Deeply Rooted in Lent

by Tim Edmond

The Lent season begins with the Ash Wednesday service on March 2 at 6:15 p.m. in the Worship Center. We are officially in the Easter season. As it goes every year, the questions arise: What is Lent? and What are we supposed to do?

Lent is not the little bit of fuzz you find in your pockets (thanks Hannah Hanzel for that marvelous illustration.) Lent is the season of observance 40 days (not including Sundays) from Good Friday. It is book-ended by two observances: Ash Wednesday, which we will observe with a special service and Maundy Thursday.

Part of the observance of Lent is the concept of fasting. You may choose to fast from things such as certain foods to social media. The list is endless of things people will choose to give up or “Lend” for the season.

While our church is reading “Deeply Rooted: A Year with the Psalmist” and going through our season of prayer, you may have struggled to keep up with your devotional reading and praying. This season of Lent would be a great opportunity to choose to give up (or lend) something that may have taken time away and to replace it with times of prayer. There will also be times of intentional prayer made available during our Sunday morning services where we will spend time in prayers of Adoration, thanksgiving and confession. 

I am excited for all the things that are planned for this Lent season and am hopeful to see many of you at our Ash Wednesday service this week. 

May I leave you with these words from Isaac Watts during this Lent season:

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Author Bio
Tim serves as the Worship Director at Council Road Baptist Church. Previously he served as Worship Minister at several Baptist churches throughout the North Texas area. A graduate of Texas Baptist College at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in the area of Vocal Performance, Tim desires to help the local church bridge the gap between artistic performance and church ministry with excellence and solid theological foundation.