Living in the Now: Keeping Lent

Lenten fasting is the ultimate practice of creating space for being: deliberately making room to be with the God Who is very now-here. This is a season of being in relationship with God, rather than crossing the fine line of sacrificing a guilty pleasure to learn more about God.

My 98-year old wise mentor said we would all have our hands full for the season of Lent if we truly practiced Sabbath keeping. "Why is everyone so afraid of rest?," she asked. She's totally right.

This challenge was set before our congregation:

This Lenten season, let's consider abstaining from a source of comfort that would be a substitute for God. Let's also consider taking up the discipline of moving toward one another in community.

Both sound pretty uncomfortable. And relevant. This is my Lent to learn to blurt my opinion less often, and hear more quickly. To ask better questions of my neighbors, to make space to hear God's answers.  Practice dying to self, and to hear God's heart.

Book Review: Family Celebration at Easter, Ann Hibbard

Practical, approachable, and applicable for family devotions, this simple book is a great guide through the Lenten and Easter seasons. Used copies of Family Celebrations at Easter are selling on amazon.com for as little as a penny. Best used with children kindergarten aged and older, this devotion guides the family with a biblical based gospel. 

Each day holds a short story, reading of a biblical passage, several family discussion questions, a prayer, a hymn (arrangement is included in the back of the book), and further study ideas. To help the whole family remember the journey through the season, an appropriate symbol represents that day's passage. These symbol patterns can be scanned from the book for coloring. Other mediums can be used (felt, ornament-style for an Easter tree, collection of items from around the house, etc.). 

I appreciate that these symbols begin with a clear understanding of our need for a Savior, and then shows how God sent a Savior. Also included is specific information and a guide for celebrating Passover, or Sedar.

Overall, this is a very user friendly book for the whole family to use year after year. Having been raised on this series, and now raising my son with these symbols, I greatly treasure the accessibility, truth, and joy of God's Word.

Practically Speaking: Special Menus

There are a few ideas that will not only save you money, but they will also enable you to give more easily of yourself. Adapting these for your own will create space for you to easily give of yourself--and enjoy doing it:

1. Master a simple repertoire of recipes: main dish, side, dessert.
2. Keep all basic ingredients on hand at all times.

Whether I have company drop in, a home bound friend, or a hankering to fellowship at my own table, it is much easier to be available when I already have a game plan. I'm a pretty simple cook, so I've used several recipes as my "company" recipes, often a hearty soup or easily transportable casserole. Make ahead for yourself to enjoy on those "off" days.

Keep your pantry well-stocked with necessary items. For me, this often means keeping a cake or brownie mix on hand, or making sure to keep my pantry items stocked. Nothing is more stressful than realizing I'm out of sugar--or eggs! A running grocery list on the fridge helps this. Don't be afraid to keep mixes or easy to prepare options on hand (frozen bread, soup mix, etc.), especially if you're comfortable adapting them into an even better recipe.

Practically Speaking: Wrestling Sunrise Doubts

This is a picture of a Smoky Mountain sunrise. Not long ago, I wouldn't have recognized such abnormality, because I most definitely am not a morning person. When my sweet husband began going to work at 5:30AM each day (the middle of the night, I'm thinking), I felt this guilty tug when I didn't hit the ground running with him. Then, I realized a few other fears:

• Will I die if I get up that early?
• What happens if I finish my to-do list? 
• How will it feel to wait three hours before little feet hit the floor?
• How early will I have to go to bed in the evening?
• What if I start inventing jobs just to be "busy"?

Bottom line: why NOT get up at 5:30AM?

Granted, I don't get up that early every day. Striving for faithfulness, not perfection. But now that I'm wrestling with these fears, I'm finding it to be very good. This weird season of having little heavy stress and wide spans of open time has revealed a lot of unsettled peace that I've needed to hash. Its good to wrestle. First thing in the morning. God is very now-here, in this very moment, even when it is so quiet I'm a little lost and wandering.

Living in the Now: Where is Thy Sting?

Experienced beekeepers have found that occasional, regular exposure to their bee's stings is important. For many, this small exposure builds immunity to extreme reactions. Swelling, itching and pain is often less extreme for those who have such immunity. 

