A Strong Foundation

We are gearing-up for our next building drive, A Strong Foundation, realizing that in order to expand our facilities and build our sanctuary we need to pay down our debt so that we’ll be in good financial shape when we do build. We need to take care of our own personal foundations as well, so that we can be equipped for the journey to which God has called us.

Our foundation is what makes us who we are. Our egos and our souls make up this foundation, influenced by our heritage, faith, environment and actions. To have a strong foundation, God has to have a central place. If God comes into your life for just an hour on Sunday that is a sign that your foundation is not as strong as it might be. The strong foundation that Jesus wants us to build is our spirit; Jesus wants us to strengthen the light within us. By doing this, we grow in faith, love and devotion. We become the light of Christ for the world. Build your foundation by spending time alone with God, reading and contemplating God’s Word, in prayer and meditation, and perseverance. The spirit grows on it’s own time.

God of Light, look upon me with favor, and help me to realize and grow the light that is within me.  Amen.

First Things First

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his followers not to worry so much about the everyday concerns of life, but to “seek first the kingdom of God.” Well, where is it, and how do we find it?  The kingdom of God is within you and you find it by looking for it.

Jesus said “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30) and in verse 38, he goes on to say that “I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” God’s kingdom is in you.  Jesus says “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened. (Matt 7:7)   

What Jesus is telling us is that we should raise our own God consciousness or our awareness of God’s presence within ourselves by going inward and looking for it and praying for it to be revealed. The difficulty we have doing that is that our egos block anything that tries to dominate them. Prayer, meditation, and contemplation of God’s Word are the tools we need to use if we are to experience God’s presence within and find the kingdom of God.

Gracious God, help me to experience you presence within so that I know that you are in me and I am in you.  Amen.  

I Have Seen the Lord!

The resurrection of Jesus is the seminal event of his ministry.  The physical body of Jesus died on the cross on that terrible Friday but his spirit survived. He was seen in his glorified body by his followers on that following Sunday morning.   Christ took the punishment we deserve so that we might claim the salvation given to us through his sacrifice. For us, this means that this life we live is not all that there is.  Our spirit, united with Christ, will live on after we have completed our span of years.  That is the great hope we have as followers of Jesus.

As believers, we should be doing everything in our power to carefully follow the teachings of Jesus, so that our spirits can develop and grow.  In John 6: 63-64, Jesus says that “it is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless.   The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.”   Jesus came that we might have life, and have it abundantly.  [John 10:10].  It is there for us to grasp.  Read the words of Jesus; contemplate them in the quiet of your heart.  Let them bring you to fullness of faith and a life of unimaginable joy so that you, like Mary, might proclaim, “I have seen the Lord!”

Holy Jesus, grant us the wisdom and the tenacity to focus ourselves upon you and the marvelous gift of eternal life that you offer.  Amen

In Our Right Mind

As always, Jesus is God’s example of how we ought to live our lives.  In this Sunday’s reading, Philippians 2:5–11, Paul exhorts us to have the same mind in us that was in Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, “emptied” himself, taking the form of a slave and humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death.  How can we have the same mind that was in Jesus?  How can we “empty” ourselves so that we can draw closer to God?   It is through the workings of the Holy Spirit through prayer and meditation on God’s Word that we can do this.  We can empty ourselves of our vain desires and the anxieties that are part of our daily routine and reach out to God and embrace the great peace and light that comes from God. 

It’s so easy for us to lose our way because we are of two minds. One mind is set on the spiritual side of life; the other is set on the carnal side. This has been our state since the beginning of time with the story of Adam and Eve and the first bite of the forbidden fruit.  The “Good versus Evil” battle rages with in us, and we seem hopelessly caught in the middle.  If we focus our mind and actions solely on what we need and desire, we lose sight of God. It’s as simple as that.  Jesus emptied himself so that he could accomplish what he had come to do…go through the pain and agony of the events of Good Friday to bring salvation to the world.  We can empty ourselves so that we can become useful tools in God’s great handiwork.

Gracious God, Help me to empty myself of all that takes me away from you, and draw me close to your heart. Amen.

