40 days of Lent - better late I guess

A note to the people who wrote the UCC Spring Cleaning Lenten calendar -  this should of been yesterday's lenten thought.

March 10 - Daylight Savings Time begins today.  Don't be late for church!  Go to bed an hour earlier tonight.

Tonight?  on Sunday

Anyway - I did try to go to bed earlier last night - but that did not work.  Until I got settled, did my Sunday School Lesson and took the dog out I ended up going to bed around 12 - which was now 1 thanks to Daylight Savings Time.  Then I had one of those bad night sleeps that I thought I wasn't sleeping but I guess I was - but I know I was awake at 2:22 AM, 5 AM, 6 AM and then got up at 7:30AM
\
After a long day of two trips back and forth to the hospital to see Parke I think I will take their advice and go to bed an hour early tonight. 

Good night - sleep tight (what does that mean anyway?)

40 days of Lent - Goodbye

Today's Lenten thought took some pondering

March 9 - Say goodbye to someone you need to say goodbye to.  Whatever the circumstances, good or bad, remember that "goodbye" comes from "God be with you".

I read this first thing this morning but wasn't sure where to take this.  At this moment in time I don't think I have someone I need to say goodbye to, but over the years, there have been some.  Today I find some memories haunting.  I need to say goodbye to the people that still get under my skin even though they are long gone.

So that's why I resolve to do - say a final goodbye to those people and try not to let them in my thoughts anymore. 

I guess that's why we are to forgive and forget.   There is a song from South Pacific that goes "Gonna wash that man right out of my hair."  Well I have a few men and woman I need to wash out of mine. 

So I got to you go now and wash my hair.

PS - Sorry this is so late,  It has been a long day, Parke is in the hospital, he is doing fine, but please say a prayer for him. Thank you

40 days of Lent - Taking risks

Maybe this is just a coincidence - but today is International Woman's Day

International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.  Which brings me to today's Lenten Thought -

March 8 - Take a risk, confront something controversial.  Following Jesus requires more than just enjoying the blessings of faith.

Some inspiring women who have done this where listed on MSN this morning -

Malala Yousafzai -On October 19, 2012, 15-year-old Pakistani Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head and neck by the Taliban while riding on a school bus in the Swat valley. She had been advocating for girls’ education and rights, which have been obstructed and violated by the Taliban.

 

Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords - Gabrielle Giffords was hosting a constituent event in Tucson, AZ when she was shot in the head at close range. The massacre left six dead and 12 others injured. After two years of rehabilitation, former congresswoman Giffords  gives testimony at the Senate Judiciary hearing on gun violence on January 30, 2013, in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook school shootings.

Rosa Parks is set to become the first African-American woman to be enshrined in Capitol Hill’s gallery of honor later this year - On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Parks refused to obey bus driver James F. Blake's order that she give up her seat in the colored section to a white passenger, after the white section was filled.

 

These are only 3 people who took a risks - there are so many more people over the course of history who have take risks, some have changed the world.

 

I don't know what risks I could take, I try not to be controversial, I even try to watch what I post on Facebook so as not to offend anyone.  But, playing it safe is not what God has called us to do. 

 

So who knows, maybe you or I will be the next person to change the world.

40 days of Lent - Meet me half-way

Today's Lenten thought -

March 7 -  This is the 20th day of Lent, the half-way mark in the 40 days.  Instead of waiting for someone to meet you halfway on something, go all the way to them.  Initiate a call or send a note.

I am not sure I am waiting for anyone at this time, but I have seen this kind of circumstance before.  People or family members not willing to talk to each other waiting for the other to make the first move.  I saw this alot when I was a kid growing up.  My grandmother would be mad at someone in the family and not talk to them.  Heck, as I think about it - she was mad at me many times and wouldn't talk to me.  

My favorite example of this is her cookbook which she left to me.  When she would be mad at me, she would erase my name and insert someone elses where it said, after my death this book goes to......  After she forgave me for whatever I did, she would erase the other name and insert mine back.  I have the book, eraser marks and all. 

Life is way to short to hold a grudge, besides, it gets heavy after a while.

On the bright side - I am half way through this blog!

40 days of Lent - don't delay

Oh my, I think God is trying to tell me something.

Today's Lenten Thought:

March 6 - Make medical appointments you've been putting off. Thank God if you have insurance. Pray for those who don't.  Educate yourself with facts, not opinions, about health care reform.

Yesterday, Annette, my co-worker and bff, emailed me with a colonoscopy reminder, which I have put off and off and off.   But kudos to Annette, she called and made an appointment for the initial office visit.

I did go to the doctor on Monday for my knee, something else I was putting off and I will be getting a MRI on this coming Monday. 

Getting older is not easy, with each year there seems to be more tests and more issues to deal with.  I thank God for my health.  This past Sunday one of our members at church passed me in the hallway and I know he has had some health issues, but he gave me a smile anyway.  I said it was good to see him, and he said yes, he was trying.  My response, any day upright is a good one.  How true.

So if you been putting off the "exam" "doctor visit" or "test"  now is the time to stop making excuses and make that appointment.  I promise to get a colonoscopy this year, you can join me if you want, maybe they give group rates. 

40 days of Lent - I am beautiful!

You look MAHVELOUS DARLING!

Yup - today's Lenten Thought

March 5 - Look in the mirror and compliment yourself.  Yes, you'll feel silly. Do it anyway.

We got to love ourselves before we can love others, and this is a good way to start.  A compliment a day, keeps the blues away.

Here are some you can use:

You look wonderful today.
Love your hair
What a great smile
You are beautiful inside and out!
Aren't you looking chipper today!
My your are gorgeous
or my favorite
Hey you're awake

It may sound too simple to work, but the reality is that the more you think positive thoughts about yourself, the more you push out negative ones. And, the better you feel about yourself, the more resistant you are to self-doubt and also to the criticisms of others. 

It doesn’t matter what the compliment is. It’s the act itself that matters. When you give yourself a compliment, you are actively examining your strengths, which can increase both your self-esteem and self-confidence. Remember God didn't make junk, He made you, and you are perfect in His eyes! 

So come on - compliment yourself - you are beautiful and don't forget it!

40 Days of Lent - Overbooked?

Today's Lenten thought is a good one -

March 4 - Clear your calendar if you're over-scheduled, find one thing to cut out so you can have saner days.

Isn't this true for a lot of us.  I thought this weekend I would be relatively free, but as it worked out I didn't seem to have a free moment to myself all weekend long, except in the evenings to watch TV.  I can always tell when I don't spend enough time at home.  Petey T. Dog will sit on me and not budged.  This is a definite sign that I have been running in and out of the house too much for his liking.  Why are there so many errands to run?

This week, I am afraid, is a busy week - not as busy as some weeks but I have a few commitments booked already.  I will try to weed something out just to spend a little time at home, relaxing, praying or reading. 

Let's face it - even God rested on the 7th day, so why shouldn't we.