Wednesday, March 10, 2009

This is the day that the Lord has made!

-A Prayer for the Day

"We come to you today, O God,

To thank you for your past gifts to us;

To receive strength for the present duties we must do;

To find courage to face anything which the future may bring.

So let it be given unto us: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

-William Barclay

-Quotes of the Day

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible."

-Walt Disney

"Faith is the daring of the soul to go farther than it can see."

-William Newton Clarke

"Sin cannot tear you away from him [Christ], even though you commit adultery a hundred times a day and commit as many murders."

-Martin Luther

-A Milk Funny (groaner alert!)

Police arrived at a murder scene and found that the deceased had been drowned in a bathtub of full of milk.

Another bizarre twist - there were strawberries scattered all over the body and a spoon stuck in one ear.

Now they're looking for a cereal killer.

-Some brief thoughts at the end of the day

I thought that I might have some extra time to think about what to write today, but somehow the other things that have to get done always seem to take a little more time than I expected. I did manage to get caught up on my Bible readings and to spend a little time reading. And in relation to whatever this illness is, I took a long nap so that I could stay awake to teach the evening Bible Study group. Like so many days, it didn’t go according to my plans, but hopefully it followed some of God’s desires.

I hope that none of you have gotten so caught up in the stuff of everyday life that your Christian disciplines have suffered. But I suspect that we are in this together – trying our best, but not always fulfilling our good intentions. If you've gotten behind, this a great time to begin to get caught up. If you've missed months at a time – forget it! Begin today anew and afresh and let God fill your soul with the good news. Give yourself a few moments for prayer. Make sure that the most important people in your life are not being neglected. God gives us a new start, a fresh baptism to claim each and every day. Let today be that new day in your life!

May God's wonderful forgiveness and understanding fill your life with new hope today!

Pastor Barry

-Bible Readings for Today:

March 10

Numbers 14:1-15:16

Psalm 53:1-6

Proverbs 11:4

Mark 14:53-72 (nrsv) They took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were assembled. 54 Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire. 55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. 56 For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. 57 Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, 58 "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.'" 59 But even on this point their testimony did not agree. 60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?" 61 But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" 62 Jesus said, "I am; and 'you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,' and 'coming with the clouds of heaven.'" 63 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "Why do we still need witnesses? 64 You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?" All of them condemned him as deserving death. 65 Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him, "Prophesy!" The guards also took him over and beat him. 66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, "You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth." 68 But he denied it, saying, "I do not know or understand what you are talking about." And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed. 69 And the servant-girl, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders, "This man is one of them." 70 But again he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, "Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean." 71 But he began to curse, and he swore an oath, "I do not know this man you are talking about." 72 At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept.