ASHES TO ASHES

Snow in Pigeon Forge a few weeks ago! Although I am ready for spring!


Greetings! I pray that all is well with you!

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday. Did your pastor have this service last night? Do you even know what Ash Wednesday is?

Well, if you don't I am going to tell you with the help of www.gotquestions.org:

"Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. Its official name is “Day of Ashes,” so called because of the practice of rubbing ashes on one’s forehead in the sign of a cross. Since it is exactly 40 days (excluding Sundays) before Easter Sunday, it will always fall on a Wednesday—there cannot be an “Ash Thursday” or “Ash Monday.” The Bible never mentions Ash Wednesday—for that matter, it never mentions Lent.

Lent is intended to be a time of self-denial, moderation, fasting, and the forsaking of sinful activities and habits. Ash Wednesday commences this period of spiritual discipline. Ash Wednesday and Lent are observed by most Catholics and some Protestant denominations. The Eastern Orthodox Church does not observe Ash Wednesday; instead, they start Lent on “Clean Monday.”

While the Bible does not mention Ash Wednesday, it does record accounts of people in the Old Testament using dust and ashes as symbols of repentance and/or mourning (2 Samuel 13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 2:8; Daniel 9:3). The modern tradition of rubbing a cross on a person’s forehead supposedly identifies that person with Jesus Christ.

Should a Christian observe Ash Wednesday? Since the Bible nowhere explicitly commands or condemns such a practice, Christians are at liberty to prayerfully decide whether or not to observe Ash Wednesday.
If a Christian decides to observe Ash Wednesday and/or Lent, it is important to have a biblical perspective. Jesus warned us against making a show of our fasting: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen” (Matthew 6:16-18). We must not allow spiritual discipline to become spiritual pride.

It is a good thing to repent of sinful activities, but that’s something Christians should do every day, not just during Lent. It’s a good thing to clearly identify oneself as a Christian, but, again, this should be an everyday identification. And it is good to remember that no ritual can make one’s heart right with God.
"

I hope that answers any questions that you might have. 

I believe that it is a great time of prayerfully confessing our sins and repenting of the things that are not pleasing to God. Granted you don't need a church service to do this but having a special service for this, especially starting the Lenten Season, is a special time with God. A time to truly surrender your all to Him and seek Him. And therefore draw closer to Him. Then during this time if we so choose we can give up something for Christ, as in a fast during this time before Easter. I will tell you that I am giving up something, Facebook, and then also doing something for Christ, this blog.

"I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, 
but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise 
myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” 
Job 42:5-6
 
So, I hope that this helps in drawing you closer to Jesus and giving your all to Him in repentance and in obedience.

Blessings,

Lesbear 

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