Journey to the Cross

 

 I love Easter time -- a time where  I feel refreshed, renewed --   And, as I have been growing older in years (those wrinkles are growing more in numbers) and a developing deeper relationship with Christ - I have come to revere Easter as one of my favorite "holidays" -

I have had a desire to really go further in celebration of the Easter season.  I want to learn more. I desire to delve deeper into its meaning. Yes, I know the basic "story" --  Christ's life here on earth, His ministry, His death on a cross and His resurrection --but, I feel as if I should go further into all of those things. There is still so much for me to learn.

I have never fully experienced a time of Lent or fasting for 40 days.  I think when I was a child I lented of gum or something of that sort, but not really knowing what I was doing.  I think I did it because of my friends at school talking about assortment of things they were "giving up" for Lent - and I remember all my catholic friends coming back with ash on their foreheads on that "Wednesday" of school.  I was curious.

But, I never fully understood it.  I guess I didn't really seek that time as important or worth really understanding.   I just went to church on Palm Sunday waved the palm branches - and on Easter Sunday wearing my pretty Spring dress sang those classic hymns "Up from the grave He arose!" and "He lives, He lives. I can face tomorrow".   I loved that time. And, my memories of Easter growing up are fond.
But, coming into Easter with an expectation, a time to reflect on the cross and the miraculous truth it holds for us, a joy unspeakable, a grace uncomprehendable  - was not really practiced in my journey thus far.
I know that some people have done lent for years upon years -- almost rote in their ritual.  It was just something that was done or expected to be done.  Not necessarily done out of true desire or passion. 

I don't desire to do this season of lent  because it is something "I must do" -- but, rather I want to experience Jesus in a new way, a deeper more intimate way  --  I want to experience HIS passionate LOVE for us.  I am not even really calling it a time of "Lent" - but rather I am calling it -

A JOURNEY TO THE CROSS

I plan to fast, pray, and meditate on the gospel for 40 days.  I will explain further in the details of what I will be doing in a future post.

I can tell you it will be a season

to REMEMBER

to REFLECT

to REPENT

to REJOICE

in the life and ministry of Christ and the beautiful gift of grace and joy He gave to us.

I would love for you to join me during this time.  I plan to post as often as I can through this journey with thoughts, encouragement, scripture and whatever the Lord leads me to share.  I pray that this will be a time where you can also grow to a deeper understanding of HOW MUCH GOD LOVES YOU -- the gift of His Son Jesus would just permeate your entire being and Truth would reign in your heart. The gospel message would just even be more real to you during this time.

Here are the dates we will begin and end.  Next post will be about what I will be doing and questions for you to think about as you plan for your own journey to the cross!

February 22 -April 5, 2012Job 19:25
I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.