TODAY'S VERSES FROM PSALMS

"The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.' The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one." (Ps. 14:1-3)

PRIDE

"If God were proud He would hardly have us on such terms:  but He is not proud, He stoops to conquer, He will have us even though we have shown that we prefer everything else to Him, & come to Him because there is 'nothing better' now to be had." C.S. Lewis, Men's DevotionBible

GOD'S WISDOM & STRENGTH IN CONFLICT

"When He gives us His Word, His Spirit, & His gifts, He does not want us to be lazy, sleepy, & idle. Rather, if you have the true Word & a true understanding of it, then on one side the world will oppose you, & on the other side the devil will try to tear you from it, not only through worldly tyrants who persecute it with the sword but also through our own reason & the wisest people in the world. In this way God wants to train you with His Word & give His Spirit He has granted you something to do, so that you learn that God's wisdom is wiser than the world, & that God's strength is stronger than the strength & power of this world [1 Cor. 1:25], which you would not learn apart from this conflict." A Year in the Gospels with Martin Luther

THE LAST ENEMY

"Those who die trusting in Christ Jesus have 'fallen asleep' (1 Thess. 4:14). Immediately upon death we will be 'away from the body & at home with the Lord' (2 Cor. 5:8). Our bodies will sleep in the grave until the Last Day when Jesus returns. When He comes, we will be raised bodily from the grave & dressed in immortality. On that great day, our risen & reigning Savior will destroy death, the last enemy. We will live forever with the Lord & 'death will be no more,' (Rev. 21:4).

"While we may be uncertain of just what to say in the face of death, Scripture offers a suggestion. We should remember our Lord's return & the certain hope of resurrection & eternal life in His presence, & so 'encourage one another with these words' (1 Thess. 4:17-18)." The Lord's Mercy Endures Forever:  40 Daily Devotions of God's Comfort

TODAY'S PRAYER

"Heavenly Father, death is a frightening enemy, but through Jesus' death & resurrection, it is an enemy that has been robbed of its power. When the day comes for us, or for our loved ones, to fall asleep in Jesus, comfort & strengthen us by Your Word & Spirit in the certain hope of our resurrection to life on the Last Day. Amen." Ditto

TODAY'S HYMN

Awake, My Heart, with Gladness (LSB #467, sts 2, 4)

The foe in triumph shouted When Christ lay in the tomb; But lo, he now is routed, His boast is turned to gloom. For Christ again is free; In glorious victory He who is strong to save Has triumphed o'er the grave.

Now hell, its prince, the devil, Of all their pow'r are shorn; Now I am safe from evil, And sin I laugh to scorn. Grim death with all its might Cannot my soul affright; It is a pow'rless form, Howe'er it rave & storm.

TODAY'S VERSES FROM PSALMS

"Consider & answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, 'I have prevailed over him,' lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in Your steadfast live; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me." (13:3-6)

MEN OF COURAGE

"But I have learned over the years that I will never be a success in my marriage, with my kids or with my friends, without courage." Bill Hybels, Men's Devotional Bible

LIFE THOUGHTS

"Almighty God wondrously & abundantly brings forth life where we only behold despair & darkness (Ez. 37:3-6). How much more does He hold our embryonic neighbors, impaired persons, & aging ones than piles of bones? And would we not witness--& deliver!--miracles in voicing it to them & for them, especially amid surprise pregnancy or terminal diagnosis?" Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin

ALL WE NEED TO KNOW

"Only one Person, our Lord Jesus Christ, truly died & was raised from death to tell us all that we need to know about eternal life in His presence. Jesus did not merely come near to death. He was not declared dead & later revived or reanimated. He suffered & died on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. His dead body was taken down from the cross, wrapped in a burial shroud & laid to rest in a sealed tomb. On the third day after His death, Jesus did not just return to consciousness & to an ordinary, earthly life. He rose to life in triumph over sin, death, & the devil, never to die again:  'Death no longer has dominion over Him' (Rom. 6:9) . . . In His inspired Word, our risen Lord tells us all that we need to know--even if it is not all we want to know--about heaven & eternal life." Dr. Carol Geisler, The Lutheran Witness, Nov. 2022

