...final days and beginnings
Mood:  sad
Topic: seasonal

I haven't posted here since last month- originally, that wasn't my intention but I let the days fly past me and ended up being too free with regards to my Lenten Restrictions (next time, I'm definitely going to write down what it is that I will and won't do so that I may have a solid guideline to follow rather than being willy-nilly _-sigh-)

I finished Proverbs some time ago, and strayed from my daily readings from my Bible (I was in Psalms by the way- great stuff there~) -I had a hard time focusing and ended up dropping my reading from my daily routine (but just because it was hard on me at times doesn't give me a good excuse for quitting the fine practice altogether...) I think I need to return to this discipline and take up Lectio Divina yet again (yes, I want to do so in the future).


Anyway, this blog post is titled, "Final Days and Beginnings" since with this week being Holy Week, Lent is coming to a close and the season in which the Resurrection of the Christ is celebrated will begin soon. I feel as if I will miss Lent somehow... not only because I missed opportunities during this time, or because I wanted to do better in sticking to what I had resolved to do, but because for some reason this season felt so short this year- other Lents lingered longer in my memory and the duration in which I lived them seemed to remain with me more.

-why is this so?

...

_{(I'll chew on that mentally for awhile
and I'll see about posting more in the future~)}



-Daiko~
^{(pray for me)}

I want to keep going {I DO!}
Mood:  accident prone
Topic: quotations (Scripture)

<sup>I wish that I could assign multiple topic labels to my blog entries on this account (it is a crying shame that Angelfire doesn't have a tagging system for their hosted blogs but then, I like that kind of Web2.0 stuff... _-sigh-)

-ack! I floundered through time a bit today- err, I did better at getting things done and even cooked two things (Spinach Lasagna and Stuffed Peppers from scratch -with the peppers being a new recipe for me~) but I should have posted here earlier since I almost neglected to do so

I even have a good selection from Psalms for typing out, but my time earlier online got eaten up greatly since I was looking at the LJ of LK (of Y-tube fame) -heh, and I gave up watching his abridged series as one of my Lenten restrictions too (I need not court temptation, but I do like reading what he has to say even if I won't be watching his works for awhile... )</sup>


Anyway, here is Psalms 61:1-5:

Hear my cry, O my God; listen to my prayer.
From the end of the Earth I call to you, when my heart is faint.

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I; for you are my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.

Let me abide in your tent forever, find refuge under the shelter of your wings.

For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

^{superfluous ramblings...}

-and so, I have almost reached the end of today

Praise be to God~

a head like a leaky bucket [have I... ]
Topic: seasonal

^{since I have so many thoughts and memories that I've not kept track of- they run in and out of my mind and of today's three artistic inspirations (actually, more than that...) I have clung hard to one only. -still, though that is true today I have spent my time in working and have seen to mortifying myself by not first indulging in the things I wish to do and neglecting housework, but in cleaning and cooking instead. I still have a long way to go [with regards to refinement and improving my soul this Lent] though...}


[Anyway,] today's Lenten meditation from the Magnificat bears this title:

The Love for Which Our Heart Is Made
and focuses on the Gospel reading from the Mass (Luke 16:19-31) -it takes a different look at the parable about Lazarus and the rich man, emphasizing that we are not to merely be aware of the poor and take action to help them (which is a good and needed message heard quite often at times) but that to live well [so as not to become a citizen of Hell] one's heart must learn to love God, and that in perfect love of God then [and only then] will we be able to see what is around us and take good action.

and so, with that in mind, today's penance is to:

Do something charitable for the homeless.

-after seeing that, I immediately recalled "Tent City" since it had been in the recent news for Florida for quite awhile, but when I went to look it up on Google I clicked on the sponsored link instead -that lead me to these three good local charities:

[Hope Children's Home]
[American Association of Kidney Patients]
[Florida West Coast Public Broadcasting]

obviously, it is the first of these in the list that is the most pertinent and relative to today's penance, but I am interested in all three since they are good causes (with the best being the first of course) -I wonder what kinds of payment they accept...

also, I still have so many clothes and things that I want to give away/donate after I go through a good through spring cleaning of my possessions so I could start with that today as well...

_{and in other news, I finally finished reading through Proverbs and have started reading through the Psalms (I didn't start from the beginning of that fine book through since I fell upon an area that I bookmarked- the part in which David asks God for forgiveness after being visited by the prophet Nathan after committing adultery with Bathsheba...)}

I'm running out (but not running dry)
Topic: seasonal

-again, today I don't have anything easily coming to mind with regards of what I should type (regarding my Lenten meditations?)

