Fresh Starts

Today is the beginning of Lent, Ash Wednesday. Lent is the time, in the liturgical church calendar, that we take time to pause and examine our lives, and through the practice of prayer, fasting, and works of love toward others, that we seek to become more and more like Jesus. There are no set "patterns" on how one goes through the Lenten period but it is an invitation for each of us to reflect on our spiritual lives. Perhaps we need to ask ourselves--am I growing in my knowledge of Christ and His Word? Am I spending time in prayer--not only to just have sweet time in the Lord's presence, enjoying loving my Lord and He loving me--but am I also praying for others that the Lord lays on my heart throughout the days? Through the Sundays of Lent we will be sharing the Lord's Table--an opportunity for us to reflect fresh and new on the Lord's sacrifice for us as we look toward Easter and the wonders of the resurrection. Each Sunday we will be exploring in depth the lines of the Lord's prayer--desiring that through our learning together our prayer lives will be enriched in every way. This Sunday we will hear the disciples asking Jesus to teach them to pray--would you be willing to ask that same question of our Lord? Prayer for the Day: God of Righteousness, you see the secret acts of devotion and know the hidden motives of our hearts. Confirm in us a spirit of humble obedience, that without regard to earthly honor we may live as your faithful children and receive the treasure of eternal life with Jesus Christ our Lord. Spirit of God, descend upon my heart and cause me to love you as I ought to love. Amen. Humbly serving our Savior together, Pastor Peggy