In many cultures there is an ancient custom of giving a tenth of each year’s income to some holy use. For Christians, to observe the forty days of Lent is to do the same thing with roughly a tenth of each year’s days.

After being baptized by John in the river Jordan, Jesus went off alone into the wilderness, where he spent forty days asking himself the question what it meant to be Jesus. During Lent, Christians are supposed to ask one way or another what it means to be themselves.

If you had to bet everything you have on whether there is a God or whether there isn’t, which side would get your money and why?

When you look at your face in the mirror, what do you see in it that you most like and what do you see in it that you most deplore?

If you had only one last message to leave to the handful of people who are most important to you, what would it be in twenty-five words or less?

Of all the things you have done in your life, which is the one you would most like to undo? Which is the one that makes you happiest to remember?

Is there any person in the world or any cause that, if circumstances called for it, you would be willing to die for?

If this were the last day of your life, what would you do with it?

To hear yourself try to answer questions like these is to begin to hear something not only of who you are, but of both what you are becoming and what you are failing to become. It can be a pretty depressing business all in all, but if sackcloth and ashes are at the start of it, something like Easter may be at the end.

~originally published in Whistling in the Dark and later in Beyond Words by Frederick Beuchner

This is a great guide for making Lent more meaningful!  I hope you join me, as we prepare for this special time of Lent.

Ash Wednesday – Skip a meal and pray for someone who is giving you a hard time

1. Thursday Call your mom, Dad, sister, brother

2. Friday Do something small to make someone’s day

3. Saturday Break an old habit of silence. Love your neighbor with a wave or hello.

 First Sunday of Lent, Sunday, March 1, 2020 – Matthew 4:1-11

1. Monday Skip a meal and go to your room and close the door when you pray.

2. Tuesday Let God give his love to the unlovely through you.

3. Wednesday Intentionally let someone get in front of you in line.

4. Thursday Take time to thank God for the meals you eat today.

5. Friday Listen to someone who you would normally brush aside.

6. Saturday Ask God for what you need because “he gives good gifts to those who ask.”

Second Sunday of Lent, Sunday, March 8, 2020 – John 3:1-17

1. Monday Skip a meal and take a hike around your neighborhood or office complex and pray for your neighbors or coworkers.

2. Tuesday Ask someone with problems how you can pray for them and do it right then.

3. Wednesday Confess your sins to God and let go of guilt you’ve been carrying.

4. Thursday Give 10% of your time by volunteering at your church.

5. Friday Clean out your closet and give your clothes to a charity.

6. Saturday Call an old friend and ask about their life instead of talking about yours.

Third Sunday of Lent, Sunday, March 15, 2020 – John 4:5-42

1. Monday Skip a meal and pray for your pastor and your church.

2. Tuesday Hug someone longer and tighter today.

3. Wednesday Take the time to mend a conflict you have with someone.

4. Thursday Remember if you judge, you will be judged for the same thing.

5. Friday Forgive someone you’ve been angry at and you will be forgiven.

6. Saturday Smile at 5 people today.

Fourth Sunday of Lent, Sunday, March 22, 2020 – John 9:1-41

1. Monday Skip a meal and pray for the hearts of corrupt leaders to be changed by God

2. Tuesday Spend time with a senior adult that’s alone in person or by phone.

3. Wednesday Contemplate who is in control of your life…God or money?

4. Thursday Praise God with your face and hands lifted to heaven.

5. Friday Remember that each person you interact with today is a person created in God’s image

6. Saturday Speak truthfully the whole day. Don’t mislead others with your words.

Fifth Sunday of Lent, Sunday, March 29, 2020 – John 11:1-45

1. Monday Skip a meal and pray the Lord’s prayer aloud.

2. Tuesday Abstain from letting any complaint leave your mouth all day.

3. Wednesday Consider that in order to be God’s servant you must follow His lead and not chart your own path.

4. Thursday Help someone in need and don’t tell anyone.

5. Friday Instead of judging someone, find a way to connect with them.

6. Saturday Pray for those trapped in human trafficking.

Palm Sunday, Sunday, April 5, 2020 – Matthew 26:14-27; 66

1. Monday Skip a meal and start a donation jar for local mission.

2. Tuesday Be gracious toward someone who doesn’t deserve it.

3. Wednesday Focus on being the light of Jesus today.

4. Maundy Thursday Avoid labeling others. It not only hurts them, it hurts you too.

5. Good Friday Do something small to make someone’s day like taking them a plate of cookies or buying them a meal.

6. Saturday Share your God-given talents with someone who can benefit from them.

Easter, Sunday, April 12, 2020 – John 20:1-18 – Bring someone to Church!!!