The Season of Lent

Mardis Gras was yesterday which means today is Ash Wednesday.  But what does that mean?

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent.  Lent is the 40 days prior to Easter Sunday, excluding Sundays, when we as Christians are to be preparing their hearts with fasting and repentance, readying themselves for Easter.

I was reminded yesterday about how much we as a family do to prepare hearts for the birth of Jesus.  We do a lot during Advent, which means "coming".  We talk constantly about why baby Jesus came and the angels and the shepherds and the wise men.  We talk about how Mary must have felt when Gabriel came to her.  And how surprised Joseph must have been when the the same angel appears in his dream.  And how obedient they all were to the Lord.  There is an excitement surrounding Christmas.  And there should be.  Jesus's birth is exciting!  God's Son came to earth.  That is exciting!

But what are we doing to prepare ourselves for Easter?  Am I taking time to reflect again on why Jesus had to come to earth?  And what happened to him while he was on this earth?  And the role that I play in that?

This year I am committed to walking these next 6 weeks in reflection and repentance.  We are all very aware of the fact that we sin in my house.  We, as a family, will be intentional about discussing how our sins affected Jesus all those years ago, and how today we can live in the gift of grace and freedom!

I am also going to be joining the ladies at She Reads Truth.  They have written a daily devotion for Lent.  We will kick off the season at the Ash Wednesday worship service at our church tonight. 

Please consider joining me as we prepare our hearts and our minds for Easter.  A lot happened to Jesus in these next 6 weeks all those years ago.  Among them is the Supper when he admitted that one of his dearest friends would betray him and another would deny him.  He also begs God to choose another way for forgiveness, but also admitting that he is still willing to do his Father's Will.  He is arrested, beaten savagely, convicted of a crime that was never committed, mocked, and innocently nailed to a cross where he cried out to his Father, "Why have you forsaken me?"  Reflect on these things.  Remember - even though it's hard.  

And then rejoice as you celebrate the fact that Jesus is our Savior, and he Rose from the Grave.  He is Alive!