Optimist’s Roundtable

By Martha Sykes

This week begins a very important part of our Christian journey as we begin the Season of Lent. Ash Wednesday is the first of 40 days that ends on Maundy Thursday during the holy week leading up to Easter. It is a time for us to reflect on our Christian beliefs, to spend time reading scripture, and to spend time in prayer and draw closer to Jesus.

Some people choose to do something special during those 40 days, like fasting, or maybe giving something up, or just to spend more time, focusing on our relationship with Jesus. God is always ready to help renew our spirits if we are faithful in asking Him for direction.

Throughout Lent, we will follow the life of Jesus in our church services as we read the scriptures that explain his journey to Calvary. It is something we do each year during lent, but every time we hear the story, or read it, we realize more and more about the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for us when He died on that cross, so we could be forgiven people.

In our community, we have Lenten services every Wednesday at a different church where we can gather with other believers and worship our awesome God. It is a time for us to listen to other ministers as they preach the messages of Lent and feel the presence of Jesus as we hear the scriptures and sing songs of praise to Him.

Everyone is welcome, so maybe that is something you can do during this season if you don’t attend any certain church, as we prepare our hearts for the resurrection.

I’d like to close with this quote that I read, and the author is anonymous. “ May the small sacrifices of Lent prepare you for the bounty of Christ’s love”.