Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent season. This is a tradition for some Christian religions when one may give up something dear to them for 40 days that typically begins 7 weeks before Easter - Ash Wednesday (February 25, 2009).
My parents and some of my siblings are practicing Catholics and as a matter of fact, one of my sisters who resides in Connecticut is a Nun. This is a very special season for them. I honor and respect my parents and my sister Huyen who is the NUN; however, my husband and I are non-denominational and attend Life Changers Church in the Chicagoland area. A year ago, our Pastor, Gregroy Dickow launched 40 Days of "Fast From Wrong Thinking". We believe in change occurring from the inside-out. Many times we try to change our outward habits to only go back to them again.
This campaign is about changing from the inside-out and has since grown to over 100,000 people world-wide. Amazing!
We do not practice the traditional Lent Season, nor am I giving up a certain type of food, shopping, or social media, etc. Instead my husband and I are joining Pastor Dickow and 100,000 others world-wide to Fast From Wrong Thinking.
The change that we desire in our lives has to take place from within. Proverbs 23:7, says, "As a man thinks within himself, so is he."
Most people who know me, would ask, "Why do you need to Fast From Wrong Thinking?" I'm known to be a positive person and this is true; however, there is always room for improvement. We must never think that we've arrived. Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall, according to Proverbs 16:18.
Are you sacrificing something dear to you over Lent season? If so, I want to encourage you to choose "Fast From Wrong Thinking!" When you change your thinking, you will change your life! Your life will transform from the inside-out! To learn more about Fast From Wrong Thinking, please visit From the Inside Out for more details!
I will be giving away 2 From the Inside-Out Devotionals.
To Qualify: Register for Fast From Wrong Thinking and comment below to let me know. (that's it)
Please let me know by commenting that you have joined me and 100,000 others on this journey to Fast From Wrong Thinking and changing your life from the inside-out.
Live Healthier & Happier,
25 comments:
Sounds like something that you can break a bad habit or something. Cussing, although I have been great around my son and niece and my boyfriend's son, I still am a recovering 'potty mouth.' Sad, but in a previous job, it was easily accepted and it became a bad habit.
Will pass your giveaway along. :)
Duong -
As a Southern Baptist, I too don't practice lent. THis does however, sound like a wonderful program in which we all could benefit from regardless of our beliefs. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to reading more about it through the links you have provided.
Coach Laura
http://www.exercise2dayinfo.blogspot.com
Sister. I can see that you all have a heart for God. The article moved me. I did not know anything about the "Fasting from Wrong thinking" movement before you started tweeting about it in the twurch on twitter. Thanks for your commitment and transparency. God is Good All the Time.
God willing, I am a world changer as well. I know that all meaningful changes come from within. This is a great way to start.
This article was an eye opener for me. Thank you for educating us. Please keep up your Tweeting in the Twurch. We need people like you. I am looking forward to seeing you and your friends in the #twurch.
Big Up King Jesus Forever!
Justus Bey aka TechAngel_Bey
Duong,
What a brilliant idea--I know Pastor Dickow has been inspired by the Lord. So many people need this fast desperately, me included. Like you, I'm seen by everyone who knows me as a very positive, happy person. But we all struggle daily with negativity, if we're honest. We bend constantly under the weight of the bad thoughts that surround us--they're in the air (literally, via TV) and all the media, and coming from the people we see all the time. We have to exercise the will of God in us to stand up straight and shake off the onslaught against our spirits. God bless Pastor Dickow, and God bless you for sharing this.
I love this way of thinking. I do not attend church because I do not necessarily believe in organized religion. I would like to go to a Non-Denominational church, however when I researched my options, all I found was Non-Denominational Christian church.
I will take a look at this link. I agree and think what is most important is who we are and how we think on the inside. I have been on a mission to change my way of thinking for a month now and now not only do I feel better, but I notice if i am around someone who is very negative and nasty it actually turns my stomach.
I will surely take a look at this link, it is amazing that this movement has grown so large.
great idea! Thanks for letting me know and I am signed up.
Duong, When I clicked over from Twitter, it took me to the comments, so I started reading. As I read that this was a fast from negative thinking, I tried to remember (fibro-fog!) the name of the preacher that does the 40 day fast from negative thinking.
As I scrolled back up to read your post, ta-dah! You mentioned Gregory Dickow and that he was your pastor. Yay for you! Occasionally, I get to see his program.
I have tried for years to not speak negatively. It is difficult at first but the more you try to catch yourself in the act, the easier it becomes. I know I still have room for improvement but it is something that I strive to overcome.
I'm so glad you wrote on this. It is so needed in our society, even among Christians. May all who read your words be encouraged to do this and be encouraged to make it a lifelong goal. Great post!
Blessings...Lynn
This is by far one of the best things I have heard to give up for LENT. Like it a lot! Great post! Thanks for sharing!
My husband and I are not Catholics so we don't do Lent but we have been doing a 40 day program which ends for me on March 1 which requires fasting from seven different things like pride, anger, lust, greed, gluttony, slothfulness etc(also known as the 7 deadly sins). it's been a life changing experience to say the least because it actually has us doing things to replace each of the areas we are fasting from. For example we are to give someone something material each day no matter how small(dealing with greed), we are to stop eating before we are full(dealing with gluttony) and so on.
Even if someone is not a Lent observer being part of a program like the one you posted about or similar is an excellent boost to spiritual growth. Thanks for sharing.
What a great idea! I am going to send this to my pastor. It would be great to do as a church.
I signed up.
I'm already signed up!
Renewing the mind should be a daily habit; it is a required discipline to live victoriously in Christ!
Thanx for the entry!
I agree with Christie-A-Work In Progress. Very interesting post.
You know, I considered giving up all the standard sacrifices: coffee, wine, candy, cookies, fast food. Then, my mother, a devout practicing Catholic who attends daily Mass at the Christian Brothers monastery in RI mentioned that a priest at the monastery suggested that people instead give up negative thinking & negative speaking--probably a more difficult thing to give up given the current economy in the United States.
So, that's what I'm (trying) giving up.
Heather Allard
The Mogul Mom
This year I am giving up holding on to things that could help someone else. I believe this is important for our family and we are making it our goal to do this all year - starting on Lent.
Oh boy, this is a biggie in my book and something that I honestly say as a "born and raised" Catholic I struggle with. I had a fabulous Catholic church that I attended in college with an incredibly liberal priest. He was amazing. All of us were so inspired and loved attending and partcipating. When I returned home from graduation nearly 14 years ago, I found that I didn't have that here at home with any parish. I struggle with it to this day. I don't feel like I've found my spiritual "fit" so to speak.
My MIL, who I care deeply about, always gives up some food related item (partly for sacrifice and maybe for other reasons). She just told me the other day that she's giving up bread-sometimes it's bread and pasta. Something like this puzzles me often (and I mean no offense) because what you are suggesting seems to bring about more good and honestly be more challenging than just omitting a food group.
One of my twitter friends posted the other day that she was giving up complaining and allowing herself to listen to anyone complaining. I immediately tweeted back and gave her kudos as I LOVED the idea. Guess what-that is a sacrifice, because it is really hard to do - but think of the good it brings!
I am in the business of "gratitude" and positive thought and these things are still hard and challenging. I am bombarded with negative things on a daily basis that need to be re-framed.
I appreciate this wonderful blog post and truly enjoyed reading everyone's comments as well.
In gratitude!
Deanna
This is a wonderful thing to give up. The last thing that I need is to put negative thoughts and feelings on myself and others. This is a lot harder to give up than candy! :) Thank you for the post Duong.
Your post is a nice reminder to always be positive minded. It is so easy to dwell on negative things. I have never participated in Lent before but have periodically set challenges for myself throughout the year. My son and I sometimes do them together so that we can hold each other accountable.
This year I'm focusing on giving up old, self-defeating habits (i.e. procrastination, poor eating, negative thinking, etc.) and replacing them with new, positive habits for the benefit of myself and others...
I'm not technically a Catholic - I go to Eastern Hill Wesleyan Church in Clarence, NY (about 2 miles from the recent plane crash in Buffalo - Please keep the families of the victims in your prayers), but I do recognize the value in "giving up" something if you can improve yourself by doing it
I love the idea of fasting from wrong thinking! A lot of people either give up a food that they dont eat anyways, or a food that they want to try to stop eating to lose weight. Those are the wrong reasons to fast during lent. Giving up wrong thinking is fasting for the RIGHT reason, to remember the suffering of our Lord Jesus. Great post!!
Great idea for Lent, thank you for sharing!
Duong,
I've Stumbled this post and I joined the fast. Thank you again.
Hey Duong! I thought that name G. Dickow sounded familiar. I watch occ on television and enjoy his ministering. I think this is great way for you to share your faith and help others to help themselves. We all fall short. The good news is we don't have to stay there! God gives us his grace and his mercy to begin again! Amen? I appreciate you Duong for your efforts and your heart for people. All people. God Bless you!
Great idea! I don't observe Lent either, but have deliberately worked to change "stinkin' thinkin'" which leads to negative talk and negative results.
There's a reason why the Bible says to "renew the mind". The natural pull of the world is negative. It takes no effort to be defeatist, worrisome, or critical. But to choose to think positively takes some doing.
Not only does it literally change your life, it can change how you feel physically as well.
Your always on the right track woman! I will be going to look at Fasting from Wrong Thinking site. Its something I really try to live by. The power in our negative words and the negative thoughts in are minds can be very effective at destroying what God wants to achieve through us. Thanks for this new resource!
Blessings to you!
Noelle
have joined me and 100,000 others on this journey to Fast From Wrong Thinking and changing your life from the inside-out.
THANKS FOR THE RECOMMENDATION!
I also gave up SUGAR! :)
Anjie
byuwebqueen(AT)gmail(DOT)com
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