Wednesdays Word....

I wasn't sure what to call Wednesday's Word this week. Should I have gone with Cross? or Lead? Ash Wednesday...I know it's 2 words but I could of made it Ash Wednesday Word. Just some random thoughts there....sorry.

Ash Wednesday has different meanings for different people. For some it's nothing more than getting some ashes put on your head and rubbing them off before you leave the sanctuary. Others it's their church trilogy of the year....Christmas, Ash Wednesday and Easter; though that is probably giving those people too much credit because 99% of this group just attend the 2 biggies. And yet for some it is a true spiritual journey of prayer, repentance and fasting during the 40 days of the Lenten season that culminate in Easter Sunday.

Tonight our church choir got to lead our Ash Wednesday service with a some very fitting songs for this time of year. We started off with Lead Me to the Cross and went into The Wonderful Cross which are great on their own but together they paint a powerful picture. There was a 3rd song but I wanted to burn it and use it for the imposition of ashes next year. A little harsh; yeah probably but the publishers lied....it said SAB (Soprano Alto Bass) but there was no bass part because it was all tenor and then some. Back to these two songs. They intertwine symbolism showing us that those things that we lose are not needed and what is gained through the blood of Jesus Christ is greater than anything we could hold onto. And we're not talking about physical things here. We just have to humble ourselves and leave our pride and what ever else we need to get rid of at the foot of the cross. It can be guilt, bitterness, shame, jealousy, hate, doubt.....literally anything that can come between us and God. So do yourself a favor and give it to Jesus....he's already paid the price so we don't have to weigh ourselves done with the troubles of this life.

Here's the line that sticks with me the most....

Lead me to the cross 
Where Your love poured out 
Bring me to my knees 
Lord I lay me down 
Rid me of myself 
I belong to You 
Lead me, lead me to your heart 

So I'm going to leave you with 2 questions......What do you need to rid yourself of and where are you being led?