February Round-Up
The shortest month of the year has come and gone, and we’ve gained an additional hour of sunlight here in Eastern Wyoming. After a cold snap with temps as low as -20, we are now experiencing what we call “false spring.” The 60-degree days blown in by roaring winds are sure to give way to another round of frigid temps before spring actually arrives. But for now, we soak up the warmth like a hound dog lying on the porch.
If you’ve been doing a read-the-Bible-in-a-year plan, you’re now 60 days in! If you haven’t, there’s no better time to start than right now. A year is still 365 days, no matter when you begin. I’ve been doing a chronological reading plan accompanied by The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble. Every day she gives a breakdown of what you just read. There’s a book and a podcast, so use whichever suits your fancy.
If you missed it, our February guest writer was my dear friend Jayci Odermann, who wrote on the slow-paced, sacrificial love of Jesus.
I’m incredibly excited to host Stephanie Cochrane, author of The Paradox Paper, as the March guest writer! Stephanie is an amazing writer, theologian, and human. You’re not going to want to miss her post.
Speaking of March, on Monday, we are finishing up a Practicing the Way course on fasting for our church’s Celebrate Recovery group. Facilitating the group for the last four weeks has been a great experience, and I hope the members will utilize the spiritual practice of fasting.
And while we’re on the topic of fasting, Lent begins this Wednesday. Lent takes place during the 46 (40 excluding the Sundays) days leading up to the Thursday before Easter, and contrary to popular belief, it is not exclusively a Catholic practice. It is an advent, a looking-forward-to, like the four weeks before Christmas. The 40 days of Lent are a reminder of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness before he began his ministry. It also emphasizes repentance, which is why it starts with Ash Wednesday and includes fasting. Most people “give up” something for Lent, but fasting from food is more true to its origins. As I contemplated areas in my life that need repentance, I landed on idolatry. What do I spend more time with than Christ? What do I use to satisfy my cravings, satiate my boredom, soothe my emotions? I am excited to implement giving something up and fasting during my first participation in Lent.
March is always a month of anticipation and perseverance. We anxiously await the arrival of the first calves and signs of spring, but we have to make it through the first three weeks to get there. Will it snow three feet? Will the wind blow 30 mph every day? (Likely). But praise God, the days get longer, the meadowlarks arrive with their melodious song, and we inch closer to the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection.
Need prayer? Send me an email at prairietheology@gmail.com or leave a comment.