Lenten Devotional Day Three

OPENING PRAYER. . .Loving God, Creator of all that is, here I am--today in this place that you have given me, with all the senses you have given me. Help me to use them to experience you on a deeper level. May I experience you all around me, open me to know more of your ways and know that your goodness surrounds me. Thank you for this time to be with you and to just listen. Amen

LISTEN. . .Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.  Create in me a pure heart, O God,  and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.   Restore to me the joy of your salvation  and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:9-12)

CONSIDER. . .It's snowing again. . .we're tired of it, but today, take a few minutes and sit quietly and watch it come down. Or maybe even go outside and catch a snowflake or two on your hand or tongue.  Listen to see if it makes a sound as it falls. The snow transforms our world and the way we look at it in the same way that Christ transforms us and the way we look at the world.

SO WHAT. . . The clean and bright image of snow of Psalm 51 describes the way we feel when we realize that God forgives our faults and sins.  God's love is bigger than anything I can do to hide from it.  Just as the snow covers everything as it is and makes it white and beautiful, God's love takes us where we are and loves the beautiful us buried deep inside of what can seem like a real mess some days.

PRAYER. . .  God of winter and cold, please help me to remember the warmth of your faithful, forgiving love for me when I see the bright, white snow.  Amen.