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Katie Donahue

SIMPLE40 - Day 37 - Learning to Love

Wednesday of Holy Week - Spy Wednesday


God - the ONE necessary thing - whom we must love with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength. Hopefully, throughout this series, you have picked up on this simple truth. When you love God, you recognize that your relationship with Him is the most important thing in your life. This definitely helps you simplify things because you will want to prioritize and focus on things that truly matter, such as prayer, personal growth, using your gifts and serving others, rather than getting caught up in the distractions and trivialities of daily life.

 

Learning to love God and love like Him is a lifelong process. Every day you have the opportunity to choose to move closer and closer to Him or stay where you are (or even go backwards from Him...I'll be the first to raise my hand and admit it.) When you love God, you are called to live a life of purpose and meaning. This can help you simplify your life by giving you a clear sense of direction and focus as you strive to live in accordance with God's will and purpose for your life, rather than aimlessly drifting through life with no focus. When faced with challenges or suffering, which are inevitable, you can turn to God in prayer and trust that He will provide the grace and support needed to get through it. This helps you find peace and perspective amidst the chaos and confusion of life. Loving God at all times, through thick and thin, provides a firm foundation for living joyfully and peacefully through all seasons of your life.

 

The love God asks of us is total, absolute love.

It must be unconditional.

We should love him in any and every circumstance;

in prosperity and adversity;

in health and sickness;

in peace and war;

in joy and sorrow...

~Monsignor Fernando Ocariz

 

spiritual

It's Wednesday...that means we fast and pray for our husbands and the men in our lives to be strong spiritual leaders in our homes and in our communities.


It's also SPY WEDNESDAY...when Judas Iscariot is a spy for the Sanhedrin and betrays Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Jimmy Akin from Catholic Answers has a good breakdown of the happenings of this day and answers all your questions about Judas.


ACT OF LOVE

O my God, I love you above all things with my whole heart and soul,

because you are all good and worthy of all my love.

I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you.

I forgive all who have injured me

and I ask pardon of those whom I have injured. Amen.

 

self

As you go about your full day, treat your ears (and your brain) to some beautiful Lenten music that draws your heart to the love of God. Click the link to listen...

 

Let us love, since

our heart is made for nothing else.

~St. Therese of Lisieux




 

service

Friendship is the highest expression of human love and demands reciprocal love.


God has loved us first, and by loving us, we receive graces to be able to return His love and share it with others. Make some time to connect with a friend for support and encouragement. If you feel like you don't need it, maybe she does. Remember that when you give a hug, you also get one.


Speaking of friendship...remember Michelle Duppong, the FOCUS missionary I introduced to you last week? She was a wonderful, devoted friend and we can learn a lot about how to love well from her. Check out the website for her cause:


The secret of everything

is to let oneself be carried by God

and so to carry Him to others.

~Pope St. John XXIII

 

today's recipe

EASTER TWICE BAKED POTATOES

This recipe comes from my mother-in-law. She got it off the back of a box of instant potatoes when those were popular years and years ago. I have since modified the recipe to use real potatoes rather than instant and increased the garlic a bit! This is always a much anticipated recipe on Easter (Thanksgiving and Christmas, too). I occasionally make this vegan and nobody knows. ;)

 

10 boiled potatoes

1 stick butter

1-8 oz cream cheese

1 beaten egg

1 Tbsp garlic powder

2 Tbsp dried minced onion

2 cups sharp cheddar, shredded and divided

salt and pepper to taste

 

Directions

Boil potatoes until soft. Place in mixing bowl and add butter and cream cheese. Begin to mix, adding milk to thin if necessary. Add remaining ingredients, half the cheese, and mix well. Pour into buttered casserole. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 for 45 min.

Can make ahead and keep in fridge for up to 3 days before baking.

 










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