This is a post from October...but thought with this cold weather was good to repost...
Okay ladies, the weather is cooling down so it is time to bust out your crock pots! Use this space to post your favorite dump and savor recipes to share. If you have a great website or blog, be sure to share that too!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Lent: Not always about giving up
From an article In the Spirit:Five things to take up rather than give up this Lent By Patty Kirk, Westville, Oklahoma (Click on the Title - Lent: Not always about giving up - above for the complete article.)
Get outdoors
One of the simplest and most immediate ways for me to get a sense of God’s presence is to go outside and look for it.
To remind myself of God’s omnipresence, I plan outdoor time: a trip across campus for my mail instead of having it delivered, a long run on the country roads near my house, a magically relaxing moment of bird watching.
Spend time with others
Another place where I’m sure to find God is in others, specifically those who are—or should be—the recipients of my generosity and compassion.
The needy themselves, according to Jesus, are God. In answer to his disciples’ questions about what to expect at the end of time, Jesus envisions himself enthroned in heaven, dividing the nations into two groups: those who showed him hospitality when he was hungry, thirsty, naked, sick and alone, and those who did not. Neither group remembers encountering Jesus in such circumstances, and he explains, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
I don’t have to go very far to find God in the needy. They’re all around me: retired colleagues, a neighbor kid whose mom needs a break, the mom herself. During Lent, I consciously set out to enjoy moments with them.
Pray for the little things
During Lent I pray more often—out in the garden, on my runs, over lunch with friends. I also pray smaller, about the most minor details of my life: to-do lists, writing deadlines, lost keys.
Others may consider such prayers inappropriate or irreverent. Many lim-it their prayers to desires they think God wants for them, not what they want for themselves.
Certainly, we should put God’s will before ours. But aren’t we also meant to be childlike in our faith? My daughters prayed about the most minute details of their lives—a lost toy, a sibling fight, a hard test, a bad breakup. Often, even when they prayed in anger or malice, I sensed a peace in them afterward, as though God had heard and answered their prayers. It’s never wrong to pray about anything.
“Here’s this problem,” I rant, as though God were a student who had skipped several classes. Then I worry forth my certitude of how bad things are and how much worse they’re likely to get.
I may sound pushy, disrespectful even, in my prayer-worries, and I am. I am as self-absorbed and demanding as my teenage daughters can be. But here’s the thing. During Lent and always, God is present. Nearby. Listening. Longing to respond.
If the one thing I give up during the Lenten season is worry, it’s only because I take on prayer. Prayer always draws us closer to God, and that is what Lent is all about—finding greater opportunities to bring the Divine into our daily lives. Hopefully that is what I can teach my daughters.
See the answers
Early in my adult faith I longed to read the Bible daily. As a full-time teacher and the mother of two toddlers, though, I had to spend what little unoccupied time I had grading papers. So I prayed for more time.
I didn’t really expect anything to change. And nothing did, exactly. I stayed just as busy at work, grading papers, just as busy at home, as I always had. Nevertheless, somehow I was able to get it all done. Every morning, that whole year, I read the Bible. I was granted the miracle of time.
Lent is a time to consciously acknowledge and appreciate life’s daily miracles. The miracles of dirt and winter onions and answered prayers.
Turn worry into prayer
If I ever felt challenged to give a cherished or unhealthy habit up for Lent, it would have to be worrying. Worries about my daughters or money or some conflict wake me most nights. I even worry about worrying. And I’m forever vowing, in vain, to stop. In the spirit of Lenten renewal, though, I weave my worrying into prayers. I call it “pray-worrying,” the closest I’ve ever come to that mysterious faith achievement of “just giving it to Jesus.”
Get outdoors
One of the simplest and most immediate ways for me to get a sense of God’s presence is to go outside and look for it.
To remind myself of God’s omnipresence, I plan outdoor time: a trip across campus for my mail instead of having it delivered, a long run on the country roads near my house, a magically relaxing moment of bird watching.
Spend time with others
Another place where I’m sure to find God is in others, specifically those who are—or should be—the recipients of my generosity and compassion.
