Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were the first spies ever to be executed for conspiracy to commit espionage for giving information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. As a result of their conviction, they were put to death in the electric chair in Sing Sing Prison, New York.

In his summation at the end of the grueling and bitter trial, the lawyer for the Rosenbergs said with deep emotion, “Your Honor, what my clients ask for is justice.”

“The court has given what you have asked for - justice!” replied Judge Irving Kaufman. “What you really wanted is mercy. But that is something that this court has no right to give.”

This response from the judge has a scriptural bearing: no one is good - no one in all the world. Every one of us has sinned. If God gave us justice, each one of us would have our place in hell - separated from God forever.

We are reminded of this fact in Psalm 130:3 where we read, “If You, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?” He then answers it with a gracious promise that brings the peace of God: “But with You there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve You.”

If God kept a record of our sins - or if He held a grudge against us - we could say that He purposefully built a barrier between Himself and us so that we would be separated from Him forever.

But He did not do that. He sent His one and only begotten Son to be our one and only Savior. Now, we have access to Him, when we repent, because of His mercy.

Prayer:  Thank You, Father, for Your willingness to forgive us of our sins and grant us Your love and salvation. Your mercy is a treasure to us! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today:  If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. Psalm 130:3-4

Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were the first spies ever to be executed for conspiracy to commit espionage for giving information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. As a result of their conviction, they were put to death in the electric chair in Sing Sing Prison, New York.

In his summation at the end of the grueling and bitter trial, the lawyer for the Rosenbergs said with deep emotion, “Your Honor, what my clients ask for is justice.”

“The court has given what you have asked for - justice!” replied Judge Irving Kaufman. “What you really wanted is mercy. But that is something that this court has no right to give.”

This response from the judge has a scriptural bearing: no one is good - no one in all the world. Every one of us has sinned. If God gave us justice, each one of us would have our place in hell - separated from God forever.

We are reminded of this fact in Psalm 130:3 where we read, “If You, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?” He then answers it with a gracious promise that brings the peace of God: “But with You there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve You.”

If God kept a record of our sins - or if He held a grudge against us - we could say that He purposefully built a barrier between Himself and us so that we would be separated from Him forever.

But He did not do that. He sent His one and only begotten Son to be our one and only Savior. Now, we have access to Him, when we repent, because of His mercy.

Prayer:  Thank You, Father, for Your willingness to forgive us of our sins and grant us Your love and salvation. Your mercy is a treasure to us! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today:  If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. Psalm 130:3-4

Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were the first spies ever to be executed for conspiracy to commit espionage for giving information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. As a result of their conviction, they were put to death in the electric chair in Sing Sing Prison, New York.

In his summation at the end of the grueling and bitter trial, the lawyer for the Rosenbergs said with deep emotion, “Your Honor, what my clients ask for is justice.”

“The court has given what you have asked for - justice!” replied Judge Irving Kaufman. “What you really wanted is mercy. But that is something that this court has no right to give.”

This response from the judge has scriptural bearing: no one is good - no one in all the world. Each and every one of us have sinned. If God gave us justice, each one of us would have our place in hell - separated from God forever.

We are reminded of this fact in Psalm 130:3 where we read, “If You, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? “ He then answers it with a gracious promise that brings the peace of God: “But with You there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence serve You.”

If God kept a record of our sins - or if He held a grudge against us - we could say that He purposefully built a barrier between Himself and us so that we would be separated from Him forever.

But He did not do that. He sent His one and only begotten Son to be our one and only Savior. Now, we have access to Him, when we repent, because of His mercy.

Prayer:  Thank You, Father, for Your willingness to forgive us of our sins and grant us Your love and salvation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 130:3-4 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

One of the greatest attractions in all of America is Yellowstone National Park. There are over two hundred active geysers in the park but Old Faithful is the best known and most visited. It has become famous over the years because it is so regular in its “activity” of shooting steams of water high into the air.

No one knows when it began, but it was first discovered in 1870. The silvery cascades of water shoot out of the geyser about every sixty-five minutes every day of the year.

The ancient Hebrews and present day Christians see in the faithfulness of this geyser the unending, time-less and inexhaustible mercy of God. Since the fall of man there has not been one moment when God did not have man’s need of redemption in the center of His heart. And this need for our redemption springs upward and outward from God’s unlimited mercy every moment of every day - much like the dependability of Old Faithful.   

