(from the 99-cent ebook Lent for Non-Lent People: 33 things to give up for Lent and other readings.)
February 13, 2013 is Ash Wednesday. It’s the first day of Lent. Lent is about willingly learning about sacrifice. Lent is about choosing to give up what rightfully belongs to us.
Here are some possibilities of things to give up for Lent.
- First place in line.
- The last piece of pie.
- Second thoughts about commitments.
- “Just five minutes more” (when they keep you from family).
- The last word.
- A fifth. Of something.
- A quarter-pounder.
- Forty cents a day. (It adds up to $12 a month and over a year and with 100 other people, gives a village in Africa water.)
- 1400 characters (or a day without tweeting).
- Three scowls.
- A second helping.
- The last place in line, which demonstrates just how humble we actually are.
- Dave’s Top Ten list (or whatever kept you from turning off the TV and going to bed last night.
- Six simultaneous projects.
- 10 minutes of frantic activity.
- The Final Four [pool] that consumes your attention for a month.
- One argument.
- A fourth pair of shoes.
- Eating alone.
- 12 disciples (Jesus did it. At the end. Course, they left him. So never mind).
- 8 minutes on the snooze.
- A second glance.
- The first 15 parking places closest to the door.
- A five minute well-justified rant about the way that person completely mistreated you when they cut you off as you were driving…
- One minute of worry each hour.
- 30 minutes that could have been filled with, “Wait, what did I do with that 30 minutes?”
- 44 cents for a stamp on an envelope with a piece of paper that says, “I love you.”
- 60 minutes a week to converse with someone about God. (or read 300 words).
- Friday. (or any one day that you spend willingly on the well-being of someone else.)
- Credit. (for number 29)
- An extra coat.
- $10,000. (Maybe you could.)
- My will (let’s go with Your will instead).
New for Lent 2013: Lent for Non-Lent People. 33 Things to Give up for Lent and Other Readings (Kindle and Nook and Kindle-UK and Kindle.CA and iBooks) - a daily guide to prayer, fasting, rest and following Jesus for people who want training wheels for Lent.
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Social media chaplain
Thank you for this wonderful post
. I needed this. Especially #24. May God Bless.
I love linking each of these with what you said last week. So I skip those close parking spaces, and use the extra time as I move through the parking lot to listen to God. That’s perfect for me to let go of a little sense of entitlement that I feel around those special spaces. I think you just helped me determine the perfect personal commitment for Lent!
Does it count if I skip the quarter-pounder and thank Him for a Big Mac? Probably not.
Wonderful, Rich!
So many of them I did not think of, and yet, were so timely. So motivated to incorporate some of these into my Ash Wednesday and the rest of the year. Thanks!
Good stuff. Very good.
Inspiring list. No religion required.
You only tweet ten times a day? Lightweight
pretty much a twimp.
When i think about the sacrifice most of these things are to me, I am convicted by the thought of someone who has no food or water looking at be with utter bewilderment. Sigh i have a lot of growing to do.
Thanks for the prompt.
I love how you made these simple and yet significant at the same time.
Really made me think… I might just give up a scowl or two too x
Compelling list. I’m most convicted by the going to bed earlier. I believe the benefits, but that one’s hard for me. Thanks for sharing, and I’ll retweet.
Thank you all for your responses. I’m busy the last two days trying to figure out how to practice what I mention (not preaching, not by a long shot here).
I love this little list and I am reposting.
Thank you!
thank you!
This is the best list of Lenten suggestions I have ever read. Thank you.
thank you friend
What should a twelve year old girl that doesn’t have a cell phone give up?
wanting one? (and thanks for asking)