* Lent is a time to grow closer to Jesus

* Lent: Turn away from your sin

* Lent: Return to the Lord your God

* Lent: Pray, Fast, Give

* Lent: 40 Days of Renewal

* Lent: A time to prepare

* Keeping a Holy Lent

* Lent: A season of spiritual preparation

* Lent: A yearly reminder of the daily call to come home

* Lent: A time of mercy and grace

* The Good of Giving Up

* Don’t just give up chocolate for Lent

* Lent: A time to repent

* Lent, Create in me a clean heart, O Lord

* Lent, a time to rediscover daily disciplines of Bible study, sacrifice, prayer, and devotion

* In the above list are slogans, good intentions, descriptions, actions, basically ideas we have about this forty days ahead of us prior to Easter Sunday that we have named “Lent.” In reality, each year we are asking like King David: Create in me a clean heart, O God.

The shortest explanation that I can provide is this: Lent is the period of 40 days which comes before Easter in the Christian calendar. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days.

Each year, I have chosen a different theme to draw closer to Jesus, and remember the great work of atonement on the cross for my sins. This year’s theme is: “The Last Words of Christ.” Weekly, prior to each message, we will watch a video about a person of Scripture who had a relationship with Christ. This person will then reflect upon Jesus’ final words on the cross in light of their experience with Him. Take note of the lion, which acts as a logo for this series. The significance of the lion is that Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5), and He's the King who has prevailed!

Just remember what Jesus told us as the greatest commandment that we can take to heart: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39 This should be our most important action for Lent.

In Christ,

Pastor Greg