Today is Valentine’s Day! Happy Valentine’s Day! May love fill your heart and life! Today, is also Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. Most of our culture knows more about Mardi Gras than Lent, just as most of us would prefer celebration over repentance. Both have their place in the seasons of life. But all of us value love as we should. Love is the highest value for all of us and gives us the greatest meaning of life.
But here is where hearts and ashes come together. The ashes of Lent remind us of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness being tested by temptation and purified and empowered by prayer to live out a life of love. Ashes have long been a symbol of repentance and humility. From early times many Christians have used the ashes of burned palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday, to mark the sign of the cross on their foreheads as a symbol of repentance and prayer and as a witness of their faith. Lent comes right before Holy Week and Easter as a time for people to focus on faith and remember all that Christ endured on the cross that we might know forgiveness and love as well as the good news of the hope of new life and the promise of the resurrection. And that is the greatest heart of all. A heart from God on our lives.
Just as our lives need both hearts and ashes, so too our world needs hearts and ashes. Hearts of love, and ashes of prayer. It is easy to look around our world and see great needs that touch our hearts. Let us discover anew the power of prayer as our hearts are moved.
Challenge yourself to a special time of prayer for yourself and the needs around the world. Rediscover acts of kindness and share a heart to others near and far. Discover a fresh renewal as we pray for our world and for our lives that we may be filled with God's love and empowered by God's Spirit to reach out with a whole new passion to others in need. Open your heart anew to God's love.
(Verse of the week)
The greatest command . . . Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10.27)
(Prayer of the week)
Almighty and Loving God, help me to rediscover the power prayer and your great love and help me to love and serve you and love and serve my neighbor sharing your light in your world. Amen.
Have a great week!—Pastor TJ
(quote of the week)
“Do small things with great love”—Mother Teresa
But here is where hearts and ashes come together. The ashes of Lent remind us of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness being tested by temptation and purified and empowered by prayer to live out a life of love. Ashes have long been a symbol of repentance and humility. From early times many Christians have used the ashes of burned palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday, to mark the sign of the cross on their foreheads as a symbol of repentance and prayer and as a witness of their faith. Lent comes right before Holy Week and Easter as a time for people to focus on faith and remember all that Christ endured on the cross that we might know forgiveness and love as well as the good news of the hope of new life and the promise of the resurrection. And that is the greatest heart of all. A heart from God on our lives.
Just as our lives need both hearts and ashes, so too our world needs hearts and ashes. Hearts of love, and ashes of prayer. It is easy to look around our world and see great needs that touch our hearts. Let us discover anew the power of prayer as our hearts are moved.
Challenge yourself to a special time of prayer for yourself and the needs around the world. Rediscover acts of kindness and share a heart to others near and far. Discover a fresh renewal as we pray for our world and for our lives that we may be filled with God's love and empowered by God's Spirit to reach out with a whole new passion to others in need. Open your heart anew to God's love.
(Verse of the week)
The greatest command . . . Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10.27)
(Prayer of the week)
Almighty and Loving God, help me to rediscover the power prayer and your great love and help me to love and serve you and love and serve my neighbor sharing your light in your world. Amen.
Have a great week!—Pastor TJ
(quote of the week)
“Do small things with great love”—Mother Teresa
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