Here’s a good little snippet from page 13 of N.T. Wright’s Lenten guide.

Lent is a time for discipline, for confession, for honesty, not because God is mean or fault-finding or finger-pointing but because he wants us to know the joy of being cleaned out, ready for all the good things he now has in store.

In today’s Walking in Grace entry by Sabra Ciancanelli (page 74), she shared a story about seeing a neighbor’s lilacs blooming in February one year. Living in Tivoli, New York, it’s not a normal occurrence. After visiting with her neighbor and agreeing how crazy it was, she decided to search for answers online. What she discovered is that lilacs bloom out of season when they are under stress.

I thought about nature’s beautiful message, that hardship can bring beauty, that we can bloom not in spite of our challenges but because of them.

Isn’t that an encouraging thought?!

Lent for Everyone, Matthew, Year A by N.T.Wright

The second book I’m going to use during Lent is this guide written by N.T. Wright. I used his book for Year C of the Lectionary (Luke) last year and feel sure I’ll continue on with B, Mark, next year. This one provides an overview of the Gospel of Matthew and includes readings from the Psalms on Sundays.

I’m looking forward to getting started with both books I’ve chosen.

Lent in Plain Sight by Jill J. Duffield

This book has been on my list at Amazon for quite a while and I don’t remember if I discovered it through browsing or if someone recommended it to me. Either way, it struck my fancy this year and I look forward to reading it over the next few weeks. Each week focuses on a different item (dust, bread, oil, etc.) and there are daily entries featuring a scripture, a meditation, questions for reflection, and a closing prayer.

I’ll soon come to the end of Light upon Light, the book compiled by Sarah Arthur that I began on the first Sunday of Advent last fall. It’s a beautiful book and one that I’ve enjoyed using, but I don’t think I’ll get her companion book for Lent/Easter*. There were many prayers and readings that spoke to me, but in general it’s not the type of book I do well with and I don’t see myself pulling it off the shelf to use again (despite the fact it’s geared to any year, regardless the number of weeks in Epiphany.) I did copy a lovely poem that I’ll try and remember to share next year around Christmas.

I’ll leave you with this “closing prayer” written by Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke.
(English, 1561-1621)

The heavy weights of grief oppress me sore:
Lord, raise me by thy word,
As thou to me didst promise heretofore.
And this unforced praise
I for an off’ring bring, accept, O Lord,
And show to me thy ways.

*I’ll come back tomorrow and Monday with my selections for Lent this year.

Assurance of God’s Protection

To the leader: with stringed instruments. Of David.

¹ Hear my cry, O God;
    listen to my prayer.
² From the end of the earth I call to you,
    when my heart is faint.

Lead me to the rock
    that is higher than I,
³ for you are my refuge,
    a strong tower against the enemy.

⁴ Let me abide in your tent forever,
    find refuge under the shelter of your wings.* Selah
⁵ For you, O God, have heard my vows;
    you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

⁶ Prolong the life of the king;
    may his years endure to all generations!
⁷ May he be enthroned forever before God;
    appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!

⁸ So I will always sing praises to your name,
    as I pay my vows day after day.

*Highlights are mine.

See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. ² But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner’s fire and like washers’ soap; ³ he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness.^[a] 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord, as in the days of old and as in former years.

⁵ Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow, and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.