How Do They Choose the Pope

Just a couple of short videos on how popes become popes.

Morning Reading: Luke 12.13-21 (NLT) – greed

Reading: Luke 12.13-21 (NLT)

Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”

Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Help me to live for you today – one day, one choice, at a time. Amen.

Hymn: “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” – Helen Howarth Lemmel, 1864-1961

4th Sunday of Lent: 2 Corinthians 5.16-21 (NLT) – Come back to God!

Reading: 2 Corinthians 5.16-21 (NLT)

So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Make us your ambassadors here and now… people who speak your Word of mercy and grace – “Come back to God!” Holy Spirit – Bring to our mind, at this moment, the people we know who need to be made right with God… (name them). Heavenly Father – we plead for them. Make them new creations in Jesus Christ – body, mind, soul, and spirit. Make this Easter the day that they know, without a doubt, they have been born again. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hymn: “Born Again” – Third Day (YouTube)

Today I found myself / After searching all these years / And the man that I saw, he wasn’t at all who I thought he’d be / I was lost when you found me here / And I was broken beyond repair / Then you came along and you sang your song over me

It feels like I’m born again / It feels like I’m living / For the very first time / For the very first time / In my life

Make a promise to me now / Reassure my heart somehow / That the love that I feel is so much more real than anything / I’ve a feeling in my soul / And I pray that I’m not wrong / That the life I have now, it is only the beginning

It feels like I’m born again / It feels like I’m living / For the very first time / For the very first time / It feels like I’m breathing / It feels like I’m moving / For the very first time / For the very first time

I wasn’t looking for something that was more / Than what I had yesterday / Then you came to me and you gave to me / Life and a love that I’ve never known / That I’ve never felt before

It feels like I’m born again / It feels like I’m living / For the very first time / I’m living for the first time / It feels like I’m breathing / It feels like I’m moving / For the very first time / I’m living for the first time / In my life

Morning Reading: Luke 12.1-11 (NLT) – full disclosure

Reading: Luke 12.1-11 (NLT)

Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy. The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!

“Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.

“What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

“I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels. But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels. Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

“And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit – Chase away the darkness in us and around us. Expose all things to the Light of heaven – the secrets, the cover-ups, the evil words whispered in the darkness behind closed doors. Open it all to the scrutiny of heaven. Forgive us and cleanse us – make our hearts whiter than snow. And give us a holy boldness to tell others that Jesus is our Savior and Lord. In His name I ask it. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Holy Spirit Rain Down” – Hillsong (YouTube)