Daily Devotion for April 08, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Psalm 63:1.

The Psalmist writes that his very soul thirsts for God, and that “my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Ps. 63:1b NRSV). One of the many things I like about the Psalms is that they reflect every facet of human existence. David and the other writers of the Psalms rejoice in God, complain to God, beg from God and feel reassured from God…..if it is an experienced human emotion then someone has written about it in the Psalms!  Today’s passage reflects David’s attitude when he was scared and in the wilderness. He was in a bleak spot, but also in his own spiritual wilderness. Sometimes the spiritual wildernesses are more difficult for us to get away from. So David seeks the goodness of God, and goes on in this Psalm to remember how God has repeatedly rescued him before during other tough times. God did it then and God can do it again! For David and for us, it is a good reminder that even in the midst of the most difficult wilderness, we are never alone. God is with us - and his steadfast love never ceases.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, we thank you for your steadfast love in every season of our life. Amen

Daily Devotion for April 07, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Psalm 42:1-3.

These verses paint a powerful picture of deep spiritual longing. Just as a deer desperately seeks water to survive, the psalmist expresses a desperate thirst for God. This is not a casual interest or occasional thought about God—it is a deep, soul-level need. The psalmist recognizes that true life and satisfaction come only from the presence of the living God.

Yet these words are written during a time of sorrow and struggle. The psalmist speaks of tears and of people questioning God’s presence. In difficult seasons, it can feel as though God is distant, and others may even challenge our faith. But even in this pain, the psalmist’s desire for God does not fade—it grows stronger.

This passage reminds us that spiritual thirst is not a weakness but a sign of life. When our hearts long for God, it shows that we know where true hope is found. Just as water revives a weary deer, God refreshes and sustains our souls.

When life feels overwhelming or when God seems far away, let that longing draw you closer to Him. Seek Him in prayer, in His Word, and in worship. The same God our souls thirst for is the One who promises to satisfy that thirst with His presence. 

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, create in me a deep hunger and thirst for You. When I feel weary or discouraged, remind me that You alone satisfy my soul. Draw me closer to Your presence and renew my strength in You. Amen.

Daily Devotion for April 06, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Acts 1:8.

We sometimes read about God entering into the lives of Biblical characters like Moses, David, Saul who became Paul, and others; and this just seems like something that happened to others and that could never happen to us. But this announcement from Jesus to the apostles should be heard as a personal announcement to each one of us who choose to follow Christ. 

When we become Christians, the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, to give us spiritual gifts and to give us the power to use them. This is a very powerful thing that we often fail to see and understand, which means we then fail to respond. There is a grave danger that we profess our faith in Christ and join the church as if we were simply becoming members of a social group or community service organization. In this verse, Jesus is telling the apostles and us that, filled with the Holy Spirit, we will be Christ’s witnesses in our communities, in areas a bit further away, in areas and with people who may not like us, and even in far distant places. 

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect on how the Holy Spirit is acting in and through you. Do you know which gifts the Spirit has given you? Are you using those to serve others through the church? Find more and more places and ways to be witnesses for Christ, and the Spirit will bless you for it.

Daily Devotion for April 05, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 28:1-6 .

The traditional greeting on Easter Sunday for the pastor to the congregation is CHRIST IS RISEN! The congregational responds, HE IS RISEN INDEED! I am grateful today that we serve a risen savior.

Over the last 2000 years skeptics have tried to disprove the Resurrection of Jesus. They have used logic, reason, philosophy, science, and lies to prove their point. Professor Thomas Arnold of Oxford University in England was a history professor who spent his whole life looking critically at different eras of history to determine what is true, what is exaggerated, and what is false. When he researched the period of history in which Christ lived, he discovered that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the best documented event in history He goes on to say that there is more historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus than there is for the fall of the Roman Empire. He states, “if we cannot believe in the resurrection, we cannot believe any of our history books.”

Let us celebrate our resurrected Lord today and every day!

Personal Worship Option:

Resurrected Jesus, This morning we come before You with hearts overflowing with joy and gratitude. The stone is rolled away and the tomb is empty! On this glorious Easter morning, fill our hearts with the same wonder that filled the women at the tomb, and the same faith that ignited in the disciples. In Jesus name. Amen.

Daily Devotion for April 04, 2026

 

Devotion:

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Read Luke 23:47-56.

