Well I've officially started lent 2012. Woot woot! I love doing lent, I wish less people saw it as a diet and I wish even less Christians saw it as just something Catholics do to pay their penance, so it's bad for us to do it. Well I enjoy lent, because I enjoy practicing acts of spiritual discipline. Mainly because they're super hard for me and provide a lot of growth, well at least I like to think so.
Down to the meat. What did I give up? Well I gave up facebook and google reader (my precious blogs) this lent. I feel like these are my two big distractors in life. I was going to do my old "True lent sacrifices aren't done on Sunday, because if you do it on Sunday then you get exactly 40 days...." This is my usually argument, but lately I've felt really convicted about it... I don't feel like it's wrong, I feel the act of me looking for a way to still give in is pretty pathetic...really pathetic actually.
Along with my usual this year I'm going to be doing the 40 days of lent with world vision challenge. It seems like it will really help me take lent serious and make some changes in my life :) Basically every week has a theme and every day has a devotional.
So I guess I'll write a little about week one, ya know cos y'all are dieing to hear it. Well week 1 is about sacrificing what surrounds you. I've really been thinking about how Jesus showed us this by living as a homeless person, he wasn't attached to all this crap I am attached too and feel like I so desperately need to be "me." Some of the suggestions how to live this out this week are really good and super challenging. These two were my favorites:
take down your wall decorations or cover them with quotes on sacrifice, and Bible verses
Well this is actually done, since we're moving. But it has made me mindful that once we move I do need to have more scripture quotes and positive things surrounding me.
Do not use electricity at night
Oh my word! I saw that and just felt like, crap. I like any normal American is so so so dependent on electricity it is nuts! I think I need to convince Sarah of this one cos I like it!
So these are my two for this lent week. I'm also going to start trying to wake up 10-15 minutes early each morning to spend that time in prayer. I think it's just something that will really help me connect with God at this time in my life. We all need a little more prayer right?
On a much lighter note.....since this seems to be a post of reflection. I shall update on my new year's goals thus far.
1. Read the whole Bible- Well I'm doing pretty good with this. Done with Genesis, Exodus, and Matthew. Sarah and I are following a guide so we're not just starting on page one and doing it in order.
2. Lose 50 pounds- Well I haven't gained any weight, this is a work in progress
3. Organizer Scrapbook supplies- Well moving had helped move this along, but it won't really be completed until we're completely moved
4. Make 5 scrapbooks- So far I have made 1 and have plans to make the other 4 for my students leaving me next year
5. File/Organize/Shred papers & bills- again with moving, this won't be done until I'm all moved, but I have gone through a lot of papers
6. Read 30 books- I'm at number 8 so far I've read: Explosive Eighteen, The Hangman's Daughter, The Total Money Makeover, Love Wins, The Happiness Project, Love in a Nutshell, Wench, and The Unlikely Disciple. I'm currently reading Atlas Shurgged not sure if I'll make it through the 1,000 pages + book
7. Donate 212 things- This one is COMPLETED/FINISHED! I actually did this plus, which was nice and easily done thanks to moving :)
Stayed tuned till next month when I impress you with how much more I've accomplished!!