Most people of faith have heard much about Catholic practices during Lent. Indeed, we earned the label fish eaters fair and square. Many fast food restaurants add a fish sandwich to their menu in the spring. You start seeing Friday Fish Fry signs beside Catholic churches. By the way, if you haven’t tried out a fish fry, it’s usually a good way to get a pretty good meal cheap.
We’ve had a day of fasting last week on Ash Wednesday, and we will again fast and abstain from eating meat for our one meal on Good Friday. There are also rules about Friday for the rest of the year, but I’m not wanting to talk about our Fridays so much here. Catholics know and practice these things, or they don’t.
What I would like to discuss here, and expand on to a bigger picture, is the custom of Christians who fast, or make personal sacrifices, and not just during Lent. Many Christians have found it very beneficial to choose to give up food, television, sleeping later in order to pray, or some other attachment in order to further their relationship with God. And further yet, personal sacrifices past Lent, every day struggles.
For over a year, I have used the Hallow app. I downloaded it two years ago when I first listened to the Bible in a Year podcast, which I highly recommend to you. The app is full of everything from Sunday sermons, music, daily prayers and Psalms, meditations, and of course, many seasonal aids such as those I’m using now during Lent.
I’ve found it very worthwhile during Advent, and now Lent. As I said, I use it daily now. This app is full of selections and so many celebrities and well known Catholics offer readings. There’s Jim Caviezel, Jonathan Roumie of The Chosen, Bishop Robert Barron, Fr. Mike Schmidt, and Mark Wahlberg to name a few.
So, I’m wondering, do Protestants have such apps? If so, which ones have you tried, and what would you recommend to others?
The Hallow app has many fine things that Protestant Christians would appreciate and use, and I highly recommend it to all. There must be other resources you use, both during seasons such as Lent, and as an aid daily as well.
What prompted this post is my reflection on how much better I usually do with my resolutions and practices during Advent, and especially during Lent. I recognize that one of the several reasons for this is the use of the app. Another is the fact the the seriousness and purpose of Lent itself is, of course, highly motivating.
But there’s also the fact that I have lots of company in this journey, both at home, and among my fellow Christians, fellow parishioners, and many others who share thoughts and inspiration as we look toward Good Friday.
I’m thinking about perhaps doing a once a week post, not just for Lent, to help each other out in our struggles and sacrifices. Sure, I hope some will share their spiritual goals and struggles. I also hope we could expand that to more mundane struggles and offer encouragement, ideas, success stories, and well, hope.
So, would you find interest in such a post? If so, what day of the week would you prefer? My first thought was Friday, because that’s on my mind right now, but in the larger perspective, perhaps Sunday or Monday would be a more motivational choice?
Any other tips or ideas for the structuring of the post, if we go with it? I have in mind it being pretty wide open, a place where someone might post a book suggestion, a Bible verse, a keto recipe, and a personal celebration of a goal accomplished. And above all, offer encouragement. I would also like it to be a post everyone could participate in, if they choose, either in sharing or just reading the comments. In other words, not just a hangout for Christians who are fasting, etc., but for a wider audience and more comprehensive topics.
Your thoughts?
I’ve only recently discovered the benefits of water fasting from all food. Personal best has been 5 days. I still take vitamins and allow a cup of black coffee in the morning. I recommend eating mushy food for a day if anyone goes past day 3 to get the GI tract moving again.
It blew away my preconceptions of getting sick or dying if I don’t eat every day. Energy levels rose on about day 2 or 3 as well as increased discernment of spirits. The evil ones seemed bothered by it, which is good enough for me. Must be doing something right. Although I noticed it’s a temptation to neglect fasting AND prayer. Not foraging for food frees up a lot of time in the day.
Medically, I find it interesting that the body eventually produces stem cells and starts to repair things that it didn’t have time to deal with. It’s a redirection of energy from processing food to other processes. The usual aches, pains, and bloated feeling goes away during that time.
