TODAY'S PROVERBS FROM THE LIVING BIBLE

"Godliness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." (14:34)

"A soft answer turns away wrath, but harsh words cause quarrels." (15:1)

THE MIRACLE OF THE CROSS

"That which human science, wisdom, gold, silver, money, & all other earthly means could not accomplish was fulfilled through the suffering & death of our Savior. The sin of the world has been set aside through the divine, miraculous power of the crucified Son of God. "The blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1:7), He washed away our transgressions so we are snow-white, like clean wool. Upon His blood, shed for us, we place our . hope." Paul Freiburger, A Year with Jesus

PRAYERS FOR GOOD FRIDAY

From My Prayer Book

"O Lamb of God, slain for sinners, this day brings me to the foot of Your Cross. Humbly & shamefully I admit that You have carried my griefs & sorrows; the chastisement of my peace was upon You, & with Your stripes I am healed. I thank You that You suffered all as my Substitute.

"For me You endured the treachery of Judas; the mockery & mistreatment of Herod; the miscarriage of justice before Annas, Caiaphas, & Pilate; the scourge, the rod,  the crown of thorns. For my sins Your hands & feet were pierced with nails, Your lips tasted of the vinegar & gall, Your side was pierced by the spear.

"Here I behold the tremendous price of my sins that cost You Your life, Lord Jesus. Here I see You as the Lamb of God, who by one sacrifice has forever perfected them that are sanctified. May Your Cross ever be the source of my forgiveness, comfort, joy, & peace.

"As I again view You today suspended on the cross of Golgotha, may I by Your love be prompted to say with Paul: 'I have been crucified with Christ . . . & the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me & gave Himself for me.' Bless the preaching of Your Cross everywhere, & by its constraining love draw all people to You that they may live with & for You forevermore. For Your holy name's sake I ask it. Amen.

From Lutheran Book of Prayer

"O Christ, Lamb of God, slain for the sin of the whole world, with penitent heart I come to Your cross, pleading for mercy & forgiveness. My sins--& they are many--haVe added to the burden of Your suffering & have nailed You to the accursed tree. For me You tasted the agony of the utter darkness that I might not perish, but have everlasting life. Have mercy upon me.

"O Christ, Lamb of God, embrace me with Your love, & forgive me all my sins. Your death brings healing to my soul, peace to my mind, cleansing to my heart. If You would mark iniquity, I could not come, for my hands are unclean, my lips sullied, & my heart is blackened by sin. But beholding You bleeding, despised, forsaken, dying, pierced, I come to be cleansed & forgiven.

"O Christ, Lamb of God, grant that I may hate sin & wickedness more & more as I behold You in Your great agony. My grateful heart today finds hope in Your words, comfort in your promises, & salvation in Your finished work on the cross, by which You have overcome sin, Satan, & death.

"O Lord, have mercy, O Christ, have mercy, O Lord Lord, hear my prayer. Amen.

A HYMN FOR HOLY WEEK

"O Dearest Jesus, What Law Have You Broken," LW #119, Sts. 1, 6, 7

"O dearest Jesus, what law have You broken That such sharp sentence should on you be spoken? Of what great crime have You to make confession, What dark transgression?

"O wondrous love, whose depth no heart has sounded, That brought You here, by foes & thieves surrounded, Conquer my heart, make love its sole endeavor Henceforth forever!

"When, dearest Jesus at Your throne in heaven To me the crown of joy at least is given, Where sweetest hymns Your saints forever raise You, I too shall praise You!"