Lent
On Sunday the challenge was made. How will you respond?
Genesis 3:19 (page 4 in the Renovatus black Bible) says, "You were made from
dust and to dust you shall return."
Ash Wednesday starts the Lenten season by reminding its participants that they are dust. Or as the band Kansas put it, "all we are is dust in the wind". By fasting for 40 days we are to be reminded of our great need of a saviour. We are dust. There are 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter, six of those days are Sundays. In tradition Sunday's were exempt from fasting because they were the days when we celebrated the Lord, our saviour. We are dust...but...
2 Corinthians 5:17 (696) says, "...anyone who belongs to Christ has become aWe are dust, but have been given life! For the next 46 (minus 6 Sundays) days what will you fast from? Share with the community anonymously or sign in with your name, what you will give up in order to be reminded of your need for Jesus.
new creation. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"
And for those of you who are really dangerous: what will you replace it with in order to live more authentically for Christ?
32 comments:
God's been doing a lot to get my full attention lately! I do not deny myself when it comes to sweets! Chocolate calls my name! Is there something weird about eating chocolate frosted doughnuts with a diet coke? Lent, for Kevin, is going to be about laying off the cookies, brownies, candy, doughnuts; no desserts!
I'm still praying about what I should fast from for Lent. God has hit me with a Holy 2x4 over the last few months and the things that have gone really really right have been answers to prayers. I know there is something in my life right now that God wants me to replace with Him, so I've got my ears open!
This is a tough one. Every year I've practiced lent I have the hardest time trying to pick out which thing I'll go without.
I've decided that I'm going to go without unpurposeful web browsing. In that I'm not just going to surf the web (which I always find time to do even in a busy schedule). I'll still write on my blog, I'll still do research when I need to online, but I won't just waste time on it.
And then I'd like to add in prayer time every day. I love writing down my prayers in a journal, but I never do it. I'd like to add that in and hopefully build a habit that will last longer than 40/46 days.
Giving it up....so many things to chose from. The new luxury of Directv? No, my kids would skin me. My cell phone? Naw, considering that 85.4% of my support network is outside of Oregon...coffee? Don't drink it, so that's not really a sacrifice. Eating out? Refer to answer 1. Senseless snacking...Ahh, there it is. I work at a desk, all day, and tend to pander to "it's there, so I'll eat it." Not so good. Granted, I need to eat. But for the set aside time, the snacking will be limited only to carrots, veggies, etc. No chips, pretzels (!!!) or other delicious carbs to fill me up. And, my plan is to replace it with good (you saw the carrots thing, right?!?) but to also replace the void with a chat with God, about why I'm not eating it and how really He is the one to satisfy. Maybe next year, I could really go for gold and give up gum...Yeah, that's a little amitious for me right now.
Whatcha think?
I didn't need to think too much about this one. and as soon as I state it my friends will know how incredibly hard it will be for me to observe it so allow me to apologize if I get weak and start whining, I know it's taxing to see me be a crybaby and I will try hard not to but.... I'm giving up mcmenamins for 46 days. that's right, no terminators, no tater tots and no cheap movies. so please forgive me if I get grumpy from time to time. I will try very hard to rejoice in my hardship but I am human.
Wednesday right? I've got until Wednesday to make my decision. Ryan, I really liked the "unpurposeful web browsing" because I am guilty of that bad habit myself... In the meanwhile I'm going to meditate on it some and pray. I'll be back.(Tre)
Yeah, wait a second, it's not 'till Wednesday! That means I can web surf all I want for another whole day! I didn't even realize. I've totally got fat tuesday to live it up. uefa.com here I come.
