TODAY'S PROVERBS FROM THE LIVING BIBLE

"Better a little with reverence for God, than great treasure & trouble with it." (15:16)

"A quick-tempered man starts fights; a cool-tempered man tries to stop them." (15:18)

GOD CARES FOR US *

* Emilio Schmidt, A Year with Jesus

"How could it come to this, to murder the Innocent One? The Lord--God Himself--cast all our sin upon Him. God the Father decided it, & God the Son personally accepted this decision & took all the consequences upon Himself. Through the Gospel of Christ, God allowed this to be known to us. His good Spirit assures us:  This is the Truth! God provided this plan of salvation for us before the beginning of the world. Jesus carried out the plan."

"O dear Jesus, I myself have perpetrated the crime for which Your hands & feet were pierced through. Thank You for the depth of Your sacrifice. Amen." 

A PRAYER FOR SATURDAY OF HOLY WEEK *

* Lutheran Book of Prayer

"Heavenly Father, I am silenced at the grave of Your Son, who knew no sin, yet was made sin for us. You permitted Him to die, exchanging His innocence for our guilt. In love He came to us, but He was rejected by hate. He taught us obedience, but men rebelled against Him.

"I confess that a great mystery confronts me at this tomb of sin & death. He was buried behind the great seal of my sin & my death. By faith I know also that He who died is the One who unlocked the great secret of Your love. His tomb is my tomb. He carried with Him to the grave my sin & my death, that He might break their hold on me.

"Trusting in the Lord's promise that He would rise again on the third day, I come not to mourn Him but to confess the sin that He would leave buried. Have mercy on me, O God! Have mercy on me. Amen."

A Hymn for Holy Week *

* Upon the Cross Extended, LW #121, Sts. 1, 4

"Upon the cross extended See, world, your Lord suspended. Your Savior yields His breath. The Price of Life from heaven Himself has freely given To shame & blows & bitter death.

"Your cords of love, my Savior, Bind me to You forever, I am no longer mine. To You I gladly tender All that my life can render And all I have to You resign."