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Day 41: Lent, Lent, Time to Repent*

I love Lent! As someone who struggles with self-denial and self-control, I like this time that the church sets aside for us to detach from ourselves and reattach to the Lord. I find myself feeling contented by the simplicity of it, but also challenged by the depth of it.

In recent years as I've learned more about my faith, the liturgical year, and myself, I have understood why my Lenten "sacrifices" in the past have not always been fruitful. I think it was because I was just denying myself something (or trying to) and usually doing it for prideful reasons, rather than looking it as a sacrifice that I could give to Jesus in an effort to grow into closer relationship with Him.

As I learn and understand more, I look forward the prayer, fasting and almsgiving that we are called to during Lent. In an effort to hold myself accountable, I have started to write down my plans for Lent. I have found this to be helpful for me as the season becomes long and I start to lose my focus and zeal. I usually leave an index card on my dressing table as a daily reminder, and now it shall be on ye olde Interwebs for all (three of you) to see.

This year, I am trying to do one "thing" in each of the three areas.

Prayer: Waiting in His Word lectio divina
Fasting: Coffee creamer. The struggle is real.
Almsgiving: 40 Bags in 40 Days (although I'm not so much stuck on the number of bags, just the idea of purging both my physical and my mental excess)

I'm also fighting the urge to Lent All The Things You Can Lent by doing every single activity that I see on every blog I read. So, I will offer that desire to the Lord as well, and try to find one or two things we can do as a family. We're leaning toward a paper chain countdown to Easter, a sacrifice jar, and possibly the Divine Mercy chaplet once a week. Someone suggested less yelling. I'll consider it.

Oh man! I was just looking for a link to share, but then I stumbled across this, and Praise God that I didn't give up Facebook this year. Jenny is so great! When God Picks Your Lent. Read this. I can't find the Ash Wednesday one I was going to share anyway!

Good Lent to You!

*Title is from the song I can't get out of my head. I've heard it once or twice and have been singing it for weeks. It's from this Dogma Dogs album, which we don't even have. But our friends do! 



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