I’ve done corporate fasting with a church in preparation for a planned event. But I’ve noticed the most benefit when a personal fast is driven by a desperation to know Christ RIGHT NOW. The world and it’s circumstances become less important.
Another type of fast is the 18/6 method, with a 6-hour window to eat whatever I want. Did that out of necessity for 2 months because of a temporary job and noticed significant weight loss.
Interesting, Todd!
I’ve definitely also had the experience of feeling rejuvenated when I abstained from food for a few days. (Quickly eating something light if I “felt prompted to do so.”) It’s definitely something to try.
I envy those that can do it. I have tried, but the best I have done is when I had a medical test and had to be NPO. Weird thing is I can go for hours not eating, 12+ hours, but when it hits I need food, I NEED food. The word Hangry was invented for people like me. I have done a few days where I don’t eat but I use my Kefir as my meal, or will eat an egg, maybe some jello, closest I can get.
A minister I know cannot fast either, so he takes the money not purchased for food and donates it to the Food Bank.
It took a state of desperation for me to try it. Failing marriage… Failing finances…ungodly behaviors I could not shake off no matter how hard I tried. I was willing to try anything biblical that I hadn’t done before, including subjecting myself to a deliverance session just to see what would happen. Glad I did. Fortunately, I was around supportive people that had done it before that could let me know what to expect and encourage me along the way. Scripture has the disciples fasting “often”. Experience leads to confidence which leads to next-level experiences.
I spoke to a 70+ year old minister who said that fasting was a way to bring the flesh into subjection to the spirit. He would simply fast until the body behaved itself.
Suffering brings forth enlightenment! I had similar experiences, and it was the suffering that brought me to where I Am.
Try doing that fasting thing from meat forever…and see what happens! Meat IS heavy, dead and decays in your system after eaten. Takes hours to digest and move through your digestive tract. Some getting stuck, and there comes the decaying within you. Meat IS the heaviest, densest most solid thing we consume…and likewise slows you down, and weighs you down. Both physically…and spiritually!
My doctor (an integrative medicine doctor) suggested I fast for three days (about 15 years ago) on either raw milk (which was still available in the Los Angeles area then) or using Lakeview brand organic apple juice. I loved how I felt (after the first feelings of hunger) and thought I could fly through life without eating ever again! I asked my doctor what was the longest he’d ever fasted for. He blew me away when he said 3 mos!! And it was only on freshly squeezed, organic orange juice (which, he said, did not dose him with acid when using it in this way). It’s interesting that the bible always links “prayer and fasting”. Part of me now regrets spending so many years compiling recipes, researching and buying endless kitchen gadgets, and worrying about what to eat.
In my experience drinking juice while fasting was not a positive one.
Do any hard physical activity and I would start puking .
tiny bit of salt , any juice or maple syrup I dilute 3 tablespoons to half a litre of water.
you tube videos by Sten Ekberg are extremely beneficial in gaining knowledge of how to fast.
Yes , I quite enjoy fasting. For me it has nothing to do with personal sacrifice, I fast because it feels good.
i grew up in a catholic family. went to catechism, etc.
loved the friday night fish-fry with the family. visiting my grandparents on a lake in northern wisconsin during the summer was extra special as we took the boat across the lake to a restaurant that had docks.
my favorite to eat (and catch while there) was walleye. the restaurant had a ‘laurel and holly’/marx brothers silent film theme (the late 1970’s).
i’d eat a lot more fish if it wasn’t so expensive. thanks, JoeBama!
I no longer believe. That decision lifted a weight off my chest.
Now, I try to just be a decent human without thinking about pleasing a god.
Excuse. Pleasing God isn’t a must or requirement in a Christ centered relationship. The only pleasing making Christ the center of your life. That is the only means of sanctification. Everything else is just meaningless works that God clearly doesn’t need or require.
Believe in good.
Practice being good to other people. That matters.