I Want to See Jesus

Songwriter, worship leader Paul Baloche has written a classic contemporary praise song called “Open the Eyes of My Heart.”  Paul prays that God will open the eyes of his heart because, he says, “I want to see you.” The prayer is that Jesus would make himself known in a very real way; that we might get a glimpse of his glory. What a wonderful prayer. We believe, but we have not seen. We want to see Jesus.

I was talking with my friend Julie Lynn one day and we were talking about faith, and she told me that Jesus was as real to her as the coffee table that sat between us.  She has a faith that is solid and sure. But what is faith? Hebrews chapter 11 is all about the meaning of faith. Hebrews 11:1: says that "… faith is assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen." and in verse six goes on to say, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." [NRSV] 

You can see Jesus at work though the saints that surround your life. Those who are always giving, always concerned, always willing to help are witnesses to the face of love which is Jesus. We can see God though the grandeur of nature, where one can find perfection and peace. We can be still, and through the stillness know that God is there, and with our very breath we can inspire the beauty of the holiness that is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We can believe, and through our faith we can touch the face of God. 

Lord God, increase my faith in you, my love for you, and my devotion to your work. Amen.

Transforming Moment

In the season of Lent, we take our own walk toward Calvary’s hill. And as we walk, we can reflect upon where we have been and what effect we’ve had upon the lives we have touched along the way.  We can celebrate the successes and lament the failures. We can bask in the triumphs and we can stumble in the shames. But whatever our portion has been, we can be sure of one thing: God loves us. God loves us so much that He sent Jesus into this world so that, in believing in Him, we are saved and are called to a life with God in eternity. (John 3:16) 

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.” Jesus said. [John 14:1] The Christhood of Jesus is the pivotal, and transformational center of our faith, and by pattering our behavior on the way Jesus lived his life, we can live lives that are pleasing to God. While we make this journey we will stumble, sometimes we’ll fall down. But when we do, the grace of God will pick us back up and set us once again on the journey; the transforming love and light of Christ showing us the way.

My House

Jesus, in a final act of frustration over the Jewish rabbinical leadership, goes into the temple and creates havoc by throwing out the merchants and overturning the tables of the money changers.  The leadership had lost sight of the true meaning of worship and of what God requires as a right sacrifice, and Jesus meant to teach them a lesson.  This cleansing of the temple is symbolic of what Jesus wants to do in our lives. Jesus wants to enter our lives and get rid of anything that draws us away from a true relationship with God.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you...and that you are not your own.”

Are there habits in your life that are not life-affirming? Things that are not God-centered can pull us away from the light of God’s love. God wants to clear all the road-blocks that stop us from having a close relationship with Him. Do you know what those obstacles are? Search your heart and you’ll know. A guilty conscience is one sure sign that something is wrong. Secrets are another sign. Draw close to God and God will draw close to you, and the Holy Spirit can work changes in you that can turn your heart around and lead you in a truer direction. That is a proper sacrifice. Psalm 51:17 says “The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

Gracious God, help me to allow the Holy Spirit into my heart to clear away the things that keep me from being in a closer relationship with you. Amen.

Take Up Your Cross

This is certainly one of the harder things Jesus asks of his followers, but what does this mean to you?  Many think that Jesus meant that we were to take up the burdens we bear, and willingly follow Jesus wherever he leads. He says, “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23). Jesus was talking about dying to self, meaning absolute surrender to God.  This is certainly a difficult thing for those of us who live in a material world, where people believe the more you’ve got, the better you are. 

It’s all about priorities.  Jesus says that our first priority should be to follow God’s leading in all that we do.  Denying yourself means turning all of your problems over to God, trusting that God will get you through whatever you face.  Denying yourself means putting the needs of others ahead of your own. Denying yourself means entrusting in God’s grace for your life.  You are a beloved child of God, and nothing that you can do can separate you from God’s love.  God wants you. The beautiful hymn I Surrender All could be a mantra for you as you go about your day:

All to Jesus, I surrender; all to Him I freely give;

I will ever love and trust Hiim, in His presence daily live.

-- Judson W. Van DeVenter, 1896

Show Me the Way to Go Home

Last summer when I was in the Canadian wilderness of Lake of the Woods, I was amazed that when I punched the map app on my iPhone, the map showed me where we were on the lake, actually plotting our progress in real time through those spectacularly beautiful islands.

