In the past few days, I've come across some wonderful ideas and thoughts about celebrating Lent. In light of the secret place, my husband and I have decided to include a few Lenten practices in our life, truly a step out of our traditional evangelical norm.
Why? Because I sense God's timing of the trial in our life coinciding with the remembrance of the Lord's journey to the cross as more than a coincidence. It is a God-incident, calling us to prayer, fasting, forgiveness, humility, compassion, and love -- all things that are not necessarily a willing part of our own flesh but practices good for the soul.
Not only that, but I passionately want to see our children feel comfortable walking through the repentant life, comfortable with seeking the Lord not for things but for forgiveness. We're great at prayer for the biggies and thanks for the blessings, but confessing our sin together has been absent. Seriously, who likes to confess sin to one another! Yet God calls us to it...
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
...and promises healing as a result! So we want our children -- we want us, grown sinners needing God's forgiveness -- to be able to open our mouths not only in praise but in humble repentance.
This time of Lent seems as good as any other to begin that process:
- Ann, at The Holy Experience, has provided a simple way to incorporate the practice of repentance in our homes and routines.
- Alanna shares a simple way to slow down and wait for Easter through Lenten Grass.
- My friend Emily shared a hymn celebrated during their Ash Wednesday service, still appropriate for reflection.
- Reading The Jesus Storybook Bible with my little ones will definitely bring pause and reflection, as they study the unusually beautiful illustrations and we think on the newness of the stories from God's Word.
- Fasting...from the things the Lord calls each one of us to sacrifice in memory of His greatest sacrifice on the cross for us.
I'm sure there are many more ways to celebrate Lent!
If you have a suggestion, please do leave a link below to a post at your blog (feel free to grab the button) and let us know how you slow down to experience the journey of the cross and the power of forgiveness. If you don't blog, just leave a comment below and share your thoughts with us!
This is just one more way for us to live intentionally together, in the blogosphere and in our homes.
By His Grace and Mighty Power,
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3 Comments:
Thanks so much for the beautiful button for our sidebar. I've got it on my blog! :) And, sorry I posted 3 separate links, but all my Lent resources were in separate posts on my blog. :)
I haven't blogged about this, really, but I got this email from Thomas Nelson--they are offering a Lenten email each day. I liked the first two:) You can sign up here:
http://www.66loveletters.cgrantandcompany.com/
The youth pastor's wife at our church was spending some time with my 15 yr old this week and as they crafted, she shared that she is setting aside all Facebook use for Lent. She even had her husband change her password to help her be accountable. Little did she know that she was challenging my daughter who was recognizing how the demands of several peers were becoming an encumbrance and pressure on her life, time, and thoughts. So she decided to set aside/give up all texting during Lent. She felt an immediate joy and sense of relief. One of her friends has been rather difficult and even said she'll keep texting her ... but this is a precious lesson in "choosing quiet" and "choosing to create space" in life that will allow her to think more about Jesus who came for the world and less about the world.
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I'm so glad you decided to leave a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'd also love to follow up with you, so be sure to leave your email address or a link to your blog! If you'd like to contact me directly, just pop an email to Lisa at extragrace at gmail dot com.
Blessings, extravagantly,
Lisa