Our Father, Who art in Heaven...

hallowed be Thy name.  Thy kingdom come, They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day, our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.  - Matthew 6:9-13.


I didn't realize what  little amount of time I have in the evenings.  If I work out/run, shower and cook/eat it is three hours in and of itself.  If I leave work on time, which is not the norm, then I'm home for about 5:30 and before you know it, it's 9:00 and I'd like to pretend I'm in bed for 10pm, but that's an unlikely story.  What time is left for Carey?  What time is left for the Lord?

Today was a rough day, thankfully the devotion is easy..."Getting What You Need" - God already knows what is in our hearts, we ask for it so the He knows we want His help and guidance.  We give Him permission to come into our hearts and give us what we need.  It's great that the "Our Father" is part of the scriptures for today.  It's for those times when we don't want to or don't know what to, pray for.  He gives us the prayer right there.  So when in doubt?  The "Our Father' is the winner.   I usually start my prayers off with that anyway...it tends to get me going, get me in the mindset of prayerful and quite time with the Lord.

Matthew 6:8 "Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."  I know I've mentioned before but it truly bothers me that the words He and Him when referring to God or Jesus are not capitalized...I mean don't we owe him respect in those instances when we speak or write of Him?  I do.  But getting back to that passage, just like when we sin, He already knows, He wants to hear it from our mouths, it's His way of being nearer to us.  He wants us to invite Him into our hearts, just as invites us in.

Meredith Andrews says it best...."You invite me in...doesn't matter where we've been, You arms are open wide, there is nothing left to hide."

We get what we need during the Lenten journey by inviting our Lord into our hearts everyday. Meredith speaks so beautifully about our Lord and what He wants from us and just loves us.  She's so amazing.  Enjoy her beautiful voice as well.

It brings us back to the scripture and the Lord knowing what we need just as much as He knows who we are.  We belong to Him and he loves us and is there for us not matter what.

Keurig....? As in a coffee maker?

Yes that is correct and no we didn't buy it, it was a gift. I am now in love with my husband, my dog AND my coffee maker.  I've given up soft drinks for Lent only to be tempted daily with a freshly brewed cup of coffee.  I mean seriously...can I be more spoiled?  Carey and I have had more coffee in the last 72 hours than two normal human beings should.  I may not be able to sleep tonight, b/c we're having a cup (or 3) right now.  It's SUPER YUMMY.  To make matters worse, I'm watching the Bachelor, I just can't stop, it's like a train wreck, you want to see it, but you don't want to see it.  I'm seriously addicted to it and the fact that we can now fast forward through the commercials.  AMEN< Hallelu-YER.

I am so lucky.  I type on my lap top, watch the show on our 32" (I think) flat screen TV, my gorgeous dog beside me...my husband letting me do my thing.  I worked out, I feel good...I have a great job to go to tomorrow.  I'm just so very blessed. I just wish sometimes that I could just do away with the material things.  Maybe next year I'll give up TV and shopping unnecessarily. I'll spend the time reading and enjoying time with my husband.  The catch to this is that Carey and I watch a lot, well a good bit, of TV together, so will he agree to No TV, or will I watch TV only with him....maybe I can start with that and work my way up to No TV at all.    I know I can do anything that I put my mind to.  

I'm not sure this video is going to work.  Hopefully you can enjoy my sweet boy.  I love him to pieces.  Just like I love my husband to pieces...who at this moment would say "I love you as a whole."  Well that too...

Separating the Goats from Sheep

He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on His left. - Matthew 25:33 

Well knowing what I think most Christians know being at "His right hand" or at the "right hand of the Father"  is important...in this case I want to be a sheep!  BAAAA, baaaaa.   This is the reading when the Lord tells us that anytime we did anything for the least of his people we did it for Him.  How many people did we smile at today?  Did we open the door for anyone?  Buy lunch?  Assist someone at work when it wasn't our duty or job?  The little things that we can do daily mean so much in the end.

Today we are to pray for humility and docility.  We need to be the calm and responsible sheep, not the stubborn, inattentive and disobedient goats.

