes, let me be completely about the grace. 

This is a time of preparation for Easter, for the symbol of sacrifice.  It is a journey to discover the mystery of you and you loved each of us first, even before we loved you.  It is good to travel the path with other seekers of holiness.  It is good to go to Lenten studies and share a humble bowl of soup, to sing, to read and especially to pray. It is good to feel called and loved and be part of the body of Christ.   Thank you God.  Amen.

It feels like a fresh, wholesome, exciting opportunity.  What does?  This New Year.

Holy and amazing God, thank you for this New Year and the blessing it brings to each of us.  Let us recognize opportunities to grow spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually.  Let us recognize and act on the chance to be generous to all we know and see. 

I pray for each of you to have a fantastic 2010.  May God shower you with his rich blessings and may he speak to you and hold you in his love.  Thank you for reading this blog.  I appreciate your comments and thoughts more than you know.

I have launched another blog called Fast300Meals.  I am beginning a journey to fast 300 meals in 365 days. It is a spiritual and physical journey.

Photo by Chrissy Oldham

We are in the time of expectant waiting, for the Christian church.  Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent.  It is a time of preparation as we wait to celebrate the birth of the Messiah.

I love the advent season.  Probably it is the purple candles.  It is a dark time of year with the winter solstice at hand.  But the light of the world is on the way.

“Father God, we are grateful for the rich and wonderful blessings in all our lives.  We are grateful you sent your son to save the world.  Let us prepare to celebrate with generosity toward our fellow man.  Help us keep love and joy in our hearts this season and be a blessing to everyone we know and see.  Thank you for sending the light to the world.  Amen”

Photo by MommyFromSeattle

Monday of this week is Yom Kippur.  Yom Kippur is the most sacred Jewish holiday, referred to as the “Sabbath of Sabbaths” .

Throughout the 25-hour holiday, Jews must refrain from eating and drinking; anointing themselves with lotions or perfumes; engaging in marital relations; washing themselves; and wearing leather shoes.

These prohibitions symbolically represent the angels in Heaven, whose purity Jews try to emulate on Yom Kippur.

Most Holy God.  I pray for Jewish people everywhere at this time of their collective fast.  Make easy their fast and bless them. 

I pray that I too, may humble myself before you.  I ask to be forgiven and to be reconciled to you. I would pray for my family, for friends.  I pray for those who need to sell a house, and those who need a job.  I pray there is more than enough food to feed the hungry.  I ask that there is love and protection for children everywhere.  Thank you for hearing my prayer.  Amen

 It was a lovely sunrise and this is how it looked from my front door. 

Muslim people all over the world right now are carefully watching the sunrise and sunset.  It is Ramadan.  They will be able to have breakfast before sunrise and then fast until sunset.  They will pray 5 times each day.  Ramadan started on August 21st  this year and will end September 19th. 

A trend I see is people trying things for 30 days.  There have been several blog posts where people have documented eating raw food, or vegan, or giving up coffee or beer for 30 days. People have eaten “mindfully” for 30 days or exercised.  Many of us do want to improve and develop our lives to the fullest.

So back to Ramadan. What would my life be like if I prayed 5 times a day for 30 days while fasting from sunrise to sunset?  It might be good to try, even for a day or 2 (just dip my toe in the water).  I believe it would make a person feel quite close to God.  It might be a worthwhile undertaking.

This is a short day of fasting because I stopped eating at 3:00 pm last Sunday.  So I will pray with Jim and Betsy at 4:00 pm today, and then come home for dinner.

If you have not fasted before I have a few words of advice. 

1. Start with a shorter fast at first (24 hours)
2. Pray before you start
3. Set a definite start and stop time
4. When you end your fast, pray
5. Drink water (I drink mineral water like S.Pellegrino in the large bottles, at least 1 per day)

Praying at the end of your fast is the best part, so don’t cheat yourself out of the best part. Give yourself at least 30 minutes of quiet uninterrupted time to be with God.  Listen for him to reveal things to you.  Enjoy being in his presence.

After an extended fast like this one for seven days, I will need to go slowly to re-introduce food to my body.  That means food that is very gentle on the stomach and digestive system.  I will have some steamed vegetables this evening.  I have some mushrooms, a bell pepper, a yellow summer squash and 2 leeks.  Just select some vegetables you like (a baked potato, vegetable soup, etc).  I also like yogurt and I may have one of those later in the evening. Only eat a little at a time as to not overwhelm your system.

You may think you want a double cheese burger and fries, or plate of steak, ribs, and fried shrimp or giant pork green chili burrito the size of Rhode Island, but trust me, it isn’t a good idea.  Those dense, heavy foods will turn to a giant rock in your stomach and you will not feel well.  So wait a couple of days before you do that to yourself.

I am not a vegetarian, but will eat mostly vegetables for the next few days and be kind to my system.  Also by doing that, I will not gain the 12 pounds back that I have lost.

I feel great, strong, healthy, slender, and free.  My spirit feels free, and I am restored and renewed.

Newsong