40 Acts of Lent: Day one

[Apologies for the lateness of posting today's Lent act!]

40ACTS·WED,  1 MARCH 2017

Act 1 : Set Out

40 days stretch before us. 40 days full of possibilities, opportunities and choices to make about living generously. So let’s gear up and get ready to give – wholeheartedly, creatively, even surprisingly, but above all, generously.

Choose how you’ll complete today’s act:

Find a pen and two pages from a notepad. On the first page, list everything that's holding you back right now from living a generous life. Then on the second page, list everything that you have to give away – time, skills, resources. Don't sell yourself short here – really think about what you have. Rip up the first list. Pray over the second.

Look at the second list. Use one of the smaller resources you've written down to do something quick and simple today.

Call a mate. Ask them to hold you accountable for the next 39 days – maybe have them call you weekly to check how you've been doing with the challenges (or check in every day to pester you if you need it...).

The power of the generous crowd (a new twist for 40acts 2017) – starting tomorrow, we’ll be launching mini crowdfunding appeals each day, so we can join forces and raise some modest but significant amounts for Christian charities this Lent. Check out Act #2 for the first – a lot of people giving a little of what they have will make a massive difference.

“Freely you have received; freely give.” Matthew 10:8 (NIV)