The “mercy” of God is an everlasting expression of His divine compassion. This “mercy” of God is a statement of the undeserving love that He has for us by withholding His judgment on us for our sins. We are reminded of His immeasurable love whenever we pause and think of His Son coming to earth to die on a cross for our sins. God's mercy is “God at work” helping and healing, protecting and providing, strengthening us each day and saving us from death and destruction.

Give thanks to the Lord! His mercy is never ending!

Prayer:  We lift grateful hearts to You, Lord, for mercy we do not deserve yet desperately need for our salvation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 136:26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.

Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were the first spies ever to be executed for conspiracy to commit espionage for giving information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. As a result of their conviction, they were put to death in the electric chair in Sing Sing Prison, New York.

In his summation at the end of the grueling and bitter trial, the lawyer of the Rosenbergs said with deep emotion, “Your Honor, what my clients ask for is justice.”

“The court has given what you have asked for - justice!” replied Judge Irving Kaufman. “What you really wanted is mercy. But that is something that this court has no right to give.”

This response from the judge has scriptural bearing: no one is good - no one in all the world. Each and every one of us have sinned. If God gave us justice, each one of us would have our place in hell - separated from God forever.

We are reminded of this fact in Psalm 130:3 where we read, “If You, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? “ He then answers it with a gracious promise that brings the peace of God: “But with You there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence serve You.”

If God kept a record of our sins - or if He held a grudge against us - we could say that He purposefully built a barrier between Himself and us so that we would be separated from Him forever.

But He did not do that. He sent His one and only begotten Son to be our one and only Savior. Now, we have access to Him, when we repent, because of His mercy.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for Your willingness to forgive us of our sins and grant us Your love and salvation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 130:3, 4 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

Forgiveness, above everything else, is a sign of love. The more we love and value another person, the quicker we are to forgive that one if they have hurt or harmed us, injured or insulted us. Love, especially deep love, will forgive quickly and completely.

On the other hand, when someone does something to us that is on purpose, knowing that it will offend us deeply or cause us great pain, that’s another matter completely. We may replace forgiveness with grudges and wait for an appropriate opportunity to get even or settle the score.

David was threatened by his guilt and needed God’s forgiveness. It is obvious in the opening verses of Psalm 51. His guilt was destroying and overwhelming him. And, he could find nothing within himself that provided him any assurance that God would forgive him. He knew that he did not deserve God’s forgiveness. So, he appealed to God’s “lovingkindness, his steadfast love, his great compassion, his eternal compassion” - all words that are included in the translation of God’s hesed – God’s love. Why did he find it necessary to ask God to “blot out my transgressions, wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin?” He feared God’s wrath.

David realized the significance and seriousness of his sins. According to the laws that governed the children of Israel at that time, God would not forgive him for what he had done. He was frightened! Where could he go? What could he do?

Appeal to God for His mercy, faithfulness and love. And that mercy, forgiveness and love have always been and always will be available. “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse of all unrighteousness.”

Prayer: How thankful we are, Father, for Your never-ending, always-available love, mercy, grace, presence and forgiveness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

This day of the month has been set aside as a day to express love and affection. Cards and candy, gifts and flowers are given freely and are usually intended to make a statement of appreciation to someone who has a special place in our heart.

We read in Psalm 23 that the “goodness and mercy of God will follow us all the days of our lives.” But the word mercy is best translated “love” - a love that is not readily visible in our world but is vitally needed by each of us. It is God’s love that we know and experience through His promise to never leave us or forsake and always be available to us.

Rather than being pursued and punished by a god who is angry with us for breaking his laws, we have a God who pursues us and promises to provide for our every need from His limitless love and grace. It is this God that David knew and trusted. It is this God that David knew that he could go to for hope and help, love and forgiveness. It is this God that David knew could be trusted to protect him in times of trouble. It is this God that David knew. We can come to know this God as David knew Him and we can come to trust Him as David did.

When we speak of God’s love, we speak of a love that comes first from loyalty - He will never leave us nor abandon us. We know that it is a love that will surround us with care and compassion. We know that this love will be available to meet our every need every day.

Prayer: We thank You, loving Father, for a love that is never ending, always available and freely given. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

Fear comes from many difference sources. It can be a person or a place. Sometimes it erupts when everything seems calm and serene. Often it seems to grip us when we know we are in the center of God’s will doing God’s work and trusting that we are doing it in His way. All of us have those moments of being jolted by uncertainty and feelings of insecurity.