CONQUERORS

"The victory is already won. Even though 'we are being killed all the day long' & 'regarded as sleep to be slaughtered,' we are 'more than conquerors' (Rom. Chapter 8). That's the kind of conqueror Jesus is & that is what we are now--overwhelming, shock & awe, overcoming-it-all conquerors . . . The long list of disasters includes all those things that threaten (unsuccessfully!) to tear us apart from Christ. Death cannot separate us from Him. Life & all that it may hold for us, the spiritual powers of evil or the evil of earthly rulers cannot come between us. Whatever is happening in our lives today or whatever may arise tomorrow cannot separate us from the Lord . . . Nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. This conquering strength does not depend upon our faithful yet feeble grasp, but on the strong grip of our crucified & risen Savior. Sheep to be slaughtered, yes, but sheep of whom the Shepherd says, 'No one will snatch them out of My hand' (John 10:28).

A PRAYER FOR THE 5TH SUNDAY OF LENT

"Almighty God, by Your great goodness mercifully look upon Your people that we may be governed & preserved evermore in body & soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen." Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin 

A LENTEN HYMN

Jesus I Will Ponder Now (LSB #440, St. 6

Graciously my faith renew; Help me bear my crosses, Learning humbleness from You, Peace mid pain & losses. May I give You love for love! Hear me, O my Savior, That I may in heav'n above Sing Your praise forever.

GREAT REASONS TO STAY IN CALIFORNIA *

* Compliments of the Babylon Bee

> Your cardboard box will be worth $3 million some day.

> If you identify as black, you have a decent chance of scoring millions in reparations soon.

> There are beautiful natural sights like the warm glow of forest fires lighting up the skies.

> Everyone will soon be gone & then there will be no lines at Disneyland.

> Everything at CVS is free.

> When you pay your massive state tax bill, you get a sense of satisfaction that you're supporting some hobo's fentanyl addiction.

> Law-abiding citizens don't have guns, so these is never any crime. It's science!

> There's great weather outside of fire season, drought season, & deadly mudslide season.

> You can go camping right on the sidewalk.

> Best of all, the government will make all your decisions for you.

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Compliments of Reader's Digest

> Always eat before a mtg. Even a lunch mtg. Because hungry people say things they regret. (Mar/Apr 2022)

> A turtle walks into a bar & orders a glass of water. The bartender hands the turtle the water & watches him slowly walk off. The next day the turtle returns & orders another glass of water, then again, inches away. This goes on for a few days until the bartender finally asks, Instead of water, wouldn't you like a beer? A snack?" "Not now!" shouts the turtle. My house is on fire!" (June 2022)

> A dolt, walking down the street, sees a banana peel ahead & says, "Here we go again." (ditto)

> A dolt & her father are in their yard when the father says, "Look, a dead bird!" The dolt looks up & says, "Where?" (ditto)

> My daughter loves being buried up to her neck in sand at the beach. Her little face lights up when I come back to get her the next day. (ditto)

> I'd walk through fire for my daughter. Well, not FIRE, because it's dangerous. But a super humid room. But not too humid, because my hair. (ditto)

> Me at school drop off:  "Have a good day." Six-year-old:  "You can't make me!" (Sept 2022)

> Me:  "Yes, you were in my belly." My 3-year-old, with tears in his eyes:  "Why ... why did you eat me?" (ditto)

> My uncle was in the hospital when a nurse walked into his room & asked him, "Do you use oxygen?" With an incredulous look on his face, my uncle replied, "Doesn't everybody?" (Oct 2022)

> My kid asked me if he could stop wearing his Spider-Man coast outside because he's tired of people mistaking him for a superhero. (ditto)

> That's the job for me! Great British Bake-Off but you pair contestants with a 3-year-old who wants to help. (ditto)

> Not to brag, but I just filled up my gas tank & doubled the value of my car. (ditto)

> I love hanging out at my apartment. All my stuff is here. (Mar/Apr 2023)

> Remembering that time in my grad school when my advisor, a great ornithologist, received a random call:  Drunk guy (bar noises in background):  IS THIS THE BIRD PROFESSOR? My advisor:  Um ...  yes? Drunk guy:  DO HUMMING BIRDS HAVE FEET? My advisor ...  Yes. (wild cheering over phone from bar). (ditto)

> My glass coffin company Remains To Be Seen is not doing as well as I thought it would. (ditto)

