Folks, this book just blew my mind WIDE OPEN to what
all Lent is ~ what it means ~ what it can do ~ and why I should do it. A few
quotes from the book:
The desert is where God called
his people to make them holy. We might assume that the wilderness is a place of
exile and isolation, and it certainly can be that. But in the story of
redemption, the wilderness has always been a sacred rendezvous spot for God and
His beloved sons and daughter.
We do
not go into the wilderness to find Good. We enter the wilderness because God
has found us.
We need more
than a Good Friday service two days in advance to get into the state of mind
and heart to celebrate Jesus' victory over death and hell.
Lent is not our ultimate destination. The wilderness fast is
temporary ... The bright light of the resurrection is ahead.
Hebrews 12
12 Therefore, *since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses*,
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes
on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he
endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that
you will not grow weary and lose heart. ~~ A cloud of witnesses invites us to
feast on Jesus through fasting, prayer and generosity [the trifecta of Lent].
Along with Jesus they are cheering for us to sit at the table. To do so may
mean that we lay aside some comfortable hindrances, that we say goodbye to a
few attachments. "Good riddance, I want a seat next to Jesus at the
table!" That is what I'm called to do. And so are you.
We need Lent because repentance is not just a prayer. It is a
posture. We need time and space to become repentant people, to experience the
depths of Jesus' forgiveness.
Practicing Lent is like taking a long bath in the wonderful
grace of Jesus.
And so we trekked out to the wilderness of Lent, unsatisfied on
purpose, clinging to the promise of something better than the world could ever
offer. So we put one weary foot in front of the other, fueled by the hope of
Easter. And one glad morning we find that the journey is over. Lent has come to
an end. ... When we come hungry to Easter, Jesus is ready to satisfy us with a
heavenly meal. ... We are nourished by Jesus as Scripture is read, as the gospel
is preached, as songs are played, and as communion is served.
Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth
comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Even if you don't read it for this season, it’s an
incredible book and you will WANT to read it!!
(picture from amazon)
Happy Reading!
O:)
Melissa
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