SCRIPTURE READING Joel 2:12-13
12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and
with mourning; 13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he
is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster

SCRIPTURE READING Hebrews 12:1-7, 11
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every
weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before
us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before
him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not
grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of
shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My
son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the
Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline
that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does
not discipline? 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it
yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.