Lent: Bargaining time with God?

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday and our Ohana went to Mass as you can see above. I just loved the homily Father Matthew gave, so I wanted to post and share about it.

Father Matthew talked about how he perceived Lent as a kid which is also how some misinformed Catholics and non-Catholics may perceive it. He said when he was younger he thought Lent was a time that called us to bargain with God, to do good self-righteous deeds to get on God's good list. He also thought that the more pain and suffering (for example like kneeling on rocks for hours) your acts brought the better. Then as he got older and studied the Scriptures he realized his view of Lent was completely wrong. First and most important, there is never enough good self-righteous deeds we could do to earn Salvation from God because we are sinners and we will all continue to sin. Amen Father Matthew. Only His perfect and holy Son could, and He died for our sins. By Grace Alone are we saved. So why the reason for Lent? Why the ashes? Why the fasting? Why do Catholic, Episcopal, Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran Christians observe Lent?

In Old Testament times people used ashes as a sign of repentance. They did this as an outward sign of their inward posture of repentance. Check out Daniel 9:3-6, for an example "So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes...". Ash Wednesday begins Lent, a time when we stop and assess how we’re doing in our walk with God. We should try to assess our walk daily throughout the year. Once Lent is over we strive to continue with our repentance. Lent helps us identify spiritual areas in which we can grow and sinful areas that we need to avoid. To repent, put simply, means to turn away from sin and turn toward God. We use ashes as an outward expression of our need to begin again.

Lent is not one of those things we have to do its something we want to do. Father Matthew said last night we should embrace our sufferings with enthusiasm as they bring us closer to God. It's like an athlete training for a goal, they may suffer through all their practicing but the results bring them to their goal. What I am giving up, or fasting from, are behaviors or attitudes that keep me from getting as close to God as He wants me to be. They're different for everyone and it's meant to be a time of renewal, and making new and better habits that won't just be for Lent but for throughout the whole year.

I want to share my post about my fasting during Lent last year...
"46 days if you count Sundays...


...which I did this Lent when I fasted from all beverages except for water. I thought I'd write a blog post of what I learned from this fast. "Fasting brings us to the realization that we depend on God to sustain us through all things, and that even when our own will fails, God's grace is sufficient in satisfying our hunger." I find much truth to this quote. It wasn't easy for me to only drink water, especially in the beginning of this fast. But when I thought I didn't have the will power, when my stomach turned from drinking water in the early mornings, I focused my attention on my dependence to God and fostering gratitude. I know that many people fast to "get something out of it" (like growing closer to God), but I learned that actually I should focus on what I need to respond to: awareness of sin, repentance, and bringing my body in line with what was happening spiritually. In responding, I did get something out of it. God is awesome.


"When I fast and I share in that fast with others for others, it is in that moment of giving up that I feel equal with all, especially the least among us." I could relate to this quote during my fast as well. I mean think about it - do you think the homeless and the poor are distracted in their thoughts of the planning and prepping of food? or the sensory pleasure of food? Instead of these distractions I bet more of their thoughts lead to praying and talking to God.


Jesus taught His disciples that prayer and fasting is powerful in casting out demons when He said, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." Mark 9:29.


I'm glad I did this fast this Lent. I learned a lot, I prayed a lot and I listened a lot. And I recommend doing a physical fast to bring your body in line with what is happening spiritually."

46 days if you count Sundays...

...which I did this Lent when I fasted from all beverages except for water. I thought I'd write a blog post of what I learned from this fast. "Fasting brings us to the realization that we depend on God to sustain us through all things, and that even when our own will fails, God's grace is sufficient in satisfying our hunger." I find much truth to this quote. It wasn't easy for me to only drink water, especially in the beginning of this fast. But when I thought I didn't have the will power, when my stomach turned from drinking water in the early mornings, I focused my attention on my dependence to God and fostering gratitude. I know that many people fast to "get something out of it" (like growing closer to God), but I learned that actually I should focus on what I need to respond to: awareness of sin, repentance, and bringing my body in line with what was happening spiritually. In responding, I did get something out of it. God is awesome.

My water jug during Lent.