Well...I think I have finally come to a decision of what I am going to fast from in observance of lent (with hopes that the discipline and obedience will stick with me long after Easter,) -No more reading of trashy celebrity magazines while working out @ the gym, no watching of MTV, VH1, or the entertainment channel.- I've noticed that I find comfort in scanning through the t.v. channels late at night and watching shows that are about celebrities/false idols. I'm put into an almost "trance-like-state" while watching clips of celebrities being stupid, and reading all about what's happening in their lives. This is pathetic, and I know it. I feel this would be an opportunity to find comfort in time with God,instead of in worldly things. -MaryBeth
Since Sunday I have been pondering the Lent (lint?) thing. I've considered giving up my weekly bath . . . naw, cause I don't want to give up my friends. I could give up Lost, but then Patty would have to watch it alone. I could give up procrastination. Hey, wait a minute. I've got til Wednesday to figure this out, I think I'll check back in a little later . . .RK
All you guys out there will think this a weird. I just ask you to consider the source. I am going to give up my hot flash herbal stuff that I take. With out it I will be a flasher, not pleasant. I will replace it with a Dr. Pepper, no, wait that's not true..I will replace it with prayer. And not a prayer to get through the flash.
I think that it is important not to give up too much. Last year I tried giving up red meat, white flour, and sugar (except in coffee). What I didn't realize is that is about 90% of my diet.
This year I'm giving up giving things up. Mama didn't raise no quitter.
Seriously, I'm giving up eating after 9:00 PM. I realize that it's not a big deal for most people because they go to bed at like 10, but I stay up in the wee hours.
I found this list on line and loved it; maybe you will, too!
+ Give up bitterness; turn to forgiveness.
+ Give up hatred; return good for evil.
+ Give up negativism; be positive.
+ Give up complaining; be grateful.
+ Give up pessimism; be an optimist.
+ Give up harsh judgments; think kindly thoughts.
+ Give up worry; trust divine providence.
+ Give up discouragement; be full of hope.
+ Give up anger; be more patient.
+ Give up pettiness; be more mature.
+ Give up gloom; enjoy the beauty around you.
+ Give up jealousy; pray for trust.
+ Give up gossiping; control your words.
+ Give up sin; turn to virtue.
I have decided to give up listening to the radio or CD's while driving in my truck. Now, to many this may not seem like anything big. But believe me, 40 days without Delirious or Rich Mullins or Big Daddy Weave will not be easy for me. I love my music. I will use the newly available quiet time for praying and meditating -- with my eyes open of course. RK
I, too,am going to give up sugar. Not just desserts but anything with extreme amounts of sugar, because that's what I crave. If I couldn't have chocolate, I would drink a pop. If I couldn't have a cookie, I'd have a bowl of Coco Pebbles... Thus my problem. I tried to invest in lots of fruit. Natural sugar = okay in my book!
Day One
Wow, it would really help for me to use my actual blog for this. Maybe I'll work it out. At any rate, today (well, actually last night) I gave up carb-filled snacks. And what happened this morning at work? My deskmate made a big, scrumptious bag of kettle corn to share with us. Sigh. I just turned down one of my favorites. I did bring in my baby carrots, though. Not quite the same.
This will be a challenge.
I found myself feeling sad last night as I watched those in downtown Portland reveling on "Fat Tuesday." (That the day BEFORE the disciplines of Ash Wednesdays, so folks INDULGE themselves in everything!) It's as foolish as gorging yourself just prior to a time of fasting! Something in me says, "That diminishes the whole point of the fast!" And then ... I woke up this morning and realized, "Uh-oh! I should have eaten up the rest of the brownies last night ... and the Oreos ... and Julie's leftover dessert from Sunday night's Renovatus 101!" I am surrounded by snacks! It's all over the place! Sugary cereals! Pasteries at Panera! Scones at Starbucks! I went to a luncheon today and they offered cookies for dessert, and placed a bowl of candy bars on each table! Chocolate candy bars! On every table! Free!
"Then the devil said to Him, 'If you are the Son of God, change this stone into a Snicker bar.' But Jesus told him, 'No! The Scriptures say, 'People need more than chocolate for their life.''" Luke 4:3-4 (page 616).
This Lent is a first for me. I've done Passover before and allowed that time to be a time of reflection/cleansing, etc. But 46 days of purposefully giving something up? That's a new one. I'm joing Supafly in giving up nighttime snacking-- no food after 8 p.m. for me. Does it mean I've missed the point if I'm shoveling ice cream in my mouth at 7:59? I have a feeling God and I will get a lot of talking in at 3 in the morning when I wake up hungry.
Give us more direction. When you give something up, what are you replacing it with?