> A musician hears of a loner who dies with no friends or next of kin. Touched, he decides to go to the funeral & play his bagpipes as a tribute. Lost on his way to the gravesite, he finally arrives an hour late to find two men shoveling dirt back into the hole in the ground. The musician jumps out of the car, pulls on his bagpipes & proceeds to play "Amazing Grace." It's so beautiful that the two men stop shoveling to wipe away a few tears. "That," says one to the other, "is the most fitting tribute I have ever witnessed to the installation of a septic tank." (ditto)

> Swimming is a confusing sport, because sometimes you do it for fun & other times you do it not to die. (ditto)

> A woman walks into a library & asks the librarian if they have any books about paranoia. The librarian says, "They're right behind you!" (ditto)

> A man asks the librarian if she has any books on turtles. "Hardback?" asks the librarian?" "Yes," he says, "And little heads." (ditto)

> A drunk goes up to the desks & shouts, "I'll have a burger, fries, & a milkshake." The librarian says, "Sir, this is a library!" "Sorry," he says & whispers, "I'll have a burger, fries, & a milkshake." (ditto)

TODAY'S VERSES FROM PSALMS

"Consider & answer me, O  Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, 'I have prevailed over him,' lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in Your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me." Psalm 13:3-6

TRANSLATING THE MESSAGE OF GOD'S ETERNAL LOVE

"And I pray as well for the ability to translate the message of God's eternal love unto words that will pierce the benumbed minds of busy men & move their hearts to faith & obedience." Leslie Brandt, Men's Devotional Bible

ETERNAL LIFE HERE & NOW

"For Christians, eternal life began in eternity when God chose them for faith before they were born & culminates in the resurrection of the dead. This life becomes their personal possession in Baptism. This eternal life encompasses their faith in Christ & how they live now for Him & others. That is to say, eternal life begins in Baptism & includes how we live in love for God & doing good things for other." Rev. David Scaer, The Lutheran Witness, Nov. 2022

PRAYER

"The God who hears our prayers knows & cares when even a sparrow falls to the ground. He is a loving heavenly Father who invites us to pray & eagerly listens to our prayers with attentive care . . . God gave us His divine justice that was satisfied in Jesus' death on the cross. Redeemed & forgiven, we are God's elect, His chosen people. His love is unrelenting & we know He will hear our persistent prayers. 'Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy & find grace to help in time of need.'" (Heb. 4:16) The Lord's Mercy Endures Forever:  40 Daily Devotions of God's Comfort

TODAY'S PRAYER

"Heavenly Father, when we become discouraged in our prayers, strengthen us by Your Spirit & Your Word. You have invited us to pray & have promised to hear & answer us. Lead us to come before Your throne in persistent prayer, with confidence in Your mercy & loving care. Hear our prayer, now & always, for the sake of Jesus our Savior. Amen." Ditto

TODAY'S HYMN

Come, My Soul with Every Care, LSB #779, Sts. 1-2

Come, my soul, with ev'ry care, Jesus loves to answer prayer; He Himself has bid thee pray, Therefore will not turn away.

Thou art coming to a King, Large petitions with thee bring; For His grace & pow'r are such None can ever ask too much.

TODAY'S VERSES FROM PSALMS

"May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, those who say, 'With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?' 

"'Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,' says the Lord; 'I will place him in the safety for which he longs.' The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times." (Ps. 12:3-6) 

A DEFEATED ENEMY

"Jesus did little preaching or teaching about death. He didn't see death as a roadblock to our relationship with God. Jesus emphasized life & its fulfillment. His own death was overcome by His victorious resurrection. Jesus didn't say much about what happened to people after they died, but He promised everlasting life to all who believed in Him." Philip Williams, Men's Devotional Bible

WHEN DOES ETERNAL LIFE BEGIN?

Your eternal life does not begin when your earthly body fails & is laid into the grave; it begins in the waters of Holy Baptism. There you were tied to the death of Christ; in Christ, you died. And because you were united to His resurrection, you also have been raised to life (Rom. 6:3-5). For those baptized into Christ Jesus, you already live an eternal life, a blessed existence with Christ (Col. 3:1-3). Indeed, you await the final & complete fulfillment of this eternal life; to reach that fulfillment, either Christ will return or you will pass through the vale of death. But your eternal life has already begun, & even here & now, your eternal life centers on Christ & Him crucified for the sins of the world." Roy Askins, The Lutheran Witness, Nov. 2022

TODAY'S PRAYER

"Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; & though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children & provide for all our needs of body & soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, & serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen." Grace Lutheran Church bulletin

A LENTEN HYMN

Christ, the Life of All the Living, LSB #420, sts. 3-4

Thou has borne the smiting only That my wounds might all be whole; Thou hast suffered, sad & lonely, Rest to give the weary soul; Yea, the curse of God enduring, Blessing unto me securing. Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus unto Thee.

