Psalm 51  Pastor Mary Martha

The season of Lent begins each year with Psalm 51.  An image of washing is present in this Psalm, as it is in ashes on the forehead, in holy baptism, in confession and forgiveness.  The thing about washing is, there are some things we cannot get clean.  There are some things we cannot clean up.  There are some things that we cannot clean off.  The gift of Lent is that God is the one doing the cleaning.  We come for the mercy that cleanses us in a way so deep that God mercifully welcomes us as children of God and, in the words of the psalm, restores to us the joy of our salvation.  We respond with thanks to God. God bless you this holy season.

Psalm 51  Sr Ann Halloran, O.P.

In Psalm 51, David, not only comes to God to ask forgiveness, but also shows us how to be truly forgiven.
Key to asking and receiving mercy and forgiveness is telling the Truth.
David honestly admits his guilt, “My transgressions are always before me.”
David realizes that guilt needs more than self-forgiveness. It needs to a forgiving, merciful God.
David implores God, “Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”
Finally, David accepts the responsibility to make amends for his guilt, so he promises to atone for his sins by proclaiming to all of God’s saving power, “I will teach transgressors your ways.  Sinners will turn back to you.”

Psalm 51  Pastor Dennis Jacobsen

“You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.” Psalm 51:6

I have great admiration for the spiritual depth of Alcoholics Anonymous.  Committed engagement with AA meetings and fearless observance of the Twelve Steps of AA have resulted in millions of lives being saved from deadly alcoholism.  The reality, I think, is that practitioners of AA go much deeper into honest inward reflection than most of us (including myself) do when we confess our sins.

Consider, for example, the fourth of the Twelve Steps: “Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.”  Lent provides a special opportunity for each of us to look deeply within ourselves and to desire truth in our inward being and wisdom in our secret heart.  What are my addictions?  Whom do I hurt and why?  Do I do good only to gain the approval of others?  What blocks me from seeking the full presence of Christ in my soul?  What are the gifts within me that can be more powerfully utilized for a more peaceful and just world?  Teach me wisdom in my secret heart, O God..

Psalm 51  Pastor Bob koshin Hanson

Honesty, clarity, openness, responsibility come to mind as I read this dear Psalm.  But it is not easy to confess.  As a chaplain in the Navy, I served a marine unit at their reserve center.   Everyone there at one time or other were in Vietnam, one, two, three times or more.  Each trip home was shorter.
The stories were always hard to hear but necessary for them to unload.  It is so hard to forget. I have a question for you during this Lenten season.
As A Chaplain in a fighting unit, you know what often a struggle is, when I talked one on one, we often talked about killing and being killed.  Yes, we can be assured of forgiveness, it was an order that you respond, you have your partners back and she or he has yours, right?  Yet, when we train our women and men to kill, we never think of moral injury.  Or one named it spiritual injury of war.  What you have seen, done and experienced does not go away!  How would you respond in the spirit of Psalm 51, even a family person who never talks about their time in the military?
Psalm 51 is song that brought some peace to our warriors, as it is a comfort to us all.  These beautiful passages can free us, move us to a new place on our journey!  You know what, what if we did not do war anymore?

Psalm 51:15-17 “Then I will shout and sing about your power to save.  15Help me to speak, and I will praise you, Lord.  16Offerings and sacrifices are not what you want.  17The way to please you is to be truly sorry deep in our hearts in our hearts.”

WORSHIP

Psalm 121  Richard Miller

This Psalm tells me that we can take comfort in not being left alone to face the many challenges of this life and the lurking dangers of this world.  Through God’s presence in our lives we are assured of His guidance and protection with each step we take throughout the day.  Even as we lay our heads down at night we can set aside our anxieties and fears knowing that the Lord will be our unwavering guardian.  When we awaken tomorrow we can again take comfort and be thankful for His protection and guidance.  I pray that each of us find a way each day to express our thanks to God by treating each other in ways that will please Him.

