Ash Wednesday is Solemn, Holy, Reverent and Life.
Jesus called all things relating to His Purpose as Joy.
If we combine "The Beatles", "Happy Birthday", "Self Improvement" and "Happy New Year" - We would embrace Ash Wednesday. The Pew Report did a study about perceptions of Ash Wednesday Nationwide regarding USA non-participation in Ash Wednesday.
God has His 12 Gates Open to His Kingdom. His Policy on the world is to save the world in Jesus Christ. God's Policy one Prayer is 24/7, we are never left nor forsaken.
Ephesians 4:22-24
To put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
1 Timothy 1:5
The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ezekiel 11:19
And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh.
When Jesus healed His people, He asked them (us) to ask Him for what we need. The Pew Report set out 12 years ago to ask what people think of Ash Wednesday. To look at perceptions is to realize Prayer is Conversation. With 'Yar'. God is God.
- Some of the comments about Ash Wednesday were as follows:
- I really don't want to think about my life, my body, my brain becoming Dust.
The Beatles might answer with Zechariah 8.
3 Thus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain.
4 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. 5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.
6 Thus says the Lord of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the Lord of hosts?
7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, 8 and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.
And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”
It's whimsical, granted. And to add the right balance, no one on earth desires their funeral like this. Heavens, we have to see Heaven encompasses from Genesis One, the fall of Eden to the time the Bible tells us encompasses travel the world has never seen. And the Roman Empire traveled on a whim or a talent-daily-wage. The Roman Empire Age would hardly arrive at the middle of Heaven.
When we are saying dust, we are enfolding the idea that as we leave this earth - this will be solemn. And in Jesus Christ we are saying:
John 12:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, еxcept a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. ... Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.
- The Pew Reports people say seeing the dust on people in different stages of decay reminds them of creepy, old movies.
Why deny the Valor?
- The Fact we have Scriptures is evidence of Valor.
- We have safety. God is our refuge. There is more to our lives than today. We are eternal beings. With many miles to go.
- This Dust has Valor. This is Jesus telling us life ends and the Life of Jesus and His Death includes us in the Victory of Jesus in His Home and His Kingdom and His Power and His Glory.
We worship today encompassing all generations. Why would we shun the Faith of our Fathers ? The warmth of centuries of Hymns. The traditions the many we loved participated in long ago and will encounter in Heaven again?
We do not pray in Latin. We pray with sincerity.
Today, one of the Largest Selling Aspects of Book Buying is Self Improvement.
- Ash Wednesday, according to the Pew Report, is extensively asking us to find faults in our lives we weren't even aware of until more pressure arrived.
- Jesus tells us He longs to save the world. Jesus tells us He longs to take His Children and put them under His Wings.
- Why wouldn't we instead find what the Season of Lent would bring us to bring us closer to the Heart of God?
- A Physician friend of our's was saying that if your prescription is giving you every side effect the label warns you about, even if it worked on you before, you have been prescribed the wrong medication.
- In other words, if something is wrankling you from the Word of God, is this because you do need to consider this amazing aspect of Living Scripture. Scripture is Alive.
- Or are you looking for something to fuss about?
- And sometimes we surely would like to avoid something and God has earmarked this as, "When we arrive here, later." Lent can mean, oh, we are going to prepare for this. And God will make the path available.
- Father God tells us He loves a Cheerful Giver. We seem to adore New Year's Resolutions. Why isn't Ash Wednesday carefully considered as what I really could do to Please God Who Generously Loves me?
- Father God loves to say, "Include Me in all aspects of your life!" "What would we talk about as you Pray to Your Father?" Wouldn't our Father love to know you are reading your children more stories. Helping homework more like you'd have liked the help? Helping an elderly neighbor because you know you helped your parents and grandparents.
- Are you thinking over a trip to see family far away?
- God would Love to know of more Love.
- Did you quit your diet. (New Years Resolution?) Now, you know Father God doesn't want you to have unhappiness, loss of self esteem, Diabetes. Your Body is a Temple of God.
- Have you been meaning to Volunteer at Church. God Welcomes you!
- Father God would ask you to consider what Cheerful Thanksgiving you'd provide with Great Joy.
Ash Wednesday is a Voyage.
Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to
proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners
Surely we will stand Firm to this Truth?
The Joy of the Lord is our Strength!
Isaiah 51:1
Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD:
Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn
Isaiah 51:1
Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD:
Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn
And on this Adventure, Journey, Path, Way - on this Map of God's Plan,
the Adventure is Joy and the X on the map has been instead
replaced with The Joy Jesus has Planned by His Love,
His Sacrifices, His Support and Steadfast Love.
Abba,
When You brought us Jesus as an innocent and newborn baby, You chose youth. And yet as the Scriptures of the Gospel of Jesus begins, You speak of dust. The Genealogy of the long departed. And in Jesus, what is dust is stirred to create the most welcoming Promise of Your Almighty Plan and Word - Jesus Christ.
Ezekiel 37
4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
Where we would see dust, You would see Life.
When we would Believe You, You clothe us in Jesus and give us the Joy of the Lord.
When we want Renewal we will come with confidence to Your Throne, tell you of our trespasses and receive renewal from Your Grace upon Grace.
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. You provide us Grace and peace from You, God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Thanks and Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
You comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by our Gracious Father.
You assure us life has trouble and we know Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
Our hope in You is unshaken, for we know in suffering of life, we will also share in You Comfort, The Holy Spirit.
Lifting up our Hearts, our hopes, the ones we Love for Jesus Christ to Bless, Enfold and Uplift all we Love and to Save the world in Jesus Christ.
Our cares covered in Jesus.
Our prayers for Elliott and His Miracle, Dee, who is better, and Jim, covered in Jesus. All our worries and anxieties and prayer requests - covered in Jesus.
Bless us to Seek You First to live Lives of Love, Peace and Joy.
Thank You, Jesus, Amen.
Your Glory has Filled the Temple, Live in me, Lord Jesus and all who Love You today and tomorrow.
On earth let Your Hope and Future, Your Good Will be done as in Heaven.
Amen Jesus, Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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