Beginning today, each of us is invited
to write down ONE thing per day, that holds us back or makes us feel "less
than" or causes us to "sin" or keeps us from realizing our full
potential or keeps us from the love of God or that keeps us from recognizing and
sharing God in our lives - some of the "ashes" of your life.
Keep a running list, perhaps write it down after each Lenten
activity provided below.
What do you need to recognize in
yourself, about yourself, that perhaps you need to rise from? Or, what/who are
the "small g" gods (not God) in your life that take up too much of
your time and effort and energy?
These are the things that keep us from
being all that God created us to be.
These are the things that we hope to
rise from when Easter comes.
As we discussed, we will
"burn" each of our sheets of paper/lists before Easter/during Holy
Week. We will symbolically rise from our personal ashes.
Every day of Lent, pray the following verse:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil
4:13
As you pray this verse, know that you pray it in unison with
every other person who is also observing this Lenten calendar. We are united in
our prayer.
Feb. 10 Ash
Wednesday
“Be
still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
Action:
Fast today
Feb. 11 “Do
not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to
act.” Proverbs 3:27
Action:
Make some donation to a charity – listen to your heart to know what to do
Feb. 12 “For
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
Action:
Pray all day for someone who has hurt you
Feb. 13 “Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he/she is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has
come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Action:
Clean out a drawer of your choice
Feb. 14 “Six
days work shall be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath day of solemn
rest.” Leviticus 23:3
Action:
Do NO work today
Feb. 15 “Whatever
you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for God, not for men.”
Action:
Do a favor for someone
Feb. 16 “Give
thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you.” 1 Thessalonians
5:18
Action:
All day long, take notice of ALL that you are thankful for. LIVE gratefulness
today, and make sure to thank everyone for what they do for you
Feb. 17 “Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men/women.” Luke
2:14
Action:
Pray for peace in the world. Fast from something you love today, and offer it
for someone in the world who lives in great turmoil and fear
Feb. 18 “Our
Father.” Matthew 6:9
Action:
Recognize what’s in YOU that resembles God, your Parent
Feb. 19 “For
man/woman does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the
mouth of God.” Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4
Action:
Fast from one meal today; pray for those who are hungry
Feb. 20 “Pray
for each other so that you may be healed.”
Action:
Pray for someone in the bible group, or church group, or friend
Feb. 21 “What
does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk
humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
Action:
Walk with God today for at least 30 minutes, whether in prayer, meditation or at
a church service
Feb. 22 “Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Matthew 3:2
Action:
Pray. Think. Consider. Be honest, and confess something deep within your heart/soul
to God
Feb. 23 “You
of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Matthew 8:26
Action:
Do something that challenges you
Feb. 24 “Your
word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105
Action:
Open the bible to a section of your choice. Spend 10 minutes reading God’s word
– just a verse - What does it say to you?
Feb. 25 “Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
Action:
If you are able, visit a loved one’s grave site
Feb. 26 “Therefore,
even now, says the Lord, ‘Turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting.’”
Joel 2:12
Action:
Refrain from your favorite beverage today
Feb. 27 “For
God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.”
2
Timothy 1:7
Action:
Clean out a cabinet
Feb. 28 “Praise
God! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens!” Psalm
150:1
Action:
Praise God and give God thanks today at a church service (sanctuary) or outside
enjoying nature (His heavens)
Feb. 29 “For
God so loved the world, that He have His only Son.” John 3:16
Action:
Give something to someone whom you love (whether a word, a call, a card, a
gift, etc)
March 1 “Jesus
said, ‘Feed my lambs.” John 21:15
Action:
Donate money, food or clothing to the needy
March 2 “No
one can serve two masters…You cannot serve both God and Money.” Luke 16:13
Action:
Examine your conscience/life: Whom do you serve, God or money?
March 3 “Let
the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs
to such as these.” Luke 18:16
Action:
Do something for a child today
March 4 “Jesus
sent them out to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Luke 9: 2
Action:
Reach out to someone who is sick, whether by a card, a call, an email, or a
visit
March 5 “I
wanted to see what was worthwhile for people to do under heaven during the few
days of their lives.” Ecclesiastes 2:3
Action:
Meditation – What do you think is the most “worthwhile” thing that you do in
your life? Pray that God gives you “your work” to do in this life
March 6 “Remember
the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” Exodus 20:8
Action:
Do something to make this day holy
March 7 “I saw
the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter.” Eccl 4:1
Action:
Refrain from entertainment social media (internet, Facebook, YouTube, etc).
Pray for the oppressed in this world – pray for their comfort
March 8 “O
fear the Lord, you His saints, for to those who know Him there is no want.”
Psalm
34:9
Action:
Meditate on The Beatitudes, Matthew 5: 3-12
March 9 “Let
us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on
Jesus.” Hebrews 12: 1-2
Action:
Look for an opportunity to do an act of kindness for someone, whether you know
the person, or not
March 10 “Create
in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Pslam 51:10
Action:
Clean your house, or some part of it, in preparation for Easter
March 11 “Be
transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2
Action:
Play your favorite music and spend some time releasing anxiety and renewing
your mind
March 12 “When
you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.” Matthew 6:16
Action:
Refrain from eating one meal today
March 13 “Jesus
asked, ‘Who do you say that I am?’” Matthew 16:15
Action:
No television today. Instead, spend time in prayer, at church or elsewhere, and
answer that question of who YOU say Jesus is
March 14 “Whoever
is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deed.”
Proverbs 19:17
Action:
Make a donation to the poor
March 15 “If you
have faith as small as a mustard seed…nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17: 20-21
Action:
Start something or do something that you have always wanted to do, but fear
stopped you – make a first step
March 16 “If we
confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us.” 1 John 1:9
Action:
Make a confession of your sins – use prayer of your choice
March 17 “Do not
accuse a man for no reason – when he has done you no harm.” Proverbs 3:30
Action:
Reach out to someone whom you have wronged, whether literally or in prayer, and
ask for forgiveness
March 18 “Do not
set your heart on what you eat or drink; do not worry about it.” Luke 12: 29
Action:
Fast from your favorite beverage today
March 19 “When
Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord commanded him.” Matthew 1: 24
Action:
Today is the Feast of St. Joseph - Pray for people who are unemployed
March 20 “Blessed
is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Luke 19:38
Action:
Attend a Palm Sunday service
March 21 “He was
despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.”
Isaiah 53:3
Action:
Reach out to console someone whom you know is sorrowful, sad, lonely or
grieving
March 22 “All we
like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way. And the
Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6
Action:
No music, radio, etc. today. Spend time
in quiet solitude
March 23 “God is
love.” 1 John 4:8
Action:
Live the love of God today in every way you can
March 24 “This
is My body which is given for you; do this in memory of Me.” Luke 22:19
Action:
Attend a service tonight to commemorate Jesus’ Last Supper, our Eucharistic
meal or read Luke 22: 7 – 38
March 25 “And
with His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
Action:
Fast today. Visit a church or meditate
on the cross, and wonder…
March 26 “At the
place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new
tomb, in which no one had ever been laid…they laid Jesus there.” John 19: 41-42
Action:
Be quiet for at least 30 minutes today, and listen to the silence
March 27 Easter
Sunday!
“Why
do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here…He has risen!”
Luke
24:5-6
“Go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I taught you.
And lo, I am with you always, even
until the end of time.” Jesus
Matthew 28: 19-20
Permission granted to publish by Rev.Karen Rezach
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