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Click here and learn about LENT!

First, what is Lent? Lent is the forty-day period before Easter, not including Sundays.  The period of Lent signifies many things.  It is a time of fasting, prayer, alms-giving and general repentance.  Forty is a biblical number, but this forty relates to the time Jesus spent in the desert doing the same thing.  Jesus went into the desert to draw closer to God and move away from the world.  As Jesus did, we typically “give something up” during this time as well.  We do this to draw closer to our Lord.  In order to do this, we deny ourselves the physical pleasures of the world that we rely on every day and now turn to the One who truly provides for us…GOD!  Lent gives us a chance to focus on God and nurture the most important part of who we are…our spirit!

We start the journey with Ash Wednesday.  In the early church, way early, this day was used to mark the beginning of Lent.  On Ash Wednesday people would be adorned with the sign of the cross with ashes on their forehead.  The ash represents repentance and symbolized the fragility of our mortal bodies.  Job says to God: “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. The other eye wandereth of its own accord. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” We too acknowledge that we have strayed away from God and yearn to come back to His ways.  This day symbolizes our commitment to just that.  This day marks the commitment that we make to draw closer to God and God’s ways instead of our own.

So what do I do now? Well, that is a great question, because really it is up to you.  It is up to you to reflect upon who you are.  I talked last night about how Lent brings us in touch with our past.  That is so true.  Who were you?  What do you dislike about your behavior, conduct and way of life?  What are the things that you have done that have taken you further from God instead of closer?  We can learn from our past in order to be better disciples today.

When you take a good hard look at yourself then you will truly know what it is that you need to “give up” or LET DIE. Lent is a process of dying and being born again.  We will put to death many things in our life so that we might be born anew.  Things that help us to do that are fasting, prayer,repentance and giving.  The more we fast the more we lean not on our own appetite, but on the presence of God, which feeds us.  We put to death our appetites to bring to life our dependence on God.  The more we pray we lean not on our own abilities to do something, but we trust in God to nurture and sustain us.  We put to death our control and bring to life our faith in Christ.  The more we repent the more we understand who we are as sinners and know who God is as Holy.  We put to death our ego and bring to life the truth of a forgiving and holy God.  The more we give we deny the urge to please ourselves, but, instead, lift up others.  As we do this we put to death our selfish ways and bring to life a life of service and selflessness.

It can be an incredible process if you wish it to be.  It can be one where you will find peace, joy and a new life that is beyond words.  So take the journey.  Hear Christ call you.  Listen to the voice of God asking you to return to live a new and powerful life.  TAKE THE JOURNEY OF LENT TODAY!

In the Sanctuary! Join Us!

WOMEN OF THE WORD…meet WOMEN OF THE BIBLE!

There are so many great women of the Bible.  We are going to take a look at eight of them and how their lives can help us live ours.  From the good, to the bad, to the ugly, we will dive deep into our spiritual existence.  We will learn about God.  We will understand better what God wants from us.  This will be an eye opening experience as we laugh, learn and love together.  Bring a friend and hope to see you there.  The Bible Study starts at 6:30 p.m.  Park in the upper lot and come in the sanctuary doors.