What a gift we have in the Holy Spirit! God has given us this free gift of His love, presence, and guidance, to be with us always.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: The Holy Spirit will come and we shall know him; he will be with us forever; he will remain with us. The Spirit will teach us everything, remind us of all that Christ said to us and bear witness to him. The Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth and will glorify Christ. (CCC729)
Realizing that the Holy Spirit acts in the present moment, you can be open and attentive to his promptings and whispers, accepting all that happens or doesn't happen as coming from Our Heavenly Father. Little by little you learn to focus on each moment as a gift and realize that everything, no matter how big or small or routine or boring, is permitted by God to ultimately draw you closer to him.
Living with this attitude of surrender to the Holy Spirit gives you a greater perspective of simplicity and how he is working in every single moment of your day. Take a look at how often you do little things, or give things up, for God. At first, you may realize just how much you leave God out of the equation! The best way to remedy this is to just start doing things for him...folding the laundry, sorting socks, scrubbing petrified food off the high chair, paying the bills, preparing the next meal, etc. Simply say, "Jesus, I do this for love of you". Do it all just so, for Jesus and you will begin to see how the Holy Spirit is unleashed in your life. He really does show up. Often times when you least expect it, in the simplest of moments. You might be pulling weeds in the garden or changing a diaper and suddenly be overwhelmed by his presence and love. These moments are proof of his love and how he is always pursuing you.
As you continue on this Lenten journey, call on the Holy Spirit to help you be faithful to your resolutions and to do it all for the love of Jesus.
spiritual
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,
That I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,
To defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit,
That I always may be holy.
~St. Augustine
If you like this prayer, head over to Catholic All Year and print it out! Kendra has made some beautiful printables. Click the link and scroll down a bit to see them.
self
Thank God today for the willpower to stick to your personal Lenten sacrifices. Every time you think about what you gave up (coffee, chocolate, sugar, bread, etc) repeat the little prayer from above: Jesus, I do this for love of you.
Remember, it's not supposed to be easy!
Every little sacrifice, every time strengthens the will and lessens the hold of vice over our souls, resulting in more simplicity!
service
Are you living by a simple budget this Lent? This is your friendly reminder to avoid any unnecessary purchases and to give/donate a little more than what you would normally.
Two things that can help you simplify and save money are sticking to your list (especially at a place like Costco), and not even go into the store at all. Technology has made shopping simple and easy by using your favorite store's app and the drive-up/pick-up option. I am always a little leery about what my produce might look like if someone else picks it out for me. Do they know I don't like brown edges on my lettuce or soft spots on my apples? This has been a good opportunity to surrender my pickiness and ask the Holy Spirit to guide the person doing my shopping! You might have to plan ahead a bit, but it is worth it. You will ultimately save time and money.
today's recipe
It's Taco Tuesday, so I have a good, healthy Mexican dish for you! It may seem strange to put eggs in your enchiladas, but you need to just give this a try. It's an old "paleo" recipe that has served us well over the years.
Enchilada Bake (serves 4)
1 pound cooked protein of your choice (shredded chicken, pork, beef, ground beef, etc)
1 can (14 oz) enchilada sauce (El Pato is my choice)
1 small can diced green chiles
1 bell pepper, diced (choose your favorite color of pepper)
1/2 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
salt and pepper as needed
3 eggs
cilantro
*Preheat oven to 350
*Grease a pie plate or an 8X8 baking dish with avocado oil.
*In a large bowl, combine your protein, enchilada sauce, green chiles, bell pepper, onion, garlic and seasonings. Mix well. (Feel free to add additional seasoning to your taste.)
*Crack eggs in a small bowl and whisk.
*Add eggs to the enchilada mix and stir to combine.
*Pour into your prepared baking dish and bake for 1 hour. Check to make sure the eggs have completely cooked and the enchilada bake is set. Add cooking time if needed, up to 15 minutes.
*Let rest at least 10 minutes before serving to allow it to cool.
*Garnish with cilantro, shaved lettuce, salsa, goat cheese, carrot salsa (last Tuesday's recipe)
ENJOY
May God bless you all! Thank you for giving me a spot in your inbox this Lent.
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