I’m pretty sure the antifa types and “bleeding hearts” supporting all kinds of perversity believe they are doing good and are good people.
How do you define what is good without God? Impossible.
OK, here comes a dad’s joke: good without God is 0.
It does, but pleasing God isn’t about works. You have the ability to approach God through grace. Pleasing God on part of the deal.
Being a decent human is pleasing to God. There is no requirement for periodic head banging or anything spectacular to be a Christian. There are some simple rules and the desire to strive for an ideal however short we might fall from time to time. The word repentance comes from a Greek word meaning to change. To change one’s mind. To change one’s heart. To choose to do good or evil. Many think simply choosing good is enough. It is not. One must eventually decide where good comes from. How we can tell good from evil and why we are here and whether there is anything besides mere mortal existence and then back to dirt we go. He does not require perfection. One only has to opt in and keep trying till you die or in biblical terms enduring to the end. There is eternity waiting with amazing rewards for those that opt in and endure.
In these times of great prosperity, we see how easy it is not to believe. Who needs God when things are great. Plenty of money, nice place to live, nice car, nice wife or whatever, nice job. Men only need God oftentimes when there is simply nowhere else to turn and no one else could possibly help. If you ever find yourself in such a situation, pray to your father in heaven in the name of Jesus Christ and he will listen and answer although perhaps not in the way you might expect.
Nessie – what made you no longer believe? What was it you no longer believed in? What happened?
That is what I want to know.
Nessie, “pleasing a god”… or do you mean the Church?
Menagerie, thank you for your post.
Amen.
Why not?
Our local radio morning talk show host James T. (J.T.) Harris (Phoenix KFYIAM RADIO) closes each week out at 9:45AM – 9:50AM with a Christian prayer and it’s been his most popular segment for the last several years (since he took over from Mike Broomhead).
That would be a network to watch!
I love your idea Menagerie. And I vote for Monday. We would all be energized because of Sunday and some of us will be totally deflated by Monday. We could start the week out, having each other’s back, KWIM?
It would be very interesting to hear others share, what word, passage or homily, they were moved by through the Holy Spirit. We are fellow hikers on the mountain of holiness, but according to the Father’s will, our paths to the top are individual.
I am that quiet little old lady dressed in black, sitting in the back, at every mass. I am that Rosary clutching warrior, who fancies herself a professional pewsitter. I love my GOD, my faith and my Church. Receiving daily is the greatest honor of my life. Praying for us all, is my life’s mission.
But it’s a battle. A war daily for my faith. satan invented the ‘psy-op’. The closer you are to the cross, the more he drags you away.
I try my hardest to carry my crosses. The older I get, the heavier it becomes. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose but I never give up or give in for long. Perserverence is the name of my game. It’s all I’ve got. FINALLY, I am in it, to win it, to my last breath. Faith is not for the faint hearted. To anyone who has it, wants it or needs it, we are here together, no coincidences.
Since humility doesn’t come easy to me, there is the ancient biblical formula that I rely on to get some. Menargerie had me at the post title: Fasting, Abstinence and Sacrifice.
Dying to self, bends my knee to GOD without fail. Amen.
Very nice.
I LOVE this idea. Absolutely support your suggestion and would visit regularly to draw inspiration or contribute a comment if appropriate.
The Word of God encourages fasting. I believe it tales you to a higher spiritual plane sometimes.
Thank you for your thoughtful words, Menagerie. I vote for a once a week post on Sundays because that’s our day of rest and we are focusing on God, church, and family. I’m Protestant but don’t use smartphones by choice, so I can’t help you with any apps. The one you’re using sounds GREAT, though! I’m going to make a note of it and if I ever start using a smartphone, I will check it out. 😉
Thank you for your article, Menagerie.