The needy themselves, according to Jesus, are God. In answer to his disciples’ questions about what to expect at the end of time, Jesus envisions himself enthroned in heaven, dividing the nations into two groups: those who showed him hospitality when he was hungry, thirsty, naked, sick and alone, and those who did not. Neither group remembers encountering Jesus in such circumstances, and he explains, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
I don’t have to go very far to find God in the needy. They’re all around me: retired colleagues, a neighbor kid whose mom needs a break, the mom herself. During Lent, I consciously set out to enjoy moments with them.
Pray for the little things
During Lent I pray more often—out in the garden, on my runs, over lunch with friends. I also pray smaller, about the most minor details of my life: to-do lists, writing deadlines, lost keys.
Others may consider such prayers inappropriate or irreverent. Many lim-it their prayers to desires they think God wants for them, not what they want for themselves.
Certainly, we should put God’s will before ours. But aren’t we also meant to be childlike in our faith? My daughters prayed about the most minute details of their lives—a lost toy, a sibling fight, a hard test, a bad breakup. Often, even when they prayed in anger or malice, I sensed a peace in them afterward, as though God had heard and answered their prayers. It’s never wrong to pray about anything.
“Here’s this problem,” I rant, as though God were a student who had skipped several classes. Then I worry forth my certitude of how bad things are and how much worse they’re likely to get.
I may sound pushy, disrespectful even, in my prayer-worries, and I am. I am as self-absorbed and demanding as my teenage daughters can be. But here’s the thing. During Lent and always, God is present. Nearby. Listening. Longing to respond.
If the one thing I give up during the Lenten season is worry, it’s only because I take on prayer. Prayer always draws us closer to God, and that is what Lent is all about—finding greater opportunities to bring the Divine into our daily lives. Hopefully that is what I can teach my daughters.
See the answers
Early in my adult faith I longed to read the Bible daily. As a full-time teacher and the mother of two toddlers, though, I had to spend what little unoccupied time I had grading papers. So I prayed for more time.
I didn’t really expect anything to change. And nothing did, exactly. I stayed just as busy at work, grading papers, just as busy at home, as I always had. Nevertheless, somehow I was able to get it all done. Every morning, that whole year, I read the Bible. I was granted the miracle of time.
Lent is a time to consciously acknowledge and appreciate life’s daily miracles. The miracles of dirt and winter onions and answered prayers.
Turn worry into prayer
If I ever felt challenged to give a cherished or unhealthy habit up for Lent, it would have to be worrying. Worries about my daughters or money or some conflict wake me most nights. I even worry about worrying. And I’m forever vowing, in vain, to stop. In the spirit of Lenten renewal, though, I weave my worrying into prayers. I call it “pray-worrying,” the closest I’ve ever come to that mysterious faith achievement of “just giving it to Jesus.”
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Daily Lenten Reflection
Click on the Title (Daily Lenten Reflection) above to get a daily reflection every day this Lenten season.
Thursday After Ash Wednesday
"Whoever wishes to be my follower must deny his very self, take up his cross each day, and follow in my steps." (Luke 9:23)
Reflection.
WHAT TO GIVE UP . . .
Give up complaining. . . . . . . .focus on gratitude.
Give up pessimism. . . . . . . . . become an optimist.
Give up harsh judgments . . .think kindly thoughts.
Give up worry. . . . . . . . . . . . . trust Divine Providence.
Give up discouragement. . . . .be full of hope.
Give up bitterness. . . . . . . . . . turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred. . . . . . . . . . . . . return good for evil.
Give up negativism . . . . . . . . .be positive.
Give up anger. . . . . . . . . . . . . .be more patient.
Give up pettiness. . . . . . . . . . .become mature.
Give up gloom. . . . . . . . . . . . . .enjoy the beauty that is all around you.
Give up jealousy. . . . . . . . . . . .pray for trust.
Give up gossiping. . . . . . . . . . .control your tongue.
Give up sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . turn to virtue.
Give up giving up. . . . . . . . . . . hang in there!
Lenten Question
Q: Why are the forty days called Lent?
A: They are called Lent because that is the Old English word for spring, the season of the year during which they fall. This is something unique to English. In almost all other languages its name is a derivative of the Latin term, or "the forty days."
Lenten Action.
Think of a person with whom you have a strained relationship and make some gesture toward improving that relationship.
Prayer
Direct our actions, Lord, by your holy inspiration and carry them forward by your gracious help, that all our works may begin in you and by you be happily ended.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
Amen.
