Lent: Doing with Instead of Doing without

Lent is the season of remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus, and most often Christians who participate respond by doing without some treat or delight.  However, I decided this year to do something different than foregoing something like eating my fav treat, dark chocolate.  I am adding the small step of daily exercise to better myself.  Believe me, this is a big sacrifice for me since I have been choosing not to make time for it on a regular basis over the past year or so.  I figure making myself a better, healthier person can't be wrong.  And, as an added bonus, I still get my dark chocolate.  Ha!  :)  

Oh, and if you participate, I'm interested in what you're doing for Lent.  

Please let me know -- it may give me ideas for next year!  

Jesus said, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Mark 8:34

Of course, before Ash Wednesday we enjoyed a Mardi Gras celebration at my church, All Saints' Episcopal Church, in Atlanta on Shrove Tuesday.  FYI about Lent and Shrove Tuesday:   Gregory I helped established the type of fast to prepare for Lent.  He wrote, “We abstain from flesh meat, and from all things that come from flesh, as milk, cheese, and eggs.”  This was the standard in the Middle Ages and led to the practice of getting rid of milk and eggs prior to Lent by eating pancakes on the Tuesday prior to Lent, known as Shrove Tuesday.  Here are a few pictures from our Shrove Tuesday:

Father Chuck led a short service for the burning of the palms from last year's Palm Sunday.  These ashes were used during our Ash Wednesday service the next day.  The ashes are symbolic of having our sins from the past year forgiven.

All Saints' had a New Orlean's flair with a low country boil.  And, no, that's not apple juice!  :)  There were pancakes, of course, but I stuck with this!  

My son all decked out in Mardi Gras bling!

The kids started an intense game trading masks and necklaces.

My daughter with her choir and hand bell director.