{"id":1460,"date":"2014-11-29T02:46:30","date_gmt":"2014-11-29T02:46:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=1460"},"modified":"2014-11-21T22:54:20","modified_gmt":"2014-11-21T22:54:20","slug":"a-praying-spirit-praying-through-advent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2014\/11\/a-praying-spirit-praying-through-advent.html","title":{"rendered":"A Praying Spirit: Praying through Advent"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Image<\/a>
Image courtesy of nuchylee\/FreeDigitalPhotos.net<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Advent begins this weekend, and I am really looking forward to it!<\/p>\n

In Advent, I always try to to do something different with my prayer life, or with my Scripture study. Often, these new approaches or practices carry forward into the Christmas Season and beyond. Nothing like trying something new to stir up a new spirit or strengthen that which is already present!<\/p>\n

It might seem like too much to take on a new approach to prayer or Bible study in the face of all the other things we have to do during this Season in preparation for Christmas. All that shopping, cooking, cleaning, traveling, gifting, and card-writing can be overwhelming.<\/p>\n

That’s why this Advent, I’m going to focus on one, Spirit-inspired word a week. I hope to pray that word, get to know its deeper meanings, and see how it applies to my life. By taking this simpler focus, I hope to be able to grow more deeply in faith, and bring a fresh sense of quiet in all the extra noise that surrounds us.<\/p>\n

So, today, with the First Week of Advent, my word will be: Grace<\/p>\n

What does “Grace” mean to you? to your prayers? to your life? Where is it? How can you have more of it?<\/p>\n

Yes, what does “Grace” mean…<\/p>\n

Peace,<\/p>\n

Maureen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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She expected to be writing scripts. God had other plans. A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. 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