The readings for today are one of my favorites.  Psalm 19:8-15   As I read it, I sing it...I remember the song well:
       The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul, the decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.  (This is profound right now....we "give up" those things that can sometimes complicate our life so much that we miss the moments that God is speaking to us and guiding us.) The precepts are the Lord are right rejoicing the heart, The command of the Lord is clear enlightening the eye.  The fear of the Lord is pure; (I love when psalmists/writers in the Bible use the word fear, its a reminder...the Lord don't play around.  He tells us over and over again, do what's right and the kingdom is ours, but disobey and "you're going down!"  We know better.  This is why it's so important during these 40 days to get back down to the nitty gritty and straighten ourselves out.) enduring forever (not next month, or year, but FOREVER).  The statutes of the Lord are true, all of them just: More desirable than gold (and you know we like gold), then a hoard of purest gold, Sweeter also than honey or drippings from the comb. By them your servant is instructed, obeying them brings much reward.  Who can detect heedless failings?  Cleanse me from my unknown faults. (Cleanse me from my unknown faults, just shows us that the writer was sinful and wanted to make sure all the bases were covered. I'd like to add 'give me the graces to admit aloud the ones for which I am aware but too ashamed to admit.) But from willful sins keep your servant; let them never control me.  Then shall I be blameless, innocent of grave sin.  Let the words of my mouth meet with your favor, keep the thoughts of my heart before you,(again he/she asks for help in advance to stay away from sin.)  Lord, my rock and my redeemer.  


I just love these verses...I mean can I say it any louder? WOW, it's just wonderful words.  It just covers all the bases here. Makes me want to read it over and over again.

I have to mention how hard it was to not have a coke today...I did have coffee instead...it's just not the same.  For every sip of water, which I knew was good for me...I wanted a 140 calorie coke. How many days of Lent are left?  HA HA.

"It's a cold day" - has two meanings.

I say it has two meanings, I haven't been outside yet today, so I'm assuming that it's cold outside. God said to rest and I woke up with a cold so that is what I am doing today...I rest.  I've taken medicine and I'm feeling better.  I'll go to mass tonight at 6pm.  My head is pounding, my nose is running and I just feel gross. No run for me tonight which makes me sad, but I did have Pizza for lunch and that makes me happy.  I missed Reese Riley's 1st birthday party....booo.  Don't want to spread my germs so I'm staying home and resting today...since it's it the day of rest.

1 Peter 3:21 "(Baptism) which saves you now.  It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,..."

I missed this devotional time yesterday...I think I was too busy devoting to my 'sickness."  I did go to mass last night, I stopped by Jason and Michele's for a bit to bring the boys something and then had dinner at a new restaurant around the corner.  I'm actually going to eat the leftovers tonight!  YUMMY!

But back to discussing what I think God was trying to tell us about appealing to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection.  Puts perspective on the reason for the season of Lent. We get 40 days to do just that, appeal to the Lord for a cleansing so that we can be closer to Him and strengthen our relationship.  We should spend these days pleading to our Lord to set us free from the sins that keep us from Him.  We need to let the guilt of sin make us more aware of our wrong doings, we need to acknowledge daily the way we hurt the God who still remains faithful to us, regardless of what we do to Him.  The fact that we do some of those same "sins" over and over again, is painful in itself. How would we feel if that role was reversed?  The pain is unimaginable.  Yet the Lord bore even more on the cross so we would never have to feel that sort of pain.

Preparing for a day of rest...

Preparing for a day of rest almost sounds like an oxymoron doesn't it.  I don't know, it's what today's devotion and readings were about.  

