Reading the Bible in a Year--Feb. 22

Happy Mardi Gras!!!

As we enter the Lenton season--my mind travels through the past readings to the number 40!  What's up with this number?  For Noah--it rained for 40 days!  For Moses--he was on the mountain for 40 days--twice!  For the Israelites--they wandered in the desert for 40 years!  For Jonah--40 days in Ninevah! For Jesus--40 days of temptation in the desert!  For the apostles--40 days with Jesus after the resurrection and before the ascention! For Rick Warren-- it is 40 Days of Purpose!  For Alex and Stephen Kendrick--it is a 40 day Love Dare.   On one website it is explained as a number of trial, testing, or probation.

For Christians everywhere, beginning tomorrow--it is a 40 day wait for the miracle of Easter. This period of time might be seen as one of trial, testing, or probation.  Many people decide to "give-up" something for Lent--put something or themselves "on probation".  The purpose of this is a symbolic trial or test--a time in which one stops doing something that they will truly miss in hopes that they will be reminded of the trials and tribulations that Jesus went through.  Or that when they begin to miss the thing that they are giving up, it will remind them to think of Jesus and what He gave up to come down to earth and experience life as a human.  Some people do it in hopes of having more time to spend reading the Word or praying by replacing the activity that they usually do with these activities instead. By doing this, one can sometimes add a healthier activity to their lives.

So what are you going to give up?  One of my family is going to fast in some way, one has given up video games in the past, I have given up chocolate before and will probably try that again!  I would love to hear about some new and creative ideas as well!  But whatever we all decide--let's not give up our Bible readings!!

God--thanks for standing beside us during these 40 days!  Help each thought move us closer to you so that this Easter season will be one of the most meaningful and the events of the season will be very real in our hearts and minds.