An Offering of Ashes

Ashes

We rise again from ashes,
from the good we’ve failed to do.
We rise again from ashes,
to create ourselves anew.
If all our world is ashes,
then must our lives be true,
An offering of ashes,
An offering to You.

We offer You our failures,
we offer You attempts;
The gifts not fully given,
The dreams not fully dreamt.
Give our stumblings direction,
give our visions wider view,
An offering of ashes,
An offering to You.

Then rise again from ashes,
let healing come to pain;
Though spring has turned to winter,
and sunshine turned to rain.
The rain we’ll use for growing,
and create the world anew,
From an offering of ashes,
An offering to You.

… Thanks be to the Father,
who made us like Himself.
… Thanks be to His Son,
who saved us by His death.
… Thanks be to the Spirit,
who creates the world anew,
From an offering of ashes,
An offering to You.

Lyrics credit

Precious Lord, I praise You for this holiest of seasons. Grant us the grace to draw close to You. We offer You our very selves: our stumblings, our pain, hopes, our joys, our fears. Give direction to our steps. Order our thoughts. Bring healing to pain. Breathe life and truth into our spirits. Grow love in our hearts. May we know what it is to walk in communion with You. Thanks be to You: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.