Ash Wednesday might be like this: a tiny, painful exposure to the sting of death. The imposition of ashes, taken from last year's palm Sunday branches now burned, is a difficult symbol to receive. In congregational silence, each hears pronounced over them, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Heaviest of all is offering your child to the pastor, for the same imposition and pronouncement. Death is so very, very heavy.

Lent is upon us, our season of waiting, preparing, repenting, listening. Seven weeks of shadow fall, each week drawing closer to the darkest day. We know the brightest light bursts forth on Easter morn, but not before the darkest dark.

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” I Corinthians 15:55

Practically Speaking: Darkness

Advent and Lent make peculiar seasons. But, we are a peculiar people. One candle is lit for each of the four weeks of Advent, building a glorious crescendo to Christmas Day. "Arise, shine, for your light has come..." 

Lent can begin with seven lit candles for the upcoming seven weeks. As each week passes, one less candle is lit. Total darkness comes on Good Friday, with the brightest light on Easter morn. How rarely I let myself ponder darkness, not to mention be enveloped.

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." Genesis 1:1-2

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:55

"To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’" Acts 26:18

"The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light." Romans 13:12

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." I Peter 2:9

Book Review: A Violent Grace, Michael Card

Looking for a fresh devotional that teaches your heart the depth of Christ's love? Pick this up for your Lenten and Easter season. Michael Card has lyrically woven scripture, experience, and simple prayers. In the spirit of his song, "Why", Card journeys through Christ's birth, temptation, suffering, and resurrection. God has used Card in my life to shape my heart through his artful, powerful lyrics, and this book is no different. Find your copy on amazon.com

"Dietrich Bonhoeffer defined 'cheap grace' as grace without the cross. In these scalding pages, Michael Card touched my heart with the love of Christ crucified and led me to an unprecedented appreciation of undeserved grace." --Brennan Manning, author of The Ragamuffin Gospel

Practically Speaking: Pie Pallooza

I'm a firm believer in a regular excuse to eat pie. On a good day, I'm a very happy low-carbing, no sugar, steady gal. On a holiday, I believe in going all out. With a medieval nod to Fat Tuesday, this weekend we'll be skipping the pancakes and dipping our forks into the best of the best: fresh whipping cream, buttery crust, and straight up black coffee. Turn up the jazz, break out the games, and dig in! Celebrating with friends is always excuse. Post links to your favorite pie recipes--I'm always game for practicing.

Creating Space For Being: Living in the Now: The Problem with Community

What's a neighbor to do?
Creating Space For Being: Living in the Now: The Problem with Community: Chewing on this one, so feel free to leave your two cents. I'm hearing a theme I never noticed. Being good, peculiar folk, some of my cir...

Living in the Now: The Problem with Community

Chewing on this one, so feel free to leave your two cents. I'm hearing a theme I never noticed. Being good, peculiar folk, some of my circles are deepening the practice of living well in community with others. Any sort of relationship, from your intimate family to the random person in the grocery aisle. How do we love well? 

This sneaky little temptation to fix them sometimes comes to play. Often, just lending a listening ear leads to helpless grieving, since the more you listen the more you bear their burden with them. Speaking too quickly or offering general advice can be downright offensive. Personal brisk pace and weariness can build a barrier to intimacy because I've left no room to experience your journey with you. It just can't be endured. There is a frailty that comes in extending compassion, in loving well, in being together, in living in community. What's a neighbor to do?

Book Review: The Scrapbook of Francie Pratt, by Caroline Preston

Browsing the "new books" section at the library one afternoon, I found this jewel. I've never seen anything quite like it, and its the closest thing I've come to pop-up book in my adult years. Each page is high gloss, artistically detailed scrap booking, scanned into book format (see sample below).

The words telling the story are very minimal, giving you a graphic novel feel. The best part is that it is too long to read in one sitting--you'll have to keep coming back for more. This novel is more of an experience than just an average story. Its rather much like thumbing through your great-grandmother's favorite scrap books, with ordinary stories that are now part of your own heritage. Highly recommend purchasing this book, as well as connecting with the author's website.

Practically Speaking: Happy Valentines Day!