I did read all of chapter 29 of Proverbs, and there is lots of great wisdom to be found there (as always) but I don't know what to type really _-sigh-

-actually, [today's Gospel reading] and Magnificat meditation are very good, so I'll shift my focus there for now...

Today's suggested penance:
Serve someone today with love.

^{this is really fitting [for me today] since earlier on during the morning, I was struggling to do so- I'm going to do this at least once for someone this evening whether or not I am at home or at a friend's house...}

I am missing out
Topic: seasonal

I'm missing out since I have been missing days of posting here (specifically, I'm talking about the past few days before and during the time I typed up this post) and today this entry will be lacking substance since I can't seem to type anything- no, since I don't know what to write for today. _-sigh-

I missed out yesterday since I completely didn't read a single word of Proverbs (and the two days before that, I was in travel and left my Bible at home so I wasn't able to read it- still, I had my Magnificat with me in my purse but it remained there neglected despite the fact that I brought it with me to make sure I'd read it! -rrr- _{*slightly frustrated at self*}) but today, I went on a multi-chapter reading binge~

(that was fun, but I doubt that that was rather much productive in the short-term since I fell into sin soon after -sigh- don't seem to have taken much from my reading as well. -_-; ...)

-so, here's a little bit about one of the times that I've strayed and fallen off the path during my Lenten journey (for 2007, that is).




-Daiko~
_{(-sigh-)
(Pray for me please... )}

Proverbs 13:1-6
Topic: quotations (Scripture)

_{a few non-related musings...}

...

A wise child loves discipline, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

From the fruit of their words good persons eat good things,
but the desire of the treacherous is for wrongdoing.

Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives;
those who open wide their lips come to ruin.

The appetite of the lazy craves, and gets nothing,
while the appetite of the diligent is richly supplied.

The righteous hate falsehood,
but the wicked act shamefully and disgracefully.

Righteousness guards one whose way is upright, but sin overthrows the wicked.

-I'll see about going over the rest soon~

I want meaning, and victory everlasting as well.
Topic: seasonal

Today I read some of Proverbs, but I was interrupted during my meditations and reading of that good book since I started late this morning and my family had brunch together at that time- I went through the Magnificat Lenten companion and today's reading and penance really spoke to me

-thing is, I don't know how to "Pray with special insistence for the most pressing petitions in your life." (or at least, I acknowledge that I am not able to do so well without a sense of urgency driving me on -_-; ...)

aside from the above, I'll pray the words that were given after the reflection from Meredith Gould based on Matthew 7:7-12

Loving Father, make all of my life a Yes of constant, heartfelt prayer.

Lord, please help me- I can't do any thing at ALL without you...

Lectio Divina +Bible study...
Topic: quotations (Scripture)

a bit about Lectio Divina...

-it would appear that my "Bible Studies" were not exactly true Bible studies in the real sense of the word, but something more akin to Lectio Divina instead... I just learned about Divine Reading when the Pastor of my church brought it up during the Mass for the first Sunday of Lent

I am glad to know that this exists since I have been trying to do it/looking for this my whole life without knowing that it is a known area of study for the Scriptures and for one's life

-I have so much to learn.

...

Anyway, these verses stood out today:

Proverbs 11:25-31, 12:15-6

Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to the one who searches for it.

Those who trust in their riches will wither, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.

Those who trouble their house holds will inherit wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, but violence takes lives away.

If the righteous are repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!

...

Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to advice.

Fools show their anger at once, but the prudent ignore an insult.

-Daiko~
^{(Pray for me...)}

Proverbs 11:2-6
Topic: quotations (Scripture)

-When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but wisdom is with the humble.

The integrity of the upright guide them,
but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

The righteousness of the blameless keeps their ways straight, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.

The righteousness of the upright saves them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their schemes.

_-sigh-
...

wake up and take in the sunshine
Topic: quotations (Scripture)

I need to do as it says in [Proverbs chapter 6] and not just remember to spend more time awake, but to do so and to fill my time with productive and efficient work being accomplished- I find myself taking naps during the day even if I do get to sleep earlier than I used to -_-;

-aside from that sorry status report, I've read from chapter 11 to 15 last night <3 but I see that reading and re-reading and thinking over the Scriptures is what I need to do rather than speed through the verses, so today, I'm going to continue posting from chapter 10:


Proverbs chapter 10:27-32

The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.

The hope of the righteous ends in gladness,
but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.

The way of the LORD is a stronghold for the upright, but destruction for evildoers.

The righteous will never be removed,
but the wicked will not remain in the land.

The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

-even in this day and age so far off in time from when these words were first written, the last part is still glaringly apparent...