Francis Christ's Community Missionary Church

04/08/2026

Giving a heads up -- This page will be closing forever. This will be the last time Francis Christ's Community Missionary Church Page will make any posts, shared or otherwise. The church doors are still open, just not on this page for the little church. Please feel free to attend the little church or go to the other page for the Francis Baptist Church. Go with God!

04/08/2026

Giving a heads up -- This page will be closing forever. This will be the last time Francis Christ's Community Missionary Church Page will make any posts, shared or otherwise. The church doors are still open, just not on this page for the little church. Please feel free to attend the little church or go to the other page for the Francis Baptist Church. Go with God!

Our devotion for today comes from Isaiah 25:6-9
“He will swallow up death forever. The Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces…” Isaiah 25:8

These words rise from Isaiah like a song of victory in the midst of a world that still knows sorrow. They also feel needed right now. The events in our world today are fresh reminders that the world is not as it should be. Into a world like that, Isaiah speaks a stubborn and holy promise: death will not get the final word. Easter does not ask us to ignore sorrow or pretend suffering is small. Death is still an enemy. Grief is still real. But the resurrection of Jesus declares that death will not win. Christ has entered the worst of this broken world and come out victorious. The empty tomb means evil does not own the future. It has been overcome through the death and Resurrection of Jesus.
Isaiah also gives this tender promise: “The Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces.” As we read this passage, we are reminded that the God of resurrection is not distant from our pain. He entered our world and comes near to the grieving, is present with the anxious, and faithful in every uncertainty. The world may be loud, but Easter is louder.
So when the world feels heavy, be encouraged and let resurrection hope speak louder than any fear or uncertainty. Not because life is easy, but because Jesus is alive. Not because tears are absent, but because God has promised they will not last forever.
A question to reflect on: Where do I need to let resurrection hope speak louder than fear?
Prayer:
Risen Lord,
thank You that death does not have the final word.
Thank You that through Your resurrection, the power of the grave has been broken.
When fear rises in me, anchor me again in the hope of Easter.
When life feels heavy, remind me that You are near and that Your promises are sure.
Teach me to live as one who believes that because You live, death is defeated and hope is alive. In the name of the risen Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God. Amen.

04/05/2026

04/04/2026

04/04/2026

04/03/2026

Our devotion for today comes from Psalm 22

Today is Good Friday, the day that calls us to behold the crucified Christ. Our Scripture for today is the psalm that was on Jesus' mind and lips as He hung on the cross. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” In these words, we hear the suffering of Jesus and the weight of the sin He bore that no one else could carry. Psalm 22 gives language to the anguish, mockery, and pain that Jesus endured on the cross. And yet it is this moment that reveals to us the depth of God’s love.

One of the most meaningful hymns for me during Lent is “O Sacred Head Now Wounded”. It speaks powerfully into this day and reflects this psalm. It calls us to worship at the foot of the cross.

“O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down, now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown…”

This hymn draws us to slow down and really see the truth of Good Friday. The One who suffers is not merely a tragic victim. He is the holy Son of God, wearing our shame, carrying our grief, and enduring our judgment.

We are reminded that Jesus entered fully into the depths of human suffering. But this suffering was not meaningless. In His suffering, holy love met human sin. As Jesus cried out, He was making the way for us to be brought near.

The hymn responds to the suffering Savior with wonder: “What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered was all for sinners’ gain; mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.”

As we experience the heaviness of Good Friday, may we be reminded that Jesus did not suffer for Himself; He took upon Himself my sin. He entered this dark world so that you and I might not be left in darkness but would be able to be reconciled to God.

So today, do not rush past the cross. Stay with it. Let Psalm 22 teach you the importance of honesty before God. Let “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” teach you reverence, repentance, and wonder. Gaze upon the suffering Savior and remember: this is holy love poured out for the salvation of the world.

Prayer: Holy God, today I bow at the foot of the cross with gratitude and wonder. In Jesus, You poured out Your love for me. Thank you for providing the sacrifice that could make me right with you. Teach me to live in the shadow of the cross and in the hope of Your redeeming love. In the name of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God. Amen.

