SPECIAL ALERT!!!!

We see the devastating effects of poverty in our
church congregations and community: parents who
work hard but whose children go to bed hungry;
young men and women who feel they have no future.
Our heart breaks along with God’s as we remember
to care for the poor — a biblical call that is
increasingly ignored by society.

Political maneuvers are once again threatening the
most vulnerable. We must continue to form a Circle
of Protection around programs that serve the “least
of these.”

This week, Congress will allow huge, arbitrary cuts
to programs addressing poverty, as if they were
powerless to stop them or ignorant of their
consequences. Sequestration represents the triumph
of political self-interest over the common good. Given
the current dysfunction in Washington, we must
remind our nation’s leaders of the serious moral
issues at stake and its negative consequences for
millions of people across the country.

Together, we can show the world that we will not sit
by while those in power ignore the cost of their games.
Christians remember what politicians have forgotten:
THE POOR MATTER!!!!.

Please send a letter, or email, or call the decision-
makers in Washington imploring them to end the
economic brinksmanship and refocus on the common
good.  For this call to be heeded, We must speak out.
Will you send a message to your own representatives
in Congress?

PLEASE THIS IS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO DO
NOW!!

GOD BLESS YOU

I'M NOT WASHING

Scripture:

Read Luke 11:37-54.
TEXT: The Pharisee was astonished to see that
He did not first wash before
dinner (Luke 11:38).

Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem for the last time.
One Sabbath He stops to teach in a synagogue.
After the service a Pharisee invites Him to share His
morning meal. Before they eat, the Pharisee and his
other guests carefully wash their hands, according to
Jewish traditions. They believe eating with unwashed
hands would contaminate the food which, in turn,
made the body unclean in God's eyes.

It was time for Jesus to confront that error. Knowing
all humans are contaminated by the sinful nature they
receive from their parents and not from eating unclean
food, Jesus refuses to wash His hands. His host is
astonished, but Jesus refuses to back down.

He then starts blasting the traditions they trust to earn
their way to heaven. It may seem unwise for Jesus to
turn up the heat, but it is the greatest act of kindness
anyone could do for them. If they keep straining to wash
a little uncleanness from their hands, they will never let
God remove the uncleanness and sin from their hearts,
minds and souls.

This brings a complaint from the scribes. When He
attacks the Pharisees Jesus is really attacking the
scribes, whose traditions the
Pharisees are following. Jesus turns
the heat up again. He accuses the scribes of
burying God's gracious Old Testament
promises beneath their traditions, which deceive
people into relying on their own
works rather than God's free forgiveness, as given
through His Son, the Messiah.

The Pharisees and scribes strenuously object. They
pressure Him to speak on more
things, lying in ambush hoping He will blurt out
something carelessly.

THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, Your Son Jesus made clear there is
only one way into Your presence, through faith in Him.
Drive from my heart and mind the lie that
there are many ways. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

GROWING URGENCY

Scripture:

Read Luke 9:37-45.
TEXT: (Jesus said) "Let these words sink into your
ears: the Son of Man is about to be delivered into
the hands of men" (Luke 9:44).

Coming down with His three disciples from the
Mountain of Transfiguration, Jesus encounters a
demon His other disciples are unable to cast out.
With divine might and majesty, Jesus overpowers
the demon and sends him away. The crowd is
completely amazed and stands marveling at what
God has done. Jesus knows His disciples are still
clinging to hopes of an earthly kingdom, and He
doesn't want them to get swept away by the
excitement of the crowds. So He turned to talk
directly to them. To get their attention He could
have easily said, "Listen carefully." Instead, He
says something even more striking: "Let these
words sink into your ears."

And what are the extremely important words
Jesus has to tell them? They are these: "The
Son of Man is about to be delivered into the
hands of men." Despite their dreams, and the
hope of the crowd following them, Jesus' suffering
is close at hand. He is "about to be delivered into
the hands of men."
But Jesus reveals one more painful fact about His
coming suffering He did not reveal the first time:
it will come about through an act of betrayal. Of
course, Jesus knows the identity of His betrayer,
but He withholds that information for now. Not only
will He be rejected and, consequently, subjected
to violent brutalities and death, but treachery will be
connected with these events as well.

The disciples fail to understand and are afraid to
ask Jesus anything about it. The suspense is
building as Jesus' destiny and our salvation draw
near.

THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, Your Son single-mindedly set His
steps to fulfill Your plan to save the world. Give me
an unwavering faith to follow Him all my days. In
Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

SHATTERING ILLUSIONS

Scripture:

Read Luke 9:18-22.
TEXT: The Son of Man must suffer many things
(see Luke 9:22).

Jesus' disciples have heard His powerful words and
seen many mighty miracles.They believe He is the
promised Messiah. But as soon as Peter makes
his great confession, Jesus sternly commands the
12 disciples to keep the news to themselves. The
Jewish crowds have the wrong idea about the
Messiah; they think He will be a great king driving
out the Romans and establishing an earthly
kingdom. Even the disciples are swept up in this
dream. Now Jesus begins shattering that illusion
and teaching them that He came to save the world
through His death and resurrection.

Jesus is fully aware of all the horrendous things He
will suffer in Jerusalem, but He also knows the
disciples are not ready for all the gory facts. So He
draws a veil over the details and simply says, "The
Son of Man must suffer many things."

But the disciples need to know who will cause His
great suffering. So Jesus teaches them that the
leaders of His own people-the Jewish high court-will
carefully examine Him and reject Him as their
Messiah. They will kill Him through an act of judicial
murder. But Jesus' revelation to the disciples doesn't
end with His death. He clearly states that on the
third day after His death He will be raised.

At Christmas when you look at the Baby dozing in
Bethlehem's manger, this may not be the life you
would picture for Him, but it is exactly what God
had planned for Him since the very beginning.

THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, Jesus was careful to shield His
disciples from all the horrors He knew He would suffer
to save us from our sins. Remind me that You know
every detail of my future, and give me confidence You
will make all things work together for my good. For
Jesus' sake I pray. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

IS IT UNLAWFUL TO DO GOOD?

Scripture:

Read Luke 6:6-11.
TEXT: But they were filled with fury and discussed
with one another what they might do to Jesus
(Luke 6:11).

The opposition against Jesus is mounting-neighbors
from Nazareth and the devil with his demonic army.
Now two new enemies join the fray.

The scribes have spent centuries copying Old
Testament scrolls, which teach God's Law to show
us why we need His promised Savior. But they have
distorted that word, teaching that heaven can be
earned with less-than-perfect lives. Sitting with the
scribes are their disciples the Pharisees who
dedicate themselves to live by these teachings
and traditions.

In the synagogue sits a man whose right hand is
withered and useless. What will Jesus do? Scribal
traditions forbid any work on the Sabbath, even
healing a man's withered hand. So the scribes and
Pharisees silently watch to see if Jesus will break
their Sabbath rules.

Jesus calls the man to stand, dramatically drawing
everyone's attention.Then He turns to the scribes and
asks, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do
harm, to save life or to destroy it?" He exposes the
hypocrisy of their tradition that would forbid Him to use
His powers to end someone's suffering just because it
is the Sabbath. Looking around at them to let His point
sink in, Jesus tells the man, "Stretch out your hand,"
and his hand is completely restored.

The scribes and Pharisees are furious. Jesus clearly
broke the spirit of their Sabbath tradition, but by the
letter of their law they have no charge to bring against
Him. Nobody thought to write a law forbidding a man to
stretch out his hand.

THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, Jesus' enemies grew furious when He
showed concern for a man who was hurting. Forgive my
cold, unfeeling heart toward those suffering around me,
and help me flee to Jesus for forgiveness. I pray this in
His Name Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

CONFRONTING A DEMON

Scripture:

Read Luke 4:31-37.
TEXT: And in the synagogue there was a man who
had the spirit of an uncleandemon, and he cried out
with a loud voice (Luke 4:33).

After being rejected in his hometown of Nazareth,
Jesus sets up His headquarters in the town of
Capernaum. On the Sabbath He begins teaching in
the synagogue. Once again the people are amazed at
His powerful words. But sitting in their midst is a man
possessed by a demon.

Demons are fallen angels. In the beginning God
created them pure and holy, but following their
rebellious leader Satan they rose up against their
Creator. Jesus would later tell His disciples, "I saw
Satan fall like lightning" (Luke 10:18b). Cast out
of heaven, Satan and his demonic angels turned their
rage and hatred against the humans God had created.

Here in the synagogue this ancient enemy cries out
in a loud voice, "Ha! What have You to do with us,
Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us?"
Since their fall all the demons have known and
dreaded the coming of God's Son in judgment.

