Growing up in the church, Lent seemed so watered down of just giving up chocolate or sodas for 40 days. (Disclaimer: Not from the pulpit – sorry, Dad – but probably from my youth leadership, which was up and down inconsistency and depth). It was almost like we would pick things that we knew we could easily do, or we would give up on day one and move on—kind of like new year’s resolutions. As I have grown as an adult, I have tried to sink deeper into what this season is preparing us for. I love the Christmas season. It is not hard at all for me to dive into the waiting and anticipation of Christ’s birth. But anticipating his death, even though it is ultimately his resurrection, just always seemed more challenging to me. Bringing back an Ash Wednesday service in our home church brought space to open myself deeper for the journey. The journey to the cross. To the ultimate sacrifice. Wondering what new story was on the horizon to the end of the story. It has become one of my favorite services that I look forward to, with my top two still being Good Friday and Christmas Eve. Don’t get me wrong, I love Easter, but there is something in the waiting through the journey that brings great growth and strange joy to my soul. Plus, I am always drawn to a good song in a minor key.
Through Lent, this mini blog series will provide a space for reflection, scripture, and a song or two to meditate on. Feel free to share each week! I hope it brings you peace and depth and strange joy as we continue living in ministry together in a season of isolation and distance.
Scripture to Meditate on:
Psalm 51:1-17, ESV
1 Have mercy on me,[a] O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right[b] spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Others to read: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20 – 6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16- 21
Song of Meditation:
Brokenness Aside by All Sons and Daughters