Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NIV —- Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Matthew 28:2-7 NIV — There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
Spend some time celebrating the risen Savior while listening to these songs.
Matthew 27:41-42 NIV — In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.”
This week we are sharing Holy Week. Today is Holy Saturday, Easter Eve. As we wait in quiet reflection and anticipation, let’s look at the story with a wider lens. Jesus could have easily come down from the cross to prove it all. In today’s key verse, He was mocked to save Himself, yet Jesus remained on the cross so that we might truly believe: the prophecies and foreshadowing had to be fulfilled.
Once we have asked Jesus to live in our hearts and forgive us of our sins, it is our job to declare and share that Jesus is Lord. We read in Romans 10:9 NIV — If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
We are children of God, chosen, loved, blessed, adopted, forgiven, redeemed, strong, and accepted. How often do we sacrifice our titles because of indiscipline, pride, and hate? We let our sins come down from the cross instead of keeping them nailed. On this Surrender Saturday, we must be reminded to daily nail our sins to the cross. In doing so we can find our Easter hallelujah.
Let’s pray. Dear Lord, thank You for remaining on the cross so that my sins could be forgiven and so that I can daily remain in You! In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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!”
This week we are sharing Holy Week. 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.
John 13:13-16 NIV — Jesus said, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.”
This week we are sharing Holy Week. 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.
John is the only Gospel out of the four Gospels to recount Jesus washing the disciples’ feet at the last supper. What a humbling experience that must have been. Jesus walked this earth before you and I. It is said that the disciples followed so close to Jesus that the dust from His sandals covered them with dirt. Imagine how dirty their feet must have been.
On this Thankful Thursday take time to thank God for the humility we experience through His son Christ Jesus. Do you desire to feel the dust from His sandals?
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.
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Bonus: You can read of The Lord’s Supper and The Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26: 17-46 NIV.
Luke 22:3-4 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.
This week we are sharing Holy Week. Today is the day that Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, betrays Jesus. I chose to make Luke our key scripture verse today because Luke recounts the narrative with Jesus as man and we too are man. Notice Judas went out of his way to betray Jesus. How did he plot to do so? According to Matthew 26: 48-49 Judas approached Jesus with ill motives — Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
Why would Jesus’ own disciple go out of his way to betray Jesus? According to John 13: 27 — Satan entered Judas’ body As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”
We too have a choice to daily take up our cross and follow Jesus. There are days when this won’t be easy and we will have to make hard choices. On this Water Walking Wednesday, will you choose to boldly follow Christ Jesus, even when the world is telling you to be a Judas?
Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You that we have Your word to know we are not in this life alone. I take up my cross today and seek to walk on water for Your glory and my good. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Click on the picture for today’s Water Walking Wednesday videoClick on the picture for our weekly planning meeting
Matthew 21: 42-44 — Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”
This week we are sharing Holy Week. Jesus used this time to talk in parables. I chose to highlight Matthew’s recounting of this parable because he is my favorite of the disciples. He recounts the story with Jesus as king. I chose today’s parable because we get an understanding of Jesus being the cornerstone of our faith.
According to Merriam-Webster, the cornerstone is the stone forming a part of the corner or angle in a wall along the foundation. Architecturally the cornerstone is the first stone set and every other stone is placed in reference to it. God is the rock of our salvation. He is the foundation of our faith and the one who reigns at the top receiving the glory. You can read today’s full parable in Matthew 21:33-26 NIV.
On this Trust Tuesday examine the lens that you view Jesus. Is He the cornerstone of your faith? Is He the first stone or the last?
Let’s pray. Dear God, my soul finds rest in You. My salvation comes from You. Truly You are my rock and my salvation. You are my fortress. I will never be shaken. Today I celebrate this day, my salvation, and the work of Your hands. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
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Bonus: Click here to check out our shared music Lent Playlist, created last year on Julie Wicker’s Spotify account.
