Pause Alert: After today, The Up Daily Devotional will go on pause for a week, returning on March 17th. I’m taking some vacation time. Can you believe the devotional has been going for almost 10 years?You can access previous devotionals at TheUpDevo.com. You can also listen to back episodes on your favourite podcasting app. Just search … Continue reading A starving man trying to eat air
lent
Ashes, mortality and the beginning of Lent
Today is Ash Wednesday. It marks the beginning of Lent—a forty day period (excluding Sundays) leading up to the ground zero of the Christian faith: the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Some churches and traditions have a custom of putting ashes on people’s foreheads on this day. Why? One of the reasons is that ashes are … Continue reading Ashes, mortality and the beginning of Lent
Fatty foods in the cupboard and sin in the heart
Today is known as Shrove Tuesday. It’s the day before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.The name comes from a practice in England to “shrive” on this day—meaning confessing our sins and seeking God’s forgiveness.Since many people fast during Lent, there was (and is) a custom of using up fatty foods on this day to get … Continue reading Fatty foods in the cupboard and sin in the heart
Fasting in a world of self-indulgence
A lot of people “give up” things for Lent. The biblical—and therefore, accurate—word for this is fasting. If you’re going to fast it’s important to know the reason. Going through the motions is of limited value if you don’t know why you’re doing it. One example of fasting is found in Ezra 8:21: “I proclaimed … Continue reading Fasting in a world of self-indulgence
Prepare to meet thy God
Today is Ash Wednesday. It’s the official start of Lent, the forty day period (excluding Sundays) leading up to Good Friday and Easter. [It’s also Valentine’s Day. If you’re curious about who Valentine was, see the link at the bottom of this devotional for a short explanation.] Back to Ash Wednesday. Some Christians put ashes … Continue reading Prepare to meet thy God
Ash Wednesday and holiness
Today is Ash Wednesday. Some Christians are in the habit of putting ashes on their foreheads because they symbolize our mourning and regret for sin. In fact, we’ll do that tonight at a youth-led service at the church I pastor. [This one is in-person only and at 7pm.] Ashes also symbolize our mortality. This recalls … Continue reading Ash Wednesday and holiness
Shrove Tuesday and confessing sin
Today is known as Shrove Tuesday. It’s the day before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. The name comes from a practice in England to “shrive” on this day—meaning confessing our sins and seeking God’s forgiveness. Since many people fast during Lent, there was (and is) a custom of using up fatty foods on this day … Continue reading Shrove Tuesday and confessing sin
A new time and a new task
The word “Lent” is connected to an old word for “spring.” The idea is that spring roughly corresponds to the approach of Easter, when Jesus rose from the dead. Long story short: Lent has come to be known as a 40-day period of preparation (excluding Sundays) for the main event of the Christian faith: the … Continue reading A new time and a new task
The skull of motivation (Ash Wednesday)
Today is Ash Wednesday. Some Christians are in the habit of putting ashes on their foreheads because they symbolize our mourning and regret for sin. But ashes also symbolize our mortality. This recalls Genesis 3:19 where Adam was punished for his disobedience to God and made to work the soil from which he came: “for … Continue reading The skull of motivation (Ash Wednesday)
It begins within (What is Shrove Tuesday?)
Lent begins tomorrow on Ash Wednesday. The day before that (today) has long been called Shrove Tuesday. The name comes from a practice in England to “shrive” on this day—meaning confessing our sins and seeking God’s forgiveness. Since many people fast during Lent, there was (and is) a custom of using up fatty foods on … Continue reading It begins within (What is Shrove Tuesday?)