04/02/2026

Our devotion for today comes from John 13: 1-17, 31-35

Maundy Thursday invites us into one of the most tender and sobering moments of Holy Week. Before the betrayal, before the trial, before the cross, Jesus gathered with His disciples and loved them to the very end.
John tells us that during supper, Jesus rose from the table, took a towel, and began to wash the disciples’ feet. It is a scene that still makes many uncomfortable. The One who is Lord knelt down in humility. The One who would soon bear the weight of the cross chose, in that moment, to serve.
Jesus knew what was coming. He knew the suffering ahead. He knew that one disciple would betray Him, one would deny Him, and the others would scatter. Yet He loved them still. He washed the feet of men who did not yet understand the depth of His love.
That is the heart of Maundy Thursday. We see a love that does not turn away. A love that stoops low. A love that gives itself fully.
The table reminds us that we are welcomed by grace. The towel reminds us that love takes the form of humble service. And just beyond this night stands the cross, where Jesus will show the depth of divine love.
When Jesus says, “Love one another as I have loved you,” He is not giving a shallow command to simply be nice. He is calling His people into a holy, costly, self-giving love. This is the shape of Christian discipleship. We are not only saved by the love of Christ; we are also formed by it.
Maundy Thursday asks something of us. Will we receive the love of Christ with humility? Will we allow Him to wash what is broken, prideful, or resistant in us? And will we love others in the same way, with truth, patience, mercy, and sacrifice?
As we move closer to the cross, we are reminded that the love of Jesus is not distant or sentimental. It kneels, serves, and sacrifices.
Prayer
God of Mercy and Love, thank You for loving us to the end. Thank You for the towel, the table, and the cross. Wash away my pride and teach me to receive Your grace with humility. Form in me a love that serves, a love that remains faithful, and a love that reflects Your heart. In the name of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God. Amen.

04/01/2026

Our devotion for today comes from Isaiah 50:4-9

Holy week always sends me to the hymnal for the words to express the weight of the events we journey toward. As a young person, I wasn't always excited about the songs for this season, but the more I desired to walk as a follower of Christ, the more I paid attention to the words of the songs I’d sing. Words can shape our understanding, and this is why many of us cling to the hymns of the church, for they have a depth of expression like nothing else.

Today, reading this passage, I heard a weariness that I associate with the cost of surrender. I hear the voice of Christ who listened to the Father and obeyed even as he knew his obedience led to his suffering. This is not shallow obedience. It is costly. “I gave my back to those who struck me.” The Servant does not turn away from pain, shame, or rejection. He does not turn back. He entrusts himself fully to the God who helps him.

In that moment, I heard the hymn that asked, "Were you there?" This hymn asks us to draw near and stand at the foot of the cross. “Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble…” Do I tremble, as I am reminded of the depth of God’s love demonstrated in Jesus’s death on the cross? Perhaps today we will sing this hymn and reflect on whether or not we truly are surrendered and ready to listen, trust, and obey.

Prayer: Holy Father, as I sit with this Scripture, I am reminded of your love. Open my ears to hear your voice and obey. Keep my heart tender to your leading. Teach me to trust you even when faithfulness is costly. Help me not to move too quickly past the cross, for it holds my salvation. I tremble at the goodness of your mercy and grace. Forgive me for not wanting to count the cost and guide me that I may endure just as Jesus did. I pray in the mighty name of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God. Amen.

03/31/2026

Our devotion for today comes from Isaiah 49:1-7
Isaiah 49:6
“I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
This week is like no other week of the Christian year. We begin in celebration and recognition that Jesus is the one who saves, and journey into the truth of what that salvation means. We are drawn to the suffering of Christ. Yet our reading from Isaiah reminds us that the suffering of the Servant is never separated from God's saving purpose. In verse 6, the Lord declares that the Servant’s calling is too great, too wide, and too glorious to stop with Israel alone: “I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
Building on this, verse 6 calls us to look beyond the sorrow of this week and understand the full mission of Christ. Jesus is not only the Suffering Servant; He is the Light of the World. He came to reveal that God’s saving love reaches to the ends of the earth.
Charles Wesley wrote a hymn titled "Christ Whose Glory fills the Skies," and I believe it helps us pray what Isaiah proclaims: "Christ is the light to the nations." He is the “Sun of Righteousness” who shines in the darkness of this world. He shines where sin has cast its shadow and breaks through the despair with His holy, saving light.
As we move through this Tuesday of Holy Week, let’s look to Christ, knowing He is the Light we need. Allow Him to shine on things we would rather keep hidden, and let His Light shine through you so that others may know His salvation. Today, with the cross in view and the weight of darkness close, we rejoice because God’s salvation reaches to the ends of the earth.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, whose glory fills the skies, shine upon me through holy week. When the road feels dark, be my light. When my heart feels heavy, be my morning song. Father, thank You for sending Jesus to be the light to the nations, so that salvation might reach even to me. Let Your light shine in my heart, scatter the darkness, and guide me to be a faithful witness of Your grace. In the name of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God. Amen.

