The Lenten season is an often misunderstood sometime avoided, and even an abused seasonal opportunity, The truth of the matter is... That it should be year round in our walks as followers of Christ, But, in many cases has become a legalistic norm. Even having grown up in a Christian home, I had a misconstrued comprehension of the Lenten season as a whole, Never was I taught that it was a season to be enjoyed.
I sought to find out more from authors, pastors, and spiritual directors about the vitality of the Lenten season, its purpose for us as Christians and how it can be transformational in our personal walks with Christ. 

The Lenten season has been observed by a variety of God’s people for thousands of years. For some, It has been a liturgical and even legalistic approach to earn favor with Christs' finished work, and for others it has lacked the relational aspects of grace and invitation by that come from a loving Savior. (We did that, not Jesus!) 

The whole simplistic purpose of this season has been to reorient Christians with a vantage point of understanding Jesus’ suffering, and sacrificial death on the cross. Lent consists of forty days plus an additional six Sundays, that later culminates in Easter with a focus on Jesus’ resurrection and the ensuing celebration of Jesus being risen and the gift of salvation that we as Christians have through Jesus’ finished work on the cross! But this season doesn't have to start and stop there!

There is often a component to giving up something for the Lenten season, that in many cases is something that distracts or distorts us from our awareness of the Lord’s presence. When we desire to embrace what we have given up during this season, the hope would be that we would press into Jesus’ suffering for our sins, and be drawn into the transformational power of the good news, and not embrace what we have given up. It is not about giving up something in particular, for our own selfish ambition or self glory, but in this season of giving something up, Is it and wonder that so much scripture deals with the cutting of of our flesh! I have found personally that this season offers me an opportunity to become a living sacrifice, to put the old man to death with Christ, to practice repentance at every turn. When I step into this rhythm I am able to abide in Christ, grow in Him, experience renovation, regeneration, and resurrection in my life and it become contagious, radical, and restores my joy as I let Him transform my heart. I have renamed the season of Lent for myself personally. The season has been extended to become a year round invitation and I now call it "Preparations for Son Rise!"  

Now I have a perpetual invitation from Jesus to ask myself questions that count like; How will I reorient my heart today, Do I frequently remember the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ for my sins? Am I allowing Jesus to do a deeper work, am I enjoying an intimate walk with Him.

My hope is that as we move towards Easter, and the day after, and the days and weeks, and months after that; That God would transform our hearts where you and I would rejoice in Jesus’ resurrection, in our personal relationship with Him and in the gift of salvation! Preparing for Son rise is a gift for all Christians that prepares our hearts for Jesus' resurrection and if you have not embraced this open season previously, I want to encourage you to give it a try. I would love to hear how the Lord works in you, and what He does through you in the comments below as we make our way towards tomorrow's Son-rise! 

Here are some passages to pray through conversationally in preparation for todays Son-rise!

We must lay aside the old self!

Ephesians 4:21
...if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught Him just as truth is in Jesus, that in reference to your former manner of life you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and you put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

We must allow our old self to be renewed and not held hostage by the old self.

Colossians 3:9,
“Do not lie to one another since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created Him.”

Prov 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

We have been renewed by His mercy and not the public, religious, opinions that lack the discernment of heart.
 
All have a sometimes moment.

Titus 3:3-6 KJV
[3] For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. [4] But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, [5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; [6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

All have a sometimes moment.

Ephesians 2:13 KJV
[13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

All have a sometimes moment.

Ephesians 5:8 KJV
[8] For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Titus 2:11-15 KJV
[11] For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; [14] Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. [15] These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Titus 2:7-8 KJV
[7] In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, [8] Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Isaiah 57:15 KJV
[15] For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place , with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Psalm 34:22 KJV
[22] The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Psalm 34:17-20 KJV
[17] The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. [18] The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. [19] Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. [20] He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV
[9] And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Everything we magnify becomes amplified. Will we magnify our troubles, our fears, our tears. I will magnify the Lord! 

Psalm 34:3-6 KJV
[3] O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. [4] I sought the Lord , and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. [5] They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. [6] This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him , and saved him out of all his troubles.

Ephesians 1:17-23

The Full Gospel of Grace beyond just the aspect of pardon for those who are in Christ. We have been fully restored to experience the fullness of His strength, power, authority…. 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

1 Thess 5:16 Rejoice evermore!

In order to rejoice, I must know whose hands I’m in!

The Psalmist proclaimed, “This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. That means that the hands of the Lord are what forms every day, good or bad and that in order to rejoice I must know who’s hands I’m in!
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A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6. And is good for deterring would be thieves.
A baseball in Mark Mcguire's hands is worth $19 million.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands. More like a big boys fly swatter!
A tennis racket in Pete Sampras' hands is a Wimbledon Championship.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal or poke me in the eye!
A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A slingshot in my hands is! a kid's toy and a good way to break a window!
A slingshot in David's hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it's in.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches and a lunch I’m probably not going to share. Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God's hands will feed thousands. It depends whose hands it's in.

Nails in my hands might produce a couple of framed walls But,
Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends whose hands it's in.

As you can see now, it all depends on whose hands it's in. And all you have to do today is put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God's hands because...

It all depends whose hands it's in!

The one thing that I finally get and am most appreciative for as I adventure with God is that God’s love for us, approval of us, and commitment to us does not ride on our resolve or performance but on Jesus’s resolve for us. The gospel is the good news announcing Jesus’ unfailing devotion to us despite our erratic and unstable devotion to Him. The gospel is not a command to hang on to Jesus; it’s a promise that no matter how weak and unsuccessful our faith and efforts may be, God is always holding on to us. We are in His grip! So much so, that the righteousness that comes through His faithfulness is finally allowed to free me from passing the kind of perpetual judgment on myself that leaves me chained to my sin. Our Chains are broken, we've been set free! -Thoughts from "On Adventure with God." John Fairrington.