Posted to Facebook on Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Good Morning! It’s Tuesday…..FAT Tuesday! I’m down with that! Thinking I might just indulge in a pancake or two…..errr….or three! 🥞 In all seriousness though it is the day before the season of Lent begins. Many years ago, as a practicing Catholic, Lent was a time to give up something, or to make a sacrifice, or deny self. Since I was an adult I took it quite seriously….not just chocolate, or a toy, or sweets…but a character building action. I’m swiftly approaching my 18th anniversary at my current church and still during the season of Lent, I feel compelled to really ponder on Jesus’ time in the wilderness.  Lent is not mentioned in the Bible, but is characterized like this:

“Lent is connected with the 40-day fast that Jesus undergoes (Mark 1:13; Matthew 4:1–11; Luke 4:1–13).  

And this…..

Lent, in the Christian church, a period of penitential preparation for Easter. In Western churches it begins on Ash Wednesday, six and a half weeks before Easter, and provides for a 40-day fast (Sundays are excluded), in imitation of Jesus Christ's fasting in the wilderness before he began his public ministry.

As the Easter season approaches, I have been praying and asking God to search my heart and show me what it is that keeps me from best serving His kingdom. In the past that has meant denying myself indulgence in things like food and material possessions. He has shown me many, many times that self-control is not my strong suit and admittingly so, in some areas I have none. So in these last weeks, I’ve prayed, God spoke, I heard…didn’t like what I heard…kept praying…..surely he would show me something else…..but no…..same thing…..and I’m resistant…..surely not THAT Lord…….

To some social media is not a big deal….quite a few I know hate it, quite a few have fled from it, quite a few pop in and out…..I actually embrace it. I love to honor God with it. I love to share my life’s journey. God is doing amazing things in the lives of those who love him and desire to be “grown” by Him, to share what He is doing gives glory to His name. So, I shamelessly put myself out there and share how God is growing me through trials of great sorrow and times of great joy, restoration, and victory. I argue with Him, complain to Him, wrestle with Him, barter with Him and after a little while (or years) He gently (even when I behave as a rebellious child) shows me where I’ve gone astray, where I’m lacking, where my path needs straightened, where I’m stuck in wrong thinking, where I’ve leaned on my own understanding. When I'm in HIS will I lack nothing... consequently when I'm not I lack everything. 🤦🏻‍♀️ If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Savior, you may find it hard to understand how correction actually brings great joy. How new understanding soothes the tired and weary soul. How restoration is a healing balm.  He carries me when I am weak, loves me when my heart hurts and rejoices with me in my accomplishments and my turnings. He IS my best friend, the ultimate lover of my soul and my greatest encourager.  I can’t help but share because if it wasn’t actually happening TO me and IN me I wouldn’t believe it myself. Simply put, I want others to have what I have.
Soooooo, when I hear Him saying, “Facebook is taking too much of your time” I cannot argue...he is NOT wrong.  

I think of the little girl with the tiny teddy bear. Jesus is asking her to hand it to Him..…she says, “but I love it”. What she cannot see behind His back is a GIANT teddy bear ready to replace the tiny one she is holding so tightly in her hands. But she must give up the one before she sees what it is He has for her. He has SO much more for her……immeasurably more. I am that little girl too. Holding so tightly to that which I deem to hold great importance. She must be obedient to his calling and open her hands FIRST and I must too.

I am excited to see what God has planned for me in my 40-day fasting from social media and I am excited to share on April 5th what I already know will be amazing. I must remember God wastes nothing. He will not waste this time either.

God Bless you all.

Have a beautiful day today and the 40 days to come.
Be the hands and feet of Jesus.
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