Morning devotions

O God of grace

/ The Pastor

O God of grace, we praise you for the boundless love you have shown us; for the amazing forgiveness you give to us.  We thank you for your presence; for your guiding spirit in our lives.  We worship you for you are holy and great and wonderful and majestic.  O God, in what sometimes feels like the same old thing we ask that we may have inspired eyes to see you at work; ears to hear of your mercies.  And as we see and hear may we be so bold to live out loud to your glory.  O God, thank you for this new day; may you receive all praise, honor, glory and worship; forever and ever, Amen.

My friends…you were wonderfully created…may God bless your day that you may be a blessing to others.

The pastor -|—

Formless…for now

/ The Pastor

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. [Genesis 1:1-2]

The New Year’s parties are done and many of you are back to work or school.  And with the work week resuming; 2012 seems to be a distant memory with 2013 in full swing.  Now we are left to wonder what this new year will bring.  A couple days ago we contemplated the ending of one year and dreamed dreams of what 2013 might bring.  Now it is here.

For some 2013 can’t be any worse than 2012.
For some 2013 can’t possibly be any better than 2012…can it?
For some 2013 brings with it new challenges.
For some 2013 brings with it tremendous changes.

But one thing we can all agree on:  Right now…2013 is formless and void.  There’s no shape.
There’s no light.
We are simply sitting in an empty page; one yet to be written.  A story is out there…somewhere.  A plot yet unknown.

But in the midst of this unknown our Creator is hoovering.  God is waiting to reveal the next pages in this new chapter.  God is waiting to reveal the beauty that is your life.  The Creator is over the surface of (and within) our lives.  The Creator is hard at work and this Creator is faithful.

I imagine that the early days of this formless creation was a scary looking place, but in the hands of the Creator…not so much.  It may seem scary looking into 2013 but God is a faithful and loving God. He has your hand; He has your future…secure.  Through Jesus Christ that which is unknown becomes known and certain.  2013 maybe unknown, formless and void but our ultimate destiny is indeed known, formed and filled…through faith in Jesus.

God is hovering over and within this formless new year but that which is formless will become a beauty to behold.  Such is your life in Jesus Christ.  Let’s enter this new year with confidence that the Creator of the universe is our loving and grace-filled God; one who sent Jesus to give us a future. Let’s walk by faith and not by sight.  Our Creator is hard at work.

Happy New Year!

The pastor -|—

Praise in 2013

/ The Pastor

Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
[Psalm 150]

Loving and gracious God, we give you thanks and praise as we begin another new year together.  As I look back there have been ups and downs; joys and sorrows; happiness and sadness; but through it all you have been there.  There is much to be thankful for and much to praise you for.  As we begin this new year together may we not stray from your commandments and may we not forget who’s we are.  May we make the most of every moment to glorify your name and take advantage of every opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus. Loving God, all that we have is from you.  May we use what you have given us to bless one another in this new year and beyond.  May you receive all glory, honor, praise and worship.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen!

Happy New Year everyone!

Praise be to God…always and forever!

The pastor -|—

Jumping off into 2013

/ The Pastor

…and just like that, life is returning to “normal”.

The hustle and bustle
The frantic gift searching
The multiple sermon writing sessions
The celebratory aroma in the air
The ugly Christmas sweaters
My wife’s delicious homemade fudge

…all seem to be gone with the wind.  The warmth of the Christmas season has seemly been replaced with a Wind Chill Advisory; reminding us of the cold tundra that we live in here in the upper Midwest. And even though we are technically still in the Christmas season, it seems a distant memory in the rear view mirror. The calendar has now crept up to the precipice of a new year where we are forced to jump off and see what 2013 will bring us.

And even though I enjoy Christmas, I am looking forward to jumping off this proverbial cliff (and not the fiscal one).  I am excited to see what this new year will bring.

I am looking forward to:
~ (God willing) Welcoming a new baby into our family.
~ Running some more 1/2 marathons.
~ Reading more books.

I am looking forward to seeing:
~ What God is going to do here through Salem and Belmont Lutheran Churches?
~ How God will continue to mold and shape and use me in the body of Christ?
~ What kind of father I will be?
~ How our lives will change with a baby in the mix?

I am looking forward to continuing:
~ My spiritual discipline of writing (here on this blog).
~ My spiritual discipline of scripture reading.
~ My spiritual discipline of prayer.
~ My spiritual discipline of worship.
~ Etc…

And if you need a New Year’s resolution allow me to suggest that you chose a spiritual discipline for yourself to focus on.
~ Start a Bible reading plan.  Maybe it’s not a one year through the Bible plan but commit to reading scripture everyday.
~ Pray daily.  When you wake up in the morning start your day conversing with God. Praise him for what He has done; thank Him for what He has done for you; offer up your petitions and listen.
~ Worship…daily. Worship God through how you live and respond to the needs of others…daily. Worship God with your whole life; everywhere and at every time. And of course, worship with the body of Christ on a weekly basis.
~ Write. Jot down your thoughts as you pray and/or read.  Record what you hear God speaking to you.

