Lent begins on Wednesday (so soon???).
I honestly thought it started the following week which would have suited me well because I know what I'm going to give up and now I have only 1.5 days to adjust.
My church doesn't celebrate or even acknowledge Lent. (I think they don't engage with Lent because it's not a Biblical mandate...just a church-created ritual...but so is Advent, which we participate in...so who knows???) Anyhow, I went to a Lutheran school from Kindergarten through 8th grade, where Lent was taught and encouraged. Just in case you'd like a little background...Lent is the 40 days prior to Easter...a season which begins on Ash Wednesday.
Ash Wednesday is a day when some churches offer a special church service with the focus of our sinfulness before a righteous God. Typically in those services, the priest or pastor puts ash on everyone's forehead, in the shape of a cross, to serve as a visible reminder of our sins and how only Jesus can make us "white as snow" again. I believe the expectation is to wear the ashen cross on your forehead for the whole day, as you go about your business, to work, school, out to dinner or even to the grocery store. Then it can serve as an opportunity to share the gospel when someone points out the dirt on your face. But my church doesn't offer Ash Wednesday services and plus I work when any of the local services are taking place.
The purpose of the Lent season is to prepare one's heart for the Passion Week: the week Palm Sunday, Passover/Good Friday, and Easter. It also serves as a reminder of our weakness and need for the Lord's salvation. This is (often) accomplished by people fasting from chocolate, sugar, coffee, coke, dining out, watching TV, or whatever else is a key part of one's live. Then as the person struggles with wanting to cave in (or if they actually do cave in), it reminds them that they are weak without the Lord and that only because of the Lord do we have strength and redemption of our sins.
I've heard (and read) some viewpoints that Lent doesn't necessarily need to be denying one's self but could instead be about giving unto the Lord, such as volunteering through the Lent time, reading a large section of the Bible, intentionally encouraging someone every day, etc...this idea works too, I think, because honestly, I think the struggle to persevere would still be there.
Anyhow, this year, having been inspired by Lauren Winner and her book Girl Meets God (a great book!), I am giving up all reading, outside of the Bible (and the Bible Study that I'm a part of). I have been on a bit of a reading craze lately so this is likely to hit hard AND I just started a new book, which I was hoping to finish by next week but seeing as I can't finish it by Wednesday, I think I'll just shelf it until after Easter. *Sigh* But with this self-denial of only reading the Bible, there must also be a goal for me to focus on otherwise I fear that I will just distract myself with TV/Movies, which would not really serve any purpose. I haven't figured out this part yet but will come to some conclusion by tomorrow night. I know I want to include Bible memorization, along with reading...anyhow, I have a day and half to prayerfully determine a plan.
What about you? Any Lenten plans? Does your church do anything special for this season?
Monday, February 20
Friday, February 17
A spectacular place
I found out this morning that this wonderful old man I know, died on Wednesday.
I know confidently that this saint of a man is walking with our Savior in Heaven, which then made me think of all the other saints who are also up there. Men and women who prayed devotedly. Who trusted deeply. Who loved greatly.
And I've concluded (again!) that Heaven will be a pretty great place.
"What a fellowship, what a Joy Divine!"
Thursday, February 16
Dear Advise Columnist--
Dear Advise Columnist--
I have a funny but very true story that I would love your counsel on. I help out, each Wednesday, at the Awana clubs at my church. I specifically work with the 3-6th grade girls...an often funny age group. Well, last week, this one girl (a 4th grader?) was flipping through her Bible and found "Song of Solomon." She showed me her open Bible and asked if that was a real song. When I saw what she was referring to, I told her that yes it had been a song when Solomon wrote it and was curious to see what would happen next. Well, she then began to start singing the words to her own little tune, all in silliness.
I really didn't want to make this into a big deal because it is a book in God's Holy Word after all and there's nothing shameful about what was is written but nor was I eager for her to start singing the more personal "descriptions" that are used in Song of Solomon, especially as I don't know what she's already be told by her parents. So, after a minute, I playfully grabbed the Bible from her hands (since technically she should have been doing something else anyways) making her laugh and scurry to find another Bible.
Thankfully by the time she found another Bible and found Song of Solomon again (which took her a small chunk of time), it was time for the entire group to move to the next part of the night. Sigh of relief! As soon as she left the room, I laughed over how funny and potentially awkward this all was and could have been.
But tell me Advise Columnist, did I do the right thing? Was there something different that I should have done instead?
Sincerely,
Someone who is not a parent!
I have a funny but very true story that I would love your counsel on. I help out, each Wednesday, at the Awana clubs at my church. I specifically work with the 3-6th grade girls...an often funny age group. Well, last week, this one girl (a 4th grader?) was flipping through her Bible and found "Song of Solomon." She showed me her open Bible and asked if that was a real song. When I saw what she was referring to, I told her that yes it had been a song when Solomon wrote it and was curious to see what would happen next. Well, she then began to start singing the words to her own little tune, all in silliness.
I really didn't want to make this into a big deal because it is a book in God's Holy Word after all and there's nothing shameful about what was is written but nor was I eager for her to start singing the more personal "descriptions" that are used in Song of Solomon, especially as I don't know what she's already be told by her parents. So, after a minute, I playfully grabbed the Bible from her hands (since technically she should have been doing something else anyways) making her laugh and scurry to find another Bible.
Thankfully by the time she found another Bible and found Song of Solomon again (which took her a small chunk of time), it was time for the entire group to move to the next part of the night. Sigh of relief! As soon as she left the room, I laughed over how funny and potentially awkward this all was and could have been.
