“Cast away from you all the creatures you have committed, says the Lord, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.” Ez 18:31

Happy Friday Everyone. It’s the second Friday in Lent. I have made it an entire 9 days without checking one Facebook Post or one Twitter Post. I have posted a new blog everyday so far. It still has been a struggle. Trust me, it is very tempting to go ahead and take just one little peek at the Facebook wall to see what is going on. Today it is especially hard, because today is my birthday.

Everyone has gotten so used to, at least in my experience, just posting a Happy Birthday message to someone on their Facebook Wall. That makes it really easy for people who are far away and don’t get to see you often, to just send a little saying telling you hello, and happy birthday. And when it is your birthday, it is nice to see. Well, sorry to say, this year, I will not be able to see all the posts, but I hope all my friends know I love them and say thank you for taking the time anyway.

I have written a lot over the last weeks or so about the relationship factor that Lent is all about. I feel that so far, I have started to grow in my faith, and I am beginning to understand the messages that are being sent to me from God. That is a scary thought in of itself. Just a few months ago, I was still wondering about what all I am supposed to be doing with my life. Well, I am 35 and I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. I have found though, that so far, my routines have started to change, and by taking away one of the things I used to do all the time that wasn’t getting me anywhere, I now have time to focus on what is going on with me. I wake up in the morning with more of a sense of thankfulness than gloom. I am allowing myself to write the messages that I am feeling, rather than trying to force a message to come and make it perfect. And more importantly, I am taking time to actually pray with a purpose. I really feel that this Lent and the work that I am putting behind it is really making a difference in me.

The only thing that I can say is causing it all is my deeper understanding of what is being said to me on a daily basis. I know it sounds strange, but I really believe that God is working in my life and through me in all kinds of ways, and I am learning to just let that happen. As a man, it is very hard for me to let go and not be the one in control. To allow some other force to work in my place is a concept that is hard to wrap your mind around. I know that I am not going to be able to put it all into a context that makes sense, so this is my best shot at it. I feel this inner joy happening, and I know I am doing what is being asked of me by God when I feel that. Everyday I want to do more, and have this feeling even more often, it has become a drive. I just pray that anyone who is reading this will be able to feel this, and to understand what I am talking about, because it is one of the best feelings in the world. It really is something that has to be experienced, and it is truly amazing.

Lord, thank you for giving me another year on this Earth. Thank you for working through me, and please touch the lives of everyone today, so that they to can experience the joy of having you in their lives. Amen.