Heartless scoffers did surround Thee, Treating Thee with shameful scorn And with piercing thorns they crowned Thee. All disgrace Thou, Lord, hast borne, That as Thine Thou mightest own me And with heav'nly glory crown me. Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus unto Thee.

TODAY'S VERSES FROM PSALMS

"In the Lord I take refuge . . . The Lord tests the righteous, but His soul hates the wicked & the one who loves violence . . . For the Lord is righteous; He loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold His faith." (Ps. 11:1a, 5, 7) MY COMMENT:  I shudder to think how the Lord will hold our nation accountable for the horror of abortion--surely the ultimate act of violence against unborn children.

MARRIAGE IS A STAGE

"And now these three remain:  faith, hope & love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Cor. 13:13) "Marriage is a stage on which real love--the kind the apostle Paul described as the greatest virtue [SEE 1 Corinthians Chapter 13]--can be enacted for the world to see:  the kind of love that enables us to endure wrong with patience, to resist evil with conviction, to enjoy the good things with gusto, to give richly of ourselves with humility, & to nourish another's soul with long-suffering." Larry Crabb, Men's Devotional Bible

HEAVENLY PEACE

In peace I will both lie down & sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Ps. 4)  "The light that streams from the manger, the cross & the empty tomb is the light of God's grace. It is life that brings peace to our restless nights. Through Jesus' death & resurrection, we have forgiveness for our sins & peace with God--heavenly peace. We have His promise, 'He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep' (Ps. 121:14). Our Savior, who once slept in the manger, who was crucified & raised to give us forgiveness & peace with God, does not sleep. Through restless nights & long dark hours, the Prince of Peace keeps watch over us, 'In peace I will both lie down & sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.'" The Lord's Mercy Endures Forever:  40 Daily Devotions of God's Comfort

A PRAYER FOR THE 4th SUNDAY OF LENT

"Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning, & though we have in no way deserved Your goodness, You still abundantly provide for all our wants of body & soul. Give us, we pray, Your Holy Spirit that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness toward us, give thanks for all Your benefits, & serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen." Lutheran Worship

A LENTEN HYMN

My Song Is Love Unknown, LSB #430, Sts. 1 & 7

My song is love unknown, My Savior's love to me, Love to the loveless shown That they might lovely be. Oh, who am I That for my sake my Lord should take Frail flesh & die.

Here might I stay & sing, No story so divine! Never was love, dear King, Never was grief like Thine. This is my friend, In whose sweet praise I all my days Could gladly spend!

 

TODAY'S VERSES FROM PSALMS

"In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek Him; all his thoughts are, 'There is no God.' . . . He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net. The helpless, sink down, & fall by his might . . . Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted." (Ps. 10:4, 8-10, 12) COMMENT:  When I read, "in hiding places he murders the innocent," I couldn't help but think of abortion. And so, we pray "O God, lift up Your hand; forget not the afflicted." Surely the unborn who are in danger of abortion are "the afflicted."  

HEADSHIP

"Headship means responsibility & initiative:  responsibility to act in love; initiative to act in service. As Christ acted in self-giving love & self-humbling service (giving us a whole new meaning to 'headship'), so husbands take the initiative in building an atmosphere of loving, self-sacrificing service." David Augsburger, Men's Devotional Bible

A SEASON FOR REFLECTION

"Ash Wednesday brings us into the season of Lent. While Lent may not be the longest season of the church year, it certainly is one of the most important. As Christians, it is an opportune time for us to grow in our faith as we think about our relationship with Jesus while His suffering & death come into focus. 

"One of the most interesting aspects of this season is that it offers us a time for quiet reflection. The language used in worship is purposefully quieter than normal; for example, the word 'alleluia' is not used as an expression of praise during Lent. Worship music is often reflective & subdued. In many churches, crosses & other religious artwork are 'veiled'--covered with a transparent cloth throughout the 40 days to mute their brilliance & add to the solemn tone of the season.

