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 The Lenten Season
The season of Lent is the 40 days before Easter, not counting Sundays. Since Easter is not the same day each year, Lent begins at different times as well. Lent always begins with Ash Wednesday, which is February 22nd this year. There is a wide variety of ways the Christian community celebrates Lent. It is usually marked by oppor-tunities to reflect on our lives and our relationship with Jesus.
The practice of giving something up for Lent is common. When we miss something we have given up it is to be a reminder to reach out to God in Jesus Christ. This will strengthen our relationship with the Risen Lord. People often give up something good or fun such as pie or a favorite TV show. Our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters often give up all meats except fish on Fridays.
Instead of giving something up, I might suggest that we think about a habit we would like to establish in our lives. Perhaps the regular spiritual disciplines of bible study, prayer, worship, or fasting on a regular basis. They say doing something for six weeks can form a new habit!!! However you choose to celebrate Lent this year, I pray it will help establish a pattern of reaching out to God. When we do, we find He has been reaching out to us all along.
We read in James 4:8, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
Blessings,
Pastor John
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