“through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed;  sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” ~ 2 Corinthians 6:8-10

Lead me Lord,  and I will shine your light.

I spent the evening reflecting on my mortality, reflecting on my brokenness, and grieving my imperfections. It is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of a 40 day journey to the cross; to death in this world; and to life everlasting.

Ashes born from the time before His resurrection mark my forehead. Symbolic of the crosses we bear are born not with shame, but with an acceptance that this yoke upon our shoulders, this struggle we face endure – is a part of our own journey to the cross and to the  dust from where we came. A symbol that our dustiness is only temporary – in faith we one day be made perfect

Our Lord does not want our crosses- our struggles, our burdens, our imperfections – to define us. Rather it is through those very crosses that our Lord’s grace and abiding love shines through.

Indeed, it was through my greatest struggle, one in which I laying dying to life that I found  new life in the Lord. He called me back to Him through my cross and gave me  new life. Now,  He calls me  to shine His light to others as they journey to Him.

For I was dying… and He gave me life.

Lead me Lord,  and I will shine your light.