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2025 |
2024 A Renewed Heart 3 8 24 Faith In Walking With Jesus 12 28 24 |
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Saturday, April 12, 2025 |
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Scriptures: Hebrews 9:14 (NKJV) – “how much more shall the blood of Christ, who though the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” Romans 3:24 (NLT) – “Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” Message: My kidneys had stopped functioning; without them my life would end. The miracle of dialysis gave me a chance to continue living. As the hours passed, I sat in a chair connected to a kidney dialysis machine and my body was cleansed, I had time to reflect on God’s love and mercy, and I prayed. I begin to wonder about my relationship with God; what had I done to deserve to continue living? Nothing! I remembered many times, when I knew it was not possible for me to survive on my own. I felt the grace of God flooding over me and was so thankful to have Christ in my life. As I think of my pain and loneliness during my darkest days, I know that without His grace, freely given to me through His Son, my soul would have been lost. Without Christ, there was no way out of my physical and emotional pain. Throughout the decades when I lived in DC, I was often in danger and feared for my life. I had no stable home and the world around me was a very unsafe place. Yet, somehow, I survived time and time again. Prayer was my only solace and the only way I was able to feel some sort of connection to God. There were times when nothing in this world seemed to make sense, it was only through the grace of God that I knew I was loved and under the protection of His care. Prayer: Father, thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, through whom my salvation is assured. I am also grateful that you have been with me on my journey, even when I was not aware of Your presence. My soul is filled with peace and joy. I am so grateful for the comfort of Your protection throughout my life and especially in my darkest moments. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Michael Robinson |
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Saturday, April 19, 2025 |
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Scriptures: Isaiah 53:5 (NIV) – “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 (NIV) – “‘He [Jesus] himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’” Luke 23:34a (NIV) – “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’” Message: The images of the Stations of the Cross always came to life for me. I was an altar boy at an early age and assisted the priest, especially during Lent. Remembering Jesus as He carried the cross, left me with a feeling of sorrow as I meditated on His final journey and death. Each Friday night I served mass, and was reminded of the darkness and suffering of the events of Good Friday. Jesus died so that God’s children could be restored back into relationship with their heavenly Father. Before the crucifixion, the sins of mankind separated us from God. Jesus, God’s Holy Son, bore our sins by going to the cross and dying for us. His death was painful, humiliating, and lonely. He was stripped of His garments and His side was pieced with a lance. God sent His only begotten Son to be crushed as an offering for humanity’s sins. Jesus’ wounds and death became the atonement for our sins. 1 Peter 2:24 “‘He [Jesus] himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by whose wounds you have been healed.’” Our relationship with God was restored, for Jesus overcame sin and death on Good Friday. Humanity’s sins were atoned by His crucifixion leading us to God’s gift of redemption. Finally, on Good Friday Jesus prayed to His Father, “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’” (Luke 23:34a). It is God’s forgiveness that freed humanity from sin and death, leading us to eternal life. Family Activity: Empty Tomb Rolls and Resurrection CookiesPrayer: Heavenly Father, You sent Your Holy Son, Jesus Christ, for our salvation and redemption. Our Creator, we praise Your Holy name with a heart of repentance and humbleness for Your mercy. For once we were sinners, who now have been redeemed and healed through the blood of Your precious Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. Michael Robinson |
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Friday, March 8, 2024 |
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Scripture: John 11:25 (NIV) – “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;” Message: Earlier this year, I learnt that my heart had four blocked arteries which meant my heart was not receiving the blood necessary for me to live. The only option was to undergo open heart surgery which was performed on August 30, 2023. The medical team had to stop my heart for sixty minutes to perform the surgery so that my heart could be renewed. After surgery I became aware that through His resurrection, Jesus also gave me a renewed spiritual heart. My renewed spiritual heart committed to following Jesus as I was restored through His devotion and salvation. I felt that I had been resurrected physically and spiritually with a new lease of life. As I look toward Easter this year, I am reminded that Jesus brought me life by dying on the cross for my sins and His resurrection became very personal. My life has changed with my renewed personal relationship with Jesus. Those sixty minutes of legal death gave me a renewed physical heart, and the opportunity to renew my spiritual heart. My renewed heart has awakened my spiritual life in the Kingdom of God here on earth. Now aware that my eternal life continued during those sixty minutes when my physical heart was stopped, I am more devoted than ever to serve God through the grace of Jesus Christ. I am blessed through God's heart and love, revealed through the divine grace of Jesus. Prayer: My Holy Father, kneeling at Your altar is my joy. Your Holy Son, Jesus Christ, has carried me from death to eternal life. My heart has been opened to honor You through my words, my deeds, and my actions. There is no greater gift than my resurrection and renewed heart which came through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Let my devotion to You reflect my thanks and gratitude for my renewed heart. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. Michael Robinson |
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Christmastide - Saturday, December 28, 2024 |
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Scripture: Hebrews 11:6 (MSG) – “It’s impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.” Message: My Christian walk started in childhood. I felt alone in the middle of the street, not knowing where I was to go. I was about eight or so at the time. I remember that night and the fear and the confusion and the uncertainty. My foster mother, Dee, spoke of Jesus often. In my fear and loneliness, Jesus came to me. I thought about dying. There were many times since then that I felt alone. The tears often fell down my cheeks. Throughout the years I always prayed for God to “Help me!” I can only describe a sense of peace and comfort as I prayed. This feeling remains with me to this day at the age of sixty-seven. I always thought that only God could give me the sense that I was not alone when I prayed my “Help me!” prayer. The comfort and peace and wholeness was strongest in the sanctuary of my heart. Today, no matter where I am I know Jesus is walking with me. I often return to the sanctuary of my heart seeking His comfort and peace which came that night as a child standing on the corner. It is in the sanctuary of my heart where I still find His comfort, His peace and His guidance for which I am most grateful. Prayer: My Heavenly Father who created me, You have given me Your Holy Son to walk with me throughout my life. You have never forsaken me, nor have You left me to die in the streets. You have poured out Your love for me and placed it in my heart. I praise You and vow to continue to love and cherish You for all eternity. Amen. Michael Robinson |
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