"When I fast and I share in that fast with others for others, it is in that moment of giving up that I feel equal with all, especially the least among us." I could relate to this quote during my fast as well. I mean think about it - do you think the homeless and the poor are distracted in their thoughts of the planning and prepping of food? or the sensory pleasure of food? Instead of these distractions I bet more of their thoughts lead to praying and talking to God.

Jesus taught His disciples that prayer and fasting is powerful in casting out demons when He said, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." Mark 9:29.

I'm glad I did this fast this Lent. I learned a lot, I prayed a lot and I listened a lot. And I recommend doing a physical fast to bring your body in line with what is happening spiritually.

Oh and by the way, on our Easter Celebration I drank a glass of OJ and indulged in a Strawberry Lemonade at dinner. It was a nice treat. :)

Water Fast

For Lent this year I decided to go on a water fast, giving up all beverages except for water. I knew this would be cleansing not only for my body but also for my spirit. You see water is difficult for me. I don't really like to drink it much, I much rather prefer juice, tea, sport drinks or my diet sodas. The only time I like to drink water is when I have to take medicine, or if I am dying of thirst from exhaustion or it being hot. I can't even drink water in the mornings, cause it makes me feel like I have to gag. So why did I go on a water fast again?

Well fasting during Lent is one way to test ourselves. When Jesus spent 40 days in the desert He was tested. And He defeated the testing of Satan while He was there. But Jesus was tested for our sake, because He had no battles with illusions, illusions of what He understood of the Father, illusions of the plan for His life and the will of God the Father - He was simply following the will of His Father. But we have these illusions. The desert experience is about deprivation. And in doing this water fast I am having my own desert experience. When I think about all the millions of less fortunate around the world, they involuntarily only drink water - dirty, unfiltered water. Because they have no choice and no luxury of drinking anything else. Here in America, the land of opportunity, we strive to make it and not be deprived or have our children be deprived because we see it as a great evil. Because most feel when you are deprived, you've lost any power over your life. It's good to be reminded with a desert experience that we aren't all-powerful, only our almighty and merciful God is.

I will admit, I enjoy the pleasures of being able to go out to a restaurant or the grocery store and fulfill a craving my belly may ache for. But sometimes when we fulfill these wants and pleasures, it only covers up some issues/demons I may be battling with. So with this water fast, when I'm craving my morning tea or juice or my diet soda with a meal later in the day I turn to God for strength to get past the craving. It truly has made me focus on God more times throughout the day then I had before. It's created more time that I have taken to talk to Him about my gratefulness, my sorrow, my troubles, my happiness, my thankfulness, my humbling moments, my disorderedness, and my illusions. One week into this fast. And I think I've got about 6 more weeks to go. I look forward to how much closer this fast will bring me to Him.

On the not so serious side of this water fast topic... I'll be honest and let you know I had no idea of the uncomfortable side affects it might have. Lets just say on the benefit of water fasting tip list, my body is experiencing the "It restores your body balance by eliminating wastes."  big time and it is not very comfortable. Here are a few other benefiting tips about water fasting that I found interesting:

• It cleanses your respiratory, circulatory, digestive and urinary systems, destroying impurities all over the body and eliminates uric acid deposits. (this is great since I am just recovering from pneumonia)
• People detoxify and heal more quickly with water fast than with any other fast. This is because with water fasting, your digestive passageway and organs are able to rest completely, allowing for all of your energy to be used for cleansing and repair of damaged tissues. (yup something is definitely going on with my digestive passageway)
• It increases your life span. (I like this one!)
• It helps you in weight loss. (I like this one too! And wouldn't mind help in this department!)
• It quiets allergic reactions, including asthma and hay fever. (Interesting, I wonder if it will quiet my allergic reactions to ant bites - that would be a blessing!)
• Going on water fast gives you the motivation and enthusiasm to make a fresh start and commit yourself to a new and better way of life. (Amen to this!)

Palm Sunday 2010

"Palm Sunday is the epitome of Lent: a day of great celebration, and a day of deep mourning. On this day, Jesus entered Jerusalem as its king while thousands rejoiced. Within a week, he would be dead, and his followers would be confused and scattered. For everyone who witnessed the events of that week 2000 years ago, it was a roller coaster ride—they knew nothing of Easter. We, on the other hand, have the hope of the resurrection, but also the knowledge that we are the reason for the crucifixion. Bright sadness. ..." ~ imby.net Devotions for Lent.