I have to go back to yesterday's verse - "For I know my offense; my sin is always before me.  Psalm 51:5  That one is a big one.  It's not enough to carry our sin around with us and contemplate the heaviness that it brings to our life, but then we have to read about it and be reminded that every day that we don't confess it to the Lord, it brings us farther away from him.  I don't like to admit my faults, to admit that I'm wrong.  I already know and am reminded constantly that I'm not any where close to perfect, but it still hurts to admit that I'm weak and small.  Thankfully the Lord forgave me a long time ago.  I find comfort in knowing that He always takes me back. As a human being I sometimes wonder if we take advantage of our Lord.  Are we tempted to sin b/c we know He will forgive us?  or is that what it really is to be human? To be aware of our mistakes?  I guess we'll keep asking ourselves these questions.  When we sin, we need to be specific about it, when we ask to be forgiven.  Just as I've always thought that we should be specific in our prayer as well.  God knows our heart and our sin, but it always helps to be specific when we ask for things.

The run went well today, we did a partner PR today:  6.2 miles in 1:04:19, Trey beat me b/c he sprinted to the end....his legs are longer.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  He's nervous about the race next week.  I'm debating about whether or not I want to go next weekend and run the Rock n Roll.  I mentally am not ready, but I want to, I need to...be there for Trey.  I know he can do it.  He's  run far better than I had before my first half marathon.  He's going to great.  My fear at this point is not that he won't finish or I won't finish, but my fear is that I'll hold him back instead of pushing him.  At least I have 7 days to think about it.... I think I can, I think I can.  

Now, I know I seem very scattered today, but today's devotion is about spiritual medicine.  It's the most important kind of medicine, in my opinion.  I will forever live knowing that Sunday Mass is the medicine that I need weekly, to help me realize what I was blessed with the week before and to ask for those things I mentioned above as well as to get me through the week to come. I know I can't do it alone, that I need God, I need that spiritual medicine which is Sundays, prayer and Mass.  It's why I guess Chad Kling calls me the church nazi.  I'm not missing Sunday Mass. 

Isaiah 58 is where God reminds us that the Sabbath is a delight and that we need the day off.  That Lord is good isn't He?  

TGIF and...

Unfortunately this is going to be short. . .it's 10:29 and I have the Amedisys Mardi Gras Mambo 10K in the morning.  I'm going to pick up Trey (KC's hubby and my running buddy) and hope that we kick some butt tomorrow!  Should be a good run, except that it's going to be unusually cold tomorrow.  Which if I really think about it, won't be bad b/c when I ran the 1/2 Marathon it was about 45 degrees,  felt good when I was done.

Today's readings are Isaiah 58:1-9
I will have to blog two days worth tomorrow.  I'm completely unfocused and it would be missing the point it I continued without putting forth the right effort and level of devotion.

I did find myself wanting a soft drink today, very much so.  I've failed miserably on the shopping part.  NO fb and there is so much going on that I want to know about.  Ms. Janet Capone was in an accident on Tuesday and has been in critical condition.  It's not looking good, all we can do is pray for her and the family.  If she survives, doctors say she'll have severe brain damage.   It's so sad.

Day 2 - I want a coke!

"To cleave or not to cleave, that is the question!"  I'm sure I've heard that word before, cleave.  If I have I don't remember it.  It's used in some translations for the verse in Deuteronomy 30:15-20.  "Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the Lord, your God, heeding his voice, and holding fast to him.  For that will mean life for you..."  so in some versions instead of holding fast to Him, it says cleave to him.  To cleave means to cling, to stick to, to be united with a strong affection.

How many things in our life to we really cleave to.  Yes, our family is important to us, but when we are with our family, do we "hold on" to the time and make it meaningful every single time?  Do we do the same with and for our Lord?  Probably not.  I know I don't. . . and I know I should.  Psalm 1:6  "The Lord watches over the way of the just..."  again he guarantees that if we do what is right and do His will, he will watch over us...what more do we need than that b/c that my friends is shear perfection.  If only we could actually grasp that concept.  Today is not just about choosing life, it's about choose to live the life that God has created and planned so perfectly for us.  Can we live up to the test?  The next 40 days or so will tell us.  But it really needs to go beyond that.  We take up our cross daily (Luke 9:22-25) but we are focused during Lent. What do I need to do after Lent to stay equally as focused?

