Focus on the season

Yesterday was a day of contemplation for many.  "What are you/should I be giving up for lent?" was a popular question on Facebook.  Coke, bread, sweets, (seems most answers revolved around food)...Facebook.  

I was raised in a traditional Southern Baptist home with little understanding of Lent. I thought it was just a Catholic thing.  We celebrated Easter.  One of my really close Catholic friends came to school on Ash Wednesday with a smudge on her forehead but I was more shocked that she'd actually been to church before school than curious as to what the ash represented.

My heart has been yearning for a little more focus on what matters most or as Dr. Young calls it "kingdom business."  In the chaos of life, I have to be as intentional with my time focused on God as I do my daily calendar.  You see, I want God's agenda to be my agenda.  But if I cannot get enough still and quiet time to listen to Him, I will drown Him out with my own plans.

So thank you, Melissa, for giving up Facebook for lent.  You've inspired me to do so as well.  In it's place, I plan to spend the next 40 days following Biblegateway.com Lent Reading Plan. I'll be focusing on the life of Christ by reading the gospels to put the celebration of Easter into proper context - a God that came to earth as a baby, lived a spotless and blameless life of sacrificial love, took on all sin, died as atonement for that sin, and THEN rose from the grave on the third day.

I would love for you to join me in reading the gospels or for you to share what you are doing this Easter or Lent season to focus on the greatness of Jesus. 

Psalms 51:16-17 says, "¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. ¹⁷ My sacrifice, O God, is^[b] a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise".

Goalie!

Andrew had is first soccer game last Saturday and he loves it!  We were not sold on starting him in team sports at 4.  The church where he goes to preschool began hosting Upwards soccer. It seemed like it would be a great time for him to begin in a familiar setting with lots of familiar faces.  Andrew is on a team of 5 (with one of his best buds).  They play 3 on 3.  Some kids are kicking in the sand while others are scoring goals left and right.  Andrew is definitely bent towards playing defense -- he's fairly aggressive, goes after the ball, and above all else wants to protect his goal.  He ran ahead of one of his opponents, posted up as goalie, and blocked her shot. He won the defense star for the game then learned at this week's practice that he cannot play goalie in this league. We are looking forward to a fun season.

 

Little sisters passing the time

Drew and Andrew after the 1st game