Pastor’s Manna – Changing Seasons

Changing Seasons

Time is flying by us isn’t it? It seems like on Christmas morning, we just celebrated the birth of Jesus, and now we are finding ourselves preparing to enter Lent seven short weeks later.

Ash Wednesday (February 14, 2018), marks the beginning of Lent, a time when we reflect upon Jesus’s journey toward the cross, Lent appropriately ends with the celebration of His triumphant resurrection on Easter morning.

There are two primary ways that people adjust their lives during Lent in an effort to reflect upon Jesus’ journey to the cross.

First, many associate the time of Lent with giving up something, such as: chocolate, candy, soda, coffee, TV, or any number of things. This is not altogether a bad thing, but the second part of that is that we ought to be replacing those things we give up with something that glorifies God.

If you give up a food or drink, perhaps giving the money you would have spent on those items to the food pantry?

If you give up television or an activity, perhaps donating that time to some endeavor in the church?

Perhaps though, instead of giving something up, you simply add an additional endeavor into your life during Lent.

Donate special gifts to the Pantry;
Spend more time in our ministries at the church;
Spend time in the Bible, reading God’s word;
Join a small group Lenten study;
Or any number of other things you can do to draw nearer to God.

Whether you subtract something from your life, or add something, may this Lent be a time of journeying side by side with Jesus, and learning more and more about the love He has for us… Love that went all the way to the cross.

In Him,

Pastor Jon