While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.  Acts 7:59-60 After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, the disciples began their mission of carrying the message of faith…

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.  So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the…

They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!” John 12:13 Today is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week in the Christian calendar. The scripture above describes Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. Many people celebrated…

April 2, 2017 For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.  Psalm 22:24 God always hears us. And when we are in pain, God is in pain too. We are his creation, and he…

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.”  Psalm 22:1-2 How many times have we asked, “God where are you?”…

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. Psalm 139:1 God knows our heart. He knows who we are at the core of our spirit. God knows us better than anyone. We cannot hide who we are from him because he created us. Interesting isn’t it that although we know that we were made…

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?  How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?  Psalm 13:1-2         Many times through our lives we may think that God has abandoned…

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.  Psalm 51:10-12 The season of Lent affords us the…

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.  Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:1-2 The season of Lent begins this Wednesday, March 1 and is a forty-day period in the Christian calendar where we as believers…

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’  “So they…