For many people, Lent is a time when we give things up, but there is so much more to Lent than just giving up cake or coffee.  Instead of giving something up for Lent, try doing something instead:

Reading a book, waking up in the morning and praying, reading a chapter from the Bible a night; working at a soup kitchen; walking to work, walking once a night with your family, playing a game with your family once a week, turn off your phone one day a week and spend that time with your family, volunteer to help around church, volunteer to ride around with Pastor Matt as he goes and visits shutins, do some manual labor, or simply clean the the garage. These are a few ideas, but really all you need to do is look at your life and see the places that are lacking your presence. The possibilities are endless.

Come to both the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Services:

These are very important worship times in the church for we will hear how Jesus won our salvation. These services remind us of our salvation and the story we so love to tell. Without these two services, Easter makes no sense. So come and learn why we gather on Easter.

Give up a meal once a day and use the money for that meal to help the needy:

This has been a tradition in the Roman Catholic Church for years. You simply skip a meal and place that money that you normally would have spent on that meal and give it to the poor.  This year, we will have “Piggy Banks” for you to put your lunch-money in.  $30 dollars is all it takes to give a family a piglet (that is only $7 a week)!

Do not eat meat on Fridays or maybe Monday (meatless-Monday):

Again, this has been a tradition in the Catholic Church for year, but it is another way you might find some spiritual growth.  Sometimes, failing at this discipline teaches more than actually keeping the discipline.  For in failing, you will see just how dependent we are on meat in our diet, where many in the world are lucky to have meat once a month.

Come to Wednesday night dinner and prayer service:

This is not just self promotion.  Come and fellowship with other Christians and deepen your faith.  Martin Luther once said, “Anyone who is to find Christ must first find the church. How could anyone know where Christ is and what faith is in him unless he knew where his believers are?”   So come find Christ and see Christ in the face of your brothers and sisters.

SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY:

I don’t think I can stress this enough. Spending time with your family is so important these days. In the blink of an eye, tragedies can strike. Take as much time as you can to be the people you love and who love you the most.

Still don’t know what to do? Try watching this movie for some more insights!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKcWuJVfY30]