Yep it is Friday already! Boy does time fly – anyway – here are some readings:  Psalm 86 – 1 Samuel 2:1-10 – Ephesians 2:1-10 – Matthew 7:22-27.

Back to Ephesians as we continue with this Ashes to Fire Reading deal.  It’s the first half of chapter 2 on tap for today.  First it’s the bad news – if you want to know what kind of life you can have apart from God.  Answer is NOTHING – no life – dead – its over!  Yes it is that bad.  Paul says we were dead in our sins.

So, the bad news sinks in a drives us to despair?  So is God done with us forever?  NO WAY!  There is also this great news – God has this overflowing love and mercy towards us.  We are saved because Jesus died in our place!  That is the big picture of what God has done for us and this truth frames everything in our lives!  We are forgiven and free!  Man – did I need be reminded of that – every day and all the time!  How about you?

Here are those readings you were looking for:  Psalm 18:1-20 – Exodus 16:10-21 – 1 Peter 3:1-12 – John 15:12-27.

Here is the sermon I preached this past Sunday on the Sunday readings.

Ashes to Fire – April 14, 2012 from St Peter Lutheran Church on Vimeo.

This Ashes to Fire thing just keeps on going! Psalm 5 – Exodus 15:1-21 – 1 Peter 1:13-25 – John 14:18-31!

I really dig the words of Psalm 5:11, “But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.”  As the Psalms do so often, there is this contrast between the work of those who are into evil stuff and those who believe in God and strive to serve Him.  Gods servants may have a tough time and those who are against them might seem to have the upper hand and yet God is with His people.  In other words, God is with us and He will take care of us.  God actually longs for everyone to trust in Him!  How about you?  Where do you stand?

One day closer to Friday – big deal!  Psalm 147 – Exodus 13:3-10 – 1 Corinthians 15:42-50 – Matthew 28:16-20!

“They will see me.”  That is what Jesus says to the people at the tomb and it is what He says to us.  Sure, it’s not exactly the same.  He was telling the people then that He was alive and they would see him at a place called Galilee.  For us, Jesus is still very much alive and we see Him by Faith as we believe in Him. We trust that at the end of time He will take us to spend eternity with Him!  The question I have for today is whether our lives reflect this truth that He is alive.  If Jesus is alive than why do we sometimes live like He has left the building?

Good?  Friday?  Yup!  Psalm 22 – Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-33 – 1 Peter 1:10-20 – John 13:36-38

How can Jesus suffering and dying be good? Are we nuts?  No way!  We are not crazy.  Jesus dying for us is good because it is FOR US!  It is for our forgiveness and it gives us life and that it ALL GOOD!