In terror the demon blurts out, "I know who You are-
the Holy One of God!"

Jesus gives the first of two short commands:
"Be silent." Standing before God's mighty Son the
demon immediately falls silent.

Then Jesus commands, "Come out of Him!" In
obedience the demon immediately comes out,
throwing the man down in the process. But under
Jesus' protecting eye the man is left completely
unharmed.

In the wilderness Satan had tempted Jesus to bow
down and worship him. But on the Last Day Satan
and all his evil host will bow down and worship their
Creator and Judge-and be cast into hell forever.


THE PRAYER:
Almighty God, like Satan and his demons, I have
sinned against You. Forgive me for Jesus' sake and
free me from Satan's power that I may serve You
now and forever. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

THE FIRST REJECTION

Scripture:

Read Luke 4:14-30.
TEXT: And they rose up and drove Him out of
town and brought Him to the brow of the hill on
which their town was built, so that they could
throw Him down the cliff (Luke 4:29).


Having defeated Satan's temptations, Jesus
travels from village to village in Galilee sharing
God's plan of salvation and working many wondrous
miracles. Months later He returns to His hometown
Nazareth. Entering the synagogue Jesus reads from
Isaiah, the Old Testament book which most clearly
talks about His work as Messiah. He tells His
neighbors of the forgiveness, peace and freedom He
has come to bring.

At first they are amazed at His gracious words, but
then they remember all the years He lived among
them, and they had never seen anything remarkable
about Joseph's Son before. Having heard about all His
miracles in the neighboring towns, they want Him to
heal them too.

Jesus wants to help them, but He will not reward
their unbelief. He reminds them in the past that God
withheld healing miracles from the people of Israel,
when they refused to believe.

Filled with fury they rise as an angry mob to drive
Him to the cliff to throw Him to His death. In one
blind moment they foreshadow the rejection and
violent death He will suffer at His own people's hands.
But God has chosen a different time, and a different
place.

Jesus gives them one last miracle to consider. They
have Him firmly in their grasp ready to fling Him off
their cliff, then Jesus suddenly turns and calmly goes
His way through their midst-never to return. He leaves
this final warning to His neighbors: if they stubbornly
refuse to repent, they will have to stand before Him
on Judgment Day.

THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, today Jesus comes to me offering to
forgive, restore and save me. Give me faith to trust
Him, so I may escape Your wrath and live in Your
loving, glorious presence forever. I pray in Jesus'
Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

THE BATTLE

Scripture:

Read Luke 4:1-13.
TEXT: And Jesus was led by the Spirit in the
wilderness for forty days, being
tempted by the devil (see Luke 4:1-2).

When Satan first squared off against humanity,
he tripped up our parents in the Garden of Eden with
his cunningly twisted words. They disobeyed God's
Word, ate the forbidden fruit, and plunged our world
into death and destruction. Now Satan squares off
against our Savior.

For 40 days Jesus ate no food, while our enemy
unleashed a devastating torrent of deceitful temptations.
Luke records three final deceitful traps Satan set
for Jesus.

First, he appeals to Jesus' great hunger: "If You are
the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."
It sounds innocent enough, but Jesus sees the trap.
Following Satan's advice will show He doesn't trust God
to provide His needs.Jesus answers, "It is written, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone.'"

The tempter next offers to give Jesus all the kingdoms
of the world if He will worship him. Jesus answers, "It is
written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only
shall you serve.'" He came to walk His Father's difficult
saving path-not Satan's shortcut.

In one final temptation Jesus is placed on the pinnacle
of the temple. Satan challenges Him to jump, appealing
to God's promise in the Psalm, "He will command His angels
to guard you ... lest you strike your foot against a stone"
(Psalm 91:11a, 12b).

If Jesus won't jump, it looks like He doesn't trust God's
promise. But Jesus sees through it. He doesn't have to prove
His faith to Satan. He replies, "It is written, 'You shall not put
the Lord your God to the test.'"

Having ended every temptation unsuccessfully Satan
departs from Jesus, awaiting a more opportune moment.

THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, where Adam and Eve fell to Satan's lies,
Your Son stood firm. Thank You for His salvation. Help
me trust You as He did and cling to Your Word alone.
I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

HOW DARE HE?

