TODAY'S VERSES FROM PSALMS

"In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek Him; all his thoughts are, 'There is no God.' . . . He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net. The helpless, sink down, & fall by his might . . . Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted." (Ps. 10:4, 8-10, 12) COMMENT:  When I read, "in hiding places he murders the innocent," I couldn't help but think of abortion. And so, we pray "O God, lift up Your hand; forget not the afflicted." Surely the unborn who are in danger of abortion are "the afflicted."  

HEADSHIP

"Headship means responsibility & initiative:  responsibility to act in love; initiative to act in service. As Christ acted in self-giving love & self-humbling service (giving us a whole new meaning to 'headship'), so husbands take the initiative in building an atmosphere of loving, self-sacrificing service." David Augsburger, Men's Devotional Bible

A SEASON FOR REFLECTION

"Ash Wednesday brings us into the season of Lent. While Lent may not be the longest season of the church year, it certainly is one of the most important. As Christians, it is an opportune time for us to grow in our faith as we think about our relationship with Jesus while His suffering & death come into focus. 

"One of the most interesting aspects of this season is that it offers us a time for quiet reflection. The language used in worship is purposefully quieter than normal; for example, the word 'alleluia' is not used as an expression of praise during Lent. Worship music is often reflective & subdued. In many churches, crosses & other religious artwork are 'veiled'--covered with a transparent cloth throughout the 40 days to mute their brilliance & add to the solemn tone of the season.

"These activities serve as reminders for us to spend time thinking about life, death, faith, relationships, & Jesus during these 40 days. This time spent in personal reflection & prayer before individual or family devotions has special meaning for us throughout Lent." (Dr. Kurt Senske, The Lutheran Layman, Winter 2023) 

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

"We educate children in the Word of God so that they can be wise for now & for forever. Wisdom is good for now, better than anything, teaching us about marriage & fair dealing in business & how to guard our tongues & every other useful thing. Wisdom is good for forever, teaching us who our God is & who we are because of Him & his mercies. In God's Word, these are all of a piece:  The wisdom I receive from God's Word is not separated into things I only need to care about now & things I need to care about always. I receive grace & truth for all of life--for as many days as I am given & for the Last Day when He comes." Dr. Adam Koontz, The Lutheran Witness, Feb. 2023

A LENTEN PRAYER

"Gracious Savior, prostate I fall at Your feet this day as Your Church once more enters the Lenten season to meditate upon Your passion, by which we have been eternally redeemed.

"In spirit I appear before You in sackcloth & ashes in true repentance; let me receive Your full pardon. Do not let the pleasures of life, the worries of the day, & the activities of my daily routine crowd You out of my heart & out of my thoughts. Draw me to Your wounded side & cleanse me with Your most precious blood. Bring healing to my soul & peace to my mind. By Your grace, let me crucify my sinful affections, lusts & desires. Make me more than conqueror over every temptation.

"I confess to You all my sins. Let none of them cling to me. Create in me a clean heart, O God, & renew a right Spirit within me. Teach me to love You more & more. Give me grace to confess You as my Savior, who has redeemed me on Calvary, lifting me out of the darkness of sin to be Your own. Gracious Savior, let Your constraining love keep me & all God's children steadfast to the end. Amen." Lutheran Book Of Prayer

A LENTEN HYMN

Jesus, Refuge of the Weary, LSB 423, Sts. 1 & 3

Jesus, refuge of the weary, Blest Redeemer, whom we love, Fountain in life's desert dreary, Savior from the world above; Often have Your eyes offended, Gazed upon the sinner's fall; Yet upon the cross extended, You have borne the pain of all.

Jesus, may our hearts be burning With more fervent love for You; May our eyes be ever turning To behold Your cross anew Till in glory, parted never From the blessed Savior's side, Graven in our hearts forever, Dwell the cross, the Crucified.