Psalm 121  Chuck Klawitter

We hear the word "keep" over and over and over in this song. Each verse is reassuring the promise of being "kept" by the Lord.  What a wonderful promise that the Lord is our "keeper".  This "keeper does not slumber or sleep.  He is on a 7/24 schedule.  We will know this for sure when we lift our eyes to the hills where He comes to us from.  Our eyes are so often distracted by the world, but the Lord is not distracted.  We can trust in His promise and trust that when I lift up my eyes HE will be there.  Lord, help me to keep my eyes on you.

Psalm 121  Susan Millville

We lift our eyes and hearts to You, Lord, our Creator.  You do not sleep or grow weary of watching.  When we doubt, you are faithful.  When we stumble and tire, you give us new strength.  You are our protector and shield by day and night. Your Spirit gives us rest and renewal.  When evil enters our lives, your strong hands guard us.  You defend our lives now and forever. Amen

Psalm 121  Lisa Early

How beautiful it is to know where my help comes from YES from the Lord.  There was a time I never even considered just how much He helped me.  Walking in darkness afraid of the light He spared me for that perfect moment when He would awaken my spirit to testify of how He sheltered me from harm.  He renewed my life, my mind, my everything.  Thank you God !!!!

Psalm 121  Richard Miller

From the very beginning of this trust psalm, I have HOPE in the Lord.

The Lord is my KEEPER..........every day and every night......ALWAYS.

In ALL the days and nights of my life I have HOPE that the Lord is WATCHING over me, WALKING beside me, LISTENING to me and LOVING me......ALWAYS.

Therein lies my hope.....ALWAYS.

Psalm 121  Lavonda Whitley

Psalm 121 says “I lift my eyes to hills. Where does my help come from?”
Throughout our lives we may have believed that help comes from calling friends and family.  In reality, help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.
God is always watching over us.  He never sleeps and we don’t have to call Him at a special time, with a special phone number, in a special room, to ask for His help.  He keeps watch over our life.
All in all, Psalm 121 reminds us that God is our protector and defender.  He is in our heart and loves us unconditionally.  We can lean on the Lord and He will keep us forever.

WORSHIP

Luke 10:25-37  Dave Bohl  Amira & Ameca Pechauer

One take on the parable is that it simply confronts me with the dilemma of whether I will respond by proactively doing the right thing.  Of course I would, I tell myself.  However, the reality is that too often I can’t even avoid doing what I know is wrong.

Lord Jesus, give me strength to follow your will.  I praise you for sacrificing your son to save me from my inevitable failure.

Dear Lord, Help us to open our hearts and eyes to the hurting, the broken, and the marginalized, just as the Samaritan did for the wounded man on the road.  Grant us the courage to reach out to those around us, regardless of their background or circumstances, and offer kindness without hesitation.  May we see beyond labels and differences, and instead, see each person as our neighbor, deserving of care and respect. Amen

Luke 10:25-37  Annalise Vazquez

DEAR GOD,
HELP US TO SEE WHAT YOU SEE.
HELP US TO LOVE ALL PEOPLE THE WAY YOU LOVE ALL PEOPLE.
AND HELP US TO TREAT ALL PEOPLE THE WAY YOU TREAT ALL PEOPLE. Amen.

Luke 10:25-37  Skie Meadows

To live in the glory of the Lord you must love Him with everything you have.  You must not only love yourself but everyone around you.  This meaning those who are struggling and in need of help, those who are sinning and in need of forgiveness, even your enemies who may have outcast you or done wrong to you.  Be a good neighbor for the Lord.  Help anyone in need and the Lord will bless you.

Luke 10:25-37  Joyce Ellwanger

Whenever I see someone who has stopped along the Interstate to help a person who is having car trouble I am reminded of this parable of the Good Samaritan.  The helper does not know the person they are stopping to help—whether they will be young or old, black or white, immigrant or Native American.  They see a person in trouble and they respond with a heart open to help.

