Ashes to Ashes

Welcome to Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, which often focuses on the penitential Psalm 51 and encourages the people of God to:

Consider our mortal lives (ashes to ashes and dust to dust) in view of God’s immortality and our eternal lives to come.

Honestly access our actions, thoughts, and choices in Light of Jesus’ teachings in the Gospels.

Confess what needs confessing, acknowledging whatever is out of line with God’s will and/or His revealed purpose for our lives.

Change what needs changing, perhaps by asking ourselves “Is (was) this the loving thing to do?”

Receive the joy of God’s forgiveness through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and His resurrection on that first Easter morning.

Begun in Ashes

Create in me a clean heart, O God
and renew a right spirit within
all who come to You
in sorrow for our sins.

When we’re out of line
with Your love, Lord,
we thank You for revealing
the truth and not hiding
our errors beneath ashes!

Praise You for making us
spotless
with pure forgiveness
we don’t deserve,
yet bringing us back
into Your embrace,
so we can face You again
without shame.

No matter where we go
in this life or this Lent
help us to glow, Lord,
as we walk in the Light
of Your Name.

by Mary Harwell Sayler
[Note: With some changes, this post was originally published as “Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down.”]

Making peace worth keeping

Matthew 5:9 – Jesus promised us, “Blessed are all who make peace, for they shall be called the children of God.”

Keeping the peace at all cost isn’t what You meant, is it, Lord? That sounds more like being passive – a word we would never use to describe You!

Making peace creates what isn’t there, but that’s no problem for You, Lord! You, our Creator God, created everything of substance out of invisible matter, so the unseen became the seen. Thank You, Lord, for making us in Your image – creators capable of making peace. Please put on our minds the peace-healing prayers we’re to pray in Jesus’ Name. Remind us especially to pray for people who seem indifferent – or even hostile – toward the peaceful solutions that only Your love can bring.

Mary Harwell Sayler from book Kneeling on the Promises of God

First the Ashes, then the Fire

Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, often focuses on the penitential Psalm 51 and encourages us to look at ourselves honestly, confess what needs confessing, and change what needs changing.  It’s not about giving up chocolate or other things we like but about giving up any obstacles in our relationship with Jesus Christ, Who wants to embrace us, empower us, and fire us up with His Holy Spirit.

As we head toward Easter, let’s pray to become the individual Christians and communal Church we are meant to be in the Name of Jesus Christ – in the Name of His Love.

Begun in Ashes

Create in me a clean heart, O God
and renew a right spirit within
all who come to You
in sorrow for our sins.

Whenever we’re out of line
with Your love, Lord,
we thank You for revealing
the truth and not hiding
our errors behind ashes!

We praise You for making us
spotless
with pure forgiveness
we don’t even deserve,
yet bringing us back
into Your embrace,
so we can face You again
without shame.

No matter where we go
in this life or this Lent
help us to glow, Lord,
as we walk in the Light
of Your Name.

by Mary Harwell Sayler

[Poem first appeared on https://marysayler.blogspot.com/2021/02/ashes-ashes-we-all-fall-down.html .]