2 Weeks & Counting
yay for me - Ive gone 2 weeks without any sugar or sweets... very proud of myself... only 4 more weeks to go!
so thanks to lent, Ive had my first revelation this morning... if you cant give something up to God, then it is your god...
(give you a minute to absorb)
now obviously there are certain things you cant and werent meant to give up... like water, air, love, prayer, etc... and there are certain reasons you shouldnt give up foods - say if you were pregnant for instance (hey mags!)... but a fast doesnt just have to be food...
I find that alot of people dont participate in lent b/c they think it would be too hard to give up something, they couldnt make it without "that one thing" - everyone has theirs... but Im coming to realize that if you cant give it up to God, then it is your god...
it controls you, it gives you comfort and strength, you have faith in it, and you put it above everything else - what else would you call it?
when people hear the word "fast" they too often think of food... this is one choice of a fast, there is also tv, music - even praise music if you are doing it more for what you get out of it than what you can give, movies, books, saying negative things, video games.... anything you find to be a weakness for you - thats whats so great - a fast is something totally personal, and very intimate - an intimate start (of giving up something personal) will usually have a very intimate end (a closer relationship with God)...
Im not pointing fingers at anyone besides myself... I have A LOT that I need to give up, things I often have doubts about if I could actually give up...
you know, I thought I started this whole lent thing to grow closer to God - I thought if I imitated Christ then I would get to know Him better that way - so empathy would make me closer - yes, I know that sounds dumb... to even compare giving up sweets for 40 days would help me to know Gods suffering better... I feel silly even typing that... but Im gaining insight that I never realized would come... things like "if you cant give something up to God, then it is your god" - I keep repeating this b/c it turns my stomach every time I type/read it - makes me want to change things in my life
seriously though, could you give up tv for 40 days? could you give up email for 40 days? could you go 40 days without your make-up? is there anything holding you back from putting Christ first? or could you spend 15 minutes in prayer a day? could you memorize 2 verses of Scripture a day? could you do it if Christ asked you - would you?
anyone who talks to me, and says they "cant" do something, even if it doesnt have to do with lent... something I know they need to do... I make them say they "wont" do it, not "cant" - its not impossible, you just choose to not do it...
its so easy to justify not giving up things, isnt it?
it only takes 21 days to make or break a habit...
on another related note: I find it a little disturbing that most "Christians" jump from Christmas straight to Palm Sunday and then to Easter... they miss Ash Wednesday, Maunday Thursday and Good Friday (unless they get off from work, but thats all the thought they put into it)... how is it that Christianity is just supposed to be a feel-good religion as opposed to a relationship of suffering... dont get me wrong, I think being a Christian should be a wonderful time, but I find it upsetting that that is all that most Christians want out of it... have you ever really meditated on the last week of Christ? really dug and studied what He went through... and Im not talking about rewatching "The Passion"... really reading the Bible and treating those days as holy too - had you even heard of Maundy Thursday before this post? Seriously though, how many holy days do we treat as unholy just b/c we are off work - we go spend money we dont need to be spending - on material things, no less... we overeat and are gluttonous, we act obnoxiously and talk like we shouldnt... you get the idea, our holy days are no longer holy - not b/c theyve changed since theyve happened, but b/c we make them that way - funny how we are so proud of that "Christian" title and then treat it so badly, isnt it? but then again, its so easy to justify, isnt it?
ok... if you got to the end, Im surprised... I think most people would have quit after the first little paragraph... congratulations, you have just endured a total rant of Addie... hopefully you came out no worse for the wear... maybe a little better? either way, Im thankful that you made the journey with me, it was nice to have a little company... if you have anything you would like to add, then I would be more than happy to talk or just listen... :)
so thanks to lent, Ive had my first revelation this morning... if you cant give something up to God, then it is your god...
(give you a minute to absorb)
now obviously there are certain things you cant and werent meant to give up... like water, air, love, prayer, etc... and there are certain reasons you shouldnt give up foods - say if you were pregnant for instance (hey mags!)... but a fast doesnt just have to be food...
