[elibar]

In your faith tradition, do you observe Lent? I do. I was reading an article about Lent in March's "The Lutheran" magazine which begins like this:

Quote

In a famous sermon titled "The True Wilderness," the Anglican theologian H.A. Williams lamented, "It is a pity that we think of Lent as a time when we try to make ourselves uncomfortable in some fiddling but irritating way."

Williams went on to suggest that faithful Lenten observance "has nothing to do with giving up sugar in your tea, or trying to feel it's wicked to be you." So much of what passes for Lenten discipline is mere "ecclesiastical charade."

The true Lent, this great preacher concluded, lies in following Jesus into a wilderness place, going somewhere one has never gone before. In so doing, like Jesus we may find renewal and inspiration, being filled by God's Spirit (The True Wilderness, Lippincott, 1965; pages 29-34).

This prompted me to think. To do something serious. To go on such a journey. Not really giving up anything this time, but I've taken up some spiritual disciplines. I have limited my diet sensibly - avoiding things that are purely self-indulgent. I've taken up a new daily devotion that I read and meditate on in the mornings. I'm journaling. I'll be attending midweek services.

Now much of this pilgrimage is private, secret, between myself and my Lord. But this is a community which I am a part of and cherish and feel that it's appropriate to share some things with. I want to document my spiritual insights and the things that God has lain on my heart in an artful way. I want to document in this way each week. This first week of the Lenten season I have documented the first step that must be taken in any endeavor. To pray for guidance, help and insight. This is what I've chosen to share.

Each day, pray.

This is sized to fit in my personal prayer journal binder 5.5 x 8.5. I plan to do one in each of the coming weeks, including Easter. If you care to take this artful spiritual journey with me, feel free to post and share. We can travel together.

[Sara Arell]

What a great idea, Elisha. I agree with your feelings and love your idea of keeping a journal. I do give up some things for Lent and it is a personal journey for me but one that I do not mind sharing at all. I will certainly try and work on this project with you.

[SandiC.]

Thank you for starting this thread Elisha. I also observe Lent and this holy season, culminating with Easter is the high point of my year, as I tend to mark time by the liturgical seasons. Like Elisha, this time is one I spend as much time as possible in spiritual discipline, prayer, and self examination. Some years I delve very deeply, some years I have just glossed over it, not paying close attention. This year is one of the in-depth years. In addition to the Lenten book study I'm attending at my church, covering Henri Nouwen's book, the Return of the Prodigal Son, I'm doing a daily devotion with Emillie Griffith's book Small Surrenders. the devotion for each day starts with a relevant quote. It is with those quotes that I am starting my little simple LOs. In order to keep them up throughout the next few weeks, I've decided that they will be very simple, with just a background in the appropriate liturgical colors, the text and maybe a simple photo or embellishment. I've posted one of the introductory LOs here. I do hope some of you will join Elisha and me as we journey together over the next few week.

[AggieB]

This really is a great idea, Elisha. Thanks for sharing the passage which is very thought-provoking and not a little bit scary. It fits so well with Sandi's first layout - did you coordinate? I will see if I can make a series of layouts like Sandi suggests to be a prayer opportunity for me. I like the idea.

[SandiC.]

Oh Aggie, please do...

And no, Elisha and I did not exactly coordinate but we did talk about what we were going to do. I don't think either of us had settled on anything other than which study we would do the last we talked. sometimes you never know what a project will evolve into. And I use the time I'm putting these little LOs together to reflect on what each day's lesson means to me. In a way, it is a form of prayer. So far, this has been an eye-opening time for me.

[caprimom]

Thanks for sharing your pages Elisha and Sandi! I have a friend who is fasting for Lent and I've always been intrigued by the tradition since it's one my own family never followed. I am inspired by you both.

[elibar]

Sara Arell, on 24 February 2010 - 03:48 PM, said:

What a great idea, Elisha. I agree with your feelings and love your idea of keeping a journal. I do give up some things for Lent and it is a personal journey for me but one that I do not mind sharing at all. I will certainly try and work on this project with you.

Would love to have your input, Sara. I am always intrigued and encouraged when someone shares their encounters with God and their own spiritual insights. We help each other grow.

