Our Journey Through Lent

Lent is the time in the church year from Ash Wednesday to Easter - 40 days, not including Sundays - where we reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Special Lenten services on Wednesday evenings are offered at church that are more somber in mood and content that the joyfulness we experience on Sundays. We prepare our hearts for the ultimate joyfulness of Easter Sunday when we rejoice knowing our sins are forgiven through faith in Jesus!
This year the kids and I planted our first "Lenten Garden". In it we find a pool of shells reminding us of our baptism when we were adopted into God's family and received saving faith in Jesus while we were still infants - what a miracle! The pool is shaded by a "prayer plant" (that's the name - I found it at Home Depot!). On a hill we have the cross made from sticks the kids found on our nature walk. A path of rocks lead from the cross to a tomb Will and friend made from modeling clay complete with the rock to be rolled away on Easter morning.
Three candles (the Trinity) cover the perimeter of the garden that will be extinguished on Good Friday. On Easter Sunday the rock will be rolled away and replaced with a beautiful butterfly symbolizing new hope in Christ!

But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7