But tell me Advise Columnist, did I do the right thing? Was there something different that I should have done instead?
Sincerely,
Someone who is not a parent!
Wednesday, February 15
Turning away
Slowly, with time,
cultivated over the months and even years
(as in my case)
the thing became an idol.
Feelings of eager desperation
a need to know or engage
led me to continually search out the idol
time and time again.
The idol is not bad
and did not seek to control my thoughts
It was I who willingly acted,
making it loftier than the Son.
Would today it offer a nugget
would today it satisfy my heart?
But often the anticipation felt
didn't match the reward.
Then God reached in and gently beckoned
to woo His bride's return.
My eyes opened, the idol was seen
as I humbly knew what to do.
The thing is still there, often on my mind.
A habit hard to break
But only the Lord deserves the high place
So prayerfully, I turn away.
cultivated over the months and even years
(as in my case)
the thing became an idol.
Feelings of eager desperation
a need to know or engage
led me to continually search out the idol
time and time again.
The idol is not bad
and did not seek to control my thoughts
It was I who willingly acted,
making it loftier than the Son.
Would today it offer a nugget
would today it satisfy my heart?
But often the anticipation felt
didn't match the reward.
Then God reached in and gently beckoned
to woo His bride's return.
My eyes opened, the idol was seen
as I humbly knew what to do.
The thing is still there, often on my mind.
A habit hard to break
But only the Lord deserves the high place
So prayerfully, I turn away.
Tuesday, February 14
Being single...and content
I was lent a book on Sunday.
My friend sat down, a bit nervously, and prefaced her offering by how she knows it can be weird when people suggest you read a book and you're left wondering why they had thought of you. I sat quietly smiling, trying to catch up on what she was saying and suddenly she handed me this book that she thought I might enjoy reading.
I smiled, quickly praying that this wasn't anything like "I Kissed Dating Goodbye," as I listened to her explain a bit about the author, who had been a professor of hers at Moody Bible Institute. Based on what she shared, I was a bit intrigued and told her I'd probably start reading that afternoon.
This book charts the autobiographical story of how Bill and his wife met and how their relationship developed over six years before their wedding day. Intertwined in their story are the lessons that they have learned and the things they have counseled the singles who have come into their life.
All in all, it ended up being a very good. A short 129 pages, I read all but the last three chapters that afternoon before running out to my next activity. It was so good that I went onto Amazon yesterday and purchased 4 copies so that I can nervously sit down beside some of my friends to say "here, I think you should read this." It confirmed my own thoughts and how God has worked in my life, actually since high school days, but most specifically within the last year.
It can be hard to be content at time when you're single...when most of your friends find their Beloved get married and have kids...when holidays, such as today, or birthdays remind you that another year has gone by and your Beloved still isn't on your radar...when you think about the future and wonder how many weeks, months, or years you might be alone. But can you trust God to lovingly take care of you and to understand your tears for the next moment? For the next hour? For the rest of the day? Has He not proven Himself faithfully by your side over the last how many years? It is in this that contentment can bloom.
A trustworthy God in the past
A moment of trust for the present
Assured confidence for the future
And in the contentment that grows, comes the excited opportunities to serve God and know God with an undivided heart. And that is what I want.
(**This is not to say that there aren't still hard emotional lonely moments, even when you are mostly content in your singleness. But when you are mostly content, I am learning that even in those pain-filled moments, it is easier for me to still trust God, to look to Him, and pour out my pain, confident that He cares.)
My friend sat down, a bit nervously, and prefaced her offering by how she knows it can be weird when people suggest you read a book and you're left wondering why they had thought of you. I sat quietly smiling, trying to catch up on what she was saying and suddenly she handed me this book that she thought I might enjoy reading.
"Believing God for His Best: How to Marry Contentment and Singleness" by Bill Thrasher
I smiled, quickly praying that this wasn't anything like "I Kissed Dating Goodbye," as I listened to her explain a bit about the author, who had been a professor of hers at Moody Bible Institute. Based on what she shared, I was a bit intrigued and told her I'd probably start reading that afternoon.
This book charts the autobiographical story of how Bill and his wife met and how their relationship developed over six years before their wedding day. Intertwined in their story are the lessons that they have learned and the things they have counseled the singles who have come into their life.
All in all, it ended up being a very good. A short 129 pages, I read all but the last three chapters that afternoon before running out to my next activity. It was so good that I went onto Amazon yesterday and purchased 4 copies so that I can nervously sit down beside some of my friends to say "here, I think you should read this." It confirmed my own thoughts and how God has worked in my life, actually since high school days, but most specifically within the last year.
It can be hard to be content at time when you're single...when most of your friends find their Beloved get married and have kids...when holidays, such as today, or birthdays remind you that another year has gone by and your Beloved still isn't on your radar...when you think about the future and wonder how many weeks, months, or years you might be alone. But can you trust God to lovingly take care of you and to understand your tears for the next moment? For the next hour? For the rest of the day? Has He not proven Himself faithfully by your side over the last how many years? It is in this that contentment can bloom.
A trustworthy God in the past
A moment of trust for the present
Assured confidence for the future
And in the contentment that grows, comes the excited opportunities to serve God and know God with an undivided heart. And that is what I want.
(**This is not to say that there aren't still hard emotional lonely moments, even when you are mostly content in your singleness. But when you are mostly content, I am learning that even in those pain-filled moments, it is easier for me to still trust God, to look to Him, and pour out my pain, confident that He cares.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)