Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, which, for the Christian world, is the beginning of the Lenten season, when we focus on the specifics of Jesus Christ’s suffering and death for us. I’m running slightly behind, since we are to Thursday already, but I’d like to share a scripture passage from the Word of God each week of Lent as a way of observing this important time. I’m not going to comment on the passages, but just let them speak for themselves and trust that you, my readers, will be blessed by God’s own words.
This week’s passage if from the epistle lesson suggested for Ash Wednesday: Sections of Joel 2:12-19.
“‘Now, therefore,’ says the Lord, ‘turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.’ So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm. …
“Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a sacred assembly; gather the people; sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children and nursing babes; let the bridegroom go out from his changer, and the bride from her dressing room. Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar; let them say,’Spare Your people, O Lord, and do not give your people to reproach., that the nations should rule over them.’ …
“Then the Lord will be zealous for His land and pity His people. The Lord will answer and say to His people, ‘Behold I will send you grain and new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations.’”
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Hangin' Out With God 