Family Dinner & Devos, Feb 11-17

Something Old, Something New

Dear Families,

You and your family are invited on a 40-day journey beginning this week.  We start this Lenten journey by the marking of ashes on our foreheads (on Wed, Feb 13^th) as a symbol that we want to turn away from any wayward journeys and walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.  Our prayer is that the 40-day trek will help deepen your connection to God and that as you make your destination to Easter and resurrection, you will experience even greater joy because of the Lenten journey you made.  We encourage you to leave something “old” behind and pick up something “new.”  How might you do this?

·         Perhaps you leave an “old” bad habit behind and replace it with something “new” like walking instead of lounging, an apple instead of a candy, a praise instead of a complaint, a save instead of a spend, a reaching out to serve instead of an inward focus on self.

·         Perhaps you tweak your “old” morning routine of waking up at 6:30 AM and instead wake up at the “new” time of 6:00 AM and begin your day in an added half hour of prayer.

·         Perhaps you set aside an “old” focus of reading the daily news or a novel and read the “new” Lenten book Enough by Adam Hamilton.  This book has been chosen by Ascension Lutheran Church as the seasonal read and is available in the church office.

Ponder and pray about what “old” thing you will put aside for that “new” thing this Lent.  Consider the question… what “old” and “new” shift will most help me on my faith journey? 

During Lent, we will have two scripture readings each week, one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament.  We hope you discover how the “Old and New” are connected and how Jesus is the Living Word in all of scripture.  Though there will be two readings, we will continue to have one “Learn-By-Heart” verse.

Learn-By-Heart Verse for the Week (NIV Translation):

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  Psalm 51:1

Something Old:  Psalm 51:1-12

Something New:  Matthew 6:19-21

·         We begin Lent with the words, “Create in me a pure (or clean) heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”  Lent is a time to “turn around” from any wayward ways, to make things “right,” to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ, and to quietly pray and ponder and grow… all so that we may experience even deeper resurrection-new life-Easter joy!  As a family, consider what “old-new” shift you could make to help create in you a clean heart and right spirit…

·         As you read these two scripture passages, what connections do you find in them?

·         In Psalm 51, King David confesses his sin and is touched by the grace of God.  Are there any “sorrys” you might need to make to people gathered around the table?  Are there any words of “I forgive you” that you can offer?  Why is saying “I’m sorry” and “I forgive you” so important in the life of a family? 

·         In Matthew, Jesus says where our treasure is, so is our heart.  What things do you most treasure?

Music

Christian artist Chris Tomlin sings a song, “Give Us Clean Hearts,” which is a very fitting praise song to begin the Lenten journey.  You can listen to it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT4Rt04In4w .  What words or phrases strike you in this song?

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

We confess our sin to you.

We thank you that you are the God of Forgiveness.

Create in us clean hearts.

Renew right spirits within us.

Walk beside us on the Lenten journey.  Amen.