Palm Sunday Mass was a bit different this year as we were blessed with a skit/play of the Passion of Christ done by the middle school kids in Confirmation. Madeline told us they did this play for all the CCD classes last Monday. It was great to see!! Madeline and James watched intently. Madeline told us she learned from the play that Jesus died on the cross for us because He loves us. She said the only thing she didn't like about the play was how mean the Romans were to Jesus. Above is a pic of the kids that performed the play at our parish.

Before we went to evening Mass today we took the kids to see How to train your Dragon in 3D. Cute movie, we all enjoyed it! And of course love the Viking theme that surrounds it. After the movie when we got home the kids and I colored eggs.
The kids really liked this project!

Ah if they could only be this loving ALL the time. :)

Showing off their colored glitter eggs! And aren't those the saddest puppy dog eyes you've ever seen!?

Awesome job! They ate 2 each for dinner tonight!

Also this weekend, Stephen took the kids in this cool Hertz ride to pick up some fresh donuts and kolaches for breakfast - all while I was sleeping in!

Old Friends & Free Pancakes on Fat Tuesday

I love Facebook! I've reconnected with so many old school pals and people from my past on there. Denise Noordman and I go way back to the days of Plavan (our elementary school). I remember the days sitting on the bars in the park after school talking for hours. In middle school our moms took turns carpooling us to school. In high school we had many classes together and often sat next to each other (both our last names starting with "N"). We lost touch after high school so it's wonderful to be back in contact. Denise's best friend, Adrienne, went to high school with us too and she now lives in Houston. So while Denise was visiting her they drove out to Austin for a night.

Thanks to my wonderful neighbors I was able to get out without the kids for a few hours and meet the girls downtown for a cocktail and dinner. It was fun! I left them in the 6th Street district to celebrate Mardi Gras. Then later that night they came over to our house to stay the night. It was fun reminiscing!

Yesterday we enjoyed a free short stack of pancakes from IHOP, did you get yours!? It was National Pancake Day. We took the kids at lunch time and were greeted outside by a few friendly Knights of Columbus passing out Mardi Gras beaded necklaces, the kids excitedly took theirs! I actually was unaware of the day before Ash Wednesday, is traditionally celebrated as Fat Tuesday! In countries of the Carnival tradition, the day before Ash Wednesday is known either as Fat Tuesday (Portuguese, Terça-feira Gorda; French, Mardi Gras; Italian, Martedì Grasso; Swedish, Fettisdagen; Estonian, Vastlapäev), or the "Tuesday of Carnival" (Spanish, Martes de Carnaval; Portuguese, Terça-feira de Carnaval; German, Faschingsdienstag). This is in reference to eating special foods before the fasting season of Lent. The tradition is widely associated with the eating of foods such as pancakes, and often known simply as Pancake Day, originally because these used up ingredients such as fat and eggs, the consumption of which was traditionally restricted during Lent. So there you go, learned something new!

It was a gorgeous day so after getting full on pancakes we took the kids and Penny Lane to our nearby Frisbee Golf Course & Park.

Penny looks huge sitting on Madeline's lap compared to the pic of them the day we brought her home.

Even though Stephen didn't have his discs, we still walked through the golf course. They have a stream running through parts of it, Penny sure liked and drank from it.

There are tons of sticks on the ground from all the trees at the course. The kids enjoyed finding them and playing swords with them. Madeline will say, "On Guard!" and James will respond, "Aaaa Gaaaaa". They're so funny.

James enjoyed playing with the water fountain on this 80 degree February day!

Since I am posting this on Ash Wednesday, I wanted to end the post with posting Psalm 51:

Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your loving kindness;

According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity

And cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,

And my sin is ever before me.

Against You, You only, I have sinned

And done what is evil in Your sight,

So that You are justified when You speak

And blameless when You judge.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

And in sin my mother conceived me.

Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,

And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness,

Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.

Hide Your face from my sins

And blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation

And sustain me with a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

And sinners will be converted to You.

Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;

Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips,

That my mouth may declare Your praise.

For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;

You are not pleased with burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

By Your favor do good to Zion;

Build the walls of Jerusalem.

Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,

In burnt offering and whole burnt offering;

Then young bulls will be offered on Your altar.