It was no different with David. In Psalm six it begins with a statement that suggests that he is trying to deflect God’s wrath. “Oh Lord,” he cries, “do not rebuke me in your anger!” Does this suggest that he is afraid of being punished for some sin he has committed? Or might he fear God’s judgment for something he did in the past while he was still a sinner? Could it be that he is afraid to ask for healing as he was going through a time of sickness?

He admits to “being weak,” his “bones being troubled” and his soul being “greatly troubled.” He really needed help as all of us do from time to time. But notice what he did: he did not focus on his pain and problems, he focused on the mercy of God!

“Have mercy on me!” he cried. He needed God’s help! And in the midst of his fear - whether it was his sickness or some sin from the past that haunted him - he had full confidence in God’s mercy and believed that He would hear him and heal him. When we are overwhelmed by the issues of life, only our faith in God’s mercy and power can restore us.

Prayer: Increase our faith, Father, and give us the assurance that You will protect us in every situation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 6:2 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.

James was having a difficult time getting his rain coat on before running to catch the bus for school. Struggling to get the buttons through the correct holes he said, “Mom, this is going to be a beautiful day!”

Puzzled, she asked, “How can you say that when it is pouring down rain outside?”

“Mom,” he said with a smile, “don’t forget the sun is just on the other side of the clouds waiting to peek out!”

Psalm 136 is a great resource and reminder for the difficult times in life when the heavens seem to disappear behind dark clouds. In it we are reminded of the greatness and wonder of God’s power and the reality of His enduring, everlasting love. Every verse, after giving a reason to give thanks, is concluded with the phrase, “His faithful love endures forever.”

There are days when one obstacle surfaces after another. Frustration overwhelms us and anger surfaces that surprise us. But God would have us to seek His peace and look at every obstacle as opportunities to call on Him for help and guidance.

There are times when tragedy strikes with no warning and we find ourselves facing life without the presence of a loved one. Grief becomes an overpowering force in our lives and it seems impossible to see beyond the moment. But God wants us to remember that He is our best source of peace and comfort and will sustain us.


Prayer: We give You thanks, Heavenly Father, for Your grace and mercy that comes to us through Your enduring love. Teach us to be thankful for everything! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 136 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. (Read more…)

Our Lord has hands that give and a heart that forgives. The closing words of David in Psalm 23 exclaim, “Surely your goodness and unfailing mercy shall pursue me all the days of my life!”

The word goodness in this verse refers to all of the gracious gifts that God will lavishly bestow on those who are His own. It includes kindness, love and loyalty as well the fact that He will meet our every physical need.

Mercy in this verse assures us that the Lord will forgive our sins when we call on Him. It leaves no doubt that our God is the “God of mercy.” He alone is responsible for providing the gift of His salvation to those who call upon Him. And furthermore, it assures us that He will forgive us for those times when we fail Him and sin as we strive to grow into the likeness of His Son and, unfortunately, fail.

This goodness and mercy that David writes about are neither conditional nor temporary. It is with us today and will be with us as long as we live – “all the days of our lives” – that is, until we enter His house and dwell with Him forever more.

How wonderful it is to know that our Lord goes before us and is always along side of us waiting to meet our every need – spiritually, emotionally and physically.

What a wonderful Shepherd is ours!

Prayer: Lord, we rejoice in the greatness of our salvation, knowing that we need fear nothing or no one because You are with us all day, every day! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

Alexander the Great was the first conqueror of the world. Even today, as we recognize leaders who have impacted the world, he is considered as one of the most remarkable men of history.

Late in his life an artist was commissioned to paint a portrait of him. In discussing the content of the painting Alexander informed the artist that he was anxious to conceal the scar on his face.

To accommodate him, the artist painted the portrait of Alexander in a reflective mood with his head resting on his hand and a finger covering the scar. This act of insight and kindness worked perfectly and the scar was hidden.

That’s love in action – reflecting the mercy of one who honors the needs of others. The Apostle Peter summed up the behavior that we, as Christians, are to show others: “Most important of all,” he wrote, “continue to show deep love for each other.”

Love is always expressed in showing mercy to those in need. If we say that we have love for others, yet do nothing to help them in their times of need, we do not reflect our appreciation for the compassion that God, through Christ, has shown us.

We can only show our gratitude for the grace of God in our lives by what we do to and for others. Words are not works and thoughts do not bring change.

Prayer: Help us, Lord, to show our gratitude to You for the love, grace and mercy You shower upon us each day, by what we do to help others in their times of need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: 1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”