To remember our sins can be a scary experience!  As Lent begins with Ash Wednesday that’s exactly what we are called to do.  What a mess our sinful lives are:  sins committed, sin realized, sin confessed and thanks be to God, sins forgiven!  With Ash Wednesday we come face-to-face with the wretchedness of every sin, only to celebrate even the worst are forgiven in the mercy and grace of God in Jesus!

            Not only can God forgive, He has forgiven!  God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, into our world, a garbage dump of sin.  He came to become “sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).  Our omniscient, all-knowing God chooses to forget our sins!  Don’t believe me?  Listen to God in Jeremiah (31:34):  “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”  Now that’s forgiveness to celebrate!

             Let sin rear its ugly head.  Let the devil try in vain to convince us that our sins are too big or too many for God to forgive and forget.  Thanks be to God, the devil stands accused and condemned.  Through Christ Jesus we stand forgiven

             What a Friend we have in Jesus!!  Tomorrow anyone who wished to receive the cross of ash in the morning may come by church at 9 a.m.  That way your witness may be seen the entire day as you go about your busy life.  But make sure that you come back at 7 p.m. to end the day focused upon the messy brokenness of our lives and the Forgiver who makes us whole.  The next five Wednesdays a soup fellowship will be at 12 p.m. and worship at 1:00 p.m.  There will also be the same worship opportunity at 7:00 p.m. for those who work during the day.  What a Savior, Servant and Friend we have in Jesus!  Pastor Craig