What is Lent?

What is Lent?

 

 My Crown of thorns plant that was started from a clipping from my Mom's plant and is now at least 3 feet tall.  It blossoms continually.  The thorns represent Christ's crown of thorns and the red blossoms, His drops of blood.  I love this plant as a daily reminder of our Lord.

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• Lent is the period from Ash Wednesday to Easter
• Sunday, during which Christians purify themselves
• by praying, fasting, repenting of their sins, and
• making changes and sacrifices in their lives. 
• The final week of Lent is called Holy Week; during
• this period, observant Christians reflect specifically
• on the last days of Jesus Christ's life.
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• It is a good thing to repent of sinful activities, but that’s something Christians should do every day, not just during Lent. It’s a good thing to clearly identify oneself as a Christian, but, again, this should be an everyday identification. And it is good to remember that no ritual can make one’s heart right with God.
  
  LENT. The word "Lent" is derived from Old English lencten, meaning 'spring', the lengthening of days after winter is over. This was a period of spring fasting known in Old English as Lencten-Fasten, or in its abbreviated form, as Lencten or Lent. The ecclesiastical name for this once mandatory period of fasting is the Quadragesimal Fast, or the fast of the Forty Days, in imitation of the forty days of fasting performed by Jesus in the wilderness.

Yoder, Don. "Lent." Encyclopedia of Food and Culture. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 25 Feb. 2013<http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

My hubby used to tease me by saying he was giving

up stewed hummingbird wings for lent.  It is pledge to

yourself and to the Lord that you are giving something up for 40 days in His name and is a very good discipline for our mind and bodies.  

Many years ago, I was a light smoker and knew I 

should stop.  I quit for 3 yrs. twice but then went 

back to it again when stressed.  Well on the third try, 

I promised God I would not smoke any longer and you 

cannot go back on a promise to God.  I was 

successful and do not smoke to this day,giving it up 

at least 30 years ago.  I am grateful that Lent gave me 

the choice of giving up something that was not good 

for me.

   Making a small sacrifice for our Lord is easy to do

and very gratifying.  It is insignificant in comparison

to what Jesus gave for us, but large in a show of our

faith.

   I will not share what I have given up for this Lenten

season as the Bible instructs us not to wear our

fasting as a burden, to be cheerful.

  Thank you for coming and I hope you have been

blessed today.

My Christian heart to yours...

Joy, Joy, Joy Joy, Down In my Heart....

I have so much Joy in my Heart since starting this blog!  I find great peace in sharing God's Word!  I was looking for Hymns on YouTube this morning and found this sweet Little Girl who is Just running over with Joy at the age of 4 years.  I could not help but be filled with Joy just watching her!  She also sings Amazing Grace and more.  What a joy that God gave her such amazing talent to share His word.  Truly a miracle!
  I have many Bibles in my home and I use them all to cross reference and make sure I am getting the right words as translated to English from the original languages in which they were written.  Cross referencing keeps opening more doors for you to study and becomes a never ending teaching tool.  We are so blessed to have so many "helps" to know God's truth and plan for our lives.
  Historically, Jesus is recorded as a religious leader who was put to death.  If you are a non-believer, you cannot deny the words recorded in history aside from the Bible.  Jesus is real, He did live and die for us.  I am always touched by the words of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross".  This praise song can move me to tears. ...."see from His hands, his head, his feet-Sorrow and Love flow mingled down, Love so amazing so complete, Demands my soul, my life, my all."  My ALL.  This certainly is true for me.  I often play this song on my piano and put great feeling into it as my emotions are pulled from within me.
  What are some of your favorite hymns that really speak to your heart?  I will bet they are the same as mine.  Do comment and tell me.
  Praying for everyone on our prayer lists, especially for those who are suffering from cancer.  So many of our family and friends are afflicted and God will hear their cries and take mercy upon them.

                 THOUGHTS AND PLEAS
                           by Kerrie O'Hearn Marquart©
When God shall lift me from my plight
 Out of the darkness into the light
I shall rejoice and praise with all my might
And sing of Thee both day and night
   Because God still answers prayers.

I have all the faith I need
 Because for me the Savior bleeds
Let me make a joyful noise unto thee,
 All I really ask is to serve thee,
In the best way you see fit.
 By my strength or by my wit
  Let me always be a witness to thee.
                 8-23-2000

 A "Crown of Thorns" plant with a wasp on it.  My Mom gave me a small cutting from her plant many years ago and from it, my plant grew into a bush!  I love it for many reasons but the red blossoms represent Christ's drops of blood from His crown of thorns.  My Mom has been gone for 10 years now.  I miss her very much.  But she is blooming in Heaven now I know....

Please come back and visit again SOON!  I love having you come!  God Bless and have a wonderful, blessed weekend.  If you have special prayer concerns, please comment or e-mail to me.  Thank you!