Here’s what I used to do. I think I’ll do it again. I’m trying to lose weight. I’m also trying to keep my thinking clear. So I do this:
If a negative, unhelpful thought comes to me, and if I reject the thought, then fine. But if I accept the negative, unhelpful thought into my thinking without trying to reject it, then I charge myself 50 calories. (That is, I allow myself to eat 50 fewer total calories that day.)
After charging myself 50 calories for the day a few times, I get more careful about what thoughts I allow into my thinking, lol!
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalms 19:14)
I have been fasting Tuesdays and Fridays every week for about three years now. I fast for penance. It is also a healthy thing to do.
I picked those days due to the Rosary which are when the sorrowful mysteries are recited.
Yes, a once a week post would indeed help with the struggles of each day. I think that would be great whatever day it’s on.
For Lent, I am reading the Lutheran Hour Ministries daily devotion. Those have been a blessing.
I would enjoy the discussion. Religious freedom being such a cornerstone of this countries existence only makes it a natural extension of the daily topics here. I find it helpful when I can talk with like minded Christians . It reinforces my beliefs and helps me to be a better person.
This would be fantastic and I would wholeheartedly partake.
First, when you asked what day was our preference, my mind immediately went to Friday, because I have my weekly group leaders’ training for the Bible ministry I am in and our training is every Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. So that is a day that I would like to continue in reading such a blog page.
Second, just last week a lady in my Bible group recommended an app called Prayer Notebook. Because our Bible group members submit their prayer requests each week, the lady loads them into the app and calendars them to pop up for her to pray over them. Additionally, I use it to create topic verse categories and I load verses on those topics, which I can read, as needed.
The issues of sharing in one’s struggles is important, which is scriptural: “the God of all comfort, who comforts us, and all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Cor 1:3 Giving comfort and hope to others in their struggles is also scriptural as we help carry their burden.
I am at the point of finding the terrible struggles and bad things happening in this world every where you turn to be so overwhelming that I am somewhat receding from them and not delving into issues like I used to. A temporary respite from such things would be welcomed and to replace with things of God would be my choice.
Great idea 💡! Lent for me is deeply repentant. Love the traditions of stations, alms giving, abstinence and such things. I never considered it a time to do these things to please Him, but a time to reflect on my shortcomings and really reflect on the Confiteor. ” I confess to Almighty God and to you my Brothers and Sisters, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done , and WHAT I HAVE FAILED TO DO; through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault”…………………..
This Lent is especially deep for me as I can’t help but be afraid for what I/we are leaving our Grandchildren.
It’s these thoughts that I bring to the cross, as he is the model of what to do with such sins.
It’s wise to have a period of time to be continually repentant and wear the camel haired coat. Makes Resurrection Day even more Glorious for me.
If SD’s Idea comes to fruition, then my prayer is that we all feel buttressed by it and confident that if or when needed we will be able to find each other.
Have a Blessed Lent my Brothers and Sisters!
This idea strikes me as the sort of thing that the Lord would come up with. 😀 I think you should run with it … follow your “intuitions.”
Anything to draw closer to God is a yes nod for me….the wife and I went to see the movie, “The Jesus Revolution “…great movie BTW
Well we already have the daily Open Thread so there’s that.
I really get a lot of good spirituality and fellowship from the people who comment there.
I am always glad to read the thoughts of others on these topics.
So many wonderful and enlightened people come here.
Thanks!
When growing up every single morning at breakfast we read The Upper Room, taking turns each day w/which one of us would be the reader. The Upper Room is a daily meditation booklet where someone submits a short story and at the end there is an appropriate Bible verse at the bottom. It is meant for pondering and reflection throughout the day. There is another one known as The Daily Bread. The last time I read a Daily Bread I was bummed out as that it was a “woke” story. Just can’t get away from it.
Anyway, I kind of would prefer something Christian oriented, not too long or deep, more as a positive greet the week type of thing. There is already an Open Thread for anything, albeit it tends to be mostly spiritual and music oriented, recipes almost need their own section, but whatever evolves I am sure will good.
