Hope Lutheran Church in Warren, Michigan

From: Pastor John

Well, it snowed yesterday.  I mean it actually snowed.  A good 6-7 inches fell around my house, and it was good to see the white blanket covering the grey and brown of winter.  It is always cheery to me to see the white blanket of snow.  It reminds me of God's promise to wash away my sin and make me white as snow.

Then...as I went about the task of snowblowing and shoveling the walks around my house, I noticed something.  Under the blanket of pure white snow the grey and brown of winter were still there.  They were merely hidden by the snow.  That got me thinking about God again.

Isn't it wonderful that God doesn't just cover over our sins with some kind of snowy white-wash?  Jesus' blood removes our sins, "As far as the east is from the west!"  Dig under Sunday's absolution, and it is pure, white, and holy all the way through us!  Now if only we would believe it.  Too often we act like our sins still remain (under the forgiveness) and have a hold on us.  That's one of those lies of the Devil intended to hold us in fear and bondage.

This is Lent!  Claim the power of the cross - forgiveness all the way through and through!  You are not sinners frosted with grace.  You are holy, children of God!  Now go live today in that glorious confidence!

Don't forget there's Homework:

+How can this Tune-up help you Live with Cross Purposes the rest of this week?

+Who around you needs to know this message of freedom in Christ?  How can you give it to them?

For your prayers today:

+Lift up Pete Bede who is facing more treatments following the recurrence of cancer.

+Pray for the holiness of God, that He has graced to you, to lead you to a life of gratitude and love

Jesus is our Hope!

+ Pastor John