Thursday After Ash Wednesday
"Whoever wishes to be my follower must deny his very self, take up his cross each day, and follow in my steps." (Luke 9:23)
Reflection.
WHAT TO GIVE UP . . .
Give up complaining. . . . . . . .focus on gratitude.
Give up pessimism. . . . . . . . . become an optimist.
Give up harsh judgments . . .think kindly thoughts.
Give up worry. . . . . . . . . . . . . trust Divine Providence.
Give up discouragement. . . . .be full of hope.
Give up bitterness. . . . . . . . . . turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred. . . . . . . . . . . . . return good for evil.
Give up negativism . . . . . . . . .be positive.
Give up anger. . . . . . . . . . . . . .be more patient.
Give up pettiness. . . . . . . . . . .become mature.
Give up gloom. . . . . . . . . . . . . .enjoy the beauty that is all around you.
Give up jealousy. . . . . . . . . . . .pray for trust.
Give up gossiping. . . . . . . . . . .control your tongue.
Give up sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . turn to virtue.
Give up giving up. . . . . . . . . . . hang in there!
Lenten Question
Q: Why are the forty days called Lent?
A: They are called Lent because that is the Old English word for spring, the season of the year during which they fall. This is something unique to English. In almost all other languages its name is a derivative of the Latin term, or "the forty days."
Lenten Action.
Think of a person with whom you have a strained relationship and make some gesture toward improving that relationship.
Prayer
Direct our actions, Lord, by your holy inspiration and carry them forward by your gracious help, that all our works may begin in you and by you be happily ended.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
Amen.
Friday, February 12, 2010
February Monthly Meeting
Thursday, February 18 – 7pm
Give your Lent a spiritual boost with our guest speaker on the Rosary. Learn about its origins, its place in our worship, and the promises rosary meditation offers. We'll conclude the meeting by saying the rosary as a group, so remember to bring yours!
Hope to see you there!
Give your Lent a spiritual boost with our guest speaker on the Rosary. Learn about its origins, its place in our worship, and the promises rosary meditation offers. We'll conclude the meeting by saying the rosary as a group, so remember to bring yours!
Hope to see you there!
Monday, February 8, 2010
How to Prepare Your Family’s Heart for Lent
1. Pray together each day as a family: in the morning, before meals, and at night.
2. Observe the Catholic Lenten regulations. Educate yourself on why they are observed and share what you learn with your family.
3. As a family, make a small daily sacrifice to remind you of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.
4. As a family, make a contribution of time to a service organization.
5. Receive the sacrament of Reconciliation as a family. Celebrate afterward.
6. Go to Stations of the Cross as a family. Prepare small children with coloring pages of each station.
7. Place a holy water font by your front door.
8. Wear a medal, cross or crucifix every day during lent.
9. Replace your regular radio station with a Christian one.
10. Minimize the secularization of Easter; keep your homes austere like the church.
With Lent fast approaching (ASH WEDNESDAY is February 17th) please take a moment to post comments on what you and your family are doing or have done in the past. Let's share our ideas to make the most of this time.
One thing we can start off by doing is attending mass on ASH WEDNESDAY. I realize that everyone has busy schedules but with mass times of 6:45am, 8:30, Noon, and 7pm - let's all try to make the time!
2. Observe the Catholic Lenten regulations. Educate yourself on why they are observed and share what you learn with your family.
3. As a family, make a small daily sacrifice to remind you of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.
4. As a family, make a contribution of time to a service organization.
5. Receive the sacrament of Reconciliation as a family. Celebrate afterward.
6. Go to Stations of the Cross as a family. Prepare small children with coloring pages of each station.
7. Place a holy water font by your front door.
8. Wear a medal, cross or crucifix every day during lent.
9. Replace your regular radio station with a Christian one.
10. Minimize the secularization of Easter; keep your homes austere like the church.
With Lent fast approaching (ASH WEDNESDAY is February 17th) please take a moment to post comments on what you and your family are doing or have done in the past. Let's share our ideas to make the most of this time.
One thing we can start off by doing is attending mass on ASH WEDNESDAY. I realize that everyone has busy schedules but with mass times of 6:45am, 8:30, Noon, and 7pm - let's all try to make the time!
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