Andy Darnell’s Mindmap

On Wednesday, February 17, Lent will start this year.

Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ – his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection.  (http://christianity.about.com)

I liked the way John summarized it last year, “For many of the readers here this is a particularly powerful time for us as we travel with Jesus historically for 40 days up until his death on the Cross for our Sins.”

Last year, I focused on what I was drinking during the 40 days. I only drank water.

This year, I am going to go one step further.

In addition to drinking only water, I’m gonna shut down twitter and facebook. Yep. You heard me. This is HUGE for me. I plan on asking my wife to change my passwords for both. No access from the crackberry. No access from my laptop. The whole idea for me will be to replace the time that I spend on these social media platforms with something that will bring us closer to God. I’m gonna increase my personal quiet time for the 40 days, and hopefully blog about each day. Yes, I’m not giving up the blog during that time. Maybe next year

Many people look at Lent as an old law. I don’t know too many baptists like myself that do anything for it, but I received a lot of value last year. I hope you’ll join me by sacrificing something. Why not take the next couple weeks and ask God what He’d have you give up for Him this year?

Let me know your thoughts.

“He had been all night in agony, he had spent the early morning at the hall of Caiaphas, he had been hurried from Caiaphas to Pilate, from Pilate to Herod, and from Herod back again to Pilate; he had, therefore, but little strength left, and yet neither refreshment nor rest were permitted him. They were eager for his blood, and therefore led him out to die, loaded with the cross. O dolorous procession! Well may Salem’s daughters weep. My soul, do thou weep also.

“What learn we here as we see our blessed Lord led forth? Do we not perceive that truth which was set forth in shadow by the scapegoat? Did not the high-priest bring the scapegoat, and put both his hands upon its head, confessing the sins of the people, that thus those sins might be laid upon the goat, and cease from the people? Then the goat was led away by a fit man into the wilderness, and it carried away the sins of the people, so that if they were sought for they could not be found. Now we see Jesus brought before the priests and rulers, who pronounce him guilty; God himself imputes our sins to him, “the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all;” “He was made sin for us;” and, as the substitute for our guilt, bearing our sin upon his shoulders, represented by the cross; we see the great Scapegoat led away by the appointed officers of justice. Beloved, can you feel assured that he carried your sin? As you look at the cross upon his shoulders, does it represent your sin? There is one way by which you can tell whether he carried your sin or not. Have you laid your hand upon his head, confessed your sin, and trusted in him? Then your sin lies not on you; it has all been transferred by blessed imputation to Christ, and he bears it on his shoulder as a load heavier than the cross.

“Let not the picture vanish till you have rejoiced in your own deliverance, and adored the loving Redeemer upon whom your iniquities were laid.”
(Charles Spurgeon)

From now until Easter, I am thinking a lot about the cross. I’d like to share some songs that are my most played recently in Itunes. The seventh song that I am listening to is Draw Me Nearer (Caedmon’s Call) The funny thing that I didn’t realize is that this is taken from I am Thine, O Lord. It is an older Hymn from 1875 by Fanny Crosby and  W. Howard Doane. I never put the two together as being similar. See, we still sing hymns in church.

I have heard Your voice
And it told Your love to me
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee

Chorus
Draw me nearer
To the cross where Thou hast died
Draw me nearer
To Your precious bleeding side

There are great depths of love that I cannot know
‘Till I cross the narrow sea
And there are heights of joy that I may not reach
Til I rest in peace with Thee

Consecrate me now to Your service, Lord
By the Power of grace divine
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope
And my will be lost in Thine.

From now until Easter, I am thinking a lot about the cross. I’d like to share some songs that are my most played recently in Itunes. This sixth song is from Mac Powell of Third Day. The words to this song are amazing. It comes from Isaiah 53:5.

He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed

He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed

We are healed by Your sacrifice
And the life that You gave
We are healed for You paid the price
By Your grace we are saved
We are saved

He was pierced for our transgressions
And crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed

We are healed by Your sacrifice
And the life that You gave
We are healed for You paid the price
By Your grace we are saved
We are saved

He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed
And by His wounds, by His wounds

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

 

From now until Easter, I am thinking a lot about the cross. I’d like to share some songs that are my most played recently in Itunes. This fifth song is from Andrae Crouch (although the version that I’ve been listening to is sung by Clay Crosse.

The blood that Jesus shed for me,
way back on Calvary;
the blood that gives me strength
from day to day,
it will never lose its power.

It reaches to the highest mountain,
it flows to the lowest valley;
the blood that gives me strength
from day to day,
it will never lose its power.

It soothes my doubts and calms my fears,
and it dries all my tears;
the blood that gives me strength
from day to day,
it will never lose its power.