Self-denial through fasting

In our near constant consumption of food, stories, and ideas, fasting has the appeal of a load of bricks. Denial of self lacks more than just appeal. It seems foreign and antiquated, a relic of bygone religions. Sure, fasting from food has reappeared as a dieting trend, along with other purges and fads designed to reset your body clock or get you back into that old pair of jeans. But fasting as a form of self-denial—to undermine yourself—seems out of place in our society today.

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Be Still

Have you ever experienced a season of life that has left you feeling weak and vulnerable? What you expected to be doing with your time appears to be shifting due to unforeseen or unplanned changes in circumstances. What do you do when you have more questions than answers?

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Some people brought to him a man

We’ve been visiting back home with family over the past few months, but we’ll soon be returning to Wales. As preparation for our return, we went on retreat a few weeks ago. On our first day, we were given Mark 7 as a text on which to pray and meditate, with the instructions to pause where we felt God inviting us to stop and pray. Most of Mark 7 features a dispute some of the Jewish religious leaders brought against Jesus about cleansing rituals and His response about what truly corrupts our hearts. God stopped me further into the chapter where he heals two people from neighbouring nations.

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Surprised by Glory and Affection

This year has been filled with a lot of crazy. There have been a lot of tasks and things that I could not have planned. In Driving down the street, I was annoyed. I woke up late and I was rushing to be somewhere. I didn’t accomplish all the things I needed and wanted to do before leaving home. On top of all this, I was caught in road construction that was not moving.

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Invitation

This year has been filled with a lot of crazy. There have been a lot of tasks and things that I could not have planned. In the span of the last month, I have helped co-workers move, I have finished coordinating student projects for Linguae Christi (why I originally came to Wales), I went to London for a conference, and I have helped another colleague move. This has been a whirlwind to end the summer (not to mention dealing with personal and family stressors) and if I’m honest I’ve been slightly overwhelmed by all the changes and the transitions.

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