Reflection---
Talk about a replacement and surge in conviction.
I have thus far been successful, to day 3, on my Lenten observance. On Wednesday, a coworker made a bag of kettle corn, which was entirely NOT fair. But I turned it down, not mentioning why.
I got to thinking about that. Why didn't I say why I turned down the kinda sweet, kinda salty goodness? Answer? I'm a coward. Yep, I'm a big fat scared baby. My friends and coworkers for the most part know I am a Christian, but I was afraid of the ridicule or lack of understanding for this particular choice, especially as I am not Catholic or Orthodox.
Another opportunity presented itself yesterday (Thursday, day 2). I was in my manager's office, and she offered me some Wheat Thins. I declined, again not saying why. But in a burst of courage, I then gave a mini-explanation of this radical observance of an event not associated with my church I and a few others are doing, just for the benefit of the relationship with God, each other, and within ourselves. At first, she was a little confused. But then, she closed the box of crackers and set them aside. Now, I know she's not joining the bandwagon (after all, she's a practicing Jew) but I know it did get her thinking, and gave me that moment to share my faith at work. Who said separation of Church and State had to mean separation of State Employees from Church?
Thanks, God. That one was all You.
I have been blessed by silence! In the moments of solitude behind the wheel, I have had some great conversations with the God of the Universe. It is so amazing that He cares about what I have to say and how I am feeling, but He does. And I can hear Him speaking to me in echoes of Scripture and revelations of Truth.
My truck has a great sound system; the bass is incredible with mid and high to match, but to set aside my love of music, even Christian music, has been good, very good!
I've had to go the route of legalism 'round here. What really constitutes "purposeful web browsing"? I mean if I try I can find purpose in most anything online...well, thats a stretch, but you know what I mean. So I have kind of had to draw some more strict guidlines so I don't just waste my time purposefully surfing the web.
The results, however, have been great. I've been able to journal every day, writing my prayers to God. It has been so very beneficial so far, though slightly painful.
The discipline, for me, has been great. And God has been merciful in virtually taking away cravings for sweets (although today after lunch with Troy, I was half-way through my fortune cookie before I realized it was a COOKIE! I don't even LIKE fortune cookies!) At Day Six, I am blessed by the discipline ... but I do want to work on that "replacement" thing!
Next Question: How have you been changed; How are you blessed?
I think I have been doing quite well at not tuning in to anything celebrity (I have even been turning the prime-time news when they go into junk about Britney Spears and Anna Nichole.) However, I have been under serious attack! It's a little funny to me actually. The gym we go to has not had any new trashy celeb magazines out in months, and I'm not kidding you, the day after deciding what my sacrifice would be.... a stack of new mags were brought in!! And while I was doing math homework, really really struggling with the equations, I could hear Entertainment Tonight in the other room, so I got up and turned it off. I sat back down to my math, and it was at that moment when I felt more relaxed and started getting the correct answers. This may sound a little goofy, but I was just about to tears over my frustration with these math problems! I talked to God during this time and thanked him. I said, "God, I think that right now you are showing me that if I do something for you, you'll do something for me" :-) This week has not been perfect though. I've been suckered into some celebrityism. It's EVERYWHERE!!
Some people have called me a celebrity in the past...I'm not sure that has to do with anything but I thought it important to share.
My peace I give you all.
ryan
kaydub asked, "how we've been changed, how have we been blessed?"
Those are both fair questions. Personally, I've been changed in that I've been more mindful of prayer -- and it hasn't just been while I've been behind the wheel. Conversations that begin behind the wheel continue throughout the day. Being in communication with our God is the biggest blessing I can think of.
Is anyone else discovering that discipline comes a bit more easily in other areas of life? God is definitely supplying me more-than-normal self-discipline in a variety of arenas! What a God!