I am trying to have a fruitful lent. Sacrificing more than I ever have. I have been going to mass 2 days during the week for some time now. Wish I could go every day. Rosary every day is a must for me. Always want to do more. Most important is first Friday and first Saturday devotions as Our Lady asked at Fatima. All of her predictions are coming true. I beg you all to do the same. Our Lady needs us!
Guess how old am I?
I remember ”fishstick” Fridays in school.
Yes! Went to DoD schools and hot choice was either fish or Mac n cheese; cold always pb&j. Didn’t like any of those for years!
Mac and cheese was the first thing I learned to cook, I had a working mom. So, I rarely eat the stuff now. But fish sticks were made for Fish Fridays in the school cafeteria…I still like those.
A couple I use are biblegateway.com and youversion Bible app. The former has everything from commentaries to personal blogs to the Bible. Youversion Bible app is mostly devotions for the church year, or personal spiritual growth.
God requires one thing…. Believe in Jesus… all the rest is works which means nothing….
Even the Satan the devil believes in Jesus… So Perhaps works do mean something after all.
satan and demons do indeed know who Jesus is; they do not, however, want Him as their Redeemer.
Paul told the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:31, “Believe ON [emphasis mine] the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…” The idea here is something more than just some knowledge of who Jesus is (e.g., “the devils also believe [in the existence of the one, true God] and tremble…”). The implication of believing ON Jesus is that of TRUSTING in Him as your personal Lord and Savior, exercising CONFIDENCE in Him as your Sufficient All-Satisfying Sacrifice before the throne of heaven, seeing Him as your most ABLE ADVOCATE interceding for you right now before the right hand of God the Father.
Thank you for that.
The Traditional Lenten fast as practiced by our forefathers in the Faith for centuries. The Traditional Lenten fast – which was greatly watered down since the 1700’s.
https://acatholiclife.blogspot.com/2022/02/how-traditional-latin-mass-reinforces.html?m=1
Sounds like the Holy Spirit is alive and well here at CTH! I think it’s a wonderful idea no matter what day of the week you decide. I’m always interested in learning/sharing more and definitely struggle during ordinary times to keep up with my devotional time with our Lord. I’m a cradle/practicing Catholic who attended Catholic school and same with my children. I feel my faith is the greatest gift my parents gave me and love the profession of our Catholic faith! I pray my children feel the same.
The Hallo app is the 1st & only app I’ve ever used. Tells you how low tech I am. I only use the free stuff though. I’ve been getting a lot from Fr. Mike’s Catechism in a Year. One of the reasons I love the Catholic faith is the rich history and fullness of faith it embodies. I’m in my 60’s and still learning so much. Our parish priest reminded us prior to the Lenten season about John 3:30, He must increase and I must decrease. Easier said than done that’s for sure but it’s what I’ve been focusing on this Lent. To help me get there I’m rereading The Imitation of Christ, praying the Rosary daily and listening to Fr. Mike’s CIY. Going to Stations of the Cross is another devotion that helps me.
Thank you for initiating this post around the idea of spiritual sacrifices in order to draw closer to God.
My daughter has encouraged me to follow the Keto diet, which has helped her tremendously. The Keto diet was developed at Johns Hopkins to treat patients with epilepsy without meds. My daughter was a patient at Hopkins for seizures, and we were told about the diet, but given our circumstances at the time, we did not think we could make the transition. It is easy to fall off the Keto diet, and in her case, it would have led to a seizure that would have landed her in the hospital. She is on two medications to prevent seizures, and the Keto diet is a “supplement” that gives her energy, as she does not have sugar highs and lows.
As I follow the Keto diet, I find that fasting is so much easier now. I am gradually losing weight, and I have few aches and pains, particularly less “inflammation” in my hands.