Isn’t it too bad our phones can’t keep track of where we are on our spiritual journey?  If you are a believer you want to walk in God’s path, but it seems that we are led astray by the countless temptations that line the walkway. We pray, like the Psalmist, “Show me your ways, O LORD, and teach me your paths.   [Psalm 25 verse 4]       

"O God,” we pray, “help me to know your will for my life; what is it you want from me?”  How are we to know if what we are doing is what God wants us to do? The answer can be found only through spending time in devotion, praying, listening, reading and reflecting. God will let you know through a quiet assurance that all is well. If not, there will be a nudge of conscience telling you, “this is not right.”

We are fortunate that we were all born with a God app that we can turn to when we are lost. Believe that it’s there and tap into that God awareness you were born with. Jesus is ready to lead you in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.  Psalm 23: 3:b. In fact, read all of Psalm 23 for the assurance of God’s presence and leading in your life. And believe.

Gracious God,  help me to feel your presence and your leading in my life. Help me to listen and to believe. Amen.

Christmas Brings Out the Best in Us

It is the time of great hospitality; a time for giving and sharing of presence and presents; our homes are cleaned and decorated to look their best; there are new Christmas clothes to wear and beautiful music fills the air. The sights, the sounds and the smells of Christmas bring back treasured memories of childhood. Yes, all the things that surround the celebration of the birth of Jesus bring out our best.

We gather at church at Christmas to celebrate this most wonderful day. We take the bread and the wine, the body and blood of Jesus, and we pray for wholeness, radiating the image of Jesus, Son of God, love’s pure light. Jesus, who came to us to show us who God is and how to live a life that is rich in meaning and pleasing to God, is the cause of this goodness we display at this time of year. Jesus, who came that we might have life, is God’s greatest gift to us. O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.  O Little Town of Bethlehem vs. 4

Gracious God, thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus, and for the many blessings with which you shower us. Help us to be grateful for the Gift, and help us to live our lives for your Glory.  Amen.

Hey, I'm Getting New Stuff for Christmas

We set aside December 25^th to celebrate the birth of Jesus, God in human form. It is Jesus who shows us who God is, and what God is like. It is Jesus who prepares the way to radically change lives. It is Jesus who teaches us how to live. It is Jesus who promises us life…New Life.

Behold:  I Make All Things New [Rev 21:5]  Jesus says,   I_make_all -things _new! 

Hey Jesus, make me new! I want to be new. I’m tired of dragging all the old baggage around. I want  a new start, I want  a fresh beginning. I want to start out with a clean slate and start drawing with new crayons  and I want it all to be colorful and beautiful and meaningful to me and to those lives I touch.  Come on Jesus, that’s what I want for Christmas…a new me!!  

“No problem,” says Jesus, “All you have to do is to surrender your old you, and voila, presto chango… a new you!”

“That doesn’t sound too easy,” I said.

And Jesus answered, “It’s not, but I’ll be there to help you through it, if you’ll let me. You know,  you’ve  pretty much had the wheel so far in your life,  how’s that working out for you?...not so good? Let me be the driver behind the wheel of your life and let’s see where we can go and what we can do together.” 

“Well, that sounds pretty good to me,” I said, “I definitely want a new and improved me!”

“Oh the places you’ll go…” Jesus said, sounding a little like Dr. Seuss.

Gracious God,  here I am. Take my life and use it to your glory.  Help me to be an active participant in your kingdom, not simply a spectator.  Thank you for Jesus and for new life. Amen

The Shepherd

On the third Sunday of Advent we light The Shepherds’ Candle to remember that it was to humble shepherds that God sent his message of great news to all people. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  Jesus, who is sometimes called “The Great Shepherd,” was God incarnate; born that we might know the grace and true nature of God, and that we, through God’s grace, can have eternal life.

The twenty-third Psalm best describes the nature of our relationship with God: The Lord is my shepherd, I lack for nothing.

This Psalm is a love song to God, and Jesus is our guide to living a life enfolded in God’s love. Read it and indulge yourself in the beautiful language and the wonderfully comforting images and metaphors it contains.  God watches over us, giving us what we need; directing our path and steering us back to the path when we go wandering.