"These activities serve as reminders for us to spend time thinking about life, death, faith, relationships, & Jesus during these 40 days. This time spent in personal reflection & prayer before individual or family devotions has special meaning for us throughout Lent." (Dr. Kurt Senske, The Lutheran Layman, Winter 2023) 

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

"We educate children in the Word of God so that they can be wise for now & for forever. Wisdom is good for now, better than anything, teaching us about marriage & fair dealing in business & how to guard our tongues & every other useful thing. Wisdom is good for forever, teaching us who our God is & who we are because of Him & his mercies. In God's Word, these are all of a piece:  The wisdom I receive from God's Word is not separated into things I only need to care about now & things I need to care about always. I receive grace & truth for all of life--for as many days as I am given & for the Last Day when He comes." Dr. Adam Koontz, The Lutheran Witness, Feb. 2023

A LENTEN PRAYER

"Gracious Savior, prostate I fall at Your feet this day as Your Church once more enters the Lenten season to meditate upon Your passion, by which we have been eternally redeemed.

"In spirit I appear before You in sackcloth & ashes in true repentance; let me receive Your full pardon. Do not let the pleasures of life, the worries of the day, & the activities of my daily routine crowd You out of my heart & out of my thoughts. Draw me to Your wounded side & cleanse me with Your most precious blood. Bring healing to my soul & peace to my mind. By Your grace, let me crucify my sinful affections, lusts & desires. Make me more than conqueror over every temptation.

"I confess to You all my sins. Let none of them cling to me. Create in me a clean heart, O God, & renew a right Spirit within me. Teach me to love You more & more. Give me grace to confess You as my Savior, who has redeemed me on Calvary, lifting me out of the darkness of sin to be Your own. Gracious Savior, let Your constraining love keep me & all God's children steadfast to the end. Amen." Lutheran Book Of Prayer

A LENTEN HYMN

Jesus, Refuge of the Weary, LSB 423, Sts. 1 & 3

Jesus, refuge of the weary, Blest Redeemer, whom we love, Fountain in life's desert dreary, Savior from the world above; Often have Your eyes offended, Gazed upon the sinner's fall; Yet upon the cross extended, You have borne the pain of all.

Jesus, may our hearts be burning With more fervent love for You; May our eyes be ever turning To behold Your cross anew Till in glory, parted never From the blessed Savior's side, Graven in our hearts forever, Dwell the cross, the Crucified.

HEALTH UPDATE

Tomorrow we're heading to Omaha, where I'll have the pins removed from my hand. The surgeon said I could keep the pins, which I think my 9-year-old grandson will appreciate. I'm watching my carbs & taking insulin, as ordered. This morning my blood sugar was 68. And my blood pressure has stabilized. I'm no longer standing up & starting to pass up. I'm still drinking a ton of water every day.

INVITATION

Our grand-daughter Brianna, who started working at Perkins in addition to her baby-sitting job, invited us to lunch there today, so she could be our waitress. We'll drag our grandson Bentley along with us.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

Last night, based on Brianna's recommendation, we watched "Ocean's 8." I'll give it 4 stars. And I recently watched a Jim Gaffigan comedy special on Netflix. He's one of my Top 2 favorite comedians, along with Brian Regan.

RIBBON CUTTING

We're going to a ribbon cutting ceremony at Lutheran High Northeast tomorrow. They're celebrating the completion of an ag bidg & a new state-of-the-art science lab. If you would have told me that Lutheran High would ever have an ag program, I probably would have scoffed. I served as LHNE's head administrator from the time it opened in1997 until 2014, when I left due to a medical disability. I was suffering from a general anxiety disorder & severe clinical depression.

HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH

"If you typically apply antiperspirant in the morning before heading out to interact with others, we appreciate & salute you. But you should actually swipe it on before bed. Antiperspirant keeps underarms dry by temporarily plugging sweat pores. Since you're sweating less overnight, you absorb more antiperspirant than you would rushing around in the morning, making it much more effective." Reader's Digest, Mar/Apr 2022

TRENDING NEWS FROM THE BABYLON BEE *

* Fake news you can trust

"Man fails DMV job interview by saying he is a 'motivated go-getter"

"Senate to now be controlled by whichever party has fewer senators in hospital"

"Historians now believe second-ever phone call was to Alexander Graham Bell about his car's warranty"

"Biden gives 'Black American of Courage' Award to Robert Downey Jr. for role in 'Tropic Thunder'"

Best Things about Being a Man

> The world is your urinal.

> You have a brain that's 3 times the size of a woman's. It's science.

> You can have an entire conversation with your best friend just by saying 'Sup bro?"

> Your extensive knowledge of all subjects allows you to graciously explain things to women.

> You can wear the same shirt for 38 years.

> You have a reduced chance of having Joe Biden sniffing your hair.

> If you want, you can be the world's strongest woman.

DEPT OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Courtesy of Reader's Digest, Mar/Apr 2022

Change a Letter, Ruin a Movie

Replace one letter & suddenly these films don't seem quite so fearsome.

* Apocalypse Cow

* Bill Bill

* HoboCop

* Top Nun

* The Silence of the Lamps

* The Whining

TODAY'S VERSES FROM PSALMS

"In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek Him; all his thoughts are, 'There is no God.' . . . He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net. The helpless, sink down, & fall by his might . . . Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted." (Ps. 10:4, 8-10, 12) COMMENT:  When I read, "in hiding places he murders the innocent," I couldn't help but think of abortion. And so, we pray "O God, lift up Your hand; forget not the afflicted." Surely the unborn who are in danger of abortion are "the afflicted."  

HEADSHIP

"Headship means responsibility & initiative:  responsibility to act in love; initiative to act in service. As Christ acted in self-giving love & self-humbling service (giving us a whole new meaning to 'headship'), so husbands take the initiative in building an atmosphere of loving, self-sacrificing service." David Augsburger, Men's Devotional Bible

A SEASON FOR REFLECTION

"Ash Wednesday brings us into the season of Lent. While Lent may not be the longest season of the church year, it certainly is one of the most important. As Christians, it is an opportune time for us to grow in our faith as we think about our relationship with Jesus while His suffering & death come into focus. 

"One of the most interesting aspects of this season is that it offers us a time for quiet reflection. The language used in worship is purposefully quieter than normal; for example, the word 'alleluia' is not used as an expression of praise during Lent. Worship music is often reflective & subdued. In many churches, crosses & other religious artwork are 'veiled'--covered with a transparent cloth throughout the 40 days to mute their brilliance & add to the solemn tone of the season.

"These activities serve as reminders for us to spend time thinking about life, death, faith, relationships, & Jesus during these 40 days. This time spent in personal reflection & prayer before individual or family devotions has special meaning for us throughout Lent." (Dr. Kurt Senske, The Lutheran Layman, Winter 2023) 

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

"We educate children in the Word of God so that they can be wise for now & for forever. Wisdom is good for now, better than anything, teaching us about marriage & fair dealing in business & how to guard our tongues & every other useful thing. Wisdom is good for forever, teaching us who our God is & who we are because of Him & his mercies. In God's Word, these are all of a piece:  The wisdom I receive from God's Word is not separated into things I only need to care about now & things I need to care about always. I receive grace & truth for all of life--for as many days as I am given & for the Last Day when He comes." Dr. Adam Koontz, The Lutheran Witness, Feb. 2023

A LENTEN PRAYER

"Gracious Savior, prostate I fall at Your feet this day as Your Church once more enters the Lenten season to meditate upon Your passion, by which we have been eternally redeemed.

"In spirit I appear before You in sackcloth & ashes in true repentance; let me receive Your full pardon. Do not let the pleasures of life, the worries of the day, & the activities of my daily routine crowd You out of my heart & out of my thoughts. Draw me to Your wounded side & cleanse me with Your most precious blood. Bring healing to my soul & peace to my mind. By Your grace, let me crucify my sinful affections, lusts & desires. Make me more than conqueror over every temptation.

"I confess to You all my sins. Let none of them cling to me. Create in me a clean heart, O God, & renew a right Spirit within me. Teach me to love You more & more. Give me grace to confess You as my Savior, who has redeemed me on Calvary, lifting me out of the darkness of sin to be Your own. Gracious Savior, let Your constraining love keep me & all God's children steadfast to the end. Amen." Lutheran Book Of Prayer

A LENTEN HYMN

Jesus, Refuge of the Weary, LSB 423, Sts. 1 & 3

Jesus, refuge of the weary, Blest Redeemer, whom we love, Fountain in life's desert dreary, Savior from the world above; Often have Your eyes offended, Gazed upon the sinner's fall; Yet upon the cross extended, You have borne the pain of all.

Jesus, may our hearts be burning With more fervent love for You; May our eyes be ever turning To behold Your cross anew Till in glory, parted never From the blessed Savior's side, Graven in our hearts forever, Dwell the cross, the Crucified.

