Ash Wednesday

Starts: Wednesday, February 22nd 2012 at 8:00 AM
Ends: Wednesday, February 22nd 2012 at 11:59 PM

Ash Wednesday begins the Season of Lent, the period before Easter. Lent is often a time of reflection, repentance, and prayer leading up to Christ’s death. For our spiritual ancestors, wearing ashes was a sign of mourning and lamenting. Ash Wednesday challenges us to reflect on our own death so that we can truly embrace life. It reminds us that only by a Christ-like death can we experience the promise of Easter’s life.

As we consider this day, take some time to reflect on how God wants to:

• Shape Us
  One of the ways sin is described in the Bible is as a “hardness of heart. Do you ever feel that your heart is hard, that it is inflexible or judgmental? Do you keep your guard up in relationships with others and/or with God? Reflect on how that is true and ask God to make your heart soft and pliable in His hands.
• Cleanse Us
  One of the ways we can understand Lent is to see it as “Spring Cleaning.” Take the time to examine your life. Are there closets where you store past resentments? Negative behaviors? Ask God to cleanse them and give you a fresh start.
• Renew Us
  The world is full pain and suffering. But this gives us hope – “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning – great is your faithfulness!” (Lamentations 3:23-24). The knowledge of God’s love can renew our hurting hearts with the hope that we have in Him! Allow His love to speak to you today.