DEATH REVERSED

PSALM 103:15-17 (CEB)
The days of a human life are like grass:
   they bloom like a wildflower;
   but when the wind blows through it, it’s gone;
   even the ground where it stood doesn’t remember it.
But the Lord’s faithful love is from forever ago to forever from now
   for those who honor him.
And God’s righteousness reaches to the grandchildren...

1 CORINTHIANS 15:53 (MSG)
In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen: everything perishable taken off the shelves and replaced by the imperishable, this mortal replaced by the immortal.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
The resurrection scheme defines both our hope for the future and how we live in the present.

DAILY FODDER
If death is not the final word, how does that change today?

PRAYER
Lord God, there is no end to your faithful love. Even death is but a small bump in the road. Forgive my anxiety over the future. Help me to live and take risks that are based on the resurrection hope we share. I believe that because of Jesus' victory over death, my decaying body will eventually give way to a new decay-proof body. 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.

REAL WISDOM

JEREMIAH 8:9 (ABP)
These so-called "wise teachers" have refused to listen to GOD's word,
so perhaps they're not really all that wise.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:20-21 (MSG)
So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn’t God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered stupid—preaching, of all things!—to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Despite the hype, the real sages of any age are those whose wisdom reflects  God's word through their actions and speech.

DAILY FODDER
Practically speaking, how do you allow God's wisdom to shape your life?

PRAYER
All-wise God, thank you for the words that you have delivered to us through prophets, apostles, and preachers. But most of all, we thank you for Jesus, the living word, who embodies your wisdom. Forgive us for listening to the sages of this world while ignoring or even dismissing the wisdom of Jesus as impractical for our times. Shake our lives up so that the only thing that is acceptable to our senses is the wisdom that flows through your word. I'm going to listen closely to what Jesus says so that he can reshape my life. 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.

GOD'S AMAZING LOVE

PSALM 33:5 (CEB)
He loves righteousness and justice;
the LORD’s faithful love fills the whole earth.

ACTS 14:16-17 (MSG)
“In the generations before us, God let all the different nations go their own way. But even then he didn’t leave them without a clue, for he made a good creation, poured down rain and gave bumper crops. When your bellies were full and your hearts happy, there was evidence of good beyond your doing.”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
There is evidence of God's love throughout the entire world.  

DAILY FODDER
God bends over backward to show love to the vilest of people, even as they reject him.

And Can It Be That I Should Gain

by Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

And can it be that I should gain

An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?

Died he for me, who caused his pain?

For me, who him to death pursued?

Amazing love! how can it be

That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Amazing love! how can it be

That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all! The immortal dies!

Who can explore his strange design?

In vain the firstborn seraph tries

To sound the depths of love divine!

’Tis mercy all! let earth adore,

Let angel minds inquire no more.

’Tis mercy all! let earth adore,

Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left his Father’s throne above,

So free, so infinite his grace;

Emptied himself of all but love,

And bled for Adam’s helpless race:

’Tis mercy all, immense and free;

For, O my God, it found out me.

’Tis mercy all, immense and free;

For, O my God, it found out me.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay

Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;

Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

No condemnation now I dread;

Jesus, and all in him, is mine!

Alive in him, my living head,

And clothed in righteousness divine,

Bold I approach the eternal throne,

And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Bold I approach the eternal throne,

And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

PRAYER

God, even during this most troubling week, we see that you love the world that rejects you. Amazing love, how can it be that thou my God, shouldst die for me. I confess my indifference to the gifts given through creation, as well as your love, mercy, justice, and righteousness—all converging at the cross. Transform me into a spiritually sensitive person so aware of your generosity that it changes why and how I live. Tis mercy all! let earth adore. 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.

LIKE CHRIST JESUS

Palm Sunday

LEVITICUS 25:17 (NLT)
Show your fear of God by not taking advantage of each other.

PHILIPPIANS 2:5 (NCV)
In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Because Christ came and now lives in you, it is imperative that you think and act like him. 

DAILY FODDER
I'm not the God-man so how can I even come close to thinking and acting like Christ?

PRAYER
Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Jesus, your humble donkey ride into Jerusalem shows your willingness to love us sinners. While we continue to cheat, steal, and lie, you come to save us. Forgive us and show us how to enter your world yoked with you in dignity for one another. 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.