Someplace Special
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Someplace Special
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Read 2 Corinthians 5:20 "So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20 When I left home for college my intention was to become an ambassador. I had studied French in high school, including two summers - one in Maine and one in France - so that I would be fluent in the language of the diplomats. I knew after my first government classes that this was not my true calling. I didn't like it and I wasn't very good at it. Apparently God had something else in mind for me. I took a religion course just for fun and the rest, as they say, is history. Much has changed since then. I'm a long way from college and the language of the diplomatic world is now English. But one thing hasn't changed - my dream of being an ambassador. Building bridges between people and cultures, making connections that span oceans and cultures, learning about and from others who are different from me, yet the same, continues to be my life's work. I'm just working for a different "boss." And so are you. To be an ambassador for Christ one does not have to be ordained. In baptism, we are all sent into a world where people know little about who God is. We are sent to speak for God and to live in such a way that it reflects well on the one who sent us. We are called to follow Jesus' own example of translating God's love into words and deeds so that when people hear and see us, they understand God's love, mercy and compassion. In so doing we are inviting those with whom we live, work, play and learn to be reconciled to God. The Lenten season is a great time to practice being an ambassador for Jesus Christ. Prayer Please join me in praying: Lord, you have sent us into the world to represent you. Surprise us with a full measure of your Holy Spirit so that we might bring you and your love to people in our world and that we might bring them to you and your saving grace. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Marie C. Jerge, Bishop, Upstate New York Synod
Read Deuteronomy 30:19-20 ”Choose life so that you and your descendents may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you, and length of days.” Deuteronomy 30: 19b-20a It is within God’s power to bless or condemn us. And God judges us by our actions. If we love and obey God we shall be blessed, but if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and service them, you shall perish. These word were applied to the Jews, as a people, but they can easily be applied to us, as a nation. If we follow God’s will for us we will have long life, and be blessed by God, but if we sucumb to other gods, and are lead by them instead of by God, we shall parish as a people. It is up to each individual to choose God and it is up to us as a nation to please God, if we want to be blessed as individuals, and a nation. I pray that we can please God, and thus be blessed by him. Prayer Dear God, please let us discern your will for us as individuals and as a nation so it will be easy for you to bless us. Indeed it is not too hard for us to understand your word which is very near to us, and is in our mouth and heart for us to observe. Amen. Bob Esch
Read Psalm 51:19 “Then there will be righteous sacrifices….” Psalm 51:19a Sacrifice - “an offering, as of a life or object, to a deity; a giving up of one thing for the sake of another (Webster’s New World Dictionary, 2002) A young man of twenty eight, watched while people in a helicopter tried to rescue a stewardess struggling to survive an airplane crash in Washington, D.C. Twice she slipped from the rope dropped to her and fell back into the icy Potomac. Seeing that her strength was gone, the man shed his coat and boots, jumped into the water and swam thirty yards to her rescue. Questioned by the press later about his motivation, he replied: “I had been there all the time and nobody was getting into the water ….It’s something I never thought I would do, but in looking back, I guess I did it because I didn’t think about it. Somebody had to go in the water.” So often we find ourselves in situations calling for someone to take a risk, but more often than not, we chose to stay on dry land where it is safe. As Christians we are empowered by God’s Holy Spirit to do things that we never thought we could or would do. Christ made the ultimate sacrifice of giving up his life for us asking very little in return. If we are to truly be like Jesus, sacrifices are necessary in every facet of our lives. Selfishness and self-centeredness are lost and we strive to work for the common good even when it means giving up of ourselves. Prayer O Lord, you are our God. You sacrificed your son on the cross for the common good. Teach us to make sacrifices of ourselves that will also benefit the common good. Amen Pastor Billy
Read Luke 5:30-32 But the Pharisees and their experts in the law complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “Those who are well don't need a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. In another Bible - Luke 5:32 My purpose is to invite sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend my time with those who think themselves already good enough. The husband of a friend of mine was arrested in July and he just pleaded guilty this past week. Since July her husband has been going through therapy, and as she puts it, "he finally, through their hardship, has come to know his Lord and Savior." They have had to move from their home, move from their community, enroll their children in a different school, and go through the pain of having their "friends" leave them. This friend of mine belongs to the Gospel Choir I sing with and she has considered quitting instead of being judged and ridiculed for "supporting her husband and staying committed to their marriage." The purpose of singing the music we chose in this choir is to spread God's message. How is it then that any of us would turn her away? It has made me think, have I turned people away because of their "sins?" Is the church inviting to the "sinners" or is the church like our insurance companies who only want to cover the "healthy" when it is the sick that need the coverage? How many people do we choose to "disassociate with" because they are divorced, or struggling in their marriage. Maybe we know someone who is a wonderful person but they are gay, or an alcoholic, or has a gambling problem. How about someone who shoplifts, or cheats on their taxes, someone who has committed acts of spousal abuse, or adultery, someone who abuses drugs, or who's been a drunk driver, or cheated on a test? It's easy to talk about them, believe me, I am a hairdresser I hear all the stories, but I rarely hear how the person telling the story, has invited them/us to celebrate at the Lord's table let alone their own. I guess it is just easier to say "I'll pray for you" instead of "I'll pray with you." The saying that was made popular some years back, "What Would Jesus Do" says it all. He embraced them. His whole life was for the purpose of having us ask for repentance and forgiving us. If we could bring the sinners to the Lord, who would be left out? Prayer Dear Lord, Look upon me today and help me love all of your people. Help me see beyond their faults and failings, as you look beyond mine. Through your example of embracing the sick and the sinner, give me the grace to do the same so we may all join you now and forever. Amen Mary Bond Onalaska, Wisconsin
