Ash Wednesday

 Genesis 3.19

You are dust, and to dust you shall return.

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. As the ash is placed on our foreheads in the shape of the cross, those words from Genesis are spoken: "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return." It is a day to lament our disconnectedness from God. It begins a time where we consider those failures in our own lives which separate us from God. The sign of the cross reminds us that in Jesus, our failure is overcome by his resurrection. We can use Lent to meet with God and ask God to bridge the distance we put between him and us.

Lent Spiritual Prompt

As humans we all fail, in some way, every day. Ask yourself honestly where have you failed in your Christian faith? If you have no answer now, then roll this question over in your mind during the coming days of Lent and try to answer it before the end of Lent.

Prayer for Lent

During this Lent please God bring me closer to you.

Please God show me those failures in my life that separates me from you.

Please God show me how to bridge the distance between us.

May I be at peace this Lent

May I surrender what has been burdensome to you this Lent

May I repent and turn back to you.

On our inner journey through Lent we should recognise God in the ordinary, in the joy and sadness of life.

Our relationship is about knowing that God cannot be separated from whatever we experience.

Blessing

Lord, be a bright flame before us

Be a guiding star above us

Be a smooth path beneath us

Be a kindly shepherd behind us.

Waiting for the Lent Journey 3

 

Joel 2:12-14

"Even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning."

Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in

love...

Today is the last day before Lent and a time in which we repent for our sins and turn away from our destructive patterns. In order to do that, we must understand and admit those sins and patterns, which is why this day is sometimes called Shrove Tuesday from an old word meaning 'forgiveness.'

Lent Spiritual Prompt

Write down the good things in your life that God has given to you.

Write down the things in your life that pleases God.

Write down the things in your life that does not please God.

A Journey through Lent Draws You Toward Renewal

Lent mirrors a universal pattern: death leading to resurrection. The metaphor of "letting go to be made new" is deeply human.

It offers hope that change is possible.

Prayer For Lent

Thank you loving God for the gift of this season of Lent.

Thank you for drawing me into a closer relationship with you throughout the coming days of Lent.

Please walk with me in my wilderness during Lent.

May these weeks leading up to Good Friday and the glory of Resurrection Sunday remind me of who you are and how you love me.

May I walk through this season intentionally, please remove distractions that take my gaze away from your glory.

Show me what is in my life that pleases you and show me those aspects of my life that I need to change.

Waiting for the Lent Journey 2

 Many spend the time in self-examination and reflection as mod-elled by Jesus in Matthew 4:.1-11 where he prayed and fasted for 40 days before beginning his ministry.

What happened during those 40 days of fasting and praying in the wilderness? Maybe Jesus needed some time with God to sort through the major changes happening in his life. Maybe he needed a break from family, friends, and his regular routine in order to see God and himself more clearly. Maybe he sought more time with God as he searched for direction and answers to the question that we, too have from time to time: "Who am I called to be?" During Lent we, too are invited into this time of introspection.

Lent's ever-present question is 'what shall we give up for Lent? but there is an alternative option: 'What shall we do this Lent?'

Pray

This lent, loving God, be by my side through the good times and hard times. Let me be honest and true as I enter a time of self-examination and reflection. Please help me to see myself and my relationships more clearly. Please show me the areas of my life that displease you and are blocking my relationship with you. Please show those areas of my life that please you and bring me closer to you. Please show me who am I called to be?

Luke 10.41-42

"Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things;

there is need of only one thing."

In this familiar passage, Jesus challenges Martha to consider that there is not only value in accomplishing tasks, but also in simply resting in God's loving presence.

In this story, Jesus reminds us that being with him is enough. Before the to-do lists, the emails, the news feed...

As Lent begins, what might you be using to distract yourself from sitting at the feet of Jesus?

Waiting for the Lent Journey 1

  There is a saying: 'The first step is the hardest... Have you ever found this? Especially if the journey is a difficult one; one that you don't really want to do perhaps, or one that is scary or unpleasant. The best way to combat these negative thoughts is to plan for the journey so that it does not seem so daunting.

Plans for Lent

Sit, think, pray, and write down what you want from your Lent journey and what you think God wants for you from Lent.

What are my Lent Goals?

This Lent think about:

Fasting from selfishness and be compassionate to others.

Fasting from anger and be filled with patience.

Fasting from sadness and be filled with gratitude.

Fasting from worries and trust in God.

Fasting from complaining and be positive.

Fasting from pessimism and be filled with hope.

Fasting from bitterness and forgive yourself and others.

Fasting from grudges and be reconciled.

Fasting from words and be quiet so you can listen.

Fasting from hurting words and be kind.

Prayer for the start of Lent

Lord, as I start preparing for my journey through Lent, please show me what I should be focusing on and what is irrelevant.

Loving God, help me to grow in faith and love over these next days of Lent, and may I be brought even closer to you in my life. Lord, you are my God, and I am yours, may I never veer from the perfect path which you have set before me. Please be my rock and my strength.

Almighty and ever living God, you invite me deeper into your world during Lent.

May this time be one of outward focus; seeking you in people and things I often ignore.

Help me live a Lent focused on you and what you have to say to me and what you have to show me.

Give me a heart hungry to serve you and those who need what I have to give.

Lent encourages Discipline and Intentional Living

Traditionally, Lent includes fasting or giving something up-not as punishment, but as a way to regain control and clarity. Letting go of distractions or indulgences creates room for focus, gratitude, and intentionality.

Modern application: Giving up social media, complaining, or sugar can shift your mindset and priorities.

Psalm 45

 Our souls expand to praise You, King:

Your Beauty gleams with Light Divine;

Your Generous Words in gold tones ring,

illumined by pure, searing Fire.

We adore You, Ruler Most High,

arrayed in dazzling Majesty.

You surge ahead for Truthful Right;

forging New Paths for humble feet.

You void potentates’ prideful claims

with poignant darts of guilt and shame.

Forever You will reign Supreme,

for Justice always guards Your Realm.

Relinquishing our parents’ hurts

we bring You gifts from all cultures.

God, form our children as leaders;

give Your Stories fervent readers.

Psalm 44

 In the Old Stories of Your People’s roots

all the Glory is Yours, Loving Parent.

You uprooted ruthless idolaters,

cleansed the land, planted families in good soil;

Your Mother Love, not swords, secured their homes.

Wise, Kind Ruler of all: we worship You;

trusting Your Peace Power we pay tribute.

But we sense You have turned away from us,

left us on our own to face scorn and theft;

we are exploited, exiled and enslaved,

treated like the scum, not Salt of the Earth;

renegade movers-and-shakers mock us.

Yet we never forget You and Your Laws;

we bow to You, pleading for Your followers

who are suffering and dying every day.

God, for real You never slumber or sleep?

Are You dozing? Don’t You care anymore?

Please come to the aid of our war-torn world:

come soon, Messiah; we trust in Your Love.

Psalm 43

 Justify Your followers, God:

defend us against false charges

contrived by heartless cheaters.

We know You are our Champion.

Why do we feel abandoned?

Why are we always grieving,

weighed down by life-sappers?

Beam Your Brilliance on us,

Spirit of God, guiding us back

to revel in Your Loving Presence.

We want to worship You, Source of Sheer Joy,

praising You with all kinds of instruments.

“What’s our problem?” we ask each other:

“Why the doldrums?”

We will zero in on You, God, and come

back to celebration, Liberator.