Day 9: Tests

One of my favorite verses from the Bible is 1 Corinthians 10:13 that says that God will never put us in a test that's too hard for us.  He gives each and every one of us abilities to go through them.  However, God wishes for us to develop as stronger people as well.  He puts us in tests in order for us to look into ourselves and figure out what we can do to become better and stronger people.  Even Jesus warns us that we need to be prepared for the coming g of the Lord.  How do we prepare ourselves?
Think of it in this way.  We go to the gym to become physically fit.  We go to school to become mentally fit.  If we go to church and learn what we need to, we become spiritually fit.  If we let God control us and give us our own tests to push our limits, we will become the fittest and strongest people for God's kingdom.

Day 8: The First Week

Before I say anything, I'd just like to clarify that I didn't intend on making a daily post, though that is the ideal.

So today we start a new week in Lent as we get over the hump of this week in our year.  When thinking about this, I can't help but remember that we each are given gifts.  Now, sometimes we forget that the gifts we have may not be material at all.  In fact, I believe that most all of them are qualities, for even our material gifts can come many times from how we use our own gifts.  Just like it is stressed in the letters in the Bible, I think that each of us can use our gifts to make this world a better place.  Some of us have the ability to teach.  Others have the gifts to play music or sports.  Others have the abilities to design things, and others still have the gifts of leading.  The most important thing is that we remember to acknowledge each gift and accept it as it is.  Learn how somebody's gift can coincide with your own.  If we take care of each other in this way, we will make our own lives easier and better to live

Day 5: Sunday—Funday?

Alright! We have reached the first Sunday of many during this Lenten season.  How should we treat it?  Our churches do really well by keeping us posted on what Jesus had to do during this period of time we're remembering.  They also do well to show that we refrain from too many praise songs and prayers for the season.
How about ourselves?  Some people like to take Sunday as a free day during Lent: whatever happens on Sunday is forgivable.  However, is this what we want?  Did Jesus take a day to himself during this season?  He went through temptations and never gave into them.  On the other hand, we must remember what Paul says (for once, I agree with him): God does not give us a test that we can't complete (my own top of the head interpretation of 1 Corinthians 10:13).  In this case, our tradition can be a way of us being able to withstand our own tests and sacrifices for God. God gives us every tool we need to get through our times, and if Sundays are the tools you need, then use them, for God created them just for you.

Day 4: Saturday

It is now Saturday, a day I used to deem my fun day.  Now, it is normally my work day since I try to catch up on homework for the week to come.  Some people like to think of Saturday as the sabbath.  Others say it is Sunday.  Aside from that, we need to respect the command that we should keep the sabbath.  However, is it really at our inconvenience?
In the New Testament, Jesus preaches against the pharisees who condemn him for doing any work such as picking grains to eat on the sabbath.  But what did God intend for us?  I can't answer for God, but I can give my own opinion.  God knows what we need and God will help us to get it.  God knows that we get tired and stressed over the weeks, so God commanded us to take a day off.  We should respect it by using it.  Have you ever felt guilty for not using a gift you received on Christmas?  Have you ever felt annoyed that somebody never used that expensive gift you gave it on its birthday?  Imagine what good we can do in thanks to God for giving us a day for ourselves.  That isn't to say that we should force it on others.  God gives us our own work and God gives us our own rest.  If we take advantage of them and use them, we will respect God to the fullest with respect to this gift.

Day 3: Temperence

So today is the first Friday of Lent.  Many Roman Catholics are observing the custom of not eating meat and substituting it with fish.  Now, some of us may think that this may not be in lime with what we like to do.  Why should we express this opinion to our friends who are devoting themselves to their own faith?  They are great examples of what faith is: a complete devotion.  We should use this season as an opportunity to celebrate each other's faith, and, as a community, learn how to respect other's customs as well!  We need to support each other and not throw each other down.  Help the one giving up sweets by not savoring them so much.  Help the person avoiding swearing by showing the brighter side of things.  Let us celebrate each other, for when we do, we celebrate ourselves.

Day 2: (St.) Valentine's Day

Today is the fourteenth day of the second month of the two thousand thirteenth year of our Lord (or the Common Era).  Many of us know today as Valentine's Day, particularly in American, where poor attempts at poetry and rows of sugared chocolate and overtly clichéd flowers demonstrate our love (at least for the day) for each other.  I'd say that we in 'Merica got it all wrong!
My favorite title for today is one that I learned from my Abuelita, and I'm convinced it's how it is in Latin America: Día del Amor y Amistad.  There's no better way in saying what today should be.  We concern ourselves too much with our own desires and our own society that emphasizes the superiority of couples.  I prefer to think of today as a day to celebrate what we already have, the unfailing love of our friends and (I'm sure for at least one member) family.  Today is a day to celebrate our friendship.  When was the last time you celebrated Friendship Day? (I actually saw that in a calendar once.) Make today the day where you spend time with your friends, your family, your unfailing coterie of supporters.  Take your guardian to dinner tonight! Go spend the afternoon at the mall with your friends.  Know who is permanent in your life and celebrate it.
I also encourage you to celebrate today.  If you don't see a point in celebrating today, how about making this day special for somebody else.  If you don't see the point but s/he does, then s/he will be very delighted to know you give him/her importance.
Celebrate the friendships you have!

Day 1: Ash Wednesday

Today is the start of one of the most dramatic seasons of the liturgical year. Every year, Christians (and I can only speak for myself and a large number of Christians but not for any other faith, since I have not lived any other nor studies any other in depth) around the world participate in the remembrance of Jesus's own sufferings and temptations by observing the Lenten season.  This begins with Ash Wednesday which gives us a core message that we are all dust and that we will return to it. The other activity that many Christians participate in is the act of giving up something for the entire forty days. Some go so far to read the entire Bible in the span of this period while others may take more modest measures.  Ultimately, the goal is to strengthen our relationship by means of our fasting (not necessarily in the food sense) and to see God I'm our lives.
This year, I have let too many things get in the way.  Yeah, I'm taking a course on the Bible, but I'm just focusing on the other literature and not the bible.  I have prayed, but not as much as I think I should.  I wish to devote more time to the Bible this season, particularly sections I am less familiar (prophecies), pray more for others, devote more effort to my unfailing family, and give up sweets and (whenever possible) refined carbohydrates.  Now, why the last one?  I haven't had the best time with my weight for the past year and I want it to change.  It is not necessarily because of my own appearance, but it is because I want to appreciate what God has given me in a body and physical ability.  I hope to respect my body more as a temple and less as a garbage heap.  I wish to accept God's gifts without complaining.