Ash Wednesday 2026

Turn from evil, and do good, and dwell in the land for ever. For the Lord loves justice; he does not forsake his faithful ones. (Psalms 37:28–29) 

Turn from evil -- it could be a person, a group, or a bad habit. And do good.   There are so many people that need help from monetary to a simple smile.   For the Lord loves  justice, oh man I am not sure he is pleased with us right now - BUT remember he does not forsake, or forget his faithful ones.

I have been going through some issues lately.  One is a person I truly need to turn away from.   Plus some health issues that recently cropped up.  I think it is time for me to just stop, drop and pray.  

I need guidance and as I travel through Lent, I will take you along.

The great hope of Ash Wednesday is that God’s compassion does not fail.

Today is when we sit among the ashes of our life gone. Think of things we did wrong and how we are going to change our life around and do them right.

Today we stand and brushes off the ashes, brush or comb our hair, wash our face and move forward in the right path..  Searching scriptures that will help us on that personal journey.

For me:

Guidance for Dealing with Manipulative People

The Bible encourages believers to:

• Be discerning: Recognize flattery, deceit, and hidden motives (Proverbs 26:24-26, Proverbs 12:5).
• Maintain integrity: Live honestly and transparently, avoiding manipulation yourself (Proverbs 12:22, James 1:22).
• Set boundaries: Keep distance from those who cause divisions or lead others astray (Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 15:33).
• Rely on God’s protection: Trust in God to deliver from deceit and evil (Psalm 91:1-2, Psalm 34:7).
  By understanding these verses, believers can navigate relationships with manipulative individuals wisely, protecting their hearts while responding with love and truth.

Amen

Finding the Holy Spirit

 I was lucky.  I found God and Jesus when I was very young.  I need someone in my young life who loved me unconditionally and they found me.  I enjoyed Sunday School - there wasn't a Sunday I didn't go unless I was sick.  

Now though all I see on social media are meditation sights, alternatives to the Holy Spirit basically.

Even though I found Jesus early - I am talking under 10 years of age, there were times where I felt that heart rush of finding him again.  Once in July of 1977 - you see my born-again friends convinced me that on 7/7/77 the world as we knew it was ending.  I was prepared I took Jesus as my savior and well, the world didn't end,

There have been motivational speakers who have made the heart flutter to and each time I know it's the Holy Spirit reminding me that it is there.   

Why does it seem like a society we are moving away from God - the whole half time show debate was so unnecessary - we have had plenty of things happen in the half time shows that were controversial.  Has politics split this country so bad that we can't love anymore.   

I liked the half time show - so what if I don't speak Spanish - there was great dance music - I never understand half the singers anymore - sure sign I am getting old.  

My favorite part - Lady GAGA.  I love her.

So much fun.  Why can't we just have fun anymore. Everything seems to cause a problem.  

Well, I am going to try to follow the Holy Spirit this month.  Reflect on Lenten Readings.  Maybe share a few here.  That is how this blog started.  

Back in 1969 John Lennon did a song entitled "Give Peace a Chance"  The song champions for the cessation of war and the promotion of peace among all people in the world.

He was calling for love and tolerance in a bid to achieve world peace.  He was calling on all peoples to put an end to the trifle differenced that have caused so much pain and suffering and embrace a united front that aims at promoting love, unity and peace.

That was 1969 - I guess we haven't changed at all.

Intimate time with God leads to a Peaceful Mind.

Peace is the Love of God and the receiving of the Grace of God.

Finding this peace can sometime be quite a feat.

James 1:21 tells us - "So get rid of all uncleanliness, and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness and in a humble spirit receive and welcome THE WORD which implanted and rooted in your hearts contains the power to Save Your Souls.

Back to the word.  The only way to learn it  is to get those Bibles out and study the word.  It doesn't even have to be a specific part of the Bible.  Maybe you want to study a particular topic - use the guides that in the back of the Bible to help you do that.  Either way read the Word daily.  I like to use a daily scripture book by Joyce Meyer to start my day,

The Word can save.  I wish I would of known this so may years ago, I believe my life would of been so different.

