Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”Today’s reading is selections from Joel chapter 2:1-3; 10-13"1 Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand— 2 a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was in ancient times nor ever will be in ages to come.…10 Before them the earth shakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine. 11 The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?12 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity."The Old Testament prophet Joel here paints a frightening and apocalyptic picture.... days of darkness and gloom, clouds and blackness. How does this reading make you feel? Do you struggle when you read scriptures like this? If you do, invite God into your struggle.Here is a famous scripture, familiar to many: Rend your heart, and not your garments. People used to tear their clothes as a sign of repentance, but the prophet tells us that what God wantsis a 'rent heart’, a torn heart. As we reflect on Ash Wednesday, consider that God wants an internal shift in our hearts, not an external signal. God doesn’t want a religious performance. He wants transformed hearts. As you hear the passage again, consider how you can transform and soften your heart to the things of God over Lent. Ask God to soften your heart over these 40 days of Lent, that you might fully return to the Lord over this season."1 Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand— 2 a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was in ancient times nor ever will be in ages to come.…0 Before them the earth shakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine. 11 The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?12 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity."Ash Wednesday begins the Christian season of Lent which is marked by repentance. Joel says, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” As you enter into Lent, think about something that you can refrain from over these 40 days. We often think of fasting from food, and that can be a starting point. But you may want to think about something that you do that takes up too much of your affections, or that crowds out your love for God. Ask God to bring something to mind that you can fast from, and ask him for the grace to make more space for him this season.Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.Music Credit:Prayer of Consecration - Vineyard Worship (YouTube)

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