Ashes and Celebration
Let the celebration begin!
"There's something intrinsically wonderful about being with other around a shared joy, isn't there?" - Elyse Fitzpatrick, Comforts from the Cross.
Lent is upon us. Today is Ash Wednesday the symbolic start to a season of reflection leading up to the church's celebration of Christ's resurrection on Easter. For many, sadly, Lent is a season of woe. There is deep reflection, perhaps fasting and sacrifice. And it carries on for more than forty days. There are silver linings though each week for the devote. Sundays are mini-easters meant for celebration.
While this model is fine and steeped in tradition, I think we need more celebration. More coming together around a shared joy. For those of us that believe in Jesus, he is our shared joy. He is our primary joy and all we need. So, for the next weeks leading up to Easter we will share devotions reminding us of the joy of the gospel (Jesus' incarnation, sinless life, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, ascension and ongoing reign as Lord of all there is.) Hopefully this will incite our joy and set our feet and heart to dancing (because what celebration is a success without dancing?!)
To guide us through the season, we will be taking cues from Elyse Fitzpatrick's book Comforts from the Cross. We will be taking Saturdays and Sundays off (so you can rest well!) But each day in between we will set Jesus before us and I hope you will join in with comments and sharing.
"Nothing, and I mean nothing, is more important than Jesus Christ and the gospel, and this gospel is meant to be remembered and celebrated every day."
"There's something intrinsically wonderful about being with other around a shared joy, isn't there?" - Elyse Fitzpatrick, Comforts from the Cross.
Lent is upon us. Today is Ash Wednesday the symbolic start to a season of reflection leading up to the church's celebration of Christ's resurrection on Easter. For many, sadly, Lent is a season of woe. There is deep reflection, perhaps fasting and sacrifice. And it carries on for more than forty days. There are silver linings though each week for the devote. Sundays are mini-easters meant for celebration.
While this model is fine and steeped in tradition, I think we need more celebration. More coming together around a shared joy. For those of us that believe in Jesus, he is our shared joy. He is our primary joy and all we need. So, for the next weeks leading up to Easter we will share devotions reminding us of the joy of the gospel (Jesus' incarnation, sinless life, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, ascension and ongoing reign as Lord of all there is.) Hopefully this will incite our joy and set our feet and heart to dancing (because what celebration is a success without dancing?!)
To guide us through the season, we will be taking cues from Elyse Fitzpatrick's book Comforts from the Cross. We will be taking Saturdays and Sundays off (so you can rest well!) But each day in between we will set Jesus before us and I hope you will join in with comments and sharing.
"Nothing, and I mean nothing, is more important than Jesus Christ and the gospel, and this gospel is meant to be remembered and celebrated every day."
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