“I’m co-hosting the Keeping LOVE in LENT Blog Link-Up 2013, with Raising (& Teaching) Little Saints and Arma Dei: Equipping Catholic Families. We’ll be sharing different ways, tips, stories and real-life experiences that will help us focus on Lenten sacrifices, prayer and good deeds, and how to carry them out with LOVE instead of a GRUMBLE. Please scroll down to the end of the post to see the list of link-up entries.”
It’s only been one week since Lent started, and already I feel like such a “failure” in keeping my Lenten resolutions and sticking to our plans. I’ve actually been extra cranky in my opinion, and more of a nag, instead of being the opposite, which I had resolved to be before Ash Wednesday.
Still, I know that God forgives me, and I know He will “raise me up on eagle’s wings” and help me through this challenging period I’m going through right now — particularly the “juggling” I’m trying to do (tasks for my regular job, additional writing projects, homeschooling, etc.) I know, too, that I’m not alone in this — there are so many other people, especially moms, that are doing the same thing as I am — “managing.” 😉
And so, for my Keeping Love in Lent post, I want to focus on encouraging you, in the hopes of encouraging myself as well… 🙂
Fix our eyes on Jesus
During my younger days in youth ministry (aaages ago… at least that’s how I feel!), we used to sing a song titled, “Fix My Eyes on Jesus Christ.” Here are a few lines:
The amazing Lord of all, the one and true Divine
Who came and died for me so I can be set free
Like the birds in the sky… ready to spread my wings
Never will I forget… To fix my eyes on Jesus
If we fix our eyes on Jesus, we can never go wrong. (Note to self: Remember this, especially during difficult days!)
This Lent, let’s keep our eyes, hearts and minds focused on the passion of Christ, His great love for us and His glorious resurrection.
Our family has been observing certain Lenten traditions since about two years ago, and they are helping us to fix our eyes on Jesus. You may click here and here to see what we’ve planned for this year. 🙂
This year, we’ll be praying the New Way of the Cross every Friday (sadly, we weren’t able to do this much in previous years). I got these beautiful mini-posters from St. Paul’s, a local bookstore. :)
Be united with others
It may be difficult to journey the seemingly long road to Easter but when we realize that we’re not alone — that there are millions, even billions — of other people walking the same path with us, it may make our load lighter.
This Lent, our family has incorporated Catholic Inspired‘s Lenten prayer chain into our Lenten traditions, and it has been an inspiring and heartwarming experience for me so far. We include the special prayer intention for that particular day in our nightly family prayers, which include praying one decade of the Rosary and our Jesus tree devotion.
I encourage you to do the same, even if we’re already one week into Lent. Praying for other people outside your family, even just general intentions, will help us grow in love for God and for others.
Humble yourself and ask for help
Lately, I’ve realized more and more the beauty of being part of one family in Christ, i.e. the Church. Through social media, I’ve been able to connect more with Catholics from all over the world, especially Catholic bloggers. It has been a huge blessing to know that I have brothers and sisters who have never met me nor my family, yet still lift me/us up in their prayers when I ask for help.
This Lent, and even beyond, when we feel too burdened by life’s little and big trials and challenges, let’s humble ourselves and seek the help of those around us. Asking for prayers and getting help in terms of the tasks we need to do will certainly push us to continue with our Lenten journey.
If you’re a Catholic blogger, you may want to join the Catholic Bloggers Network. It’s an awesome way to connect with like-minded people. 🙂
There are so many other things we can do to keep love in Lent. 🙂 I wrote a post on Philstar.com about how to have a joyful, meaningful Lent which I hope you’ll find useful, too. Also, there’s a list of links to wonderful blog posts below that may be of help to you. 🙂
Let’s continue to keep love in Lent, even when it’s difficult. 🙂 Pray for me, please, as I pray for you! 🙂 If you have any specific prayer concerns, please feel free to leave a comment. Here’s to a blessed Lent for us all!
Check out the other bloggers participating in the Keep LOVE in LENT Blog Link-Up 2013! We’ll be sharing different ways, tips, stories and real-life experiences that will help us focus on Lenten sacrifices, prayer and good deeds, and how to carry them out with LOVE instead of a GRUMBLE.
