Lent is nearly upon us and my preparations are going well. The batter (shop bought to avoid the colossal lumps of previous years) is in the fridge - my lemon and sugar are at the ready. And, because I like slightly savoury pancakes too, the bacon, maple syrup and strawberries have been purchased as well (really, try it, I was skeptical at first but it’s a great combination!). I love the food of Shrove Tuesday. I enjoy my feeble attempts that unfailingly result in mangled pancake adorning my kitchen floor. I even quite enjoy laughing at the smoke that billows around the rest of my home in the wake of overheated oil…
But no matter how much I enjoy them, pancakes provide nothing of lasting value. Some giggles, a few moments of culinary delight, a minor elevation in cholesterol levels and a large pile of sticky washing up is hardly a recipe for overwhelming edification. In order to prepare for a meaningful Easter, my passion needs to be focused elsewhere.
Which is why, this year, I’m going to be spending Lent working through our newest Good Book Guide: Passion. Passion takes a slow walk through Luke 22-24. Beginning with Jesus praying on the Mount of Olives and ending with the resurrection, it’s a Bible-study guide that takes readers on a journey through the climax of Jesus’ ministry and reminds us of one important fact: the cross is all we need.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll know the theory… Of course, Jesus’ death and resurrection are pivotal. The cross has dealt with our past, defines our present and gives sure and certain hope for the future. That’s why we talk about it every week at church! But it’s easy to forget. It’s easy to lose sight of just how much the cross impacts everything we face, all that we are, all we hope for every moment of every single day.
Facing work struggles? Feeling low? Battling sin? Conscious of guilt? Fearful of what is to come? Struck down with illness? At sea with your parenting? Marriage on the rocks? Church getting you down? The cross is the place to turn. The source of cleansing, power and eternal perspective.
So, if you’re as forgetful as I, if you’re looking for more than a pancake to fuel your path to Easter this year, if you want to reflect on the cross afresh, why not join me? And even think about asking a friend – or your Bible study group - to work through it with you?
Simply click HERE to prepare with Passion this year.