Scripture:

Read Luke 3:19-20.
TEXT: But Herod the tetrarch who had been reproved
by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the
evil things that Herod had done, added this to them
all, that he locked up John in prison (Luke 3:19-20).


"How dare he challenge me like that? Doesn't he
know who I am?" Like most wealthy, powerful people,
Herod didn't want anyone telling him he was wrong,
especially not a young wilderness wanderer, who
went around wearing camel's hair and eating locusts
and wild honey. The Baptist didn't like Herod's choice
in women, but wasn't that Herod's own business? True,
he had married his half-brother Philip's wife, the
ambitious Herodias. But what was that to John? It was
fine when John was laying into the Jewish religious
leaders, but Herod thought his family should be off-limits.

But God had sent John to confront sinners, so they
would acknowledge their sin and find forgiveness in the
promised Messiah. It didn't matter how high and
important you were. John knew it was better to face up
to your sins now, so God could take them away. The
alternative was to wait until life was over, and you were
standing before God's judgment seat.

Herod should have listened to John's words and repented;
instead, he seized and arrested John. He added this to
his many other sins. Not only had he refused to
heed John's timely warning and escape the wrath of God,
he cut John off from the people, who desperately needed
to hear God's warning too.


THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, Your Word confronts my pride and my sin.
For Jesus' sake, move me to repent of my sin and seek
Your forgiveness. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Your Son,
I ask this. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

A NEW BEGINNING

Scripture:

Read Luke 3:21-23.

TEXT: When Jesus had also been baptized and
was praying, the heavens were opened, and the
Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form, like
a dove (see
Luke 3:21-22).

For 30 years Jesus had grown and lived in
obscurity in the northern region of Galilee, working
as a carpenter alongside His father Joseph. None
of His neighbors knew His true identity. But now it
was time to set aside those carpentry tools and
reveal Himself to the people of Israel. The great
Son of God made His way to theJordan River to be
baptized by His prophet John.

As He steps out of the water two amazing things
happen. Something in the form of a dove comes
down from above and lands on Jesus, while a voice
from heaven thunders, "You are My beloved Son;
with You I am well pleased."

The "dove" was the Holy Spirit, who came down
from heaven to set Jesus apart from all other Jews.
It singled Him out as the promised Messiah (Hebrew)
or the Christ or "anointed one" (Greek). The booming
voice was that of God the Father; He declared His
approval of Jesus' life from childhood to this point.

Winning God's approval is no small feat, for God is
far stricter than any human father. He demands
complete and perfect obedience in all our thoughts,
words, deeds and desires. And that is exactly what
Jesus accomplished. Every day of His life He
completely obeyed God's will. Now He goes to work
completing His great mission to save all people from
sin, death and God's fiery judgment.


THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, when the time was right, Jesus began
revealing Himself to His people. Through this season
of Lent reveal Him to me as well.
I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

IS THIS THE MESSIAH?

Scripture:

Read Luke 3:15-18.
TEXT: As the people were in expectation, and
all were questioning in their hearts concerning
John, whether he might be the Christ (Luke 3:15).


If John were here today, he would have a lot to
say about our fear to confront those who live
contrary to God's Word. He was a bold and
powerful preacher; he was unafraid to stand up to
the self-absorbed religious leaders or to expose
the errors of powerful political rulers.

It's not difficult for the crowds to see the power of
God at work in his ministry. So we should not be
surprised to hear them asking if John might be the
great prophet that Moses predicted long ago. Is this
the Messiah God had promised to send?

But John immediately set the crowds straight.
However powerful he might be as a prophet, he is
nothing compared to the One who is coming.
Compared to Him, John is like the lowest house
slave, unworthy even to stoop down and lay his
fingers upon the sandals of the great Messiah.

Even now, this mighty Son of God is living in Galilee.
Soon He will come to John to begin His ministry, by
which He will accomplish His great rescue mission.
John baptizes with water, but the Christ will pour out
the Holy Spirit and His cleansing fire upon those who
hear and believe.

What thoughts must rush through those crowds,
hearing the long-awaited Messiah is near? What
thoughts cross your mind when thinking of Jesus,
who not long ago was that tiny baby laying in
Bethlehem's manger? How amazing is it that He will
soon stride forward in humility and poverty to save
the world?


THE PRAYER: Almighty God, thank You for sending
Your great Son to save us from death and hell. Accept
our thanksgiving and praise for Jesus' sake. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

FLEE THE COMING WRATH

Scripture:

Read Luke 3:1-9.
TEXT: And he went into all the region around the
Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of
repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 3:3).

