EASTER SUNDAY

THE SOUND OF HER NAME ~

"Woman why are you weeping?" "Whom are you seeking?"  Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him and I will take Him away."  Jesus said to her, "Mary!"

*In the most tender moments, Jesus called her name, and she immediately recognized Him.  She was shocked with joy!  As Christ had taught in John 10 the Shepherd calls His sheep by name, and they know His voice.  This is the Shepherd calling His sheep by name ~ tenderly, but with the authority of One who has conquered death.  Powerfully, lovingly, gently, He says her name as it has never been spoken before:  "Mary"!

Oh Lord, you rose from the dead.  Your conquered death.  You are the great Shepard who knows my name.  How precious that Mary, who had suffered with seven demons and was made whole by you would be the first to see her Risen Christ.   How precious that the Risen Christ knows each of our names, and calls us to live a resurrected life by the power of the Holy Spirit.  You are Risen!! You are Risen indeed!!  I love you,  I love that you love me and call me by my name.  To God be the Glory.  Amen.



*The Path of His Passion ~ Bill Crowder

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Holy Saturday Prayer

Fourteenth Station,
Jesus Lying in the Tomb,
St. George the Martyr Church,
Newbury, UK.

Lord God,

On the Sabbath,
Jesus rested.
He was in the grave.
He had finished his work.

To most people’s eyes,
It looked as if it were all over.
He was dead and buried.
But only as a seed dies when it is planted in the earth,
Not to decay, but to spring to new life.

Teach us to take refuge in you when we are afraid
Teach us that death is not our end
Teach us to hope always in you
And in the resurrection, the making of all things New.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.

-Rachel Marie Stone at iBelieve.com    

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Thank You, Jesus!

Amen

Years I spent in vanity and pride,

Caring not my Lord was crucified,

Knowing not it was for me He died

On Calvary.

By God's Word at last my sin I learned;

Then I trembled at the law I'd spurned,

Till my guilty soul imploring turned

To Calvary.

Oh, the love that drew salvation's plan!

Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!

Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span

At Calvary!

Now I've giv'n to Jesus everything,

Now I gladly own Him as my King,

Now my raptured soul can only sing

Of Calvary!

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;

Pardon there was multiplied to me;

There my burdened soul found liberty

At Calvary.

~William R. Newell

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PALM SUNDAY

LUKE 19:38-44
The city that rang out with cries of "Hosanna!" (Lord save us) would soon resound with shouts of "Crucify him!"  Little did the people realize that the one could not be accomplished without the other.  Lord Jesus, although You knew full well that you would be killed, still Your heart ached with compassion for those who would put you to death.  Thank You, Lord, for your passion, for Your courage, for seeing the way and walking in it.  I love You.  Amen.

All glory, laud and honor

To Thee, Redeemer, King!

To whom the lips of children

Made sweet hosannas ring.

Thou are the King of Israel

Thou David's royal Son,

Who in the Lord's name comest,

The King and blessed One!

~John Neal

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I Come to the Cross

“He himself bore our sins…”

1 Peter 2:24 (ESV)

Lord Jesus, I am startled and astonished by that statement. “He himself bore our sins…”  I can hardly think the thought or utter the words: “He himself bore our sins…”

I cannot lift my head or raise my eyes to behold such an unspeakable sight. I can only respond as another sinner: “…the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ Luke 18:13 (NLT)

Such mercy reaches beyond our need. It is the love that defies dimension. Lord Jesus enable us to “…. know this love that surpasses knowledge-- Ephesians 3:18-19 (NIV)

And Lord Jesus I think of the song with such appropriate words: “I come to the cross seeking mercy and grace. I come to the cross, where you died in my place. Out of my weakness and into your strength, humbly, I come to the cross. Your arms are open. You call me by name. You welcome this child that was lost. You paid the price for my guilt and my shame, Jesus, I come to the cross.”  Written by Bob Somma and Bill Barstone

Lord Jesus, thank you for bearing my sin and bringing forgiveness and healing to my soul.

Amen.

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IT IS FINISHED

;

The Head that once was crowned with thorns

Is crowned with glory now;

A royal diadem adorns the mighty Victor's brow!

The highest place that heaven affords

Is His, is His by right,

The King of kings and Lord of lords,

and heaven's eternal Light!

~poet unknown

Father, as the sun refused to shine and darkness covered the earth, You laid down your life to take it up again.  No one took it from you.  It was for that reason you were born.  How can I ever comprehend what you did on that day for ME, and anyone else who would by faith, received your free Gift of Salvation.

Holy Father, I bow in adoration, and gratitude and desire to please you with my love and obedience.  You are the King of kings, and Lord of lords.  I love You.  Amen.