But the point of fasting and abstinences is to deny ourselves and live for God. I recently read the first part of Self-Abandonment to the Will of God, in which the author stated that we should see all things, good and bad, as gifts from God. “Dominus est,” it is the Lord, as John said to Peter when he recognized Jesus on the shore. I was trying to put this into practice in daily life, and in small things, I could see our Lord at work. Then my husband literally dropped dead just two weeks ago! I had written down these words, and read them to my children as we waited for the medical examiner to take my husband’s body. I can tell you that God is definitely providing for us and working diligently in our lives so that we find our way home to Him in heaven.
Also, Menagerie, both you and Sundance have posted topics for discussion that have helped us immensely. There was a thread on how to save money (maybe that is off, but I learned to throw a towel in the dryer to save energy.) Sundance, I know, posted about how did we make our choice to vax or not; that was an eye-opener, to see how families have been split apart on this issue. I think it is important to discuss things that TPTB don’t want us to discuss. And we need to learn to have civil and respectful discourse on the issues in which there is a “narrative.”
Perhaps TCT needs to branch out into different categories to capture different discussion threads. I know this website is a lot of work for your family, but it certainly has made a difference in many people’s lives and in our national discourse.
Dear Heart of the Home,
I send my condolences and prayers to you and your loved ones, on the death of your beloved Husband.
You are on my prayer list.
Yours in Jesus and Mary.
T
This year’s Lent is the most sacrificial, penitent, time of my 67’s years of life. My 45 year old son called to tell me he’s in the hospital, in excruciating pain, a distended abdomen with a large tumor, he’d been diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer w-metastasis to his liver. He’s the last person anyone would suspect: a surfer, trained holistic clinical nutritionist. His dad was a Chiropractic student when we married, raising our kids in the holistic alternative healthcare/local organic food/ and new-ageish counter-culture from the 70’s.
None of that seemed to matter, though, with a family history of gastric cancers going back 4 generations (so far skipping my siblings & I). I’m seeing this as a generational curse on my father’s family and my son’s father’s family. I have nothing to offer the Lord in return for my only son, except to offer my life as messy as it’s turned out to be, in return for my son’s life.
Never felt this song and it’s meaning more than I do this day.
I am so sorry for your pain.
Prayers out to you and your son.
So sorry to hear this. Sending you prayers to your family
Sincerest prayers for you and your son.
Thanks very much Menagerie for taking the time and offering to write a weekly spiritual post for all to interact, read (listen) and gain strength from.
I’m here everyday. Whatever day works best for you and others is fine with me.
God Bless you for your heartfelt efforts to bring us closer to God.
There are spiritual and secular Health Benefits to fasting. [It’s on the Internet about fasting and health benefits.] … There are mental benefits to having a regular prayer life. [It’s on the Internet too.]
…… Christian prayer is appropriate for a well formed conscience. [I heard a Catholic Priest warn against non-Christian types of mediations and prayers. He warned about the other types of prayers. which ~may cause a spiritual darkness.]
I love the idea of sharing with each other and advising and cheering on one another in our various personal battles and victories.
OT has been tossing around the idea of ‘Warrior Wednesdays.’
Perhaps that would encapsulate the ideas of struggle/sacrifice/support/celebration?
Ps 144:1 Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
Pr 20:18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
1Ti 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
I love the idea of a weekly post that helps us grow in holiness Menageire. Count me in as a weekly visitor no matter what day you do it.
As far as fasting, abstinence, and mortification, I am a traditional Catholic, so I practice the pre-Vatican II rules. Fasting every Wednesday of the year, and abstinence from meat on every Friday of the year as well as some Feast days. Daily mortifications could be denying myself anything I want so as to make atonement.
For Lent, I do the traditional Catholic Lenten program. Abstinence from all meat, dairy, and sugar for 40 days. Fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays. This is in addition to prayer, both mental and verbal, and alms giving.
