A few days ago I rented the movie Julie & Julia (I am a huge Julia Child fan).  In this movie, Julie Powell, an aspiring writer, attempts to cook all 524 recipes in her Julia Child cookbook in 365 days and blog about her experience.  She did it to motivate herself to be an author.  She did it to help her deal with deadlines and to be persistent.  The movie was very inspiring and quite entertaining. (Meryl Streep is the best and Amy Adams is adorable)
As I finished my evening prayers last night, I thought for some reason about that movie and what it was saying to me.  This idea came immediately into my head.
I can commit to praying 524 hours in 365 days and blog about what I am reading and hearing.  Maybe I will get motivated to finish the Will of the Father talks and be relentless in promoting the word God has put on my heart.  Maybe this is the answer for me to stay on the path and focus on God’s will. 
So here goes!

Today is January 15, 2010 – tonight is a new moon
I said Morning Prayer, Read a chapter in Divine Inspiration, and finished a rosary for the people of Haiti (I fell asleep somewhere during the second decade last night).  Went to Mass and after this I am going to do evening prayer.  That’s the first hour – 523 to go

Morning Prayer on Friday is always about sorrow for sins – Psalm 51 was written for me and it is good that I ask God’s compassion to blot out my sins.  A contrite heart and steadfast spirit are one of my goals for this year of prayer. 
Today in the gospel, Jesus healed a leper by forgiving his sins.  Today my sins were forgiven by my public confession of my sinfulness, my resolve not to sin again, and my receiving of the Blessed Sacrament.
I think I will go to confession soon as part of this spiritual exercise.
Today’s chapter in DI was about grace and how the life and death of Jesus was about making grace available to us.  It was about our need to have the will to allow sanctifying grace to increase in us. It closes with St. Augustine’s prayer to no longer live by his own efforts, but through the Lord.
Psalm 46 was part of Evening prayer:
God is for us a refuge and strength
a helper close at hand, in time of distress;
so we shall not fear though the earth should rock,
though the mountains fall into the depths of the sea,
even though its waters rage and foam.
The Lord of hosts is with us:
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Peace of Christ be with you
Mike