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!