Author Archives: Pastor Mike

TORN – Fourth Sunday in Lent

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TORN – FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT
March 27, 2022
 
Enjoy today’s Lord’s Day (Sunday) to rest and rejoice in the goodness of God. Be sure to join with God’s people today in worship.
 
On the evening of the resurrection, the disciples hid behind locked doors out of fear. Jesus stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19). And then he showed them his hands and his side. On this Sunday, this “Little Easter,” where do you need Jesus to speak this word to you: “Peace be with you”? His peace is there for you, there in his wounds. It’s there that you can find healing and hope. Sometime during this day, look for the opportunity to speak this word to someone in your life: “Peace be with you.”

 

TORN – Day 22

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TORN – Day 22 – Saturday, 3/26/22
Redemption Rock
 
“Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” (Isaiah 26:4)
 
Today’s Scripture reading is Psalm 46
 
In Princeton, Massachusetts, you’ll find Redemption rock. At this site in 1676, the release of a minister’s wife from her native captors was negotiated atop the rock. Long before that moment, our redemption was secured upon the Rock, Jesus. The anchor of our hope is securely fixed on him. Reflect and give him praise through the words of “Rock of Ages.”
 
Rock of Ages, cleft for me
Let me hide myself in thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure:
Cleanse me from its guilt and power.
(Augustus M. Toplady, 1740-1778)
 
Prayer: “Jesus, you are my eternal Rock. My hope is fixed on you. I need to remember this right now…”

 

TORN – Day 21

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TORN – Day 21- Friday, 3/25/22
Throne of Grace
 
“Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand.” (Romans 5:1-2)
 
Today’s Scripture reading is Isaiah 6:1-8
 
Picture it: you are standing before the throne of God himself. What gives you the right? In the palace of any king, one must be introduced and invited. In today’s reading, we see how Isaiah responded: “Woe is me, for I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). But then his lips were touched with the burning coal. Suddenly, he has the boldness to volunteer for an unknown assignment: “Here am I! Send me” (Isaiah 6:8).
 
What made the difference? Mercy and grace. The throne of justice and power has become the throne of grace.
 
Prayer: “God, your mercy and grace surround me. Give me the boldness I need to…”

 

TORN – Day 20

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TORN – Day 20- Thursday, 3/24/22
The Forerunner
 
“Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever.” (Hebrews 6:20)
 
Today’s Scripture reading is John 14:1-14
 
In ancient times, if the tide was low, ships would be unable to enter a harbor. A smaller vessel, called a forerunner, would then carry the ship’s anchor into the harbor and find a secure place to drop it. Then, with the rising of the tide, the ship could enter the harbor safely.
 
Jesus is our Forerunner – what a beautiful image! Normally we think of dropping anchor to the bottom of the sea, but here our Anchor lives in glory in heaven. Just like an anchor to a ship, Jesus draws us to himself. As our soul longs and thirsts for him, he feeds us with living water and the bread of life. And soon, he will draw us to our eternal home, into the place he has prepared for us (John 14:2).
 
How has Jesus been your Forerunner in a storm that you’ve experienced in your life?
 
Prayer: “Jesus, guide the choices I make today to be a reflection of my hopes and not my fears, especially with…”

 

TORN – Day 19

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TORN – Day 19 – Wednesday, 3/23/22
The Soul’s Anchor
 
“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain.” (Hebrews 6:19)
 
Today’s Scripture reading is Psalm 130
 
Everyone has an anchor. The only question is how well does it hold? A big bank account, a successful career, a cottage in the country. These can be lost without any warning. Then what?
 
Etched on the walls in the catacombs of Rome are at least 66 different types of anchors. As Christians buried their loved ones, they held onto this ancient symbol of hope. Hope in what? Hope in God’s Word, described in Hebrews 6:17: “When God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath.”
 
We have confidence and boldness to enter the presence of the Father through the curtain of Christ himself!
 
Prayer: “Abba Father, a promise is a promise. Right now, I lean on your promise to…”

 

TORN – Day 18

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TORN – Day 18 – Tuesday, 3/22/22
The Touch of a Hand
 
“By whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” (Romans 8:15-16)
 
Today’s Scripture reading is John 20:24-29
 
Those who believe in Jesus and take him as Lord are born again by the Spirit and become children of God. Through Jesus, those who know and believe in him can truly call God their Father.
 
The Holy Spirit eagerly invites us to call out for God’s attention: “Abba! Father! (Galatians 4:6), as children so naturally do with their parents. Sitting on the throne, Jesus gives us permission to approach our Father with anything and for any reason!
 
Prayer: “Abba, Father, I am so glad to be your child because…”

 

TORN – Day 17

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TORN – Day 17 – Monday, 3/21/22
The Man behind the Curtain
 
“Jesus entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:12)
 
Today’s Scripture reading is Hebrews 7:15-28
 
Remember the scene in “The Wizard of Oz” where Dorothy and her friends are standing before the mysterious and great wizard? They are all afraid as they see the smoke and fire. But then little Toto the dog pulls away a curtain revealing that the terrible wizard is no more than a man with a machine.
 
Thank God we have much more than a fake wizard behind the curtain! We have a great High Priest who, unlike other priests who offered the blood of animals, offers his own blood, securing our eternal redemption. Hebrews 7:25 tells us that there behind the curtain is our great High Priest, who lives to pray for you!
 
Prayer: “You, O Christ, are my great High Priest. Your presence at the throne gives me confidence, especially right now when….”

 

TORN – Third Sunday in Lent

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TORN -Third Sunday in Lent
Enjoy today’s Lord’s Day (Sunday) to rest and rejoice in the goodness of God. Be sure to join with God’s people today in worship.
 
Think about these words from 1 Corinthians 15:55-57:
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
 
Thank God today that Jesus triumphed over the grave, taking the dread out of death!

 

TORN – Day 16

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TORN – Day 16
Nothing But the Blood
 
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)
 
Today’s Scripture reading is Colossians 1:15-23
 
The blood of Christ shed for me? Yes! In Jesus we have redemption. What was lost has been restored through his blood!
 
What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
 
Prayer: “Jesus, I don’t deserve to stand before you. Only by your blood do I dare to step forward and share what is on my heart…”

 

TORN – Day 14

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TORN – Day 14
Paradise Reopened
 
“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” (Revelation 21:3)
 
Today’s Scripture reading is Matthew 13:13-17
 
Embroidered on the temple curtain was a panorama of the heavens. When the veil was torn, the message was clear: paradise reopened! This was foreshadowed three years earlier at Jesus’ baptism. When he came up out of the Jordan’s waters, the heavens were torn open and God spoke, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Then at the cross, as Jesus took his last breath, the veil was torn open and the centurion declared, “Truly this man was the son of God!” (Mark 15:39).
 
These two events are connected by one message: the life and sacrifice of Jesus pleases his Father. Paradise is open again for those who call Jesus Lord. Reflect on a time that heaven seemed closed or that God seemed distant, and give him thanks that paradise is open to you, now and always.
 
Prayer: “Jesus, you are the Son of God! I declare it with you. You alone are…”