…and that is just the start 🙂

So…as you jump off this proverbial cliff into 2013 remember that we are never in control.  You never are as you free fall.  But as you do make that leap (or I guess I should say as you are pushed over because we are going over into 2013 whether we like it or not) place your trust in God’s grace.  Remember that his mercies are new everyday and that his love is never ending.  And remember that God is faithful (even when we are faithless).  In the end God will be glorified.

So here we go…ready or not.  God bless us as we “fall” into a new year.  See you in 2013 🙂

All praise, glory and honor to God.  Amen.

The pastor -|—

Merry Christmas

/ The Pastor

Manger

This is such an exciting time of the year.  I love the worship services and the Christmas preaching.  I love the family gatherings and the yummy food.  I love the Christmas cheer and even the ugly Christmas sweaters. It is indeed the most wonderful time of the year.

This past week I have been feeling anything but 100%. A nasty head cold (with a 101.6 temp a week ago yesterday) made Christmas preparations difficult.  My wife got my yuck on Wednesday and is still recovering. But through it all sermons got written, worships got planned and God was glorified.  Satan did his best to try to derail me but as I wrote about earlier, it was a nice shot but not nearly good enough.  Christmas Eve worship was a blast and I can hardly wait to get out to Belmont to lead Christmas Day worship.

So from me and my wife to you and your family, we hope and pray you have a wonderful Christmas as we give thanks and praise to our great God for the gift of Jesus Christ.  May the Light of the world bring you peace not just today but throughout the whole year.  Let us set aside our differences and seek to forgive as we have been forgiven.  Let us re-prioritize our worship that God through Jesus Christ is the focus and not something/someone of this world.  Let us find strength and hope in the promise of Jesus’ return as we seek to take advantage of every opportunity to share the Good News with all.

God bless and have a very Merry Christmas!

The pastor -|—

What to give Jesus

/ The Pastor

Happy Advent 4 (almost Christmas)!

The Mayans were wrong; and we’re still here (is anyone actually shocked?) And now we get to prepare for a grand celebration as we continue to wait for Jesus.  But don’t worry; you don’t have to run around scrambling to find that perfect gift.  You don’t have to rack your brain trying to figure out what to give the King of the universe for his birthday.  After all…what do you give someone who has everything?  You give him the one thing that we can give and the one thing that he desires the most.

Our worship

That’s what Jesus wants…our worship.  And not just on Sunday mornings (or at Christmas and Easter or other times we find ourselves in a church building) but God wants our worship everyday, 24/7, 365 (or 366) days a year.  Our worship is all that is desired.

It may not seem like much but God is pleased when we give him everything that we are; when we come before him with our songs of praise and thanks; when we lifts our hearts up to him.  For you see…worship is a response of faith; it flows out of your love for God.  And if we are worshiping God with all our being…well…God is excited.

Too many people, though, think that worship is about being entertained…it’s not.  It’s about giving ourselves to God.  And if we are refreshed or encouraged then great…praise be to God.  For anything we get out of worship is a gift from God to be used for his glory; to lead us back to worship.  So in the end, worship is not about how we benefit but rather what we can give back to God.  If you have the mentality that worship is all about you then you’re being selfish.  It’s like going to a Christmas celebration with the sole expectation of bringing a great haul of gifts home.

This Christmas give back to Jesus the very thing he desires from you…your worship.  Praise HIM with all that you are.  Thank HIM for all that he has given you.  And worship HIM always and forever.

Merry Christmas and Amen!

The pastor -|—

Down and out but not done

/ The Pastor

The pastor has been down and out this week.

A 101.6 temperature on Monday night combined with massive head cold symptoms into Tuesday has made the beginning of Christmas week frustrating.  Today is Wednesday and I am feeling better (thank God).  But now I need to buckle down and write three sermons.

It is during times like this when I am most keenly aware of my dependence on and need for God.  It is during times like this when I am not so tempted to get full of myself as to think that I have everything taken care of.  Actually, right now, I am more full of mucus than anything else…but I am sure you didn’t want to hear that 🙂

I also have release time and confirmation this afternoon so today will be indeed interesting.  But right now I am sitting here on my living couch, still hacking up a lung, and excited to see what God is going to get done through me today.  It’s going to be a fun day and I can hardly wait.

But I still need to be careful…

I know the temptation with be there to get over-confident in my limited abilities once things start going well and things get done.

OR

I will get overwhelmed and worried if things aren’t getting done according to MY timing.

And we’ve all been there before ~ haven’t we?  We feel weak, down and out or oppressed and we run to God.  God lifts us out of the mire and off we go (often times without any word of thanks). Or we get frustrated and start blaming our rotten lot in life on God. Either we use God or it’s God’s fault.

But no matter our reaction and treatment of God, God’s will will be done.  Three sermons will get written this week.  The Good News will be proclaimed.  And Christmas will be celebrated.  Satan will not derail my (I mean “our”) preparations this week. God will be glorified.

So I am praying for the faith to see God in action and when I do…to actually say “thank you”; giving credit where credit is due.

