I have never really "given up" anything for Lent before. Last year, I tried to do this 40 Bags in 40 Days thing and I did really well for about a week and then...well, off the path I went :)
Earlier this year I saw a post on Facebook from a friend who was going to do a 40 Days of Water project during the Lenten season. Essentially participants would drink nothing but water each day of lent except Sundays when they could have whatever they wanted to drink. I seriously thought about participating in this...a lot...I told people I was thinking about doing it...I contemplated how my body would react based on the fact that I really drink so little water each day and not having caffeine has potential side-affects on my family and friends :). I really thought about it...my son even reminded me this past weekend about it asking when I was only going to be allowed to drink water.
I thought about it, but decided, no. I am not going to participate and here is why. Giving something up/changing a habit for Lent has always been known to me as something that helps remind us of the sacrifice of Jesus' Death and Resurrection on the cross. The goal of this initiative was different. It was to remind us of others who don't have clean drinking water. Now, don't get me wrong, an initiative to bring awareness of the grave need for clean drinking water all around the world is a greatly worthy cause in my opinion. I just don't want to confuse it with Lent.
Being that today is Ash Wednesday and I haven't decided on anything to give up/change for Lent, I will probably just do what I have done for the past several years and enjoy the Lenten season and the reminders of what Jesus did for me on the cross. I will attend the services associated with the season and reflect and re-commit myself to living a life that pleases Him. I will work to "do everything I do to the glory of God" and "do unto others as I would have them do unto me"...
The walk of Faith is different for everyone...this is how God and I walk together. Your experience may be different and I respect that.
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Earlier this year I saw a post on Facebook from a friend who was going to do a 40 Days of Water project during the Lenten season. Essentially participants would drink nothing but water each day of lent except Sundays when they could have whatever they wanted to drink. I seriously thought about participating in this...a lot...I told people I was thinking about doing it...I contemplated how my body would react based on the fact that I really drink so little water each day and not having caffeine has potential side-affects on my family and friends :). I really thought about it...my son even reminded me this past weekend about it asking when I was only going to be allowed to drink water.
I thought about it, but decided, no. I am not going to participate and here is why. Giving something up/changing a habit for Lent has always been known to me as something that helps remind us of the sacrifice of Jesus' Death and Resurrection on the cross. The goal of this initiative was different. It was to remind us of others who don't have clean drinking water. Now, don't get me wrong, an initiative to bring awareness of the grave need for clean drinking water all around the world is a greatly worthy cause in my opinion. I just don't want to confuse it with Lent.
Being that today is Ash Wednesday and I haven't decided on anything to give up/change for Lent, I will probably just do what I have done for the past several years and enjoy the Lenten season and the reminders of what Jesus did for me on the cross. I will attend the services associated with the season and reflect and re-commit myself to living a life that pleases Him. I will work to "do everything I do to the glory of God" and "do unto others as I would have them do unto me"...
The walk of Faith is different for everyone...this is how God and I walk together. Your experience may be different and I respect that.
<><
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