GDIM Monday Motivational Message
For the Week of April 15th
Lord God, Six days before his death, your son sat with Lazarus, Whom he had raised from the dead, and ate dinner with his friends. Once again, your gospel tells us, Martha served, and Mary knelt at Jesus’ feet to anoint them with costly perfume. The disciple who was about to betray him said that it was a waste. He didn’t care about the poor, really – He just wanted to fill his own pockets and make Mary feel ashamed.
Lord God, We tremble to think that it was one of Jesus’ own friends who betrayed him. One who sat by him, who broke bread with him. Give us strength, we pray, to walk faithfully with Jesus, even when the road we walk is rocky, even when the message of the cross seems like foolishness and even when we feel betrayed. You, Lord, are always faithful. We stumble, we become lost, but you are steady and sure. Give us the grace to endure our troubles and reveal to us the glory of your kingdom, through your son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
John 13:1-17 John 13:34-35 Lord God, You sent your Son into the world, and before his hour had come, He washed his disciples’ feet. You had given all things into his hands. He had come from you, and was going to you, and what did he do? He knelt down on the floor, and washed his friends’ feet. He was their teacher and their Lord, Yet he washed their feet. Lord God, help us learn from his example; Help us to do as he has done for us. The world will know we are his disciples If we love one another. Strengthen our hands and our wills for love and for service. Keep before our eyes the image of your Son, who, being God, became a Servant for our sake. All glory be to him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Friday
John 18:1-40 John 19:1-42 Isaiah 52:13-15 Isaiah 53:1-12 Hebrews 10:16-25 Psalm 22 Lord God, Jesus cried out to you on the cross, “Why have you forsaken me?” You seemed so far from his cry and from his distress. Those who stood at the foot of the cross wondered where you were, as they saw Jesus mocked and shamed and killed. Where were you then? Lord God, We too, ask where you are, when there is trouble and suffering and death and we cry out to you for help. Be near to us, and save us so that we may praise you for your deliverance. Lord God, We wait on Friday, for the resurrection of Sunday and sometimes our lives seem a succession of Fridays and we cannot see what is “Good.” Teach us to call your name as Jesus did. Make us to trust in you like little children. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Matthew 17:1-6 Lamentations 3:1-9 Lamentations 3:19-24 Lord God, On the Sabbath, Jesus rested. He was in the grave. He had finished his work. To most people’s eyes, it looked as if it were all over. He was dead and buried. But only as a seed dies when it is planted in the earth, not to decay, but to spring to new life. Teach us to take refuge in you when we are afraid. Teach us that death is not our end. Teach us to hope always in you and in the resurrection, the making of all things new. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Matthew 28 Revelation 5:11-14 Psalm 118:1-2 Psa 118:14-24
Pastors James and Alexis Wright