Jesus tells the self righteous lawyer to do likewise. And I believe He tells us, often caught up in ourselves, to do the same.  This hymn sums it up for me: (ELW 729 The Church of Christ, in Every Age)

The church of Christ, in every age, beset by change but Spirit led, must claim and test its heritage and keep on rising from the dead.

Across the world, across the street, the victims of injustice cry for shelter and for bread to eat, and never live until they die.

Then let the servant church arise, a caring church that longs to be a partner in Christ's sacrifice, and clothed in Christ's humanity.

For He alone, whose blood was shed, can cure the fever in our blood, and teach us how to share our bread and feed the starving multitude.

We have no mission but to serve in full obedience to our Lord, to care for all, without reserve, and spread his liberating Word.

Luke 10:25-37  Ester Brown

The Priest was a Believer.  The Levite loved God, too!
Both understood that giving aid is what they ought to do.

Instead of helping… both of them just turned and walked away.
Not caring that an injured man might lose his life that day.

The Samaritan was truly good.  He lived in his Belief:
“Whenever I see an injury, I’m going to give relief!”

As followers of Jesus, let’s obey His great command,
to “Love Our God With All Our Heart, and Lend a Helping Hand”.

Let’s learn to serve as Jesus did.  Let’s live in what is true:
that “Believers and Receivers look a lot like me and you!”

Luke 10:25-37  Linda Riley

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.”  Also “Love your neighbor as you love yourself”.  Jesus has stated, there is no commandments greater than these.
We must ask ourselves, do we Love our God with our whole hearts and mind?  Do we Love our neighbor as we love ourselves?  Do we know who our neighbor really is?  Our neighbor is the person who’s in need of Mercy.  Our neighbor is me, you, my family, your family, the homeless, the wealthy, the immigrant, the poor, the factory worker, the prisoner, the good guy, the bad guy, etc.….  Our neighbor is everyone/anyone.  The road in this story is life.  No matter what your status is, we have all walked down this road of life and have been confronted with barriers that have left us in need of strength and blessings.  We all have called out “Lord have mercy on me”!
Mercy is showing kindness, compassion, generosity, and love to someone.  Our faith is based on God’s love.  God is faithful and we are Blessed with the Love He has for us.  That is what Jesus asks of us, to Love God and have Love and Mercy for each other.

WORSHIP

Luke 13:10-17  Kathryn Baerwald

Just like the woman at the synagogue, we are all bent over from those things that wear us down – illness, financial worries, broken relationships, societal barriers, and the list goes on.  To make matters worse, there are those who would prevent us from being healed.  It is here that the Lord steps in, our Lord who is not deaf to our cries nor does the Lord bow before those who would prevent our healing.  Listen for God’s quiet but powerful voice.  Those words will come, perhaps not as we had envisioned, but God will surely come to make us whole.

Luke 13:10-17  Adele Nance

Please read Luke 13:1-10.  These are my thoughts for my life -- REPENT!  As I read Luke 13:1-10 over and over, it made me think and look at my life journey to REPENT, not PERISH.  We know we are in sin and have disobedient behavior.  It reminds me of the fig tree that doesn't bear fruit.  May we allow to God to change us to the best soil to grow in FAITH with a purpose.  Thank you, Lord

Luke 13:10-17  Pastor Joe Ellwanger

Here is a woman of great faith.  For 18 years she has been bent over, unable to straighten up.  And here she is in the synagogue on the Sabbath ready to praise God and to learn from God’s Word.  She hasn’t given up on God.
Jesus sees her, has compassion on her and wants to hear her.  But this is the Sabbath, and He knows that the president of the synagogue will berate Him and denounce Him for doing work on the Sabbath that could be done another day.  Furthermore Jesus knows that if He heals this woman word will get to Jerusalem and the doctrinal police there and likely lead them to want to get rid of Him, maybe even crucify Him.
But He knows that God sent Him to heal and that His Heavenly Father would want Him to heal her.  He knows that healing her is the right thing to do.  So with the Spirit’s help He heals her and the woman praises God and is filled with joy.
The Scribes and the ruling Rabbis in Jerusalem a few months later did carry out a scheme to get rid of Him on a cross.  Jesus went willingly to the cross out of love to free us to do the right thing regardless of what others might say or threaten.
As Dr. King once said, “The time is always right to do the right thing.”  So it is always right to say no to the gang when they invite us to do the wrong thing, to help our neighbor, to work for justice no matter how we may be ridiculed.
Thank you Jesus for freeing us to do the right thing and to live to do God’s will always.

