What is Lent?

The winners of the Lord, Have Mercy Kindle edition books are:

Joanna (joannamattas@)
Krista D. (jk_dowdey@)
Ashley (Ashleybowlesreed@)
Shelli (roadtoranching@)
Warren Baldwin (bald@)

I was so inspired by all of you and your sincere comments about what Lent means to you and how you make it a meaningful season.  Be sure to read through the comments in the giveaway, and here are a few that especially struck me.

• Lent is a time to focus on the amazing gift we’ve been given (eternal life) and a time to be lovingly grateful for the incredible sacrifice.
• I love the Lent season as it causes me to stop and think about what’s important!
• For our family, it is a time where we are more focused on how we spend our time, placing our priorities on God and family time. The sacrifices with make with fasting, prayer, and alms giving, help us to keep our minds more focused. I feel like our family faith life grows stronger with each Lent that passes, especially as my children are getting older and have a better understanding of the season.
• As a convert, I didn’t initially think to much about the church seasons, but as time has gone one, it’s one of the things I have truly come to love and appreciate. To give special attention to this time is to more truly understand the sacrifice Jesus made and to better know God’s love for us. It is a time to better align myself with God’s will. It is a time to recognize the awfulness of sin – and that helps me sin less.
• Lent is a call to quit the things of this world that I know are distracting me from His purposes.
• Lent is God’s reminder to me that the little things in life are not as big as I make them out to be – and that just when I think I can’t be stretched thinner I can look inside and sacrifice for Him — and amazingly I don’t mind it and I’m better for it!
• Lent forces us to take a not so fun look at our sin, at idolatry that so easily seeks to entwine us. Most importantly, Lent points us to Christ. To all He has given up to redeem us.
• This year, Lent will be a time of reflection and intense prayer for me. Without social media, I hope to spend far more intentional time with the Lord and with my loved ones.
• Lent is preparing for the joy of Easter, for reflecting on all the things I’ve already been blessed with and the wonderful realization that the “things” are the least of my blessings.

 

A blessed, peaceful, reflective Lenten season to all!