40 Days to the Cross

I have always liked Johnny Cash. Even though I grew up in the age of big hair bands and Seattle grunge, it was always popular to like "The Man in Black" So, why am I bringing up Johnny Cash on Ash Wednesday, you ask? Lent is a countdown of sorts where we intentionally mark the time until Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. I kept thinking about Johnny Cash's song, "25 Minutes to Go" that he performed during his famous concert in Folsom Prison. If you're not familiar with the song, it's about a man marking his time as he prepares to go to the gallows. We do not know his crime, only his sentence.



We rarely mark the important times in our life. More often than not, we are too busy hurrying from here to there or too distracted to take note.

Lent gives us all of us a chance to mark the time between Ash Wednesday and Easter. Like the convict in the song, Jesus would make his way to the gallows on Good Friday. Of course, that's not the end of the story!

We've got 40 days to go...

The scripture for the day is located here.

Prayer for the day: Pray for a fruitful 40 days and a meaningful today.

Psalm 27

1The LORD is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?

2When evildoers assail me

to devour my flesh —

my adversaries and foes —

they shall stumble and fall.

3Though an army encamp against me,

my heart shall not fear;

though war rise up against me,

yet I will be confident.

4One thing I asked of the LORD,

that will I seek after:

to live in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

to behold the beauty of the LORD,

and to inquire in his temple.

5For he will hide me in his shelter

in the day of trouble;

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;

he will set me high on a rock.

6Now my head is lifted up

above my enemies all around me,

and I will offer in his tent

sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

7Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud,

be gracious to me and answer me!

8"Come," my heart says, "seek his face!"

Your face, LORD, do I seek.

9Do not hide your face from me.

Do not turn your servant away in anger,

you who have been my help.

Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,

O God of my salvation!

10If my father and mother forsake me,

the LORD will take me up.

11Teach me your way, O LORD,

and lead me on a level path

because of my enemies.

12Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,

for false witnesses have risen against me,

and they are breathing out violence.

13I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living.

14Wait for the LORD;

be strong, and let your heart take courage;

wait for the LORD!
Psalm 51

1Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your steadfast love;

according to your abundant mercy

blot out my transgressions.

2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

and cleanse me from my sin.

3For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

4Against you, you alone, have I sinned,

and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you are justified in your sentence

and blameless when you pass judgment.

5Indeed, I was born guilty,

a sinner when my mother conceived me.

6You desire truth in the inward being;

therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.

9Hide your face from my sins,

and blot out all my iniquities.

10Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and put a new and right spirit within me.

11Do not cast me away from your presence,

and do not take your holy spirit from me.

12Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and sustain in me a willing spirit.

13Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners will return to you.

14Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,

O God of my salvation,

and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.

15O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare your praise.

16For you have no delight in sacrifice;

if I were to give a burnt-offering, you would not be pleased.

17The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

18Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;

rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,

19then you will delight in right sacrifices,

in burnt-offerings and whole burnt-offerings;

then bulls will be offered on your altar.