I find that alot of people dont participate in lent b/c they think it would be too hard to give up something, they couldnt make it without "that one thing" - everyone has theirs... but Im coming to realize that if you cant give it up to God, then it is your god...
it controls you, it gives you comfort and strength, you have faith in it, and you put it above everything else - what else would you call it?
when people hear the word "fast" they too often think of food... this is one choice of a fast, there is also tv, music - even praise music if you are doing it more for what you get out of it than what you can give, movies, books, saying negative things, video games.... anything you find to be a weakness for you - thats whats so great - a fast is something totally personal, and very intimate - an intimate start (of giving up something personal) will usually have a very intimate end (a closer relationship with God)...
Im not pointing fingers at anyone besides myself... I have A LOT that I need to give up, things I often have doubts about if I could actually give up...
you know, I thought I started this whole lent thing to grow closer to God - I thought if I imitated Christ then I would get to know Him better that way - so empathy would make me closer - yes, I know that sounds dumb... to even compare giving up sweets for 40 days would help me to know Gods suffering better... I feel silly even typing that... but Im gaining insight that I never realized would come... things like "if you cant give something up to God, then it is your god" - I keep repeating this b/c it turns my stomach every time I type/read it - makes me want to change things in my life
seriously though, could you give up tv for 40 days? could you give up email for 40 days? could you go 40 days without your make-up? is there anything holding you back from putting Christ first? or could you spend 15 minutes in prayer a day? could you memorize 2 verses of Scripture a day? could you do it if Christ asked you - would you?
anyone who talks to me, and says they "cant" do something, even if it doesnt have to do with lent... something I know they need to do... I make them say they "wont" do it, not "cant" - its not impossible, you just choose to not do it...
its so easy to justify not giving up things, isnt it?
it only takes 21 days to make or break a habit...
on another related note: I find it a little disturbing that most "Christians" jump from Christmas straight to Palm Sunday and then to Easter... they miss Ash Wednesday, Maunday Thursday and Good Friday (unless they get off from work, but thats all the thought they put into it)... how is it that Christianity is just supposed to be a feel-good religion as opposed to a relationship of suffering... dont get me wrong, I think being a Christian should be a wonderful time, but I find it upsetting that that is all that most Christians want out of it... have you ever really meditated on the last week of Christ? really dug and studied what He went through... and Im not talking about rewatching "The Passion"... really reading the Bible and treating those days as holy too - had you even heard of Maundy Thursday before this post? Seriously though, how many holy days do we treat as unholy just b/c we are off work - we go spend money we dont need to be spending - on material things, no less... we overeat and are gluttonous, we act obnoxiously and talk like we shouldnt... you get the idea, our holy days are no longer holy - not b/c theyve changed since theyve happened, but b/c we make them that way - funny how we are so proud of that "Christian" title and then treat it so badly, isnt it? but then again, its so easy to justify, isnt it?
ok... if you got to the end, Im surprised... I think most people would have quit after the first little paragraph... congratulations, you have just endured a total rant of Addie... hopefully you came out no worse for the wear... maybe a little better? either way, Im thankful that you made the journey with me, it was nice to have a little company... if you have anything you would like to add, then I would be more than happy to talk or just listen... :)
posted by dangermama at 7:36 AM
4 Comments:
I was kind of wondering why you didnt come by... but figured you were busy... but yeah, next time come by... dont go in the front door though - keep driving and you will see a dumpster outside another door - come in that one - my office is right inside a few steps... :)
I miss muffins
melissa - thanks for the encouraging words... good luck with yours... have a good week
Hey there Addie! Thank you so much for your prayers; I really appreciate it!:) Congrats on your giving up sweets; you are stronger than me;) This was a really good post! Have a great day:)
yay a convert (not quite the right word, I know, but too lazy to think of another one)... thats what daniel is doing - no caffiene or carbonated beverages... thanks for signing grant
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