40 bags in 40 days 2013.

today is ash wednesday. the beginning of lent. what is lent? it is a 40 day period that starts today, ash wednesday, and leads up to maundy thursday. the next day is good friday (crucifixion of Jesus Christ). three days later is EASTER!

are you confused?

pastor bill crawford of waters edge church puts it this way:

Ash Wednesday is a day to stare death in the face, to acknowledge our mortality. All of us will die. Christians who observe this day get ashes “imposed” on their foreheads, while a minister says, “You have come from dust, and to dust you will return.” In other words, “You are going to die. And here are some ashes to remind you, just in case you’ve forgotten.”

Are we Christians gloomy? Do we have some peculiar fascination with dying? I don’t think so. Rather, what allows us to stare death in the face is the assurance of life, real life, eternal life. When we know our lives are safe in the hands of God, and that this physical life is just the beginning of eternity, then we’re free to be honest about what lies ahead for us. We can face death without fear or pretending, because we know the One who defeated death.

on to lent. its not a mandatory observance but one that prepares our hearts and minds for the days ahead. our family has been doing 40 bags in 40 days for a few years.

here is our list for this year. this is a very tangible way for everyone to get involved!

we also spent time in prayer this morning and came up with what each of us was going to “give up”. again, this is a period of self-denial to commemorate the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the desert. these are things that in today’s world should be SO easy to go without right?

its just GOOD for us to (all ages) to have to FEEL the pangs of going without something, making us look UP and remember:

“I can do ALL things through HIM who gives me STRENGTH” Phillipians 4:13.

It’s a time of humility. i can’t do it on my own.

if i tried to homeschool, be a good mom, be a good wife, be a good friend…etc. all in my own strength i would have burned out LOOOOONG ago!

another fun thing that we pulled out was this countdown poster that we made with my friend amy and her kiddos when they still lived by us……

do you see the little paper Jesus on the first day? we move him one spot each day. 🙂 again, just a tangible way for the kids to see what is happening. and just throw it up with tape on your cupboard. its all good.

here is a closer look at our 2013 list. i mostly do this on my own during the day. if there is an area that its more helpful for the kiddos to join me then they do.

will you make more room for Jesus this Lent? you’ll be glad you did.

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Bible in A Year peeps…..how’s it going???? i’ve had a couple times where I fell a few days behind and had to catch up. it’s been a HUGE blessing. you can do it! if you want to join here is my blog post about it and follow the hashtag #afbibleinayear over on instagram (@augustfields)
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