Needing Some Peace?

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:13 NRSV)

He is the God of hope. There is no true eternal hope found outside of him. There is no real joy or peace outside of Him. You may feel them for awhile. But, they will not last as you walk on path that is not the path that He prepared for you.

There is so much turmoil in the world. There is so much turmoil within individuals. There is way too much turmoil even within the church on earth. 

Wanting for peace? Wanting for joy? Need hope? Live life in Christ!

God's Peace - Pr. J

He Is With You!

"I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

(Joshua 1:9 NRSV)

The servant of the Lord told Joshua to be courageous; the Lord is with you wherever He sends you and no matter what He asks you to do. We are reminded that we too should be courageous in doing the Lord's will. Things will happen along the way; things that don't always feel so good. That should be expected. But, God has a plan. "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." (Rom 8:28)

Do not worry. Trust the Lord for He is with you wherever you go; wherever he sends you.

God's Peace -Pr. J

Boast Only Of The Lord

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. (Eph 2:8-9 NRSV)

Because we have done nothing to earn our own salvation; let us quit with the boasting. There is no reason for any of us to boast. Christ has done it all for us. Christ is our all in everything. 

One of the most common things that will set off my cringe reaction is seeing someone within the visible church doing something for no reason other than to boast about how wonderful they are. They do this. They do that. They have to be the center of things. They will not lend a hand to the ministry unless they can be at the front and center in order to receive the most attention; the most applause. 

Oh, yes, that applause for something someone has just done or said or sang would be a cringe factor; one of my serious pet peeves. I really don't have a problem if Sunday School children do special music or a program and receive applause. But, I do have a big problem with applauding adults, those who ought to be a little more mature in their faith, by now. I do take issue with people who are feigning to worship God when they are merely looking to be worshipped for their gifts, themselves. I take issue with those who serve within the church so that they may boast of themselves. 

Consider this: have you ever heard anyone applaud after the scripture lessons were read? Have you ever heard anyone applaud after absolution is pronounced or the Good News is read? I certainly have never heard anyone applaud what God has done for us; only what people do within the worship setting. Is not what God has done for us worthy of our applause; given that we would consider applauding the talent of one whom he has created?

I know that we are Lutherans and we don't normally say things like Amen or Hallelujah or Praise the Lord spontaneously during worship. But, praising the Lord spontaneously when we are reminded what God has done for us is appropriate; whether that reminder of what he has done is in a reading, a prayer, a sermon, or a hymn. Praising people for using the gifts that God has given them really sets off, not just my cringe factor, but; the cringe (that just felt so yucky) factor in others, as well. Praising God during a worship setting is most appropriate; praising God's creation at worship is not. We worship the giver not the gifts.

Worship is not about being entertained. It is about worshipping God; about giving thanks and praise and glory and honor to the one who is above all things; the one who has saved us from ourselves. Those who would entertain you with the gifts that God has given them cannot save you. You are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. All applause; all glory and honor, belongs to God, not to humankind. Applause for a particular word or act may be appropriate in a secular setting or even at a Christian concert; but, I definitely question whether it is appropriate to applaud anyone other than God in a worship setting.

Stop the boasting... It only reveals our false god. Sadly, we are usually the false god that we reveal. Praise belongs only to the Lord, for in him is our salvation.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Welcome the Little Children!

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matt 19:24 NIV)

Disney World, Universal Studies, Epcot Center, SeaWorld, and Legoland are just a few of the wonderful family vacation spots in Florida. Children are welcome to vacation here! But, what about live in Florida?

Are children welcome to live in Florida? I am sure there are many of areas in Florida that they are. But, there are also multitudes of areas in Florida that they are not. Before moving to the east coast, I did not fathom that there would be so many 55+ communities. For the past few months I have been trying to help my son and family find a new home. It has not been easy to find an affordable one and even the mobile homes that are affordable all seem to be in 55+ communities. My husband and I actually live in a 55+ community; but, no one in my son's family is near our age!

This is not the first time I've run into discrimination against young people. Many congregations all around the country that I have known about also cater to us more elderly persons. If a child whines or moves wrong in church the parents get that look that tells them either take that child outside or to the cry room that they spent money to prepare for just such a purpose. Many congregations actually have Sunday School for the children during Worship or they have a separate Children's Church to segregate the children and the adults. What has happened to us being "all God's children?" 

