Oh No, Life feels dry is something wrong with me?; Lent and Prayer

In this lenten season, we have the tendency of perhaps complaining or boasting of our lenten sacrifices or offerings. During this lenten season, it is a time for us to better ourselves as people and as faithful servants of God.

It may seem pretty panic-stricken when all you see on social media are people posting of how fruitful their lent has been. That is great for them, but is it also great if it has been hard.

It is supposed to be a challenge. 

If you feel as though, it has been nothing but difficult and you've failed more than you would like to admit, that is okay.

We are human, we are bound to fail. We are bound to fall back into old habits.

If we are struggling, it only means that we are trying.

When we experience no struggle, that is when it is dangerous.

If your prayer has been dry, embrace it.

If all you have been feeling is "Meh" ask yourself, why do I feel this way?

Chances are, we are not taking time to appreciate beauty around us. We are so caught up in life, we forget to stop and smell the roses. 

We won't always be in this dry season. It is just that we have to try harder.

God wants us to try more and persevere through it.

That is when we grow. We grow when we least feel it, when we least want to. 

As long as the effort is there, you do your part and God will do his.

If you keep failing on your lenten service, don't give up. Follow through with it and make it through the end. Your rewards will be far greater than you imagined. 

Not Made for [C o m f o r t]

It is that time of the year again, Lent.
A time where Ash Wednesday is packed with people trying to get dark ash on their forehead so they could proclaim to the world their faith. A time where we causally lay off certain junk foods for fourty days only to complain the entire time, nag and go right back and indulge on it come Easter Sunday.
It is a time where we constantly forget that we can't have meat on Friday so we settle for fish.
This is supposed to be a time of change, NOT ROUTINE.
We are called to leave our comfort zone and venture out to a small taste of what Christ endured.
There are a few things I need to clarify.
The church should not simply be packed with people for Ash Wednesday. But every day, or at least every Sunday. Within this area, there are multiple Catholic Churches that offer daily mass as various times throughout the day.
The ashes on our forehead are not to proclaim to the world of our faith, though it does fulfill that purpose. It is mean to remind us of our sinfulness and how we must repent.
Our Lent sacrifice should consist more of simply junk food,
Our lent offering should draw us closer to God.
Find something in your life that keeps you from God.
This is a time for us to be uncomfortable, and offer up that to God.
This is a time for us to change our bad habits into something good.

If that means waking up a little earlier, than so be it.

We are called to suffer and to be in pain, not all the time but for some time.
This does not mean we should seek this out, but if it be done according to God's will, then acceptingly embrace your Cross he has bestowed upon you. Accept your Cross God has blessed you with.
How much better does accomplishment feel when you know that you have put so much into it?
Our journey with Christ is not a day a year, it is not one simple task, it is a marathon, So do not sprint, Since we are not of this world, we will not find complete comfort and rest in earthly matters.
Enjoy the things we have been given, but do not take them for granted or be satisfied in them.
Our only satisfaction should come from Christ.
"Our souls are restless until they rest in thee" St. Augustine,

C O M M U N I T Y

Today we live in a culture very much centered around independence. We do everything ourselves because accepting help from others is seen as weakness. In doing everything ourselves, we forget we are only human. We forget the fact that we forget, and we mess up and we cannot hold the world on our shoulders.

Because we are so isolated in this world, sharing our lives with others, accepting or asking for help seems weak. 

Well guess what? WE ARE.

WE ARE only human who mess up

WE ARE a race that needs help from others

WE ARE not helping ourselves by refusing or not seeking help from others.

I cannot stress how important community or fellowship is.

In trying to reach goals, you need ACCOUNTABILITY to help you. With accountability you have someone to keep you on track and remind you of your goals and strength when you forget.

We need people to tell us how it is.

Especially in our spirituality and our walk with Christ.

If we do not have someone or several others helping us stay on task, we will fail to see our own sin.

We need someone to call us onto holiness. We need someone to direct us toward Christ when we are feeling down.

Find people to keep you on track, whether it be for your faith life or goals you want to reach.

We have one another one this planet for as reason. Asking for help is strength not weakness.

It is strength in admitting that we are only humans who are not perfect but are striving to be or striving to better ourselves and accept who we are.