Discover new Catholic Blogs to follow!
Equipping CatholicFamilies: Keep LOVE in LENT
Call Her Happy:40 Simple Lenten Activities for Kids
Lenten Love: Little Acts of Love
Grow the Roses: Keep Love in Lent
Family At The Foot Of The Cross: Loving Service
Catholic Homeschooling Joy: A Lenten Activity
Twenty Tuesday Afternoons: Tuesday # 11: Pancake Tuesday / Keeping Love in Lent
Campfires and Cleats: Why a Failing Lent Really Isn’t
Harrington Harmonies: Make a Lenten Holy Hour
A Mommy of Three:Good Deeds for Lent
Loving the Semi Country Life: Lent:special time to reflect and keep the love in lent
Written By the Finger of God: A 7 Step Lenten Plan
Mommy Bares All: Giving Up and Making Space for Love this Lent
The Irish Lassie Shop: Seek God Everywhere
Hand-Maid with Love: Living Lent, Loving Lent
Words On Heaven: IN THE DESERT FOR 40 DAYS
On The Way Home: Keeping LOVE in Lent
Homeschooling with Joy: Keep Love in Lent
Mountain Grace: Keep Love in Lent
Eyes On Heaven: I am Choosing to Live
Joy Alive in Our Hearts:”God’s Love at Work”
Life of Fortunate Chances: Love is Fun: Keeping Love in Lent
Fifth of Five: Keep the LOVE in Lent
I Blog Jesus: for Praying our Loud!
Overflow: Loving Lent with Little Ones
This Cross I Embrace: Keep LOVE In Lent
Sole Searching Mamma: 15 Ways to Experience a More Meaningful Lent
Catholic All Year: My Biggest Lent Fails and How I Learned Mortification…
Four Little Ones: Keeping Love in Lent
Gaels Crafty Treasures Keeping Love in Lent
Bear Wrongs Patiently: Lent for the Scrupulous
Rosary Mom: Keeping Love in Lent
LoveLetters 7.10: Teacups {Keeping the Love in Lent}
Little Saints in the Making: Keep Love in Lent
Blessed with Full Hands: Keeping love in Lent- Praise Him
Normal Chaos: Our Own Personalized Lenten Journey
These Little Blessings: Gifting Love this Lent
The Cajun Catholic: The our Father; a lenten reflection
Truly Rich Mom: Keeping Love in Lent… Even When It Is Difficult
GATHERING GRACES:Keeping LOVE in LENT
SaIsa Pang Sulyap – Fullness Of His Love
LiturgicalTime: Keeping Love in Lent – Finding Balance
Grace Loves Iggy: love in lent
Sacred Oysters: Empty (Keeping LOVE in LENT)
Tercets:Make Heart Rosary Decades to Pray for Others
The Diary of a Sower: Our Lenten Prayer Tree
A Living Garden — Giving for Others with Love: Keeping LOVE in LENT
Homegrown Catholics: Motivated by my childrens’ activities {Lent}
MyBroken Fiat: Keeping Love in Lent… Barely
Journey to Wisdom: Keeping Love in Lent: Bands of Love
Hi Tina! 🙂
Thanks so much for ‘introducing’ me to this Blog Carnival! 🙂 I’ve been going around reading other people’s blogs and they are all so amazing and inspiring (just like yours!) 🙂 Thank you! God bless you, Tina and your family! 🙂
Love lots,
Ginger
Hi Ginger! 🙂 Thank YOU for joining! Praise God for the inspiring posts of the other bloggers — I’ve yet to go around and visit more blogs, hehe. 🙂 To God be the glory! 🙂
Love and prayers,
Tina
Tina, I read your post about the start of your Lenten journey yesterday, and I have prayed for you. May God grant you peace of mind. I know how overwhelming piles of work can be, as I often struggle to care for my family, do the work of my paid job, and do the writing that is my passion. In addition, I am searching for a better paying job and/or freelance work, so I would appreciate your prayers in that matter as I am not sure I can fit additional work into my day, as necessary as it is.
