Lent 2014

Lent was not something I grew up participating in.  I had many Catholic friends and most of them would give up something during the Lenten season each year.  Because my Catholic friends did it and we didn't, I assumed it was a 'Catholic' thing.  On the contrary, it's a Jesus thing.  I'm excited to be participating for the first time this year.  

I watched this video recently and loved learning about how World Relief started.  World Relief is the organization that helped bring our Iraqi friends here from a refugee camp in Lebanon. Before watching, I had already decided to give up Facebook during Lent this year.. because truly, I spend way too much time on Facebook.  But, after watching this, Justin and I decided to also choose to give up something that would allow us to free up resources... just like the people in that Boston church did.  What an awesome way to observe Lent... to give up something that will allow us to focus more on Christ but then to use the resources from what we gave up to do something meaningful.  Those people were brilliant!  We will be fasting from lunch each Sunday and using that money that we would have spent going out to lunch and donating it to World Relief.  I'm truly excited to, in a very, very minor way, disadvantage ourselves for a greater purpose.  

I'm hoping that the break from Facebook allows for more quiet space in my life.. to both talk with God and hear from Him.  

Curious to hear from y'all.. do you observe Lent?  Are you giving up anything this year?