How time flies

I just noticed it's been 2 weeks since I posted. I get involved in reading a few favorite blogs, do any research I need done and my time is up for being on the computer. If I don't set a time limit, I can sit here all day!

This Lenten season has been more of a struggle than the past. In the next three months my husband is retiring from being active duty Marine Corps, his youngest daughter is graduating high school (hopefully-that's an additional stressor), we are moving to Ohio so my husband can go to college, and we (hopefully-God willing) are buying our first home. Each of these has a considerable amount of paperwork, dates and deadlines to meet. The most important things we have learned so far are:

With God all things are possible.

I don't have control over anything or anyone (no matter how much I try )

One way or another we will get there.

We are focusing even more on our marriage and the relationship we have, trying daily to keep connected.

Pray for God's guidance and widsom in any decisions we make.

Above all, accept God's Peace...He has it all under control. All the worry and concern in the world will just be water over the bridge when this season has passed.

Making God a part of our day first thing in the morning and last thing before bed has been grounding for us both. And I know, all things are in His time, not Dee's time. I just wish He would help us sell my car today .

God's peace.

Tag..

I found this tag at http://dawnathome.typepad.com/by_sun_and_candlelight/. So if you read this consider yourself tagged as well.

What is your favorite Sorrowful Mystery? The 5th one, when Jesus is on the cross and He says "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do." Does that not fit perfectly even in today. It does in my life, I do things that later I just hang my head and beg for forgivenss because I didn't know or understand. Praise God for His Mercy and Love!

What is your favorite Station of the Cross? How do you have a favorite one of these? I suppose the most impressionable one is being nailed to the cross. Jesus could have done several things to get out of this, but He didn't. He knew what He had to do, not just for those who where there with Him in those moments. But for all time, before and after. He laid there and let them hammer those nails into His precious hands and feet, knowing He truly is innocent. But all for the greater glory of God and for the forgivness of our sins.

What is your Lenten Resolution(s)? To give up the one thing I enjoy, a good cup of tea, to help me in this journey towards Easter. To pray the 7 Penetential Psalms.

Do you use Holy Water during Lent? At church, yes.

How many times do you go to Mass during Lent? On Sundays and Holy Week.

Our gifts

This weekend I had the privledge of being on the team for Kairos Outside. This is a ministry made up of volunteers from all religious backgrounds. The ministry is for families and friends of an incarcerated loved one. The weekend is only for females. Several months ago the main orgainzing team had prayed and assigned "talks" to the women of the team that the Holy Spirit guided them to. I got one and it was titled Accepting God's Forgiveness. I can't post about the topic but I can say, through all the spritual battles and the agony of arguing with God about this topic, He prevailed and I was obedient. In the end, my story has changed a handful of people that heard it. Team and guest.

This morning a friend emailed this prayer about gifts. I don't consider anything I did using my gifts other than not giving up even when I wanted to. God was always there, right by my side. I am grateful for that. Here's the prayer I wanted to share:

MY KING, WHO'S GIVEN ME GIFTS

Lord, I want my life to be a gift to all I know and love. I need You to help me overcome my insecurities and allow You to unwrap the person You created me to be. Show me how to serve others. I want to be a blessing, not a burden. Show me what my gifts are and how to give them away. Forgive me for using the gifts I do know I have to bring glory to myself and not You. Forgive me for spending so much energy trying to impress others instead of trying to bless them with what I have been given by You. Today I want to give You a gift. I want to give You all that I am and all that I have to use for the world You love so much and died for. Thank You for loving me with Your life and giving me the gift of my salvation.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Love,
Your princess, who wants to use her gifts

"God has given gifts to each of you from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you." (1 Pet. 4:10)

Lenten Somber

As part of our Lenten "decorations" for lack of better words, I found a few ideas at
http://thetuckerbunch.typepad.com/just_another_day_in_parad/lent/index.html .


I decided to make the crown of thorns and cover each crucifix in our lovely home with a purple cloth. As I started inserting the toothpicks into this simple grapevine wreath, this somber stillness came over me as I could see the Crown of Thorns that was pressed into the precious head of our Lord. I sat there for the longest time just looking at this imagining what it must have been like to be there. Here I am, almost 40 making a lenten craft, if you will, and just awestruck and dumbfounded at what my soul was seeing.



What does your soul see?

The purple cloth on the crucifix in each room reminds us of this Lenten season, a time for prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

God's peace to you.