TODAY'S VERSES FROM PSALMS

"I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of Your wonderful deeds . . . But the Lord sits enthroned forever; He has established His throne for justice, & He judges the world with righteousness; He judges the peoples with uprightness . . . For the needy shall not always be forgotten, * the hope of the poor shall not perish forever." Ps. 9:1, 7-8, 18

RECONSTRUCTION

"The rule is this:  Christians are people who remember their own weaknesses & failure. They are under reconstruction. So they offer hope & forgiveness to people who fall & who need Jesus' healing grace & hope." Donald M. Joy, Men's Devotional Bible

A PRAYER FOR THE LENTEN SEASON

"Gracious God, Father of my Lord Jesus Christ & also my dear Father, I thank You that You have permitted me to see another Lenten season, during which I am privileged again to meditate on the Cross of Christ with its many comforting spiritual lessons. May this holy season bring me rich personal blessings. Cause the message of the slain Lamb of God to impress on my heart & mind the awfulness of my sins & to lead me to Calvary for pardon & peace. Lead me to see that my sins caused His great agony in the Garden; that my sins nailed Him to the Cross of Calvary; that He was forsaken by His own that I might not be forsaken by You; so that He died so that I might not die eternally.

"O Lord Jesus, grant that especially during this sacred season the story of Your wondrous love for me may draw me closer to You so that in gratitude for Your great love I may rejoice in my redemption, walk with You in willing obedience, & follow Your example of love & sacrifice.

"O Holy Spirit, during this Lenten season grant all pastors a double measure of Your outpouring to arouse the indifferent listeners, to stir up the lukewarm, to encourage the timid, to assure the doubting, to calm the disturbed, & to console the sorrowing. May troubled souls everywhere by the message of Lent be led to true repentance & trusting faith in the Cross of Calvary, so that, dying to sin, they may live to You now I forever. In Jesus' name. Amen." My Prayer BooK

A LENTEN HYMN

Christ, the Life of All the Living, LSB #420, Sts. 1 & 7

Christ, the life of all the living, Christ, the death of death, our foe, Who, Thyself, for me once giving To the darkest depths of woe; Through Thy suff'rings, death, & merit I eternal life inherit. Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus unto Thee.

Then, for all that wrought my pardon, For Thy sorrows deep & sore, For Thine anguish in the Garden, I will thank Thee evermore, Thank Thee for Thy groaning, sighing, For Thy bleeding & Thy dying, For that last triumphant cry, And shall praise Thee, Lord, on high.

FLORIDA EXCURSION POST MORTEM

We made our annual FEB-MAR trip to Lois' sister Kathy in St. Petersburg, leaving on FEB 7, returning on MAR 2. We were concerned that my injuries from my car accident would prevent us from going, but I got the green light from both my trauma surgeon & hand surgeon, so off we went.

SIDE TRIPS:  We traveled to S. FL with Kathy, Lois' sister Anita, brother David, & his wife Carmen, who also happens to be my first cousin. While we were there, we took a boat trip in Biscayne NP, a tram ride in Everglades NP, where we saw gators & exotic birds, a visit to a beach in S. Miami, along with stops in several state parks; also a stop in Key Largo for lunch at the legendary Mrs. Mac's Cafe. [More on that later.]

FOOD:  As usual, we feasted on a plethora of FL cuisine. My choices included:

* Lobster bites, fish bites, & fried fish at the aforementioned Mrs. Mac's.

* Blackened mahi mahi tacos at Joanie's Blue Crab Cafe on the way back from Everglades NP.

* The appetizer platter at the Havana Cafe, back in St. Pete.

* Gyros at the Neptune Grille in Gulf Port.

* Shrimp tacos from the St. Pete Tacolady food truck in St. Pete.

* Clam chowder, fried oysters, & fried clams at PJ's Oyster Bar, a local seafood restaurant that Kathy took us to in Gulf Port.

* A gourmet, vegetarian pizza, which the girls picked up at the world famous Mazarro's in St. Pete.

* Fresh seafood from the seafood market in St. Pete, which included lobster dip, salmon for the girls, & shrimp for me. Once again, I my offer to purchase octopus was refused.

* Key lime pie, although I was only allowed miniscule portions, for reasons I will divulge later.

