TheMoment

Sorry, but I really liked this devotion!

Sin, Sackcloth, and the Spirit: Ash Wednesday Reflection

By Glory E. Dharmaraj* 

What is Ash Wednesday?  That is a question many of you have asked:  Here is a brief answer from the UMC glossary:

Ash Wednesday

The first day of Lent. It marks the beginning of a period of reflection and penance. In the Bible, sprinkling oneself with ashes was traditionally a sign of one’s sorrow for having committed sins. In the Christian tradition, Ash Wednesday also marked the beginning of preparation for the understanding of the death and resurrection of Christ. The particular symbolism of ashes for this day comes from a practice in the Roman Catholic churches in which the ashes from the palms used in the preceding year’s Palm Sunday celebration are blessed. With these ashes, the priest on the first day of Lent marks a cross on the forehead of each worshiper. This practice has become a part of Ash Wednesday services in many United Methodist churches.

TAKE A MOMENT and go to an Ash Wednesday Worship Service (or take a few moments)

Today I was wearing the ashes on my head from the morning worship service.  The sign of the cross was placed upon my forehead as a sign of repentance and an understanding that I am finite.  On our own we are but ashes and as I often pray at a committal service of a funeral, “ashes to ashes, dust to dust.”  After much of the day had passed, I went past a mirror and looked in to discover that my ashes were gone.  They had rubbed away during the day.  I actually stopped and prayed.  Though we are but ashes, we are reminded that God has the power and the desire to redeem and bring meaning.  God’s love for us brings meaning to our limited humanity. 

As Richard Fairchild shares, God has given us a way out of our plight of “ashes to ashes, dust to dust.   It is the way of the Cross.   The death of Jesus was God’s way of placing a sign of infinite value upon that which would otherwise be worthless.  Tonight it is for us to know and realize that God has chosen to give us some other life than that which leads to the dust heap and the ash pit.”

TAKE A MOMENT and repent for you are an heir to life eternal through Jesus Christ!

What a great walk.  A lot of people supporting the ministries and a lot of money raised.  It struck me how many people asked about our church and when services were.  I realized again how important it is to be out in the community talking to people, connecting and being present.  I did not have to do a lot of evangelistic rhetoric.  People genuinely had an interest in our church.  All I had to do was be present. 

TAKE A MOMENT and get into the community, meet some people and be open to inviting them to church.

My family and I are going to walk a mile with the folks from Wayside Cross Ministries.  We are joining others from the church in a fundraising 1 mile walk to help support the ministries and programs of Wayside Cross.  IT IS TEN (10) degrees outside.  Ouch.  I am so glad.   The idea is we will be able to feel what it is like to be homeless.  I already know that being homeless in Chicago during the winter would not be fun, but I will feel first-hand what that might be like while I wear my thermal coat, gloves, hat and get back into my heated car after.  Well, maybe I wont know, but I am heppy to at least help provide some funds.

TAKE A MOMENT and check out the Wayside Cross Ministries at waysidecross.org or you can sponsor my family in our walk.  Contact me to find out how!  I LOVE helping people!!!

I was in awe tonight of the wonderful country of Canada.  I have always loved Canada, but only for two things:  their walleyes and I love their national anthem.  But, tonight I saw and heard about the character of Canada.  The commentators suggested that the leadership of the Canadian government had to implore and coax people in Canada to display their national pride, to put away humility and wave their flag.  It was suggested that the Canadians would later apologize for their pride.  Now, I am more willing to wave our flag and love patriotism, but I absolutely loved the humility and class that was displayed from our brothers and sisters in Canada. 

TAKE A MOMENT and consider your own humility.  Moreover pray for Nodar Kumaritashvili, the young athlete who passed away today.  Pray also for his fellow teammates and his family!

I drove by a White Castle today and noticed their sign.  It stated:  Make your Valentines dinner reservations today.  At first I chuckled and thought about the many marital problems that would come up if that was the meal a husband took his wife to for valentines day.  But then I thought about it.  First, I was judging people based on their ability to pay for some expensive (overly priced) meal.  Second, why not take the family there?  Cheap and fun.  Third, is that what Valentines Day represents?  Buying the biggest and best thing as if to overcome the 364 days when we forgot to love?  At the same time that I was driving by, I heard how Kobe Bryant bought his wife another huge diamond ring.  The last time he did that, he was trying to make up for an infidelity.  Hmmmmmm.  So, that is how we overcome our sins now, by purchasing something as if the ring will so dazzle her that she will forget that he cheated on her.  Maybe this should be a wake up call for us.  Love is so important and we should take the same care to love all year round and not just on one day a year.  God asks us to love unconditionally, abundantly and extravagantly all the time. 

I Corinthians 13:4-8

4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant ⁵or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. ⁷It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.

I sent out a devotional that had a covenant prayer by John Wesley.  I think it is so good that I wanted anyone who has not signed up for my daily devotionals to have access to it today:

 Covenant Prayer

From John Wesley’s Covenant Service , 1780

I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,

exalted for thee or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things

to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

It has been an exciting few weeks.  I have been privileged to walk with a number of people through their spiritual journeys.  Most have begun to question their faith, are seeking a deeper understanding of truth and honestly want to know the answers.  But, with much of this exploration comes a sense of guilt.  Many of those who are seeking to know more feel guilty that they no longer trust like they ought.  They want to have a deep faith that is blind, but questions and doubts continue to enter in.  Many think that because they doubt the answers given to them by parents, teachers or pastors that they are doubting God.  I think it is VERY smart to doubt and question and seek the truth.  In fact, the more one is willing to enter into this gut-wrenching search, the more I would say that they believe and are seeking God.  The fundamental understanding after much discussion is that their doubts are not about God at all, but about what they have been taught by others.  They are honestly seeking the truth and God because they believe. 

TAKE A MOMENT and seek the TRUTH!

I appreciated these thoughts from Michelle Jenks of Grace Institute:

grace-institute.com