Lent

Lent. Forty days. Today marks the beginning of the Lenton season. A time of self-denial and preparation. It is defined as "a period of time leading up to Easter where Christians prepare themselves for Jesus' homecoming." It symbolizes the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert being tempted by Satan. But when you really think about it, the number 40 shows up many different times in the Bible...the number of days that it rained on Noah and the Ark, the amount of time Moses spent on Mt. Sinai, and the Hebrew people wandered for 40 years in search of the Promised Land.

Every year since high school, I have given up something for Lent. It has ranged from soft drinks to candy. I always have a hard time picking what to give up. It needs to be something I love. Something that is important to me. Something I think I can't live without. This year, I have decided to give up Facebook. When I think about it, I spend a good bit of time on the computer. Our preacher gave us a challenge. We are to read (or listen) to the entire New Testament during Lent, so I will be using my non-facebooking time to listen to the good word. Our church provided CD's of the entire New Testament for all who were up for the challenge.

If you have not ever participated in Lent, give it a try. It really helps you put the focus back on God and his excellent perfect plan.

The Calling

Our preacher had some powerful words for us today. What would you do if God asked you to change? Not just change your shirt, change everything about your life! Who you are, what you do, where you live, what you do with your money. I hope to think that if I felt God speaking to me, I would listen and follow him with excuses.

This made me think of our reading this week on The Journey. God asked Moses to do unthinkable things. Stand up to the King. Demand that his people be set free. Moses, like any other person, asked why me? He says "I have never been eloquent...I am slow of speech and tongue." God must have thought Excuses, Excuses but replied " Who gave the human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Is it not I, the Lord? ...I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." Moses did as the Lord asked. He trusted that the Lord's plan was the right plan for him. He may have had doubts, but he trusted God.

At the end of our service today, the preacher asked the congregation to come forward to receive a small wooden cross as a symbol of obedience. The preacher gave us a blessing " Deny your self, pick up your cross, and follow me."

Right now, I am at a crossroad. As the school year draws to a close, I am faced with interview season again. Will I find a job this year? Am I doing all I can do to glorify God in my current situation? What is my plan? Or I should say, what is God's plan? Am I ready for what is to come? Will I be willing to answer the call? Are you ready to answer God's call?

Thank you God

for beautiful southern sunsets
for lazy, perfect Saturday afternoons

for unseasonably warm weather

for family wagon rides

for all the things that you do to make our lives wonderful.

The Journey

Are you ready for an amazing journey? One that will surely change your life and the lives of those around you. I am excited to start The Journey today and pray that God will do great things as we walk through his word. Please join us...I'm sure it will be a fun, interesting ride!