I’m sitting here today at my desk with so much gratitude for the fact that it’s March and that means 1) it’s the month of SPRING (anybody else ready for green grass, flowers, more sunshine, and longer days?); 2) it’s the month of FUN ACTIVITIES like my bestie and I’s 5th Annual My Favorite Things / Girls Day Out party (what’s better than girlfriends, good food, and scoring awesome treasures all in one place?), the March Madness Basketball Tourney (Go State!), St. Patrick’s Day (you can count on me wearing my knee-high shamrock socks!), and my half-marathon (eek!); 3) it’s the month of traveling to COLORADO for our annual skication (bring on the mountains, bright blue sky, western sunshine, and time with my favorite six year-old!); and lastly, 4) March 1st officially kicked off the LENT season (yay!).
Hello, March! It’s good to see you again!
If you’ve followed along with me here for any length of time, you know I’m a person who dives fully into the different seasons. And Lent is one of those seasons that I so love and appreciate tuning my heart and mind into each year. These 40 days to reflect on the full life of Jesus, His sacrifice of giving Himself over to death on a cross for me, and His resurrection power that still lives and is just as powerful as it was on that Sunday morning over 2,000 years ago gets me every. time. It really is the greatest story ever told. God amazes me.
Rather than doing a specific Lent devotional, as I’ve done in years past, I’ve decided to dig deep into bible study (as part of my goal this year to be intentional about not just reading, but studying and absorbing truth) – specifically, Beth Moore’s newest study, Entrusted: A Study of 2 Timothy. I’m only a week in, and WOW! As usual, Beth dazzles me with her insight and dynamic writing style. I just adore her and how she brings the Word of God to life. And what I’m loving about this study is the challenge to not just hear the Gospel message, but to lean into the call God has on my life to share His Gospel with the world, no matter the cost – quite literally, dying to self, not being ashamed of the truth I believe and profess, and ministering what all of us so desperately need – His love, His grace, His light, His life, His power – simply, Jesus.
My hope and prayer is that by the time Lent draws to a close on Easter, I will be more in awe and more in love with Jesus than ever before. And not only that, but that I will be compelled and inspired to live out fully the call and mission He has for my life, embracing the abundant plan and purpose He has destined for me since before I was even born (Psalm 139). I wonder what would happen if all of us woke up to the reality of who God created us to be and actually lived like it … Oh friends, I want that for me, I want that for us all.
How are you spending this Lent season? I’d love to hear how you’re drawing closer to Him, and what He’s speaking to you in these weeks leading up to Easter. Let’s make the most of this 2017 Lent season and be forever changed by Him. Amen!
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