This article's honesty and refreshing look at Lent gave me hope for a new focus on Christ during our Easter journey: "Giving Up Self-Discipline for Lent" - Mark Galli
"I suspect that for many of us, Lenten disciplines are more about us than about God. More about getting our act together in some area that continually discourages us and repeatedly sabotages our self-respect. The advantage of Lent over New Year's resolutions is that we can bring God to our side, and the whole church is there to cheer us on. But for many of us, I suspect, it's one big self-improvement regimen, with God as mere personal coach." - Mark Galli
"So for me Easter doesn't become a day when I thank God that he has made me more disciplined, not like those non-liturgical folks who don't even observe Lent. Instead, it becomes an occasion to celebrate the fact that my self-respect does not hinge on my self-discipline, and that my very lack of discipline is the paradoxical sign of the gospel. Indeed, while we were gluttons and prayerless, while we didn't give a rip about the poor, Christ died for us. It's not for the spiritually fit and healthy that he came, but for the unfit and unhealthy. We may be faithless in areas small and large, but he remains faithful through and through." - Mark Galli
Mark Galli is senior managing editor of Christianity Today. He is author of Chaos and Grace: Discovering the Liberating Power of the Holy Spirit (Baker).
Read the whole, beautiful article on rethinking Lent here: Giving Up Self-Discipline for Lent
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/februaryweb-only/self-discipline-lent.html
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Other Resources for Lent Readings:
Here's an old resource for Lent weekly devotions by Noel Piper:
http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/lenten-lights
Ann Voskamp's Trail to the Tree devotions:
http://www.aholyexperience.com/2014/03/why-you-may-really-really-need-lent-this-year-and-a-free-family-lent-easter-devotional/
"I suspect that for many of us, Lenten disciplines are more about us than about God. More about getting our act together in some area that continually discourages us and repeatedly sabotages our self-respect. The advantage of Lent over New Year's resolutions is that we can bring God to our side, and the whole church is there to cheer us on. But for many of us, I suspect, it's one big self-improvement regimen, with God as mere personal coach." - Mark Galli
"So for me Easter doesn't become a day when I thank God that he has made me more disciplined, not like those non-liturgical folks who don't even observe Lent. Instead, it becomes an occasion to celebrate the fact that my self-respect does not hinge on my self-discipline, and that my very lack of discipline is the paradoxical sign of the gospel. Indeed, while we were gluttons and prayerless, while we didn't give a rip about the poor, Christ died for us. It's not for the spiritually fit and healthy that he came, but for the unfit and unhealthy. We may be faithless in areas small and large, but he remains faithful through and through." - Mark Galli
Mark Galli is senior managing editor of Christianity Today. He is author of Chaos and Grace: Discovering the Liberating Power of the Holy Spirit (Baker).
Read the whole, beautiful article on rethinking Lent here: Giving Up Self-Discipline for Lent
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/februaryweb-only/self-discipline-lent.html
...........................................
Other Resources for Lent Readings:
Here's an old resource for Lent weekly devotions by Noel Piper:
http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/lenten-lights
Ann Voskamp's Trail to the Tree devotions:
http://www.aholyexperience.com/2014/03/why-you-may-really-really-need-lent-this-year-and-a-free-family-lent-easter-devotional/
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