It is so important to remember that we are united with others in prayer and in struggle. Uniting in prayer magnifies the grace of God, and remembering the struggles of others puts our own lives in perspective. Thank you for offering your story and for highlighting the many opportunities we have to connect with each other during this Lenten season.
Hi Elisa! 🙂
Thank you so much for your support and prayers. Rest assured that you and your concerns are in my prayers, too. It is really challenging to try to strike a balance in our busy lives, but by God’s grace, I know we can do it. Thank you so much for your encouragement. God bless always!
Hi, Tina! Thanks for co-hosting this blog link-up. You are doing a good job. And a great apostolate to other people. I’ve met you during the WAHMderful Life Workshop. I said Hi to you but we didn’t get to talk that much. My husband and I were also part of the Singles For Christ years ago. And glad to know that you are also part of Couples for Christ. Keep inspiring people through your writing. God Bless. 🙂
Hi, Ginnie! 🙂 Thank YOU for joining the link-up. Actually, it’s Monica who did most of the work this time (I spearheaded the Advent link-up/blog carnival last year.) 🙂 Praise God for the opportunity to bless others, right? Too bad we weren’t able to talk more at the WAHMderful Life Workshop! 🙂 God bless always and praise Him for your kind words! 🙂
Discovered Catholic Blogger Network! Knowing when to ask for help can be one of the hardest things to do as a mother. I feel like I should have it all together, but asking for help can only improve my efforts.
So true — we tend to NOT ask for help and when we do, we feel guilty about it! 🙂 But we really should seek help when needed, right? God bless you and yours, Crystal!
Tina,
…Hopping over from the “Keeping Love in Lent” link-up.
First of all, thank you for co-hosting it! It is a wonderful way to see what others are doing this Lenten season.
Secondly, I feel your frustration at not having kept one’s resolutions and plans as closely as we desire. I feel the same way. I set up fun, meaningful activities and then we just don’t do them as often as we should. Everything else seems to get in the way! By the time we get home in the evening (usually about 8:30 p.m.), I just want to get a meal on the table and get the kids to bed so I can have some time to myself to relax and perhaps read my Lenten reflections (and I usually fall asleep while reading them.) I try not to be too hard on myself, and try to remind myself that if I didn’t plan, we probably wouldn’t be doing anything at all because everything else in life would definitely fill those times. So, I guess I’m saying that hopefully God will understand and reward our attempts!
Wishing you a meaningful and stress-free Lent!
Blessings,
Cheryl Basile
http://www.diary-of-a-sower.blogspot.com
Hi Cheryl! 🙂
Thank YOU for dropping by, and for joining the link-up. 🙂 If my poor memory doesn’t fail me, you joined the Advent link-up, too, right? Thanks so much!
I know how you feel — reading your comment made me realize that I don’t even have my own Lenten reflections/readings to read, aside from the daily Mass readings! I must correct that somehow. 🙂
Let’s pray for each other and for the other people like us who are struggling in our Lenten journey! 🙂
God bless always,
Tina
The song lyrics are so beautiful! That last line, “Never will I forget… to fix your eyes on Jesus” is very much a part of my goal this Lent. Thank you for sharing. God bless you!
Hi Sarah! 🙂 It’s my goal too! 😉 Praise God for reminding us, right? God bless you and your family!
Hi Tina! Thank you so much for co-hosting! I can completely relate to your post. My Lent is off to a cruddy start, but thank you for the reminder to seek help (I am horrible in asking for help). I will pray for you!
Hi Kim! 🙂 It’s Monica who did most of the hard work actually. 🙂 Thank YOU for the reminder that I am not alone in my Lenten journey. 🙂 Praying for you, too! God bless you and yours!
I, too, have struggled with my Lenten promises and have been re-learning some of the truths of Lent this year… Thank you for sharing your thoughts and practical ideas. I LOVE those stations posters.
Hi Martianne! 🙂 It’s wonderful to “have you over” here at my blog. 🙂 Let’s pray for each other! God bless!
Hi, Tina — what a blessing to find you and this post. The first week of Lent has been anything but ideal here, though maybe that’s what makes it a sacrificial time, as well. I totally agree about the benefits of social media and Catholic blogs. It’s almost impossible to estimate the number and quality of ideas I’ve been able to try in our family. I was raised Catholic by very passionate, committed parents and an extended family that includes nuns, priests, Masses said in living rooms, rosaries around bedsides of the sick, Advent wreaths, and blessed bread at Easter dinner. But the Church’s traditions are so many and so rich that thanks to Catholic blogs, I’ve been introduced to entirely new levels of engagement with faith. Just as you write here about connecting with other Catholics and Christians around the world who are marking Lent, I feel like I’ve been able to connect with centuries of Catholics who experienced the same blessings and challenges during Lent. I’m so glad to add your blog to my list of those to revisit! Thanks for co-hosting — among my failures over the last week, the link-up and the friends it’s introduced has been a great success for me. 🙂
Hi Regina! 🙂 Praise God for you and your kind words. Thank you for sharing about your childhood — we, on the other hand, were “nominal” Catholics at best, and my parents only grew in the Faith and in living it out when I was already a teen. 🙂 Still, I thank God for them and all I learned from them. I guess having that kind of background is why I’m striving to make my kids’ childhood more “Catholic” and more about living out our Faith. 🙂 Also, thank you for reminding me that we are one with all the Catholics throughout history. 🙂 God bless you and yours always!
I really like your list, especially realizing you are not alone and reaching out to others. The priest who led a retreat I went to this weekend spoke about that too.
Thank you for this blog link up, I am so exicted to discover new Catholic blogs!
Hi Katie! 🙂 Yes, realizing that we are all ONE in the Faith and Church makes a whole lot of difference! 🙂 God bless you and thanks for joining!
Hi Tina, than you for co-hosting the link up for such an important time of the year for Christians! Just this act of gathering like minded Christians is a meaningful and far reaching ministry. I’d say it’s safe to say that you’ll probably never know how many people are touched and inspired by your creativity, generosity and love for God and others. So, thank you!
As you mentioned, many of us are experiencing a bit of a let down with the start of Lent. So many expectations and plans and then reality hits. We just can’t simply do it all without some kind of backlash. That’s the best time to take it to Jesus and leave it at His cross. Don’t let discouragement or despair take root because you are a blessing to us all! Working moms and stay at home moms have a lot to juggle, coordinate, and execute for their families.
I do like your stations of the cross posters too. I’m going to head on over to Philstar.com and read your post their too. May God bless you and may His mother, wrap you in her loving arms!
Hi Noreen! 🙂 Thank YOU for joining! 😀 It’s actually Monica who did most of the “work.” 🙂 To God be all the glory!
Thank you for reminding me to take everything to Jesus and leave it at His cross. 😀 Your encouragement is a blessing to ME! 🙂
Thank you, too, for reading my posts, here and on Philstar.com. 😀 God bless YOU and yours always!
Monica is awesome, isn’t she? So are you!
Yes, Monica is! And so is Erika! 🙂 Me? Umm… not so much, me thinks! Har har! 🙂 To God be the glory!
I would say its been a win some lose some Lent so far. But the nice thing about Lent is that it’s soooooooooo long. There’s plenty of time to start again, even if I fall twice, or three times. I like to be reminded of that during stations of the cross.
Thanks for hosting.
True, it’s a good thing Lent is 40 days, right? 🙂 Thanks for reminding me about that! God bless always and thanks for joining the link-up!
Tina,
I’ll def. keep you in my prayers as you continue your journey through this year’s lenten season. I think everyone struggles with our lenten sacrifices, if we wouldn’t struggle then it wouldn’t be worth the sacrifice, so don’t beat yourself up too much. Look forward to seeing more of your posts.
+Chad.
Hi Chad,
Thank you for your prayers. 🙂 And for reminding me that our sacrifices are totally worth it, especially during Lent. 🙂 God bless you and yours!
Fix your eyes on Jesus. I really like that one. When I used to teach at a Catholic school, we used to have Friday stations of the cross all of lent. But now that I homeschool, I haven’t ever done it. I don’t know if I’m scared that the kids won’t sit through the whole thing, or if I find it too big a chunk of our time. I think though, that I at least need to find some way of doing this with my eldest (8 yr old). Maybe break it up throughout the day…I don’t know. We’ll see. Anyway, thanks for the reminder. I totally forgot about the stations during lent! 🙂
Hi Janice! 🙂 Thanks for dropping by. Where are you guys based? 🙂 It’s always SO NICE to connect with other homeschoolers. We’ll be doing the Stations for the first time this year, teehee! 🙂 God bless always and thanks for joining the link-up!
