Easter: Monday, April 13, 2009

Old Testament Lesson

Jonah 2:1-9

We serve a God that will deliver His people. He has done it time and time again. He saved His people in the Old Testament. He saved His people in the New Testament. He has done it over and over again. His arm is strong enough. His grace is enough. His love is enough.

We just have to call out. To call out to God is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of strength. For the strong realize that God is their strength and rock. He is the joy of life and salvation. He is the one. Jonah turned to God, while in the belly of the whale, and God delivered Him. Today, He will deliver us.

New Testament Lesson

Acts 2:14, 22-32

Jesus conquered death. He conquered the power of sin, the power of death, the power of all that tries to destroy God's people. They have been rendered mute. Through Jesus, God attained victory over all these things.

Then, let's not a live a defeated life! Let's live a victorious life. For, victory has been achieved. Jesus has won the battle. It is over. He has won. And, through Him, so have we! Let's live that way. Full of joy and hope and peace. Let's live knowing the battle is over, and life has one. Let's live in that joy!

Gospel Lesson

John 14:1-14

Do not let your hearts be troubled. We face a lot of trouble in life. We face a lot of things in this week that will seek to trouble our hearts and our lives. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe. Hope. Pray. Trust. Life is there. These things are there. Let us trust in the rock that is higher than us. God is at work. Even in times of trouble, God is at work.

Believe. And, in that belief, find life.

Maundy Thursday, April 09, 2009

Today is Maundy Thursday. This is the day we remember the betrayal of our Lord, and His giving to us the sacrament of Holy Communion.

It's a bitter sweet day. There is joy for the gift of communion. In this meal, we receive grace, and we are drawn closer to God, and to each other. It is a powerful moment for us, and for the church, to join together in receiving this meal. Jesus told us that He is the bread and the Wine, and when we eat this meal, He is there with us. In our hearts, His presence is made known as we received this meal.

There is the sorrow of His betrayal. Judas, one of the 12, one of His friends, betrayed Him to His enemies. In this time, instead of standing with Jesus, he abandoned him.

But, lest we think that Judas was the only betrayer, let us also remember that Peter, one of the very closest to Jesus, on this night, 3 times denied Jesus name, cursing His name. It was not just Judas that denied. It was Peter as well.

And, He was taken to the cross.

And killed.

For sin.

Mine, and yours.

He suffered and died.

May we remember. Today is Maundy Thursday. Our Lord endured much today, and tomorrow. May we not forget. May we take time to remember.

Holy Week: Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Old Testament Lesson

Jeremiah 17:5-10, 14-17

Our strength comes not from ourselves, or from others, but from God. He must be the one that we trust, that we lean upon, that we place our hope in. Too many times in the Old Testament Israel and Judah placed their trust in allies, in the king, in their own might, but not in God.

God says, place your trust in me. I will protect you. I will keep you safe. I will save you. I will heal you. When you trust first and foremost in me.

Today, may we trust in God. In all the areas of life. And in all the areas of our heart.

New Testament Lesson

Philippians 4:1-13

Paul gives us some important guides for a peaceful life in this passage

• When we give all things to God in prayer, we receive peace. Peace does not magically flow, it comes by taking the things that rob our peace and give them to God.
  
• Whatever is good, honest, noble, think on these things. Let's not look for the worst in others. Let's not look to complain. Let's not look for other's faults. Let's look to what is good and kind. And the God of peace will be with us.
  
• Christ is our strength. Through Him, we can do all that we are called to do, and be who we are called to. When we trust in His strength instead of our own, God can do great things.
  

Gospel Lesson

John 12:27-36

Today, walk in the light. Walk in the light of God. His light will shine where we need to go, what we need to do. His light will shine forth. Walk in the light, not in the darkness. The light of God leads to life, the darkness of this world leads to destruction. Walk in His light, and in so doing you will find His life.