Luke anchors John's ministry in human history by
listing the Roman emperor, the governor of Judea,
and the ruler of the northern province of Galilee
where Jesus is living. John preaches in the region
near the Jordan River. Huge crowds come out to
him, but he is aware that some are here for the
wrong reasons. Some are merely curious; others
don't recognize any sins in themselves that need
to be washed away. John boldly challenges them,
"You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee
from the wrath to come?"These strong words
challenge us to look deep within our hearts. John
has come to prepare the way for God's mighty Son.
He calls us to recognize our faults and failings and
humble ourselves before our God. This baptism is
not an empty, meaningless ceremony. It is God's
solution to the deadly poison of our sin. Through
water and the Word God washes away our sins,
delivering us from death and hell, and saving us
from His destructive wrath. On the Last Day, Jesus
will return to earth to execute God's judgment. He
will cast into the eternal fires of hell all who refuse to
accept the forgiveness and salvation He came to win
for them. Today is the day for you to escape God's
wrath and find peace and eternal salvation in Jesus
your Savior.

THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, You sent John to prepare the people of
Israel for the coming of Your Son Jesus. Through the
powerful words spoken by John prepare me for Jesus'
second coming, that I may escape Your fiery wrath. I
pray this in Jesus' Name Amen

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

WHERE CAN HE BE?

Scripture:

Read Luke 2:41-52.
TEXT: The boy Jesus stayed behind in
Jerusalem. His parents did not know it
(see Luke 2:43).


If you were a 12-year-old, left alone in a
huge capital city, where would you go?
Mary and Joseph spent three frantic days
trying to answer that question, as they
searched for 12-year-old Jesus. Would
they find Him roaming though the market
place, staring up at one of Herod the Great's
three spectacular towers, or would
He be gazing at his opulent palace in the
north end of town? Was He watching
the Roman soldiers practicing their military
formations and running their drills in
the Antonia Fortress? Would He be cheering
along with the chariot races in the
Jerusalem hippodrome-that same horse
track featured in the movie Ben Hur?
The truth is none of these places held the
biggest attraction for Jesus. He was in
the last place most of us would ever expect a
pre-teen to be. On the third day they found Him
in the temple courts, asking questions of the
religious leaders. His greatest thrill was to be at
His Father's house fulfilling His great mission.
When His mother asked why He had treated
them that way, Jesus' answer confused both
Mary and Joseph: "Did you not know that I must
be in My Father's house?" Jesus had important
work to do, and He knew it. Everything was riding on
it: His great mission and our eternal future. To
open heaven to us He had to live a perfect life, with
absolute obedience and perfection. He had to learn,
understand and memorize God's Word; He had to
know it inside and out. He was a single minded
Savior on a single-minded mission.


THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your single-minded
dedication to our salvation. Give me a similar hunger
for Your Word too. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

CALLING ALL PASTORS

As pastors and faith leaders, we see the tragic
effects of gun violence firsthand. We are the ones
who comfort grieving families and conduct the
funerals of innocent victims. It is pastors who
faced the daunting challenge of preaching a
message of hope after the national despair created
by the shooting in Sandy Hook, Connecticut.

As a faith leader, your voice is critical in this debate.
Will you join with others to demand that leaders in
Washington address gun violence in a sensible way?

Ending gun violence is a moral and religious issue.
But far too often this basic fact is ignored. Instead,
pundits focus on legal debates or ideological arguments.
Washington will only pass sensible restrictions to
reduce the tragedies caused by gun violence IF our
leaders understand that this is about protecting our
children and keeping our communities safe.

Only pastors, priests, nuns, and ministers like us can
change the national debate about gun violence. We’re
looking for 1,000 faith leaders to speak out on gun
violence. Will you be one of them?

God calls us to imagine a world where swords are
beaten into plowshares (Isaiah 2:4). Pastors and faith
leaders can remind our nation of this vision. Together
we must encourage our leaders to take action.

In faith,

Rev. Beau Underwood and the entire Sojourners team

HIS PARTNER

Scripture:

42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I
was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was
a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed
clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in
prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you
hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or
sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not
do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
Matthew 25: 42-45

Quote:

“Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty,
suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it.”
“Well, why don’t you ask Him?”
“Because I’m afraid He would ask me the same question.”

