Lenten Thoughts

This week sees the start of Lent. Of course this year it is extra early so I have had to get my thinking cap on and kick myself into gear as I ponder on what I am going to give up for Lent this year.

As I failed miserably wih my New Year resolutions it would be easy to have another crack at them. To be honest though I think I would just be setting myself up for another quick and easy fall so won't do that.

Of course the whole idea of giving things up for Lent is that you do something worthy instead. But what to give up??

I could give up ironing and use the time to do some much needed exercise but that's not possible as I don't do ironing unless there is an emergency. I could give up watching "Neighbours" and do some extra cleaning but my kids always have it on and the hoover would disturb them so that's not possible either. I could give up writing my blog and reading other people's blogs but I'm now firmly in the habit and withdrawal from that might create behaviour in me that would be difficult for my family to live with so that's a no-no too. I think I can probably come up with an excuse for everything!!

Oh dear...it's not going well is it??? And yet I am really drawn to the idea of making something special of these 40 days. But much like Advent and New Year I get my hopes up that these special times will be life changing and make me a bit more of the holy woman that I honestly do want to be and then feel I have totally failed at.

Paul, somewhere in one of his letters talks about us being changed one degree at a time. We already are holy because of what Jesus has done for us and the Holy Spirit is making us holy through His living in us. One day we will be perfectly holy when we see God face to face.Can't get my head round all this time and eternity stuff but think it's amazing!!

In the meantime we keep going, often one step forward, two steps back holding on in faith to the fact that God picks us up, dusts us down ansd sets us on our way again.

Maybe Lent is a chance to to remind myself that actually it's not about me but about God's work of Grace in me and that maybe my role in it all is to say Yes to Him more often and more readily.

Maybe I need to add a few more things to my life so that I have got things I can give up. I could take up biting my nails or indeed actually do some ironing and better cleaning, especially as cleanliness is next to Godliness....or would that mean I'd have to do even more cleaning next year? It's all getting terribly complicated. Think I need a lie down and a large coffee. Will give up the biscuit though....gotta start somewhere.

Much love,

Rachel.