AggieB, on 24 February 2010 - 06:09 PM, said:

This really is a great idea, Elisha. Thanks for sharing the passage which is very thought-provoking and not a little bit scary. It fits so well with Sandi's first layout - did you coordinate? I will see if I can make a series of layouts like Sandi suggests to be a prayer opportunity for me. I like the idea.

Isn't it so neat when we meet together on the path? And prayer and worship take surprising forms. Would love to see what you do, Aggie

caprimom, on 24 February 2010 - 06:41 PM, said:

Thanks for sharing your pages Elisha and Sandi! I have a friend who is fasting for Lent and I've always been intrigued by the tradition since it's one my own family never followed. I am inspired by you both.

I'm glad to hear that this has meant something to you, Ashleigh. So many times my efforts to share my faith in a meaningful way go unnoticed in my everyday life.

[Bride]

This is a wonderful idea, ladies! I am watching this thread so I don't miss a single thing! Thank you Elisha and Sandi for collaborating this effort!

[AggieB]

Ok, I have posted a Lenten layout. I know I won't get one every day, I work too slowly for that, but I will try for one or two a week. Thanks Sandi & Elisha for this opportunity and the support to try this.

[SandiC.]

Love your LOs so far Aggie. I love that you started with a hymn, that's a source of great inspiration.

[Smiles]

elibar, on 24 February 2010 - 09:59 PM, said:

caprimom, on 24 February 2010 - 06:41 PM, said:

Thanks for sharing your pages Elisha and Sandi! I have a friend who is fasting for Lent and I've always been intrigued by the tradition since it's one my own family never followed. I am inspired by you both.

I'm glad to hear that this has meant something to you, Ashleigh. So many times my efforts to share my faith in a meaningful way go unnoticed in my everyday life.

Elisha, just because your efforts aren't commented on, doesn't mean they aren't noticed. That's the thing about grace, we never know when a comment or gesture we make will make all the difference to others. Often things don't sink in until later, and then there's an ah hah moment. In case I haven't mentioned it, I have gotten great comfort and insight from some of your posts. You are definitely one of the Lights on this messageboard.

[Bride]

Smiles, on 25 February 2010 - 01:12 PM, said:

elibar, on 24 February 2010 - 09:59 PM, said:

caprimom, on 24 February 2010 - 06:41 PM, said:

Thanks for sharing your pages Elisha and Sandi! I have a friend who is fasting for Lent and I've always been intrigued by the tradition since it's one my own family never followed. I am inspired by you both.

I'm glad to hear that this has meant something to you, Ashleigh. So many times my efforts to share my faith in a meaningful way go unnoticed in my everyday life.

Elisha, just because your efforts aren't commented on, doesn't mean they aren't noticed. That's the thing about grace, we never know when a comment or gesture we make will make all the difference to others. Often things don't sink in until later, and then there's an ah hah moment. In case I haven't mentioned it, I have gotten great comfort and insight from some of your posts. You are definitely one of the Lights on this messageboard.

Amen to that Gayle!

[Bride]

AggieB, on 25 February 2010 - 09:37 AM, said:

Ok, I have posted a Lenten layout. I know I won't get one every day, I work too slowly for that, but I will try for one or two a week. Thanks Sandi & Elisha for this opportunity and the support to try this.

Aggie - your lo and thoughts are just beautiful. LYSL ... thanks so much for sharing!!

[AggieB]

Bride, on 25 February 2010 - 01:21 PM, said:

Smiles, on 25 February 2010 - 01:12 PM, said:

elibar, on 24 February 2010 - 09:59 PM, said:

caprimom, on 24 February 2010 - 06:41 PM, said:

Thanks for sharing your pages Elisha and Sandi! I have a friend who is fasting for Lent and I've always been intrigued by the tradition since it's one my own family never followed. I am inspired by you both.

I'm glad to hear that this has meant something to you, Ashleigh. So many times my efforts to share my faith in a meaningful way go unnoticed in my everyday life.

Elisha, just because your efforts aren't commented on, doesn't mean they aren't noticed. That's the thing about grace, we never know when a comment or gesture we make will make all the difference to others. Often things don't sink in until later, and then there's an ah hah moment. In case I haven't mentioned it, I have gotten great comfort and insight from some of your posts. You are definitely one of the Lights on this messageboard.

