Ash Wednesday ~ Remember

Ash Wednesday ~ Remember

Today we begin the season of Lent by observing Ash Wednesday. We remember that we are sinful people. The ashes that will be placed on the foreheads of those who attend worship services today are a biblical symbol of mourning, repentance, and remembering our brokenness and need for God's grace. They are "an outward sign of our inner repentance before God" (Aaron Damiani, pastor and author). Lent is the journey that prepares us for the Good News of Easter - our forgiveness and redemption in Jesus Christ.

A large part of Lent is about remembrance. Remembrance ushers us into examination and reflection as we remember who we are and what we are called to, as we remember our weaknesses and failings, as we remember God's grace to us through His Son, and His love for us in redeeming us from the bondage of sin. Over the past few years, in the seasons of Advent and Lent, I have engaged in a practice of reflecting on daily words and Scripture passages and then responding to them creatively in an art journal. It aides in my practice of remembrance and reflection, taking the Scripture passages deeper into my mind and heart as I add a creative, tactile experience.

I am posting a list of Lent Words with Scripture passages revised from previous years lists. The words and Scripture passages can help us remember who we are. If you are interested, use them as art or writing prompts through the season of Lent. I will post periodic devotions throughout the season as time allows. As we are currently traveling on vacation, the images in today's post are mine from previous years. If you choose to participate in Lent Words this year please share on social media using #lentwords2020.

Click for a downloadable pdf

You can also join us in the Words Challenge Facebook group to share art and conversation. Join here.

If you would like to read devotions from my previous Lent Words you can find them here or click on the Words Challenge tab above.

Lent Words 2020

Lent 2020

A few years ago I rose to the challenge to put together a Lent Words challenge after the great feedback I received from my first Advent Words challenge in 2017. I learned a few things during that first Lent Words. First, 40 days is a long time for a challenge, especially one that includes devotions and art. So that year I got some help from some friends who did some guest posts and I did not do a devotion every day of the challenge. It was still a lot to keep up with and this is generally a pretty busy season for me. So last year, 2019, I created another words list for Lent and then did a few devotional posts through the season. This year I am posting a copy of the words list from last year. I left it undated to make it easier to use in the future. Once again this year I will just post devotions periodically throughout the season.

Click for a downloadable pdf

If you are interested in the words list from Lent 2018 and the devotions from that year you can find them here or click on the Words Challenge tab above. If you make art during the Lent season share it using #Lentwords2020. You can also share it in the Words Challenge Facebook group. Join here.