February 2015 E-pistle

Thoughts
This Wednesday we begin Lent and have another great opportunity to prepare ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually for a new life in Christ. While it is true that we are called to “penitential” practices, the readings for Ash Wednesday remind us not to be “gloomy” but to focus on a God who is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and rich in kindness!”
Challenge
Fast. Option 1: Fast from food in some way that leaves you physically unsatisfied. Option 2: Fast from complaining, criticizing or being cynical (which leaves you emotionally unsatisfied). Either practice will help remind you that only God can truly satisfy you for all eternity.

Pray. If you pray very little or not at all, add prayer into your daily routine. Prayer can be as simple as thanking God throughout the day for anything and everything. If you already practice many forms of prayer, do not over-burden yourself with more, but work on quality (e.g. lessening distraction, seeking to embrace a different form of prayer that you feel God is calling you to, but find difficult).
Give Alms. If you do not regularly give to your church and other charities, this is a great time to start some form of regular giving. If you already tithe, look for those occasions that God will place before you to give that little bit extra (especially to a specific person God places in your path). In giving alms, we come to recognize that God has given us everything and we seek to give back just a little bit in gratitude and to remind us that we need Him.

Go Deeper