Now we come to the second "When you" which is

2/ FASTING.

If you look up Fasting on the net it will give you diets for slimming.

What we need to know is about fasting for a spiritual and christian reason.

In our Lord's day, the Jews were quite used to fasting as a religious activity. It had been practiced since the days of Moses.

Christians believe that food and drink are not only necessary but also to be enjoyed, which we can do so easily in these days when there is so much choice and many flavours.

We also keep in mind that obesity is now a common illness and many over-eat.

For us, cutting down or doing without food for a while will strengthen our will power, bring our bodies into obedience to our minds and can sometimes be used to concentrate on spiritual matters, or we can fast before making important decisions. (See Acts 13.4 “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” and 14.23 “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.”)

It has been a widespread custom to fast before receiving the sacred bread and wine of Holy Communion. This is why 8a.m. became a widely- used time for the first service on a Sunday.

As we contemplate Jesus' fast, we can all "give up" something for Lent. The commonest things are sugar in hot drinks and smoking, or chocolate or alcohol.

In a family this is best discussed together. Children often choose their weekly sweets or sugar in tea or any little favourite thing. Adults may fast from sex, a weekly visit to their pub, a visit to a football match, wine with meals or suchlike.

Other family members may try to give up bad habits like slamming doors, leaving toothpaste dribbles in the wash basin, leaving beds unmade or not picking up dirty underclothes on the bedroom floor, speaking angrily, losing their temper, etc.

Members of the family might agree to give up some television time too.

There we are then, Lenten fasting should be offered to God and we can ask him to help us grow in self-control and grow towards being more like he wants us to be.

And now for the third "when you" - when you give 'alms'.

3/ ALMSGIVING.

Put briefly, almsgiving is giving money, goods, skill or time to help others in need.

If, for example, there is an appeal for people whose houses have crashed in ruins after an earthquake, we can send money or blankets or have a garage sale to raise funds or some people will be trained to work with an aid agency.

The Bible makes it clear that prayer and fasting should lead to action, as we read in Isaiah 58:6: "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” or Isaiah 58 vv 8--10 “Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”

My prayer is that, this Lent, through prayer and fasting, giving things up and giving things away, concentrating more on the Lord and being more open to the work of his Holy Spirit, each of us will experience more of his love and grace, and grow in our faith and in our usefulness to Him.

End