New Season

…return to me with your whole heart. Joel 2:12

Happy Ash Wednesday!  As we begin this holy season of prayerfulness, our mission is to grow closer to God.  The goal of it all is to love a little harder and believe a little bigger!  The next 40 days are an opportunity to examine our habits and steer away from those that aren’t helping us become holier.  My big thought this Ash Wednesday morning is…don’t just give up something you will pick back up after Easter…make it count…make it result in a change of heart…make it something that changes us more into the person God made us to be.  Growing in trust, faith, hope and prayerfulness are the things that have come to me as I prayed about using this Lent well.  As I was praying about the HOW, I came across this little story that I thought I’d share.  Maybe it will help your heart prepare to follow Jesus more closely this Lent.

*Once all villagers decided to pray for rain. On the day of prayer, all the people gathered, but only one boy came with an umbrella.  That is faith.

*When you throw babies in the air, they laugh because they know you will catch them.  That is trust.

*Every night we go to bed without any assurance of being alive the next morning, but we still set alarms to wake up.  That is hope.

*We plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future.  That is confidence.

*We see the world suffering, but still, we get married and have children.  That is love.

*The sweet, cheerful 80 year old lady wears a t-shirt that says “I’m not 80, I’m sweet 16 with 64 years of experience.” That is positive perspective.

Lent is a time for change; change that makes us closer to Jesus.  Perspective is so important these next 40 days.  Let’s focus not so much on the change and sacrifice but on the grace that spills out as we use these days well.  Let’s focus on the great things that will change in our heart when we invite and allow the Father into our thoughts, lives and conversations.  Let’s focus on what our faithfulness will look like when we grow in trust, faith, hope and love.  Know of my prayers for all of you as we journey through the desert of these Lenten days toward the glory of the Resurrection.
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A Seed To Plant:  Instead of going back to the “Lent’s of old”, ask Jesus how he wants to draw you closer…give him permission to be in charge of your Lenten plans this year.
 
Blessings on your day and Happy Lent!