Venture into the Desert

We are deeper into the season of Lent, drawing ever closer to the mystery of Easter. This week, continue your contemplation in the desert, just like Jesus did.

We are so lucky to live in this beautiful place, during a time of gorgeous early-spring weather. Even more miraculous is how similar our desert climate is to that of the desert where the story of Easter occurred. In fact, the not-too-far-away city of Yuma actually has an agricultural partnership with a city in Israel based around the similarities in their climates.

As we tell the story “The Faces of Easter” in the Sunday School classroom, we recount a handful of notable events from the life of Jesus, including the 40 days he spent in the desert thinking about what his work would be. Sometimes we even use objects from the desert surrounding our church to help us tell the story. Your family can go even deeper into the story by venturing into the desert, perhaps even taking advantage of the prayer walk at Desert Mission. Bring plenty of water and your Bible, and go far enough to leave the buildings behind. Read your favorite story, or turn to Matthew 4:1 and walk alongside Jesus as he is led into the wilderness. You can even bring along the kinds of foods Jesus might have eaten on his journey – things like apples, raisins, dates, and almonds (for a full list of Biblical foods, check out this thorough resource).

Walk, read, and listen, and perhaps along the way you’ll learn a bit about what your work will be.

Where did your family’s desert travels take you? Share with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.