Preparing for the church season of Lent

To begin with I am not Catholic....  There is a large Catholic community here that observe this season.  I have been asked the question for many years about what I would be giving up for the season so that started my journey to know more about Lent.

I am a protestant pastor's wife in the Southern Baptist tradition.

We don't do Lent in the traditional manner with Ash Wednesday and fish on Fridays and such.  Lent is something I came to terms with as an adult so I don't tend to be traditional in my approach.  I don't celebrate or observe it out of any obligation but more out of a respect for how it can focus our thoughts on the coming Resurrection Sunday observance.  It is the biggest day in the Christian list of observed holidays.  

Some years I give something up and some years I add a new habit or goal to work through.  I am currently reading the Bible through again this year in the NASB translation.  I have completed Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and will complete Deuteronomy by the second week of March.  I decided on a list of three things this year that I will focus on.

Over the forty days of Lent I will...

1.  Give up clutter  

I am taking the challenge of 40 Bags in 40 Days and will be cleaning and clearing my home of one bag of trash, giveaway or donate items, or boxes of books per day.

2.  Read a book per week 

chosen from this stack of books.... I am starting with the Prayer 101 by Warren Weirsbe.

3.   Focus on healthier eating

trying some new recipes each week and working through some new menu planning to get back on track with my eating.  I am moving back toward a more paleo way of eating... with the exception of potatoes and rice and maybe the odd bowl of granola from time to time.  

I have added a daily green smoothie to the morning routine.  

I have reestablished my nutritional supplement routine, too.

Lent begins...

My focus this year has been working with my hands and leading a quiet life of faith.  As we begin the 2014 Lenten season I am imposing some things upon my days. 

*  My morning reading will be similar to what I normally do with the addition of a book each morning and an added Lenten reading.  I have been working through the Intentional Focus study with the Good Morning Girls and it ends in about 8 days so I will be replacing that with a book on Holiness.  I am reading Restless by Jennie Allen and working online through their book study videos and activities.  I am also reading through the book of John with the IF:Equip group (also hosted by Jennie Allen and friends).  

* I am going to be walking each day.  The duration and length will vary but some kind of walk to clear my mind each day.

*  I am incorporating a modified Daniel Fast which will include eggs and herbal teas with the traditional Daniel Fast.  Sundays will be a day I can eat meat but still no caffeine or sugar.  I am doing this for the aspect of prayerful seeking as well as finding some answers and relief from the Lupus symptoms that are a bit out of control lately.

* I will be cleaning and purging the house over the next 6 weeks.  Bags and boxes and trash will all be leaving the house as I make a simpler more clutter free home for my family.

* I will be limiting my time online.  I am not sure how this plays out yet but I will not be online first thing in the mornings and will be turning the internet off on my phone.  I will only check e-mail and texts and anything else will have to be done during my limited computer usage.  I shared an article this morning on my Facebook called The Input Monster...  about the distraction of technology and the timing on seeing that was certainly perfect.  Input will include thoughtful music, less movies and television stuff and much more reading time and quiet time.

* Lastly, there will be handiwork projects.... still working on a plan for those but there will be gardening, crochet and sewing, and baking and such.  

So, that is it.... what are you doing for Lent?  I would love to hear from you!  :)

Lenten Season for 2014

First and foremost a relationship with God is not about rules and regulations.  It is a relationship... and like any good relationship we are constantly learning more and more about each other and spending time together.  The ways we learn more about God are through studying the Word He gave us and during time in prayer and meditation on His word and ways.

Lent is a focused time... over 40 days... for us to focus on God and how He is speaking to us.  It is a time, if you so choose, to set aside things that distract us to bring a deeper focus to the relationship that God calls us to with Him.  I am typically not one for "giving up stuff" for Lent but I am all about doing things to focus my spiritual eyes and to pray with much focus on some aspects of my walk and life with Christ.

As I said before, it is not about rules and regulations but, for me, I need to impose some personal limits and goals that help me to accomplish the task of setting my mind and focus on Him.  Lent looks different for each person just like our personal journey with Christ looks different for everyone.  We all encounter different trials and tribulations along the way and have different lessons to learn from those around us.  I am praying as I move into this season of Lent that God will guide me into a deeper walk and I am praying for some very specific things in my prayer time.

I am putting some links that I am reading through over the next few days below.  I share these in case anyone else might be interested in such things so if this is helpful I would love to hear from you that it is.

The Meaning of Lent

Ken Collins on Lent

How Lent Can Make a Difference in Your Relationship With God

The Confused Protestant's Guide to Lent

The Church Year site - Lent

Some Devotional Sites...

BrightSadness Lent readings

High Calling Downloadable Lent Guide

Devotions for Lent - I have this one on my Nook and it is downloadable from Amazon, too.  It is a nice read.

Lenten Lights by John Piper

The Village Church Lenten Guide - this is a pdf file

Shrove Tuesday is this coming Tuesday with Ash Wednesday to follow and then the season is upon us.  If you are joining in I would love to hear what you are doing for your season.


UPDATED:  There is a bit of overlap but this is my link post from last year just for more references...