Amen to that Gayle!

Oh, Elisha, take Gayle's words to heart. You are our own SG prophet!

[elibar]

AggieB, on 25 February 2010 - 09:37 AM, said:

Ok, I have posted a Lenten layout. I know I won't get one every day, I work too slowly for that, but I will try for one or two a week. Thanks Sandi & Elisha for this opportunity and the support to try this.

Aggie, I love what you've done! Very soft and introspective. As for myself, I don't plan on doing more than one page a week. I'm not basing them on my daily devotion but on what I've come away with during that time and/or something from the Sunday's gospel lesson. Please don't feel pressure to "turn them out" It's your journey, your pace.

[elibar]

Smiles, on 25 February 2010 - 01:12 PM, said:

Elisha, just because your efforts aren't commented on, doesn't mean they aren't noticed. That's the thing about grace, we never know when a comment or gesture we make will make all the difference to others. Often things don't sink in until later, and then there's an ah hah moment. In case I haven't mentioned it, I have gotten great comfort and insight from some of your posts. You are definitely one of the Lights on this messageboard.

I'm blushing. What I really meant but didn't make clear was regarding my day to day face to face encounters. Often we don't see the results of our works, and it can be frustrating and disheartening. Wondering if what we do really matters to the grocery clerk we smile at, the person getting a meal at the shelter where we serve, the recipient of the coat we donate. I know in my head that our efforts are never in vain. And it is by grace that we are allowed to see results once in a while.

Here is a grace place. This purple place is very encouraging!

[BarbaraC1977]

Please know that some us (like me) are just mostly lurking right now--I'm slammed at work--this is our busy season and we HAVE to store away acorns for the summer very slow season each year. Nonetheless, I LOVE the devotional layouts, and only wish I had more time to do a few, too. Keep up the great work--we're watching even if we're not getting much chance to leave love or scrap.

OK, enough whining.

[MLLatscrapgirls]

I come from a religious tradition where we are encouraged not to give up something, but to take on something for Lent. (This would include giving up an activity to give more than your usual amount to a charity.) I usually take on a devotional practice of some kind and try to attend some of the extra worship services offered for this season. Last year I did Emilie Griffin's Small Surrenders which I loved. This year I am doing Adam Hamilton's 24 Hours That Changed the World (a book, daily devotional, and DVD). I will see if I can figure out how to scrap some of the insights I am getting.

Thank you for starting this thread! I feel very encouraged by hearing about all of you and your Lenten journeys.

[elibar]

BarbaraC1977, on 25 February 2010 - 07:31 PM, said:

Please know that some us (like me) are just mostly lurking right now--I'm slammed at work--this is our busy season and we HAVE to store away acorns for the summer very slow season each year. Nonetheless, I LOVE the devotional layouts, and only wish I had more time to do a few, too. Keep up the great work--we're watching even if we're not getting much chance to leave love or scrap.

OK, enough whining.

LOL, Barbara - please lurk, or post, or whatever.

[elibar]

MLLatscrapgirls, on 25 February 2010 - 07:46 PM, said:

I come from a religious tradition where we are encouraged not to give up something, but to take on something for Lent. (This would include giving up an activity to give more than your usual amount to a charity.) I usually take on a devotional practice of some kind and try to attend some of the extra worship services offered for this season. Last year I did Emilie Griffin's Small Surrenders which I loved. This year I am doing Adam Hamilton's 24 Hours That Changed the World (a book, daily devotional, and DVD). I will see if I can figure out how to scrap some of the insights I am getting.

Thank you for starting this thread! I feel very encouraged by hearing about all of you and your Lenten journeys.

Great to have you here, and thank you for sharing!

[kerryveale]

The layouts are beautiful... please know that the effect of your own journey has a positive ripple effect, encouraging those of us who are appreciating you and your thoughts and prayers.

