New "CAREtoons" on www.StevertS.com . . .

 

 

Our pastor called his Palm Sunday sermon yesterday, "What's your donkey?"  The reminder was for us to consider what we have that we can give to Jesus for Him to use in His kingdom work (talents, possessions, etc.).  It occurred to me that we give our kids and grandkids to God every day. 

Our fifth grandchild was born yesterday.  After teaching fourth-grade Sunday School in the morning and eating out with our other four grandkids in the evening, I remembered one of the advantages of growing up in a family with seven brothers and sisters -- I have a comfort level for chaos that might be alarming to others who grew up in quieter households.

Happy Palm Sunday !

We see the first heaven by day,
the second heaven by night,
and the third heaven by faith. 

^" I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. ³ And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— ⁴ and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter." 
(2 Corinthians 12:2-4 -- ESV)

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

(1 Corinthians 1:18 -- ESV) 

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Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

(John 14:19 -- ESV)

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
(from the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, emphasis added)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

(Romans 1:16 -- ESV) 

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

(John 8:12 -- ESV) 

1. Joyous light of heavenly glory, loving glow of God's own face,
   you who sing creation's story, shine on every land and race.
   Now as evening falls around us, we shall raise our songs to you,
   God of daybreak, God of shadows, come and light our hearts anew.
2. In the stars that grace the darkness, in the blazing sun of dawn,
   in the light of your salvation we can hear your quiet song.
   Love that fills the night with wonder, love that warms the weary soul,
   Love that bursts all chains asunder, sets us free and makes us whole. 
3. You who made the heaven's splendor, every dancing star of night,
   let our voices sing Your praises, let us each reflect your light.
   Mighty Father of creation, Christ the Son who lights our way,
   Holy Spirit of salvation, lead us on to endless day.

(original text by Marty Haugen)

 

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. ¹⁶ And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” ¹⁸ For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. ¹⁹ Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” ²⁰ Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. ²¹ The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” ²² Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” ²³ And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

(Matthew 27:15-23 -- ESV)

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Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

(Hebrews 4:14-16 -- ESV)

Happy Monday . . .

“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸ But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. ¹⁹ Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, ²⁰ that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, ²¹ whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. ²² Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. ²³ And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ ²⁴ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. ²⁵ You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ ²⁶ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

(Acts 3:17-26 -- ESV)

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“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;  ⁸ blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” 

(Romans 4:7-8 -- ESV) 

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Are you sometimes bull-headed or pig-headed? 

"We thank You, our heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept us this night from all harm and danger; and we pray that You would keep us this day also from sin and every evil, that all our doings and lives may please You.  For into Your hands we commend ourselves, our bodies and souls, and all things.  Let Your holy angels be with us, that the evil foe may have no power over us.   Amen." 
(Luther's morning prayer, modified from singular to plural)

Because he lives
I can face tomorrow
Because he lives
All fear is gone
Because I know he holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because he lives.





(MATT MAHER / JASON INGRAM / CHRIS TOMLIN / DANIEL CARSON / BILL GAITHER / GLORIA GAITHER / ED CASH)

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He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

(1 Peter 2:24 -- ESV)

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"I disagree with his lifestyle," Murphy said. "I do disagree with the fact that Billy is a homosexual.  That doesn't mean I can't still invest in him and get to know him.  I don't think the fact that someone is a homosexual should completely shut the door on investing in them in a relational aspect.  Getting to know him.  That, I would say, you can still accept them but I do disagree with the lifestyle, 100 percent."

"Maybe, as a Christian, that we haven't been as articulate enough in describing what our actual stance is on homosexuality," he said.  "We love the people.  We disagree about the lifestyle.  That's the way I would describe it for me."

(Daniel Murphy of the New York Mets -- March 4, 2015)

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

² a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
³ a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
⁴ a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
⁵ a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
⁶ a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
⁷ a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
⁸ a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 -- ESV) 

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
(Hebrews 4:15 -- ESV)





Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
    smitten by God, and afflicted. 
(Isaiah 53:4 -- ESV)

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

(Matthew 6:19-21 -- ESV) 

A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.

(Joan Walsh Anglund)

 

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

(Psalm 95:1 -- ESV)