The Art of Lent

For so many years, I misunderstood what the actual purpose of Lent was. I did the traditional things that I was taught because I was taught to do them, not entirely because I knew why. It wasn't until I was at least 30 that I had a grasp of why and I'm really still learning. So this blog post is going to be about what I know and believe to be true about the time of Lent.

Entering into a time of prayer, fasting, or whatever you chose to diminish for the time period of 40 days- has to be done with intent and for the right reason. If you choose to give up something it should be something that is truly hindering your walk with Christ. The season of Lent's purpose of fasting and abstinence is meant to draw you closer to the Lord, not just a way to lose a few pounds.

Now, I have given up things like Facebook and Starbucks in the past. If you know me at all, you know I'm a sucker for scrolling down the News Feed that is the time-suck called Facebook or that I can't refuse a Chai Tea Latte. For me, at the time, these things were prevalent enough to me and were distracting me from honoring God with my time and my money.

Now, in the past few years, I've changed my mentality as not one of what I am taking or sacrificing, but adding something that will replace my old worldly habits and turn them into more Christ like habits. This year, to be honest, Lent snuck up on me. I wasn't quite prepared as I have been to choose what habits I would add during this time. To  be honest, I felt like I had been changing my habits and mindset for quite a while, so honing in on one, well, that was tough.

Probably, the greatest thing that I still have a hard time surrendering is my finances. It's hard to not think that about how my dollar is going to last during this lean year. Yet, it has. So, in an attempt to change my view of my finances- I've taken on a attitude of poverty. My focus is simply this: that every time that I wonder or try understand how God is going to provide for me- I remind myself that I have everything that I need. Sure, I'd like that new dress or a new pair of boots- but do I need them? Is having those things going to bring me closer to Christ? I'm not going to lie- it has been difficult, but it is amazing to see what you do have, when you stop focusing on what you don't.

I've also decided to add in a reading of the New Testament during these 46 days and yes, I'm already behind, but I know God honors my efforts and graces me with a new day to begin again.

So, no matter what you have chosen to give up, sacrifice, or add- I pray that it draws you closer to the one who added Himself to this earth to be sacrificed for us all.

Protecting Your Path

Since moving back home last July, I took a break from the church searching- just attending sporadically. God fed me spiritually despite my lack of interest in being spiritually fed. I think that I just spent so much time searching for a place that felt like a church home in Charleston, that my spirit just needed to regroup and refocus on what I really wanted in a church body. After all, I had just completely rip the cord from old life and stepped into a new one. To say that I was overwhelmed, well, that was an understatement. 

Last September/October, I began to feel my way back into the church body, by joining a small group of ladies that in which one of my best friends was a part. Re-ignition was taking place, but I still attended church out of when I felt I needed to go, rather than making it a priority. 

In January, I decided to make a commitment to attend church on a regular basis. My parents attended church in Suwanee that I began joining them at, along with my brother. While I wasn't sure that I wanted to call this place home just yet, I enjoyed going and reconnecting with my roots. 

Attending church with your parents, it is much different as an adult than when you are a child, but as an adult you notice things about your parents and their faith that you may have never noticed. For example, the value of commitment, hard-work, service, investing in your church and its future, and developing relationships, among others. It is these simple things that are at the cornerstone of belief in Christ as our Creator. It is from the belief in Him and sharing Him that all of these things come to fruition.

It used to be that I would think, oh, I wish I had had more boyfriends or I had experienced things that other people experienced. I used to think I was missing out. Lately, I have come to realize that all of these things were kept from me in the light of the protection God has evidently placed on my life. I may experience life in a different way because God knows what I can handle. He is my Protector. So now, when I hear about people experiencing things both good and bad that I haven't, I am completely at peace in the knowledge that my Protector knows better than me about what is right for me. Some people know there path from an early age and others God reveals later and at a more leisurely pace that we can handle. I don't know my path, but I'm certain my Protector has paved a way for me to get there, if I just let Him do it. 

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace."- Acts 20:24

Today,  the pastor was discussing the "Seven Highly Effective Habits of Christians" in Acts Chapter 20, in relation to Paul's final journey to spread the gospel.  One that we must know is that we are all ministers of the Gospel, no one is greater than the last, as well as the fact is our job to choose to grow in faith and minister to the groups God has called us to minister. If you have children, nieces/nephews, younger siblings, coach a team, or whatever other group you might lead, the Holy Spirit has called us to lead and minister to them. I feel honored to have a new group of people that God has called me into ministry for- my new sisters in my small group. I can only trust that as I choose to keep watch of my faith, that He will equip me to minister to them, as they will to me. 

"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood"- Acts 20:28