tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post540832944372929988..comments2024-02-17T17:59:25.010+10:00Comments on Christian Writers Downunder: Lent - Give up or Take up?Jeanette O'Haganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-84566993786954647782015-03-03T13:58:48.477+10:002015-03-03T13:58:48.477+10:00Lent is not a tradition that has been talked a lot...Lent is not a tradition that has been talked a lot in my church, but I love your idea that you just giving up something is not enough. You need to take up something. That makes a lot of sense. The colour method sounds interesting.Adam David Collingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18072000680990534407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-18449772069094877442015-02-24T13:21:28.168+10:002015-02-24T13:21:28.168+10:00Hi Rita, thanks for your encouraging words. I, too...Hi Rita, thanks for your encouraging words. I, too, attend a non-traditional church and I miss much of the old Prayer Book that I grew up with in the Anglican church. Hence, saying the Lord's Prayer is so soothing to my soul.<br /><br />Fasting is a challenge. I also find it a struggle but that's a good place to be in. That's where we can find Jesus. When I'm fasting meals I will usually still ensure I drink fluids and eat some nuts and/or berries. Some friends of mine will have a protein shake. I hope that helps.<br /><br />Does anyone else have any good tips for Rita?Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-26614587210527170152015-02-24T08:24:05.992+10:002015-02-24T08:24:05.992+10:00What a lovely, soul searching Post, Ian. I suppose...What a lovely, soul searching Post, Ian. I suppose I could say our church is rather non conformist, so we don't follow a lot of wonderful church traditions. However, I find rather than narrowing my walk with the lord into certain times, I want to follow Him all the days of my life. My daily quiet times of prayer & Bible reading challenge and encourage me to grow closer to the Lord.<br /><br />I admit haven't been strong enough to fast for several meals. Whenever I've tried it, my hunger pangs kick in and I can't concentrate. There, aren't I a weakling? Have you any helpful hints as to how to go about that, not just for Lent, but any time prayer is really needed about something or someone?Rita Galiehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586506137798711397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-7883959505634844462015-02-24T06:26:17.610+10:002015-02-24T06:26:17.610+10:00Robyn, hi. I love reading that you're growing ...Robyn, hi. I love reading that you're growing closer to Jesus, walking side by side with Him. I hope and pray that you He will continue to amaze you and draw you ever more closer to Him.<br /><br />Bless,Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-55576650777251247412015-02-24T04:28:33.250+10:002015-02-24T04:28:33.250+10:00I have given up things for Lent. Just not this yea...I have given up things for Lent. Just not this year. I am growing closer to the Messiah though. I feel like that is my TRUE Lent. Walking side by side with the Maker of the universe and trying to be the best Christ follower I can be. I have always loved the Lord's prayer and recite it at different times of the day. After all, it was the prayer He taught is to say. I WILL try the color method. Thank you for a lovely post and for introducing me to the color method. May we all grow close to God and our Savior, Yeshua. Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-16128635776615502692015-02-23T15:21:30.648+10:002015-02-23T15:21:30.648+10:00Nola, thanks for the encouragement. I'm really...Nola, thanks for the encouragement. I'm really enjoying the "marking-up" exercise as it brings out aspects of the text in ways that I hadn't previously noticed. Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-50970377143971370052015-02-23T15:19:29.446+10:002015-02-23T15:19:29.446+10:00Hi Jeanette - my church has just finished 3 weeks ...Hi Jeanette - my church has just finished 3 weeks of prayer and fasting. It's great when a large group does this together. I pray it's a great time of stretching into the Lord for you and your church.Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-87609892227768685572015-02-23T15:17:45.993+10:002015-02-23T15:17:45.993+10:00Jo-Anne, hi. I hope you report back on "The D...Jo-Anne, hi. I hope you report back on "The Discerning Heart" as I'd love to hear your thoughts.<br /><br />One of the things I too often get caught up with when I'm fasting is over-valuing other potential benefits, e.g., losing some weight, etc. instead of making it entirely about Jesus.Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-4245970062176070072015-02-23T10:22:47.073+10:002015-02-23T10:22:47.073+10:00This comment has been removed by the author.Nola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-39672672475429247682015-02-23T10:22:39.332+10:002015-02-23T10:22:39.332+10:00That's a great idea about taking up something ...That's a great idea about taking up something for Lent rather than or in addition to giving up something. I haven't used the colour method exactly, but I have done something similar in printing off a book of the Bible from Bible Gateway and then marking it up (e.g. circling recurring words). It often does help to bring out things you wouldn't have thought of otherwise and help you reflect more on the passage. Thanks for the encouragement to focus more on God in this season Ian. Blessings.Nola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-34627794065145756142015-02-23T09:33:08.228+10:002015-02-23T09:33:08.228+10:00Thanks for your post Ian - I too like the idea of...Thanks for your post Ian - I too like the idea of adding not just subtracting. Our church has a particular emphasis on prayer during February and has set up a prayer labyrinth - a way of focusing our thoughts and prayers in a particular way. Many have blessed by it. I think in the rush to reject ritualism, sometimes we can miss practices that help our focus on God. Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-35561160473206907192015-02-23T09:07:53.273+10:002015-02-23T09:07:53.273+10:00I like that idea of taking up something for Lent t...I like that idea of taking up something for Lent that helps us focus more on God, Ian--although I'm not sure I could manage that 'Colour Method'! Sounds good though and it would certainly slow readers down to reflect more deeply on a passage. I plan to journal my way through a book I got hold of recently called 'The Discerning Heart' by Wilkie and Noreen Au. I think giving up something is also a good idea, as long as it helps us focus more on God and brings us closer to him. Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.com