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Jesus desires that the little children go to him. For some reason I thought that we were to follow in Jesus' footsteps. Discriminating against anyone for any reason, including age, just doesn't seem like a Jesus thing to do.

May all God's people open their hearts and minds, their homes and their congregations to the little children of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Living God

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matt 16:15-16 NIV)

Today is the day to rejoice for our God is a living God. He is not a god made with human hands or imaginations. He lives and he loves us. He loves us enough to send His only begotten Son to die that we might be saved from our sins. 

Believe Him. Believe in Him. Trust Him. Rejoice, for the living God loves us enough to send His only begotten Son to live and die for that we who were not His sons and daughters might be his sons and daughters. 

With Peter and all of the saints let us all confess, "Jesus is our Savior, the Son of the living God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Praise The Lord!

I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. (Psalm 119:7 NIV)

Praise, ye the Lord! He has done marvelous things for us. From the very beginning until today and for all of eternity, he cares for his creation. 

We have an awesome Lord and Savior. He was willing to give his life that we might live. What will we do in response? Will we praise him at all times and in all places? Will we take the time to learn of the Way that he has prepared for us. He commands us to go and make disciples, to teach others what he has taught us; and to love one another. 

Of course, we are not bound by the law. The blood of Christ has set us free. Yet, what has it set us free to do? What shall we do for one who loves us so much that he would die for us? 

Let us praise the Lord for all that he has done in all that we say and think and do!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Glorify His Name

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.  (Exodus 20:7 NIV)  

I confess that every now and then my lips will release a word or maybe two or three or even that should not be spoken. I am very aware that I have sinned as soon as something slips out of my mouth that ought not to have.

It is troubling; though, that it seems many do not even begin to recognize when they have taken God's name in vain. I know many love Him; but, for some reason they don't always recognize when they are speaking against Him. Sometimes, it needs to be brought to their attention.  

Yes, sometimes I find myself asking others not to be swearing. No, I do not always ignore it when people take God's name in vain; when they blaspheme His Holy Name. I will ask them to please not take my God's name in vain; to not blaspheme against my God. I usually stress "my God" in attempts to make it clear that they because of their language have made it evident to me and others who might be around us that He is not their God. They blaspheme Him; rather, than worship Him. If He were their God, they would not be using His name in such a manner.

There have been times I've been in discussions (usually with younger family members) and I've received the response with much attitude: OMG or Oh My God! (Father, forgive me for even writing it as an example.) My response to that is usually "I am not your God" and I walk away. 

I find the language today if often disrespectful toward God and toward each other. There is very little respect for one another and definitely not for God in many conversations. His name is thrown around like it was something cheap and disposable. It is even used in conversations to bully others; to persecute them.

Now and then I find myself reminding people that they are to "speak with integrity." Yes, that is when I question the honesty of their conversations. Admittedly, the lies have to be pretty bad before I do that. I have let people know that if they want me to understand what exactly is going on they will have to get their stories straight. Sometimes stories get so twisted, in order to justify one's own actions, that it can be difficult to glean the truth from the tales. This lack of truth-telling also blasphemes the Name of God when it is one who claims to bear the name of Christ that is speaking.

His Name is above all names and it is eternal. It ought not be used in rampages meant to hurt others or to justify our own sinful ways. It can and should be called upon for the healing of the nations. Use it wisely. May the Lord our God bless the words of our lips that we might glorify His Holy Name in all that we say and think and do.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ego Must Die

"For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it." (Matt 16:25 NIV)

Yes, I am talking about egos, again. I do not understand why it is so difficult for so many people to understand that we do not live for ourselves. We are to live to love and serve God and all of God's children. We may not like everything that everyone does or is. But, that does not negate the fact that we are to love others as ourselves. If they are in need; their needs come before our wants.

We do not get to not love people we disagree with. We do not get to persecute people we disagree with or people we want to control. Yes, there are instances where to avoid conflict and greater harm we may need to stay away; but, that does not negate the fact that we are to love one another.

We must in some way come to the understanding that our life here on earth is nothing compared to the eternal life we have in the presence of our Heavenly Father. We must to at least a minimal degree come to grasp that if we cling to life in this world and all that we can grab for ourselves from this world, we will lose our lives; because, in fact, there is no life in us. 

Jesus is the way and the truth and the life. (John 14:6) Without him, there is no life. With him, we will seek to enhance the lives of others without regard to our own.

In order to live life we must live in Christ and Jesus did not put his own ego before the lives of others. He was willing to give everything, even his life, so that we might live. Yes, Jesus died. Yet, he lives and because he lives so shall all who die to themselves to live in him. 

Egos and personal agendas don't matter in the kingdom of God. The only agenda that matters is God's. 

God grant that we not be afraid of death; of either physical death or the death of our egos and self-centered desires in this world so that we might live more fully in Christ according to the will of our Father. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Live in the Kingdom Today!

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,  (Philippians 3:20 NIV)


Yes, we live here in this world; but, our hope is to enter into the heavenly kingdom for all eternity as promised to all who believe. The Kingdom of God, we are told, is eternal. So what are you waiting for? Why do we wait to enter that Kingdom until after we pass through the gateway of death? Eternity is forever. There is no end to eternity. There is no beginning. These words, "You have eternal life," what do they mean to you? Do you believe that eternal life begins after death or are you already living in eternity? Our citizenship is in heaven. The Kingdom of God has already broken into this world. Live your life as a citizen of the heavenly kingdom today. Do not wait until tomorrow! Live life in Christ.


God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Narrow Road

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."  (Matt 7:13-14 NIV)

I'm only taking a guess; but, I'm thinking that only a few find that narrow gate because it is not the vast majority that is actually looking for it. People seem to generally like that wide road that allows them a lot of latitude in what they say and do. That narrow road has a tendency to keep us on the straight and narrow. On that narrow road there is only one way to go and it is not our way. It is God's way.

I've often been told that people wished that there was a manual that told us what we should do in certain situations. There is one. It is called the Holy Bible. I've also been told that people need a road map for life. There is one. Follow Jesus. Follow in the way that he would have you go. 

If you're looking for destruction; go ahead and take the broad road. If you're looking for genuine life; then seek out that narrow gate, who is Jesus the Christ, and follow on that straight and narrow path that he has set before you.

May God help you to follow in the way that He would have you go.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Loving Money

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Luke 16:13)

This is not to say that if you have a lot of money that you do not love or serve God. Maybe you are one whom God has richly blessed and you use what He has given you wisely and for His glory. He is your first love, the riches are merely a tool to reach out to others, glorifying His Holy Name. Be wise; though, and understand that the pursuit of gaining money and things can quickly take over your life and in the end you may realize that it was not God (the one who blessed you) that you loved; rather, it was riches in this world. Be careful that the love of things does not bring you down a path with pain and sorrow at the end.

Use the gifts that God has given use in a manner that might advance the Kingdom and glorify His Holy Name.

God's Peace - Pr. J

According To His Will

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (1 John 5:14 NIV)

According to His will...  Why did this happen? Why did I not get what I asked for? So many times we wonder why God did not answer our prayers totally forgetting that what we have asked for may go directly against His good will. His good will encompasses not just us; but, all people. When we pray we must keep in mind that selfish prayers may not be heard. They very well may not be answered in the way that we would like them to be answered. God has a better view of what all people need, including ourselves, and what we need may not be what we're asking for.

May God help us to better understand His will that we might pray for the good of all people.

God's Peace - Pr. J

We Do Not Serve Alone

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3-6 NIV

There are times when we can get very weary. I may seem that we are serving the Lord alone and to very little avail. Paul was alone in a prison cell when he wrote the letter to the Philippians. But, he knew that although separated from the Christians at Philippi; separated from the world outside of the prison, he was not alone. As a Christian, he was in a partnership with every other Christian in the world doing the work that Lord had begun in each of them.  

Paul served faithfully, in and out of prison; but, he did not serve alone. We do not serve alone, either. Though we may not always see it with our eyes, we know that God works in and through every member of the Body of Christ to complete the good work that He has begun in all of us. No matter what kind of bondage the world would put us in; whether in prison or out; we will serve the Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J 

Tax Time!

“...Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”  Matt 22:21

 

It is tax season, again! Tax season spans over one fourth of the year. Then, there are those property taxes due as well and don't forget the quarterly estimated taxes, either. It does not bother me to pay taxes. I am just not thrilled with the filing of them. I procrastinate. I finally ordered the TurboTax program that I need to file mine since I can't find it on the shelf locally. The company sent me the wrong one. I sent it back and waiting for them to sent me the right one. I know I could just download the program from TurboTax; but, I prefer to have my own program on a disc. If my computer crashes, which it tends to do during tax season, it is easier if I don't have to remember the passwords to get to the online program. I don't mind paying the taxes (too much). I just dislike having to file them.

