What I'm Gaining

Hey y'all!  Nope, too southern.

Well, hello there!  Too "awake." 

Hi again!  It'll have to do.

Tomorrow is the beginning of Lent.  Do you fast (give up something important to you) during this season?  Do you go to Ash Wednesday services?   

The purpose of Lent is not to sacrifice something to gain forgiveness or to make up for something you've done that you think is separating you from God's love.  Jesus already made the sacrifice for us, and the price has been paid.  All that's required of us is that we accept that truly precious gift and ask His Holy Spirit to help us repent and turn away from the sin in our lives.

No, Lent's purpose is to take time away from something you really enjoy, something you love, something you don't think you can go without for long periods of time, and instead, focus that energy, that time, that effort on drawing closer to Christ.  I have fasted in the past (given up sodas, television shows, the Internet), and I always come away feeling refreshed and, yes, closer to God.  

I've been pondering what I'd like to let go of for a season.  

I decided it would be Facebook.  

I know, I know.  Right now, you are staring at your computer screen in disbelief and mumbling to yourself, "Joy, Joy, Joy, you just wrote an entire post about wanting to delete your Facebook account."  But, dear reader, that was for purely selfish reasons.  This, I hope, will bring me back into a time of fellowship with my Creator that has been sorely lacking in my life as of late.   Each time I have the urge to check out the life-happenings of my IRL friends and my cyber-buddies (which to be perfectly honest is WAY more often than I'd like to admit), I will be reminded that instead of losing something I REALLY enjoy, I get to spend time talking to, singing about, praising (with hands lifted), and studying about the Christ who shed His blood for me.   I'm giving up something small in comparison to the beauty I will be gaining.  I'm excited just typing that!  There has not been nearly enough hand-raising going on in my life recently.  And, it's not because there hasn't been enough to pray or praise about either.  

So, for the next 40 days (or so, since we don't do the Internet on Sundays), I'll be out of the Facebook loop.  I will still be posting on here, and I hope you'll check in periodically since I won't be able to let you know on FB when a new post is up.    

I did want to let those of you who've been down on your knees before the throne on behalf of my parents know that my mom's surgery yesterday went very well.  She is home, resting and healing.  Thank you, thank you for your prayers.  Please continue to pray, as you feel led, for complete healing and a great upcoming pathology report.  

I'll leave you with this:

I recently read something (probably on Facebook...sigh) that talked about the Bible focusing on two gardens.  I went back, and for the life of me, well for the laziness of me, I couldn't seem to find where I had seen it.  So, I did the next best thing.  I googled it.  Ha! It's not exactly the same as what I originally read, but here's what I found.  

Two Gardens by M.R. De Haan

Two gardens are mentioned prominently in the Bible: the garden of Eden and the garden of Gethsemane. God placed the first man, Adam, in the garden of Eden; Jesus went into Gethsemane to restore what the first man had lost.

The first Adam sinned in the garden; the last Adam took this sin upon Himself. The garden of Eden had the tree of life, which man could have enjoyed forever had he not broken fellowship with God. The garden of Gethsemane was a step toward the tree of death (Acts 5:30; 1 Peter 2:24). By Adam’s transgression, he forfeited his right to the tree of life and brought death to all mankind. He who hung on the tree of Calvary conquered death and by His glorious resurrection restored the tree of life to all who believe.

The garden where Adam fell is gone from the earth, but there is a glad day coming when He who suffered alone in Gethsemane will restore all things. The curse will be lifted from the earth, the animals will again be docile (Isaiah 11:6-8), the deserts will disappear (Isaiah 35:6), the earth will yield her increase abundantly (Amos 9:13), and Jesus will be here personally to bless His people (Revelation 21:3).

What Adam lost, Jesus will restore.

Adam was God’s first man in creation—
He through sin brought death to all mankind;
Jesus came to earth to bring salvation:
Trusting Him, eternal life we’ll find.  —Hess

God formed us; sin deformed us; Christ transforms us.

Wasn't that so thought-provoking?

"God formed us; sin deformed us; Christ transforms us."  Love it.

Okay readers, your turn.  If you fast for Lent, what are you fasting from?  Do you do the opposite, and do something extra each day instead?  

Love to you all!