Text: Genesis 3:1-19, Romans 3:9-26, Job 42:1-6

I stood on the street corner this time last year, at the intersection of 5th and Mainhead bowed, backpack
on, tears streaming down my face.
Minutes earlier I was walking from my car to my favorite coffee shop with plans for a productive Wednesday
morning, when I noticed two priests up ahead of me (a site which would have been normal in my Chicago
days, but was a first for me in little Franklin, Tennessee). The priests were from the Episcopal church about a
block away. One was holding a small bowl of ashes from the burnt palms of the previous years Palm
Sunday service, and the other held a small stack of papers in his hands. I greeted them and they greeted
me, and they explained why they were there:
We know not everyone can make it to an early morning Ash Wednesday service, so were meeting them
here, in the middle of their lives, because we believe thats exactly where Jesus meets us.
They asked me if they could pray for me. Yes, please do.
One priest gave me one of his papers and I followed along with an Ash Wednesday prayer on the page as
he prayed it over me:
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent:
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our
wickedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
We exchanged a few quiet words, then with his thumb he solemnly smudged an ashen cross on my
forehead, saying, Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
I was stopped in my tracks. Tears flowed while traffic carried on in the background, and I stood in stillness
with my God and wept for the sins that separated me from Christ.

At the age of 31, it was the first time Id observed Ash Wednesday in this traditionally Roman Catholic way.
What had once seemed ritualistic to this protestant girl became a vehicle the Holy Spirit used to bring me to
repent and believe anew.
This is Lent. Its a time to stopwherever were going and whatever were coming from. Whether weve
been anticipating this season since Christmas, or its stopping us cold on our way to where we think we
need to behere we are.
Lent is a pause button. It is a quiet unlike any other time of year. Lent is a season to close our eyes as the
busy world buzzes around us, to consider those things wed much rather forget: our sin and our
humanity. We came from dust, and to dust we will return.
Have you ever heard the phrase suppressing alleluia? I hadnt until just this year. (See? We get to learn
new things, even as adults!) It was a practice introduced somewhere around the 7th or 8th century where
congregants would sing the liturgical Alleluia loudly on the day before Ash Wednesday, then put the joyful
word aside until Easter. The suppression of Alleluia was thought to increase the anticipation of Easter
Sunday and the excitement of proclaiming Christs resurrection from the dead. Its another one of those
rituals, like ashen crosses on our foreheads, that feels like a tangible act of an inward posture.
Lets be honest: rituals are attractive. We are people who love visuals and search for tangible acts that allow
us to experience God. But what these rituals are not is measurable. Bearing ashes or avoiding words will not
purge us of our sins. These acts alone will not draw us nearer to God. But oftentimes Church traditions
when we understand their origin and the intent behind themcan serve as tools to remind us of the very
real reality of the Gospel in our lives.
Whether you carry the ashen cross on your forehead or not, know that Ash Wednesday is for remembering
our sin and humanityfor reflecting on our fallen state and our gaping need for a Savior. Let today stop you
in your tracks to lament and acknowledge your wickedness, knowing that the King of Alleluias has already
done all that needs to be done to grant you perfect remission and forgiveness.

Text: Joel 2:12-27, Jeremiah 24:4-7

Lord, even my repentance is broken. Help me.
Those are the words I scrawled in my notebook this morning as I tried desperately to lay my heart bare
before God, frustrated that the process did not make me feel better. I am a sinner, and I know this. He is
the one true God, and I know that, too. The lines of communication were open and I was trying to get there
emotionallywherever there isbut the warm fuzzies just werent coming.
Do you ever have these moments where you fear youve forgotten how to praywhere you worry youre not
doing this whole repent and believe thing the right way?
I went back to Scriptureto the passages were reading together todayand looked for the words turn
and return. Maybe the answer was theremaybe I could learn how to come to Jesus all over again.
I found the first return in Jeremiah 24:7, when God says of His people, I will give them a heart to know Me,
that I am Yahweh. They will be My people, and I will be their God because they willreturn to Me with all their
heart. Then in Joel 2:12, God says through the prophet, turn to me with all your heart and again just one
verse laterreturn to the Lord your God (HCSB).
And that was all.
Much to my dismay, the call to return to God is not written alongside a long list of to-dos, an attainable
checklist so I can feel sure Im returning correctly. No, there is just one qualificationto return with all my
heart. Evidently the cleaned up, feel-good part of my heart is not all God is looking for. He doesnt want only

