Lent, Day 2.

Well. It's been an 'interesting' 2 days.
Number 88 hasn't had a full house as of yet, just myself and Ellen, so basically it's been ok, as far as moods and friendships go. However, I'm anticipating that when the rest of the house returns, spirits may be a little less forgiving, considering most of them won't have been eating sweet things or wearing make-up for a good few days... Oh 'fun'.

Anyway, on a more serious note. These are my musings so far...
I've decided to enter an extract from my journal for today, because hopefully that will pass on the gist of my thoughts:

"I praise You, my God. For all that You are. I thank You Lord. For I know You are always close by. Filling me with strength. Showing Your outrageous grace every minute that I live. It is how I can live, live in Your presence, and I continue to be astounded.
Glory to Your name."

Today's been a lot harder than yesterday.
And I've really had to set my mind to bouncing thoughts that distract me from the actual point of doing this. To seek God.
However, I have also found, that in the presence of my weakness... actually, because of it, He's really come through for me. And I know that He's shown me this so many times in my life, in so many difficult situations, yet it continues to amaze and surprise me! But it definitely stirs grateful praise (of which I SHOULD be full of all the time anyway) when I feel it so clearly as I have today.
He's kept me alert to temptation and wrong thoughts, and put within me a deeper hunger to spend time with Him like I've never known.

It's so true that "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." - Matthew 4:4

I feel like I've come a little closer to understanding that today.

I've heard it said, that in times where humans feel their life is in danger, they will always seek out the bare necessities (water etc.). Forgetting all the luxuries we feel we 'need' these days.
Well, I know that my life isn't exactly on the line, but I have had things that I usually take for granted, and am so used to having, taken from my everyday life. And I've found that still, to be enough for my whole being to search out, often frantically, what I need to 'survive' this time. And that is seeking every minute to be in His presence. More time than I 'give' Him ('give' because He does not belong in time, and He created it, therefore it all belongs to Him already, so it's a bit of a silly concept really). So, so, so much more. How I have ever gone without continually living in a time of simply talking to Him, asking Him things, and praising Him I now have no idea. With the amount of unnecessary, worldly distractions occupying my time and my mind, no wonder I so easily lose sight of what actually matters...

Psalm 24:3-6
"Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?
Who may stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.
He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,who seek your face, O God of Jacob."