Today in History
1700
April Fools’ Tradition Popularized
On April 1, 1700, English pranksters began popularizing the annual tradition of April Fools’ Day by playing practical jokes on each other.
Although the day, also called All Fools’ Day, has been celebrated for several centuries by different cultures, its exact origins remain a mystery.
Some historians speculate that April Fools’ Day dates back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, as called for by the Council of Trent in 1563. People who were slow to get the news or failed to recognize that the start of the new year had moved to January 1 and continued to celebrate it during the last week of March through April 1 became the butt of jokes and hoaxes.
These pranks included having paper fish placed on their backs and being referred to as poisson d’avril (April fish), said to symbolize a young, “easily hooked” fish and a gullible person.
April Fools’ Day spread throughout Britain during the 18th century. In Scotland, the tradition became a two-day event, starting with “hunting the gowk,” in which people were sent on phony errands (gowk is a word for cuckoo bird, a symbol for fool) and followed by Tailie Day, which involved pranks played on people’s derrieres, such as pinning fake tails or “kick me” signs on them.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Devotional
Devotional by Kurt Selles
The COVID-19 crisis is impacting different people in different ways.
Teachers and their students are navigating massive educational changes.
Healthcare workers are facing an increased workload.
Church leaders are exploring new ways to minister to and serve others.
Virtually everyone—both in the immediate and long term—will deal with financial fallout from this pandemic.
Years from now, each of us will tell different, yet universal, stories about this consequential time.
The biblical books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell us about Jesus’ ministry and his final week before dying and then rising from the dead. Though these books tell the same general story, they each tell it a little differently—often highlighting different details that show us slightly different angles on who Jesus was, what he did for us, and what our response should be. They’re all true and all inspired by the same Holy Spirit of God. And when we take each of them the way they were intended, we grow in understanding the Savior of the world.
What’s more, this Savior isn’t some historical “dead guy.” Jesus died—but then he also rose from the dead. And he is every bit as much alive today as ever. That makes these stories, which are told by Jesus himself through the gospel writers, something like letters from a friend who is saying, “Remember that time when . . . ?” These stories help us grow to know the living Lord of the world in a wonderfully personal way.
So let’s start by looking at Jesus’ ministry and his final week in the book of Mark—and then peek at Luke, and then John and Matthew. As we do, we’ll get a fuller picture of how Jesus knew anxiety, endured suffering, and remains with us today as we face our own unprecedented fears and struggles.
This month’s writer, Scott DeVries, has served as a church pastor and as a ministry coordinator in the Holland area of Michigan. He currently works at facilitating connections between the more than twenty ministries and 1,100 churches of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. He has a passion for prayer, church organization, and studying the Scriptures in their original languages.
The COVID-19 crisis is impacting different people in different ways.
Teachers and their students are navigating massive educational changes.
Healthcare workers are facing an increased workload.
Church leaders are exploring new ways to minister to and serve others.
Virtually everyone—both in the immediate and long term—will deal with financial fallout from this pandemic.
Years from now, each of us will tell different, yet universal, stories about this consequential time.
The biblical books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell us about Jesus’ ministry and his final week before dying and then rising from the dead. Though these books tell the same general story, they each tell it a little differently—often highlighting different details that show us slightly different angles on who Jesus was, what he did for us, and what our response should be. They’re all true and all inspired by the same Holy Spirit of God. And when we take each of them the way they were intended, we grow in understanding the Savior of the world.
What’s more, this Savior isn’t some historical “dead guy.” Jesus died—but then he also rose from the dead. And he is every bit as much alive today as ever. That makes these stories, which are told by Jesus himself through the gospel writers, something like letters from a friend who is saying, “Remember that time when . . . ?” These stories help us grow to know the living Lord of the world in a wonderfully personal way.
So let’s start by looking at Jesus’ ministry and his final week in the book of Mark—and then peek at Luke, and then John and Matthew. As we do, we’ll get a fuller picture of how Jesus knew anxiety, endured suffering, and remains with us today as we face our own unprecedented fears and struggles.
This month’s writer, Scott DeVries, has served as a church pastor and as a ministry coordinator in the Holland area of Michigan. He currently works at facilitating connections between the more than twenty ministries and 1,100 churches of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. He has a passion for prayer, church organization, and studying the Scriptures in their original languages.
Imagine !!!!!
