Well…its that time of the year again. Ash Wednesday begins in less than two weeks. The funny thing is that about two weeks ago I was psyched for it, I couldn’t wait for Lent to begin. However, the excitement has dulled, mainly because I dread the emotional turmoil I seem to go through every year at this time. I know spiritually I get attacked and tested much more during Lent, after that Advent, which, makes sense. Lent being a time of preperation, repentance and giving up of earthly desires for Jesus’ Crucifixion and Ressurection seem to be a great reason for Satan to attack when we are most weak. After all Lent is just like Jesus being led to the desert to be tempted by Satan.

What to give up? Well, I have already decided this. It is a mix of what I gave up last year and years past, but last year during Lent I suffered a slew of different medical problems that forced me to pretty much only do one offering. But, I digress:

No Sugar – I actually gave up sugar last year for a month for other reasons and was impressed with how healthy I felt afterwards, so, why not, its a tough addiction for me.
100 Pushup Challenge and 200 Situp Challenge – I started these last Lent with very good results, however, I had to go to physical therapy and was told that I couldn’t do pushups and I gave up on situps out of depression. (www.onehundredpushups.com and www.twohundredsitups.com)
Read Scripture – I’m disappointed in myself for not pulling out my Bible enough. So, one chapter of the Gospel and several chapters of the Old Testament should be sufficient.