Thank you God for the healing you have brought me.  Please increase my faith to see you in action that you may be glorified.  You have defeated Satan through Jesus Christ and I praise you for that.  May your will be done through me.
Amen.

The pastor -|—

Rewrite

/ The Pastor

There come times in a pastor’s ministry when a sermon needs to be scraped and completely rewritten at a moment’s notice.

Yesterday was such a time for me (and I would guess most pastors across this land).

The shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT has left many people in a state of confusion, sadness, fear, anger…and a list of other emotions.  People have been asking that all too difficult to answer “Why?” question.

Knee-jerk responses have been offered.
Political statements have been made.
Rumors have circulated.
Theories have been postulated.

All of which have not been too helpful…but they are natural responses to a horrific event.  But as a pastor, I need to respond in a different way.  I need to share the light of Christ in the midst of darkness; hope in the midst hopelessness; life in the midst of death; peace in the midst of chaos; Good News in the midst of Satan’s reign of tyranny.

We can not remain silent (even though I was not planning on preaching at Salem this morning).

You see…today is Christmas program Sunday at Salem (Belmont has their program on Saturday).  It’s a Sunday I usually don’t say too much because the kids “preach” the sermon.  I usually only offer up a couple words at Salem (preaching a full sermon at Belmont) and that’s it.

Not today

So as I wrote yesterday afternoon I found my fingers hi-jacked by the Holy Spirit as words flew across my lap top screen.  My faith was poured out into words as I reflected on the Christmas story; realizing that everything fit perfectly.  I was not deviating from the message the kids shared; for this is a season of hope.

For you see…Jesus was born into our world of suffering to bring hope.  Death and sin and evil do not have the last word…God does in Jesus Christ.  And that’s where I find comfort in the midst of such tragedy.  There are so many questions to ask and so many answers to seek.  But what we need to cling to is the love of God that was shown to us at Christmas and through the cross.  This world doesn’t make sense but praise be to God – God has overcome the world.  Find strength and healing in God through Jesus Christ and not in knee-jerk, worldly “answers”.

Blessings to you this day as you grieve and mourn with the hope of the resurrection. Praise be to God!

Have a Merry Christmas!

The pastor -|—

It’s all about Jesus

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
[Matthew 1:18-21]

Here’s another remind for you ~ It’s all about Jesus.

And how can we dare say it’s about anything or anyone else?  I mean…he will save his people from their sins.  There you have it.  It’s pretty straight forward.  Forgiveness of sins…which means everlasting life.

Wow…that’s pretty awesome.

When Zechariah was met by the angel Gabriel and told of the wonderful news that he and his wife, Elizabeth (who was well beyond normal child-bearing years), was going to have a child, Zechariah was hesitant.

“Give me proof.”

The angel was a little miffed and said that he stands in the presence of God and shouldn’t have to give Zechariah proof.  Therefore Zechariah is struck silent until their baby (John the Baptist) was born.  Then Zechariah sang the praises of God.  Better late than never, but either way, God came through because our awesome and grace-filled God is faithful.

“he (Jesus) will save his people from their sins.”

You want proof?  Look to the cross:

cross-carrying-e1299578788837

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus DID save his people from their sins.

There you have it ~ It’s all about Jesus.  Praise be to God!

The pastor -|—

Do you remember?

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. [Luke 2:1-7]

Do you still remember?

Manger scene

Do you still remember what this season is all about?

Do you still remember why we run ourselves crazy and tired this time of the year?

Do you still remember?

For the past week or so, my wife and I have been preparing for our Christmas open house that we host every year at the parsonage.  I look forward to spending time with people over some Christmas goodies, hot apple cider (and of course some Christmas themed coffee) and some Christmas cheer.  I enjoy receiving people into our home and visiting.  But the preparations can be stressful… especially this year with more on our plate:
~ We are in the adoption process so we have paper work all over the place (not to mention the emotional toll this process takes).
~ My wife is recovering from minor knee surgery and is not as mobile as she would like to be.
~ Then there’s all the baking and cleaning (that my wife tries to do in her “limited” condition).

All of this adds up to stress and frayed nerves…

And many of you can probably relate to this.  I know I am not the only one running around trying to get a multitude of things done.  It’s crazy…and sometimes we forget.

This is why I am diving into the Christmas story EVERY day.  I don’t want to lose sight of the joy of this season.  I don’t want Satan to turn this season into something that it is not.  I don’t want to strive to make myself look good but rather God.  After all…

This is about a baby
This is about a Savior
This is about God’s amazing love.  And…

This is not about me (and it is not about you).  This is about what God has done and will do for you and for me.  We just can’t lose sight of this.  People around us (whether they know it or not) are counting on us not to lose sight of what this season TRULY means.

So I challenge you and encourage you to take some time EVERY day to read the Christmas story.  Soak in the wonderfulness and joy.  Bask in the grace and love of God.  Receive and be filled…and…

…remember.

It’s Christmas time…PRAISE BE TO GOD!

The pastor -|—