Day 7- Psalm 19

Psalm 19

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,

O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Day 6- Psalm 13

Psalm 13

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.

From Pastor Joe...

Lenten History:

The word "Lent" has an Anglo-Saxon origin, meaning "Spring." You can see the spiritual parallels –from ashes to new life. The same story is found in the Bible. As believers, we experience death in Christ, so that we can experience his life (Philippians 3:10-11). Therefore, we need to grieve for our sin (James 4:9-10) so that we can experience the life of Jesus This is the journey for every believer.

Psalms Experience:
From what I have read, a penitential Psalm is read at the beginning of each week in Lent . Today's Psalm is just that. Here are some guidelines this week for your Psalm readings:

Enter into the Psalm experience. The Psalms are the language of emotion. You have to feel them to do justice. The Psalms are for people not afraid of emotion and who also live on the edge of life. It is the place where faith strikes life like flint strikes steel.

If you are not in the emotional space of the Psalmist, then here is my suggestion. Use his words to pray. For instance, when David says, "I am deeply sorry for what I have done." You may not feel like you are in his penitential space, so pray, "Lord, what is in my life that I need to confess?" "Lord, help me see sin like you see it." Lord, help me feel the wrong I have done." Lord, help me experience your forgiveness."

For families:

Psalm 38 is helpful for kids to get a sense that sin has consequences. Sin should also cause remorse. Often, my kids say "sorry" to each other like it is mechanical often lacking a genuine remorse. This Psalm teaches us the saying sorry is more than what is spoken on the lips, but also it is felt deep within.

Pastoral/Personal Experience:

Here are some thoughts from others and myself...

From Others:

"I really enjoyed the Lenten service last night, just another way to consecrate myself to the pursuit of God’s presence in my life. Thank you for all of your effort in prodding us toward the kingdom!"

"This time of Lent is so exciting! Thank you for making it a part of Blue Sky. The stations set up around church that evening were wonderful. Also, thank you for praying for our family. During this time of Lent I feel so much more hope. I guess I was running low. The Psalms you choose are great. I noticed they were so far short and very clear about the message they are sending. They have been easy to use with the boys and very powerful for meditating on. We are looking forward to the rest of the journey. Thank you as well for the daily emails they are adding depth to the journey."

"It was an awesome evening the other night! Please give feedback to your worship team that they did a great job in making it a spiritually powerful experience. It made me more focus during this pilgrimage."

From myself:

The Ash Wednesday service was an amazing start. I loved seeing Kristi Carleton in her giftedness as she directed the worship service. Loved Nick leading worship until 9pm. Loved seeing families worship together as they went around to the prayer stations. Loved how the youth and young adults closed the night. Loved seeing others go around the room and pray for others. Loved seeing how people confessed their sin to each other and not just to God. Loved the weeping and the dancing.

Keep walking and may you experience God's renewal!

-Pastor Joe

Day 5- Psalm 38

Psalm 38

A psalm of David. A petition.

O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.
For your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down upon me.
Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin. My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly. I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning. My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body.
I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart. All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you. My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes. My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away. Those who seek my life set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they plot deception. I am like a deaf man, who cannot hear, like a mute, who cannot open his mouth; I have become like a man who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply. I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God. For I said, "Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips." For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me. I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.
Many are those who are my vigorous enemies; those who hate me without reason are numerous. Those who repay my good with evil slander me when I pursue what is good.
O LORD, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God. Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.

Day 4- Psalm 8

Light Echo From Star V838 Monocerotis- October 28,2002- From NASA Hubble Telescope

A psalm of David.
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Day 3: Psalm 15

A psalm of David.

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

Images from the Ash Wednesday Gathering

Day 2: Psalm 1

Psalm 1

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Day 1: Ash Wednesday - Psalm 6

Wednesday Feb. 21, 2007

ASH WEDNESDAY

Please join us this evening for a time of worship, prayer and reflection.

Ash Wednesday Gathering

Blue Sky Church

Wednesday February 21, 2007

7:00pm

Today's Psalm reading for the Pilgrimage is...

"Psalm 6"

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith.

A psalm of David.

"O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.

Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony.

My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long?

Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.

No one remembers you when he is dead. Who praises you from the grave?

I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.

My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.

Away from me, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping.

The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.

All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will turn back in sudden disgrace."