Confronting Anger
The challenge has two parts: 1) Say nothing out of anger; when you feel angry, pause and breathe three times. If you do respond in anger, fix it as soon as you can. 2) Pray about someone with whom you need reconciliation. During the first week, do nothing but pray. During the second week, engage in reconciling […]
Encouragement & Community
This week there are only 2 challenges, but they both focus on our engagement with one another. Speak Words of Encouragement Put into practice the instructions“Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today” (Heb. 3:13), and“Let us encourage one another …” (Heb. 10:25)by nudging someone else closer to God each day. Remember […]
Always We Begin Again
This 2-fold challenge focuses on engaging in community and healthy practices. 1. Dedicate a specific 15-minute span of time during your day for contemplative prayer. 2. Whenever you reach for a mobile device, computer keyboard, or phone, etc. recite something that is true and focuses your heart on what is eternal. By doing this we […]
Living Like a Sparrow: A challenge to trust
Our challenge for the next two weeks grows out of Matthew 6: 25-34: 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they […]
Salt and Light
Our challenge grows out of Matthew 5:13-16: 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill […]
Prayer Challenge
The challenge has three parts: 1) Share your burdens with each other, and pray for each other (Galatians 6:2). This can occur in your small group or one-on-one. Your burdens could be sin you are struggling with, but could also be things like worries, anxiety, or depression. This part of the challenge requires a willingness […]
Challenge to Love
Love – We seek to love indiscriminately as Jesus taught us – love for enemies and “the least of these” especially. We embrace the poor, marginalized and unloved and show respect to every human being as one created in God’s image. Hospitality – always being ready to be a welcoming presence – is our way of life. […]
Examen and Integrity
Challenge:– Use Saint Ignatius’ Prayer of Examen at the end of each day– Keep a tally of when you are late and not living with integrity (focus on telling the truth and being on time)– Correct breaches of integrity as soon as possible and explain to the person why you lied, cheated, etc. (fix it […]
Serving Others at Meals
This challenge focuses on the following parts of our rule: I will memorize the Sermon on the Mount and meditate on it regularly. In every situation, I will seek to do acts of service, take the lowest place, place others’ needs above my own. The challenge has two parts: Memorize Chapter 5 of the Sermon […]
Challenge to Rest
The challenge for the next two weeks is drawn from the value of discipline. Intentional rest requires a high degree of discipline. The challenge has three parts: 1) Sleep – Sleep for at least seven hours each night. Go to bed by 10 pm at least one night and, if your work and class schedules permit, sleep […]