Reflection:

God could take care of poverty, suffering, and injustice but
He gives humankind a role to play. God doesn’t need us,
but He wants us. He wants us to be His partners in bringing
love and holiness to the world and making the world a better
place.

God wants us to be His partner today and every day in
perfecting the world. What can we do today? What will
be our contribution, this week, this year, this lifetime?
Giving to God’s purposes is not a burdensome obligation;
it’s a wonderful opportunity and a privilege.

Prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred . . . let me sow love
Where there is injury . . . pardon
Where there is doubt . . . faith
Where there is despair . . . hope
Where there is darkness . . . light
Where there is sadness . . . joy
O, Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled . . . as to console
To be understood . . . as to understand,
To be loved . . . as to love
For it is in giving . . . that we receive,
It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned,
It is in dying . . . that we are born to eternal life.

IN TIME OF TROUBLE

Scripture:

"Cast your burden on the Lord and He shall
sustain you."   Psalm 55:22

Sometime ago I came across this often quoted prayer:
"God grant me the serenity to accept things I cannot
change, the courage to change the things I can, and
wisdom to know the difference."  This prayer expresses
an important thought:  one I think we should all pray
and live.

Some things in life just cannot be changed know
matter how much we try, and of course some things
can  Some things God has given to us as fixed realities
that we must accept.  And some things He would have
us not accept, but, with His help, work to change.
If we fail to do both of these, to accept some things
and work to change others, we will end up suffering with
worry, undeserved guilt, and frustration.

Someone, I'm not sure who, said, "Worry is the interest
paid on trouble before it comes due."  Instead, God would
have us learn to trust Him. "Cast your burden on the Lord
and He shall sustain you"

Prayer:

Oh Lord take all the suffering, worry, guilt and frustration
from me.  Lord I give you my burden because I know
you will sustain me.  AMEN

LOVE IN YOUR LIFE

How have you known the power of God's
love in your life?

No, despite all these things, overwhelming
victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
Romans 8:37 NLT

O Love that will not let me go

O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee;
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go,
GEORGE MATHESON (1842-1906)

George Matheson went completely blind when he
was eighteen years old. Still, he remained a star
student. He went on to become a great preacher
in the Church of Scotland, assisted by his sister,
who learned Greek and Hebrew to help with his
research.

This hymn was written on the evening of June 6,
1882. "I was at that time alone," Matheson later
wrote. "It was the day of my sister's marriage.…
Something happened to me, which was known only
to myself, and which caused me the most severe
mental suffering. The hymn was the fruit of that
suffering."

What was it that happened to him? Some think
he was remembering the time he himself was
engaged to be married and his fiancee broke the
engagement when she learned that he would soon
be completely blind. Or perhaps it was difficult for
him to have his devoted sister getting married. In
any case, he was led to ponder God's eternal love,
which would turn his "flick'ring torch" into blazing
daylight.

adapted from The One Year® Book of Hymns by
Mark Norton and Robert Brown, Tyndale House
Publishers (1995), entry for March 8
Love is not something you feel. It's something you
do.      DAVID WILKERSON

THE POWER OF SONG

“On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam
sang this song…” — Judges 5:1

Today, we tend to think of music as entertainment.
But the gift that we call song is so much more than
that. As the saying goes, “Music takes us where
words cannot go.” Music is not just entertaining and
enjoyable; it is transformational and transcendental.
Music is a vehicle through which we can reach God!

Throughout the Bible, specifically the books of the
prophets, we find that prophets’ words are often
accompanied by musical instruments. In the holy
Temples, music played an integral role in worship.
Certainly, music remains today a staple in both
synagogues and churches. The tradition of reaching
out to God in song lives on.

Make the most of the gift of music in your life. Use its
power to lift you up and bring you closer to God. Choose
your music wisely knowing that both the words and the
music impact your soul. Or try making your own music.
Scripture encourages us: “Sing to the LORD a new song”
(Isaiah 42:10). Jewish tradition teaches that each soul
has a unique song to sing. Find your song and share
your music with the world.

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

THE WORD

Scripture:

 "For the word of God is living and active,
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing
to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints
and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts
and intentions of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12

Never forget just how powerful the word of
God is. Sometimes we take it for granted
just how much it can do for us in our lives.
Read the Bible, meditate on Jesus's teachings
and keep God in the center of your life!