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.

Heavenly Father, we all long for simplicity in our lives.  Help us to find contentment.  There are people and physical things that we have outgrown, or that have held us back.  There are times we have held others back as well.

Help us to release.  We let go of the people, and things that are no longer part of the divine plan for our lives.  We release them all to their highest good.  We forgive them, and they forgive us.  We leave them with our blessings.  They release us also. 

We are now free to move forward into the divine plan of our lives.  We are free, and we are content.  Let us dwell in your presence.  Amen

Photo by Erin

The main thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing.

As Christians we have many examples of what is important in life when we look at the life of Jesus.

He said to be “fishers of men, and cast your nets upon the sea”, “Heal the sick.”, “Have faith, your faith has made you well.”  In Mark Chapter 25 he tells us about the kingdom of heaven. 

Mark 25:34 – 36 Come you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in; naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison, and you came to me.

Grace and compassion for others, is the main thing.  Prayer and keeping our spirits whole is also important.  God will give us the nudge and whisper to our spirits the ways we can be part of the kingdom.  It isn’t always some huge difficult thing.  It is often something simple for us, but can be life changing for the recipient.   Go into the world today.  What do you have to offer? 

God, help us to all find the beautiful gift we each have to share with the world.  Let us touch another life with joy and encouragement.  Let us alleviate human suffering.  Let our love shine for our neighbors.  And let us love you God, with all our hearts and all our souls, and with all our minds. Keep us from loosing track of what is important.  Let us not be distracted with unimportant tasks, gossip, and planning for things outside of our control.  Guide us, be with us.  Amen.

Photo by Chrissy Oldham

The matters of the spirit are in a place between shadow and light.  There in the quietness, and peacefulness beyond reach of the physical world, we catch a glimpse of an awareness of the mystery of God.

There is more to this life than we fully understand, yet we trivialize the mystery.  We attempt to label everything.  If we can’t figure it all out we aren’t happy, if we do figure it out we aren’t happy.  Where do you go when the mystery is gone?  Back to the mundane.

Be still.  Know that God is the great “I am, that I am”.  Let go of trying to figure everything out and live in the moment today.

Father God, allow me to walk with you today; to feel your presence, and to be at peace in my spirit.  I trust that there is more than enough of all that I need today.  I give thanks.  I rejoice.  I am blessed beyond measure.  God you are the ultimate sacred mystery.  Seekers of holiness worship you, and follow the small voice that speaks to the spirit.  Let me hear your voice.  Amen

Be strong and courageous.  In the New American Standard bible translation; this exact combination of words occurs 13 times between Deuteronomy. Joshua, 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles.

I have visited so many of my favorite blogs this week and I can’t tell you how many people are feeling sorry for themselves.  I know it is dark in the northern hemisphere and it is January.  But it is time for the pity parties to stop. So right now, do these 6 things and then go out into the world and shine a light into dark places.

1. Get some direct sunlight
2. Take a walk 
3. Write something in your gratitude journal 
4. Think about the needs of someone else 
5. Decide to be strong and courageous 
6. Read the book of Joshua -

Set your purse down, and Spartan up! That includes both men and women. 

You are a radiant child of God.  You are not some hopeless, powerless, despicable worm in the dirt.  You are a saint.  You are made in the image of the most high God, and the very breath of God fills your spirit.

You were given the authority to heal the sick, and to alleviate human suffering.  You were given free will.  You may choose to live a life of significance!  You may leave this world a better place than it was before you got here! You be strong and courageous! Find your purpose and your joy.

The Old Testament is filled with stories.  Things never turn out well for the whiners and bed wetters.  We are told over and over about the people who were strong in the LORD.  The people who stand on the promises of God.  They stand on their faith and move mountains, and free the oppressed. Dwell upon what is possible.  Make it a great day!

Flickr photo

God, we lift up the people of Haiti, placing them tenderly in your care.  We ask that an end is brought to the suffering.  We ask for strength, wisdom and a spirit of cooperation for them and the relief workers.

Let there be divine order and complete restoration for their lives there.  We ask for miracles of their behalf.

Guide them, keep them, comfort them, prosper them and build up their nation.  Let there be more than enough aid, medical care and supplies to sustain them.  Let the clean up and rebuilding get moving quickly.  Move the hearts of their neighbors to assist in the best possible way. Be with them, and all those who volunteer, donate, and pray for the people of Haiti.  Amen

Photo by Chrissy Oldham

Many of us begin the new year with the hope of changing something in our lives.  I want my life to improve in 2010.   My personal goal is to slim down and eat less.  We all have something, smoking, drinking, gossiping, overeating, wasting too much time on video games and Internet surfing, and countless other things.  Let he who is without sin toss the first rock.

The important thing to know is you can overcome.  You are more powerful than you realize.  What ever you want to do, do it today.  Just today.  Don’t even think about or worry about tomorrow.  Time is a finite resource.  How will we use it best today?

Holy God, our rock and our strength.  Help us to overcome the weakness of the flesh.  Give us courage to act, and fill our spirits with your breath and resolve. You have said that through Christ all things are possible.  You have given us authority to do many things.  You have said that both life and death are in the power of the tongue.  Let us choose life.  Let us find our stride and our courage.  Today we call on you and you hear our prayer and answer us.  Amen

Romans 5:5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Photo by Chrissy Oldham

There is a spirit within us that is never poor, yet I think sometimes we go hungry because we are afraid to ask for what we want. We fear we may be inadequate.  We fear there may be some powerful world-changing gift we have, and therefore we are responsible to utilize it.  Is there a huge audacious idea you caught a glimpse of that could make a positive impact on humanity? What holds us back?  What keeps us from acting on the large, or small important things?  Our fears.  What if we are wrong?  What if we fail?  We can’t see too far ahead. Usually that is a good thing.

 

Father God, guide our steps.  Help us live in faith.  Help us each to know we are capable of sharing the great and wonderful gifts you have given us.  We invite the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and connect us to you.  Let us each be a force for good.  Let us encourage each other and bring out the very best in all that surrounds us.  Amen

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 Rudy Matthiesen

The key is to not do too many things at one time.  To move to a life of significance, we must focus on one thing at a time.  Big dreams, daring adventures, exciting lives are available to us as we seek a higher purpose.

The problem I find in myself is, if I am not quite sure the next step on my significant task, then I distract myself so I don’t have to continue to step forward.  I look through a cookbook, or call someone. “Hi there, no, nothing new.  Just checking in to see how you are doing?” And the big important thing vaporizes at that point.

We want our lives to count for something.  We know we are capable of being a positive change for good.  We could leave this world a better place.  The clock is ticking.  We are aware of it most at the close of a year.  How can we make the coming year count?  What significant action could be part of our higher awareness, our higher calling?

Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.