Now to start off with I have never observed Ash Wednesday or Lent. Last year however my pastor and a few friends decided to observe the season of Lent which is the 40 days before Easter. I thought this was really cool and a good remembrance time of what Christ did when he died on the cross for my sins and looking forward to Easter and the celebration of his resurrection. So this year I decided to observe Lent. There are three traditional things observed during Lent; prayer (justice towards God), fasting (justice towards self), and almsgiving (just towards others). With the fasting in mind I will be giving up pop and sweets and also will not be purchasing anything online for the next 40 days. Prayer and focusing on serving others will also be main focuses during this time.

Today has been a really good day. I set my alarm and got up at 6am for my quiet time with God. I got a lot of schoolwork done. Some of the stuff I got done were assignments that I would usually put off until the end of the week and finish under the looming deadline. I went for a walk again and remembered to bring my camera. It was colder than yesterday but still pretty nice and I got some great pictures. Finding the time to post on my blog is always a bonus during the day. One of the items on my list that I have been procrastinating about got worked on. All in all a good day which will be even better with a new episode of Lost to watch.

Today when I went for my walk down the road I decided to go farther and go up the hill since it was such a nice day. I am so glad I did! Being up in the hills was lovely. A little muddy but it is hard to beat the view looking down at the camp nestled in the valley from the top of the hill. With just a sweatshirt and my gloves and headband I was comfortable and warm. I know the warmth can’t last but it makes me long for spring and take the extra time to enjoy it when it is here. At the top of the hill I even spun around from the pure enjoyment. It was magical and a gift God made just for me.

Image Via: We Heart It

This weekend was packed full of good stuff. Friday night we went to see the one-act plays done by a high school in the area with friends. Had warm chocolate desert with the same friends at midnight after the plays. Celebrated my mom’s birthday on Saturday. I got her a new set of our current obsession… Monk. We currently have seasons 2-5. Season 1 we got from the library which started the obsession. Sunday there was church and then the youth service at the church in town. So many good things. It was a great weekend.

Soft Pretzels via Smitten Kitchen These bring back good memories of eating warm pretzels on a youth group ski trip. They are winter memory makers.

1. Hi Tree Etsy Shop. I love this designer. The appliqueing is so unique and lovely. Lots of inspiration here. My favorite products are this Owl Bag (pictured above) and the Tree T-shirt. Love them!

2. 10 Ways to Be Marriable is a Boundless article that really has some good points for singles. And not just singles, all the principles are life lessons that are fruit of a walk with God.

3. M.Writes is a lovely blog I just added to my google blog reader. So much great stuff here.

4. Indie Fixx was found through the threadbanger blog. They feature lots of independent designers and there are so many great products featured. Buy handmade or find your own inspiration.

5. Eight Year Reading List was shared by Carolyn over at the Girl Talk blog. It is such a great idea to plan for those heaving books that you’ve always wanted to read but never got around to. I outta plan one book a month that I really want to read and whatever else I read should just fall in after that one book gets read.

No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, and disciplined.” -Anonymous

Disciplined in What? Obedience.

Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14:23

The Christian life is a call to deny ourselves, to take up our cross and follow, to be a living sacrifice, to take self off the throne of our hearts and bow down to the King of kings and Lord of lords. How can be possibly do such grandiose things? Not by our own strength or power. Only by crying out to him and saying, “I can’t, but you can,” can we find power to follow and obey.

Christ several times says that obedience is love. How often do we try to put love before obedience? When I feel that I love God then I will obey. How fickle are our feelings! Never are they the same two days in a row. It is by obedience that I learn to walk with my Lord; by waling with my Lord I learn to love the one who gave up his life for mine.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” John 15:9-14

True joy is found in obedience and remaining in the Father’s love. We have been called to bear lasting fruit in this world through obedience. We store up our treasure in heaven were if reaps great reward.

Often times I feel like I take one step forward in obedience and three steps backwards. Why can’t I do the things I want to? The grace of God is so great! He loves me just as I am. Whether a saint or a sinner he loves me the same. But, He loves me too much to want me to stay in the filth of my sin. so He beckons me through one step of obedience at a time to follow Him.

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11

February 15, 2009

Image Via: We Heart It