February 26, Ash Wednesday, marked the beginning of the season of Lent, a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline.  Ash Wednesday emphasizes two themes: our sinfulness before God and our human mortality. The service focuses on both themes, helping us realize that both have triumphed through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  In earlier centuries, people were sprinkled with ashes as a sign of sorrow for their sins and their commitment to seek renewal in Christian life through this season.  You can read more about it here.

The season of Lent is 40-days (not counting Sundays) of prayer and preparation in which we, as followers of Jesus, are invited to consider anew the disciplines and practices that we employ in our daily lives to help us in becoming better disciples.

This year I am following Sarah Bessey’s 40 Simple Practices of Lent. Sarah gives you practical, easy things to do each day. Here is a beautiful printable to keep handy.

Here is today’s practice:

Day Two: Download an app like The Bible App or pick up a prayer book like Eastertide by Phyllis Tickle and begin to pray in the morning, midday, and evening. Do this throughout Lent.

Another book I am reading during Lent is Annie F. Down’s Looking for Lovely: Collecting the Moments That Matter.

“I want you to take every step of your life with excitement for where you are headed. And I want you to feel beautiful and confident as you do.”
But how? When the enemy whispers lies that you are not smart enough, pretty enough, or rich enough? Or you are too dumb, too loud, too quiet, too thin, too fat, too much or not enough? What if you don’t have what it takes to be who you really want to be?
In Looking for Lovely, Annie F. Downs shares personal stories, biblical truth, and examples of how others have courageously walked the path God paved for their lives by remembering all God had done, loving what was right in front of them, and seeing God in every day—whether that be nature, friends, or the face they see in the mirror.
Intensely personal, yet incredibly powerful, Looking for Lovely will spark transformative conversations and life-changing patterns. No matter who we are and what path God has us on, we all need to look for lovely, fight to finish, and find beautiful in our every day!
Peace be with you this season.