{"id":26924,"date":"2015-02-16T18:08:55","date_gmt":"2015-02-16T23:08:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/kathyschiffer\/?p=26924"},"modified":"2015-02-24T17:13:34","modified_gmt":"2015-02-24T22:13:34","slug":"40-days-40-ways-to-grow-closer-to-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/kathyschiffer\/2015\/02\/40-days-40-ways-to-grow-closer-to-god\/","title":{"rendered":"40 Days, 40 Ways to Grow Closer to God"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"40<\/a>Are you ready for Lent?<\/p>\n

If you, like me, have been stalling about \u201cgetting ready for Lent,\u201d with the expectation that all the prayers and sacrifices and stuff will just fall into place come Ash Wednesday, you might like to take a look at Marcellino D\u2019Ambrosio\u2019s new book, 40 Days, 40 Ways: \u00a0A New Look at Lent<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

It works like this: \u00a0On each day of Lent, Marcellino suggests one way that you can observe the season. \u00a0Here\u2019s an example, the first entry for Ash Wednesday:<\/p>\n

Day 1. \u00a0Ashes are a sign of humbling oneself before God. \u00a0Receive them and pray for humility.\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Then follows a brief (one- or two-page) reflection to help you understand more about Lent and why it matters.<\/p>\n

But you don\u2019t have to follow the days exactly as Marcellino has outlined them. \u00a0Try this instead: \u00a0Skim the topics for the forty days and pick several which seem to touch on areas where you\u2019d like to improve. \u00a0Here are some examples:<\/p>\n

Day 28. \u00a0Commit to making an examination of conscience each night before bed, reviewing the thoughts, words and actions of your day to see if all were motivated by love of God. \u00a0Ask forgiveness where you fell short.<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 31. \u00a0Before work, chores, or study, make a conscious decision to offer up whatever you are doing for the love of God and in loving intercession for some person or special need. \u00a0Each Sunday, as the gifts are brought up to the altar, mentally place all these things on the paten with the altar bread.<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 34. \u00a0Find out what the Sign of the Cross really means and begin making it less mechanically, more thoughtfully several times per day.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Can you see how these simple ideas can lead one to greater holiness with\u00a0just a few weeks of conscious application?<\/p>\n

I always benefit from\u00a0the practical teaching and inspired leadership of Marcellino D\u2019Ambrosio. \u00a0I read his daily email commentaries from his Crossroads Initiative, and I find them practical and encouraging. \u00a0I\u2019ve enjoyed his live presentations in the past. \u00a0In 40 Days, 40 Ways<\/em><\/a>, I find one more helpful tool for my spiritual arsenal.<\/p>\n

Of this latest book, Marcellino writes, \u201cWith 40 Days, 40 Ways<\/em><\/a>, you\u2019ll learn how to have a more creative experience of Lent. \u00a0You\u2019ll discover positive, proactive ways to take action instead of the same old routine of giving something up. \u00a0The result will be spiritual transformation and a closer walk with Christ\u2013not only during Lent but throughout the year.\u201d \u00a0That\u2019s it exactly.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Are you ready for Lent? If you, like me, have been stalling about \u201cgetting ready for Lent,\u201d with the expectation that all the prayers and sacrifices and stuff will just fall into place come Ash Wednesday, you might like to take a look at Marcellino D\u2019Ambrosio\u2019s new book, 40 Days, 40 Ways: \u00a0A New Look […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":556,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43,95,144,199],"tags":[2360],"class_list":["post-26924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books","category-faith","category-lent","category-prayer","tag-marcellino-dambrosio"],"yoast_head":"\n40 Days, 40 Ways to Grow Closer to God<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Are you ready for Lent? 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