Tag: grace over guilt

Posted in Moments and Musings

Lent Through the Lens of Grace

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

Lent has always been familiar to me.

As a Catholic, I grew up knowing the rhythms of the Lenten season—the ashes on my forehead, the quiet reverence in church, the call to fasting, repentance, and reflection. Lent was serious. Sacred. It was a season that asked you to slow down and look inward.

But over the years, as my faith has deepened and I’ve come to know Jesus not just as Savior, but as my Savior, Lent has taken on a richer, more personal meaning.

Today, I stand in a place that some people struggle to define. I am Catholic. And I am also a born-again Christian. I treasure the history, beauty, and reverence of the Church, and I cling just as fiercely to the truth that I am saved by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)

So what does Lent mean to me now?

It means remembering—without drowning in guilt or shame.

For a long time, Lent felt heavy. I approached it with quiet pressure: What am I giving up? What am I doing wrong? Am I doing enough? Reflection sometimes slipped into self-condemnation. There was an unspoken belief that if I felt bad enough, suffered enough, or sacrificed enough, I would somehow be closer to God.

But Jesus already suffered enough.

“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” (Isaiah 53:4)

Lent is not about punishing ourselves. It is about positioning ourselves to remember.

Remembering the road to the cross.
Remembering the weight Jesus carried—willingly.
Remembering that the sacrifice was complete, final, and fully sufficient.

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.” (1 Peter 2:24)

This season, I don’t want to sit in shame over who I am not. I want to sit in awe of who He is.

Lent invites us to look back—but not to live there. We look back to see the cross clearly so we can move forward in freedom. We look back to remember the cost of grace, not to question whether we deserve it.

Because we don’t—and that’s exactly why it’s grace.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

As a born-again believer, I understand repentance differently now. Repentance is not self-loathing or spiritual self-punishment. It is turning—turning my heart, my eyes, and my life back to Jesus.

“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.” (Acts 3:19)

And as a Catholic, I still deeply value the quiet discipline of Lent. The fasting. The stillness. The intentional pauses. Lent reminds me that faith is not always loud or dramatic. Sometimes it is humble obedience. Sometimes it is sitting in silence, letting the magnitude of the cross speak for itself.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

This year, I want my Lenten sacrifices to look different.

Less about obligation.
More about intention.

Less about what I am giving up to prove something.
More about what I am laying down out of love.

“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1)

That may look like more time in Scripture.
More gratitude instead of grumbling.
More honest prayer instead of polished words.
More remembrance of all that Jesus has already done.

Because when I look back at the cross, I don’t see condemnation—I see mercy.

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

I don’t see a demand for perfection. I see a Savior with outstretched arms declaring, “It is finished.”

“When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30)

Lent is not a season to earn forgiveness.

It is a season to remember that forgiveness has already been given.

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)

So this Lent, I am choosing reflection over shame. Gratitude over guilt. Grace over striving. I will look back—but only long enough to see the love that changed everything.

And then, with eyes fixed on Jesus, I will move forward in freedom.

“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1–2)

That is what Lent means to me now.

Photo by Thays Orrico on Unsplash

Posted in Faith, Food and Forward Steps

January Monthly Check-In

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

Monthly Check-In: A Healthier Me

Month: January
  Year: 2026

How This Month Went (The Big Picture)

January felt rushed and hurried, yet somehow slow at the very same time. Getting sick right out of the gate didn’t help—especially since I turn into a full-blown carb hoarder when I’m under the weather. I crave pasta, brothy soups loaded with noodles and veggies, and endless slices of toast.

Then came the deep freeze. The kind of extreme cold that brings snow, keeps you indoors, and practically demands comfort food. Heavy meals. Cozy couches. Very little movement.

All of it added up to a start that didn’t exactly align with my health goals. Not because I didn’t care—but because winter, illness, and real life showed up first.

What Went Well

Celebrate the wins, big or small. Nothing is too minor to count.