Holy Week: Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Old Testament Lesson

Jeremiah 15:10-21

God offers this word to the broken hearted, to the tired, to weary: return. Return to me. Come back home and you will find newness of life and purpose and life. Instead of just the actions and the movements of religion, we will find the heart of religion. Oh God, restore our hearts that we may life in your life.

When we take that step back towards life, we find our God there, waiting on us, wanting to give us life and joy and peace. These things we find missing everywhere else we turn. We find in our lives a hole that these others can't fill.

Out of our hole, God makes us whole. Today, won't we each turn and live?

New Testament Lesson

Philippians 3:15-21

Where is our mind today? Is it set on the things above? Or the things below? If it is on the things above, we will find life, we will find our bodies and souls renewed. If it is on the things below, we fill find only that hole that we are trying to fill with things other than God. We are citizens of heaven! We are children of the king! We can know the glories of His richness and live! We don't have to settle for a life that is not alive. We can live a bold, amazing life. Through His grace. Today.

May we place our minds on the things of God. And in that, may we live.

Gospel Lesson

John 12:20-26

If we seek to hold onto our lives, we will lose them. But, if we lose them for the sake of the Gospel, we will know true life. Today, let go. Let go of your life, of your worries, of your fears, of your trials, of your struggles, of all these things.

And give them to God. Let go of your life. And find and even greater life through His grace. Let us not settle for that which is not true life. Let us only settle for Christ, and for His life.

Holy Week 2009: Monday, April 6

Old Testament Lesson

Isaiah 42:1-9

God has anointed His Son do justice, to do righteousness, to give glory to His name. And, through Jesus, He has anointed His church to do the same. We are live in the example of Christ, live in the grace of Christ, live in the power of Christ.

We are called to do great things. Each of us. Everyone one of us. God has called us each to something amazing! Live in that promise!

New Testament Lesson

Hebrews 9:11-15

Jesus is the mediator for our sins. Through Him, you are forgiven. Through Him, you know life. Through Him, you can know peace. Through Jesus. Not through our own might, strength, or power. Through Jesus.

Today, live in the glory of God's grace!

Gospel Lesson

John 12:1-11

Jesus reminds us to day that, believe it or not, our most important thing is not to serve others. It's to love Him. That must come first. Before everything. We love Him and be loved by Him. You are His child. From all the places you have sought love and acceptance, you can find it above in Jesus. You are loved. You are a son or daughter of the King.

Live as the Holy Child that you are!

Lent: Thursday, April 02, 2009

Old Testament Lesson

Jeremiah 26:1-16

We see Jeremiah preach what God told him to and what happens? People get mad. They want to kill him. They want to get rid of him. He is saved because even though the people don't like what he's saying, they know it's from God.

God doesn't promise us that it will always be easy. There will be tough times. There will be times of trouble. There will be times when we don't know how it will turn out. Even when we faithful. God doesn't promise us it will always be easy. He promises us that He will never leave our side. And He will protect us. Today, in all your day, He is you. Trust in that.

New Testament Lesson

Romans 11:1-12

We see Paul today say that God does not give up. There will come a time of judgement, when everything is said and done. There will be that time when we stand before God and what's done is done. But, until that time, God will do everything that He can to bring us home. To give us another chance. To give us a fresh start. God will do what He can do to bring us back. We just have to accept the fresh start. Today, and each day, He offers it to us.

Gospel Lesson

John 10:19-42

Their eyes couldn't see. They didn't want to see. Through Jesus was right there in front of them, teaching, healing and preaching, they didn't see.

May we not make that same mistake. Through the Holy Spirit, may our eyes see. May we see God's presence today. May we see God's work today. Through the Spirit may we have our eyes opened to all that God is doing. May we see. And may we believe.

Lent: Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Today, just a quick thought:

God will be faithful to see you through your storm and time of difficulty. Don’t look down in discouragement, but look up to him, who has promised to stay with you even “through the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4). Did the Lord begin this beautiful work of grace in your life only to let you fall into some black hole of hopelessness and despair? Never!
--Jim Cymbala