We don’t need to see Lent as a gloomy time, a sad time or a depressing time.  Lent provides a great opportunity to reflect on the depth of our Creator God’s love for us and the amazing things God has done for us.
Lent is also a time for self-examination, which reveals our shortcomings and helps us to recognize our need for God.
As we worship together, we remember our story as the people of God and are reminded that God has met and still meets all our needs.
We also join Christ in his struggle against evil and death.  In joining Jesus in that struggle, we also join him in his victory.

Matthew 4:1-11

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; 9 and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ ” 11 Then the
devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.