Jesus The Bread Of Life

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 

                                                                             (John 6:32-35 KJV)

Jesus is the bread of life. Many of us have not been being fed very well this past year with all of the shut-downs and restrictions due to COVID. We have not been being fed with the Word who is Jesus the Christ nor have we been being fed with the Sacrament of his body and blood.  So just a little reminder from Luther's Small Catechism found in the Book of Concord this morning that because of the restrictions we may have gotten out of the habit of hearing the Word and partaking in the Holy Sacrament and should get back into the habit. 

Sacrament of the Altar

As the head of the family should teach it in a simple way to his household.

01 What is the Sacrament of the Altar?

02 Answer: It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the bread and wine, for us Christians to eat and to drink, instituted by Christ Himself.

03 Where is this written?

04 Answer: The holy Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul, write thus:

Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread: and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and gave it to His disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.

After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Take, drink ye all of it. This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the remission of sins. This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.

05 What is the benefit of such eating and drinking?

06 Answer: That is shown us in these words: Given, and shed for you, for the remission of sins; namely, that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

07 How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?

08 Answer: It is not the eating and drinking, indeed, that does them, but the words which stand here, namely: Given, and shed for you, for the remission of sins. Which words are, beside the bodily eating and drinking, as the chief thing in the Sacrament; and he that believes these words has what they say and express, namely, the forgiveness of sins.

09 Who, then, receives such Sacrament worthily?

10 Answer: Fasting and bodily preparation is, indeed, a fine outward training; but he is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: Given, and shed for you, for the remission of sins.

But he that does not believe these words, or doubts, is unworthy and unfit; for the words For you require altogether believing hearts.

Hungry and thirsty?  Jesus who is the bread of life will fill you for all of eternity.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Moving Forward

"...but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

                                                                                      (Phil 3:13b-14 KJV)

So far 2020 has been a rough year for many people. While we keep in mind things that have transpired we continue to go forward. But, getting stuck dwelling on the past will only serve to keep us from moving forward. Look back, when we must, to remind ourselves not to repeat the mistakes of the past. Look forward with hope to a future of peace in the presence of Almighty God and with one another.

I keep hearing that this country is a mess. It appears that in some parts of the country it really is. I spent a good part of the summer in Michigan. I mostly stayed home due to the many COVID-19 restrictions. It was stifling. It was depressing to not be able to move. I am now in Florida and it feels much different. I am comfortable again; able to start each day considering what I might possibly want to do or accomplish today and have the freedom to do it.

We can begin each day anew. Let us rejoice for the opportunities and gifts that God has provided us with to go forth glorifying His holy name.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Run The Race With Patience

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

                                                                                       (Heb 12:1-2 KJV)

What sin besets you today? Are you living with hope? Are you living so that you might be helpful to others and in the long run to yourself? Or, do you look at everything like your world is coming to an end? 

St. Paul advises us to lay aside the weight and the sin that so easily beset us. Lay aside your negativity and put one foot in front of the other so that you might continue to run the race that is set before us all. Not everyone is happy with the restrictions that have been placed upon us due to COVID-19. But, this will pass. It is a time to come together even if we cannot be together. Each of us can be fruitful by living carefully so that we might not harm any others. It will take patience as we are very social beings. It is difficult for many not to socialize frequently. Staying home may be a challenge; but, it is what is needful for the health of our neighbors. It is a little thing to do to help save our loved ones as well as our neighbors whom we may not even know. 

Do not be overcome with this weight. This, too, shall pass. Continue to run this race with patience and hope. Believe that God is with you and for you and working in and through you. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

He Is Home! Thanks Be To God!

Rejoice evermore.

Pray without ceasing.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

                                                                             (1 Thess 5:16-18 KJV)

Giving thanks this morning that my husband was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon. He is home! Thanks be to God!

We are so thankful for the staff at Advent Health in Palm Coast and Daytona Beach. The doctors on staff did not send him home when at first they did not find anything serious. They kept looking until they found the cause and took steps to fix it. 

I am thankful that he was able to be released yesterday. When I got to Daytona Beach yesterday, the hospital was on lockdown for about an hour. Visiting hours were restricted to 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and only for those who had medical authority for the patients. Those restrictions will probably tighten up in the near future. 

There is a lot of trouble in the world today. But, good people with integrity  also abound. Let us consider the good that is all around us. Let us give thanks to Almighty God as we live in the hope of God's good will concerning all of us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!

God's Peace - Pr. J.