Sharing Lent

Dear friends,

I have so much to share over the next week and month! I’m writing to encourage you to open up your hearts this Lent and make space for Christ with me in fresh and new ways. Lent can be so much more than self-denial.
What good is self-denial if it leads to nothing? But I’m so encouraged that Lent can start with self-denial and repentance and from those can flow change. For you. For your family. For your neighbors. For anyone God blesses us with on this path. Lent can be a season of new birth and a beginning of God’s Kingdom here on earth.  It can be a spiritual spring as we experience the physical spring! It can be seeing light  where there was darkness. New life where it was once barren. It can be repenting and turning away  from things that do not cultivate a heart like Jesus, so we can turn toward things that do. It can be denying ourselves privileges in order to serve those around us the way Christ calls us to. And how beautiful is His calling!

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
   because the LORD has anointed me
   to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
   to proclaim freedom for the captives
   and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
   and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn, 

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
   instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
   instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
   instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
   a planting of the LORD
   for the display of his splendor.

                                                              

                                                                      ~Isaiah 61: 1-3

I am so excited to share with you this season of change! Of growth! Of preparing our hearts for Christ! A time to honor the sacrifice He made that empowers you and I to answer His call through His spirit! Proclaiming good news to the poor! Binding up the broken hearted! Freeing the captives! Releasing from darkness the prisoners! Proclaiming God’s favor to all who will listen!  This is Lent! This is what we are called to. 

So I write encouraging you to celebrate this season of growth with me in a new and fresh way! May we repent and turn away from things that do not cultivate in us a heart like Christ, so we can turn toward things that do. Then may the Kingdom of God truly be at hand!

Your Excited Sister in Christ,

Chris