Repentance is a gift that brings joy.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

This picture of a crumpled can tells a story of Ash Wednesday.

Willamette Valley, Oregon

I love covered bridges, and Oregon has plenty of them. This picture was taken inside of the Crawfordsville Bridge (circa 1932) over the Calapooia River. It was difficult to take pictures here as state highway 228 runs within feet of the bridge. Travelers no longer cross this bridge.  It is actually a bridge to nowhere.

Sin has taken amazing creations and disconnected them from God. And hidden in the corners of these creations resides garbage.

“‘That is why I will judge each of you by what you have done, people of Israel,’ declares the Almighty LORD. Change the way you think and act. Turn away from all the rebellious things that you have done so that you will not fall into sin.'”
Ezekiel 18:30 God’s Word to the Nations

Jesus didn’t fall into sin, instead our sin fell on him.

Repentance is an act of faith which trusts in the absolute forgiveness of God. Our repentance never ends with despair but with joy, knowing that even before we sit in sackcloth and ashes, even before we impose ashes on our foreheads, we are forgiven.

Repentance is not a bridge to nowhere. It’s a bridge, built with God’s own hands, that carries us back to him.

Copyright Douglas P Brauer