PARENTS ARE ROLE MODELS

"Parents are the most important role models in their children's lives, for good or bad." Mike Singletary, "Men's Devotional Bible"

GOD'S COMFORT FROM PSALMS

"I will extol You, O Lord, for You have drawn me up & have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to You for help, & You healed me . . . Sing praises to the Lord, O you His saints, & give thanks to His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, & His favor is for a lifetime . . . To You, O Lord, I cry, & to the lord I plead for mercy . . . Hear, O Lord, & be merciful to me! O Lord, be my helper . . . O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever." (Ps. 30:1-2, 4-5, 8, 10, 12b) "David summarizes his feelings & God's response in verse 5. Sorrowful times in life are sometimes caused by things outside of our control & sometimes by our own sins. Trusting in God's deliverance, David knows that the sorrow he feels will be replaced with joy as God comforts him. We, too, are confident in God's promise to comfort us & dry our tears" (Rev. 7:17). "Engaging the Psalms," edited by Rev. James Jurchen

LIFE THOUGHTS IN THE CHURCH YEAR

"The Lord God closely associates life & family. He stands commands about parenting & marriage on either side of the prohibition against killing (Ex. 20:12-14). He holds human life as highest priority & will not accept any other creature as replacement (John 2:15-16). Body & sexuality serve to enrich life--our own as well as one another's--& not to eliminate it." Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin

THE PROMISED COMFORT OF HEAVEN

"But concerning that day & hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." (Matt. 24:36) "The time when the Lord returns & the resurrection takes place is a mystery even to the angels & the Son of God. How in the world people dare to calculate a date is beyond me. But the day is coming. Ad it will bring Christians eternal blessings." Rev. Matthew Harrison, "The Lutheran Witness," Nov. 2022

NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME

"God's timing is perfect! . . . God's timing is always perfect. He knows you, & He is fully aware of your circumstances. He knows all that He has built into your life until now, & He extends His invitation knowing that His resources are more than adequate for any assignment He gives you." Henry & Richard Blakaby, "Experiencing God Day-By-Day"

A PRAYER FOR LENT

"O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways & bring them again with penitent hearts & steadfast faith to embrace & hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; 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 HYMN FOR LENT

O Christ, You Walked the Road, LSB 424, Sts 1, 4, 5 

O Christ, You walked the road Our wand'ring feet must go. You faced with us temptation's pow'r And fought our ancient foe.

When lures of easy gain With promise brightly shine, Lord, help us seek Your kingdom first; Our wills with Yours align.

O Christ, You walked the road Our wand'ring feet must go. Stay with us through temptation's hour To fight our ancient foe.