Most of what is done and learned in lent is true for the rest of the year,too,but with a different feel.most people couldnt even dream of keeping their intense focus all year on what jesus did and what we are to do with that.forty days is long enough not to be short-term,bt too short to be thought of as a substitute for year-round christian living.a short burst,such as the forty days of lent,can go a long way.but only for those who make some hard decisions.

Giving something up for lent
in lent,its traditional to give up(or fast from) something(s) that we do a lot of and that we find pleasure in.this giving up or fasting is done:

*as a discipline for learning self-control,to free our minds frm the chase after material things,to tell ourselves no and make it stick.

*to identify with christ's suffering and remember that true pleasures are followers of christ.

*as an act of sorrow over our wrong doings and our state of sin.

In fact,it prepares us for easter,in which a risen christ leaves us no cause(or even room) for such guilt or shame.

Sometimes we dont notice how certain things we do ve gained power over us and dictate our actions.in lent fasts,we discover these things and give them up so that God can be in charge.christian parents sometimes use the season to teach their children more about taking responsibility in God's presence for their actions.

Food fasts for lent...the most common thing is to fast from food for lent.to catholics,dis means giving up meat on fridays for the season,or to fast entirely for one day a week.for others,fasting is tough cos they enjoy eating.for diabetics,it can be dangerous,if nt designed with blood sugar level in mind.you might try giving up pizza or fast food or alcohol or snacks.food fasts re not just the most traditional way of living lent,they re also the simplest to do since we all eat routinely everyday.

NOn-FOOD FASTS
if gIving up food isnt much of a task for you,choose something else that you have to make a serious effort to give up.for many people,that may mean 40 days without:
*television
*gambling
*impulse shopping
*catalog shopping.
*leaving flaming comments on blogs and forums
*dancing and clubbing
*having sex. Etc

finally,jesus is not looking for self-torture,self-hatred,woe -is-me thinking,40-day starvation and oceans of tears.(many great saints and plain fools ve taught that's what he wanted).lent is for soberly looking into yourself and getting down to wat's real.self-hatred is nt being real.

How could it be right to despise someone whom God loves and treasure??

GOOdLUCK!!!