Lent - limitations on the internet

So Ashley, my small group biblestudy facilitator, challenged us to do something for lent this year. I immediately thought of chocolate and started to sweat. I didn't grow up in a denomination that ever truly practiced the 40 day lent tradition. Ashley told us to find a way to glorify the Lord more. So in turn, we must give up something in our life that would allow us to do just that. She gave out the idea to give up TV. Now that's not a big challenge for me because I gave up TV pretty much after a biblestudy last summer. After sitting down each night for our 2-3 shows we would watch, I realized I was consumed by that thing. So in comes the internet. Talk about obsessive. I wake up in the morning, have my quiet time, then I immediately grab my computer. Must check emails - only 1 from Target, that's great because at least I got an email. Then the weather so I know what to wear on our 7:30am walk that Justin and Roxy join me on each day. Then my google reader, and so on. Then Justin takes a nap, and I sit on my bottom with my computer. Then Justin goes to bed, and instead of spending time with my husband, you got it, I'm on the computer. This is just ridiculous! So Ashley suggested I give up my blog. My hand flew to my mouth as I gasped at the thought. So I compromised and said that from 8pm to 8am I would not get on the internet. Not even to play with my photos. Now this was a week ago that I started this. I am still getting getting the shakes in the morning as I wait for 8am to come. You would think I was a drug addict on detox. I went to the Rodeo with Justin this morning and thought it would be hotter than it was. In fact, at 1:30pm today, I turned on my computer FOR THE FIRST TIME! And the world still seemed to make it. So some of you may be joking at my limitations, but I have never gone to bed so early, never been more productive around the house, and I might even blog less. If I didn't have the weekends to catch up on blogging and post-date my posts, then this blog would truly be non-existent this month. The deal is to not replenish that time with another consuming task. I just pray longer, talk to my husband, and listen for anytime the Lord feels like speaking up again. We'll see how this goes for my first Lent - I think giving up chocolate would have been easier!

On a side note, I was coming home from church on Sunday and Enter His Gates was playing Bless the Lord (Son of Man) by Tye Tribbett. I came home and immediately bought it on i-Tunes (my 7th purchase EVER from i-Tunes; I'm a late bloomer on that spectrum). It's my new jam song.

On another random tangent, thanks for all your words of encouragement after I bared my heart a few posts back. I pray that my testimony can speak to someone that needed a fresh perspective on the road they were currently taking. We all go through these challenges for a reason....