03/30/2026

Our devotion for today comes from Isaiah 42:1–9.
As we enter Holy Week, it is impossible for me to read this passage without seeing Jesus. He is the One Isaiah foretold. He came in humility, not force. He was gentle with the weak, faithful in obedience, and full of the Spirit. He showed us the heart of God not only in what He said, but in how He served. He knelt to wash feet. He made room for the broken. He carried the weight of the cross in love for us. He shows us the very heart of God.
As I thought about what to write for this devotion, the hymn “Breathe on Me, Breath of God” came to my mind. I think it fits this passage so well. It reminds us that we do not reflect the servant heart of Jesus by trying harder in our own strength. We need the Spirit of God to fill us, purifying us to make us more like Christ.
Holy Week invites us not just to admire Jesus, but to follow Him. If we look to the cross, then we are also called to take on His humility, His mercy, and His willingness to serve others in all we do.
This week, as we move closer to the cross, may that old hymn become our prayer:
Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love what Thou dost love, and do what Thou wouldst do.
We need the Spirit of God to make us more like Jesus. We need the Breath of God to soften what has become hard in us, to humble what has become proud, and to awaken in us a holy willingness to serve. A servant’s heart is not natural to us. It is formed in us by the Spirit as we abide in Christ and yield to the Spirit.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want your Spirit to fill me. I want to serve others the way Jesus did. Breath in me so that I grow in Your humility, mercy, and Jesus’ servant heart. Teach me to reflect Your love in all I do. In the name of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God. Amen.

03/29/2026

We Praise the King

Palm Sunday — Matthew 21:1-11.

Before Jesus made His triumphant entry, He had sent two disciples ahead into the village, letting them know that there will be a donkey tied there with its c**t. Jesus had them go untie them and bring them to Him. –(vs 2&3). In doing this, this would bring the prophecy to pass in verse 5 — “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey – riding on a donkey’s c**t.’”
Then, when the people saw Jesus riding on the c**t, they sang praises and shouted. —
… "Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Praise God in highest heaven!" (Matt. 21:9b).

As they were present with Jesus on that very day, we are still able to give our celebration to Jesus. Are you wondering how? We can show our praises by giving thanks and praises to God by honoring Christ. Singing our own songs of praise.

I’m reminded of a song that my father would have us sing at different times. One of the times was before we ate. For he believed in thanking God and giving God the praise, no matter what. Some call the song ‘Doxology’, others call it ‘Praise God’. When I was young, I called it ‘Dad’s Blessing Song’.

“Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.” –Amen.

How will you Praise King Jesus?

Lord Jesus, There is much to be thankful for because of You, Jesus. The top three are; Being able to awake every morning – Able to talk with You, Jesus, at anytime throughout the day and night – And able to have others see You, Jesus, in me. Thank You for even the things not said at this time. For family and friends, and for a place to go and worship You with others. There is so much to give You praises, even during the sad times. For You have asked us to Praise You, no matter our circumstances. Thank You In the Mighty Name of Jesus!

03/28/2026

The Right Focus:
(Philippians 3:10-14 – NLT) — What is it about having goals, and then hits the reality? What is holding you back, or taking your eyes away from the goal of Christ? There are times that our eyes have wondered. That our eyes aren’t staying focused on what God has lined up for us.

Paul said that his goal was to know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all Christ intended for him. This goal absorbed all of Paul’s energy. This is a helpful example for us. We should not let anything take our eyes off our goal—knowing Christ. With the single-mindedness of an athlete in training, we must lay aside everything harmful and forsake anything that may distract us from living like Christ.

Sometimes, trying to live a perfect Christian life can be so difficult that it leaves us drained and discouraged. We may feel so far from perfect that we think we can never please God with our lives. Paul used the terminology of perfection to convey the idea of being mature or complete, not flawless in every detail. Those who are mature should press on in the Holy Spirit’s power, knowing that Christ will reveal and fill any discrepancy between what we are and what we should be. Christ’s provision is no excuse for lagging devotion, but it provides relief and assurance for those who feel driven and overwhelmed.

There is good reason that Paul had to forget the past—he had held the coats of those who had stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:57-58; his given name was Saul). We have all done things for which we are ashamed, and we live in the tension of what we have been and what we hope to become. Because our hope is in Christ, however, we can let go of past guilt and look forward to what God will help us become. Don’t dwell on your past. Instead, grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with him now. Realise that you are forgiven, and then move on to a life of faith and obedience. Look forward to the prize of heaven later and a fuller and more meaningful life now because of your hope in Christ.

Prayer---Father God, as we continue struggling to learn all that You have for us. Please continue to guide and direct us as You continued working through Paul's struggles with his past actions and behaviours. As Paul overcame, please help us overcome our pasts so that we will be able to keep our right focus upon You, Lord. In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ!