Lent – Tru Original

Category: Lent

The 9th Station of the Cross

I was commissioned, along w a few other sacred artist in 2017 to illustrate a book with meditations on the Stations of the Cross. I love collaborating with creatives to build up the body of Christ!

This reflection is not that book, but sharing the image i painted above. This meditation is from a book i picked up in Medjugorje in 2018, written by Tomislav Ivancic. I love these reflections so much that i visit this book all year long! Im so glad i get to share them here with you.

9th Station of the Cross, Suffering a Total Defeat

I fell a third time. The people believed that that would be my final breakdown. And just when they supposed that i would never make it, I summoned up all my strength, took the cross and dragged it to Golgotha.

A person can go on even if nobody thinks that it is possible. the moment will come when people tell you… “there’s nothing more to be expected from you. It’s the end.” You yourself will think… ” I can’t go on”.

This is the moment of complete helplessness. it is the moment of your surrender, of the realization of your failure. Do you really want to abandon all hope then? Do not be afraid. There is another door, and you will meet Me again behind it. If you can not rely on yourself any longer, I will be there. You will cry from the bottom of your heart and I will answer. It is the cross to lose and to be left alone, to have nobody who believes in you anymore, to be given up. If you accept this cross, i will surprise you with My presence and My strength. You will be able to go to the ends of the earth in My name.

Are you willing to accept this cross? Don’t worry. I am with you. I have conquered the world.

Promise that you will not offend or mock either Jesus or the cross.

The 5th Station of the Cross

I was commissioned, along w a few other sacred artist in 2017 to illustrate a book with meditations on the Stations of the Cross. I love collaborating with creatives to build up the body of Christ!

Fifth Station of the Cross, Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry the Cross.

Allowing others to help you…

Nobody respected me. So many people did I cure, but even they left me, just like those who I was close to. Full of wounds and full of blood, shaken after meeting my mother, I needed loving hands to support me.

The only one who came had to be forced. I longed for help given in compassion and love. Simon had to be forced. Simon had to be forced to help me. It is a cross to find nobody willing to suffer with you in love. If you accept it, you are no longer alone in suffering because I am with you.

And something else. Have courage to allow others to help you. I did it, too, although I am omnipotent. Let others surpass you, let them take care of you, admit it that you need them.

This is a cross and you cannot avoid it. Learn to understand that it is a door to me. Don’t be astonished if all in you opposes this cross, for the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit, what is contrary to the sinful nature. Gal 5:17.

Receive your cross and follow me so you are with me.

“Don’t be afraid to carry the Cross. There is my Son to help you.” message April 5th, 1985

Shrimp Tacos with a Twist

Looking for a super easy, tasty, affordable, quick and yummy meal for

Fridays during Lent? I got one!

Ok…it’s truly this easy! Add these items to your shopping list this week.

Follow the directions on the popcorn shrimp box for baking and while that’s in the oven mix up the Asian Salad ingredients, which are all included in the bag.

Toast your corn tortillas over a flame on your gas stove or microwave for a few seconds to heat.

Build your Asian taco by adding the salad mix on to the tortilla, followed by fresh slices avocado and topped with popcorn shrimp.

If you’re feeling funky, add some yummy Tabasco Sriracha, our favorite, on top!

Some other ingredients you could add on include cilantro, mango, or sweet peppers.

My family goes meatless on Friday’s year round, so this is a quick for me, yummy for them favorite.

So quick in fact, that this blog post took me longer to write then the time it takes to make this meal!

I hope you enjoy it too!

Lenten Blessings!

SOM Club February Member Spotlight

Meet Emarie!

This sweet girl is our February Member Spotlight!

Emarie is 6 years old and has been apart of the Saint of the Month Club since the beginning, in fact, it was her uber creative mom, who inspired me to start this little Saint Club.

As you can see from the photo, Emarie is DAR-LING! And judging by her favorite Saint, Saint Kateri, she’s got a little spunk in her too. She likes St. Kateri because she is brave.

Emarie’s favorite part of the SOM Club are the crafts and coloring pages she gets each month, so I would guess she’s a creative soul. Kinda, one of my favorite parts of the Club too! AND, speaking of creative, her favorite animal is a unicorn!!! Love that!

I pray for you all each and every month, especially as I pack up your individual boxes. My prayers for you usually go something like this…

” Saint Agatha, fill the home of Emarie with your love of Jesus. Intercede on their behalf at the feet of Our Lord. Help her family grow in their love of the Eucharist and one another. All God’s Angels and Saints, pray for them. Amen.”

Please pray for Emarie and her family this month, especially that the would have a fruitful Lent.

Thank you!

Activities for Lent

Lent is right around the corner and through the years, I have truly come to enjoy this penitential season. Lent offers us an opportunity to enter into the suffering of Jesus and help us to prepare a way for Him in our hearts at Easter. Above you will find a few ideas on how to enter into this season. I hope your family has already made some of these activities a part of your Lenten season traditions! If not, feel free to incorporate them into your own Lenten traditions.

Write down your own family’s Lent traditions…Lent activities

Planning on attending Stations of the Cross? Print of this certificate to encourage your children in their participation and prayer… stations of the cross cert.

Praying for each one of you…mama to mama, that you and your family have a fruitful and blessed Lent!

GOOD Friday

So they took Jesus, and, carrying the cross Himself, He went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha.

There they crucified him, and with two others, one on either side,

with Jesus in the middle.

John 19:16-18

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Oh Jesus,

For the sake of your sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

For all those who are struggling, hurting, or battling something, let them surrender to your Holy will. Help them to know that they are being brought closer to you and your suffering on the cross. Your way is perfection, your love is perfection. As we arrive at our destination, the foot of the cross, let us look up and be grateful for your sacrifice. Help us to submerge ourselves in your Holy perfect Love, May we share your Name with all that we encounter.

In His name,

Amen

Holy Week…5 days till Easter

HOLY WEEK

Peter said to Him,

“Master, why can I not follow you now?

I will lay down my life for you.”

Jesus answered,

“Will you lay down your life for me?

Amen, Amen, I say to you,

the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

John 13:37-38

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Reading the Holy Scripture this morning, i was amazed how God was speaking to me. Struggling this last month to get these prayers posted has been very humbling for me. Yes, my computer had a most nasty virus, and yes i waited too long to take it in to be fixed, which made it even worse off. But the real YES and the truth of the matter is I just didn’t try hard enough. Then i just felt shame for not doing for God (and you all) what I said and committed to doing…just like Peter. I got my computer back last Thursday and here I am Tuesday with a post!WHY? I can only say that my complacency, guilt, and busyness kept me from praying with you. I have no excuse but that. And as much as I have let myself down and some of you down ( I lost several followers), the fact of the matter is I let God down because this was part of my Lenten promise to Him. Simply put, I told Him I would do it and I didn’t.

So what now??

I get back up, I confess and ask forgiveness, and I refuse to let satan win!

Like I stated in a previous post, I believe it is no coincidence that my computer broke within a week of starting this series. The problem is that i became like Peter…believing I would stop at nothing to fulfill my promise, only to quickly give up when it became too hard.

It shows me the depth of God’s love for me that He would take my sin by giving up on Him and this promise I made, and He would turn it around to Glorify Himself through this Holy Scripture.

Oh how He loves us….

Lover of my soul,

Forgive me when I deny you.
Here I humbly sit, feeling the weight of your cross, my sin.

THANK YOU for allowing me to feel so deeply just a tiny glimpse of your sacrifice.

As we come closer to the foot of the cross to watch you suffer a most agonizing death, help us to love like you love Jesus. Help us to dig in during these final days of the journey and carry the cross with you Lord. Help us to be like Veronica, wiping the blood from Your precious face with no regard for ourselves.

We praise You, we love You, we trust You.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen

Day 25 of Lent

Prayers and Scripture for Lent

Day 25

He (Jesus) then spoke this parable addressed to those who believed in their own self-righteousness while holding everyone else in contempt.

Luke 18:9

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Holy Father,

Sometimes when we are trying so hard to do what is right, we forget how lost we once were. Being on Your righteous path does not make us righteous, it is Your law that is righteous. Let us not forget how quickly we can fall. Yet even in our fall, when we humble ourselves to you, you are there to pick us up again and again.

Praise Your unending mercy!

In the name of Jesus,

Amen

Day 23 of Lent

Prayers and Scripture of Lent

Day 23

“They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts and turned their backs,

not their faces, to me.”

Jeremiah 7:24

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Forgiving God,

As so many turn their backs on you, we beg you in all your mercy to not turn your back on us.

As we look at another person in judgement and frustration, we beg you in all your glory to spare us the judgement we deserve.

Friend of my soul, quench the thirsty parts of me with your grace.

Let our hearts not harden to sin, but rejoice always in your abundant love.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen

Day 22 of Lent

Sorry about the absence…i’m really struggling with my computer not working and hubby has been out of town for 2 weeks so I haven’t been able to sneak onto his. Thank you for bearing with me. You have been on my mind and in my prayers. I will continue to do the best I can to get these posts off, oh how I love to pray with you:) Unfortunately I am going to delay the Choose Hope series until after my computer comes home from the doctor, with a clean bill of health. It is just too hard to post when I’m getting booted off every 4 minutes!! Again, thank you for your patience with me. God Bless you!

Prayers and Scripture for Lent

Day 22

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.

I have not come to abolish (them) but to fulfill (them).”

Matt 5:17

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Oh my Jesus,

Fulfill in us a yearning to be your instruments, your hands, your feet. Help us to see others with your eyes. Help transform our hearts to love like you do.

May we lift up our lives to you and fulfill our destiny.

In Your name,

Amen

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