Monday, May 11th, 2020
Tuesday, April 21st, 2020
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Monday, April 20th, 2020
“There is life in the path of righteousness, and in its path there is no death.”
Proverbs 12:28
Monday, April 13th, 2020
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Romans 12:12
Saturday, April 11th, 2020
“How the Virus Stole Easter” by Kristi Bothur
TWAS LATE IN ‘19 WHEN THE VIRUS BEGAN
BRINGING CHAOS AND FEAR TO ALL PEOPLE, EACH LAND.
PEOPLE WERE SICK, HOSPITALS FULL,
DOCTORS OVERWHELMED, NO ONE IN SCHOOL.
AS WINTER GAVE WAY TO THE PROMISE OF SPRING,
THE VIRUS RAGED ON, TOUCHING PEASANT AND KING.
PEOPLE HID IN THEIR HOMES FROM THE ENEMY UNSEEN.
THEY YOUTUBED AND ZOOMED, SOCIAL-DISTANCED, AND CLEANED.
APRIL APPROACHED AND CHURCHES WERE CLOSED.
“THERE WON’T BE AN EASTER,” THE WORLD SUPPOSED.
“THERE WON’T BE CHURCH SERVICES, AND EGG HUNTS ARE OUT.
NO REASON FOR NEW DRESSES WHEN WE CAN’T GO ABOUT.”
HOLY WEEK STARTED, AS BLEAK AS THE REST.
THE WORLD WAS FOCUSED ON MASKS AND ON TESTS.
“EASTER CAN’T HAPPEN THIS YEAR,” IT PROCLAIMED
“ONLINE AND AT HOME, IT JUST WON’T BE THE SAME.”
MAUNDY THURSDAY, GOOD FRIDAY, THE DAYS CAME AND WENT.
THE VIRUS PRESSED ON; IT JUST WOULD NOT RELENT.
THE WORLD WOKE SUNDAY AND NOTHING HAD CHANGED.
THE VIRUS STILL MENACED, THE PEOPLE, ESTRANGED.
“POOH POOH TO THE SAINTS,” THE WORLD WAS GRUMBLING.
“THEY’RE FINDING OUT NOW THAT NO EASTER IS COMING.”
“THEY’RE JUST WAKING UP! WE KNOW JUST WHAT THEY’LL DO!
THEIR MOUTHS WILL HANG OPEN A MINUTE OR TWO,
AND THEN ALL THE SAINTS WILL ALL CRY BOO-HOO.”
“THAT NOISE,” SAID THE WORLD, “WILL BE SOMETHING TO HEAR.”
SO IT PAUSED AND THE WORLD PUT A HAND TO ITS EAR.
AND IT DID HEAR A SOUND COMING THROUGH ALL THE SKIES.
IT STARTED DOWN LOW, THEN IT STARTED TO RISE.
BUT THE SOUND WASN’T DEPRESSED.
WHY, THIS SOUND WAS TRIUMPHANT!
IT COULDN’T BE SO!
BUT IT GREW WITH ABUNDANCE!
THE WORLD STARED AROUND, POPPING ITS EYES.
THEN IT SHOOK! WHAT IT SAW WAS A SHOCKING SURPRISE!
EVERY SAINT IN EVERY NATION, THE TALL AND THE SMALL,
WAS CELEBRATING JESUS IN SPITE OF IT ALL!
IT HADN’T STOPPED EASTER FROM COMING! IT CAME!
SOMEHOW OR OTHER, IT CAME JUST THE SAME!
AND THE WORLD WITH ITS LIFE QUITE STUCK IN QUARANTINE
STOOD PUZZLING AND PUZZLING
“JUST HOW CAN IT BE?”
“IT CAME WITHOUT BONNETS, IT CAME WITHOUT BUNNIES,
IT CAME WITHOUT EGG HUNTS, CANTATAS, OR MONEY.”
THEN THE WORLD THOUGHT OF SOMETHING IT HADN’T BEFORE
“MAYBE EASTER,” IT THOUGHT, “DOESN’T COME FROM A STORE.
MAYBE EASTER, PERHAPS, MEANS A LITTLE BIT MORE.”
AND WHAT HAPPENED THEN?
WELL…THE STORY’S NOT DONE.
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
WILL YOU SHARE WITH THAT ONE
OR TWO OR MORE PEOPLE NEEDING HOPE IN THIS NIGHT?
WILL YOU SHARE THE SOURCE OF YOUR LIFE IN THIS FIGHT?
THE CHURCHES ARE EMPTY - BUT SO IS THE TOMB,
AND JESUS IS VICTOR OVER DEATH, DOOM AND GLOOM.
SO THIS YEAR AT EASTER, LET THIS BE OUR PRAYER,
AS THE VIRUS STILL RAGES ALL AROUND, EVERYWHERE.
MAY THE WORLD SEE HOPE WHEN IT LOOKS AT GOD’S PEOPLE.
MAYBE THE WORLD SEE THE CHURCH IS NOT A BUILDING OR STEEPLE.
MAY THE WORLD FIND FAITH IN JESUS’ DEATH AND RESURRECTION,
MAY THE WORLD FIND JOY IN A TIME OF DEJECTION.
MAY 2020 BE KNOWN AS THE YEAR OF SURVIVAL,
BUT NOT ONLY THAT -
LET IT START A REVIVAL.
Wednesday, April 8th, 2020
Have fun this week with this great Easter craft for kids!
(Credit to Scarlett & Vanessa Halvorson)
Tuesday, April 7th, 2020
“As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.”
Psalm 71: 14
Monday, April 6th, 2020
“The Lord is my strength and my son, and he has become my salvation! …The Stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.”
Psalm 118: 14 & 22
Saturday, April 4th, 2020
Friday, April 3rd, 2020
Hey parents, show this one to your kids!
Do you know what the word “Acrostic” means?
It’s a noun meaning a poem or word puzzle in which certain letters in each line form a word or words.
Here’s an example:
Can you try to make an acrostic for the name:
Thursday, April 2nd, 2020
“Flowers are appearing on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.”
Song of Songs 2:12 (NIV)
Tuesday, March 31st, 2020
“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Just as a mug of warm milk induces sleep, remember to count your blessings instead of sheep. Then lay all your cares into your heavenly Father’s Loving Arms, knowing his holy angels will keep you safe from all harm.
Mexican Hot Chocolate:
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup milk (Whole, skim, almond, soy, oat - pick your favorite)
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 tablespoon cocoa
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Pinch of sea salt
Pinch of cayenne (optional)
1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
DIRECTIONS:
Add milk to a small sauce pan and bring close to boiling over medium-low heat.
Add all ingredients and whisk until well combined. Serve immediately.
Luther’s Evening Prayer:
“I thank you, my heavenly father, through Jesus Christ, your dear son, that you have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that you would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let your holy angels be with me so the wicked foe has no power over me. Amen.”
Monday, March 30th, 2020
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11