He Holds Us In His Right Hand

Psalm 139:1-10 KJV; 2nd Sunday of Epiphany; Those who love Him are comforted because we trust that the Lord is with us; even holding us in His right hand.

To Know Christ More Fully

19th Sunday after Pentecost Philippians 3:4-14 KJV; Paul's desire for a greater knowledge of Jesus was so great that he was willing to put his old life, even his status in society, for that relationship with him.

Prayer For The Ephesians

Ephesians 3:14-21 KJV; Paul's prayer for the Ephesians; a prayer for all of us that we might come to know Jesus and his love.

Who Can Comprehend His Thoughts?

Romans 11:33-34 KJV; Who can comprehend the mind of God?

I Give Thanks For You

Ephesians 1:15-23 KJV; Ascension Day; I give thanks for meeting and knowing those who themselves are overjoyed in the love and the hope they have in the Lord.

He Hears Our Prayers And Answers

Psalm 116:1-14 KJV: 2nd Sunday after Easter; God is merciful and kind. He hears our prayers and answers according to His good will for us.

Rejoice You Are Not A Victim But A Victor!

Isaiah 52:7-10 KJV; Rejoice!  You are not a victim; but, a victor through Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord!

It's Not All Vanity!

Ecclesiastes 1:2,12-14; 2:18-26 KJV Don't get stuck thinking everything you do is in vain. Love the Lord and love your neighbor.

The Wisdom To Change The Things We Can

Reading from James 1:5 KJV with brief meditation. Some things we can change. Somethings we can't. May God grant us the wisdom to know which is which.

Only God Knows All Things

Romans 11:32-36 KJV

The Spirit Abides With You

John 16:12-14 KJV

God's Handiwork

Psalm 19:1-6 KJV

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

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It is a very rare evening or morning that I do not look to the heavens to see the beauty of God's handiwork. This morning the almost full moon lights up the clouds in magnificent splendor.

Take the time to look around and see and enjoy the beauty of God's handiwork in the heavens and on earth! If you live in the city where you can see neither the moon nor the stars because of the artificial light or the air pollution look around and see the awesome creative ability of God in his people.

God's creation declares his glory. We can see it more clearly when we take the time to look for it; when we take the time to look outside of ourselves.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Declare His Glory

Psalm 19::1-3

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

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The heavens and the earth declare the glory of God. May all God's people do the same!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Instruct Those Who Would Hear

He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

                                                                                                     (Prov 9:7-10 KJV)

There is only one God. As our Small Catechism teaches we: "We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things."

This one God loves us and was and is willing to give all to us. Not everyone understands this nor does everyone want to. There are times, after a person attempts to share the Good News that our God would have everyone receive, that one must shake the dust off of their feet and walk away. There are plenty of others yearning to hear the Good News of the kingdom through Jesus the Christ. They yearn for it so it would behoove us to ensure that they get to hear it. 

"And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet." (Matt 10:14)

God grant that the ears of all people be opened to hear this Good News and to receive it as a blessed promise to them through Jesus Christ our Lord and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Come Quickly Lord

Psalm 116:1-8

I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.

The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.

Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.

For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

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Come quickly Lord to help me! How often have we thought this thought; prayed this prayer? 

There is comfort; there is relief in the knowledge that the Lord is with us and has a good plan for  those who love him. (Rom 8:28)  There is peace in the knowledge that he will answer our prayers and give our souls rest in times of trouble. 

Do not fear. Call upon the name of the merciful and gracious Lord in both good times and bad. Live life in his presence. Live life in his peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Serve Together In Love

Love one another; serve in unity

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

                                                                                        (Eph 4:11-16 KJV)

Do we ever really grow up?  To truly grow up can take a lifetime and usually a lot of heartache. Society, today, gives us about eighteen years to help our children grow up and then we turn them loose on the society. As Christians, we do our best to teach our children who Jesus is and what he has done for us and why. We pray that they will follow him. But, the devil prowls and not everyone would have our children go in "The Way" that they should go for their own good and for the good of society. But, with the help of God, we do what we can and then continue to pray for them until the day we die.

It would be most helpful for our children and for society if we could all work together using the gifts that God has given each of us to help all of our children grow up into him who is the head; who is Jesus the Christ. 

I have been following an interesting and energetic young Christian man who has established a school for teens in Albany, GA. He has just turned 22 years of age yet has accomplished amazing things. His group is known as "the X for Boys."  King Randell is intent on not only making sure that they complete their High School educations; but,  to also prepare them for their futures teaching them life skills as well. A couple of the projects they've been working on are automotive repair and carpentry. 

He uses his God-given gifts to help (not hinder) his community as a whole as he teaches these young men to grow up in Christ and to use their gifts to help themselves and others. What a wonderful world this would be if we would all use our gifts to serve the whole community in love.

God's Peace - Pr. Judy

Love

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

                                                                                                (Eph 3:14-21 KJV)

To God be the glory!  He has does such marvelous things out of his great love for us!

