This year, for the first time since 1945, Ash Wednesday falls on Valentines Day and Easter is on April Fools Day. But no need to worry that you’ll have to give up having chocolate from your sweetheart or enjoying a heart-shaped sugar cookie at your child’s Valentines party at school. Instead of giving up sweets this year for Lent, join thousands of others who will be giving up using our words wrongly instead.
I want to invite you, and any friends you want to grab, to join me for our #DoingLentTogether community inspired by my 40-day devotional, Zip It!
Question: How will this work?
We will be a interacting on the Doing Lent Together community page here on Facebook (and also here on Instagram) where I will lead us through 40 days worth of scripture about many topics that relate to using our words: angry words, when to speak up, when to remain silent, gossip, words of forgiveness, examples of Bible characters who used their words well {or didn’t!} and how God’s word helps us to use our words wisely. I will be posting encouragement, a challenge of the day, and also doing many Facebook live videos (sometimes with a special guest!) and there will also be GIVEAWAYS!!!
**If you are not on Facebook, we will also post one discussion prompt a day during our 40 days of #doinglenttogether on Instagram.**
Question: When does it start?
Doing Lent Together kicks off on Ash Wednesday, February 14, and runs through the day before Easter, Saturday, March 31, however we will not be reading or interacting on Sundays. This will give us 40 days of interaction. Join us here on Facebook and be sure to both Like and Follow the Facebook page so you don’t miss a post, or follow us here on Instagram.
Question: Do I have to buy Zip It to be in the group?
It is strongly recommended that you have Zip It since each day’s discussion will be on one of the 40 short devotional entries in the book. {There is a paperback copy and an e-book version.} You can download a FREE sample of days 1-5 here. However, if you choose not to get the book, you are still welcome to join! We don’t want to turn anyone away. It will make some of the interaction a little confusing at times but you will still be able to glean from the 40 days of accountability and learn from the discussion you see happening. **Please note due to publisher copyright, we are unable to post each day’s devotion online.
Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
Proverbs 16:24 ESV
Join #DoingLentTogether on Facebook here or follow us on Instagram here.
You can purchase Zip It at any of these retailers. Also, download a sample of days 1-5 to get you through our first week of #doinglenttogether HERE.
**coupons available at barnesandnoble.com
I would love to participate but I am not in Facebook, are there any other options?
Thanks
Hi Claudia, we’ll be following Karen’s Zip It 40-day devotional if you would like to read along with us. However, all our discussion will be on the Facebook Page. Some participants create a FB profile just for this challenge. We hope you can join us!
Kim Stewart
Karen Ehman Ministry Team
Like, Claudia, I am also not on or interested in being on Facebook, and I am wondering if there is some other way to participate in this Lent series.
I’m not a member of Facebook either, BUT if a page is public, you can still view it and read all the posts without being a member ;) Just click on the link that she provided
Erica, thank you so much, that is incredibly helpful and great news!
Kim (Karen Ehman Ministry Team)
This is a wonderful Lenten activity. I look forward to participating. I will also have to access it on the public Facebook page.
Thank you for sharing this with everyone.
So glad you are joining us, Nicole!
Kim (Karen Ehman Ministry Team)
Hey ladies,
I went to purchase and as of 2/12 Amazon was out of stock…thankfully! Today Christianbook.com has it for only $5.00! Just wanted you to know in case you were looking for a copy before Lent on Wed.
Thank you for sharing that awesome sale, Melodia!
Kim (Karen Ehman Ministry Team)
I participated in Proverbs 31 Bible study using the Zip It book so was excited to get the opportunity to review again during Lent.
Hi Susie, that #Keepitshutbook was one of my favorite OBS’ too and is a book I often pull off my shelf to re-read. We can’t wait to go through the Zip It devotional with you as we are #doinglenttogether. Thanks for joining us!
Kim (Karen Ehman Ministry Team)
How can we participate on Instagram?
Hi Kristin, on Instagram, you can follow Karen here: https://www.instagram.com/karenehman/. There is one daily post for interaction so everyone can engage in the comments at a time that is convenient for them. Hope you will join us!
Kim Stewart
Karen Ehman Ministry Team
A group of about 10 women at my church are following and #doinglenttogether.. Starting this Wednesday, we will be getting together to discuss our thoughts on the devotional and anything else God has laid on our hearts. We are meeting for about an hour each Wednesday until Holy Week. Can you give me some suggestions of how I can incorporate the Keep It Shut bible study with this group? I want to make sure we have enough to discuss to fill our time together.
Thank you ?
Well, this just blesses me! Thank you for studying Keep It Shut. That Bible study is 6 weeks long so I would think if you did one lesson a week (which is roughly 2 chapters of Keep It Shut per week) that would work well for the 6 Wednesdays from tomorrow until Holy Week. If you didn’t purchase the DVD and study guide, I would just have women read two chapters per week and come ready to discuss what they highlighted, what challenged them, and what one prayer they have after reading the material that week. Hope that helps!