TAKING TIME TO BE HOLY
"I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:3-5)

There is an old hymn entitled Take Time to Be Holy. The first verse is as follows:
   "Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
     Abide in Him always and feed on His Word.
     Make friends of God's children; help those who are weak;
     Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek."

The language in this hymn is clearly from a different era, but the message continues to be meaningful: It's important to take the time to be with God.

Lent is a good time to increase the time we spend with God. It is a time to discern ways to make ourselves more fully available to God's work in us. As United Methodists, we believe that, when we ask, God forgives our sins and accepts us as beloved children. As children of God, we then begin a life long process of spiritual cleansing and growth.