What do temptations, Jesus, the Devil and pancakes have in common?

“The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert.”

The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert, so that the devil could test him. After Jesus had gone without eating for forty days and nights, he was very hungry. Then the devil came to him and said, “If you are God’s Son, tell these stones to turn into bread.”

Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say: ‘No one can live only on food. People need every word that God has spoken.’ ”

Next, the devil took Jesus to the holy city and had him stand on the highest part of the temple. The devil said, “If you are God’s Son, jump off. The Scriptures say: ‘God will give his angels orders about you. They will catch you in their arms, and you won’t hurt your feet on the stones.’ ”

Jesus answered, “The Scriptures also say, ‘Don’t try to test the Lord your God!’ ”

Finally, the devil took Jesus up on a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms on earth and their power. The devil said to him, “I will give all this to you, if you will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus answered, “Go away Satan! The Scriptures say: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ”

Then the devil left Jesus, and angels came to help him.

Matthew 4:1-11

 
The following words are just what I wanted to quickly post and use to express thanks before we head into Lent.

We are encouraged to live simply during the time of Lent, to remember Jesus’ sacrifices and self control whilst in the desert.  His lessons on how never to lose faith.

I will be making the most delicious pancakes today for my family and all the while remembering how lucky I am to have the body to consume them, the body to make them and the mind to use the task to learn a lesson in faith. Faith in pancakes. Faith that they’ll turn out right, faith that they’ll taste great, and faith that we all remember WHY we make them.

I am thankful for my beautiful family, my spirit, my life, and my needs both material and spiritual being provided for by Him.

During Lent I shall be remembering to respect my body, I shall be giving up being lazy. The body is a temple, and I am sad to say that with many failed diets, lack of exercise and shameful reasons for dieting (it should be for health, not size 0 clothes – but you already knew that right!? – yeah, so did I).

It is time to become focussed and to have faith in myself.  Have faith that I will not fail.

I will say no to temptation and am heading to the gym tomorrow to sign up for a membership.

Thank you Lord for my temple, made in the image of you. Now is where it shall begin.

I hope you all have a wonderful Shrove Tuesday, enjoy your pancakes.