·       Swapping sweets for cappuccinos.
 Instead of our usual nightly ice cream, my sister and I started having cappuccinos in the evening. She got a Mambo coffee machine (not a coffee pot—an actual machine), and that small switch felt indulgent without being heavy. Same ritual, different choice.

·       Finding better recipes.
 I came across several recipes that are high in protein and packed with vegetables. I may not have cooked them all yet, but finding them counts. It means I’m thinking ahead and setting myself up to make better choices soon.

·       Choosing to invest in movement.
 I decided to get a treadmill—and I stopped caring about the cost. I’d rather invest in my health now than invest in medications later. That mindset shift alone feels like progress.

What Was Hard

This is a judgment-free space. Name the struggles without shame.

·       Not overeating.
 Being sick, stuck inside, and surrounded by comfort food made it hard to stop when I was already full.

·       Not overloading on carbs during the snowstorm weekend.
 Cold weather and snow days tend to push me straight toward heavy, carb-loaded meals—and resisting that pull wasn’t easy.

·       Not moving nearly enough.
 Between illness, extreme cold, and too much couch time, my activity level dropped way more than I wanted it to.

Habits I’m Working On

The habits I’m intentionally building or strengthening.

·       More vegetables, less carbs.
 Not elimination—just better balance and more intention with what’s on my plate.

·       More movement, less excuses.
 Even small amounts count. Consistency matters more than perfection.

·       More encouragement, less influence in the wrong direction.
 I want to cheer others on in healthier choices, not drag them into my own unhealthy habits.

Habits I Need to Let Go Of

The things that aren’t serving my health or peace.

·       Guilt.
 It took 57 years to get this body to where it is—and that won’t be undone overnight. Guilt isn’t motivation; it’s baggage. I’m done carrying it.

·       Excuses.
 Yes, some things are out of my control—like bitter cold weather that keeps me indoors. But that doesn’t mean movement isn’t possible. I can still show up for myself at home.

·       Procrastination.
 It’s time to be a Day One girl and stop being a One Day girl. Waiting hasn’t worked. Starting will.

Food & Nourishment

How I fueled my body this month.

  • What worked well with eating? Swapping nightly ice cream for cappuccinos, paying more attention to protein and vegetables, and being more mindful of why I was eating—comfort versus hunger.

  • What needs adjustment? Portion awareness, especially with carbs during stress and cold weather. More consistent movement, even on indoor days. And planning meals ahead of time so healthier choices are easier to follow through on.

Accountability Corner

(Sharing with grace, not shame.)

  • Change this month: Gained a total of 0.6 lbs. Not ideal and not the direction I hoped for—but also not catastrophic. More information than failure, and something I can respond to moving forward.


Lessons Learned

What this month taught me:

This month reminded me that progress isn’t linear—and it rarely starts perfectly. Getting sick, being snowed in, and moving slower than planned didn’t mean I failed; it meant I was living real life.

I learned that small shifts matter. Swapping ice cream for cappuccinos. Looking for better recipes. Choosing to invest in tools that support my health. None of it was loud or dramatic, but all of it was intentional.

Most of all, this month taught me that grace and discipline can exist together. I don’t have to punish myself to change. I just have to keep choosing “day one” again and again.

Looking Ahead to Next Month

February – God’s Love & Grace

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.” — Lamentations 3:22–23

Health goals for the coming month:

• Buy the treadmill and actually use it.
 Not perfectly. Not every day. Just consistently enough to build the habit and make movement part of my routine.

• Cook more, cook better, cook cleaner.
 More meals at home using whole, simple ingredients—lean protein, vegetables, and foods that support how I want to feel.

Closing Thoughts

And just to say it out loud: getting sick, eating comfort food, and resting during a snowstorm is not moral failure—it’s being a person with a body. Health goals don’t disappear because January was messy. They just wait for you to come back with kindness.

Invitation

If you’re on a similar journey, I’d love to hear from you.
What worked for you this month? What are you struggling with?

© 2025 VikkiLynnSorensen. All Rights Reserved.