Luke 13:10-17  Pastor Janice Vogt

Sometimes we think that our sin is so awful we are not worthy of God’s forgiveness and love.  We walk around like this woman bent over with our shame and self-hatred.  Thinking how could God forgive a person who has done whatever our sin is.  Of course, those thoughts are not true.  There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God.  Nothing.  Jesus sees this woman’s affliction and heals her.  There is no condemnation on His part, only a desire to make her whole again.  Our dear Lord looks at us the same way: wanting us to be whole again.

Luke 13:10-17  Nurse Chris Keim

One take on the parable is that it simply confronts me with the dilemma of whether I will respond by proactively doing the right thing.  Of course I would, I tell myself.  However, the reality is that too often I can’t even avoid doing what I know is wrong.

Lord Jesus, give me strength to follow your will.  I praise you for sacrificing your Son to save me from my inevitable failure.

Luke 13:10-17  Laresha Love

This passage is a stark reminder of the reality of life, death, and God’s invitation to repentance.  We often look at tragedies and wonder if those involved deserved it more than others, just as the people in the crowd wondered about the Galileans.  However, Jesus’ response refocuses our attention: suffering and death are not always the result of personal sin, but they are signs that we should all be prepared to meet God.
Jesus’ warning in verses 3 and 5 is clear—repentance is necessary for everyone.
Repentance is not a one-time event but a continual turning away from sin and returning to God.  The story of the fig tree emphasizes this message.  Even though the tree is unproductive, the owner shows patience, allowing time for it to bear fruit.  This patience is God’s grace, and He calls us to bear fruit in our lives, showing that we have truly repented and turned to Him.  Please read Luke 13:1-10.

WORSHIP

Luke 15  Mario Johnson

Honesty, clarity, openness, responsibility come to mind as I read this dear Psalm. But it is not easy to confess.  As a chaplain in the Navy, I served a marine unit at their reserve center.  Everyone there at one time or other were in Vietnam, one, two, three times or more.  Each trip home was shorter.
The stories were always hard to hear but necessary for them to unload.  It is so hard to forget.  I have a question for you during this Lenten season.
As A Chaplain in a fighting unit, you know what often a struggle is, when I talked one on one, we often talked about killing and being killed.  Yes, we can be assured of forgiveness, it was an order that you respond, you have your partners back and she or he has yours, right?  Yet, when we train our women and men to kill, we never think of moral injury.  Or one named it spiritual injury of war.  What you have seen, done and experienced does not go away!  How would you respond in the spirit of Psalm 51, even a family person who never talks about their time in the military?
Psalm 51 is song that brought some peace to our warriors, as it is a comfort to us all.  These beautiful passages can free us, move us to a new place on our journey!  You know what, what if we did not do war anymore?

“Then I will shout and sing about your power to save.  Psalm 51:15-17 15Help me to speak, and I will praise you, Lord.  16Offerings and sacrifices are not what you want.  17The way to please you is to be truly sorry deep in our hearts in our hearts.”

