I can’t remember the last time I was this excited to see the signs of spring.  This was a cold, icy, hard winter.  And I live in Texas!  Thankfully there are signs of spring everywhere.  The stores are filled with pastel colors and Easter bunnies.  Church choirs are working on their music and the local nurseries are getting ready for large shipments of annuals.  It might cool off again, but it won’t stay that way for long.  This is the season of hope.

The Lenten season is supposed to be a time of spiritual reflection as we look forward to Easter.  Many people will use this time to give up something as a way to remember that Easter is a time of sacrifice.  How like the world to crowd the shelves with chocolate and jellybeans for the Lenten season.  Temptation abounds!

Some years I pray about what I should give up for Lent.  I’ve enjoyed the discipline that is a daily reminder that Jesus gave up everything for me.  This year I’m having a reversed Lent.  Rather than “give up” something each day, I want to include something in each day.  

I was pondering the season and wondering how I should prepare for Easter this year.  I know I will read Jim’s Lenten devotional each day.  I watched him work on this year’s edition and I know he wrote with great focus.  I’m looking forward to reading what God gave him to say.  But there is something else I’m feeling led to do as well.  

Each day I would like to share the name of Jesus with someone I don’t know.  It might be on the elevator, in a store or some other public spot.  I’m not sure yet how I will do this, but I want to bring up the name of Jesus each day.  I might tweet his name, put something on Facebook or find some other way to send it out in the media – but I want to emphasize the name of Jesus, the person that Easter is really about.

The idea came to me while I was holding my granddaughter.  She is only two months old, but I like to speak the name of Jesus to her as often as I can.  I have a terrible singing voice, but she likes it just fine.  I enjoy singing, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”  Truthfully, most of what she needs to know about the Lord is contained in those profound words.

So, I will devote the Lenten season to adding something into each day, something that should already have been there more often!  I will speak the name of Jesus to people, as God leads.  I will try to keep you updated through these blogs if I have interesting stories to share.  There is power in speaking the name of Jesus.

Acts 4:12:  “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”  

1 Corinthians 6:11:  “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.“

Revelation 19:16:  “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”

I believe there is power in the name of Jesus.  I would like the Lord to use me to release that power into a world and a culture that needs to remember what Easter is really about.  It is good to give up something for the Lenten season, but I think there might be greater good in what we are careful to include.  Would you consider joining me?

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