Lent daybook, 39: my life is spent with sorrow

My Lent daybook for these 40 days of prayer. Join me, won't you? (see previous Lent daybook 2016 posts here)

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look

Black Crucifixion
Fritz Eichenberg, 1963
source

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read

Psalm 31:9-16

9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
    my eye is wasted from grief;
    my soul and my body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow,
    and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my iniquity,
    and my bones waste away.

11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,
    especially to my neighbors,
and an object of dread to my acquaintances;
    those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead;
    I have become like a broken vessel.
13 For I hear the whispering of many—
    terror on every side!—
as they scheme together against me,
    as they plot to take my life.

14 But I trust in you, O Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hand;
    rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!
16 Make your face shine on your servant;
    save me in your steadfast love!

all readings for the day: Psalm 31:9-16; Leviticus 23:1-8; Luke 22:1-13

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pray

• Sisters and brothers,
  as Jesus, in the days before his passion,
  offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears,
  let us pray for those who suffer, those who are in need,
  and those who seek reconciliation.
  
  Include prayers here for your family, friends, neighborhood and the world.  
  
  God of compassion,
  you know our faults and yet you promised to forgive.
  Keep us in your presence and give us your wisdom.
  Open our hearts to gladness,
  call dry bones to dance,
  and restore to us the joy of your salvation. Amen. (source)

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listen

Fix Me, Jesus by American Spiritual Ensemble

( I invite you to listen with me to my ever-evolving Lent playlist & Lent Spirituals playlist )

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do

Using the guide below, take time today to examine your heart and look for meaningful ways to put your faith into practice.

#1 Prayer of Self Examination

Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts!

And see if there be any grievous way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23-24)

Take a moment to quiet your heart and reflect upon the past week. Look especially for ways to express gratitude and thanksgiving to God for his goodness and love, as well as genuine sorrow over your own sin and brokenness. Close this time of prayer by expressing your hope in the power of the Holy Spirit who is faithful to forgive, cleanse, and transform you into his likeness (2 Cor. 3:18). (source)

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(see all Lent daybook posts from 2015 here)

Lent daybook, 38: my steadfast love shall not depart from you

My Lent daybook for these 40 days of prayer. Join me, won't you? (see previous Lent daybook 2016 posts here)

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look

Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet
Unknown Ethiopian Artist
source

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read

Isaiah 54:9-10 (MSG)

“This is like the days of Noah to me:
    as I swore that the waters of Noah
    should no more go over the earth,
so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you,
    and will not rebuke you.
 For the mountains may depart
    and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
    and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”
    says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

all readings for the day: Psalm 31:9-16; Isaiah 54:9-10; Hebrews 2:10-18

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pray

God of the covenant,in the glory of the cross your Son embraced the power of death and broke its hold over your people. In this time of repentance, draw all people to yourself, that we who confess Jesus as Lord may put aside the deeds of death and accept the life of your kingdom. Amen. (source)

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listen

Draw Nigh by The Welcome Wagon

( I invite you to listen with me to my ever-evolving Lent playlist & Lent Spirituals playlist )

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do

Today, fast criticism. From the clerk moving slowly to the homeless vet on the streets, consider carefully that Jesus knows them by name. Today, seek to know more, assume less, and air prayers for Jesus' "least of these" boldly in the presence of your shared Father God. (source: 40 Days of Decrease)

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(see all Lent daybook posts from 2015 here)

Lent daybook, 37: to crush him with pain

My Lent daybook for these 40 days of prayer. Join me, won't you? (see previous Lent daybook 2016 posts here)

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Bronze sculpture
source & artist unknown

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read

Isaiah 53:10-12 (MSG)

Still, it’s what God had in mind all along,
    to crush him with pain.
The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin
    so that he’d see life come from it—life, life, and more life.
    And God’s plan will deeply prosper through him.

 Out of that terrible travail of soul,
    he’ll see that it’s worth it and be glad he did it.
Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant,
    will make many “righteous ones,”
    as he himself carries the burden of their sins.
Therefore I’ll reward him extravagantly—
    the best of everything, the highest honors—
Because he looked death in the face and didn’t flinch,
    because he embraced the company of the lowest.
He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many,
    he took up the cause of all the black sheep.

all readings for the day: Psalm 31:9-16; Isaiah 53:10-12; Hebrews 2:1-9

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pray

Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (source)

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listen

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus by Indelible Grace Music

( I invite you to listen with me to my ever-evolving Lent playlist & Lent Spirituals playlist )

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do

How can you love others today by your actions? How can you love your neighbors, co-workers, friends, or family today? And, even more difficult, how can you love the unlovable? Be specific and put into practice one or more of your ideas.(source)

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(see all Lent daybook posts from 2015 here)

Lent daybook, 36: he will be shamefully treated

My Lent daybook for these 40 days of prayer. Join me, won't you? (see previous Lent daybook 2016 posts here)

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look

Ecce Homo
Georges Rouault
source

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read

Luke 18:31-34

And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

all readings for the day:  Psalm 20; Habakkuk 3:2-15; Luke 18:31-34

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pray

source

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listen

O Sacred Head Now Wounded by Fernando Ortega

( I invite you to listen with me to my ever-evolving Lent playlist & Lent Spirituals playlist )

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do

At the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY, summer 2015
Christ Crowned With Thorns by Antonella da Messina

Set aside time today to reflect on how you can intentionally keep yourself centered on God's abundant and extravagant grace and mercy so that you can experience His deep and abiding love for you. (source)

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(see all Lent daybook posts from 2015 here)