LENT

We began our 40-day observance of Lent with Ash Wednesday yesterday. I didn't appreciate Lent when I was growing up. By the time church started on WED evenings, it was already dark, which added to the gloominess I felt. All that talk about sin! No, I wanted the message of Easter! I've learned that in order to fully appreciate Easter, we must first appreciate Lent--a time for us to reflect on our sin & the encompassing grace of Jesus, who took our sins to the cross. I look forward to Lent now, & I pray that the Lord would bless you in a special way during this Lenten season.

CONTRITE & HUMBLE SPIRITS

Isaiah 57:15  The high & lofty One who inhabits eternity, The Holy One, says this:  "I live in that high & holy place where those with contrite, humble spirits dwell; & I refresh the humble & give new courage to those with repentant hearts."

BALANCE

"Our goal is balance . . . always balance. Nt either-or, but both-and. Not just tough. That alone makes a man cold, distant, intolerant, unbearable. But tough and tender . . . gentle, thoughtful, teachable, considerate." Charles Swindoll, Men's Devotional Bible

OUR VOCATION AS CITIZENS

"Just as the corruption of governing authorities does not give Christians an excuse to rebel, neither does it give us an excuse to withdraw from public life as if our actions do not matter. God calls us to love our neighbors in all our vocations & to entrust the results to Him. As citizens of a democratic society, we can show that love for fellow citizens by using the ballot box or even courts of law to hold officials accountable. We can talk with fellow citizens to seek the common good together. God does not call us to achieve specific results. He simply calls us to love our neighbor in the vocation of citizens as in all other vocation Cynically withdrawing from public life prevents us from taking an opportunity to serve our neighbor in love." David Loy, The Lutheran Witness, Nov. 2021

RETURN TO GOD

"Return to Me with all your heart, with fasting with weeping, & with mourning." (Joel 2:12)

"God's Word calls out to you to approach Him with sorrow, with sin, & with a torn heart. God will neither despise nor reject a person with a broken spirit. God will not cast you off with your crushed, torn-down, wrecked, & crippled heart full of sin . . . Yes, your sin puts you in a tomb, but the Gospel puts you in Jesus' tomb, where you find life because of His resurrection." Matthew Richard, Minute Messages

WORRY

"Worrying denies the power of the God you claim to worship. That's why worry is sin . . . You will win over worry when you decide that you don't want anything more than what God wants for you. And you have exactly that. If God wanted you to have more, He would have given it to you . . . Don't let worry define you, but define yourself by your faith!" Michael DiMarco, Devotions for the God Guy

PRAYER FOR LENT

"Lord Jesus, precious Savior, who went all the way to the cross to redeem me, a lost & condemned creature, graciously look upon me in this Lenten season, & let me find cleansing & healing in Your precious blood. My transgressions caused You the agony of the garden. My sins nailed You to the accursed tree. You were forsaken so that I would not be forsaken throughout all eternity. Make me see the awfulness of my sin & then Your wondrous love that would not let me die.

"Grant that I may ponder day after day upon Your passion. Let nothing distracting take my thoughts from You. Draw me closer that I might find in You forgiveness & peace.

"Bless this Lenten season in our many Lutheran congregations. Grant to the pastors grace to proclaim Your glorious passion with consecrated hearts, that all who hear this message of reconciliation may love You more & more. Abide with my household, & let sin have no dominion over us. As I ponder anew Your death for my transgressions, make me bold to live to You today & tomorrow & forever. Amen." Lutheran Book of Prayer

A LENTEN HYMN

Savior, When in Dust to Thee (LSB #419, Sts. 1, 4)

Savior, when in dust to Thee Low we bow the adoring knee; When, repentant, to the skies Scarce we lift our weeping eyes; O, by all Thy pains & woe Suffered once for us below, Bending from Thy throne on high, Hear our penitential cry!

By Thy deep expiring groan, By the sad sepulchral stone, By the vault whose dark abode Held in vain the rising God, O, from earth to heav'n restored, Mighty, reascended Lord, Bending from Thy throne on high, Hear our penitential cry!