When Jesus died, He was placed in a borrowed tomb. Borrowed because He would not need it for long. He was buried in a tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea.  Saturday was a long sad day for all who loved Jesus. He told them He would be raised from the dead, but they did not understand. Friday was difficult because of Jesus’ death, and the silence and stillness of Saturday was very sad as well. The Saturday before the Resurrection was sometimes called Holy Saturday or Silent Saturday. There were no miracles, no voice of Jesus teaching or comforting, just grief, and confusion.

That long sad, silent, still Saturday, teaches us that God had a plan for Jesus and God has a plan for our life as well. Sometimes we may feel like we are living in a perpetual silent Saturday, but we must remember that God is still working when we can’t see Him. Waiting doesn’t mean abandonment, and every Saturday gives way to Sunday.

Personal Worship Option:

Crucified Savior, thank You that the grave could not hold You. Thank You for your sacrifice on Calvary’s cross. Help us to remember that the troubles we face today are temporary, and that a Sunday is around the corner from every Saturday. In Jesus' holy name. Amen.

Daily Devotion for April 03, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Luke 23:33-46.

The crucifixion is at the very center of our faith.  The love Jesus showed us through His suffering is extraordinary.   This was Passover, the time that people brought lambs for the sacrifice of sin, yet Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice.  Read the words of the song, “Watch the Lamb” and ponder the sacrifice that Jesus made for you. Click link to watch: WATCH THE LAMB by Ray Boltz

 

WATCH THE LAMB by Ray Boltz

Walking on the road to Jerusalem

The time had come to sacrifice again

My two small sons

They walked beside me on the road

The reason that they came

Was to watch the lamb

"Daddy, Daddy, what will we see there?

There's so much that we don't understand"

So I told them of Moses and Father Abraham

And then I said, "Dear children, watch the Lamb"

There will be so many in Jerusalem today

We must be sure the lamb doesn't run away"

And I told them of Moses and Father Abraham

Then I said, "Dear children, watch the lamb"

When we reached the city

I knew something must be wrong

There were no joyful worshippers

No joyful worship songs

I stood there with my children

In the midst of angry men

And then I heard the crowd cry out

"Crucify Him!"

We tried to leave the city

But we could not get away

Forced to play in this drama

A part I did not wish to play

Why upon this day

Were men condemned to die?

Why were we all standing here

When soon they would pass by?

I looked and said

"Even now they come"

The first one pleaded for mercy

The people gave him none

The second one was violent

He was arrogant and loud

I can still hear his angry voice

Screaming at the crowd

Then someone said, "There's Jesus"

And I scarce believed my eyes

A man so badly beaten

He barely looked alive

Blood poured from His body

From the thorns upon His brow

Running down the cross

And falling to the ground

I watched as He struggled

I watched Him as He fell

The cross came down upon His back

The crowd began to yell

In that moment I felt such agony

In that moment I felt such loss

Until the Roman soldier grabbed my arm

And screamed, "YOU! Carry his cross!"

At first, I tried to resist him

Then his hand reached for his sword

And so I knelt and took

The cross from the Lord

I placed it on my shoulder

And started down the street

The blood that He'd been shedding

Was running down my cheek

They led us to Golgatha

They drove nails deep in His feet and hands

And yet upon the cross, I heard Him pray

"Father, forgive them"

Oh, never have I seen such love

In any other eyes

"Into thy hands, I commit My spirit,"

He prayed and then He died

I stood for what seemed like years

I'd lost all sense of time

Until I felt two tiny hands

Holding tight to mine

My children stood there weeping

And I heard the oldest say

"Father please forgive us

The lamb ran away

Daddy Daddy, what have we seen here

There's so much that we don't understand"

So I took them in my arms

And we turned and faced the cross

And then I said, "Dear children, watch the Lamb"

Personal Worship Option:

Keep your eyes on Jesus. He brings salvation, hope, forgiveness, and joy.

Daily Devotion for April 02, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 26:20-35.

Jesus celebrated a ceremonial final meal with his disciples. We call it the Last Supper. At the table with them he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and passed it to the disciples, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

In the church we celebrate this new-covenant meal by breaking bread and drinking juice together in remembrance of Jesus. We call it the Lord’s Supper. During the week before Easter, which we call Holy Week, Holy Thursday is the time that most churches reenact the last supper with communion.  This meal, communion, replaces the Jewish Passover. There is no longer any need to bring a lamb to the altar, because Christ is the Lamb of God, sacrificed once for all, who takes away the sin of the world.  By taking communion it promotes the nourishment to live and grow in our relationship with God.

Personal Worship Option:

We praise you, Lord Jesus, for your undying love shown to us in so many ways as you walked toward your death for our sake. Amen.