sacrifice

i'm not sure what you gave up for lent this year but this year i didn't up anything. my reasoning was that i decided to give up buying clothes for all of 2009. i've always understood lent as a season of self-denial and sacrifice that prepares us for understanding Christ's ultimate sacrifice with greater depth. so when i went into this year i thought i'd like to experience more of that in my life and choose something would be sacrificial but not impossible. i also knew i had enough clothes that while it might seem like a sacrifice it wasn't too hard to keep for an entire year. or at least that was the plan :) but i have now been living out of the same two suitcases for the last two and a half months and will continue to live out of them indefinitely. so my sacrifice that once seemed small and insignificant is now becoming a daily choice of self-denial and sacrifice. and the irony is that it is also mirroring so many other things i've had to sacrifice so far this year. like time in england, time with friends, travel, security about the future and many more things. God is never satisfied with our small plans, He often takes our weak ideas of sacrifice and growth and turns them into huge lessons. so while i haven't given up anything for lent this year i fear that this easter will be like no-other. Christ sacrificed so much, denied himself completely and if God chooses to have us partake in that suffering so we might taste the life of Christ more fully than i hope i can say i am willing. thankful for:

* the gift and amazing sacrifice of a crucified and risen Christ!

* a good day making plans and getting excited about the future :)

* a chance for a vacation- whohooo!

its been a pretty good week all things considered. we still don't have a number but the latest report is that the case worker has been away and will be back next week so we might see some movement on that- hopefully. and i've also been able to take some time off next week for a much needed break. God is good.

i attended our church shooting day- can i tell you how much fun it was :)