Take this scripture - James 1:19 - Be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to take offense and to get angry.

I should say this scripture over to myself every day - I am so quick to anger sometimes.  Lately I have been getting better.

Plant the word deep in your heart and water it daily and let it grow!


Prayer:

Dear God:  I  have made a decision that whatever it takes I am going to have peace in my life.  Help me find it and hold on to it.

 Amen

40 Days of Lent - Christ is Risen!

Christ is risen indeed!

Happy Easter

Today's Lenten and final thought is:

March 31 - Easter is the ultimate second chance.  Live anew!

Today, Pastor Mike's sermon started with a story about when he came to Salem.  John, the President of Consistory,  showed him the church, in the dark, without turning on the lights and then proceeded to tell him a ghost story.  The funny thing is that ghost story is mine.  A few years ago, the Monday after Easter I went into church to take care of the flowers.  When I walked in the Sanctuary I had walked to the front of the church and then turned and saw a women, dressed in green sitting in the pew in the back.  I can described to you details of what she was wearing.  I was alarmed I thought that this woman might of been confused, thought it was Sunday.  I had never seen her before.  When I quick turned back to talk to her, she was gone.  I went looking for her, even so much as to look under the pews, but she was gone.  She is now referred to as "The Lady in Green".

I don't know if she was a ghost or an angel, but I saw her and I believe.  Other people believe in her, even though they didn't see her.  We didn't see Jesus hang on the cross, nor did we see Him after the resurrection, but we believe! 

Pastor Mike says he sees God and Jesus everywhere, in people, in the congregation.  We carry on God's work and people can see that in us.

I see Jesus in the children and every so often something special happens that makes me believe all over again.  Today, it was a simple hug, from one of the children before he left.  It was full of love, joy and happiness.  That's the best kind of hug.  In that little unexpected moment I felt the Love of Jesus Christ and it was overwhelming.

CHRIST IS RISEN......CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!!!!  This is not the
end, but just the beginning. 

40 days of Lent - I am beautiful!

You look MAHVELOUS DARLING!

Yup - today's Lenten Thought

March 5 - Look in the mirror and compliment yourself.  Yes, you'll feel silly. Do it anyway.

We got to love ourselves before we can love others, and this is a good way to start.  A compliment a day, keeps the blues away.

Here are some you can use:

You look wonderful today.
Love your hair
What a great smile
You are beautiful inside and out!
Aren't you looking chipper today!
My your are gorgeous
or my favorite
Hey you're awake

It may sound too simple to work, but the reality is that the more you think positive thoughts about yourself, the more you push out negative ones. And, the better you feel about yourself, the more resistant you are to self-doubt and also to the criticisms of others. 

It doesn’t matter what the compliment is. It’s the act itself that matters. When you give yourself a compliment, you are actively examining your strengths, which can increase both your self-esteem and self-confidence. Remember God didn't make junk, He made you, and you are perfect in His eyes! 

So come on - compliment yourself - you are beautiful and don't forget it!

40 days in Lent - Remembering

I avoided writing this all day - because today's Lenten thought is

February 24 - Remember someone you have loved and lost.  Sadness and grief have their place in Lent.  The pain of loss is the cost of loving well.  Risk it.

I wasn't sure where to take this Lenten thought, but what immediately came to mind are the friends I have lost over the years, those friends who have departed this life to the next.

Those are the ones that leave a hole in my heart.  The friends that I loved and miss dearly.  The first that came to mind was Missy, we lost her way to soon to cancer, along time ago. She left behind 2 young daughters and it was probably the first death of a friend that I had to experienced.

Some other ladies I have lost were Evelyn, Ginny and Miriam.  All ladies I have learned from over the years, all ladies that held a special place in my heart.  Thinking of them brings tears to my eyes, but I know they are in a great place, waiting for me to get there someday.

