Lent. Beautiful season of reflection and of awareness of our need for Christ's sacrifice.
Love that SO much...but how to observe lent? Many have a Lenten fast and give something up for the 40 day season that leads up to the celebration of Easter. Others add something to their lives during the season. Either way, the practice is to remind us of Jesus and our need for His forgiveness and grace.
I debate every year how and in what way to lead my family in some sort of observation of Lent. Last year we had a centerpiece that was similar to an advent wreath. One cool idea I learned about today is of a lenten centerpiece that looks like a crown of thorns. Read about it on Meredith's blog here. For another idea that greatly moved me today--read Ann Voskamp's post here.
What our family decided to do together this season is to focus on God's story of redemption that is woven throughout the Bible and culminates in Jesus' death and resurrection. We are going to do this in a simple way--and that is to read from my absolute favorite Bible storybook each evening as a family. We will be reading from this:
I love, love, love this book because it ties all of the stories together and points to the Big Love Story God is telling throughout His Word. We read from it a lot...but tonight we started from the beginning and will plow through so that we end up at Jesus' death and resurrection right about Eastertime. It is my hope that focusing on the Big Story of God's love for us and our need for Him 40 nights in a row will help us reflect on the way God has rescued us.
And the illustrations are wonderful--they make me smile and enjoy the reading that much more.
( I realize many of you are great at sharing Bible time or devotions with your family every night anyway. At this season of our family's life--it only happens sporadically at best. Wait--aren't you a Children's Ministries Director, Dawn?? Yes. Yes, I am. Doesn't mean I always have it together at home. Just sayin.) :0)
Sounds simple, yes. A sacrifice, not really at all. But not a small feat either--between our crazy run-around schedules and our terrible ADD-impaired memories--it will be a small miracle to pull off consistently. And a small sacrifice of time and effort to get us all together for a bit every single night. But I believe we can do it. Our own little Lenten observance. One that will whisper Jesus' name into our hearts every day.
Are you observing Lent in your family? I'd love to hear about it...
9 comments:
Can I come over and listen? Sounds wonderful!!
Can I just tell you HOW MUCH I LOVE the Jesus Storybook Bible? It is beyond beautiful!
Observing Lent has always posed a problem for me as well but I usually settle on giving up something distracting or unhealthy.
I gave up facebook this year. Though I don't spend hours on it like some, I do get distracted by it quite easily. I am replacing the time I would normally spend on it with quiet time (reading, journalling, drawing).
I'll be praying for your family as you "plow through" this incredible book. I hope it is fun!
~Carmen
I'd like to come over and listen too :)
Sounds like a great book. Might have to find it for my grandkids.
Thanks.
Karen, you totally should! It makes me cry (in a good way!)
What a great way to walk through Lent together as a family. My New Years resolution was to read the Bible from start to finish in one year. There is a website that has it all laid out and broken down into daily segments, so it makes it so much easier to keep track.
So for Lent I decided to do a random act of kindness every day. Today I paid the tab for the car behind me at McD's. Tomorrow I will do something special for my neighbor who can't get around very well. Just small things, but I want to think of someone else every day.
I love Jesus Storybook Bible. . . and I love diet coke. But not equally! Great idea. I love simple ideas.
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