Thoughts on Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday)

EACH day during Lent I put aside coins in a jar as a reminder of God's blessings. A Christian charity made suggestions for each day: "Give a coin for every pair of shoes that you own." I counted eight pairs, and then I thought about the many children who have to go barefoot. Another day I gave some money for each meal I'd eaten that day, as a reminder that many go hungry and die of starvation. Jesus had nowhere to lay his head (see Matt. 8:20), so another day I counted the number of beds in my home and gave an amount for each one. I have so much to be thankful for: clean water, food, clothes, shelter, work, electricity, gas, peace, freedom.


Jesus identified with those who had little. After all, as a toddler he was a refugee. As an adult he had no home of his own; he was rejected in his hometown and eventually died on the city's rubbish dump. He ministered to all sorts of people, but he had a particular concern for people who were poor.


How much am I willing to give? At the end of Lent I'll add up all the money I've collected and send it to the charity. But it will be a tiny sum compared to all that God has given me.

Pam Pointer (Wiltshire, England)

" A LENTEN MEDITATION "

While we begin this Season of Lent
Let us be mindful of the time Jesus spent
In meditation, prayer and fasting
To gift us with life everlasting.

He sweat beads of blood from His brow
And contemplating upon that now,
I am reminded of the stench of my sin;
He suffered and died ~ my soul to win.

His scourging grieves my soul to tears;
He suffered sorely among heartless jeers.
Relentless switches with whip of fire.
Lord Jesus, our souls Thou did so desire.

O wicked Crown of Thorn
Thy beautiful head did adorn!
Each one digging deep into your head,
O Lord, it should have been me instead.

Your own Cross they bid you carry
And they beat you lest you tarry.
Heavy wood cutting into your shoulder
With each step, their hearts grew colder.

They threw you upon the ground
Nails into your hands and feet were pound.
They hiked you high upon Cross so tall;
And for your thirst they offered you gall.

The seven last words that you had spoken
With bruised body, beaten, bloodied and broken
Are recorded in the Bible which we read today;
We honor your Passion as we meditatively pray.

In fear from that hill they fled
While thunder and lightening sped
Through the place of your death
Where you breathed your last breath;
Your public life was finally done.
For they killed you, God's Only Son.

Awaiting your promise that you will rise
On Easter Sunday amid joyous cries,
We trust in you our Lord and Savior
For the Glory your remnant shall one day savor.

Mel Patterson, March 1,2006

der wrote:amen!! Great post. Do you mind if I print that list off .... have a spot on my refrigerator for it!

Hi Der,
Sure take anything which I post no need to ask, just that we want to observe any copywrite and make known where possible our Source it is good to give credit where it is due.
Blessings

Often we tend to think on things of the world instead of what we should be fasting from with the things we should be feasting on.
God wants so much for us to feast on things of Him, not things of the world.
The world cannot sustain our spirit, we need to spend the time questioning whether or not you feast on God or the things of the world.

I pray that we feast on the things of God and not the things that this world offers.

Today is pancake day (Shrove Tuesday)The name Shrove comes from the old word "shrive" which means to confess. The last day before Lent, which always fall 47 days before Easter Sunday
What are you giving up for Lent this year? is a common question.
First thoughts are usually some kind of food or habit, I found this which gives us food for thought.
Elaine.

True Lenten Discipline

Fast from judging others;
Feast on Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from emphasis on differences;
Feast on the unity of all life.
Fast from apparent darkness;
Feast on the reality of all light.
Fast from thoughts of illness;
Feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute;
Feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent;
Feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger;
Feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism;
Feast on optimism.
Fast from worry;
Feast on God's providence.
Fast from complaining;
Feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives;
Feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures;
Feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility;
Feast on non-resistance.
Fast from bitterness;
Feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern;
Feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety;
Feast on eternal truth.
Fast from discouragement;
Feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress;
Feast on verities that uplift.
Fast from lethargy;
Feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from suspicion;
Feast on truth.
Fast from thoughts that weaken;
Feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from shadows of sorrow;
Feast on the sunlight of serenity.
Fast from idle gossip;
Feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm;
Feast on prayer that sustains.

Source Inspirational Christian Stories and Poems Archive