Today’s thoughts by Julie Wicker

‭‭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.

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

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Today’s thoughts by Julie Wicker

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.

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Today’s thoughts by Julie Wicker

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.

Thoughts by Julie Wicker

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

This week we are sharing Holy Week. Today is known as Holy Monday, when Jesus cleansed the temple courts. Although Jesus was physically cleaning out the temple courts, I think of how our bodies are temples for the Holy Spirit and how we should strive to keep clean from idols as we read in 1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Meditate on today’s verse. The four gospels are narrative accounts of Jesus’ life, each viewed through a unique lens. Through Matthew’s lens he sees Jesus as king, Mark with Jesus as servant, Luke with Jesus as man, and John with Jesus as God. In addition to our key verse reading from Mathew, take a moment to read what Mark, Luke, and John recounted this day.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭11‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭45‬-‭46‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

‭‭John‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts, he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves, he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

Take a moment to worship with Resurrender by Hillsong Worship.

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Today’s thoughts by Julie Wicker

Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭38‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

This week we are sharing Holy Week. Today is referred to as Palm Sunday with Christ’s entry to Jerusalem. Jesus rode in on a donkey, which symbolized peace. One of Christ Jesus’ many names is the Prince of Peace.

I love how he wept over the city in ‭‭Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭41‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.

As Jesus’ entered the city, the people waved their palm branches which were a symbol of triumph and victory. We can experience peace through worship. Take time today to worship with Hosanna by Gracie Binion.

The four gospels are narrative accounts of Jesus’ life, each viewed through a unique lens.Through Matthew’s lens he sees Jesus as king, , Mark with Jesus as servant, Luke with Jesus as man, and John with Jesus as God. In addition to our key verse reading from Luke, take a moment to read what Matthew, Mark, and John recounted this day as.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭11‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”

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Today’s thoughts by Deborah Ard.

We are finishing a week of taking a closer look at David, who later became a great King. I pray that this week as you have read the scriptures, you have a little more knowledge about David’s early days after being anointed. Did you know that David’s great grandmother was Ruth? Ruth and Boaz’s son was Obed. Obed’s son was Jesse and Jesse’s son was David. 

As you read, study, and learn more about King David, you will learn that he made mistakes and had flaws just as you and I. However, his desire was to please God. As we close this week together, spend some time prayerfully listening to Your Heart by Chris Tomlin. The song is written as if it is being sung by David. The chorus states, “At the end of the day, I wanna hear people say my heart looks like Your heart. When the world looks at me, I pray all they see is my heart looks like Your heart.” 

I, too, desire that others see the heart of God when they look at me. Yet I realize for me to reflect the heart of God I must surrender to His will and not insist on my own. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, guide and direct my words and actions. May all that I say and do reflect Your heart. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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Today’s thoughts by Deborah Ard.

1 Samuel 21-24 NIV

Psalm 27 NIV

In today’s chapters of 1 Samuel, David is again fleeing for his life. David continues to turn to God for guidance and direction as he flees. In Psalm 27:5 David writes — For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

When David refers to God’s “sacred tent” he is referring to the Tent of Meeting which in Old Testament times is where the presence of God dwelled. David desires to dwell in the presence of God. Do you? What is your response when you are in the throes of the hustle and bustle of life, when obstacles and giants stand in your way of progress, or when you are fleeing for your life? Do you desire to dwell in the presence of God? On this Fruit Friday, let’s remember Galatians 5:22-23 — the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  

Are you allowing God to develop the fruit of the spirit in you by abiding in His presence? 

Pray with me. Dear God, thank You for the presence of Your Holy Spirit. May I always desire to abide in Your presence and allow You to develop the fruit of the spirit in me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen

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