Books to read
Books
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The Twelve Steps Meet the Gospel by Dick Rice & Trish Vanni
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The Spirituality of Imperfection by Ernest Kurtz
Websites
Ways to give
Time
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Give of your time by listening to others and/or by actions
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Give your attention to another - abandon devices for an hour each day
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Give thoughtful comments of encouragement
Talents
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Live with an open heart, open hands, open wallet
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Meet with someone with whom you disagree politically and listen only to better understand them.
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Make amends
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Do a “random” act of kindness
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Show compassion and validate other’s feelings or situation
Money
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Give the money you’d spend on a meal or shopping to a charity.
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Give your belongings
Ways to Pray
Pray to grow closer to God, pray to help others and change our hearts
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Commit to a time each day for prayer
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Download the Pray as You Go app and use it.
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Create a FaceTime or ZOOM prayer meeting
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Do a walking prayer
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Prayer walking is the practice of praying on location, a type of prayer that involves walking to or near a particular place while praying. For example, walk and pray in your neighborhood and pray for your neighbors, walk and pray near a lake and give thanks for the beauty. Be creative, walk and pray...
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As you read the news, local, national or international, silently pray for those people or situations you read about.
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In community and/or while driving, smile and pray for those around you in “real time.”
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Try choosing a “breath prayer” for each week and use it daily, such as, “I am a child of God”, “God created me for His good.”
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Practice silence, listen to your conscience, share your experience with God.
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Read the Bible daily or a devotional such as Jesus Calling by Sarah Young and journal your discoveries, thoughts and prayers
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Daily read one scripture three times in a Lectio Divina style: read, meditate, pray, contemplate
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Be intentional to let people know you are praying for them
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Participate in a daily examen (from Reimagining the Ingation Examen, Mark E Thibodeaux):
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Relish the moments of the day - the gifts / highlights of the day
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Request the Spirit to be present
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Review the day with honesty and patience
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Request forgiveness of any mistakes or failures
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Resolve, in concrete ways, to live tomorrow well
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Give it up
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Skip one meal per day, use the time for spiritual exercises/practices, use the money saved and give to a charity
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Fast from character defects. Identify one defect per day and practice letting it go with God’s help.
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Fast from worry or judgment, or self-loathing, or judgement of self and others
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Fast from social media - try not look at your phone for 1 hour of “waking hours” instead be aware of your surroundings, sounds, nature, quiet, smells, touch
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Fast from shopping
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Fast from multi-tasking - “be present to the present” - be fully present to the moment before you.
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Fast from talking - if you must, pause before you respond