Leapin' HodgePodge

1. The Hodgepodge falls on the last day of February this year, a leap year. How will you spend that extra day? This morning I am at work. I'm hoping the storms blow through, the streets dry up, and it's warm enough to get on my motorcycle. I should be out splittin' the wind by 2. 

2. What has recently required a leap of faith on your part? Retiring. Maybe. Probably. Scary.  

3. We're one week into the season of Lent...are you marking these 40 days in some way? Giving something up or adding something extra to normal life? How's it going so far? Yes, I am doing both. It's going pretty well so far. You?

4. When was the last time you sat beside a fire? Too long ago. I love sitting by a fire. I would build one in my back yard, but my husband doesn't think that would be prudent. We live in town. Our neighbors are close. There are city ordinances. Blah, blah, blah.

5. Surf and Turf is on the menu. Do you order as is or do you ask for just the surf (lobster), just the turf (steak), or a menu so you can select another option? Steak and lobster. Steak and shrimp. Steak and Mahi Mahi. Or just steak. I'm a carnivore. What can I say.

6. If you could have any television program back, not in reruns but in new episodes, what program would you choose? Mork and Mindy. Robin Williams was hysterical in this show. At the time this program aired, I was actually living in the town portrayed in the show, Boulder, Colorado. Ah, those were good times. Here's a short clip:

7. They say an elephant never forgets. These days would you say your memory is more like an elephant or a gnat? It depends. I know, you're surprised by that. lol. When it comes to numbers, I'm a whiz. If you asked me what I said two minutes ago, I probably wouldn't be able to tell you. Ugh!

8. Insert your own random thought here. This morning we had tornado warnings. Severe thunderstorms. It's February, right?

Thank you for stopping by and visiting. Please hop on over to Joyce's to read other participants answers or better yet, link up with your own.

Peace and Joy,

Susan

Psalm 120:1 (NKJV) In my distress I cried to the Lord, And He heard me.

Throne Trip Tuesdays - Lent

Do you celebrate Lent? I'd love to hear your take on this special season. During my growing up years, there was not a focus on Lent. Easter? Yes. Lent? No. Yet, the final days that Jesus walked this earth were filled with ministry, healing, prayer, preparation, and suffering. I have given up small things and, what I consider, big things.

Last year I wrote a post on 101 Things to do for Lent (Not just for Catholics). Perhaps there is something in that list that will peak your interest.

This year, I am doing two different things. The first is giving something up. Making a sacrifice. I want it to be intentional that each and every day during this Lenten season I am reminded of the sacrifice Christ made for me. The second action I am taking is to be a better steward. With my clothes. What??? Really? Let me explain.

I first ran across the idea from Sarah @ Life in the Parsonage. She took up a 30 for 30 challenge. Sarah got the idea from Kendi Everyday who is a master at this. The challenge is basically select 30 items of clothing from your wardrobe and only wear those items for 30 days. Tops, skirts, slacks, dresses, and shoes. I don't know about you, but I get into a rut with my clothes. So I go buy something. Not that I really need anything. I have plenty of clothes. Buying something new is just easier sometimes than trying to figure out what to wear.

So, since Lent is 40 days. I'm going to do 40 for 40. Select 40 items from my current wardrobe and only wear those items for the next 40 days. No buying any item of clothing.

Sound easy? I'm thinking, ummm, no. But I'm up for the challenge. I want to be a better steward and getting a handle on my clothing will ultimately curb my spending. Which in turn, will result in wiser purchases. Better stewardship. Yes?

The Lenten season starts tomorrow, Wednesday, March 9. I'd love to hear how you will be observing it this year. Thank you for stopping by and visiting.

Peace and Joy,
Susan

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NKJV) ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

101 Things to do for Lent (Not just for Catholics)

How's that for a title? Actually, this list is always at the ready for me when I'm looking for a direction to be the hands, feet, eyes for Jesus. Here we go:

Admit you were wrong to your parents (or your children) * Give someone a hug * Respond with compassion to people on the street * Instead of staring blankly as you walk down the street, smile * Watch "Romero" * Write a letter to a different person each day (or once a week) * Buy flowers for yourself * Read "The Return of the Prodigal Son" (by Nouwen) * Spend time with your parents * Give up chocolate, candy, or desserts * Listen to Beethoven's Symphony #9 * Volunteer at a homeless shelter * Go one day without using electricity in your house * Give up your cell phone * Write a letter each week to someone with whom you have lost contact * Apologize * Volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center * Take a long, slow walk outside * Listen to Gorecki's Symphony #3 * Give up caffeine or coffee * Buy flowers for someone else * Participate in a Jewish Passover Seder meal * Don't listen to music one day a week * Sit still and do nothing for 10 minutes a day * Go to Mass (or church) once during the week * Read a book by Thomas Merton * Write a poem * Visit a grandparent * Tell people you are proud of them * Learn something new * Go one day without using running water in your house * Pick out one weakness and work to change it * Give up TV or the Internet * Ask for help * Greet five people a day who look sad * Walk in the rain * Say thank you at least once a day * Read a book to someone who can't read * Spend time with your children one-on-one * Find a dream inside yourself - and follow it * Go beyond where you are * Volunteer one hour a week * Keep a personal journal * Take an art class * Listen to Barber's Adagio for Strings * Go to Confession * Watch "Shawshank Redemption" * Clean up your language * Call someone long distance once a week * Pray the Rosary * Find something you believe in - and act on it * Spend a few minutes in the chapel each day * Give up snacks between meals * Be more patient * Be less judgmental * Work for peace in the world - and in your home * Forgive * Be non-violent with your words * Join a support group * Be hopeful * Get enough sleep * Take care of yourself physically * Clean out your closet and donate what you don't need or use * Read the Sunday Mass readings ahead of time * When you want to buy something you don't need, donate the money instead * Fast * Give up perfection * Keep a prayer journal * Cancel magazine subscriptions you don't read and donate the money * Start each day with a scripture passage * Tell someone you love them * Participate in the Stations of the Cross * Pick up litter * Say hello to people you usually ignore * Make a list of things you like about yourself * Talk to God without distraction * Do something for a stranger * Say thank you to your parents * Watch "Schindler's List" * Tell at least one joke a day * Volunteer to babysit (for free) * Give up alcohol - and donate what you would have spent * Donate blood at the Red Cross (1.800.GIVE.LIFE) * Go grocery shopping for someone who can't * Watch "The Last Days" * Thank God for something you usually take for granted * Don't watch your favorite TV show and reflect on your day (no taping it, either) * Give up your snooze button * Keep a gratitude journal * Read "The Sparrow" * Give up makeup * Use a daily Lenten reflection book * Do one thing ahead of time each week * Give up soda or fast food and donate the money you would spend on it * Listen to someone you disagree with * Watch "Jesus of Montreal" (in French w/subtitles) * Substitute healthy snacks for unhealthy ones * Give up smoking * Buy a plant and nurture its life * Sit and relax when you eat * Appreciate beauty, truth, and life wherever they are found *

Choose one (or more if you are so led) from the list and do it today, This Day!

Peace and Joy,
Susan

Matthew 25:34-36 (NKJV) ³⁴ Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

O the Sacrifice, O the Glory, O the Love

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NKJV) For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Romans 10:9 (NKJV) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Eyes of Faith

Thank you for your encouraging and heartfelt words. It would seem that I need to seriously be more cautious when asking for something. Let me clarify that statement. At the beginning of Lent, I mentioned on my post that I wanted to see with God's eyes, to see everything I'd been missing: the lonely, the broken hearted, a love for humanity. I forgot that those types of requests usually begin with self-reflection, purging, and sometimes healing. I'm so grateful that when those requests are being fulfilled, God is fixing to do a work.....complete a work......prepare for what is ahead. And I better hold on for the ride! lol

These are the moments when I need "faith eyes." Wouldn't it be awesome to be able to see the completed work as God sees it? This so reminds me of Joshua when God was giving him the battle plan. Here is a warrior who has successful battles behind him, getting ready to take on the fortified city of Jericho. The Lord says to Joshua....."see, I have delivered Jericho into your hands..." Can't you just imagine Joshua squinting....trying to see? Yet, all he could see with his physical eyes was Jericho tightly shut up. It'd be like someone trying to point out the camouflaged wildlife to the untrained eye. "Follow your eyes down my arm, to where my finger is pointing.....you can see the deer.....right there."

This is when Joshua's faith and his actions were working together and his faith was made complete by what he did. This is also when our faith and our actions need to work together. Today, This Day, I'm exercising faith as it is an inheritance and am fully convinced that what God promises, He is able to perform.

Peace and Joy,
Susan

2 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV) But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

The Beginning of the End, of the Beginning!

Wait….What? Does this statement confuse you? It confuses me, until I put it into context. Today marks the beginning of Lent. The beginning of the last days Jesus walked among us. The end of His physical life on this Earth. The beginning of a new covenant with His death, burial and resurrection.

Do you celebrate Ash Wednesday? Even though I'm not Catholic, I do observe this season. For me, it is a time of reflection, a time to be more mindful of Jesus' last days on Earth, a time to search for and find answers to questions about His life.

This year, I want to see people through God's eyes, have God's love for them, have God's heart for the forgotten. Have you heard Brandon Heath's song, "Give Me Your Eyes"? (The video is not posted here because the embedding is disabled, so you'll have to click the link to watch it.)

Starting today, This Day, that is my heart. Will you join me in this challenge?

Peace and Joy,
Susan

Joel 2:12-13 (NIV)

¹² "Even now," declares the LORD,
"return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning."

¹³ Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.