Luke 15  Gwen Miller

In Luke 15, the theme of each one of the parables is rejuvenation through repentance.  During this time in the Bible, as it is today, we as God’s people don’t always get it right.  There are times when we know that our behavior is not conducive to what we know is right and acceptable to God.  God is our Redeemer and no one else can offer us the forgiveness and restoration that is guaranteed by Him.  He is the author of forgiveness and it is His expectation that we offer it to our fellow Christians and Non-Christians.  As indicated in Matthew 18, Jesus said we are to forgive many times.  Father in Heaven, help us to do your will and follow your directions on how we are to live this life.  It is in you that we live and move and have our being, so help us to be representatives of your love and faithfulness.  In Jesus Name.  Amen

Luke 15  Ben Anderson

Luke 15 is about God's extraordinary love.  In the first parable it might seem crazy to leave 99 sheep to look for the one missing sheep.  But the 99 are safe and where they belong, whereas the one that is missing is lost and in danger.  When the shepherd goes to look for the lost sheep he demonstrates how God looks for us when we are out of place and lost.  God’s extraordinary love finds us and brings us back.
Likewise is might seem silly to us to look for one missing coin.  But back in Jesus’ time one silver coin could be the difference between survival or demise.  The one coin would be precious to the women and worth the time to look for it.  Just as each person is precious to God and worth the effort looking for us when we get lost.
In the last parable God’s abundant patience is shown.  In this story the father doesn’t go and look for his son instead he waits patiently for his son to regain his senses and return to him.  Upon his son’s return the father rejoices and receives him with open arms.  God’s extraordinary love waits for us to regain our sense and rejoices when we return to Him.
God has extraordinary love and compassion for all people.  He will look for us when we wonder off and get lost.  He looks for us when we are lost to no fault of our own and He will wait patiently for our return when we choose to leave Him and go our own way.  And He rejoices each time we are found or when we regain our senses and return to Him.  God’s love is extraordinary.
Father God, thank you for your extraordinary love and compassion.  Thank you for your forgiveness and patience with me.   Father God please continue to help me find my way when I am lost and rejoice when I’m found.  Please use me to search for others who are lost so that they too may return to your open arms.  In Jesus’ name I pray Amen!

Luke 15  Marian Wasierski

Two days ago, an Oklahoma cowboy was out on the ranch when he heard his brother call for help.  A young calf was caught in an icy pond and needed rescue. The cowboy, without hesitation, stripped and jumped into the pond to save the calf from imminent death. The cowboy is amazed that his normal response has garnered over 3M views.  He says, “It’s the life we live---what we do—and it’s an awesome life!”
Jesus is telling us to be ready for the call to help whenever the need arises.  Know instinctively that responding immediately is what God wants.  Nothing else matters more than loving God by loving our neighbors in need.  Thank you, Jesus, for giving me opportunities to work hard and sacrifice, for your kingdom.  There is no greater joy.  Amen.

Luke 15  Pastor Gary Liedtke

Luke 14:24 “Then he (the elder brother) became angry and refused to go in.”
I have wondered for a long time, did the elder brother ever go in. Did he get over his initial angry and maybe some jealousy and go in?  Did he come to the point of wanting to see his brother and talk with him and go in?  Did he ever go in?
We live in a time when there are many who refuse to go in.  Some were born and raised in the church yet refuse to go in.  Some have had an issue with the church or with a person and refuse to go in.  Some are just too busy and refuse to go in.
Oh, how important it is to be welcoming and hospitable.  Oh, how important it is to be interested and understanding.   Oh, how important it is to hold others in prayer.  May everyone come in to experience the community of faith and experience God’s love which holds in all circumstances now and into eternity.  Please come in!

Luke 15  Jodee Liedtke

--Luke 15: 2 “This fellow welcomes sinner and eats with them.”

Luke 15 starts with incredibly Good News.  Jesus had been engaged in his ministry for a long time.  Jesus had interacted with all levels of society.  Some responded well, some not so well.  The Good News…Jesus welcomed the sinners, the less than average, those who had made mistakes along the way.  People just like you and like me.

What a gift.  We never have to worry about being welcomed and embraced by Jesus.  Jesus welcomes you and me.  Best of all when we come together to celebrate the meal of Holy Communion.  There Jesus says come, everyone come, receive My body and My blood and then walk out the door knowing not only that we were just with Jesus but now Jesus walks out the door with us.