the parts of my heart Im willing to let others seeHe wants the whole messy, confused, narcissistic, achy
thing.
So, to recap: You and I and our whole unholy selves are called to turn fully, openly, and sans-covering to the
holy, almighty God of all the universe.
[Insert deep breath here.]
Its no wonder we try to come to Him with layers of lies and pride and every other self-preservation instinct
intact. It makes sense, right? Except it doesnt because Jesus.
The cross of Jesus is the path by which we return to our holy, gracious God. We need not fashion our
own defense or disguise to shield our brokenness from His eyesthe blood of Jesus is our covering.
Our actions do not give us the right to return. Our emotions do not grant us access to God. We return
becauseand only becauseJesus Christ goes before us, His cross as our banner and His grace as our
plea.
Sisters, when you doubt that your whole, achy self is welcome in the presence of our God, look to the Cross.
When you fear your return is lacking, that your repentance itself falls short, look to the Cross.
The Cross of Jesus is our only way to the Fathernot just the first time, but every time.
His cross dispels each doubt;
I bury in His tomb
Each thought of unbelief and fear,
Each lingering shade of gloom.
I praise the God of grace;
I trust His truth and might;
He calls me His, I call Him mine.
My God, my joy and light.
from Not What My Hands Have Done
Horatius Bonar, 1861

Text: Isaiah 43:16-21, 2 Corinthians 5:1-21

I keep seeing everyone elses adorable pictures on Instagram of their kids and their friends playing in the
snow. And even though I really have no business hauling my pregnant self out to walk on ice, I took my kids
sledding this morning. And it was the worst! How do you guys do it? We were crying and falling down and
fightingby the time we left, I was done with winter. (But seriously, how do you guys do it?)
I know why my kids fight and cry, and why I curse the seasons. We are sinners. On our own, we are
diametrically opposed to the way of Christ and when given the chance to be selfish or selfless, we choose
selfish every time.
Honestly, it would be nice to skip over the hard parts of life: these cold, wintry seasons of hurt, anger, or
loss. I just want to hide under my blankets and shut out the ugly and difficult parts of life. I dont want to fight
with the people Im supposed to love!
But Im so afraid that God uses bitter, icy times to reconcile us to Him. Im scared that I have to go through
the winter of the soul so I can enjoy the springtime of the soul.
When I peek out from under the covers, I know the truth. I know I have to give up my own will, repent, and
be reconciled to God, or Ill never see springtime. I have to do more than hide and wait for winter to end;
I have to allow God to change my heart.
During the season of Lent, we try to give things up to train our raw fingers to let go of old ways. But to
reconcile with God and to breathe in the springtime, we have to do more than just let go. We have to replace
our icy vices with the good, warm things of God.
Im forever stuck in the winter of sin until I let go of myself and receive the good things of God. Christ is the
best gift of GodHe is worth more than anything we could ever give up.

We dont make this happen. We just cry out for help, and our Savior thaws our bitter hearts. I dont
understand how it happens. But I believe that He is our only hope to free us from our sin.
Springtime is coming! Christ Himself is a real answer to the cold ache of our souls. Its not an easy
answer, but He is the answer that actually addresses the heart of my need. He is the relieving thaw of
spring.
This lenten season, lets do more than suspend our viceslets run to Christ. Lets be brave, come out of
hiding, and be reconciled to Him.
Yet whatever else it may be, Lent should never be morose an annual ordeal during which we
begrudgingly forgo a handful of pleasures. Instead, we ought to approach Lent as an opportunity, not a
requirement. After all, it is meant to be the churchs springtime, a time when, out of the darkness of sins
winter, a repentant, empowered people emerges.
from Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter

Text: 1 John 1:5-10

A beautiful Saturday to you, dear friends!
As we walk through this season of reflection and repentance together, we want to provide time and space for
us as individuals and a community to meditate on Gods Word and bow at His feet in prayer.
Each Saturday during Lent we will read a brief passage of Scripture and a corporate prayer, both carefully
chosen for this specific place in our Lenten journey. Sundays will be dedicated to scripture memorization,
one of our favorite habits here at She Reads Truth.
We pray you will not only meet with the Savior on these quieter weekend days, but linger there with Him, in
prayer and in His Word.

