I like Lent.  I actually look forward to it each year.  My kids like to observe Lent, as well.  I don’t make them.  It just seems to come up in conversation each year and they all want to dive right in.  I am often surprised and sometimes amused at what they want to “give up.”

A few years ago, I asked my then seven-year-old son, Joshua, what he was going to give up for Lent:

First response: homework.  I told him he couldn’t do that.

Second response: school.  I told him he couldn’t do that, either.

Third response: his brother, Troy.

I walked away.  The lesson of sacrifice had to wait for another day.

Lent starts every year on Ash Wednesday and ends on the day before Easter Sunday. This year Ash Wednesday is March 5, 2014, and Holy Saturday falls on April 20, 2014.

Lent is the season of remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus.   Many Christians respond by giving up something they really enjoy, so that this small sacrifice will make them more mindful of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus.  I thought that this year I would not just give something up, but I would also take something up.  I will be posting a short devotional each day of Lent to encourage myself, and any one who wants to join me to give greater attention to the meaning of Easter.

Lent is frequently spoken of as a forty-day period.  So, ready or not, I will be posting each day for the next 6 weeks, Monday through Saturday.  Sundays aren’t counted in the Lenten calendar.

So, who’s with me?

Definition of GREAT: Most worthy of consideration. HUMMMM… who/what do we need to consider? This fall I will consider some “GREATS” in my free 8-week Bible study – “Finding Truths from Eight Greats of the Bible”. We begin this Monday, September 9. I’d love for you to join me!

I have heard from some of you who would like to subscribe to my blog, so I wanted to let you all know how you can easily receive the posts in your inbox.

Go to sarawberry.test and click on “Blog” in the Menu Bar. You will see a simple form in the top right sidebar titled “Follow Sara’s Blog”. The form only asks for your email address.  After you enter your email address and click the “OK” button, you will receive a confirmation email in your inbox.  Just click on the link in that email to confirm and you are good to go!

Thanks! I am excited about what we will learn together!

I have heard from some of you who would like to subscribe to my blog in preparation for the upcoming Lenten Series, so I wanted to let you all know how you can easily receive the posts in your inbox.

Go to sarawberry.test and click on “Blog” in the Menu Bar. You will see a simple form in the top right sidebar titled “Follow Sara’s Blog”. The form only asks for your email address.  After you enter your email address and click the “OK” button, you will receive a confirmation email in your inbox.  Just click on the link in that email to confirm and you are good to go!

Thanks! I am excited about what we will learn together during Lent!