WOW… Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them!

WORSHIP

Luke 22:1-27  Mary Taylor

Luke 22:1-27 v19: And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is My body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.  v20: In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.

I took my first Communion at the age of 13 here at Hephatha Lutheran Church.  The same day, I was baptized and confirmed.  It was 1967.  That beautiful Spring day left a profound affect on my life today and a day I always will remember.  Jesus had prepared Himself for what was to come at the Last Supper with His disciples.  He broke the bread symbolizing remembrance of Him in all that we do.  We should never forget who God is.  His Son sacrificed His life for the forgiveness of our sins.  Our world is changing under new leadership causing confusion and uncertainty.  But we remember Jesus in our answered prayers.  We pray for peace.  We pray for each other.   Jesus’s new covenant in His blood as He offered to His disciples to drink from the cup which symbolizes the blood He shed on the cross.  We think about the woman healed from years of a blood disorder after she touched the hem of His garment.  We think about the pierced wounds in Jesus hands and feet as the blood flowed from his body nailed to the cross.  We think about the way of the world.  We pray each and everyday for God’s healing powers.  Let us remember at Communion that it is a sacred time to pray and meditate by remembering Jesus how He sacrificed His life for us.

Luke 22:1-27  Debbie Barth

A life changing event for the world, a simple supper of bread and wine for the disciples and their Lord, took place in an upstairs room because an owner opened the doors and let the strangers in.  Jesus said at that supper that the greatest is the servant.  The owner couldn’t have imagined the significance of letting these strangers into his home, into his upper room.  Serving is being open to what may come.  Help us to be like the owner of the house with the upper room, open to the call of the Holy Spirit in all things, even if we don’t have a clue how it will all end.

Luke 22:1-27  Lani Ziller

Celebrate!  That is what the disciples initially thought they were gathering for at the time of the Passover.  There were, in their minds, lots to celebrate.  Jesus had recruited them, He had done a number of miracles, the people who believed He was the Messiah were growing in numbers.  Why shouldn’t they prepare to celebrate the meal of the Passover?  Why?  That seems to be what their thoughts of celebration turned to.  Jesus said, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”  Why?  Then Jesus told them He would be betrayed by one of them.   Why?  And then they discussed (or argued) who then would be the greatest.  Why?  Because God said it would be so.  And it was.

Luke 22:1-27  Ruby Johnson Harden

Preparing for Passover meal never knowing that you're going to betrayed by someone you love.
Knowing someone for a very long time and then they turn on you it's very devastating what are you to do.
You keep the faith you believe in God all the way because as long as you are human someone's going to betray you or do you wrong you must forgive it's very hard to forget but you must forgive for God did give his only son for us.
I have forgave many people who have done things to me more than once who have betrayed me but with God on your side all things are possible amen

Luke 22:1-27  Sr. Mary Julia McKenzie

WOW! There is just so much happening in these verses; it is difficult to know what to focus on. There’s Judas’ betrayal; Passover; The Last Supper; Apostles arguing who is the greatest; Jesus’ admonishment to them…just so much.
Instead of “Who is the greatest?” my question is “Which of these is most important for us?”  Without a doubt, for me it is Jesus’ words: “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.  This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
By these words we know we are forgiven, saved, of one body.  These words and these thoughts should be the guiding light on our Lenten journey.  Let nothing divide us; we are one in Christ…forgiven, saved, redeemed!  AMEN

Luke 22:1-27  Pastor David Rebey

Jesus was about to be betrayed by one of his disciples and he knew that he was in for a very difficult time before being crucified.  It must have been a very disturbing experience for him, I can’t imagine what was going through his head.  Instead of worrying about what he was about to endure, his concern was not about himself, but about being with his disciples to celebrate the Passover meal.  Recently a close friend and one of my mentors experienced a serious stroke.  While he was still in the hospital in rehabilitation and before he was able to even get out of bed on his own, he was more concerned about who would take his place to drive men from the Felmers Chaney Center to worship at Hephatha on Sunday mornings than he was about himself.  Thank you for teaching me to be a servant leader and to put the needs of others before my own.  Well done, good and faithful servant!

