Lent Begins

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season for Christians. It is a time of preparation for the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am deeply moved when I focus on the passion of my Savior. I want to draw closer to Jesus in the coming weeks. To prepare, many give up some pleasure they enjoy frequently. Others set out to do something that gets them out of their comfort zones. For me, I enjoy a little bit of both.

When I think about giving up something I enjoy, I try to remember that Jesus gave up His heavenly home to come and be one of us. He did not hold onto His right to be God. He gave it all up so that He could take my place on the cross. Giving up my little guilty pleasure is really nothing compared to his sacrifice. Giving up something does not make me holy or give me salvation. Putting aside my enjoyments allows my mind to be free to sense God's presence as my ultimate pleasure.

Stepping out of my comfort zone is never easy. It, too, will not save me or make me holy. It serves to give me opportunity to be more Christ-like in my dealings with others. It makes me aware of others' struggles. It is then that I can understand what Jesus did to put Himself into my place.

Whatever I do or give up I want it to be lead of the Spirit of God. Through Him I can be sure that a change will be made in my heart.

Holy Spirit, fill me with Your wisdom. Take me to the place You want me to be. Lead me into the path that will draw me deeper into understanding the sacrifice of Jesus and the power of His resurrection in my life. Work in me to be alive in Christ. Thank You for being with me always.

Fast of Forty Days

Lent begins tomorrow, Ash Wednesday. It is a traditional time of fasting by Christians the forty days before Easter. For me, it has traditionally been a time of abstinence from poor choices and a voluntary conscious choice to exchange my bad habits for something good. It is a time for me to place God's desire for my life as a priority. Since I struggle in the physical that is where my focus lands during this time.

This year I again choose exercise! As a writer I spend hours sitting before the computer or my notepad or journal. I am not athletic and prefer not to sweat! A few years ago I started an exercise program that I enjoyed, but increasing my level of activity caused me some foot problems that stopped me from proceeding and since then I have fallen back into my old habit of minimal exercise. The next forty days will change that (I hope).

Exercise can be a wonderful tool to help me reflect on Jesus' suffering. His body was fully human and He felt pain just as I do. In my exercise time I plan to memorize scriptures. If you have any suggestions please let me know!

Exercise in this regard becomes a fast from procrastination and laziness, unhealthy behavior and not caring about the body God gave as a gift!

Father, God, You know the struggle within me as I make these plans. You know my fears, doubts and my hopes and commitment to learn from You, and honor Your gift of LIFE and my physical body! I depend on You to lead me and help me through these forty days. It is only by Your power that I can reach my goal. Thank You for being my life coach and my trainer!

Broken Lives

From the outside looking in we can mistakenly think that our neighbors or friends have it "All together. " We are not witnesses to everyones' heartache, trials and struggles. We perceive their lives as a finished puzzle with every piece in its proper place.

Do they see us the same way? Undoubtedly! Even if we share our failures they look longingly at the way we have handled them. We, too, have perpetuated the myth by embellishing the stories to show ourselves in the best light.

God sees the truth. He sees our hearts. He sees us in our darkest places. He sees broken lives and He offers Himself to bring healing.

It is to Him that our Lenten meditations should turn. Our healing and restoration depends on Him, not on ourselves. Once we begin the walk of faith we can lead others into the healing place.

My prayer today is that my brokenness will be transparent to others and My Lord Jesus will be revealed as my healer and restorer.

Live Out the Sorry

On my way home from dropping off my granddaughters from school, I listened to the end of a teaching program. I don't recall the Bible teachers' name but the program is Living on the Edge. He stated that in all our brokenness we must go to Jesus and tell Him we are sorry, and then we must "Live out our sorry."

Wonderful words! Live out my sorry! Don't do it again! Be different. Change what I need to change so that my "Sorry" becomes a new life!

Lent begins today and the traditional giving up of our vices does not always bring us a life walking closer to God. Could it be that Lent is about living out our sorry? We are broken. We can be sorry over and over for the wrong living that causes brokenness in us and in others. Today is the day to start living out our sorry!

The first step is to pray. All sin is against God first. Asking His forgiveness is the place to go first. Then we go to those whom we have harmed by our brokenness. From there God will guide our steps. One step at a time. One day at a time. All done in oneness with God, our friend, Savior, King, and Lord.

My prayer today is that the ashes of our brokenness be blown away by the Holy Spirit, to land in the nail scarred hands of our precious Savior and offered to our loving Creator Father for a re-creation in our lives.