From Graves to Gardens: "From Ashes to Beauty"

Sermon Notes: Sunday February 21, 2021 From Graves to Gardens: "From Ashes to Beauty"   Psalms 51:1-7 NIV <p>1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions ,and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.</p>   "Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” - Isaiah 1:18 NIV   “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 6:23 NIV   “ You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” - Colossians 2:13-14 NLT   Lent: Reflection and Repentance and Relying on God (Restoration / Redemption / Renewal)   “From dust you have come — from dust you shall return But the steadfast love of the LORD endures forever Repent and believe the good news!”     BLESSING May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God the Father, and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit - go with you now and always. AMEN.     DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS Week of February 21-27 FROM GRAVES TO GARDENS: “From Ashes To Beauty” Monday Psalm 7 Tuesday Psalm 39 Wednesday Psalm 32 Thursday Psalm 10 Friday Psalm 13 Saturday Psalm 137     PRAYER FOR THIS WEEK: Holy and Loving God, We give thanks to You, For doing what You alone can (and wi