PALM / PASSION SUNDAY WORSHIP

Luke 23:32-43  Karen Ingvoldstad

How does this story apply to our world today?
Where is injustice raising its head?
How do we respond to bullying in our world by those who should be protecting the least of these?
Can we say “ Father/ Mother God , forgive them for they know not what they are doing?

Luke 23:32-43  Zion Moore

When we think of trying to be like Jesus, forgiveness is one of our main goals.  In Luke 23:32-42 Jesus shows that forgiveness doesn’t always feel the greatest in the moment, that even in the midst of pain and hard times we must forgive because it is the way of the Lord.  We can use everything, even Jesus’ mercy in pain to understand how we should do onto others.

Dear God, please help me to forgive others like you forgave us then, and how you forgive us everyday.  Amen

Luke 23:32-43  Aayreon Bates

To me forgiveness is when you forgive someone that has hurt you.  If Jesus can forgive people as He is dying on the cross what stops us from forgiving people we see daily?  Just because someone might have hurt you doesn’t mean you can’t forgive them for what they have done to you like Jesus said, FATHER FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.  Be the bigger and better person and follow in Jesus’ footsteps.  If you follow in Jesus’ footsteps you’ll become a better version of yourself and you will feel good about it at the end.

Luke 23:32-43  Erica Johnson

“…Today you will be with Me in Paradise” are the words Jesus said on the cross to the criminal who ask to be remembered.  “...today you will be with Me in Paradise.”  Not tomorrow, not next week, not a month from today, or a year.  But “today” is when Christ promised the criminal that he would be with Him in Paradise.  Christ recognized the repentant heart of the criminal who asked to be remembered and granted him salvation as they were hanging on the cross to be crucified.
At this very moment, the power of Christ will save us from our sins.  Right now, Christ will remember us.  And as soon as we kneel at the cross of glory and He hears our humble cry, we will have a “sweet relief.”  It is never too late to repent and pray for Christ to heal our wounded broken spirit and save us by His grace.  So, Savior, hear our humble cry and do not pass us by.”  Amen

Luke 23:44-49  Deanna Branch

The death of Jesus
The day the Earth stood still and the sun stopped shining from noon until 3:00 pm.  The world was in total darkness.  Even the curtain to the temple was torn into two.  Jesus stood there gracefully and called out to the Lord.  In his loudest voice with no fear or trepidation He shouted, "Father, I release My spirit unto You!", as He took His last breath.  The centurion who witnessed the miracle Praised God and said Jesus was indeed a righteous man.

Luke 24  Nurse Emerita Louise Meyer

As Jesus' body laid dead in the tomb, His followers were in a tomb of their own.
They retreated into silence.  In sadness and desperation they separated themselves from the world around them.
Their world no longer made any sense to them.  They sat in bewilderment, wondering what had just happened.
They had put all of their faith and hope for the future in Jesus.
And in the blink of an eye, their Jesus was gone, DEAD.
Now what?
The prophets of old told us that Jesus would be born, He would then die for our sins and would rise again on the third day. SURPRISE!!! In Luke 24 their prophecies came to life.
In silence, Jesus brought to life all that had been foretold.
● First to the women in verses 5 and 6 ● Then to His disciples in verses 36 through 39.
● Then He spoke to all of us in verses 46 through 49
We often live in our own tomb.  We retreat into silence and desperation.  We separate ourselves from Jesus.  Life in Christ no longer makes sense to us.  Jesus seems DEAD. ON THIS HOLY SATURDAY, BE REMINDED AND KNOW IN YOUR HEART THAT……  Jesus LIVES!  Through Him we LIVE! This is His PROMISE!  This is our HOPE!

EASTER DAY