Renew Your Hearts And Minds

Ephesians 4:23-32 KJV; Renew your hearts and minds by the power of the Holy Spirit that you might be loving, kind, and forgiving.

As Family Gather Together Often!

Matthew 12:48-50; Hebrews 10:24-25; Whether birth families or families of God it is needful to gather together often.

Pray For Those In Authority

1 Timothy 2:1-2; Philippians 4:6-9 KJV: Pray for the authorities that we might live in peace. 

Sin Liveth In Me!

Hebrews 10:14-18; Romans 7:14-25; I do not do what I want to do for sin lives in me. Yet, it is by Christ's sacrifice on the cross that I am forgiven my sin.

Peace Does Not Come From Filling Our Heads With Evil

Philippians 4:5-9 KJV

What Was Herod Thinking!

For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.

And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
                                                                                                 (Mark 6:20-28 KJV)

This enquiring mind would like to know exactly how much did King Herod have to drink when he promised that he would give Herodias anything she wanted for her daughter to dance for him even up to half of his kingdom?  Or, maybe he was just a pedophile?  Or both?

John the Baptist for sure had exposed his sin of marrying his brother's wife; but, Herod still heard John gladly. He respected John as a holy man. So, when he was asked to behead John the Baptist it grieved him greatly. But, he had promised that he would give anything and had done so publicly. In order to save face he had to do it.

We must be careful of the oaths we make to others. It is much better to promise to try than to promise to do. One never knows what actually lies in the hearts and minds of others; if they are laying a trap to turn us away from the Lord and his will.

Let us always be wary of falling into the pit that comes with making promises to others that go against the will of God. Rather, seek the Lord and to do his will  that we may do good to others and cause them no harm for God is the God and Father of all.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

He Has Chosen Us! Praise Be To God!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."

                                                                                        (Eph 1:3-6 KJV)

In a nutshell:  God chose us. We did not choose him. Without his grace given to us through Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit we would totally reject him. After all, his way are not our ways. His ways are not the ways of the world and we really like to fit in. 

In spite of our sinfulness, God still chose us because of his love for us.  I have said it more than a few times lately.  "We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19 KJV) It is God's love for us and not the fear of hell that moves us to love and serve him. Perfect love casts our fear. So, if it is the fear of hell that motivates you then you probably don't have a real loving relationship with God. It is more than likely that what you're doing is pretending in order to try to hedge your bet, just in case...

Open up your Bibles and may God open up your hearts and minds so that you may have a loving relationship with your God who loves you enough to die for you.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

To Know The Love Of Christ

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. (Eph 3:17-19 KJV)

What a prayer! What a blessing to know the love of God; to be filled with his love! To be filled with the fulness of God is to know contentment; to know peace. May God bless you with the indwelling Christ so that you might be rooted and grounded in love.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Eph 4:7)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Take It To The Lord In Prayer

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7 KJV)

The line "Take it to the Lord in Prayer" from the favorite hymn "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" reminds us that no matter what we are going through, the Lord cares; he hears; and he helps us in our time of need. We may still have to go through the struggle but with the Lord's help we will not be discouraged. We can face all things with a peaceful heart and mind because we know that the Lord is with us and for us.

Life is not always easy. We all have times of trouble. But, we can find peace by the knowledge that he works all things for the good of those who love him. (Rom 8:28)

God's peace be with you always - Pr. J.

I Lay Down In Peace

Psalm 4

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.

There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

+++

My favorite times of day are early morning and evening just before I fall asleep. They are quiet times. They are times when I can commune with God without any interruptions. 

The world is full of challenges as we strive to do better. Unfortunately, this striving to do better usually tends to mean we strive for more unnecessary stuff. This striving for stuff can take the joy totally out of living as it can be a constant battle to appear more successful in the eyes of others. Successful for many means having more stuff even if they no longer have time to enjoy the stuff they've accumulated. Successful for most Christians means living in peace in communion with God. We don't need lots of stuff. We need Jesus. We need need his love. We need the peace that only he can give. 

No matter what challenges might trouble our hearts and minds we can live and rest in peace knowing that the Lord is with us and for us. The Lord lifts up the light of his countenance upon us.

May God help each of us to live in perpetual communion with Him that we might all live life in peace with Him and with one another.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

His Will

"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;" (Col 1:9 KJV)

Eta is going to put a stop to my morning prayer walk today. I will still pray; but, I will miss the walk. It's raining and the wind is blowing pretty good. It is not terrible; but, not good enough to be walking in either. The last time I took my prayer walk in the wind and rain my umbrella was blown inside out. 

