Lent

Lent

This year is my first time doing Lent and I decided to give up instant messaging on MSN, Yahoo, and AOL. Right now, I'm just missing loggin on and talking to all of my friends because it's not the same. No one hardly e-mails me and it is just getting complicated. I just feel like im missing something. If I break it, what would it mean? Would I be going against God or anything? I mean, everyone around me expects for me to keep it but its difficult. Would it hurt if I just logged on like once a night like..Saturday for a little bit when its not a school day? Because one of my main reasons why I decided to give it up was to concentrate on school and to become closer to God. I already went into a chatroom because i was soo bored. Geesh, I dont know what to do. Some christians don't even do lent.
 
This year is my first time doing Lent and I decided to give up instant messaging on MSN, Yahoo, and AOL. Right now, I'm just missing loggin on and talking to all of my friends because it's not the same. No one hardly e-mails me and it is just getting complicated. I just feel like im missing something. If I break it, what would it mean? Would I be going against God or anything? I mean, everyone around me expects for me to keep it but its difficult. Would it hurt if I just logged on like once a night like..Saturday for a little bit when its not a school day? Because one of my main reasons why I decided to give it up was to concentrate on school and to become closer to God. I already went into a chatroom because i was soo bored. Geesh, I dont know what to do. Some christians don't even do lent.

Sunday is a day off from whatever you gave up.
 
While that is not a practice I participate in I heartily suggest that if you are doing it do it as unto the Lord with all your heart and strength.
 
I am glad you are observing Lenten practices! They are very rewarding!! :D They are certainly difficult, but that's what gives us discipline. It is also a certain kind of sharing in the suffering of Christ.

I would suggest that you try not to give in to the temptation. Maybe limit the time gradually. But don't set unrealistic goals. You'll end up in frustration. But don't go too easy on yourself, either. Limit your time gradually. When you want to get on IM, go and read about history, the Bible, or some subject that interests you. Chatrooms can take up so much time, and it's really not good for our spiritual lives sometimes. Take advantage of the "extra" time, and use it to improve your mind and spiritual life! :)

Hope this helps!
 
Are there any traditional things to go by or you just set the goals and times for yourself based on what you think you need to let go and/or do?

Does lent stand for something?
 
Mark18 - Perhaps you can go over this information in the link below as a reference. Lent is not specifically ordered in scripture, but is rather a contrivance of man in a few denominations as a period of fasting, pennitance and reflection. Many persons who are non-denominational Christians, do not observe the practice since it is not specifically mentioned in scripture. It's origin is from around the 4th century AD, and a description of such is not found in Original Manuscript Texts. It was adopted by denominational committee and set forth in denominational policy by decrees of man in it's current form, not by God's specific orders.

Disclaimer: The link below was RANDOMLY selected from many available, as a general reference for the word origin and in no way reflects my own personal beliefs or adherances. It is provided solely for information from one denomination's viewpoint.

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Lent
 
Mark_18, to answer your question, the name Lent comes from an Old English word for spring, or March. The 40 days of Lent are always in the springtime before Easter. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving (or, charity) are all explicitly taught by Jesus in scripture.

I think of it as a time of renewal. You focus on coming home to God, and weeding out some of the distracting "noise" of modern life that distracts us from prayer and reflection. I always learn so much, every year during Lent.

It was adopted by denominational committee and set forth in denominational policy by decrees of man in it's current form, not by God's specific orders.

Well, God didn't specifically order us all to post on Christian message boards, either. But here we are, and it's a blessing, no? ;)
 
Ugh, another lenter of technology. Isn't the whole point (okay not the whole point) but a side point of lent to give up something that's holding you back? Giving up communication on the internet is a strange thing to give up. Just break it, and start over with something food wise like not eating any kind of dessert even for a snack. I just hate it when people discourage technology.
 
Ugh, another lenter of technology. Isn't the whole point (okay not the whole point) but a side point of lent to give up something that's holding you back? Giving up communication on the internet is a strange thing to give up. Just break it, and start over with something food wise like not eating any kind of dessert even for a snack. I just hate it when people discourage technology.

