Take time to worship with “I’m So Blessed” by Cain.

Focus on the lyrics, “Cause on my best day, I’m a child of God. On my worst day, I’m a child of God. Oh, every day is a good day. And You’re the reason why.”

I have been blessed to see Cain perform at the 2024 Winter Jam Tour. The tour, formerly known as January Jam, was started by NewSong in 1995. Here is a picture of confetti they released into the audience. We were sitting about midways on the sidelines. It was amazing to see the confetti float as it made its way to us. It made me think about how our worship reaches the heavens and permeates through those around us.

Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Join us on YouTube for our See You Saturday Video as we talk about relationships. Make sure to like and Subscribe while you are there!

Fill in the blank. I am the friend who __________________?

We would love for you to share!

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27‬:‭54‬ ‭NIV — When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”‬

Why is today called “Good Friday?” Today shows the greatest love you and I will ever know. Jesus’ death on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. We have the joy knowing in three days the stone will roll away and the grave will let Him go. Thanks to Jesus washing our sins clean, we are blessed to walk in God’s favor as His children. 

Are you mourning the loss of Jesus? Do you feel the anticipation and excitement of Sunday? This day tends to be an emotional day for many. Do you have stones in your life that need to be rolled away? Don’t know where to start? We can start rolling stones by practicing gratitude. One way of practicing gratitude is keeping a daily gratitude journal and daily writing five things for which you are grateful. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for sending Your son to die on the cross for my sins. Thank You for rolling away the stone and emptying the grave. Help me to roll away the stones in my life so that I can remain close to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

You can read about Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection in Matthew 27: 45-66; 28: 1-10 NIV @biblegateway

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Why is today called “Maundy Thursday?” It means the washing of feet. It is also known as Holy Thursday. This day Jesus and His disciples shared the last supper, had communion, and Jesus washed the disciples’ feet before going out into the garden to pray. 

During the season of Lent, I started a rock garden. Each day I write a word on my rocks from my Lent devotion book, Pauses for Lent by Trevor Hudson. When I envision a garden, I think of vibrant flowers, delicious vegetables, and yummy fruits. I imagine the Garden of Gethsemane to be a dirt and rock terrain with some greenery. Each day as I write on my rocks, I am reminded that Jesus walked this earth before me. I desire to remain so close to Him that I feel the dust from His sandals as we walk this life together. How about you? What do you desire? 

Let’s pray. Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your son to walk this earth before me. I desire to feel the dust from Jesus’ sandals as I daily walk in relationship with Him. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

I encourage you to listen to “Back to the Garden” by Crowder.

You can read of The Lord’s Supper and The Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26: 17-46 NIV @biblegateway

God tells the sun when to rise in ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬ —  God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

Jesus tells the storm to be still in Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

Through Moses Jesus tells the sea when to split in ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided.‭‭

Will you allow God to use you like He did Moses? Seeking God’s will can be scary. Just like Moses, God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. He is waiting for you to stand at His door and knock.  

Let’s pray. Dear Lord, thank You for giving me the example of Moses. I desire to do Your will. I stand confidently today and knock at Your door. Here I am Lord, use me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

‭‭John‬ ‭4‬:‭48‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Unless you people see signs and wonders, Jesus told him, you will never believe.

God is in the wow business with all His signs and wonders. Jesus performed and continues to perform many miracles so that His children will see and believe. I think about the disciple Thomas, also known as Doubting Thomas. It took seeing nail scarred hands for him to truly believe in Jesus. Thomas was in close relationship with Jesus and still needed a wow sign and wonder to see. 

Are you walking around with blinders or are you walking around expecting to be wowed? We need to live expectantly and seek God for big things. We read in Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV — Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.‬‬

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for all Your miraculous signs and wonders. Forgive me when I am a doubting Thomas. Today I stand at Your door and knock expectantly. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

You can read how Jesus heals the official’s son in John 4:43-54 NIV @biblegateway.