OTHER EXCURSIONS:  Lois & Kathy made it to the Ft. DeSoto Beach--our favorite beach in FL--once. All 3 of us made it to Passe Grille Beach--probably our second favorite beach--also once. The girls made it to an outlet mall. [I chose to stay home.] And we visited the Gulf Port Market, where I savored a latte', which I got at a quaint coffee shop that I discovered last year.

MOVIES:  We watched a movie just about every night we were at Kathy's. My favorites were classic Humphrey Bogart movies, but I surprisingly enjoyed ONE of Lois' choices:  "Where the Crawdads Sing."

WEATHER:  What can I say? I don't think it ever got below 61, & it never got warmer than the mid-80s. We were able to exercise in the pool at Kathy's more than once.

CHALLENGES:  For reasons probably exacerbated by meds I was taking, along with too many carbs, my blood sugar spiked so high that I was in danger of renal failure. Fortunately, I saw Kathy's doctor, who put me on insulin & eliminated any of my pills that contained steroids. My blood pressure also started plummeting, especially after I got up in the morning, which caused me to fall several times & start swaying when I stood up. The solution seemed to be drinking litres & litres of water. My blood sugar seems to be stabilizing, as long as I take my insulin & watch my carbs. I'm still having some BP issues

But enough about me.

ADDICTION TO SCREEN TIME *

* Source:  Omaha World Herald

"Similar to tobacco, alcohol or drugs, screen time or video games can become an addiction. Some symptoms could include":

> Having intense urges for screen time or to play video games, & these urges block out other thoughts.

> Spending money on video games or screens, even though you can't afford it.

> Cutting back on social or recreational activities because of preference for screen time or video games.

> Continuing to play video games or participating in screen time, even though you know it's causing problems in your life, such as poor performance at school or work.

> Displaying signs of irritability, anxiety or anger when forced to stop playing, even for short periods of time.

> Lying to others about the extent of your use.

> Needing more screen time over time to get the same level of enjoyment.

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE FLORIDA . . . 

"Lacrosse practice interrupted after alligator takes the field at FL high school." Fox News Online

LIKE CALIFORNIA

"Californians announce discovery of strange new season 'winter.'" Babylon Bee

"Southern CA covered with 6 feet of global warming." Ditto

MORE TRENDING NEWS FROM THE BABYLON BEE *

* Your trusted source of fake news

"Report:  Disciples cast lots to determine who will set up chairs for Sunday morning service."

"Ohio-area turtles develop sudden interest in pizza, martial arts."

"Hunter Biden heads into Georgia forest in search of cocaine bear."

"Bible experts determine Goliath died of COVID 19."

"Miracle:  Coronavirus passes over houses with Chick-Fil-A sauce smeared on door posts."

"Fauci jealous as China getting all the credit for creating COVID."

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING

One of these days I'm going to do a post that consists entirely of shameless jokes. I promise!

RESOLUTIONS REVIEW

* Average 1 road trip/month:  A  No road trips in JAN because of my accident, but last month we did our annual trip to FL, & we also traveled to S. FL, where we visited Biscayne NP, Everglades NP, & a beach in S. Miami.

* Lose 5 lbs: A+  I've lost 15 lbs so far, but my weight loss plan, colliding with a fire truck, is not recommended.

* Add to our NP list:   A+  We checked off Biscayne NP last month.

* Avoid desserts:  C  I didn't start off the year well, but now I'm avoiding them because of my blood sugar #s.

* Do my PT exercises and/or walk at least 4X/week:  C-  I was walking in the swimming pool at my sister-in-law's in FL. Also walked at the Gulfport Market.

* Publish my "Buzzwords" devotion book:  C  I still have a ways to go. Lois finished her revisions. Now I have to incorporate her edits, download them onto my laptop, proof them one more time, then find a publisher.

* Write my "Chapter & Verse" devotion book. C  I got started on this earlier this year, then went on a hiatus. 

GPA  B

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE NEBRASKA 

Things  That Originated in Nebraska *

* Source:  "Only in Your State," Delana Lefevers

> Reuben sandwich

> Butter Brickle ice cream 

> Frozen t.v. dinners

> Cliff Notes

> The McRib

> Arbor Day

> Eskimo pies

> Kool Aid

> Dorothy Lynch salad dressing

> Runzas

> Collapsible voting booths

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"Drive-thru diet:  Nashville grandpa plans to eat McDonald's for 100 days in weight-loss attempt." Fox News Online