Ash Wednesday – watercress words by Dr Aletha

updated February 7, 2023

Celebrate your Heart

February is American Heart Month. On this blog you can find information and inspiration to keep your heart healthy.

Celebrate Love

Valentine’s Day is February 14. Don’t forget to share words of faith, hope, and LOVE whenever you have a chance.

tree with red leaves shaped like a heart — William Shakespeare, English playwright, poet, and actor graphic from Lightstock.com, stock photo site

Love is- 1 Corinthians 13, the Message

Lent

In 2023, Lent starts on February, with Ash Wednesday on February 22.

What is Ash Wednesday?

Lent, a 40-day period for fasting and abstinence (Sundays are excluded), in imitation of Jesus Christ’s fasting in the wilderness before he began his public ministry.

Keep reading

exploring and sharing the HEART of health

I would LOVE for you to follow Watercress Words. Please share your email address and I will notify you when I post a new article. Your HEART will thank you and so do I.

Do you need Valentine’s Day gift ideas? Chocolates are traditional but books last longer and are better for your heart health. Consider shopping at this link which helps support this blog.

Bookshop.org is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. They believe bookstores are essential to a healthy culture and they are dedicated to the common good. Bookshop.org donates a portion of every sale to independent bookstores.

Medical stethoscope and heart on a textured background

Arbonne

Shop here for hair and skin care products, make up, and nutritional products

(This is not a medical recommendation, use products after consultation with a qualified personal health professional.)

pure,safe, and beneficial skin care products and makeup.

This website is owned and operated by Aletha Oglesby, an Arbonne Independent Consultant, and is not endorsed by Arbonne. Any opinions expressed on this website are made by and the responsibility of the Independent Consultant and should not be construed as a representation of the opinions of Arbonne.
Arbonne makes no promises or guarantees that any Independent Consultant will be financially successful, as each Independent Consultant’s results are dependent on their own skill and effort.
You should not rely on the results of other Arbonne Independent Consultants as an indication of what you should expect to earn. The annual typical earning statement is contained in the Arbonne Independent Consultant Compensation Summary (ICCS) available iccs.arbonne.com.

Lent is the season of the Christian church year from Ash Wednesday to Easter.

To observe Lent some people commit to fasting from certain foods or drink, or giving up certain pleasurable activities or habits during the 40 days before Easter.

Some people choose to do something-a service to others, a meditative or spiritual activity, a repetitive action to remind them of the season.

In this article, Scott Hubbard explains how Protestants first rejected, but now embrace Lent and offers resources on observing Lent in a new way.

HOW TO PREPARE AHEAD FOR EASTER

Consider the days ahead as an opportunity — as one more path you might walk to focus your scattered attention, warm your heart’s affections, and meet the risen Jesus afresh.
Scott Hubbard

to the cross that the christian is challenged to follow his master. quote Hans Urs Von Balthasar — graphic from Lightstock.com, affiliate link

Hans Urs von Balthasar, (1905-1988),

Swiss Roman Catholic theologian and author

40 days of decrease

a different kind of hunger; a different kind of fast

A few years ago I used this devotional from Alicia Britt Chole ; you may enjoy it too. Here is an affiliate link to the paperback or Kindle versions.

FAITH HOPE LOVE in block letters — Faith ,Hope ,and Love graphic from affiliate link LIGHTSTOCK.COM

If we want to make the most of this annual opportunity, we’ll do more than just give something up. We’ll silence ourselves before the Sovereign who became a servant. We’ll fasten our eyes upon him as he teaches and heals and smiles and weeps — the only upright man in a world of cracked and curved impostors
Scott Hubbard