Week 3: Jesus Reminds Us to Put Him First

This reflection actually brought up a point that I've been thinking about recently. I think sometimes I get caught up in trying to help others and I neglect spending time with God. It's like I'm trying to keep myself busy, trying to do what I think is good for others, so that I don't have to risk any scary things that God may ask me to do. And then again sometimes I find that I don't take that time because I feel like I'm being selfish and that I could be more useful, for example, helping my mom with dinner. While it's good to serve like Martha, Jesus says that Mary picked what was better. She simply relied on Jesus, not worrying about the future.. she just sat there and loved Him. We all need time to relax during the day so that we don't get overwhelmed and overworked. We need rest... this is why we sleep for almost half of the day. This is how God made us. He made us so that we need time to refocus our souls on Him in the quiet. Like it says in Psalm 62:6 "My soul, be at rest in God alone, from whom comes my hope." Only in God can our souls find what they need. I pray that God may clear my schedule during Lent and the rest of the year so that I can truly focus on Him.

Week 3: Jesus Warns Us to be Ready

I know this post is a couple days late, but I did have a reflection. Although I've heard the first question many times, something made me pause and really think about if Jesus would welcome me or not. I always take it for granted that I will make it in to Heaven. I mean I try to do the right thing...I don't break any laws. But I got an unbearably painful image in my head of Jesus saying "I do not know you." The feeling of not being welcomed by the most loving, selfless man and God is indescribable. I'm thankful that God allowed me to understand that even though I do basically the right things, it doesn't mean that I know Him. I pray that my love for Him will grow and be reflected in all of my actions so that He will give me a big welcoming hug when I get to Heaven.

Week 2: Jesus Delivers Us From Death (Tuesday)

I know that God is a compassionate and loving God. Unfortunately, I don't always remember that for various reasons, but in my heart I know it. I know that He accepts me for the hot mess I am but that he calls me to continue to work on our relationship. He wants me to love Him freely without obligation or fear of judgment or punishment. When I mess up sometimes, it is hard for me to imagine that He could forgive me without any consequence (besides natural...i.e. he isn't going to send lightening down to strike me after I gossip as a punishment). I just have to ask for forgiveness and grace. It blows my mind sometimes, but I know that He makes all things new and I praise Him for all He has done in my life.

Week 1: Jesus Points Us to His Mother (Monday)

I am so thankful that my mom raised me in the church and that I was able to learn and grow from it and eventually make the Catholic faith my own. I love being Catholic and I am so glad she shared that with me. I can't imagine all the struggles that came when Mary said yes to raising the son of God, but she did a beautiful job and I hope one day to be the selfless and loving mother she was. As a Catholic woman, Mary is someone I honor and aspire to mirror her qualities and faith. Unfortunately, I don't hold a candle, but I do ask for her intercession often and I do feel like she guides me.

Week 1: Jesus Puts God First (Sunday)

One of my goals for this lenten season is to really put God first and to continue to pray that His will be done and that I don't get in the way of that. I also have committed to spending time with him in the morning as I drive to work either listening to Christian music or praying the rosary as well as just making daily prayer something I do freely and really making an effort to put God first and to love him as He loves me!

Week 1: Jesus Faced Temptation

This reminds me of growing up hearing my grandma in the kitchen screaming "Satan get out of my kitchen! I don't have time for you today." As a kid, I thought she was crazy, but as I grew older I realized how important it is to tell Satan to get lost daily. When we try to do God's will, Satan will try to interfere. He enters our weak points, but just like the prayer says through God's love we are able to be strong. I pray that during this Lenten Season I can recognize where Satan is interfering with God's plan for my life and resist the temptation to listen to his lies and turn away from God. I pray that instead I would be able to "put on the armor of God and stand strong against the tactics of the devil" recognizing my weaknesses and places where I face temptations and resisting sin by drawing my strength from His perfect love.

Week 1: Jesus Cries With Us

To me it's reassuring to know that Jesus weeps with us. I often get caught up on the fact that Jesus is divine and I forget His human side. This short passage from John is a good reminder that He was fully human as well. He was moved to compassion by the suffering and sorrows of Mary who had lost her brother, Lazarus. In our extended family, we've had a lost. Throughout college I lost my aunt, uncle, and both grandparents on my Mom's side and our family experienced a lot of grief. It is a comfort to be to know that throughout all of that loss, Jesus was right their with our family. I'd like to lift up some special prayers today for Aunt Jane, Uncle Billy, Nanny, and Poppy!

note on postings

Hey Guys and Gals,

I just wanted to let everyone know that you're more than welcome to create your own post. If you want to do your reading, reflection, and post at a time before I post for the day, feel free to do so! Then we can all just comment on whoever does the first post for the day!

Peace!

Kristen

Week 1: Jesus Got Angry

What? Jesus got angry?!? Actually, I think that's really a wonderful example and a reminder to us that it's ok to get upset or angry when we see injustice or wrong taking place. Jesus was upset because he saw people desecrating His Father's house. How many times to I stand aside when I see wrong going on around me? Maybe this is a message for me to step up and do something about it! That doesn't mean it is ok for us to lash out or treat people with disrespect, but I think it is a challenge for us to step up and do the right thing, even if it may not be easy or if it causes controversy.

As far as the abusing our bodies questions goes, that brings me back to the idea of taking really good care of myself over lent. So far so good (but we're only on day two). It's funny how when you make a decision to do something, God can remind you about it in little ways throughout your day.

My prayer for today is for God to show me the areas in my life when I do need reconciliation with people. Also, I want to have the guts to step up and say something or help out when God is calling me to do that.

Week 1: Jesus as a Baby

After reading today's scripture and reflection, I took some time to really think about the questions. I feel like there are times I'm the inn-keeper and turn Jesus away because I feel to busy to make time for Him. I was this time of Lent to be a time that I DO make time for Him. It's a great opportunity for me to work on setting aside time for Him each day.

I can also more easily relate to the gift that the Baby Jesus was to Mary and Joseph...and to all of us as well. Having baby Skylar here has really helped me to learn what a gift and blessing a baby is to a family. On Jesus wasn't just a baby, He was/is the SAVIOR!

On another note, I think that the closing prayer relates well to some of the other lenten promises I'd like to make this year. The prayer has us ask God to help us respect our own lives. I'm making the commitment to give up eating poorly and being lazy. Healthier food and working out is an easy way that I can take care better care of the body and life that God has gifted me with. Usually I feel like it can be meaningless to just "give up" sweets (although that's tough too)! But I think this year I can work more on overall wellness which can really mean looking more at the gifts God has given me and how I can best use them by taking great care of the body God's given me.

That's all from me until tomorrow! Feel free to post your thoughts!

Welcome!

Hey Teens and Core Team. Welcome to our Lenten blog! For lent this year, we're going to be offering everyone the opportunity to participate in this blog based on the Life Teen book: 40 More. We'll be reading the daily scriptures, answering the questions, reflecting, and praying together in cyberspace.

The challenge will be to stay committed to doing your part each day! If you don't feel like posting or commenting on a certain day, that's fine. Feel free to share what God is putting on your heart. Who knows how it may help someone else?!

The 40 More book is currently available at the Life Teen website for $9.95, or you can wait and purchase it at youth group on Sunday, February 14th, for $5.00.

We will start "week 1" on February 17th (Ash Wednesday) with Jesus as a Baby. If you want to commit to being a part of this prayer experience, e-mail me at kristen.baucher@emmauslakeway.com and I will add you to the blog list so you can make posts as well!

I'm looking forward to sharing this Lenten experience with you!!