Giving It Up

by Maggi Dawn

The idea of 'giving something up for Lent' is widely known and discussed today - yet how many know that the ancient discipline of the Lenten fast had several purposes? It was designed as a reminder of our daily dependence on God for all our needs, to draw us closer to God in prayer, to reconnect with the idea of community, and to help us follow Christ's journey through the wilderness and on to Jerusalem. How many of us simply abstain from some treat or other for a few weeks and fail to engage with this deeper meaning of Lent? This book shows how Lent can be a time for exploring a different kind of 'giving up', one that can transform our lives. If we are to draw closer to God, we have to be willing to give up some of our entrenched ideas about him, in order to see him more clearly. In a series of daily studies, Maggi Dawn shows how, throughout Scripture, people were radically changed by encountering the true God. If we follow their examples, we can allow the Holy Spirit to shed his light on our ideas of God that are too harsh, too small, too fragile, or too stern. Then God will graciously reveal himself to us and bring us to an Easter joy that is richer and more profound than ever before. Contents •Introduction •Section 1: Giving up (Ash Wednesday to Saturday) •Section 2: Jesus in the wilderness and beyond (First week of Lent) •Section 3: Other wildernesses (Second week of Lent) •Section 4: Changing perceptions (Third week of Lent) •Section 5: Changing communities (Fourth week of Lent) •Section 6: Changing your mind (Fifth week of Lent) •Sections 7: 'The end of all our exploring' (Holy Week) •Easter Sunday

222 pages, Paperback

First published November 20, 2009

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a daily devotion from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. It provides a scripture, a small narrative and then at the end of every week there are discussion questions to think about or discuss if you are reading this in a group setting. I really love the perspective of Maggie's lens and the insight that she provides. I also love that this is a book that I will be able to pick up every lenten season and read over and over again.

[Maria Longley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed having this as a Lenten companion and will be very happy to use it again. There were several bits that got read out loud and shared as I really like what Maggi Dawn has to say and it was thought-provoking.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little more substantive than many Bible reading/Reflection books, this one provides an excellent Lenten practice.

[Carolyn Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good and thought provoking. Deserves a re-read

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good Lenten companion.