Michael Harrison's e-devotion

Yesterday was the beginning of what many Christians celebrate as the season of Lent leading up to Easter.  It is often called “Ash Wednesday” which has been signified in church services with a pastor places ashes in the form of a cross on someone’s forehead. Many Christian traditions celebrate this in a humble way.  Some spend a great deal of time fasting and praying.  You might have heard people say that they are giving up something as their sacrifice or fast for lent.  It might be a time of literally fasting from food, from social media has been mentioned recently, or simply a choice to spend more time with the Lord. Easter is most definitely the greatest of Christian holidays.  Why is that?  Christmas is important but is mute without the truth of Jesus’ death that we honor at Easter.  Any other spiritual service or event don’t compare to the beauty and depth of the Easter holiday. I share this with ...

Yesterday was “Ash Wednesday” which is the day that marks the beginning of the season of Lent leading up to Easter.  The follow is an article from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association reminding us about the importance of this season. As one of the oldest observations in Christendom, Lenten tradition has changed over the years, but its purpose has always been the same: self-examination and penitence, demonstrated by self-denial, in preparation for Easter. Lent, which comes from an Anglo-Saxon word for “spring,” can be viewed as a spiritual spring cleaning: a time for taking spiritual inventory and then cleaning out everything which hinders   a relationship with Christ. Traditionally, the season of Lent begins with a sign of repentance: placing ashes mixed with oil on one’s head or forehead. This day is known as Ash Wednesday. However, we must realize that any Lenten disciplines/denials we demonstrate before God should be practiced to help us become...

Yesterday was the beginning of Lent.   Religious traditions use Lent as remembrance using the 40 days before Easter.   Kind of strange this year that Lent begins on Valentines Day and Easter is actually on April Fool’s Day, April 1st. Nevertheless, the media hyped and earth-bound holidays of romantic love and foolish pranks have nothing to do with the glories and the purpose of Christ.   That is why for a few minutes today I ask that we think about the humanity or mortality of life.   Life is precious, and life is short.   Life is meant to be lived with purpose, passion and is best when linked to the one who actually gave us life and who gives us purpose.   That is God. Lent is often the religious of observance that points to the reasons for Jesus’ death as well as the truth of the resurrection.   This first day of Lent is called “ash Wednesday” when people use ash to make the sign of the cross on their forehead.   Lent is literally th...