Ash Wednesday

It’s the start of Lent today and I must say I really enjoyed the pancakes we made on Shrove Tuesday. Delicious 😋

Every year though, my husband and I say the same thing…these are really good we should make them more often – but we never do. Why? I don’t really know but pancakes just don’t become part of our regular eating habits. Even though we really enjoy them, they are always a once a year thing.

Sadly, that also can be the same experience of God and church for some people. They visit at Christmas, at Easter or for a special service. They really enjoy it, perhaps unexpectedly, they even say they will return the next week but they don’t. Another year rolls around – they receive another invitation and attend again. It becomes a once/twice a year event. Enjoyable but not part of their life.

My prayer this year for Lent is that a real hunger and desire to encounter the living God will stir in the hearts of people. A dissatisfaction will grow with how things are, apathy will be displaced and an awakening will take place amongst the people to desire to know God, find Jesus and the true bread of life that satisfies. A hunger that will not be satisfied with a once in a while nibble at God’s table but a daily banquet with the creator and giver of life.

My bible verses for prayer and meditation begin in Isaiah 55 verses 1-7. The Invitation

‘Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.

Why spend money on what is not bread,and your labour on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,and you will delight in the richest of fare.

Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you,my faithful love promised to David. See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,a ruler and commander of the peoples. Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the Lord your God,the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendour.’

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

Let it be so our God. Stir a hunger for you in the hearts of people today. Stir their hearts to seek you and not be satisfied until they encounter the living God.