IF A MICROSCOPIC VIRUS CAN DO THIS MUCH DAMAGE, IMAGINE WHAT GOOD A MUSTARD SEED FAITH CAN DO !!!!!
Psalm 4
Psalm 4
1 Answer me when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
4 Tremble and do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the Lord.
6 Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.
7 Fill my heart with joy
when their grain and new wine abound.
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
1 Answer me when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
4 Tremble and do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the Lord.
6 Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.
7 Fill my heart with joy
when their grain and new wine abound.
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Thoughts on Today's Verse
"Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer."
Psalm 4:1
Thoughts on Today's Verse by Phil Ware
At first, this cry for help seems very demanding. However, closer inspection shows that this is really the cry of desperation. Have you been there? I surely have and I regularly hear from folks who are there now.
But, read how this Psalm ends!
What is the secret to surviving a long agony?
I believe three things are important:
1) honesty in our prayer life with God
2) confidence that God hears and cares even when our prayers sizzle with pain and frustration
3) genuine praise for God included in our prayers even when things seem bleak.
It's not a magical formula, but it is a Spirit-inspired one — check it out in Psalm 4!
My Prayer...
O God, please hear my cry for relief, as well as the relief of those I love, from agony, burdens, and suffering. Please answer in amazing and miraculous ways so that we may not only be relieved, but so that you may be glorified as well. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Psalm 4:1
Thoughts on Today's Verse by Phil Ware
At first, this cry for help seems very demanding. However, closer inspection shows that this is really the cry of desperation. Have you been there? I surely have and I regularly hear from folks who are there now.
But, read how this Psalm ends!
What is the secret to surviving a long agony?
I believe three things are important:
1) honesty in our prayer life with God
2) confidence that God hears and cares even when our prayers sizzle with pain and frustration
3) genuine praise for God included in our prayers even when things seem bleak.
It's not a magical formula, but it is a Spirit-inspired one — check it out in Psalm 4!
My Prayer...
O God, please hear my cry for relief, as well as the relief of those I love, from agony, burdens, and suffering. Please answer in amazing and miraculous ways so that we may not only be relieved, but so that you may be glorified as well. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Notification from Costco
'COSTCO WHOLESALE We are currently allowing no more than two people to enter the warehouse on each membership.
This temporary change is for your safety and the safety of our employees and other members, and to further assist
with our social distancing efforts.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.'
A Prayer
A Prayer by Connie McKelvey
Lord I come to you in prayer, to ask you in Jesus name, to heal the land, and to stop the chaos... and evil that is at play.
May the lands be whole again! Please Lord, bring your glory down and bless each and every person here on this earth!
Lord I pray that you would release us from this plague, and this epidemic, and crisis in each and every country.
I pray you be with everyone who has lost a job or whose job is at risk..
I also pray you be with all the doctors and nurses and everyone who's working hard to get things under control!
I also pray for all the grocery store workers and truck drivers as well!!
I come to you and pray that there will be no more death to this virus and only healing, in the name of Jesus!
WE ARE NOTHING WITHOUT YOU GOD!!! AND WE NEED YOU!
Eradicate this virus faster than when it started!
Let this world be in wonder at how mighty the work of your hand is!
Let nations seek after you!
May we all repent and turn to you God!! In Jesus' name, Amen! 🙏❤️🙏
Copy and paste this to your page, because the power of prayer does work!!
And our world needs more prayer and more trust in God!
Lord I come to you in prayer, to ask you in Jesus name, to heal the land, and to stop the chaos... and evil that is at play.
May the lands be whole again! Please Lord, bring your glory down and bless each and every person here on this earth!
Lord I pray that you would release us from this plague, and this epidemic, and crisis in each and every country.
I pray you be with everyone who has lost a job or whose job is at risk..
I also pray you be with all the doctors and nurses and everyone who's working hard to get things under control!
I also pray for all the grocery store workers and truck drivers as well!!
I come to you and pray that there will be no more death to this virus and only healing, in the name of Jesus!
WE ARE NOTHING WITHOUT YOU GOD!!! AND WE NEED YOU!
Eradicate this virus faster than when it started!
Let this world be in wonder at how mighty the work of your hand is!
Let nations seek after you!
May we all repent and turn to you God!! In Jesus' name, Amen! 🙏❤️🙏
Copy and paste this to your page, because the power of prayer does work!!
And our world needs more prayer and more trust in God!
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