Kevin has asked me to share my interesting Lent story with you all, so here it is:
I gave up drinking coffee for lent, and every time I REALLY consider going and getting some, I make a tally mark on a post-it in my purse. At the end of lent, I am
going to pick a charity and give $3 for every tally mark I have (about the cost of a drink for me). I can tell that this is going to be a challenge for me, because coffee is my biggest addiction, but I know that this time will also be one of spiritual growth for me, and that makes me more than glad to give up my white mochas. As far as blessing goes, last week a friend of mine
got in trouble for being in what looked like an inappropriate situation with a few friends. In reality it wasn't really true, but with a school of only 700 people where rumors spread like wildfire, things can really get blwon out of proportion. I, regretfully, was the sole witness to what happened, and I told all three people that were involved that I would give my side of the story for clarification if they needed it. These three people were willing to bend their story just a little bit to help keep them out of trouble, and they wanted me too as well. I knew that I couldn't do this. I couldn't lie to the principal, but I also couldn't bear to think about how angry my friend would be when she found out what I said. So I told the truth, plain and simple. After my half hour in the office, though, I was still worried that my friend would be angry with me and never speak to me again. I cannot tell you the agony I felt imagining what would happen when I saw her later that day. I talked to a few other people about it, and a guy who I consider one of my best friends said some pretty hurtful things to me about how I would never get anywhere in life if
I couldn't learn to lie. This strange person caught me off guard. The guy I thought I knew would never say something like this to a friend, especially me. I left the room and haven't talked to him since. I don't know when I will be able to forgive him. Later that day, when I saw my friend again, she looked like she had been crying for the last hour. I asked her. She had. We talked about our visits with the assistant principal, Hockinson's much scarier version of Mr. Clean,
and I told her that I had told the truth. "It's OK, Hope. So did I." I was so relieved! She had chosen to be the bigger person and fess up to the silly mistake she made!
I was so proud of her, and she told me that she was not mad at me. I spent most of the day in the empty counselor's office with her, because she was extremely upset and afraid to tell her parents that she was suspended. We talked it all out, and all of a sudden, my slightly immature best friend
turned into this responsible, mature person I'd never seen in her. She told me that she understood that this was her mistake, and that she was going to
take the punishment she deserved. She was still afraid to tell her parents, but she knew that it would help repair her and her mom's broken relationship. I found out soon after that it did. This was kind of a wake up call for her parents, whose lives focus around my friend's three brothers
and their non-stop baseball and basketball schedules, so much so that she is practically ignored at home. My friend says that she can now tell her mom anything, and that they talk a lot more than they ever had because of this. Her parents are angry, but they understand that this was a one-time little
mistake that she is really taking the responsibility for, and they are proud of her for that as much as I am. So this week has been really stressful, but I feel like all the crazy nonsense has really been a blessing in disguise. I
was able to stand up for my beliefs, which is harder than the movies make it look, and my best friend got to begin a new relationship with her mother.
Yes, I lost a friend on the way, but this also is a blessing, because now I know who my true friends are. I am so thankful to God that he gave me this
last week, and I know that my commitment to give one of my biggest weaknesses to God during Lent has been the source of all of it. I hope everyone's next few weeks leading up to Easter are filled with as many
blessings as my first week has been. God Bless you all!
Hope,
Thank you for sharing your amazing story. I suppose I shouldn't say 'amazing' -- I expect no less out of you than the way you carried yourself. It seems you've been to the 'proving ground' of friendships this week.
~Roy
PS - Zoi missed you last Sunday! we did too.
Day 27
Wow! Just 20 days left! How are we all doing on this?
Bother! I should have never bragged about how easy it's been for me skip desserts! I got blind-sided! Robyn gives me a hug every Sunday ... except last week! Last week she was being a pill and so I was equally ornery. All morning long we played and teased each other. It was playful and fun. I never did get a hug, but I got the last word! As she was leaving, Robyn said, "Hey Kevin, look what I have!" She opens a paper sack to disclose a bag full of doughnut holes. With hands like lightning I snatched a powder-sugar-covered pastery from the Robyn-sack and with the same speed popped it into my mouth! She was stunned! I was smug. She was shocked. I gloated proudly. It was glorious ... for forty-five minutes. That's when I remembered my lenton commitment. I've managed to even avoid my own birthday cake, and brownies baked by the kid next-door, but totally blew it at church!
How exciting to know we've almost made it. What a sacrifice...anyone else been feeling it?
I didn't do as much as I had hoped i would during this time...but all in all it was a good spiritual excersize for me.
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