Today is ASH WEDNESDAY, which marks the beginning of the Lent season. WHAT IS LENT? Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, which means spring The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry. Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent was a time to prepare new converts for baptism. Today, Christians focus on their relationship with God, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of themselves for others. HOW CAN IT RELATE TO ME? Lent is a great time to repent -- to return to God and re-focus our lives to be more in line with Jesus. Its a 40 day trial run in changing your lifestyle and letting God change your heart. You might try one of these practices for Lent: FASTING: Some people have been known to go without food for days. But thats not the only way to fast. You can fast by cutting out some of the things in your life that distract you from God. Some Christians use the whole 40 days to fast from candy, tv, soft drinks, cigarettes or meat as a way to purify their bodies and lives. You might skip one meal a day and use that time to pray instead. Or you can give up some activity like worry or reality tv to spend time outside enjoying Gods creation. What do you need to let go of or fast from in order to focus on God? What clutters your calendar and life? How can you simplify your life in terms of what you eat, wear or do? SERVICE: Some Christians take something on for Christ. You can collect food for the needy, volunteer once a week to tutor children, or work for reform and justice in your community. You can commit to help a different stranger, co-worker or friend everyday of Lent. Serving others is one way we serve God. PRAYER: Christians also use Lent as a time of intentional prayer. You can pray while you walk, create music or art as a prayer to God, or savour a time of quiet listening. All can be ways of becoming more in tune with God. THINGS YOU CAN TRY FOR THE LENTEN SEASON 1. Try an electronic fast. Give up TV, chatting, texting, tweeting, e-mail and all things electronic for one day every week. (or everyday of Lent!) Use the time to read & pray. 2. Read one chapter in the Bible each day. (Matthews a good book to start with. Psalms, too.) 3. Forgive someone who doesnt deserve it (maybe even yourself) 4. Give up soft drinks, fast food, tea or coffee. Give the money you save to help needy folks and/or disaster relief funds. 5. Cultivate a life of gratitude. Write someone a thank you letter each week and be aware of how many people have helped you along the way. 6. Be kind to someone each day. 7. Pray for others you see as you walk to and from classes, or drive to and from school/tuition. Christians from many different traditions celebrate Lent. How will you use the time to grow closer to God? :)
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 02:21:52 +0000
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