Lent Day 31

What a week it has been.

I've been keeping up with my Marathon training. I ran 5 miles twice this week and 3 miles once. I took yesterday off because I was in Dublin.

My cousin Krystal is doing a wee tour of Europe and Ireland is her first stop. So I got to meet up with her yesterday at Bewely's Cafe.

Here is us. It's been about 10 years since we've had a proper conversation. Well, I she came to my sister's wedding six years ago, but we were all so busy (as you are at weddings) that we didn't get any real quality time together. It was so good to see her! Hopefully, now that I'm older I can make it more of a priority to see her and my other cousins more often.

Dublin was fun. After lunch with Krystal, I did some window shopping. So many things I want...if only, if only. I got to walk around Stephen's Green, the weather was gorgeous and warm-ish, I just sat on a bench and read and relaxed. I walked around saw some statues including the very famous Molly Malone:

What a...emmm....women, wouldn't you say? I found this little pub a few blocks from O'Connell Bridge and the bus station and I spent most of my time there sipping Guiness and reading "Sacrilege" by Hugh Halter. An man came up to me while I was reading, because he was confused as to why I would read a "religious" book and drink alcohol at the same time. We ended up having a good conversations about why I'm a Christian and think it's absolutely fine to comsume alcohol as well.

The book, "Sacrilege", is really good so far. I've only read the first chapter and I can already tell that this is going to be one that challenged my faith and traditions. In the first chapter he talked about the images we hold of Jesus and how we have strayed from the real Jesus that the early disciples knew. He talked on how Jesus did NOT come to start a religion, but to end it and how religion actually gets in the way of the real Jesus. At the end of each chapter Halter has 1) Things to consider and 2) something to do. I am going to challenge yous to go over the next few things and challenge yourselves to think of Jesus in these different ways:

To Consider: What is your image of Jesus? Write down your honest thoughts about how you view Him. Where did you pick up these images?

To Do: Begin drafting a letter to your children or friends about your heart for them to know the real Jesus.

Well, now I have to get on with work.

I hope you enjoyed this post. And take to thought the challenge

Ellie O'Connor

Lent Day 27

WOW.

40 days (46 counting Sundays) of fasting is a lot longer and harder than it would seem.

So the rumours are true...it is indeed day 27 of Lent and all that comes with that. I have not consumed any sweets, scones, biscuits or desserts in 27 days. It's funny because I keep having these dreams where it's like, the day before Lent ends and I break the fast! And I'll wake up flipping out because I really want to see this thing through, so I do.

But dreams aside it is going really well. I've stumbled a few times with my quiet times and prayers, but I got to keep going...right? I've had a few spiritual break-throughs since I've been fasting...

I'm finding that whenever I crave sweets or desserts I points my thoughts towards God and I rely on Him so much more to give me the courage to refuse these things. I'm also finding that my heart is more susceptible to hearing God's voice and submitting to His Spirit. It may sound crazy but I have had times when I am just engulfed in God's Spirit and they are such moments of clarity and purpose. My first encounter with God/Holy Spirit was on Day 5.

Looking back on my journal entries it's amazing...because the day before I was praying and talking about how I needed some kind of awakening or I needed to be shaken up. Then the next day at Souled Out God shook me. My friend Jason spoke at Souled Out and it wasn't even Jason...it was God so clearly speaking to me. God basically revealed to me that even though I became a Christian 2 (almost 3) years ago, I need to make the choice everyday (and sometimes a couple times a day) to accept Christ into my heart. I think of the film "50 First Dates".

Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore are the main characters. And I think in ways, God is like Adam Sandlers character. He works so hard everyday to make Drew Barrymore fall in love with him. And sometimes she does and sometimes she doesn't. That's the relationship I have with God...at least as of the past 2 years. Christ is Adam Sandler and I am Drew Barrymore. Jesus works to gain my affections...for me to fall in love with Him everyday. And I want to fall in love with Him everyday, all over again. This was my first break-through...I have come so far from who I was before Christ. My life before Him was hollow and I was so broken and trying to fix myself and fill my life with that would just take life from me. And now, I never want to know that life again. I don't want to ever again know life without my God.

The second break-through come on day 19. I had been journaling and I realized that it had been a good long while since I had a good heart-to-heart with Jesus. See, I write letters to Him. These are my prayers and I just pour my heart out to Him and listen to what He has to say to me.

Well, I was writing Him and He talked to me. I'm serious. It wasn't like a voice, so it wasn't...no it was like a strong feeling in my entire body. But I could hear Him, speaking to me. I had just been telling Him about how I want to minister to my friends back home, but I don't know how.

And He said, "how about writing a letter all about Me."

I was just like,"Should I? Really?" And God said, "Yes."

I asked Him, you know, "Who first?" And immediately one particular friend came to mind. She has been so heavy on my heart the past few months and I just knew God wanted me to reach out to her. And I kept questioning God. Questions like, what if I lose her? She's my friend and I don't have that many. And God basically told me who do you worship? Who made you? Who pursued you? Who made her? Who has not only your life, but her life and the lives of every living being in the universe planned out? He told me, don't worry about it...put Me first and tell her about My love for her.

And so with all of God's help I wrote her a letter telling her about God and His love. I have never done anything like that before. And it's a step of faith and trust in my Father that I have taken.

Well, that's all I have for now. I will try to update again either this week or in another 23 days.

Ellie O'Connor