Are you the type of person who likes to be well-prepared or do you prefer last-minute spontaneity?! It’s interesting to me that when it comes to travel and holidays, both types are catered for. If you want to travel long distances by train, it pays to be well prepared; ‘Advance’ tickets are usually much cheaper than if you buy tickets on the day. On the other hand, holiday websites like www.lastminute.com can offer incredibly good value holidays at the last minute for those who just want to decide and go!
Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Lent is the period in the Christian calendar which leads up to Easter when Christians traditionally prepare to remember and celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, those events which are at the heart of our Christian faith. Traditionally, this 40-day period (40 fasting days and 6 Sundays) has been a time for fasting or giving something up, but it’s actually about much more than trying to lose weight or earning God’s favour through good works. In our busy schedules, God is so often squeezed out, and Lent reminds us – as Advent does before Christmas – that God deserves our attention all the time, not just on ‘feast days’.
The challenge of Lent is to stop… pause… remember… learn… act. There are many ways to do this, especially in this digital age! Below are some websites offering devotionals and other ideas to make this period of time meaningful and reflective, but truly, all that is required is a heart willing to pause and invite God in to the everyday a little more.
Lent resources
- The 40 Acts Challenge looks at simple ways of being generous and living out our fait
- Compassion (the charity we support which helps Bedline in Haiti) offers 40 free devotionals through Lent
- Church denominations often offer free devotionals (e.g. the Church of England or the Evangelical Alliance)