There is no …depravity of which I was not their teacher. I am amazed, Abba, how the sea stood our licentiousness…when I had entangled in my net so many souls. But I think God was seeking my repentance. For He does not desire the death of a sinner but magnanimously awaits his return to Him. — St. Mary of Egypt

I found this quote on evlogeite.com an ancient church blog. Saint Mary of Egypt is a woman that I can relate to. Her life and my life are similar in many ways. Although her life she repented in a place of seclusion, and she gave her life to repentance.To learn about her life click here. I want to give my life to repentance. How dose one do that without wondering off into the desert and live?

Lord Have Mercy

Quinoa and Black Beans

Hello friends, so this is a very easy fasting recipe I wanted to share. It takes about 40 minuets to make and you can eat on it for a few days.

Quinoa and Black Beans

Ingredients:

1 T of vegetable oil (some may not choose to use vegetable oil, but I will post it anyway)

1 onion

3 cloves garlic

1 red pepper

3/4 c uncooked quinoa

1 can vegetable broth

1 tsp ground cumin

salt and pepper

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper Or chill powder since I didn't have any

1 can corn

1 can black beans

Cilantro, optional

lime juice, optional

Saute onion and garlic and oil on Medium heat till brown.

Add red pepper, quinoa and vegetable broth, bring to a boil, cover and simmer over low to medium heat for 20 minutes

Add corn, simmer for about 5 minutes

Add black beans simmer for another 5 minutes

Garnish with cilantro and lime, optional

I hope you all enjoy.

Also as today marks day 2 of Great Lent, I have a one thing I would like to put into practice, a prayer rule. As the overachiever, I said my prayers yesterday morning and well since I didn't have to work, no biggie.. I had no schedule. Then last night, said them again. Do you know what the first thing that popped into my head was this morning? Oh dang, I have to pray again.. like hello wasn't last night enough? As you can see I have no discipline in my life, and praying should be one of them. As of all the things we get to do as Christians, I should enter into prayer with so much more joy than I do. Forgive me a sinner and Lord have mercy.

I will leave you with this quote from a book I am reading, it has played a few times in my mind.

"The lenten spring is welcomed by Christians in the Church not as the time for self-inflicted agony or self-improving therapy. It is greeted as the sanctified season consecrated to the correction, purification and enlightenment of the total person though the fulfillment of the commandments of the crucified God." Thomas Harko - The Lenten Spring.

I have come to a conclusion..

Hello friends, last year I left you all with my wondering mind of my spiritual life. I was exposed to the Orthodox Church a little over a year ago. This came to be through a man, I think most ladies could relate to how men have a certain affect over women. We have since parted ways, but I was left with being exposed to the "fullness of the faith" what in the heck am I going to do with that?
Well, I spent sometime attending a small protestant non-denominational church, and it wasn't the same, something was missing. Most everyone was there with their bibles open , the book Acts ironically enough. The pastor spoke about many correlations between now and then, we even stood the whole time in "worship". So what was missing?
I have until this point, attending Divine Liturgy most every Sunday. Although I don't fully understand what is going on, I sense there is something more. I feel a connection with Christ was we pray prayers that have been said by other Orthodox Christian all over the world and through all points of history. So why would I stray from this path that I chose? Who care it is because I met a man! Right?
Well, after much debate and encouragement from my godmother, I sent an email to Father David here in my hometown. Thank God there are 2 Orthodox Churches nearby. We met for coffee, and I was brave enough to attend Liturgy on my own. I forgot how much I missed the smell of incense, a visual fragrance of our prayers moving towards heaven. I didn't realize how much it moved me to see icons of Christ, the Theotokos, and other Saints on our walls. It has never touched me as much to see others worshiping God in an orderly obedient manner. I praise God for the way He brought me to the Church, I thank my godmother and wonderful roommate for their encouragement.
Now begins the journey of Great Lent, I am looking forward to worshiping Christ in obedience and fasting, drawing closer to him in prayer and witnessing His love manifest in this season.
I think I will be sharing some recipes, random thoughts of the season in posts to come, until then, Lord Have Mercy.