RESPONDING TO THE DARKNESS

Good Friday

PSALM 117:1 (CEB)
Praise the LORD, all you nations!
Worship him, all you peoples!

REVELATION 5:12 (MSG)
The slain Lamb is worthy!
Take the power, the wealth, the wisdom, the strength!
Take the honor, the glory, the blessing!

THE ESSENCE
The slain Lamb is worthy of all our praise, honor, gratitude, and total allegiance. 

DAILY FODDER
There is a kind of darkness that hovers over Good Friday. It's sobering. But it doesn’t drag us down because we know that Sunday is coming. So, our best response to the moment is praise, honor, gratitude, and total allegiance. 

PRAYER
Jesus, as you are lifted up on the cross, I receive an emblem of courage. I desire to give of myself and bring others to witness your act of love. Forgive me for waiting in the wings and not joining in the chorus of praising your worthiness, power, and strength. I can do all things through you. Praise and thanks! Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

THROUGH ONE MAN

Maundy Thursday

PSALM 146:5 (ABP)
Those who have the God of Jacob to help them are truly happy. These hopeful people are GOD-dependent.

MATTHEW 26:27-28 (GNT)
Then Jesus took a cup, gave thanks to God, and gave it to them. “Drink it, all of you,” he said; "this is my blood, which seals God's covenant, my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins...."

THE ESSENCE
The people who relate to God through the sacrifice of Christ are the truly happy.  

DAILY FODDER
There is irony in how we find full lives through the death of one perfect man. 

PRAYER
In this new commandment I hear again how you forgive me and bring hope for this Easter weekend. Thank you for taking the cup of suffering for my sake and pouring out your lifeblood for me. I am filled with remorse for the state of the world but still there's  joy, knowing your covenant redeems and overcomes it all. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

JESUS CHRIST IS LORD

PSALM 35:18 (MSG)
I will give you full credit
when everyone gathers for worship;
When the people turn out in force
I will say my Hallelujahs.

PHILIPPIANS 2:11 (GNT)
All will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

THE ESSENCE
We discover our place in the world as we openly acknowledge who Christ is. 

DAILY FODDER
In the ancient Roman world the government expected people to acknowledge the emperor's divinity by proclaiming "Ceasar is Lord." How would the statement "Jesus Christ is Lord" be understood in that context? What does that statement mean today?

PRAYER
Great God, it's easy to praise you when the church is gathered. Forgive me for being less open about the lordship of Jesus during the rest of the week. Give me wisdom and courage to openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord. And since he is Lord, I'm trusting that it will happen strategically, appropriately, and in a way that honors him alone. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

CALCULATED MOVE

DANIEL 9:14 (CEB)
The LORD our God has been right in every move he’s made...

LUKE 24:26 (MSG)
Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?

THE ESSENCE
The sacrifice of the cross was a calculated move by God, not an afterthought. 

DAILY FODDER
I'm learning to play chess and spend most of each game trying to make the best of all my mistakes. If God doesn't make mistakes, what does that say about what he's doing when he sacrifices his Son to a cross?

PRAYER
Lord God, that you would send Jesus to die for his enemies surprises all the world. Your ways will never be ours. Increase my sense of wonder that he died even for me. Help me to know again how much I need to learn your way of loving and serving. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.