Lent, Ash Wednesday, Fat Tuesday & What I am giving up / adding

I grew up Baptist, in the Bible Belt, Southern Baptist to be exact. That being said I grew up also observing Lent and Ash Wednesday.


How? You might ask, well its simple....my father would ask us each year what were we giving up for Lent and if we were giving up something physical (tv, food etc) we better enjoy it for the last time on Fat Tuesday. Growing up it wasn't expected of us to actually give something up , he would simply ask us to remind us that Jesus fasted for 40 days and how we might give up something as he gave up his life for us. Our Church did not observe it, it was a "Catholic thing" there for a good southern Baptist didn't observe it.


How my dad came to observe Lent I'm not real sure but its safe to say that other religions have fascinated him and in our house we did have several books on different types of religion's...usually a all in one reference book. He would read up on how a religion got started and what they observed.


Fat Tuesday - is most commonly referenced with Mardi Gras and yes its the day they have the biggest party...but Fat Tuesday is actually a religious holiday of sorts. Fat Tuesday is a Catholic holiday (primarily) and basically its your last chance to eat or do your lent offerings before Ash Wednesday / Lent. Fat Tuesday is also known as "Shove Tuesday". All celebrations end at midnight on Ash Wednesday in the French Quarter in observance of Ash Wednesday. 


Ash Wednesday -  Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of blessing ashes made from palm branches blessed on the previous year's Palm Sunday, and placing them on the heads of participants to the accompaniment of the words "Repent, and believe in the Gospel" or "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return". (from Wikipedia )


Lent - religious observance in the liturgical calendar of many Christian denominations that begins on Ash Wednesday and covers a period of approximately six weeks before Easter Sunday. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer through prayer, penance, repentance of sins, almsgiving, atonement and self-denial. This event, along with its pious customs are observed by Christians in the Anglican, Calvinist, Lutheran, Methodist, and Roman Catholic traditions. Today, some Anabaptist and evangelical churches also observe the Lenten season. (from Wikipedia)


Jesus fasted 40 days in the desert and during that time he was temped by the devil. The thought behind Lent  (if you are out of the Catholic faith , or so I am told) is to give up something personal and fast, as Jesus fasted.  That being said I see others also doing a reverse Lent, you add something.


So this year for Lent I am giving up Anger, I know super hard for me! I am quick to anger!! Its not always visible but I can get irritated very quickly....I think this is because I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve and my emotions often take over.  I am female after all.


This year I am also adding something.....I am going to spend the next 40 days learning or reading bible verses about anger. What God has to say about it, we know he says "Be Slow to anger" but I hope during this 40 days I will become less quick to anger!




I don't think Lent and Ash Wednesday is something anyone should skip, if anything it makes you focus on bringing your self to knowing Christ more and enduring just a small (extremely small) part of the suffering he did for us.  Its also a great opportunity to learn more about Christ and your self as well.


I do not think the next 40 days will be easy ones by any means, at this exact moment my 12yr is making as much noise as she can on purpose and keeps waking her little brother up. Giving up anger will be EXTREMLY Hard for me!


What are you giving up ?

Buffalo Ranch Chicken - Crockpot or Stove

Its not unknown that I LOVE Franks Red hot....I mean get a straw and drink it kind of love.


I'm also not someone who likes things spicy....but Franks has heat but flavor!


This recipe can be made in a 9x13 or in the crock pot....with a new born I was running behind schedule so I put it in the oven. Still ohh so yummy


4 Chicken Breast, Thighs or 6 Drum Sticks (Whatever's on sale)
1 cup Franks Buffalo Sauce (the actual Franks Buffalo Wing Sauce)
1 packet Ranch Dry Dressing


Mix Franks and Ranch until well blended
Place Chicken in pan or crock pot


(Here is where the recipe is different per cooking method)


Stove - Pour Franks mixture over chicken and cook for 45mins (or until well done)


Crock Pot- Cook Chicken for 3hrs on Low (or until done), drain juices and pour Franks mixture over chicken (I toss the chicken with the sauce to insure good coating) and cook for an additional 45 mins on low.


Serve and Enjoy!

Crockpot Coke Chicken

Well its been two weeks today that I delivered by beautiful baby boy via C-section.  Its been two very long weeks and I am finally being able to cook again with out restrictions! Chicken use to make me puke while preggin and bacon too.


