Lent Begins Today!
"Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near - a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness spread upon the mountains a great and powerful army comes; their like has never been from of old, nor will be again after them in ages to come. ...Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her canopy. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep. Let them say, "Spare your people, O Lord, and do not make your heritage a mockery" - Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
"The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him. For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust." - Psalm 103:8-14
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season of Lent. This is the day when Christians apply an ashen cross on their foreheads. Marking with ash is a symbolic reminder that we come from the dust and that so much of what we do, and are, will return to dust one day.
You may choose to attend an Ash Wednesday service in order to be imposed with ashes or use some ashes from paper you burn as a symbol as you read the following scripture passages. You may use the ashes to make a cross on your forehead. Lent is about remembering why Jesus died. He died because we think and do evil things. These things anger God, and such evil is destined to be reduced to ash one day.
As you begin this Lenten journey to the cross of Christ, determine something you can fast from this season. You might decide to literally fast a meal each day, or you might have an activity in your life that is keeping you at a distance from the Lord, and may decide to fast that. Find something to give up (say "no" to) that you will find yourself, through this fasting discipline, led into God's presence (yes)!
If you don't want to fast food, there are plenty of other things you can give up (say "no" to). Many people have addictions which keep them from a deeper relationship with Christ. This Lenten season try giving up cigarettes, over-eating, caffeine, alcohol, sweets, pornography, over-working, or the like. Another thing our society is guilty of allowing to get in the way of a relationship with the Lord is technology. Maybe this Lenten season you might try spending it media-free.
Whatever you decide to give up, be deliberate about setting time aside for God, and not filling empty spaces with just any activity. Spend time in scripture. Go to mid-week Lenten services, as well as worshiping on Sunday. Begin a devotional life.
And speaking of devotions, for the season of Lent, you will find here devotions written by the people of Richland United Methodist Church. I hope their writings will be a blessing for you this Lenten season. Have a blessed and contemplative Lent as you journey to the Cross.