A Concord Pastor Comments: MONDAY MORNING OFFERING: 2/28

Image: George Mendoza

Good morning, good God!

Well, in 48 hours

it'll be Ash Wednesday...

I want,
actually I need, Lord,

for this to be a good Lent, a great Lent,

my best Lent ever!

I need a new beginning, Lord,

a fresh start with you:

I need your help

to turn my heart around,

to head me in a new direction

and to walk, always, by your side...

It's time for me to take a spiritual inventory:
to count my sins
and to number your countless mercies....

I want to know the refreshment
of truly being at peace with you, my God...

You offer me this time of grace, Lord,

a season my heart so dearly needs:

40 days

of your compassion, understanding and forgiveness...

As you know so well, Lord,
I've been here so many, many times before...

As do my New Year's resolutions,

my Lenten promises often fade away

- sometimes before Wednesday's ashes

are brushed from my brow...

So, I offer you my Lenten hope,

my Lenten pledge,

my Lenten plea for your help, your grace,

to keep me faithful this time 'round,

faithful to my prayer, fasting

and works of mercy...

Keep me modest in my promises
that this Lent I might, at last, be faithful
- even if only in a few small things...

And should I stumble and fail,
actually - when I stumble and fail, Lord,
I pray your Spirit will pick me up, dust me off,
and set me back on the path I pledged...

I offer you my ego, Lord,
and pray I take no pride in being faithful this Lent:
   humble me with the power of your grace
       and sustain in me what I can't do alone:
   help me remember that without you help,
       I can do nothing...

I offer you the 40 days ahead, Lord,
and pray you help me live this season
just one day at a time...

Help me to pray, a day at a time...
Help me to sacrifice, a day at a time...
Help me to be generous, a day at a time...

Walk with me this Lent, Lord,
and remind me each day
that this season is first my offering to you,
and then a grace for me
that my faith in you might grow...

Walk this Lenten path with me, Lord:
be with from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday...