Michelangelo, the master painter and sculptor (think the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel; think the statue "David") once bought a rock of low-grade marble. As he lugged it home his neighbor and fellow artist laughed at him and chided him: "What is that ugly cheap rock you've purchased? You'll be wasting your time on that." Michelangelo replied simply: "There is an angel trapped in this stone, and I must set it free."

There are gifts and graces trapped within each of us which by His power can be let loose into the world to do His work!

Prayer:  "Loving God, help me to be all you would have me to be, in Jesus' name, Amen."

Today is the 2nd Sunday in Lent. Our series on "The Christian Vocabulary" continues. The word today is HOPE (1 Corinthians 13:13). And invite a visitor - a friend, a relative, an acquaintance, or a neighbor.