So I called into "The Catholic Guy" talk show on Sirius XM Satelite radio Channel 129 (plug, ha).  Leno and Fr. Rob are playing a game call "Let's Make a Catholic Deal" and they asked the question "What are the three pillars of Lent?"  At first i was thinking, "Oh my God, I don't know the answer. I'm a good Catholic I have to know this."  And as the guy on the phone continue to make incorrect guesses it came to me.  What are the most important things we "do" during Lent?   Those are the pillars:  fasting, prayer and alms giving.  Well I know I'm fasting, I know I'll be praying, but what sort of alms am I giving?  This Lenten season I want to make an extra effort to give...I think my plan is to go and feed the homeless at the shelter.  I think that would be a  humbling experience.  I've done it before, but I'm anxious to do it again.

I want the game that day...I won a book and although the name of the book has slipped my mind, I know it's written by "The Bible Geek" and so I'm thrilled to know that it's headed this way.  Maybe  it'll be in the mail tomorrow.  How exciting is that?

Ash Wednesday - "You're Invited"

"Yet even now, " says the Lord, "return to me with your whole heart..."  Joel 2:12   so this is the verse that leads us in...only if you keep reading in the book of Joel you'll find one of my favorite verses "return to the Lord, your God.  For gracious and merciful is He, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.  (verse 13)

The Lenten season is just a wonderful reminder that we are invited into God's kingdom, no matter how long we've been gone, no matter how far away we've been or what we've done while we were gone.  The idea of that is so grand sometimes our minds just can't comprehend it.  I keep laughing b/c as I read the verses that were chosen today, I found "Create in Me" lyrics/verses.  And then opened 2 Corinthians 5:20 - 6:2, I just heard a song on the radio today from this exact verse " He became sin, who knew no sin, so we might become His righteousness."    God hears us and "on the day of our salvation, helps us."  

Why is it that we can't place 100% of our trust in Him?  Why does it take the season rolling around each year for us to be devoted and more prayerful, to come back to Him.  He calls us everyday.

At Mass tonight we read from Matthew and afterwards Father Phil made a joke about how we should not perform good deeds so that others might see them, but then we put a big mark on our foreheads so that people know we've been to Mass.  HA  And here I am putting my devotions out there for everyone to read...it's helpful, to be reminded.  We aren't perfect so why not just work at being the best we can at doing His will.  At the end of the day the guarantee is the same, we can come back and start a new with our God b/c His arms are wide open.  If at first we don't succeed, try try again.

AMEN.   Day 1: no soft drinks, no facebook, no cursing and no shopping....3 out of 4 ain't bad.  I bought a new watch today b/c I dropped mine yesterday and it broke. I'm not just giving up, I've also decided to "get down" to the basics of devotion and learning and using the "free" time to spend with those people and doing the things that are most important.

This is the best time of the year!

I'm not going to the Mardi Gras. (Sing it...)

It's the first year in 8 years that I'm not off for Mardi Gras.  I almost don't know what to do with myself.  I mean who doesn't give their employees off on Mardi Gras?  Doesn't really matter if you get technical about it b/c Carey has to work, so I wouldn't be hanging out with him anyway.

I will be giving up the usual: Soft drinks, Facebook and I'm trying to decide on shopping...I mean I'm losing weight and need new clothes that fit...so we'll see.  I will be praying more, finish the Bible Study I started on the life of St. Paul and blogging daily according to the scriptures and the devotional that was sent by Most Blessed Sacrament Church.  I did it last year and it was amazing, the experience was wonderful.

Stay tuned for getting close to the Lord this Lenten season.  May even end up a bit skinnier too!

What is wrong with me?

That would be a rhetorical question of course.   funny I know: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4q4X99LkW8&feature=related  that I'm not alone.  I just feel so bla.  So  much to do however I still cannot get motivated to get off my rear end.

Babysat last night for Brynlee Aicklen...so much fun.  Time to hit the treadmill.  It's long over due.  Get up Gwen...just get up, once foot in front of the other is how it starts.