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<\/p>\nI don’t remember ever really “celebrating” Lent growing up.\u00a0 I could very well be remembering it wrong, I am getting a little older and over-the-hill now.\u00a0 Maybe we did something significant remember 40 days of something, but I don’t specifically remember Lent.\u00a0 However, for the last 20 years, attending Covenant Churches and being involved in the Lenten season, I have realized the beauty in remembrance.\u00a0 Probably even more so during the pandemic when our family was very intentional about going deeper in Lent and helping our kids walk through it in light of the pandemic.\u00a0 It is sacred.\u00a0 It’s a holy space.\u00a0 Some years, mainly before the pandemic, Lent would sneak up on me and oftentimes I wouldn’t be as prepared as I would have wanted.<\/p>\n
But this year God has really been drawing me in to this season of Lent.\u00a0 I welcome it.\u00a0 Even during Advent I kept thinking how significant it was that Jesus was born to die.\u00a0 How amazing and awful and beautiful and mysterious it all can be.\u00a0 We can complicate it sometimes, but that is the reality.\u00a0 He was born to die.<\/p>\n
As we enter Ash Wednesday today and Lent begins, I welcome it.\u00a0 I welcome the beauty and the mystery.\u00a0 I feel God drawing all of us in, coming as we are, carrying burdens.\u00a0 Life is heavy right now and we can all bear witness to that.\u00a0 But in the beauty of the Ashes today, remembering that they represent mourning, grief and heaviness like many carry today.\u00a0 But in the midst of all that we carry, we can empty ourselves of that and be filled with Jesus.\u00a0 This is a beautiful time to do that.\u00a0 Some may feel so heavy that prayer and even breath seems difficult.\u00a0 But as this video below says, if you can breathe, you can pray.\u00a0 So as we carry so much, I encourage us to remember we are not alone:<\/p>\n
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As we enter this season, I want to draw close and the way I do that is through journaling, prayer, music, reflection.\u00a0 It can be different for everyone.\u00a0 But my goal is to try to post something most days, a reflection, a song a prayer; a way to draw us closer when all we feel is weighted down.\u00a0 So, today I open with a beautiful explanation of Ash Wednesday from Matt Maher, a worship leader, followed by a song.\u00a0 Usually scripture that I have experienced and read during Ash Wednesday services are from Psalm 51:<\/p>\n
Have mercy\u00a0on me, O God,<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>For I know my transgressions,<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>Cleanse\u00a0me with hyssop,\u00a0and I will be clean;<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>Create in me a pure heart,\u00a0O God,<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>Then I will teach transgressors your ways,<\/span> 18\u00a0<\/sup>May it please you to prosper Zion,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>according to your unfailing love;<\/span><\/span>
\naccording to your great compassion<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>blot out\u00a0my transgressions.<\/span><\/span>
\n2\u00a0<\/sup>Wash away\u00a0all my iniquity<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and cleanse\u00a0me from my sin.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and my sin is always before me.<\/span><\/span>
\n4\u00a0<\/sup>Against you, you only, have I sinned<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and done what is evil in your sight;<\/span><\/span>
\nso you are right in your verdict<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and justified when you judge.<\/span><\/span>
\n5\u00a0<\/sup>Surely I was sinful\u00a0at birth,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>sinful from the time my mother conceived me.<\/span><\/span>
\n6\u00a0<\/sup>Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>you taught me wisdom\u00a0in that secret place.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.<\/span><\/span>
\n8\u00a0<\/sup>Let me hear joy and gladness;<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>let the bones\u00a0you have crushed rejoice.<\/span><\/span>
\n9\u00a0<\/sup>Hide your face from my sins<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and blot out\u00a0all my iniquity.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and renew a steadfast spirit within me.<\/span><\/span>
\n11\u00a0<\/sup>Do not cast me\u00a0from your presence<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>or take your Holy Spirit\u00a0from me.<\/span><\/span>
\n12\u00a0<\/sup>Restore to me the joy of your salvation<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and grant me a willing spirit,\u00a0to sustain me.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>so that sinners\u00a0will turn back to you.<\/span><\/span>
\n14\u00a0<\/sup>Deliver me\u00a0from the guilt of bloodshed,\u00a0O God,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>you who are God my Savior,<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.<\/span><\/span>
\n15\u00a0<\/sup>Open my lips, Lord,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and my mouth will declare your praise.<\/span><\/span>
\n16\u00a0<\/sup>You do not delight in sacrifice,\u00a0or I would bring it;<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.<\/span><\/span>
\n17\u00a0<\/sup>My sacrifice,\u00a0O God, is[b<\/a>]<\/sup>\u00a0a broken spirit;<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>a broken and contrite heart<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>you, God, will not despise.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>to build up the walls of Jerusalem.<\/span><\/span>
\n19\u00a0<\/sup>Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>in burnt offerings\u00a0offered whole;<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>then bulls\u00a0will be offered on your altar.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n