When I was growing up, I remember Lent as this time where I had to choose to give up something that I loved.  I remember trying to trick the system, finding things that I could give up that wouldn’t cause me too much pain. “I can give up this certain cartoon because I don’t really like it, but yet I am still giving up a cartoon.”  “I won’t play with this toy all of Lent.  Of course, I don’t really play with this toy anyway, but no one needs to know that.”  I kind of missed the point that Lent is a time for us to reflect on our faith and to not only see the things that hold us back from having a closer relationship with God, but to give them up.  It is a time for us to challenge ourselves and to intentionally get right with God and to see what God is calling us to be.

This Lent season, I challenge you to do just that.  Our theme for Lent is to “Give it up”.  We can do this in a variety of ways.  We can give up things that are holding us back, or we can give up ourselves or our time to grow.  What will you “give up” this year?  Will it truly challenge you and help you be intentional during this time?  I hope you will join with us this year as we “Give it up” for God and journey together through our Lenten devotionals, our class and study times and Sunday mornings.  Let this be the year where we truly get it and we become the people that God is calling us to be.