Ash Wednesday– Welcome to the 40 Days of Lent

Welcome to Ash Wednesday, friends.  Now, I am going to be honest.  I grew up in a church that talked a great deal about the cross but did not really focus on the idea of practicing Lent.

I thought the only spelling of the word “Lent” was “lint,” and you found that in your dryer screen or with the sock fuzz in between your toes.

In fact, in college, I was introduced to Ash Wednesday in quite an embarrassing way.  I was in line at Panera and noticed the person in front me had a giant smudge on her forehead.  I am not typically the “point out you have something between your teeth or on your forehead” type.  But that day, in that line, I tapped the lady and said, “Excuse me, you have a smudge on your forehead.”

She politely explained to me that it was Ash Wednesday and that she had those ashes placed on her forehead on purpose while at a Lent service at her church.  I immediately acted like I knew all about that, and that I, in fact, was on my way to an Ash Wednesday service myself after finishing my meal.

Ash Wednesday is a kick-off for the days leading up to the glorious resurrection story of Easter Sunday.  The forehead ashes are simply used to symbolize repentance of sins.

The cross of Jesus Christ gives me the courage to admit that I am a sinner in need of grace.

Jesus died on the cross to grant the gift of repentance and freedom from sin.

For the next 40 days, we are going to ask Jesus to help us come alive because of the gift of the cross.  To stand before Him with the freedom to repent from our sins because of the gift of forgiveness of our sins.

I am so honored and excited that you are joining us on this journey.  Let’s come alive at the cross of Christ together.

(if you are viewing this in your e-mail and cannot see video, simply click here )

Let me know how I can be praying for you in these coming 40 days.  Comment below by 3/2 and be entered to win a copy of Coming Alive at the Cross, available here