The Journey Begins

Today is Ash Wednesday and our Lenten journey begins now, over the next 40 days as we fast, sacrifice, and pray continuously. Remember that Lent is a special time of preparation for the Easter Celebration. During these 40 days we are reminded of Jesus temptation in the wilderness, the 40 days & 40 nights of Noah and his ARK, the Hebrew Exodus & 40 years in the desert. This is where we meet our text for today as the people have just entered the promise land.- Let's look!


Joshua 5:9-12 (NRSV)

The LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt." And so that place is called Gilgal to this day.

While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.

For the Hebrew people there voyage was ending, while ours is just starting so this Ash Wednesday as we place ashes on our heads to remind us of sin, sadness, morning, and going without. I encourage you to start off as Jesus told the twelve by giving all you can, praying all you can, and fasting all you can. (Matthew 6:1-8)

Ask God how you can best serve this Lenten season, and allow God to direct you.

Be Well, P.J.