Lent in a different light

While flipping through radio stations recently, I heard an announcer mention that "all God-fearing Catholics are now celebrating Lent." I'm not Catholic, but celebrating Lent has been a tradition for me for years. As a child, I remember choosing something to "give up" during this time (maybe chocolate or soft drinks) in an effort to "focus more on God." I'm not sure if ever did make it the whole 40 days without that particular sweet treat. I never really took it seriously I guess, or never considered the meaning of Lent.












                                                                                                                                                  

Recently, I have read several things that have helped me to see Lent in a different light.

My friend Kathryn posted this, which is a great summary and challenge -

"A forty day spiritual preparation until Easter celebrated by self-examination and repentance, prayer and meditation on God's word. I've got my work cut out for me for sure, but its freeing to know what joy it can bring."

I enjoyed reading this blog post.

This site also highlights some questions for self-reflection and practical rituals/self-disciplines for Lent.

 

This year I want to focus on these two disciplines:

 

"9. Commit to 40 days of praying for your enemies. And I don’t mean ruminating over all they have done wrong and praying that they will change, but praying that they will be blessed, that they will find health and peace and grace, that they will come to know Jesus or experience the love of Christ more fully."

(That is going to be a challenge. It is not easy for me to love/forgive those who have been hurtful, just being honest. But, I guess a good start would be to pray for them.....)

"10. Get outside! Commit to spending at least 20 minutes a day outside – walking, meditating, taking pictures, journaling. The transition from winter to springtime provides so many beautiful, tangible reminders of the significance of hope and rebirth in the Christian faith."

(This is also a challenge just because it's hard to fit into my schedule, but maybe I can go for walks on my lunch break...)
I also want to be more intentional on having daily time in God's word during this season. Which unfortunately doesn't always have first-priority in my day,

but as Kathryn said, " I've got my work cut out for me for sure, but its freeing to know what joy it can bring."

Do you celebrate Lent? Any special traditions for this time of year?

Sarah visit

Sarah and I have been friends since college. I'm so thankful for her friendship, and that we've been able to stay in touch even as we've lived far far apart.

A few weekends ago, David and I went to visit her and her husband. Unfortunately this is the only picture we have from the weekend, but it was such a fun, refreshing weekend for us both.

While the boys played XBox and watched basketball, we watched I Love Lucy and Reba, ate chocolate and brownies, and had lots of girl talk. Fun stuff.

Thanks for the awesome weekend Sarah, and yay for being in the same state :)

Snow Shots

The snow didn't last very long. But I am loving these pictures David took.

Yellow eyebrows!

Snow at last!

Just when I had given up on getting any snow this year,
and yesterday was in the 60s,
and I posted lots of daffodils yesterday,

it snows. Nature is full of surprises.

It has been at least 2 years since I've seen snow, and it is just so beautiful. Makes me feel like a kid again watching it come down. This was the first time David (the photographer under the umbrella) has ever seen snow falling down.

Now, if only tomorrow could be a "snow day" with lots of sledding and hot chocolate...
I can hope, right?

the beauty of today

I recently got this Bible. And I really recommend it. The commentary is good. Direct, to the point, and so helpful, especially as I'm reading through Genesis which, on the surface level, doesn't always seem so applicable to my life.

But with the help of some commentary and a little thinking on my part, it doesn't take long to see that I am a lot more like Eve than I thought.

 There was one particular passage in the commentary that was like a punch in the stomach this past week.

Quoting from the Bible commentary,

"Eve was approached by Satan in the Garden of Eden, where she and Adam lived. He questioned her contentment. How could she be happy when she was not allowed to eat from one of the fruit trees? Satan helped Eve shift her focus from all that God had done and given to the one thing He had withheld. And Eve was willing to accept Satan's viewpoint without checking with God."

And so it hit me- that's exactly what I have been doing. Instead of focusing on all that God has done and given to me, I have been focusing on the things that He has withheld."

The Bible says time and time again to not be anxious, but to be thankful; be thankful for all that God has given us. And to not worry about tomorrow, because it will worry about itself. A dear friend reminded me just that today- to live in the here and now.

So I went for a walk to enjoy the here and the now of the signs of the beginning of spring. Sunlight shining through the branches. Green. and splashes of yellow daffodils. And so I'll try to focus on all I've been given, and the beauty of today.