Lent

By Cal Cook

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted a blog…sorry.

I really am a creature of habit; they are so easy to break and so hard to establish. We are now in the Season of Lent where we reflect on God’s Mercy and Grace. Lent is a time of lament, where we acknowledge that it was for our sins that Christ went to the Cross of Calvary. That is for me mine, for you yours…there is a personal component to this acknowledgement. It has been a tradition during Lent to give up things that we enjoy to remember the suffering that we put Christ through. Yet somewhere I read a suggestion that instead of just giving up things, we might also add things for the same purpose, to remind us of the cost.

With that in mind I am adding things for Lent instead of refraining from them this year. I have several good habits that I have fallen away from and I want to add them back in. One is exercising, during that time I listen to sermons, Christian music and pray. It is “My time with God” as a song a good friend wrote reminds me. Another God time I’m adding back into my routine is reading the scriptures and prayer first thing in the morning. I have gotten sloppy with dedicating that time and quite often with my bust schedule its evening before I realize I missed it. I truly enjoy starting my mornings off quietly reading God’s Word and praying…why did I ever stop?

Have you thought about what you’re going to do for Lent? It’s not that you have to…but that you get to. During this time as many do reflect on Christ’s sacrifice by some physical means it is encouraging to know you’re not alone. There is fellowship through combined suffering, so join in! Sounds kind of morbid I know, but nothing clarifies the mind like pain.

This morning I woke up with back pain like I haven’t had in a long while. By 5AM I gave up on trying to sleep and started my time with God…funny, the back is better. I pray the Lord will continue to encourage me in this time, that my laziness and lack of focus will not keep me from it…

I also pray the Holy Spirit will encourage each of you to reflect and remember; that this tradition of Lent won’t seem too foolish or too morbid to join me in.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.