Read Psalm 91: 1-2, 10 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust…Then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.” Psalm 91:1-2, 10 How big is God to you? How much do you trust God? Do you believe His promises? Over the past ten months our family has faced very difficult circumstances. Back in April of 2003 I was downsized out of a job. This is the first time in 23 years as a degreed professional I find myself without a job, in a very depressed job market with the overwhelming knowledge of how much is required to meet the household minimums. Right from the beginning our family made a decision to place all our confidence in God and no one else. After several months of job-hunting with few prospects in sight and the unemployment being withheld, we continued to stand with our confidence in God alone. Miracle after miracle, month after month, all the bills are paid in cash. The mortgage, the car, gas, electric, telephone, groceries and on and on, all provided graciously by the Most High. To this day God continues to be our provision and always will be. God will only be as big as you allow Him to be. The more you make your dwelling place in His shelter the further His shadow will cast, giving you the peace and rest you need. We can assure you, God’s promises are true and He is faithful to fulfill them all. Prayer Dear Heavenly Dad, Thanks for inviting us to dwell with you. Please help us to allow you to be BIG even when things are going great. We Love You! Amen Dave and Melissa Schutrum
Read Psalm 19.1-14 The Revelation of God “The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes” Psalm 19:8 Since the advent of Christ, we have become people of the Gospel and, therefore, we look upon the law of God through dark eyes. We say, the Law kills and the Gospel gives life! In reality there is much good to be said about the law of God. Here in Psalm 19, David says the law of God does five wondrous things. The Law... **Being Perfect, it revives the soul. This means that the law is so perfect that it covers ever aspect of life. **Being Trustworthy, the law of God makes the simple wise. Trustworthy means worthy of trust, and the reason why the laws of God are worthy of our trust is that the correspond to reality. If we follow the directions of the Word of God, we will find salvation, contentment, joy, and eternal life. **Being right, the law of God makes the heart rejoice. Right does not mean correct as opposed to being wrong; the idea is seen more in the word trustworthy. Right means straight as opposed to crooked and is linked to the idea of righteousness. Verse 8 tells us that walking in the ways that are right .brings joy **Being Radiant, the law of God gives light to the eyes. In a literal sense, an object (i.e. light bulb, candle) that is radiant or gives off light makes vision possible. The law of God purges the darkness and helps us to see clearly and without distortion. **Being pure, the law of God endures forever. Corrupt things decay. That which is pure endures forever. In Matthew 5:18, we hear “…until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen will by any means disappear from the law until everything is accomplished.” The law teaches that truth is absolute and unchanging is grounded in the character of God, who is also unchanging. **Being sure and altogether righteous, the law of God warns the servant of God against sin and provides with a great reward. As Christians who believe in the trinity - God, Son, and Holy Spirit, we cannot be practitioners of an either the Law or the Gospel faith. Our faith is grounded in both Law and Gospel. Prayer Amazing God, through your word of Grace and Truth, you have opened our eyes and hearts to your ways. For this we thank you and ask that you encourage us to become teachers of your Word of Law and Gospel. Amen Pastor Billy
Read Matthew 6:15 “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive you your sins.” Matthew 6:15 Just exactly what does it mean to forgive or to be forgiven? Well I’m no expert on the subject but to me it means that when we have done something wrong towards someone else we owe a debt to that person and the only way out of it is to ask that the debt to be paid in full or to have that debt set aside. Jesus, in this passage, is saying to us that we are to forgive others or we will not be forgiven, but is that what he means? I don’t think so. We don’t receive forgiveness by forgiving others, but we are showing that we indeed have been forgiven by the way forgive others. As we well know forgiveness from God’s end is not something that we earn or deserve but it is God’s Grace that affords us this forgiveness or grace. If we think of sins or debts that have happened to us in the light of forgiveness or not, we will see how holding these debts bottled up in our minds just continue to build up inside ourselves and fester, which can only make us more miserable. We need to always keep in mind verse 12 of Matthew, which by the way happens to be part of the Lords Prayer, where we are to forgive others just the same way we want to be forgiven. We need to make this our goal in life. God, please forgive me in the same manner that I am willing to forgive others. If we do this I think it will change our hearts and minds to be more Christ like. Prayer Father, I have sinned many times and I know you have forgiven me for these sins, please help me in my daily life to always be willing to forgive others as willingly as you do for me. Amen Thomas A. Gardner |
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