Again, I remind you that it is not out of the fear of hell that we worship the Lord. It is out of love for him because of his great love for us.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.  We love him, because he first loved us."  (John 4:18-19)

To choose to be baptized just in case that there might really be a hell and you're afraid that you might end up there if God is real then you are merely hedging your bet. That is not faith. That is not love. Love comes from being in a relationship with God. It comes from knowing that he loves you and you wanting to return even a portion of that love. 

If you were in a car accident and someone saved your life would you not care deeply for that person?  Well, God has sent his Son to die to save us from our own sinful selves. It would seem to me that we ought to love him for that act of love and compassion. We worship him not because we are afraid of the possibility of hell; but, because we love him so much that we desire, with all of our hearts, to be in a relationship with him for all of eternity. We want to know God and to know the love of Christ, which passeth all knowledge, that we might be filled with the fulness of God.

For his great love for us we glorify and magnify his Holy Name.  

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Give Generously

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

                                                                                                                  (2 Cor 8:1-9 KJV)

Because of their faith in Christ who gave himself for all people, the Corinthians gave generously. 

That is the Christian duty. It is not the Christian duty to delegate generosity to others no matter how rich or poor the others might be. It is the individuals and the churches duty to give generously to those in need. It is not our place to decide whether someone is too sinful for us to help. We don't get to question whether they really deserve it or not. We just get to assist the saints in need. However, we must always remember that Jesus did not question whether we deserve his gift of life for us through the giving of his life. He gave his very life even though we most clearly did not deserve it. This, of course does not mean we should send the scam artist on the telephone or internet thousands of dollars. We do need to be careful not to allow them to steal from us so that we have nothing to give to those in genuine need. Be very careful that robbers do not take what should be used to help the poor.

Give generously. The law will, when able, according to the limited abilities of the law will hold those who take advantage of your generosity accountable. Unfortunately, the law is very fallible. The law is not perfect; but, God is. God whose abilities are unlimited will judge and hold accountable those who would lie in order to steal from the mouths of others by abusing your generosity to a point that you have nothing left to give to those in genuine need.

May God help us to love and care for his people. Give generously.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

No Understanding Without God The Spirit

"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?" 

                                                                                                               (John 3:1-9 KJV)

Call them riddles. Call them mysteries. We can even call them conspiracy theories. There are things about life and faith we simply do not understand. I am not going to suggest that we resign our efforts to understand. Of course not. The search is on!

This coming Sunday congregations around the world will be celebrating Trinity Sunday. How to explain the Trinity is a challenge that isn't ever completely accomplished to our satisfaction. I have always enjoyed employing the Athanasian Creed as our confession of faith when I led worship on Trinity Sunday. I could not help but smile as I looked at the many shell-shocked faces who had just confessed this faith. Most of them seemed to have had no clue what the church teaches and what we believe. There were usually questions about why we believed and confessed all of that following the service as they were amazed by that confession that many of them had never heard before.

Nicodemus was amazed at the many miracles that Jesus performed. He was also a little surprised and confused when Jesus told him he had to be born again; born of water and of the Spirit if he wanted to see the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus response was don't be so surprised at this. "The wind blows where it will blow." And, it does. The Spirit blows where the Spirit will blow. The Spirit will enlighten those whom the Spirit will enlighten through the word of God.

The great mysteries of life in this world and in the Kingdom of God will never completely be solved in this life. But, whether or not we know everything about how the new life actually comes about; we know this much: it comes about because God our Father is the creator of all things visible and invisible; Jesus is our savior who died that all who would believe in him would receive forgiveness of sins and inherit places in the presence of God Almighty; the Holy Spirit who enlightens us that we might have faith in that which we are not able to see with our own eyes.

Nicodemus didn't understand everything. Neither do we need to understand all the intricate details of the workings of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We don't need to understand because by faith we know their reality. 

In addition to the Athanasian Creed the Lutheran Church also teaches and confesses the  Apostle's and the Nicene Creeds. In the third article of the Nicene Creed found in Luther's Small Catechism we teach and confess that without God the Holy Spirit enlightening us we cannot come to faith. Our faith is not something that we conjure up but is a gift from God. 

"I believe in the Holy Ghost; one holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

What does this mean? — Answer.

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true."

Our understanding of the totality of God is very limited. We cannot fathom all who God the Father and creator of all is; who or why God the Son was willing to sacrifice himself for us.  But, regardless of our lack of understanding we are thankful that God the Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens us keeping us with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

God Is With You

PSALM 139:1-14 KJV

O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

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There is no sense in trying to hide who we are or what we do from God. The Spirit of God is always right there next to us and knows everything about us and is for us. God was with us from the beginning. He was with us in our mother's womb and he will be with us always.

Let us always give thanks and praise to God for loving us and being there for us no matter who we are or what we may do. We have been wonderfully created in His image. In Christ we have been re-created by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thanks be to God for His love and His mercy is good!

God's Peace - Pr. J.