Daily Advent Challenge: Day 12

Just as Jesus knew Mary and Elizabeth needed each other's love and support through their journeys, He also knows that we need the love and support of those around us in this daily life. Offer gentle assistance to someone in your life who is in need: of praise, of a good word, of day-brightening laughter.

Daily Advent Challenge: Day 11

It is easy to be distracted by the chaos of the world during this season of anticipation and preparation. How can we refocus when we find ourselves distracted?

A prisoner of war spent part of his time in prison in an effort to remember all the words of the 23rd Psalm. Often, in difficult situations or times of distraction we are at a loss for words to pray. Memorize a prayer that you  feel will help you re-focus in these times. It can be from scripture, or a prayer you have always known and loved.

Daily Advent Challenge: Day 10

How are we seeking God's plan in our daily lives? Obedience to God's plan for us can be lived in many different ways. Maybe it is in doing our homework when we don't feel like it. Maybe it is holding our tongue instead of speaking words that will only tear down...obedience and saying "yes" to God's desires for us is a life long journey. Today, give a "yes, always" instead of a "yes, but" to God's requests; the word "but" inserts a condition into our relationship with God and signifies less than whole hearted acceptance. 

Advent Challenge: Day 9

Today, pick one Christmas song and spend time not only listening closely to the words but really pay attention to what they are saying. Lyrics to Christmas songs speak to deeper parts of our hearts than we realize. 

This is the song I'm focusing on today:

Oh, Come, Oh, Come Emmanuel (Steven Curtis Chapman)

Oh, Come, Oh, Come Emmanuel 

Translated: John Neal, 1818-66

Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, 

And ransom captive Israel, 

That mourns in lonely exile here 

Until the Son of God appear. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, our Wisdom from on high, 

Who ordered all things mightily; 

To us the path of knowledge show, 

and teach us in her ways to go. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, oh, come, our Lord of might, 

Who to your tribes on Sinai's height 

In ancient times gave holy law, 

In cloud and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come O Rod of Jesse's stem, 

From ev'ry foe deliver them 

That trust your mighty pow'r to save; 

Bring them in vict'ry through the grave. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, O Key of David, come, 

And open wide our heav'nly home; 

Make safe the way that leads on high, 

And close the path to misery. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high, 

And cheer us by your drawing nigh, 

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, 

And death's dark shadows put to flight. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind 

In one the hearts of all mankind; 

Oh, bid our sad divisions cease, 

And be yourself our King of Peace. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to you, O Israel!

Advent Challenge: Day 9

Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception!! On this day when we celebrate our Blessed Mother, conceived without sin, let us ask for her intercession on our lives as we continue to prepare for the coming of her Son. Today pray a decade of the rosary, asking Mary to pray that we would continue to turn FROM sin and TOWARD her son. 

PS-Don't forget to get to Mass today!

Advent Challenge: Days 7 and 8

Oops! Just because yesterday was my day off doesn't mean we should have taken a break from the challenge! My apologies!

Today, as we prepare for the Word to dwell among us, lets pay close attention to the words that leave our mouths throughout the day. Are they uplifting? Kind? Do they serve a purpose? Do they reflect the love we are called to share to those around us? Do they give God glory?

Think about those things...

Advent Challenge: Days 5 and 6!

Hey hey! These 2 challenges go hand in hand...Over these two days choose one thing that you are willing to give up for the day (music, the internet, gossiping, etc.) AND when you would normally do those things try to better fill your time, whether it be praying for the thing/person you've committed to pray for this advent or spending time with family, reading, or just sit and enjoying the break from the noise around you!