Today is Ash Wednesday.  I’ve wanted to start a 40 day journal through Lent.  Brian gave me a book called “Walking in the Will of God”, the last time he was here.  The book of Ephesians 1:11 tells us “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.  Long before we first heard of  Christ… he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.”   I started a Lenten Study two weeks ago, and in the class we discussed a Prayer Journal so to speak.  So this is my 40 day Lent Prayer Journal so to speak.  Couldn’t think of a better time to start it than today.  I pray that God this is just a beginning for me.  I feel I am at a new beginning, and my walk with God and the Lord is important to me.  I know God long for me to discover the life He created for me to live- here on Earth, and forever in Eternity.   I don’t expect to find all the answers in 40 days.  It’s just a beginning for me.   A little about Lent.  Lent has an image problem.  We see it as a time when we should be giving something up-or feeling guilty if we don’t.  It’s the serious season of the church year:  Christmas is over, Easter is still far away.  Lent, we think, is something to be gotten through.   For me I want my 40 days, I want to take my old idea of Lent and give it up!  I’m not giving up chocolate, or pepperoni on my pizza.  Instead I plan to re-think the Lenten themes of sacrafice, repentence, and renewal in some new and unexpected ways.  I’m also going to make time each day for my walk with God.  Like Jesus did for 40 days and nights in the wilderness.  This year I’m going to think of it as a oppurtunity to ask again some of life’s basic spiritual questions.   As I read reflections from “Every Day with Jesus Devotional” and also my Lent Devotional book.  Not sure what else will come but ask God, the Lord, and the Spirit to bless this and Bless me each day on this 40 day Journey.