I have found that I can focus more intently on prayer if I am walking outside as I can pray out loud. I can actually have a conversation with God. And... everyday, I pray for all my loved ones and all whom I know some of the same things that Paul prayed for the Colossians: that they might be filled with the knowledge of God's will and empowered by the Holy Spirit to do that will. 

May God grant that our ears and eyes and hearts and minds be open to a greater understanding of His will for us and fill us with the Holy Spirit that we might be inspired and empowered to follow in the way that He would have us go.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Good Soil + Good Seed = Good Fruit

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

                                                                        (Matt 13:3-9 KJV)

So many times I have been told by people that they just do not understand the scriptures when they are read to them during worship or even when they read them themselves. They do claim to understand what the preacher says in his or her sermons; but, not the word of God. At times like that I cannot help but wonder what the preacher is saying. Is the preacher really proclaiming the word of God or speaking to please the itching ears? Could it possibly be that the itching ears will hear only what they want to hear?

Good soil is soil that will receive a good seed helping the good seed to be fruitful.  The good soil is our hearts and minds. The good seed is the word of God. When the word of God is planted in an open heart and mind; the word which is planted will bring forth much fruit for the Kingdom of God. 

Alas, when the word of God is planted in a stony heart or mind, it just may catch hold for awhile but will soon wither away bearing no fruit for the Kingdom of God.

May God our Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit open that hearts, minds, eyes and ears of us all that we might have a greater understanding of all that our Lord Jesus, who is the Word, loves us and has done for us so that we in turn might glorify His Holy Name in all that we say and think and do. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Covenant of Love

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

                                                                               (Heb 8:10-12 KJV)

Thanks be to God for the new covenant in Christ!

Jesus established the new covenant making the old one obsolete. The old covenant consisted of law. It consisted of what we must do. In following the law; although, we often try, we all fail miserably. So, in His wisdom and love God, sent His Son, as high priest, to make the ultimate sacrifice for us establishing a new covenant between God and man.

This new covenant is not about what we must do; but, what God has done for us. 

Thanks be God for His love and mercy is great!

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Sabbath; Remain Still

Scripture is pretty silent on any human activity during the day after the crucifixion of Jesus. It is silent because it was the Sabbath. Travel was limited by law. Work was curtailed. The Sabbath was and is a time of rest. It is a time to recount all that God has done for us.

And, how much recounting there was during that Sabbbath! 

The Priests and Pharisees were still worried about the man, Jesus, that was crucified the day before. They remembered that Jesus had said he would rise from the grave on the third day so they went to Pilate to have the grace sealed, just in case...

The followers of Jesus had lost their teacher to a horrible death the day before. They were grieving this Sabbath. They were in shock and in fear for their own safety. Oh, how their minds must have been racing as they recounted the past three years following Jesus and the events of the past week. Their hearts and minds may have been racing; but, it is was the Sabbath so they remained still. According to tradition they stayed in place until they were allowed to go out again on Sunday.

Today, is the Sabbath. It is a good thing to remain still and recount the happenings of the previous week. For many people today, it is unlawful to leave their safe places unless it is absolutely essential. It is an opportunity to take the time to reflect on all that Jesus has done and continues to do for us.

God's Peace - Pr. J.    

Do What Is Right

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

                                                                                       (Titus 2:11-15 KJV)

We do indeed have freedom of will. We can choose to do whatever pleases us. We must also understand as we make those choices that there will be consequences one way or another.

I confess I get very uncomfortable when I hear people talking about breaking laws or doing something that will in the long run make their lives miserable rather than enhance their lives. I get so uncomfortable that I often let others know why I am uncomfortable. I am free in this country to speak what is on my mind. I am also commanded by God to exhort and rebuke and speak the truth.

No, this does not always endear me to others. But, it does help to keep my conscience a bit clearer.  Years ago, I worked on a military installation overseas. One of my duties was to deliver speeding tickets to people who had been caught on a camera. One morning, I delivered a speeding ticket to a Petty Officer who was caught on camera speeding on his bicycle. I joked about it. It seemed kind of petty to fine someone for speeding on a bicycle. That afternoon as he was speeding in that very same spot he was hit by a car and killed. He left behind a wife and children. The guilt I felt for making light of his speeding hit me hard and for quite some time. 

Being godly includes at least attempting to obey the laws of this world. As Christians we hope to be good examples to the world around us. None of us are perfect. We are all sinners and we will break laws now and then simply because we may view those laws as petty ordinances that get in our way. 

