Lauds Reading for March 13

1st Kings 8:51-53a

We are your people and your inheritance. Thus may your eyes be open to the petition of your servant and to the petition of your people Israel. Hear us whenever we call upon you, because you have set us apart among all the peoples of the earth for your inheritance. 

The Real Meaning of Lent

I think I am a like to almost all Catholics kids when it comes to Lent.  Growing up I practically hated Lent. I mean, what's fun about having to stop eating chocolate for 40 days? Or not getting to watch movies during the week?
Growing up I missed the point of Lent, and it's just now really hitting me.   In our morning prayers this week my dad said something to the effect of: "Lent is a time to clean up the clutter in your soul."  That blew my mind.  Maybe it was the way it was worded, or maybe I haven't really been listening at mass till now, but...Wow.  That is what Lent is supposed to be.

Focusing on this new definition all we have to do is rethink our past ideas of Lent, and we...I begin to realize that Lent should really be one of the best times of the year.
All the fasting, the ashes, the long holy week, all of this has a point!   St. Ambrose says that "All men are slaves to sin."   Just looking at my life day to day I can see where I have sinned in thought, word and deed. Each day we sin!  It's no wonder that God chose to have a special season in our Church to help us get right with them.


Praying that you all have an amazing lent.

This Lent I'm Falling in LOVE Again

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.


This has always been one of my favorite passages in the old testament, and I'm not sure if I can put it into words why.
There is obvious joy in the writer's heart. The one who wrote this was excited.
"Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."   Don't stop talking about Him!
I'm a fan of quite a few British TV shows, I have no problem talking about one or the other, whenever. Sure some people think I'm obsessed and really geeky, but I don't care. I like the TV show. 
Am I the same when I talk/think about my saviour?

Wednesday started the season of Lent in the Catholic Church.   For about a week before my family and I spent time trying to decide what to give up for Lent.  And although I do have things I am giving up, I think this Lent, for me, is going to be a time of my obsession with God.
There is a psalm, what number it is I can't remember, but it says "He is my love, my fortress."
He is my love.

One of my favorite songs is by United Pursuit and it's called "Help Me Find My Own Flame."
I love this song because it's about taking the love of God for our own, and not letting it be "dry bones."

This Lent I'm falling in love again.  Please pray for me as I do so.

This is a long post I know, but I want to leave you with the link to the song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShlmvA4-bgM 

Monday Week III Psalm Prayer

Lord, you have renewed the face of the earth. Your Church throughout the world sings you a new song, announcing your wonders to all. Through a virgin, you have brought forth a new birth in our world; through your miracles, a new power; through your suffering a new patience; in your resurrection, a new hope, and in your ascension, new majesty.
Amen

Intercessions from the Liturgy of the Hours

Let us adore Christ who offered himself to the Father through the Holy Spirit to cleanse us from the works of death. Let us adore him and call upon him with sincere hearts.
In your will is our peace, Lord. 

From your generosity we have received the beginning of this day,
-grant us also the beginning of new life
In your will is our peace, Lord.

You created all things, and now you provide for their growth,
-may we always perceive your handiwork in creation.
In your will is our peace, Lord.

With your own blood, you ratified the new and eternal covenant,
-may we remain faithful to that covenant by following your precepts
In your will is our peace, Lord.

On the cross, blood and water flowed from your side,
-may this saving stream wash away our sings and gladden the City of God
In your will is our peace, Lord.

All-powerful Father,
as now we bring you our songs of praise,
so may we sing your goodness
in the company of your saints for ever.
We ask this through Christ our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever. Amen

Newsletter

Dear Friends and Family,

The past months have been busy and blessed. January found me moving to Mexico. I started the month by helping to lead a short term trip in Mexico. We helped build roofs, visited the homebound and sick and worshiped together. It really has given me a greater fire for missionary evangelism. The next few weeks myself and the team I was sent with continued to the do pretty much the same things, settling into our house and ministries. The priest at our local parish is an amazing man of God, and he had a lot of ideas that correlated with ours.

Then at the end of the month I started to feel that I needed some more spiritual formation. As a missionary in Mexico I was going to be in a position of leadership, and I don’t feel ready for this. Now this month, February I am back in my home state of Oregon. Here I hope to get involved in the local ministries while seeking a spiritual director.

I will also be studying to become a midwife. This is something I have been hoping to do for many years and now God has blessed me with the time and ability to do so. I am excited to use this skill in my future missionary work, both stateside and abroad.

This year holds so much and so I’ve taken Psalm 27 as my meditation for the year.

“My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek. 9 Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior. 10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. 11 Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. 12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. 13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

Thank you for all of your prayers and support!

Abi

Week One: Mexico Mission!

The first week of Mexico has been so blessed.  We had a short term trip with us.  And what I great way to start out the mission! With a renewing of fire and love for Evangelization and the poor.  
During one of my daily prayer times I asked the Lord to give me a verse for my year of missions.  He gave me Psalm 27.   This Psalm is beautiful and speaks to me of no matter what trials come my way, each day I will live for God’s Kingdom.

The Lord is my light and my salvation—

   whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—

   of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked advance against me

   to devour me,

it is my enemies and my foes

   who will stumble and fall.

Though an army besiege me,

   my heart will not fear;

though war break out against me,

   even then I will be confident.

One thing I ask from the Lord,

   this only do I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

   all the days of my life,

to gaze on the beauty of the Lord

   and to seek him in his temple.

For in the day of trouble

   he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent

   and set me high upon a rock.

Then my head will be exalted

   above the enemies who surround me;

at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;

   I will sing and make music to the Lord.

Hear my voice when I call, Lord;

   be merciful to me and answer me.

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”

   Your face, Lord, I will seek.

Do not hide your face from me,

   do not turn your servant away in anger;

   you have been my helper.

Do not reject me or forsake me,

   God my Savior.

Though my father and mother forsake me,

   the Lord will receive me.

Teach me your way, Lord;

   lead me in a straight path

   because of my oppressors.

Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,

   for false witnesses rise up against me,

   spouting malicious accusations.

I remain confident of this:

   I will see the goodness of the Lord

   in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord;

   be strong and take heart

   and wait for the Lord.