If you choose to remember a relationship that was more of the man/woman love relationship feel free to do so.    I have had my share of that kind of love and lost, but time heals all wounds.

For those who have gone on before me, this day I remember you.  They are so many more that I will include in my prayers tonight, they are gone but not forgotten.  They live here, right here,  in my heart.

Day 7 - On which Mountain?

Today's Scripture comes from the woman at the well story in John  4 -  
¹⁹ “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. ²⁰ Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 

The Jews had the temple in Jerusalem, while the woman, a Samaritan thought the correct place was Mount Gerizim.  But Jesus answers her with   ²¹ “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 


Jesus' death and resurrection would soon be coming and from that a different way of thinking began.  God can be worshipped from anywhere.  From any mountain, in any room or from any country.  That is the freedom of religion.  

What I always find humorous in the Bible is that  woman almost always "got it", this woman understood  that Jesus was the Messiah and went to tell others.  The Disciples never quite got what Jesus was trying to tell them until after the resurrection.  It all comes down to faith.  


Oh, I have heard of arguments (been in a few) as to which mountain (religion) is the right one.  The louder the other person is yelling tells me they haven't gotten it yet, Jesus' message was about loving one another not which religion is right and which is wrong. 


So remember, it's not where your mountain is, but what you have learned from that mountain.

Day 6: The mountain that showed up at my door

In the beginning of my 40 days on the mountain I said something like if I can't go to the mountains, I'll have the mountains come to me.  Literally on Saturday this scripture came to me via a knock on the front door.  It was my friends, the Jehovah Witnesses and she asked me, do you think Church and Politics should be mixed.  I said  no (thinking of the statement never talk about either because it causes many an argument, a few I have been in, LOL) She then agrees and sites this scripture.

John 6: 15 -  Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Now I wasn't thinking about church and politics when she was reading this to me, all I could see was the word MOUNTAIN, and I am thinking, wow God you can really send reminders!  It was like - good morning Bev, oh by the way your behind on that 40 day blog so here is a scripture to ponder.  So ponder I have, I am not sure this is really about Jesus not wanting to be a politician or  not wanting to mix religion with politics as much as it was that the people did not understand what kind of "Kingdom" Jesus was going to be ruling over.

The people of the time wanted a King who would fight for the freedom.  Jesus was fighting, but for our souls, His Kingdom was to be in heaven and the people weren't quite grasping that at the time.  The people wanted war but Jesus was trying to teach us unconditional love for one another.  Something, I still have a little trouble grasping, and maybe that's why God sent a mountain to my door to remind me I am on a journey and I need to continue on it.

Day 4: Sermon on the mountain

I am not sure where this scripture will lead me, but here we go. This particular teaching is know as the Sermon on the Mount -

Matthew 5: 1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them. 

What Jesus taught them were the Beatitudes and here they are

  “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

I always found the Beatitudes hard to teach to Sunday School Children.  Jesus is trying to teach us a transformation of our inner self.  Jesus presents the Beatitudes in a positive sense, virtues in life that will lead to a reward, not so much in this lifetime but in eternity. Someone once described them as Be - attitudes,  positive traits for our life.  They breakdown more simply as --be humble, mourning not only in the passing of others, but mourning our own regrets of our sins.  Meekness, which follows along with humility, meekness can also mean kindness and gentleness.  Justice, mercy, love and peace all wonderful traits the can build off from one another.  Of course, all this might come with a price, others might not understand you and insult you, and even persecute you.  This still happens today.  But in the end, you got heaven to look forward to.


Maybe these are some attitudes I need to build on more. Maybe that's why I was led to this mountain and had such a hard time with it.   Today's sermon at church  reflected on letting God's Love flow in and out of us.  Love for one another is sometimes hard to maintain.  As much as you love someone, it can also be easy to get mad at them.  But to love unconditionally is the gift that God gave us in Jesus and His teachings are trying to show us the way to love everyone unconditionally to.  Not an easy thing to do, but who said this was going to be easy.