For prayer life, I was consecrated to Our Lady at the age of reason, wear the brown scapular, and pray the traditional rosary daily. Mental prayer and meditation tends to focus on aspects of the Triune God. Think St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle and her meditations on the wounds of Christ. I also routinely pray for the intercession of the saints. St. Michael for spiritual protection, St. Athanasius for a return to orthodox Catholicism in the church, St. Pio for temperance and prudence, and St. Dymphna for the mentally ill with whom I work are some of my go tos.
I think it’s a fine idea, to talk about things that can become wholesome habits that make us more ready to follow God. Wednesdays are my vote.
It’s also good to read the amazing things others are doing to this end; it keeps one humble.
For anyone who might be curious to try fasting and/or any other good habit, don’t be concerned if you can only start small. Six or so years ago, I decided to rise 10 minutes early and say one decade of the rosary a day. It was very hard, but I did it every day. Then it all just grew somehow, and I ended up with more grace and prayer than I would have thought possible.
Starting small is OK. The important thing is the habit. Build the habit through repetition and dedication – there will be times when the tiny small thing seems too much to bear. Just run right over that, and keep building the habit. When you don’t want to do it, ask God to make you want to do it. When you don’t have time for it, ask God for the time. Every obstacle you face, talk to God about it and ask Him to help you overcome it. And just keep doing that “little” thing every day ….
Here’s wishing you a miserable Lent Sundance!
My wife of 31 years passed away from cancer last June, in our home, in my arms. In the months after I found I could no longer stomach “news” from anywhere. I had lived through enough bad news for one lifetime. It’s a fast that I’m still living today, and this type of post would be literally the only information I’m interested in consuming. I know I’m not alone, I’ve gone through Griefshare, and the idea of reading about someone else praying and sharing their way through difficult times would be comforting. Not because they’re suffering, but from the love and prayers offered. The rest I will just ignore.
I’ve been using the YouVerion Bible App extensively. There is a daily verse at the top with a short video and “slideshow” of guided reflection and prayer, they provide access to numerous devotionals, videos, and guided prayers, as well as numerous bible reading plans and best of all you can read whatever version of the Bible you want in just about every language, it’s sortable, and searchable as well so when you want to read about fasting in the Bible just enter the word in the search bar.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”
Romans 8:31 NASB2020
https://bible.com/bible/2692/rom.8.31.NASB2020
I think not using energy so much in the gut (2nd chakra/seal) frees it up for greater uses, like 4th seal/chakra love, which is the answer to the human drama we face.
I think the greatest sacrifice we can make to God is time and attention, given gladly
Menagerie, I have never heard of Hallow. I will look into it. Thank you for the suggestion!
I have been using YouVersion the Bible app. There are many scripture reading programs to fit a wide range of needs or desired learning. I am in my second year of reading through the Bible using the Bible Recap reading plan on the YouVersion app. I highly recommend it. There is a short podcast that recaps the scripture reading for that particular day to offer better knowledge and understanding.
Another website that I use for deeper learning is the Bible Project. They have videos on YouTube for more visual learners as well as written blog style explanations for Biblical reading on their website. They also put out a weekly podcast that I find interesting and easy to listen and follow.
I just want to post a musical contribution:
Monteverdi: Confitebor Terzo Alla Francese
Ash Wednesday here in the Central Valley of California was cold and rainy. Something most of us Cali folks are not used to..we love it but it is not the norm. I had been reading the news that day about the DOJ and their persecution of Catholics. I had not heard any news agency talking about how unconstitutional, unAmerican and unChristian such behavior was. It was disheartening. I usually sit in the front due to hearing loss and difficulty in walking up for the Host. Imagine my surprise when Father Rick had given me my ashes and I turned around. It was standing room only. Both sides and all across the back. Our God is great and just. His love and spirit are alive and it’s a wondrous thing to see. Praise Be To God.
I would be interested. I am trying now to read the Bible in chronological order through the Holy Bible App and The Bible Recap. I miss days, and have to double, triple up to catch up. Will move forward working on more discipline.
I like it and I choose Monday. Sunday is busy.