 
As we approach the day celebrating the birth of Jesus, let us surrender ourselves to the leading of the Good Shepherd.  Let us pray for God’s guidance and protective care. Let us give thanks for the blessings that God bestows on us.  We know that without God’s shepherding, we are a lost people.  We search for happiness and fulfillment in places where it cannot be found. “Gentle Shepherd come and lead us, for we need your tender care.”

Taking Stock

Advent is a good time for taking inventory of your life, both spiritually and physically, and then take steps to improve things. Is your lifestyle life-affirming, or self- destructive? Is your spiritual life superficial or are you in a deeply committed relationship with God?  

Isaiah 40:3-4 says to prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low, the uneven ground shall become level and the rough places, a plain.  As you look at your life, what can you do to smooth out the rough places and make everything more meaningful and therefore more rewarding for yourself?  Build upon your strengths and gifts and work on your shortcomings. Want a closer relationship with God?  Spend more time in the Word and in meditation. Become more active in your church and volunteer to do something for the kingdom. Are you giving to God’s work?  Could you do more?  If not, why not?  Our church is amazing. Think how much more we could do for the Kingdom of God if we had everyone’s support! And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.  [Isaiah 40:5]

Gracious God, move within me to enable me to become all that you have envisioned for me.  Help me to grow closer to you, and help me to become a true witness to your glory.

Amen

ADVENT

This Sunday and Monday mark the first weekend in Advent — the four weeks before Christmas. Advent starts the church calendar with a season of preparation and anticipation. Advent is a time we prepare for the coming of the Messiah.   


We reflect on where we are in our spiritual journey and define those areas of our lives that could use some clean-up. An apt analogy is the way we go about preparing our homes for Christmas. Romans 13:11 tells us to wake up, for the time is drawing near; it is here and now. Spend some time this Advent doing a little soul-searching, and take an inventory of your spiritual life. What is keeping you from having a closer relationship with God?  Let every heart prepare Him room and heaven and nature sing!

O Lord, search me and know me; show me the ways I can draw closer to you. Help me to increase my faith, love, and devotion to you. Amen

Who Do You Say I Am?

Cornerstone or stumbling block? It’s all in how you look at Jesus. Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith. It is in how you react to Him. Is he the Son of God, or simply a very good man who was a great teacher and philosopher? Who do you say He is?

People who believe in their heart of hearts that Jesus is the Son of God have Jesus as the cornerstone of their lives, and by following his teachings live lives that are based on solid ground…living not for themselves alone but watching out for others and for the common good. When hardships come, they can withstand the storms of life knowing that Jesus walks with them, and at the end, will take them home to be with Him forever. 

To people who don’t believe, Jesus is a stumbling block over which they will trip and fall. They believe that it’s enough to be a good person; that it’s unnecessary to surrender their lives to God’s will, that they can get to heaven under their own power.

They will meet that fate that has been planned for them. [1Peter 2:8b] Through Jesus Christ, God has called us out of darkness into wonderful light, and is building us, as living stones, into his spiritual temple. [1Peter 2:5] Praise the One who breaks the darkness!

Precious Jesus, be with us this day. Increase our faith in you and help us to trust you in all things, for you are the living cornerstone. Amen.

How Did He Do That?

Jesus fed more than five thousand people using the five loaves of bread and two fishes the apostles had with them.   This miracle is repeated many times in churches throughout the world. People bring their offerings to the church, and the church then uses them to nurture souls, educate the young, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, comfort the afflicted.  

What would have happened if the disciples had refused, and told Jesus they were not going to share because the food they had was barely enough to feed just them?  All those people would have gone hungry.   We bring our offerings in thanksgiving for all that God has done for us. By offering a portion of our resources, we are able step outside ourselves and touch the lives of others.  


Ebenezer Scrooge from Dickens’ Christmas Carol was a character who cared only for his own bottom line.  We’re all familiar with how well that worked for him.  God doesn’t want us to be like Scrooge. God wants us to have a heart for others. If you are someone who is Scrooge-like when it comes to giving to God’s work, perhaps this is the year to turn things around. This Sunday we consecrate our promises of giving to our church. Why not step outside yourself and pledge to make a difference in the life of the church and the lives of others?