Now that I am back to my old self Chicken has been on the menu almost every night of week and on top of that so has Franks Red-hot Sauce! (I LOVE that stuff)


Today is my first day at home by my self with my precious little boy, with my backup at work saying I am nervous is an understatement. I am still dealing with dizziness and uncontrollable blood pressure and I feel some days like a zombie!


So I am taking it easy....in short I honestly think I pushed my self too much.




I we tried this recipe today in our crockpot...and omg yum!


4 Chicken Breast (We actually used 6 drumsticks, they were on sale)
1 Bottle of BBQ Sauce (any kind will work, we used Kroger Hickory)
1/2 Can Cherry Coke (I actually used a little more )
1/2 C. Brown Sugar


Mix Coke, BBQ Sauce and Sugar together
Pour over Chicken already in crockpot


Cook on Low for 5hrs


We thickened the sauce after cooking, and used as extra sauce for chicken...yum

Esther Bible Study

Esther is hands down my favorite bible study ever!  A few years ago I did the Beth Moore bible study and LOVED IT!!! I did it on my own and purchased each of the videos, the notes i took from those videos are still on my tack board, the message oh so inspiring! 

So while I loved the Beth Moore study any time I get a chance to study Esther again I do.
Over at Love God Greatly.com they did a 8 week bible study on Esther this year. I am attaching all the weekly reading list, challanges so you can print them and follow along at your own pace. It is a closed bible study, so you will be following post from this summer.  If you click on the "Week" hyperlinks it will take you to that week of the bible study at Love God Greatly.com

Week 1

 Week 2

Week 3 

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Christmas Advent Bible Study

****2021 Update****

Google Drive changed the permissions on older documents in drive. This post has gained alot of traffic the past several days. Instead of the links opening the documents its been asking for permission. I've approved every request but I also updated the links below...they should work with out permission now. Sorry for the hassle! 

Here we are again at the busiest time of the year...Christmas. I try to make every occasion and party but I also try real hard this time of year to keep down time for my family too, we need to be together and enjoy it just us.


I also need to keep my heart right as well, its hard when the old lady gives you a dirty look as she runs you over at the store.  Rest assured God has a plan for all of this. 


Below is an advent bible study from Good Morning Girls.org, I found these pictures on not their website but from another fellow blogger who is doing the same. She shared them, so I am following suit. I am putting all 4 weeks in this one post so you may share and save them. If your like me, you look up one day and find your self a day behind!  Not to worry, God loves when we read the bible and spend time with him, so if your a day behind know that its not to late to catch up!

I am also attaching a generic SOAP page for you (original SOAP page was deleted) you can print, save HereFREE BOOK Can be printed HERE

Each Picture can be clicked on and saved, or printed. 

 

Thanksgiving Day 6-10

Talk about a busy week! We all 3 were sick most of the week and are finally getting back to our daily lives.  Here is the final week of the Thanksgiving bible study




Monday 1 Chronicles 29: 10-20
Tuesday 2 Corinthians 4: 13-18
Wednesday Philippians 4:4-9
Thursday Psalm 95
Friday 2 Corinthians 9:9-15


Scripture
Day 1 ¹¹ Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
    and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
    for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
    you are exalted as head over all.
¹² Wealth and honor come from you;
    you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
    to exalt and give strength to all.
¹³ Now, our God, we give you thanks,
    and praise your glorious name.
Day 2 ¹⁵ All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Day 3⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Day 4 ¹ Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
² Let us come before him with thanksgiving
    and extol him with music and song.
Day 5 ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
¹² This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.


Observation & Application
Its impossible to do an observation and application on each day at once. While reading through all these I can easily see that we are to not worry, give praise and thanksgiving. Give more than receive.


During this time of year with busy schedules and parties every weekend its hard to remember that we need to be thankful and give praise to God each and every day.




Prayer
Dear Lord,


I thank you for our family this week and this blessing growing inside me. I thank you for quick healing and I pray that we can remember to praise you each and every day and remember to be kind to everyone we meet. I pray for the my friends who are looking for jobs, thos who have troubles, are sick, lonely or just need you Lord.  Please be with them and I pray they know you are there.


Amen,

Thanksgiving Day 5

Hebrews 12:22-29


Scripture : Hebrews 12:28
²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, ²⁹ for our “God is a consuming fire.