[AggieB]

Somewhere else, Sandi mentioned using music to engage another sense in worshiping. I came across some Biblical precedence this morning - Jesus and the disciples sang a hymn before they went to the Mount of Olives for the last time. Now that speaks to me of the human side of Jesus. I'd never thought about it before, but he sang. How human. Maybe he does understand us, deep, deep down and can help us draw on and strengthen our good impulses and leave behind all those bad ones. I like this image - Jesus, not as master, but as leader. The one who knows how it should be done and can share that with us.

[elibar]

Jesus sang. Yes. Sometimes you know things - but don't take it to heart. I hear/read this passage at least once a year, usually more. Something more to ponder, to visualize. I wonder what they sang?

[AggieB]

elibar, on 27 February 2010 - 06:39 AM, said:

Jesus sang. Yes. Sometimes you know things - but don't take it to heart. I hear/read this passage at least once a year, usually more. Something more to ponder, to visualize. I wonder what they sang?

I wondered about that myself. Some of the things I found indicate that psalms were a popular closing for the Passover Seder although no one seems sure how they were sung. This page: http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm has some song clips of how some of the traditional Seder songs, I don't know how historically accurate they are, but some are kind of catchy.

[AggieB]

Good morning, all! Just checking in on this Monday of the 2nd week of Lent.
In the Catholic tradition, Sundays in Lent are exempt from fasting and are considered mini-Easters. A day of refreshment for the struggles of the coming week. Some words of encouragement in my Little Black Book devotional were on Mark's Passion, how all the disciples abandoned Jesus, but went on to become great Christian heroes. The passage goes on to say that Mark's words were meant to be encouraging - "with God's help, no failure need ever be fatal". In other words, if you don't achieve your goals, if you fall short of your standards - pick yourself up and keep going, you are in very good company.
In the words of SherryLynn (and the little engine who could) - choo, choo!!!

[Bride]

AggieB, on 27 February 2010 - 08:19 AM, said:

elibar, on 27 February 2010 - 06:39 AM, said:

Jesus sang. Yes. Sometimes you know things - but don't take it to heart. I hear/read this passage at least once a year, usually more. Something more to ponder, to visualize. I wonder what they sang?

I wondered about that myself. Some of the things I found indicate that psalms were a popular closing for the Passover Seder although no one seems sure how they were sung. This page: http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm has some song clips of how some of the traditional Seder songs, I don't know how historically accurate they are, but some are kind of catchy.

What an enlightening thought! I guess I never stopped to think about Jesus singing. I wonder if, just as He taught the disciples to pray, did He also teach them to praise God in song? I would have loved to hear - do you suppose a tenor?

[MLLatscrapgirls]

Here is a layout I did for the ad inspiration crop but it is also a Lenten reflection.

http://scrapgirls.co...image&img=98520

My book says that Jesus and the disciples probably sang the Hallel, which is based on several Psalms traditionally used at Passover, and suggests reading through Psalm 118 (which is one of them) and reflecting on what those words may have meant to Jesus as they sang them heading up to the Mount of Olives.

Thank you for sharing the music link! I look forward to hearing some of the music!

[elibar]

This is a concept that I've been meditating on this week, prompted by the lectionary reading on Sunday, the sermon, and a Women's bible study that I led on Monday.

Transform Me

I wanted to get it posted before work - but I can comment more later. Any thoughts how the idea of transformation fits into your journey?

[elibar]

MLLatscrapgirls, on 03 March 2010 - 07:42 AM, said:

Here is a layout I did for the ad inspiration crop but it is also a Lenten reflection.

http://scrapgirls.co...image&img=98520

You must have been posting at the same time I was! Your layout is really neat. I've only used a labyrinth a couple of times - and we have a beautiful one nearby. I should visit more often. Thanks.

[AggieB]

MLLatscrapgirls, on 03 March 2010 - 07:42 AM, said:

Here is a layout I did for the ad inspiration crop but it is also a Lenten reflection.

http://scrapgirls.co...image&img=98520

My book says that Jesus and the disciples probably sang the Hallel, which is based on several Psalms traditionally used at Passover, and suggests reading through Psalm 118 (which is one of them) and reflecting on what those words may have meant to Jesus as they sang them heading up to the Mount of Olives.

Thank you for sharing the music link! I look forward to hearing some of the music!

Mary Lou, I thought when I saw your layout it was perfect for this thread. Thanks for sharing it.