But, we do know the difference between right and wrong. The grace of God has been delivered to us through Jesus. The law of God has been written on our hearts. 

"Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;"

                                                                                        (Heb 10:15:17)

We know in our hearts the difference between right and wrong. Let us do what is right as much as a sinful person can do right even as we look for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Give Thanks To God Our Father

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Col 3:17 KJV)

Now, isn't that just a novel idea! That is: doing everything in the name of Jesus and giving thanks to God our Father! Living with thankful hearts and minds is a  much more peaceful way to live than being angry and frustrated that you can't have or do what you want all of the time. 

It may sound cliche'; but, just maybe it's time to look around you and give thanks for what you do have and for the people in your life who actually care about you. So often, so many people gravitate towards those who feed their egos. But, when their own egos are no longer being fed by being in relationship with you, they will turn on you in the blink of an eye.

Do everything with the loving heart of Jesus and give thanks to God your Father in heaven then you will know the true joy of living! 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Your Sins Are Forgiven

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

                                                (1 John 1:8-10 KJV)

We are all sinners. There is no getting around that fact. When the guilt lays heavy upon our hearts it behooves us to turn to the LORD, confess our sins, and receive the forgiveness that God has so freely bestowed upon us through our Saviour, Jesus the Christ.

As Lutherans, we are taught that we should daily confess our sins before God. However; sometimes, the guilt lays so heavy on our hearts and minds that it is difficult for us to forgive ourselves. We know that we are not worthy of forgiveness. We don't want to be the one's responsible for the spilling of the blood of Jesus. No one, we might think, should have to die for our sins. But, he did. It is done. It is finished. He loves you that much. You are forgiven.

As a pastor, I was often asked if I hear confessions. Of course! There are some who think that their confessions should be private and only between them and God. No one else needs to hear about our sins. Confession, with your pastor remains private, always. (If it is not - find a new confessor) Private confession is not necessary to receive forgiveness. Confessing directly to God is more than sufficient. However; sometimes, it is necessary, when our guilt seems to overwhelm us and we are unable to forgive ourselves, to be able to speak aloud our sins and hear the declaration that God forgives you. For the sake of His Son, Jesus the Christ, you are forgiven. 

There is no shame in confessing our sins. There is only freedom and peace received in the reconciling Word of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Good Shepherd's Love

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

                                                                                (John 10:11-15 KJV)

When a person truly loves another, with their whole hearts and minds; they are willing to do anything for them. They are willing even to lay their life down for their beloved. This kind of love; this kind of commitment to others seems (at times) to be in very short supply. We are willing to run when things get tough; to divorce our spouses, to leave our children, to abandon our family and friends.

But, the Good Shepherd is not willing to run. He is and was willing to die so that we might be saved from all evil and harm. He is there always for us. He hasn't and won't run from us. He calls each of us by name so that we might follow him in safety and in peace; that we might have life.

Jesus is the gate to eternal life. Any other way leads to destruction. He calls to you. Follow the Good Shepherd and live life most abundantly in the presence of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ask For Wisdom

If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. (James 1:5 NRSV)

This verse from James came to my mind as I was reading the news and some social media this morning. 

Here is a major problem: If someone lacks wisdom, will they be wise enough to ask for wisdom?  Sometimes, it just does not seem like that will happen for some. There are those whose eyes nor their ears nor their hearts nor their minds are open to the truth. So, we must ask for wisdom for others as well as for ourselves.

God grant that we should receive the wisdom and the courage to accept the truth of His Word.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Pray For Peace That We Might Live In Peace

Psalm 122

(NIV)

I rejoiced with those who said to me,

“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

Our feet are standing

in your gates, Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is built like a city

that is closely compacted together.

That is where the tribes go up—

the tribes of the Lord—

to praise the name of the Lord

according to the statute given to Israel.

There stand the thrones for judgment,

the thrones of the house of David

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

“May those who love you be secure.

May there be peace within your walls

and security within your citadels.”

For the sake of my family and friends,

I will say, “Peace be within you.”

For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,

I will seek your prosperity.

For the sake of family, friends, community, world, the Church; let us pray for peace. Let us pray for peace that their might be rejoicing instead of sorrow. Let us pray for others to know peace that in their knowing and living in peace; we also will live in peace. Let us pray for peace that we might be reconciled to one another. Let us pray for peace so that together we might praise the name of the Lord!

Let us pray: May the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ( Philippians 4:7 NIV)

God's Peace - Pr. J