________
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent:
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our

wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
- from The Book of Common Prayer

Text: Mark 2:13-17, Matthew 4:1-11

Recently, I was on my way to Palm Desert to speak. I struggle with anxiety when driving alone, and I was
not looking forward to the drive. The abyss of grey asphalt, cement walls, and red taillights of stop-and-go
traffic unsettle me, and I knew once I made it through that traffic the desolate, dry, and brown desert would
surround me for miles.
I get nervous to be alone. The stillness tempts me with voices that say I am not a good enough wife, mother,
friend, leader. I am haunted by the what ifs and should haves and silence.
I was driving through that desert, sensing the welling of anxious thoughts, when God came close and met
me. As He gently shifted my focus off my self-imposed discouragement and onto His promises of
acceptance, forgiveness, and love, the desert transformed before my eyes. The brown became a brilliant
bronze, the blue sky glistening against the horizon. The cactus and Joshua trees reminded me that life
emerges out of barren land, and the wind whipping up dust prompted me to know the Holy Spirit comforts
and transforms our thoughts. The desolate desert came alive when God came close.
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
- Psalm 145:18
Levis anxious view of the world changed the day Jesus called him to follow. Sinner, come as you are
broken, weary, shamed, and rejected. I see you, accept you, and will call you my friend. Come dine with
me.What a beautiful invitation. I wonder if Levis world went from black and white to vibrant color that day.
Jesus extends an invitation to come close at any time and to follow Him, no matter our condition. He
calls us to come close minute by minute, every day. He heals, He redeems, He saves, He invites, He

accepts He changes us and our perspective, which draws us into greater understanding that He cares
about every detail of our life.
There will be desert days. Even Jesus endured seasons in the wilderness. In those seasons, He fasted and
drew close to His heavenly Father. His physical weakness did not succumb to the Tempters plan because
His Father nourished Him. The enemy has nothing of worth to offer a soul filled with the truth of Gods
Word. Amen!
Friend, the Word of God has the same power in your wilderness. Come close and fast with Jesus, cling to
Him and His cross when the Tempter tries to steal your true identity. Like Levi who found his true identity in
Christ, you are also invited, chosen, known, and lovedjust as you are. As you come close to Jesus, the
world around you will transform and become more beautiful and radiant because you are changed.

Text: Hebrews 12:3-13, Psalm 6:1-10

Self-denial is saying only: He goes ahead of us; hold fast to him.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
We, your She Reads Truth writers and friends, are learning as we go. I hope thats okay to say out loud,
because its true. We are learning about this beautiful bookthe living Word of Godalongside you,
opening it up each day and praying to the God who made us. We come to the Bible knowing and believing
that the Holy Spirit has been given to us as our Helper, that He has been promised to us by the Son of God,
Jesus Christ our Savior. This is who we arelike you, we are daughters of the King. We come emptyhanded, expecting Him to give us all we need.
In preparing for this reading plan that spans the season of Lent (we like to call it lententide because its
such a pretty word), we went to folks who know more than us for help. We called on pastors and friends, we
read books and researched themes. It is part of our job and we LOVE it. So much. One resource we
consulted was a book on the liturgical calendar called Eternity Today, and the author said this about Lent:

What can be lost in this season is that, though believers indeed fast and pray, they often do this not more
aware of the love of God, but assuming that they need to win Gods favor
Lent is unique in the liturgical year because the members of the church conscientiously turn from excesses
not to remind God of humanity, but to remind themselves of the constancy of Gods love.
Im a sucker for all things old and liturgical. I love corporate readings in church services, sacraments and
hymnals. I love studying Lent and just about anything else that reminds me Im part of a body of believers
who have been worshipping our God for hundreds and hundreds of years. But do I do Lent as obligation or
to be a part of a centuries-old ritual? Do I do Lent to win Gods favor? I would never say so but turning this
quote and these Scriptures over in my heart and mind, Im not so sure.
If Im completely honest, I have to admit that I hopeor maybe even believemy small sacrifices
make God love me a little bit more. I hope theyll erase some of those selfish things I did that I wish I could
take back. I hope theyll cover over my neglect of those in need, my lack of compassion for the hardships of
others. If Im honest, I think Lent buys me an ounce of forgiveness and favor in the eyes of God.
Heres the rub: this belief is not just a simple misunderstanding. It is itself a sinful pride that devalues the
very blood of Christ. He has purchased my pardon! He is the righteousness that covers my sin! He is the
One who has earned Gods favor, and He is the reason that favor is lavished on me.
Our need for Jesus is deep, but His love for us is deeper. His love for us is constant, whatever season
and state were in. He redeems us and refines us because of this great love, not because of what we do.
We come to Christ with empty buckets whether we admit it or not. So lets not bring our self
improvements and call them sacrifices. Lets dont use our efforts as currency to buy the free grace weve
been given.
Lets simply come to the cross of Christ again, today.
Lets come empty. He will fill us.