joy of your salvation!

Last week I got a double dose of the Book of Common Prayer liturgy for Ash Wednesday. Psalm 51 is the primary Scripture in this liturgy. I was reminded of my Lenten devotions last year in Cape Town on the "joy of your salvation"! Here is part of what I posted last Lent...

"This morning I started a book for Lent, "The Joy of Your Salvation: Reflections on the Psalms of Lent" by Deborah McCann. The title of the book is taken from Psalm 51, the first Psalm of Lent this Ash Wednesday. “Restore to me the joy of your salvation…” (Ps. 51:12). In the introduction the author of the book recognizes the importance and value of the season of penitence and introspection during Lent, but she also recognizes Lent as a “season of profound, abiding joy, a time for celebrating God’s overwhelming mercy and love for us.” She goes on to say, “Through these songs [Psalms] of yearning, loss, repentance, and triumph, you may hear you’re your own voice, and can join in praising the wonder and glory of a God who restores to us the joy of God’s salvation (Psalm 51).”

Good words as we move forward in this Lenten season!