Thursday, February 2, 2012

Giving Up To Get

Lent is just around the corner! This year, Ash Wednesday falls on Feb 22. Every year, I try to do what I feel like God is leading me to do and every year I have one of those "Are you KIDDING me?" moments when I get that message from Him. This year was no different. I was sitting in church and I heard Him say... "Bread." Are you kidding me??? Bread? You know I don't eat vegetables, right? He said it again. "Bread"

Sigh... I can do this. Last year it was red meat. I managed to get through Lent without slipping up and that included at least three cookouts at the church AND St. Patrick's Day when Allen made me my own Reuben with no meat on it while the rest of our group was feasting on his yummy cooking. LOL

The year before it was fried foods. Again... I never thought I'd make it. Mainly because Fridays for me are all about the Fillet O'Fish and I had to eat grilled or baked tilapia. But I made it through. The year before that? Facebook and MySpace. Yes you read that right. I was okay. I thought my friends were going to lose their minds though.

I also give up caffeine every year but that's just kind of a no-brainer for me since I don't really drink it that much anyway. Last year it was everything besides water to drink. Might do that again but I'm okay with the water.

And of course I add something. Last year it was exercise...in general. This year I have a feeling it's going to be sit ups. That's the flash I got yesterday. I was not expecting that and I'm NOT good at them. But it makes sense.

Also... I'm going to blog my way through the Purpose Driven Life book. Haven't decided whether or not that is going to be a public or private thing. Anyone interested in doing it with me? Maybe a Facebook group?

For now though... let's talk about all the things I can eat while I'm not eating bread! I'm not being a legalistic stickler. I think it's just going to be leavened bread for me. Might cut back on the flour but this is more about obedience than about carbs. He doesn't want me to be miserable, but He does want to get my attention and this definitely has it.

I'm starting a list. I can have:

Salads (yummy!)
Chicken with lots of different Tastefully Simple seasonings
Rice (and maybe some rice cakes?)
Corn tortillas
Ice Cream!!!
All kinds of fruit
Fish and shrimp and CRAB CAKES!!
Macaroni and cheese


See? I'm not going to starve. I prefer to think about the things I can have rather than dwell on what I'm giving up. Shouldn't life be like that all the time?

Leave me some comments and tell me what you're doing to observe Lent this year! And send me some recipes!!