THE SPIRITUAL LIFE

"The spiritual life is not a life of quiet withdrawal, a hothouse of growth of ascetic practices beyond the reach of people living ordinary lives. It is the ordinary duties & labors of life that the Christian can & should develop his spiritual union with God." Thomas Merton, "Men's Devotional Bible"

REJOICE & SHOUT

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered . . . You are a hiding place for me; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with thoughts of deliverance . . . Be glad in the Lord, & rejoice, O righteous, & shout for joy, all you upright in heart. (Ps. 32:1, 7, 11) "Psalm 32 is a penitential psalm of confession & absolution . . . Luther saw these psalms as instructive in the sense of wisdom & understanding within a spiritual & holy context over against worldly context." "Engaging the Psalms," edited by Peter Jurchen.

REVISIT THE CROSS

"Our generation lacks a sense of wonder & reverence toward God. We want to bring God down to our level, to the commonplace. He is God! . . . No one who comprehends the incredible price paid at Calvary ever takes his relationship with God for granted. We will never truly understand God & the way He relates to us unless we first comprehend a true sense of His holiness & His demand for holiness among His people. If we are in God's presence, we are on holy ground! We must never act as if it were God's purpose to make us successful. It would be preposterous for us to become impatient when God does not answer our prayers when & how we think He should! He is God; we are not!

"As you meditate on the price Jesus paid to give you access to the Father, you will come to treasure your prayer times with Him. Worship will become a privilege you seize with gratitude. Scripture will be dear to you as you strive to be holy in all that you do (2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Peter 1:15.) If you have lost your wonder at the incredible gift of salvation that has been given to you, you need to revisit the cross & witness your Savior suffering for you. How priceless God's gift of salvation is!" Henry & Richard Blakaby, "Experiencing God Day-By-Day" 

GOD ALLOWS US TO SUFFER

"God allows us to suffer difficulties & hardships for a purpose . . . Testing reveals what is in your hear & produces a robust faith (James 1:3, 12) . . . Is God presently testing you in some area of your life? What has His testing revealed? Have you become bitter toward God because of where He has led you? Or have you come to trust Him more as a result of what you have gone through?" Henry & Richard Blakaby, "Experiencing God Day-By-Day"

THE PROMISED JOY OF HEAVEN

Rev. 12:10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation & power & the kingdom of our God & the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day & night before our God." "With Christ's resurrection & ascension the devil was cast out, no longer able to accuse those righteous in Christ. A heavenly transaction is complete. You have no devil to accuse you. As Luther says, the devil himself has a 'devil' to harass him. Christ is the devil's devil." Rev. Matthew Harrison, The Lutheran Witness, Nov. 2022

LIFE THOUGHTS FOR THE CHURCH YEAR

It may be helpful for you to read Numbers 21:4-9 & John 3:14-21.

"Surprise pregnancy & terminal diagnosis come with risks & costs. But as with the ancient Israelite serpent infestation, the real enemy is neither one's neighbor nor the Maker (Num. 21:8). Only impaling the snake (not terminating each other) brought deliverance, & the antidote called for faith instead of death. Christians insist God has sent His Son for extending lives & not ending them (John 3:10) Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin

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    

Go to Dark Gethsemane. LW #110, Sts. 1, 4

Go to dark Gethsemane, All who feel the tempter's pow'r; Your Redeemer's conflict see, Watch with Him one bitter hour; Turn not from His griefs away; Lear from Jesus Christ to pray.

Early hasten to the tomb Where they laid His breathless clay; All is solitude & gloom. Who has taken Him away? Christ is ris'n! He meets our eyes. Savior, teach us so to rise.