 

Jesus was asked by the Pharisees if it was lawful to pay taxes to an emperor. This was a trick question. He was being asked if maybe giving tithes to someone other than God could be considered as idolatry. On the other hand if he said no, he would be denying the authority of the emperor to rule in this world. They were confounding the two kingdoms. Jesus responded by asking who's face was on the coin that the they paid this tax with. They brought forth a coin with Caesar's face. Then pay to Caesar what is Caesar's he told them.

 

We may find discomfort in parting with our savings to pay the taxes the government requests. But, do not worry. You are a child of the Kingdom of God. God will provide.

God's Peace - Pr. J 

We Are One Church; The Body Of Christ

"...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place."

                                                                                                                       (2 Chron 7:14-15 NIV)

Yesterday, was the National Day of Prayer. I had the opportunity to attend both the Flagler County Sheriff Department's Prayer Breakfast and the National Day of Prayer in Bunnell. Since, I am relatively new to the area, it was a great opportunity to meet and connect with others of the faith community. I noticed that many of the prayers, including my own, referenced the scripture above from 2 Chronicles.

If those who are called by His name would only humble themselves and pray and seek His face and turn from their wicked ways is not a call to the atheist or the agnostic or anyone else who does  not believe the one true God. It is a call and a promise to those who say that they believe. If it is truly healing that we desire for the communities around us it needs to begin with a change in us; those who profess to follow Christ. We must humble ourselves and confess that we are a part of the problem when the Good News, that has been entrusted to us, is the answer. We often allow the devil to distract us with personal agendas leaving very little time or energy left to share that Good News either in word or deed. We often think so highly of ourselves that we cannot see anyone or anything else; but, the things and persons in our own little circle of friends or family. God's family is not restricted to our own little circle. He desires that all would be members of that family. But, how can they if they have not heard; if they have not been invited?

There is only one Church. With that one Church, which is the Body of Christ, there are many, many members. We are not all of the same congregation or denomination. We do not always share the same doctrines. But, we share the same faith in the one who lived and died and lives again for us and for all people. Let us learn to put aside our differences; our own egos; humbling ourselves so that we might serve together as many members of the one Church; the Body of Christ.

May God help us to turn from our wicked ways so that He may use the church on earth more fully to bring healing and wholeness to the people around us. God keep the church from being a stumbling block to others!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Sing Praises!

Christ Lutheran Church, Bunnell, FL; Choir

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; 
   I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and rejoice in you;
    I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.
                                                            Psalm 9:1-3 NIV

I attended a wonderful concert at Christ Lutheran Church in Bunnell, FL yesterday afternoon. The choir; the choir director, Larissa Bredley; and the accompanist, Vladamir Bredley, did a marvelous job in praising the Lord with song. In addition to singing praises to God; we were also able to help a wonderful charitable organization in Bunnell. Free-will offerings were given to support the Flagler Country Free Clinic. The Clinic provides medical and dental needs to those who do not have insurance. Yes, indeed; even with the mandatory provisions of Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare) there are still multitudes in this country who cannot afford health insurance. They also cannot afford the tax that is imposed upon them if they cannot afford the insurance. Thanks be to God for serving those who need assistance through the Flagler County Free Clinic!

It is in God that the people must trust. In Him we rejoice. May all God's people praise His Holy Name. May all God's people reach out to assist those in need.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Spirit Goes Where It Goes

"You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:7-8 NIV

Well, it is raining. The wind is blowing. Who knows when the winds of "Hermine" will end? She's been tracked for a while now and no one has been sure where she would actually go until she went.

So, it is with those of us who have been born of the Spirit. Not even we know where the Spirit will take us from day to day or hour to hour. I had plans today. I was to teach a class on preaching. I'm thinking since we are in a tropical storm warning and all the state offices and schools are closed in the county; it's probably not a good idea to ask others to be driving today.

But, of this I am sure: It's all good! The Spirit will lead us wherever the Spirit of Christ wants us to go.

May God help us to follow.

God' Peace - Pr. J