"LENT IT LINGER" The Lenten season is a time to reflect on our faith and contemplate the sacrifice and suffering of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It can be tempting to rush through this season and focus solely on the warmth and richness of Easter, but it's important to resist this temptation. By embracing the emptiness of Good Friday, we can gain a renewed appreciation for the magnitude of Jesus' sacrifice and the depth of His love for us. During Lent, we give something up so that we can fill the void with thoughts of our Savior who gave up so much more in His atoning sacrifice for our sins. This season slows us down and provides us with an opportunity to reflect on our relationship with God, seeking His guidance and wisdom. It's easy to complain about the inconveniences of Lent, but by doing so, we miss the profound significance of Good Friday. It was on this day that our Lord's victory was won for us by our humiliated Savior. The cross, not the empty tomb, is the glorification of the Son of Man (John 13:31). While there is certainly glory in the empty tomb, it's important to note that it plays a vital role as the "proof in the pudding," that Christ's cross was a decisive and definitive victory (see also Paul's use of "triumph" in reference to the cross in Colossians 2:15). As we approach Easter Sunday, let us remember that the road to resurrection passed through the cross. It is through this sacrifice that we have been given the gift of eternal life. The season of Lent is a metaphor for the journey of life, marked by pain and suffering this side of heaven's glory. However, we can take comfort knowing that Jesus has overcome death and will walk with us through our life's journey and its final threshold. For 40 days or 40 more years, Jesus promises to never leave us or forsake us. He is by our side, always. - Pastor Mike