Amen

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Gratitude

Father, as prone as we are to first approach You with our own concerns, needs, questions and fear, today we just want to thank You!  Thank you that we can relate to you as our heavenly Father. Thank you for your heart felt way of understanding our weaknesses and failures. Thank you for your patience as you encourage us to share our heart with you.

Somehow we feel akin to the Psalmist when he wrote in Psalm 139:17 (GW) “ How precious are your thoughts concerning me, O God! How vast in number they are!”

Thank you Father for your grace, generosity, kindness, and the many ways you show your love for us. Today we just want to say: Father, Thank you!

We pray this in the Name of Your beloved Son and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen

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To Be Like Jesus

I wanna be more like You, I wanna be more like You.
I wanna be a vessel You work through, I wanna be more like You.

I sing this often because I long to be more like Jesus! I want to walk each day under the guidance and the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God that even when I make mistakes, He doesn’t turn His back on me. He still loves me and is still willing to call me His own. He has engraved my name on His hand. He’s written His name on my heart, and He claims me as one of His own. There is no one like our God! I will believe. I do believe. I will, therefore, speak with boldness and great power.

Amen

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trusting in uncertain times

Dear God,

I do not know where you are leading me.
I do not even know what my next day,
my week, or even my next year will look like.

As I try to keep my hands open,
I trust that you will put your hand in mine
and bring me home.

Thank you, God, for your love.
Thank you.
Amen.

- a prayer of Henri Nouwen    

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THE OLD RUGGED CROSS

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross

The emblem of suffering and shame.

And I love that old cross

Where the dearest and best

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross

Till my trophies at last I lay down

And I'll cling to the old rugged cross

And exchange it someday for a crown.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true.

It's shame and reproach gladly bear.

Then he'll call me someday

To my home far away

Where his glory forever I'll share.

Precious Savior, what a powerful love You have shown us.  Thank You for the glory of the cross and for the eternal purpose you accomplished there.  Thank You for the way that You have opened heaven and for the privilege it is now to be called a child of God.  Thank You that Your love endures forever and will never fade.  Thank You for the cross of love that brings life through Your death.  Thank You for enduring the cross and despising the shame.  And thank You for doing it because You love me.  In the power of Your cross of love I pray.  I love You.  Amen.

The Path of His Passion ~ Bill Crowder
Amen

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Our Children’s Greatest Danger

Judges 2:10-11 (GW)

     “¹⁰ That whole generation had joined their ancestors in death. So another generation grew up after them. They had no personal experience with the LORD or with what he had done for Israel. ¹¹ The people of Israel did what the LORD considered evil….”

Father, there are many evils in the world that endanger our children, but none greater than to ignore, neglect, or refuse the primary responsibility to teach and train our children by example and knowledge to know You in a personal and dynamic relationship. You are the creator of life, the giver of life, the essence of life and the very meaning of life. “For you are the fountain of life….” Psalm 36:9 (NLT)

Father I recognize that our children may choose to not know you, but we can give them the example, the guidance and the truth about what it means to know God and the glorious and enormous value of that overflowing relationship of love and joy.

Indeed, Father, may we take to heart the admonition of Deuteronomy 11:18-22 (NLT)
     ¹⁸ “So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. ¹⁹ Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. ²⁰ Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, ²¹ so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors. ²² “Be careful to obey all these commands I am giving you. Show love to the LORD your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him.”

In the Name of Him alone who is love, Amen.

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Your Truth ... Our Strength

Lord, thank You for the gracious gift of Your Word. Thank You that we can have access to Your divine words of truth which bring both conviction and comfort. Jesus said when He prayed for us, “sanctify them with truth. Your Word is truth.” Help us to rest in You, and to find comfort in Your presence.  When we feel weak, remind us of the truth that our strength comes from You as we take joy in You. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen

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Transform Us Lord

Repentance is one of the most beautiful words in the English language. The prayer offered in this image encapsulates what it takes to repent. It takes prayer to make an substantial change. It takes prayer inspired courage to change. Change, like wisdom, is an issue of the heart.

We need your help to change Lord. Help us to accept others. Please transform us and conform us into the image of your Son as we pray.

You are Lord.

Amen

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WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS

"When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Price of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down;

Did e're such love and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?"*

Holy God, what a price You paid to redeem my heart.  Loving Christ, what a sacrifice You made to forgive my sins!  Precious Spirit, what a gift You have to inhabit my life!  Teach me the joy of a heart that worships You with this passion ~~"Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small: Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all."  Dear God, help me to know it and to live it ~~by the grace of Your wonderful cross.  In the name of the One who loved me enough to take my cross.  I love You.  Amen.

The Path of His Passion - Bill Crowder
*When I survey the Cross ~ Isaac Watts






Amen

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