Website of the week: www.odb.org - Our Daily Bread's website, online daily devotionals, most of which are good, though very brief.  This should not replace your regular reading of the Bible.  I mean, imagine if all we had to live on were a few crumbs from someone else's plate...

...and there are those in the world who live in just that manner.  I think we often do not know what real hunger is, spiritual or physical.  I used to give up stuff for Lent.  I fast on rare occasion.  I usually fast at the end of Passion Week, what I call Grave Saturday or Dead Saturday (b/t Good Friday and Easter Sunday when Jesus was in the grave).  I ought to fast more regularly.  It's Biblical.

Suffering puts us in touch with our need for help, relief, grace.  But facing our sin, being honest and humble with ourselves puts us in touch with that need, too.  So many times, I do not hide my sin from others only, but I also hide my sin from my own self.  I have a very nice view of myself.  I have a big head.  I am handsome, in a certain way.  I am good at sports (except when others are around).  And I'm holy.  Wholly.  So, what place does the cross have in my life?  It does not belong to me.  Well, a few times a year, a few hours a week, I might acknowledge it has a place in my life.

Lord, rend my heart.  Break it anew. 

"For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight...." - Ps 51:3-4 NIV

"Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.  Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place." - vv. 5-6

"Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.  Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." - vv. 2,7

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.  Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity." - vv. 1,9

"Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.  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." - vv. 8,10-12