Gracious God, give me the courage to do what you’ve called  me to do, and help me do so with a willing and joyful heart.  Amen.

What Does God Require?

Everything we have comes from God and God wants us to respond with thanksgiving; God wants us to respond with praise; God wants us to respond with good works, and God wants us to respond with inward devotion.  We are called to be active members of the body of Christ, but we are also called to be a part of the soul of the body as well. 

Micah, the prophet, tells the Israelites that good works without a good heart means nothing to God.  God wants the inward sacrifice as well as the outward one.  Micah tells us that God wants us to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.”  [Micah 6:8]  Combining those three things as well as living in a giving, and caring way is a recipe for a truly successful life: a life that is pleasing to God.

As Lutherans, we believe that we cannot earn our salvation, that it is a gift of grace freely given to us through the sacrifice of Jesus.  However, just because it is ours to claim, doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t respond to this gift by sharing of our time, talent and resources, and nurturing our inner spirituality.  It is time well spent.

Gracious God, we are grateful for all of the blessings you’ve given us.  Help us to respond with willing and joyful hearts. Amen

To Everything There is a Season

Living in Minnesota, we get to experience four completely distinct seasons.   As one season gives way to the next, the landscape changes and the way we experience life changes.  There are seasons in our lives as well: infancy, childhood, youth, adulthood, middle age, and old age.  Through all the chances and changes of life, as believers, we are comforted by knowing that God walks with us through it all.

The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes in chapter three tells us that there is a season and a time for every matter (purpose) under heaven.  Read this chapter and realize that every life has the destiny for good times and for bad times:  “a time to be born, a time to die; a time to dance, a time to mourn; a time of love, a time of hate; a time of war, a time of peace….”   When we experience loss and hardship, we ask God, “Why is this happening to me?” And the response comes back, “To everything there is a season.”  We don’t know for sure if God has predetermined our lives, but we do know that “all things work together for good for those that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose.” [ Romans 8:28]   so no matter what trials you are going through, know that God is there with you, through it all, and be comforted by the love, grace and mercy that is God.  

Holy God, stay by me this day and every day, through the good and through the bad, and help me to trust in you completely for all things.  Amen

Jonah and the Whale

The story of Jonah and the whale is probably one of the best known stories in the Bible.  God asked Jonah to do something and Jonah didn’t want to do it.  Jonah tried to escape from God and you know how well that went.  In the end Jonah did what God wanted and behold…it was good all around. When God speaks to us, it is in our best interest to listen and obey.

How do you listen to God’s voice?  How do you know that it’s God speaking to you?  The only way to listen to what anyone has to say is to be quiet and give that person your full attention.  The best way to do that is through daily devotion because the most common way God speaks to us through the Word. As you read, something in the reading will touch your heart.  That is the Holy Spirit bringing something to your attention that you need to hear. It might not happen every time, but it will happen often enough. After you’ve read, spend some time reflecting on the message.  In your prayer time, take some time to be silent…to listen.  God also speaks to us through music, through the beauty of nature, through the love of family and friends. How do you know what you experience is from God?  The message will be full of  grace, love, light and truth.

Gracious God, help me to spend time with you each day, and help me to listen to what you are saying to me. Amen.

Courage

We live in frightening times.  Not since the Great Depression has our economic situation been so perilous.  Terrorists threaten our country and almost every other country on earth, and it seems as though we are in the midst of a holy war.  God calls for us to be strong and courageous; trusting God in all things. The Bible is full of examples of people in dire straits, people who trusted in God and persevered.

When we are faced with uncertainty, it is important to turn to God’s Word for promises of reassurance. There we can find words of hope and comfort. We can find peace for our troubled hearts. God promises to walk in front of us, beside us, and behind us as we journey through life. We are not to bury our heads in the sand, but we are to move forward, confident our ultimate companion is with us. 

There is no promise that we will not encounter hardship, no promise of easy passage, only the simple promise that God knows us; that God has a plan for our life; that God loves us and that nothing we do can separate us from that love.

Gracious God, help me to feel your presence in my life. Help me to draw closer to you and to trust in you in all things. Amen