I have been talking lately with multiple friends about Lent
and the meaning of it and why we do it.
I know I post (tried) to post about it last year,
but this year I just want to explain a little about it
So I can learn about it too!
"Lent in the Christian tradition, is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter.
The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer - through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and
self-denial - for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus,
which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter,
the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ"
"Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter.
Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting,
repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline> the purpose is to set aside time for
reflection on Jesus Christ - his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection.
The Bible does not mention the custom of Lent, however, the practice of repentance and mourning in ashes
is found in 2 Samuel 13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 2:8; Daniel 9:3; and Matthew 11:21."
When I first started Lent I thought it was just giving up something you really liked,
or trying to kick a bad habit. And while Lent is used for that purpose by many,
I think the best habit to start during Lent is prayer and scripture reading.
This year in my family we each chose a personal Lent and a family Lent.
My personal Lent, is more of a bad habit/good habit type.
But our family Lent is about making sure we say prayers and read scriptures as a family.
On that train, I bought a new Bible.
It's called the
Illustrated Family Bible Stories
And can I tell you, how amazing this book is?
Really. It's not just a "kids Bible" with the pictures and stories.
It also has Historical and Biblical facts and pictures in the margins!
It is AMAZING!
And not only does it have the "usual" Bible stories with Noah and Jonah
But it also has things like "Gideon Becomes a Warrior" Judges 6-7
and "divided land" 1 Kings 12-13 with old maps and new maps!
It is made by the same company that makes all of the
"Illustrated" books, like
An Illustrated Guide to the Human Body
For kids and such.
I keep thinking to post pictures,
but I'm too lazy, so just imagine how cool it is
:-)
Anyway, now that I shamelessly promoted a book
I'm not even willing to post pictures of...
I'll leave you with one last Lent thought
I answer that fasting is only one branch of a large and momentous duty, the subdual of ourselves to Christ. We must surrender to him all we have, all we are. We must keep nothing back. We must present to him as captive prisoners with whom he may do what he will, our soul and body, our reason, our judgment, our affections, our imagination, our tastes, our appetite. The great thing is tosubdue ourselves; but as to the particular form in which the great precept of self-conquest and self-surrender is to be expressed, that depends on the person himself, and on the time or place. What is good for one age or person, is not good for another.
John Henry Newman
excerpt from the First Sunday of Lent Sermon
update:
Here is a picture and a link to find the book on Amazon,
because it really IS worth looking into :-)
Definitely interesting. Have I ever told you how much you remind me of my mom? It's eerie.
ReplyDeleteWay to go with the scripture reading and praying. That is a difficult habit to form. I need to do better, for sure.
what a lovely post. i love your comment in how the purpose of Lent is to prepare yourself spiritually for Easter. I know there are some years where Easter comes and goes, and I've been out of it--and not really reflected what it's all about. Thanks for the reminder and hope you reach your goals!
ReplyDeleteand ps--i am a little disapointed that you did not post pictures of this Bible that is so great for kids. :-( but i'll try not to make you feel too guilty. ;-) Do you have a link of where i could look at it online?