I Need Lent

      For the past couple of years, I've been keeping this blog. In 2014, I was great at my Lenten Promise to keep this blog going every day. Last year, I wasn't all that great at it. And here we are.
      Lately, I've been clouded with a routine of school, and I got caught up in it, that I forgot God.

Which is, like, weird.

      And recently, I've really felt it. So, Lent came in the exact right time for me. And for the world, obviously, because we're all in this together (insert High School Musical song here).

      A couple of days ago, I was beating myself up over the cloudiness I'd let creep into my life. I was going on about "how could I let this happen? How could I have just let life happen and not pray as much, meditate as much, live as much."

Then I remembered a day in PIP class (a PE class for actors at school. I was a TA. It was a lot at 8 AM). The professor was discussing the traits of a healthy lifestyle. He gave an example of when healthy living stops.

(something like) "You eat a chocolate. Then you feel bad because it's unhealthy. Then you skip a day at the gym. And then you feel bad for not going and start thinking 'I'm worthless,' then that 1 day turns into 2, then 3, and before you know it, your healthy lifestyle stopped." All because you wouldn't let that one day go and be what it is. Instead of changing it, you turned it into a habit of just feeling bad for yourself.

      Which is what I turned my relationship with God into.

However, though unhealthy and less-than-satisfying, those moments in my life have always lead to a deeper, more keen relationship with Him. As if the Lenten season is not already one in which I feel and grow closer to God, I feel this one will be even more so. For He has always brought me up from the deepest valleys, only to bring me to the highest peak I've seen yet.




      So, let's do this Lenten season right and true.

Woo!
Mary Taylor

(Find photo here) Pressing on

Hope: Part 1

      I wanted to do a daily Advent blog this year. I'm starting a little late, but, hey, it's Hump Day! The week is still young! As is Advent. Bam!

      So, I'm gonna kill (or injure slightly so that they are able to be healed quickly, with love and care) 2 birds with one stone. I'm going to cover December 1st's reading and today's (December 2nd). The reading list I'm following is something I found on Pinterest. So, go Pinterest!

December 1, 2015: Jeremiah 33:14-15
     

¹⁴ “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.

¹⁵ “‘In those days and at that time
    I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line;
    he will do what is just and right in the land.'"

(Link to quote here)

       

       This is it! The time we've all been waiting for! A time of forced family gatherings, busier-than-ever stores, and stupid traffic. 
    
      No, I'm kidding. It's the holiday season! Though, for some of us, there's no difference between the first and the second option. 

      A lot of folks like to say how the world is only getting worse and worse. How they can't possibly see it getting any worse, and then it does. The world is awful. Ugh, world! I hate world!
      These people, most of the time, believe it or not, are Christians. 

"But how can that be? Christians are supposed to be fun-loving, loving loving, awesome, cool, chill humans." I know. Well, some of us have to stick with slow dial up, so we've nto received the memo yet. 

      These Christians, from what I've experienced, sit around waiting for the second coming of Christ (Mary, this is breaking into more of the Easter season than Advent). 

      But, don't you feel like we're missing something? We have an opportunity to prepare the way for Him. Not by sitting around yelling "TOLD YOU SO!" But to actually reach out, be the best us we can be, and spread the love and joy of Christ. Especially in this time of year. 

      All those times in which people say "the world is doomed," that's when we can rise up even more than ever, come together, and step in a gracious, more giving way for the world. To help our brothers and sisters out. To throw aside differences and come together to wait (hem hem, prepare) for the most exciting, anticipated time of the year. 

      Fear not. Have trust. He is coming to save all. All. The babe with the MOST potential ever to have graced man. He's on his way. Relax. Help each other out. You've got plenty of limbs to reach out to your fellow humans. Let's raise each other up, so we can all prepare together. In love.

This Holiday ad from 2014 really hits home for me and reminds me of this message:

Happy First Week of Advent! 

Key word for the week: Hope. 


Woo!
Mary Taylor