Ash Wednesday is and has always been one of my favorite services. Growing up going to a Catholic School, I learned all about Ash Wednesday and why this is such an important day. I am Methodist and we also have a service and respect this day. Growing up, I was plenty involved. Some days I even got the Ash on my forehead twice… Yes, I am that person. Some people used to call me a MethCath because I was basically Methodist and Catholic. I didn’t really mind. I loved growing up in two completely different church’s because I feel like it made me more diverse and I saw that there was much more to religion. I was very active in both of those church’s and I really loved this because it was so cool to me. The two denominations are very different, but I knew what to do in both services. What to say. What to wear. Where to sit. I mean I was a legit MethCath. As Ash Wednesday approached, I really struggled with two things.
1. Where to get my Ash?
2. What to give up?
It is pretty sad that I was so confused with what I was going to give up. I mean I don’t really do anything that is unhealthy. Yes, I am on social media too much, but I have given that up before and I didn’t want to just repeat myself. In times past, I have felt like I was trying to find the best thing to give up or trying to beat everyone else. I felt like I was trying to prove something to myself, but a little while back I realized that I was participating in lent for all the wrong reasons. I could give up sweets or I could give up social media, but those make me happy and the goal of lent is not to make us unhappy or make us look better… The goal of lent is to improve our relationship with God. God wants to be our treasure. He wants us to love and seek him at all times. Wherever your treasure is, your heart will be also. That is what I need this lenten season. That is what he all need. We need to put God and our hearts in the same place because together they make the best treasure. This lent I am going to practice letting God be first in my life. I am going to practice treasuring him daily. I am going to continue to express my thanks in hopes that I will grow much closer with God. It is amazing how much has changed since I started this blog. The relationship between God and I is always evolving. I am sure some people see me or even know me and think that I need to give up my phone or social media, which I do, but the truth is that in a way I feel like it brings me closer to God. I have been struggling lately because I was allowing others to make me feel like I was putting to much into this. Kind of like I was worshiping a false God. I really prayed about it because I thought if that was the case, then I needed to give it up for lent. There is no one or thing that will come before my God. I realized today that I am not worshiping this form of technology, I am using it to become closer to the one person that truly matters in this life. It would have been such a great feeling to give that up, but I think God and I are doing much greater things together with Southern and Thankful. Remember, you don’t have to give something up. You can simply do something that brings you closer to God. Pray more. Volunteer more. Attend Sunday school or youth. Even join me in finding something to be thankful for everyday. As long as you feel like you are growing closer to our God, that is all that matters this lent. I am so glad I was able to attend a Catholic Mass today and feel so young again. I still remembered most of the prayers and sayings which was really weird to me, but I loved every minute of it. College is all about stepping outside your box and today I am thankful that I did that on this beginning of lent, just in time to learn what I needed to do for the next 40 days. They are going to be great, full of thanks, and full of seeking God as my treasure. Happy Lent everyone… Let God in and prepare for what is to come… Great things, my friends, great things!
1. Where to get my Ash?
2. What to give up?
It is pretty sad that I was so confused with what I was going to give up. I mean I don’t really do anything that is unhealthy. Yes, I am on social media too much, but I have given that up before and I didn’t want to just repeat myself. In times past, I have felt like I was trying to find the best thing to give up or trying to beat everyone else. I felt like I was trying to prove something to myself, but a little while back I realized that I was participating in lent for all the wrong reasons. I could give up sweets or I could give up social media, but those make me happy and the goal of lent is not to make us unhappy or make us look better… The goal of lent is to improve our relationship with God. God wants to be our treasure. He wants us to love and seek him at all times. Wherever your treasure is, your heart will be also. That is what I need this lenten season. That is what he all need. We need to put God and our hearts in the same place because together they make the best treasure. This lent I am going to practice letting God be first in my life. I am going to practice treasuring him daily. I am going to continue to express my thanks in hopes that I will grow much closer with God. It is amazing how much has changed since I started this blog. The relationship between God and I is always evolving. I am sure some people see me or even know me and think that I need to give up my phone or social media, which I do, but the truth is that in a way I feel like it brings me closer to God. I have been struggling lately because I was allowing others to make me feel like I was putting to much into this. Kind of like I was worshiping a false God. I really prayed about it because I thought if that was the case, then I needed to give it up for lent. There is no one or thing that will come before my God. I realized today that I am not worshiping this form of technology, I am using it to become closer to the one person that truly matters in this life. It would have been such a great feeling to give that up, but I think God and I are doing much greater things together with Southern and Thankful. Remember, you don’t have to give something up. You can simply do something that brings you closer to God. Pray more. Volunteer more. Attend Sunday school or youth. Even join me in finding something to be thankful for everyday. As long as you feel like you are growing closer to our God, that is all that matters this lent. I am so glad I was able to attend a Catholic Mass today and feel so young again. I still remembered most of the prayers and sayings which was really weird to me, but I loved every minute of it. College is all about stepping outside your box and today I am thankful that I did that on this beginning of lent, just in time to learn what I needed to do for the next 40 days. They are going to be great, full of thanks, and full of seeking God as my treasure. Happy Lent everyone… Let God in and prepare for what is to come… Great things, my friends, great things!
Yours Truly,
Southern and Thankful
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