What will YOU give up for Lent?

So I was prompted to think about this question after discovering that Lent is only a week away...YIKES! :)

Lent has come a little early this year. Its a good thing I have a week to think about what I should do to observe this season in the Christian calendar.

I was wondering what y'all will be giving up for Lent, if you are actually thinking about it. For some of you, what will you be taking on for Lent? Will you be giving up certain types of food or an activity? Or will you be giving something for Lent? Maybe you plan to be more involved in church or work for a charity?

I am not trying to be nosey or give a reason to brag...just wanting to get some ideas from other people.

God keeps calling...

Lately, I have been thinking how God works. No matter where I am, no matter how far away from God I might have gotten, God keeps calling me back to himself.

I have been looking over my life...how God led me to a Christian university and where I experienced relationship with Him (and how I felt so far away from Him). I thought going to a public university would somehow distance me from God, but he still keeps pulling me to Him.

No matter where I go, there is always someone or something that keeps pointing me to God.

And for that I am truly grateful to Him, that He has captured my heart, and will NEVER let me go...

Meh...

Today, for the first time this week, I saw the sun peep through the gloomy, black clouds that have hoovered over Houston for days. I was so happy to see those rays of sunshine.

When I felt this sense of joy overtake me, I was happy and yet sad. My intellect says that it was pretty pathetic for me to be so giddy over an "insignificant occurrence." And yet my heart welcomed the light.

I guess this is kinda metaphorical to me. For the last two weeks, a dense mental fog has taken my mind captive. Depressing, lonely thoughts have been my companions for days. The sunlight today was a sign of hope...there is a silver lining that breaks through every cloud eventually. :)

When the going gets tough...

"Trials are proofs of God's care."

~Mary Baker Eddy

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures

66:10

So far, my family and I had a rough start to the new year. My dad got into a car accident about a week ago. It turns out that the car has been declared a "total loss" by the insurance company, which is a nicer way to say that they won't pay for repairs to the car. For the past few days, I had to help him deal with the insurance company, which has been a big pain. I was sick for a week. I also had to deal with financial aid issues for school. And a host of other issues that I would rather not discuss in this blog.

With the Bible as my source of comfort and Mrs. Eddy as my spiritual mentor, however, I have been able to remain calm and peaceful through these circumstances. In fact, I see the blessings in my life more than the negatives. My dad left the car accident unharmed. The financial aid issues have been resolved. And although I got sick for a week, I lost some weight, so I feel thinner (although it would help more if I exercised and maintained a healthier diet). Each day, I had to make an effort to turn away from my mortal perceptions about myself and my situation and realize that I live, move and have my being in Him.

I am realizing that I am not just a mortal, subject to random circumstances. I am a child of God, created in the image and likeness of Divine Love. God has a plan for me. I can't wait to see it unfold before my eyes.

Bless the Broken Road

This is for all of the "romantic types" out there. :)

Love,

Magdiel

ZOEgirl

I discovered the song a few weeks ago and I love it!! I also have it on my phone and listen to it once in a while, especially during those days when I feel a bit self-conscious around others. Great way to start the year...by recognizing the one who truly knows us from the inside out!!!

I hope you like this song as well. Listen to the lyrics and take them to heart. What others think about you doesn't matter in the larger scheme of things...we only have an Audience of One!

Keep Hope Alive

So I have been keeping up with the latest on the Iowa caucuses...sad to say, my candidate didn't do so good. But I still believe this person has a good chance of winning...for those of you who are in the same boat, don't give up! Just keep hope alive and believe the best is yet to come....

For those of you reading this, please pray for my family...my father got into a car accident today. The truck is totaled, but luckily he left the accident unscathed...so we have reason to be grateful. But pray that the process with the insurance companies will go harmoniously...

Also pray for some future business ventures that my father is planning....

And congratulations to Kris who just got engaged...

That is all... :)

Letting go....

Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing: now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”

~Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

First of all, I would like to apologize for not posting yesterday as I had promised. I was so caught up with what was left of the holidays that I had no time to post.

Well, anyway, this is my first post for the new year. And I want to stick with my resolution to post at least once a week. So, here I go....

Today I received some news that kinda made me upset. It shouldn't make me upset, but it still does. I tried to shake of the sadness I felt but just remembering it makes me sad now.

This is something that I should have left behind with the old year. Its something that has been eating me up on the inside for the past five years. And yet I hold on to it, afraid of letting go. I know that healing begins when I let go and allow God's love to take control. But I am just afraid of letting go, I guess because there is comfort in the old and fear of something new that I have never known before.

The quote from Isaiah at the beginning of this post has brought some comfort to me today. I am clinging to this verse over the next few days, trusting Him for something better this year, of which I have no way of seeing with mortal eyes, but which is taking shape behind the scenes.

Tonight I am choosing to let this go, to put it away from thought and to embrace the future with hope...God has something better in store for me, more than I could ever dream or imagine. I can't wait to see His goodness take tangible form in my life...

I hope this new year is better for you than last year. :)