LENT BEGINS ON WEDNESDAY!

A dear friend texted today that she is going to read through my book, LEAD ME TO THE CROSS, again this year for the Lenten season. That alerted me to check for when Lent begins - and shock! It is this Wednesday - just 2 days away (on Valentine's Day, which is poignantly appropriate). Easter/ Resurrection is coming on the early side this year, and so it is time to prepare for those who are interested. 

Tomorrow is the prelude to the Lenten journey - FAT TUESDAY, when people eat all the goodies that they will give up for Lent beginning the following day to "sacrifice" something they love to honor the 40 days (excluding Sundays) that are the precursor to celebrating Jesus' resurrection. Easter - or as I prefer to reference it - Resurrection Sunday is the MOST IMPORTANT date of remembrance in the Christian faith. 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whomever believes in him shall have everlasting life. God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world, through him, might be saved. (Loose translation of John 3:16-17). 

We celebrate his coming as a baby at Christmas - God incarnate! Only God would do that - love those he created so much that he would choose to come to earth - fully God and fully human to become the ultimate sacrifice for our sins as the Lamb of God. 

I am not promising to write every day this Lent - but I will read along with those who choose to join in on the journey of anticipation. Making this a spiritual journey as we explore Jesus' life on the way to Calvary where he was crucified - and the Sunday after when he was resurrected is powerful! 

LEAD ME TO THE CROSS is available on Amazon as an e-book in case you are interested. 

ALMOST MARCH! ALMOST LENT!

It's the last day of February 2022!  That means Fat Tuesday is tomorrow and Ash Wednesday is - well - Wednesday!  I am planning to read through my book LEAD ME TO THE CROSS again this year as my Lenten devotional, but in doing so, I also look forward to making new observations along the journey.  

If you have a book and want to join me, that would be welcomed, and if you don't have a book, the easiest way to get one is on Amazon as an e-book.  

I am sad about what is happening to Ukraine with Russia's unwelcome invasion, but also know that often people don't reach out to God until extreme circumstances leave them no where else to turn.  And in this time of terror and trouble, I pray that MANY will turn to God and accept what Jesus did for them when He died for their sins, and rose again from the dead.   None of us know the evil will assault us - but we can know where we are headed when we leave the earth.  This is a good reminder to be sure we KNOW Jesus, not just know about Him.  

And, there is no better way to know Him  than to do an intentional, disciplined study as we head once more toward the cross and resurrection.  Whether through my book or another source, I challenge you to make the Lenten journey this year very intentional.  

Go in His grace....

FAT TUESDAY - DIVING INTO LENT

In 2010 I wrote daily throughout Lent in this blog.  In 2018 when I was undergoing my 28 days of radiation treatment I gathered the entries into a document that I could share easily with a few friends and family members, and in 2020 I edited it, wrote additional entries for after Easter (leading to Ascension, Pentecost, and beyond), and created a book titled LEAD ME TO THE CROSS.  I have mailed hard copies to most of my family and closest friends, and as of December 2020 it is also available on Amazon as a Kindle eBook.  If you look for LEAD ME TO THE CROSS by Lola Rice Cain you will find it, just in case you see this and want to go on the journey with me this year. 

Today's reading is titled FAT TUESDAY.  Tomorrow we dive in.  When I first wrote the blog I learned what a special spiritual adventure it is to be intentional about reading every day as a discipline leading us to Resurrection.  We need that journey more than ever this year.  

Lead me to the cross....

FAT TUESDAY

Today is Fat Tuesday! For those who give up fattening foods and sugars, today is the day to clean out the fridge and rid the house of everything delicious!  That's the way the teenagers I knew looked at it anyway!  It was my Catholic friends who observed Lent - - but in the past few years I have chosen to take a couple of Lenten journeys - - spiritual journeys - - and I am excited to begin that process this year.

I have things to give up certainly - - frustration, hurt feelings, jumping to conclusions, speaking when I should be silent, and being silent when I should speak.  I even have a couple of areas of bad attitude that need to be adjusted....

I'm definitely entering the challenge of the spiritual journey needing an infusion of spiritual insight.  I wonder what God will teach me this year?