Lent...to give up or add on?

Since yesterday was apparently Ash Wednesday (I was unaware...maybe I should check my calendars more often?) but I believe that this would be the beginning of the Lenten season. The 40 before the death of Christ. And from what I remember it's to be symbolic of the 40 days and nights Jesus spent in the desert fight the temptations of the Devil. So here we are now, and traditionally during Lent, we are to give up something in order to feel the burden of that temptation Jesus felt. Well a few years ago, someone (I have no idea who) had brought up the idea that instead of trying to say 'no' to something, why don't we say 'yes' to something positive and in line with the teachings of Jesus. In reality you probably would end up giving up something anyways by adding another...its the beauty of the give-take of time.

So this morning I have been contemplating what to 'add'...and I think there are probably a few things I could put on that list. For one, and this I realize is not exactly 'Jesus' teachings' but I'd like to try to FLOSS every day :) I've done it every day since I had my dentist appointment (on Tuesday) (which by the way...NO CAVITIES! a big improvement over the 6 at the last appointment!). I also would like to make sure I'm sticking to the treatment plan set forth by my chiropractor/husband about wearing headweights. For those that are confused, headweights are worn to correct forward head posture...something most people have and is actually developed often by the excess use of a computer...such as the one I'm typing on now. Hm..how ironic. But if you're curious, just google it, I'm sure it'll bring up something. Or use Bing..haha.

I guess I'll have to think more about other things for my list. I know one is that I'd like to take 5 minutes to pray or as I call it have a H2H (heart to heart) with God.

So I pose the question, what are all of you doing for this lenten season? Giving up? Adding on? Nothing?! :)

There is a God...how much proof do you need?

The title of this post is taken from that new LeAnn Wolmack song "There is a God". It's such a beautiful song! And probably to any female reading this it won't seem strange, while to any male it probably would, that pretty much every time I hear it I have to choke back the tears because it evokes so much emotion. If you haven't heard it, google or you-tube it and check it out!

God is a topic that is not often talked about in our current society. Yes, at church or in a serious discussion, but not often is He talked about in daily conversations. To make things clear here, 1) I believe in God 2) I believe that he sent his son to become man and that he lived a life meant to become a source of guidance for us and that he died a very tragic death for our sins (Jesus obviously...making me a Christian) 3) I strive to live a life congruent with the teaching of the trinity (God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit)

I struggle to bring these three truths into my daily life and make them outwardly known. Even though doing so would probably make it easier for me to live the life I should... This is most likely because I'm unsure of how others are going to react and/or its that big social hindrance of making other people uncomfortable.

But anyways, why I'm posting...today while driving home from my in-laws house, I took a moment to survey the landscape and take in all that God has placed on the Earth for us. And the picture posted up top is what I saw. The colors were AMAZING! I actually pulled my car over to take some pictures because I just felt a need to capture it. And really, just for having this moment, this sunset, I have to believe that there is a God. How could something so perfect exist if there wasn't?

BTW: shout out to my dad on this whole idea of taking time each day to just enjoy what is around and taking in all that has been laid out for us. It was his idea and now one of mine too :)