Depends on what's cluttering up your life more. E-mail, messaging, etc. is used frivolously by some people and takes up a lot of time. If it's getting in the way of your spiritual life, and has become too important to you, to the exclusion of more important things...then it'd be a great thing to offer up. :)
 
Ugh, another lenter of technology. Isn't the whole point (okay not the whole point) but a side point of lent to give up something that's holding you back? Giving up communication on the internet is a strange thing to give up. Just break it, and start over with something food wise like not eating any kind of dessert even for a snack. I just hate it when people discourage technology.
I think that any honest person will say that most internet activities are addictive...at least for most people. Anything addictive is keeping us from God. I know how the whole internet addiction thing goes. You start out slow...then you make some friends...you become really good friends...you want to be a part of every conversation that they have...you can access it from anywhere with a computer...you start thinking about it WAY too much...etc., etc.....

So yes, communicating with others can be a very good thing to give up. It gives us more time to focus on communicating with Christ.
 
Depends on what's cluttering up your life more. E-mail, messaging, etc. is used frivolously by some people and takes up a lot of time. If it's getting in the way of your spiritual life, and has become too important to you, to the exclusion of more important things...then it'd be a great thing to offer up. :)

Well what are you and I doing right now?
 
Edifying one another in Christ is a great pursuit no matter what the venue.
 
Well what are you and I doing right now?

The point is, we can ask ourselves: do we use the internet frivolously, as a distraction? Does it clutter our minds and take time from our prayer life...? Does it even lead us into sin?

If so, then it's a good thing to give up for Lent. Doesn't in any way mean using the internet is inherently bad, or that it can't be a good thing.

It's all about being honest with ourselves.
 
The season of Lent can also be more than we ourselves give up. but the cross we offer to bear.

For example, an extra 30 minutes of reading God's Word each day, or 10 minutes of daily prayer.

Don't worry if you have not started yet, I don't believe that God is holding a stop watch right now...

But try offering 10 minutes of pure, quiet, one-on-one prayer each day for the remainder of the Lenten season.

What's 10 minutes a day? Right?

Go to a quiet place, lock the door, or whatever you have to do, ask your family to respect your 10 minutes of privacy. And pray to God for 10 minutes each day.

If you havent done this before, I caution you, it will be hard.

No cheating is allowed, you cannot think about other stuff, or plan your day (Let God plan your day) don't waste your time fantacizing, or daydreaming, just spend 10 minutes with the Lord your God.

Just 10 minutes. You can even start late.

It WILL! change your life.

May God richly bless each of you during this season of anticipation.
 
Definitely!
Well, in past Lents, I've tried to be ambitious and give up or take on HUGE promises, and then I'd wonder why I'd break those promises. This Lent, I'm just taking up reading 5 Psalms a day and I've limited my leisure internet time. It is better to keep a small promise and do small discipline well rather than to promise the world and not be able to keep that promise, no? ;)
 
Definitely!
Well, in past Lents, I've tried to be ambitious and give up or take on HUGE promises, and then I'd wonder why I'd break those promises. This Lent, I'm just taking up reading 5 Psalms a day and I've limited my leisure internet time. It is better to keep a small promise and do small discipline well rather than to promise the world and not be able to keep that promise, no? ;)

I can't say enough good things about praying the Psalms!! I think this is an very good goal you've set for yourself.

May God Bless all of us during this Holy Week! :)
 
Thank you! I wish I had taken notes, though, so I could remember important verses... I read the Bible and then I only remember the content, and not where to find the content! :(
 
I never did observe lent in the past, and don’t today.

I like the way it is put in Matthew 6:2, 5, 17

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms,

5 And when thou prayest,

17 But thou, when thou fastest,

There are a lot of people who believe that you should do good deeds, and you should pray, but don’t believe you should fast. Jesus clearly says “when” not “if”.

I will do good deeds as often as God tells me.
I will pray as often as God tells me.
And I will fast as often as God tells me.
 
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