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| Amazing paintings done whilst we were at Spring Harvest last year |
I'm part of a lovely FB group called Christian Bloggers UK and it is open for new members but there are three conditions to join. Can you guess what they might be? Yes, it is super easy - Christian, blogger and UK based or born. So if you fit this criteria and want somewhere to share inspiration and ask questions, then head over and request to join.
Rachel, who blogs over at Rachel Ridler: Mum on a Mission is on of the admins of this group and she has tagged me to join in with the Easter tag. All I need to do is share my answers to a set of ten questions and then tag three other blogger friends to join in. So here goes....
1. How are you celebrating Lent this year?
I love Easter, it is probably my favourite Christian celebration of the year and Lent is the time that I start to get excited for it. I don't much go in for giving things up over Lent as I think so many people do it for selfish reasons or through obligation rather than because they want to make space to focus more on Jesus and what He did for us at Easter time.
This year I am getting up half-an-hour earlier each day so I can do a Psalms bible study and pray more. I'm also joining in with the #40acts movement and dong Lent generously. I'll get an email each day with a few simple ideas of how I could be generous that day. Today I have dropped what I was doing to be a listening ear for someone and given them some practical help. Tomorrow - who knows!
2. What does Lent mean for you?
Lent for me is a time of preparation for Easter. I make space to focus more on God and less on me. As well as my early morning bible study I have also been listening to Christian podcasts today and I spent some time in the prayer centre creatively worshipping.
I can't really recall what I did when I was first a Christian. I suspect I might have done the old classic of giving up chocolate at least one year. Who knows if I kept with it! I know I have done at least a few years where I have sought to abstain from overeating, so I haven't cut out any specific foods but I have sought to just eat what I needed rather than overeating and thus taken my focus away from food and been able to look to God for my comfort and to sustain me.
In recent years I have cut out blogging and/or social media and that has worked well and I've been able to keep with that and break unhealthy ties where they have been formed. As much as I love all things social they can suck you in. I'm pleased to report that this year I am feeling very balanced with it all and m thus still blogging.
4. Have you ever taken part in an Easter bonnet competition? ( If so post the picture for us all!)
Yes, I'm sure I have but I'm 43 years old so I can't recall at all!
5. What is your favourite pancake topping?
Ohh I love all pancakes but banoffee is probably my favourite. So toffee sauce, sliced banana and hipped cream, Yes I did have one yesterday.
6. How do you celebrate Easter Day?
No specific way, each year has been different. We enjoy the run up to it by creating an Easter garden decorating an Easter tree, cooking hot cross buns and talking about what Easter means. As we live in a Christian community there will be loads of services and celebrations going on so we will join in with all those things. For the last few years Easter Sunday has started with a daybreak communion, often outside and then we'll have church and lunch will all our community.
Some years we have been at the Spring Harvest festival at Easter but this year we will go before Easter so by the time Easter comes we'll be on a high!
7. What is your favourite Easter food?
Ohh roast lamb, I just love it.
8. What would you encourage others to think about during Easter time?
How very lucky they are. It is so important that each of us chooses to be content with what we already have in life and to be able to thank the Lord for those things. Even when life isn't perfect, there are still things to be thankful for and I'm a bit Pollyanna about this. I think this is something everyone can practise whether they are a Christian or not and of course if you are a Christian then you should be thinking about the ultimate sacrifice that God made for you. That He loves you that much that he gave His only son for you.
9. What activities do you take part in during Holy Week?
When we first became Christians we were part of an Anglican church so we took part in all of the Holy week activities and Palm Sunday still remains one of my favourite services of all, as it was the first I led. Nowadays we are part of a more evangelical church and there is less emphasis on specific services or activities. As I mentioned above the kids and I tend to do lots of Easter specific activities during this week and we also have an Anglican church within the grounds of where I live so I have joint them for their Maundy Thursday evening service the last couple of years.
10. Who else would you like to nominate to take part in the Easter Tag?
I'm going to nominate Rebecca at The Beesley Buzz, Claire at Clarina's Contemplations and Suzanne at Inside, Outside and Beyond.
So over to you lovely ladies, I hope you can find the time to join in. All you have to do take part is:
Copy and paste the following questions into a new blog post and use the CBUK graphic from this post somewhere in your post.
1. How are you celebrating Lent this year?
2. What does Lent mean for you?
3. What things have you given up for Lent in the past, and did you succeed or fail?
4. Have you ever taken part in an Easter bonnet competition? ( If so post the picture for us all!)
5. What is your favourite pancake topping?
6. How do you celebrate Easter Day?
7. What is your favourite Easter food?
8. What would you encourage others to think about during Easter time?
9. What activities do you take part in during Holy Week?
10. Who else would you like to nominate to take part in the Easter Tag?
2. What does Lent mean for you?
3. What things have you given up for Lent in the past, and did you succeed or fail?
4. Have you ever taken part in an Easter bonnet competition? ( If so post the picture for us all!)
5. What is your favourite pancake topping?
6. How do you celebrate Easter Day?
7. What is your favourite Easter food?
8. What would you encourage others to think about during Easter time?
9. What activities do you take part in during Holy Week?
10. Who else would you like to nominate to take part in the Easter Tag?
Don’t forget to share on the Christian Bloggers UK Facebook group if you’re a member! Happy Lent everyone, Mich x
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