26Mar
A Prayer for Holy Week
Most merciful God, I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbor as myself. I am truly sorry and humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me; that I may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Meditation – The strange Notion of Pitying God
By any measure Jesus led a tragic life: rumors of illegitimacy, taunts of insanity from His family, rejection by most who heard Him, betrayal by His friends, the savage turn of a mob against Him, a series of justice-mocking trials, execution in a form reserved for slaves and violent criminals. A pitiful story, to be sure, and that is the heart of the scandal: we do not expect to pity God. – Philip Yancey
Hymn – O Sacred Head Now Wounded
1 O sacred Head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down,
now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, Thine only crown.
O sacred Head, what glory,
what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory,
I joy to call Thee mine.
2 What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered
was all for sinners’ gain;
mine, mine was the transgression,
but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
‘Tis I deserve Thy place;
look on me with Thy favor,
vouchsafe to me Thy grace.
3 What language shall I borrow
to thank Thee, dearest Friend,
for this, Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever!
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
outlive my love for Thee.
4 Be near when I am dying,
O show Thy cross to me!
And, for my succor flying,
come, Lord, to set me free:
these eyes, new faith receiving,
from Thee shall never move;
for he who dies believing
dies safely in Thy love.
Puritan Prayer – from Valley of Vision
Jesus said, for those who have ears to hear, let them hear.
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In the summer of 1995, George Shamblin left a successful career in pharmaceutical sales to enroll at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. Though he experienced more than his share of challenges and setbacks over the next 28 years, it's a decision he never regretted. Since 2012, Shamblin has been a pastor at The Center for Executive Leadership in Birmingham, Alabama, where he teaches Bible Studies and disciples others at various stages of spiritual growth. He serves on the board of Reel-Life International and has been an adjunct professor at Birmingham Theological Seminary. In 2023, he and his brother Keith co-founded a missions ministry, The Overseas Initiative. Shamblin published his first book, The Relay, in 2020 and was inducted into Marquis Who's Who that same year. An avid outdoorsman, as well as a Master Gardener, George and his wife of 30 years, Jill, have four children Sydney, Bailey, Miller, and George Jr.