Lenten Things

So I'm totally procrastinating on finishing my sermon for tomorrow... and I realized that I haven't written here in a really long time. Here are a couple of small "snapshots" from recently that have to do with Lent.

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I'm thankful that I am interning at a church that has a pastor who is quite an artist when it comes to his finger and ashes, and can actually make the cross look like a cross.

I went to the grocery store on my way home from church this evening, with my cross of ashes on my forehead. As I was walking down the soup aisle, I passed a little boy and his mom. As I picked up a can of tomato soup, I heard the little boy ask his mother, "Mommy, why does she have a black cross on her forehead?"

His mother responded, "Probably to remind her of what Jesus did for her."

The little boy then said, "Well, why hasn't she washed them off yet?"

And his mother replied, "So she can remind you."

God bless us all as we journey through Lent together.

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I've decided that I'm going to try for a few different Lenten disciplines. Here goes...

1) I want to make it a habit to write in my prayer journal every day. I don't do well going through the Morning Prayer service in the BCW Daily Prayer book when I'm by myself, so journalling my prayers might be a better way to learn and achieve the habit of daily prayer.

2) I want to make it a habit to translate at least one passage (5 verses or more) per week. I need to be better at this, and I think it's a good way to get back into reading the Bible on my own.

3) I want to finish the baby blanket before Easter. Crafting is one of my greatest, most favorite Sabbath practices, and I want to make sure I have this baby blanket done by Easter as a way of practicing a discipline.

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Speaking of Lenten practices, if you're looking for a community thing to do for Lent, I have a suggestion. Wednesday evenings in Lent, there will be a Soup Supper followed by Spirituality Practices at Redwoods Presbyterian Church. Supper is at 6:30, Spirituality Practices following. It should be a lot of fun!

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I think that's all for now. Off to go try to finish this sermon!