Yesterday, we marked the beginning of our preparation for the glorious resurrection at Easter.  This forty days (not including Sundays) is known as Lent.  As I’ve said before, I did not grow up “high church” so I knew little about this or any other part of the church year.  As I taught the students last night, I mentioned that we mark our regular civil calendar by seasons and holidays and so in the church we have a calendar that has various seasons and holidays.  The church calendar and seasons follow the life of Christ.  I know in my own life that is my desire — to follow Christ and be and do as He taught.  Lent allows us to examine our lives to see if we are truly following Christ the way He taught us.  Last night, I started our service with Jesus’ words and they really are words to live by; “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your soul AND you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

For several years, our denomination had Forty Days of Prayer and Fasting, which I really thought highly of, especially because of its focus on holiness of heart and life.  That’s where my focus of preaching will be over the next six weeks. 

As I mentioned before, I never participated in Lent before, until I was asked to be part of the community clergy association while in New York.  It was then I realized that this is something that all of us need to do on a regular basis — that is examine our lives and see how we can be more like Jesus and identify with Him. 

For more great Lent resources, check out The Voice