Observation
While other things can be shaken, God and the Heavens cannot be shaken or removed.
God is like Fire, he is all consuming


Application
Everything can be changed in life, nothing is forever....Except God, Jesus and Heaven. His love, forgiveness is forever it can never be shaken.


Prayer


Dear Lord,
I thank you for your unwavering love, forgiveness, salvation.
I thank you for your Unshaken love, I thank you for all I have and who I have.
I pray you be with all who read this, for those who don't know you, those who need you and for my family.


Amen

Thanksgiving Day 4

Day 4


I am actually doing day 4 and 5 on a this Sunday. No excuse is good enough for putting off my bible study.


1 Thessalonians 5:12-18




S.O.A.P.


Scripture : 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.


Observation
The translation above is NIV, my personal bible is English Standard Version and I personally like the way it phrases verse 17 better.  Simply put it says, "Pray with out ceasing"


Application
All too often we try to fix things are selves and say  a little prayer that the situation will get better and when it don't we wonder why (Guilty!!) in reality we need to pray about the situation "without ceasing" and let God fix it.  We also need to rejoice always, when praying about a situation that may be taking our hole focus we must remember that there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for! We must rejoice and thank Him in our times of need.


Prayer


Dear Lord,


I thank you for this beautiful day and my family, I thank you for the life inside of me that's moving constantly while I do my bible study. I pray you keep him safe, alive and healthy with continuous growth. I pray you watch over my family Lord, keep us safe from harm.
I also still pray for my work situation, I feel better about some things others...not so much. I give it to you and I ask for peace in all situations. I also Thank you for the jobs we have.


Please be with my friends who need you Lord, those who don't know you I ask they find you.  I thank you for my friends Lord.


Amen,

Thanksgiving Bible Study Guides

Thanksgiving Bible Study

*2020 Edit* Lots of people ask me where week 3 & 4 are, this is a two week bible study only. Sorry for any confusion* This study was originally done by Good Morning Girls. org, I found the pictures on pinterest. I believe this was done in 2012 or 2013. For some reason GMG will leave the bible study info on the archives page but delete the actual guides. I don't know if this is intentional or accidental.  None the less there are numerous blogs out there with this exact same info on them all across the US so I figured why not retrieve it, laminate it and save it for years to come. I loved it the first time and now the second time around.

Below are the two week bible study plans, each week verses and SOAP samples to print out and follow.  You can click on each image to view them larger, upon doing that I suggest printing them out or saving them to your desk top for easy reference or retrieval.  The SOAP page pictured below is printable any more (original publisher closed the website) attached here is one i found free online and printable you can find it here . Additionally I found the GMG Color chart if you use that method (still new to me, but something I want to get into) you can get that here If you are looking for a Christmas Bible Study of similar set up you can find that post here (this one is 4 weeks), another can be found here

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Bible Study Day 3

Today is the 3rd Day of the bible study, today also marks the 3rd year since my grandaddys passing.
In life there are those whos passing seems to never be forgotten. I know my grandaddy is in heaven, I know his passing was better than his suffering but becasue I am selfish I miss him terribly.

Colossians 3 12-17

Scripture Colossians 3:15-17

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3: 13
 ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you

Observation

We need to be peaceful in our dealings with each other, the peace of Christ should rule our hearts. We need to remember that when someone messes up or we do, let us be peaceful in our dealings.

It honestly reminds me of part of the FFA creed or FFA meeting closure, which states
" As we go let us be deligent in our labor, just in our dealings and above all honest and fair"

Application

It is really hard to be peaceful in the check out line at Walmart, espically durring the holiday season. Its really hard to be nice to that lady who was rude and took your parking spot, or dinged your car door. Its really hard to forgive the coworker who forgot you had an appt and didnt show up to work today.  In general some days its really hard to forgive and forget and be peaceful. We want forgiveness and we want a peaceful answer in return so as hard as it is. Say a quick prayer and bite your tongue.  Pray that God will give you what you need to say next.

Prayer
Dear Lord,

I ask that you grant us the ability to forgive those who have wronged us as you forgave us. I ask that you give us peace on the inside and peace in our dealings with others. I ask that you forgive us including me for our sins and help us keep our tempers in check this holiday season.  Be with those who are searching Lord, wether it be for you, a job or an answer.  Wrap your arms around them.

Be with little Charlie as he continues to grown, and help me be able to keep him in and keep him strong. I thank you for this gift you have given to us, and I pray you continue to bless us.

Amen