Hi Tina! Thank you so much for co-hosting this blog link-up. I feel so blessed to be part of it. I learned a lot and I discovered Catholic Bloggers Network and Family Centered Blogging in the process. God bless you as you deal with your challenges. May God grant us all the grace we need to keep our eyes fixed on Him. Hugd to you!
Ooops, typo error. Hugs I mean. 🙂
Hi Teresa! 🙂 Thank YOU for joining the link-up! 🙂 It’s actually Monica who deserves the most credit, as she did the most work! 🙂 Praise God for you and all the other bloggers who never fail to inspire me! 🙂 *hugs* God bless always!
Hi Tina,
I think it is very humble of you to admit failures during Lent. It can be demoralizing. That is part of it, isn’t it? Realizing how it comes back to the grace of Christ in us to complete the work that He begun in the first place. I pray for you, Mary’s mantle. Thanks and Love, Susan
Hi Susan! 🙂
Thanks for dropping by. Oh I fail A LOT, not just during Lent, haha! But yes, you’re right, our failures are part and parcel of our faith journey. I praise God for people like you — though we have never met in person, we are connected in Christ through Mary. You and yours are in my prayers, too! God bless!
Much like everyone else has mentioned – thanks for co-hosting the link-up. This was such a great (and worthwhile) idea that has opened up so many new bloggers to me. I love the sharing of ideas and crafts and struggles – it’s been a wonderful experience.
As for your blog, itself, you’re quite honest and upfront about the struggles you’ve come across. More importantly, however, you share how you’ve worked to overcome them. THAT is key, and I think that’s what makes blogging so beneficial (not just for you, but for those who stumble across your entries).
So thanks so much!
Hi Gina,
Praise God for your comment. 🙂 Sometimes I think I am TOO honest, but I guess that’s how God made me. 🙂 Thank you for your encouragement and for joining the link-up! 🙂 God bless you always!
Hi Tina!
Nice post! I like the collection of Lenten activities you are doing and I read your article on PhilStar…what a great witness to our Faith! Thanks for hosting the link-up…I think everyone has really enjoyed it!
Hi Monica! 🙂
Thank YOU for all the hard work you put into the Link-up! 🙂 Praise God for you, Erika and all the other bloggers who joined! 🙂 God bless you and yours always!
*Hugs*,
Tina
What a wonderful, uplifting post! I’m had been sitting here tonight contemplating the overwhelming number of veils that I need to make and beating myself up a bit for not keeping up with the Lenten devotions and “40 bags in 40 days” that we had planned to take to St. Vincent de Paul. You know what? We haven’t read a single devotion or packed a single bag yet…and it’s the second Sunday of Lent! However, your post lifted a good deal of that despair. Thank you for that! 🙂
Pax Christi,
~Michelle
Hi Michelle! 🙂
Thanks for dropping by. I’m sure God knows our hearts and our intentions. 😀 Praying with and for you especially this Lenten season. 🙂 God bless always!
Thank you, Tina for sharing your wisdom with all of us (I’m here from the KLIL link up!). I especially appreciated your thoughts on asking for help more often (prayers). I need to do that! There’s nothing more powerful than knowing that someone else is thinking of you and praying for you through the struggles of life. Have a blessed Lent!
Hi Susan! 🙂 Yes, we all need other people’s prayers, don’t we? 🙂 Thanks for joining the link-up! God bless always! 🙂
It certainly is hard to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, when there are so many distractions. Thank you for sharing my same thoughts. Each year we pull out our bin of Lenten activities and try again to do at least a few of them! Also, it HAS been so wonderful connecting with Moms like me online that I never would have met otherwise.
Hi Melissa! 🙂 Thank YOU for being an inspiration to me and so many other moms like me! 🙂 Let’s continue to pray for one another, especially this Lent. God bless!