Maybe its the bleary winter weather and we want a party, or maybe we're really rowdy Greeks after all. Regardless, our family has a sweet passion for Valentine's Day. My dad gave me my first rose and my first box of chocolates when I was 8 years old. As I grew, my family usually exchanged cards with each other. Homemade notes were the favorite. By the time my senior year of high school, Valentine's Day became an all out lasagna dinner with lots of candles, decorations, and flowers. These days, with all the in-laws and extra friends, our numbers have easily doubled round the table, except now you're required to wear a red shirt if you want dessert (its worth it, trust me). The longer I live, the more I value the passionate family love we all share: God's greatest gift of grace. This sweet time makes Valentine's Day one of our favorite holidays. Celebrate with us!

Living in the Now: Being Present

Living in the "now" is a good wrestle; tiring, molding, and satisfying. My "now" spans boundless time, days on end, carrying very little stress, and bringing constant quiet. My past, pounding to-do list has shaped me much more than I realized. At first, I thought that I had forgotten how to be fully present, how to breathe worship. On second thought, maybe I never found that heart.

For me, its tough not to live in the past; those experiences that have shaped. Its difficult to not live in the future; those possibilities that are unknown. I hide in piling on the projects, reorganizing that closet for the umpteenth time, and refining some sort of method. Right now, the "now-here" is where God has placed me. Saying this out loud is one thing, but claiming peace while speaking it has been a tough chew.

Journey with me. Let go of the habitual thinking of, "Wow, it must be nice to be YOU....". We cheapen each other's journey in this thought. Worse, we discount our own.

My prayer is to be here, now--which asks me to look full into the face of Christ, to see His passion for me, to see His heart, to trust completely. Lord, grant me the courage to be in the now-here, with fullness of heart. Teach me to abide.

My Brain on Efficiency: Weekly Cleaning Chart

Confession: My brain has enough ADD patterns that I often loose my train of thought by walking into the next room (this probably isn't a shock to most of you). I'm the type to forget to finish my coffee, then forget I put it in the microwave to reheat...until I find it again the next day when repeating the pattern. Must. Focus. This weekly cleaning chart helps me track what needs to be done this week, plus brings a bit of satisfaction in striking off accomplishments. I recommend a big, red marker, for it is most satisfying:

	o Wipe surfaces, including sink, counter tops, the outside of the ventilation hood, fridge and cupboard doors, top of refrigerator, appliance exteriors, shelves, and furniture. Kitchen o Wipe the inside of the oven, microwave, and toaster oven. Kitchen o Flush drain with boiling water. Kitchen o Discard foods and beverages past their prime. Kitchen o Dust light fixtures. Kitchen o Wipe the inside and outside of trash and recycling bins. Kitchen o Vacuum and mop floor. Kitchen o Dust surfaces and objects, including furniture and light fixtures. Dining room o Vacuum upholstery and floor. Dining room o Fluff and rotate sofa cushions. Living room o Discard magazines and catalogs on coffee or side tables; store those you want to keep. Living room o Dust surfaces and objects, including furniture, light fixtures and electronics. Living room o Vacuum upholstery and floor. Living room o Sort through in-boxes: pay bills, file paid bills and paperwork. Office o Dust surfaces and objects, including furniture, light fixtures and electronics. Office o Vacuum floor. Office o Dust the tops and spines of books, shelves, and light fixtures. Library o Dust light fixtures. Entry and hallway o Launder machine-washable throw rugs and runners. Entry and hallway o Vacuum landing. Entry and hallway o Mop floors Entry and hallway o Change and launder sheets and pillowcases. Bedrooms o Fluff pillows and comforters. Bedrooms o Discard magazines and catalogs on side tables; store those you want to keep. Bedrooms o Dust surfaces, including furniture, objects, and light fixtures. Bedrooms o Empty trash. Bedrooms o Vacuum Bedrooms o Clean toilet, bathtub, shower, and sinks. Bathroom o Wipe mirrors. Bathroom o Change and launder bath mats, towels, and washcloths. Bathroom o Dust light fixtures. Bathroom o Empty trash bins, kitty litter. Bathroom o Vacuum and mop floors. Bathroom o Wipe hand and pet prints from windows and glass doors. Throughout o Sweep porch, stairs. Throughout o Water plants. Throughout o Carpet clean on small area. Throughout