Week of March 26, 2006 John 3:14-21

The Gospel lesson for this Sunday is from John, chapter 3, verses 14 to 21, famous verses that many of us have heard before and even known by heart:
14 "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Dear Jesus, such simple words, words that I have heard many times. May Your love overwhelm me so that I can respond to You. Help me to believe. Help me to know that I am not condemned when I look to You as my Savior. Jesus, with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, I love You and believe in You. And help me to reflect Your love and hope and grace and mercy to others.

Just as at Your transfiguration on the mountaintop, Lord, may Your light continue to shine in my life – shine to take away the darkness, shine to uncover and remind me of sin in my life to confess and let You deal with, transform, cleanse and forgive. May I mirror Your love and Your light to others.

Thanks for Your strength that I need each day, Your peace that brings wholeness and rest in my weariness, Your love that lifts me and encourages me, Your light that shines on me and warms my soul, and Your presence that reminds me that You are always with me…. Amen.

May the Lord shower you with His mercy; may the light of His presence be ever your guide; may He guard you and uphold you; may His Spirit be ever by your side. May He bless Your comings in and your goings out. When you sleep, may His angels watch over you; when you wake, may He fill you with His grace. May you love Him and serve Him all your days, and then in heaven to see His face forevermore.In the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

You may leave a message or prayer request by e-mailing me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May God, who loves us unconditionally, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with us now and always.