God's Gift of Noble Character, September 23 Worship

In today’s scriptures we can sense the care God has for all the members of His family. In our Gospel we see Jesus take care of one child. He wants all of us to feel as cared for as that child. In our Old Testament lesson from Proverbs we are given the image of a woman and her family who are thriving because they have built noble character by the grace of God. The message is tied together by James who challenges all of us to be humble before our God. In this way we will be richly blessed and can live noble lives in the family of our great God and Father.

Good Words from God, September 16 Worship

 O, the power of words. From the mouth of Jesus words change lives in dramatic ways. Despite our best efforts our words can fall short of what we hoped for. In our second lesson today James issues a lament that the same tongue that praises God can be the source of so much mischief and evil.  Luther reminds us that the eighth commandment calls upon us to put the best construction on all things, yet too often we speak evil where we should speak good, or speak when we should remain quiet.  Our out-of-control tongues are magnified in the damage they do through social networking media, the relative anonymity of the Internet, and the great temptation to press "send" before reconsidering what we have said. Today we can pray for the Holy Spirit to guide us to good words that encourage and uplift.  By getting to know the character and personality of Jesus our words will be guided by the Eternal Word of God, forever good and righteous. 

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God Makes All Things New, September 9 Worship

Students are going back to school and new things begin. Perhaps we feel as if we are not ready to move on. We would just as soon hold on to what we have. Today God tells the prophet Isaiah, “say to those with fearful hearts, ‘be strong, do not fear; your God will come to save you.” In our Gospel lesson we see Jesus fulfill Isaiah’s promises. He “opened the eyes of the blind, and unstopped the ears of the deaf and the mute tongue shouts for joy.” In many and eternal ways we are made new in Christ. The past can be left behind and we can celebrate the new things of God.

The Gift of God's Protective Armor, September 2 Worship

Paul tells us that God wants to put us in a full suit of armor. Should we be worried and ask why are we going to need armor?   Perhaps the warfare we are preparing for is to fight for the honor of our King. Are you ready? Well of course not. Thanks be to God that He himself stands already triumphant on the battlefield. We know the victory is His. Jesus is our protection in any and every thing.

Jesus Gives Us the Big Picture, August 26th Worship

Life can get complicated. We can get so immersed in details that we lose the big picture. The gift of God’s Word is to restore the big picture for us. For instance, in the Gospel Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for getting so immersed in the details that they end up denying the love and honor God's Law demands. Today, we confess our loss of the big picture and how that hurts our human and divine relationships. We can “Rejoice in the Lord,” that He gives even more than the big picture. He gives us the infinite and eternal picture in Christ Jesus.

Walking as Children of the Light, August 19 Worship

In John chapter 6 Jesus tells us He is “the living bread”. It is Christ living in us that enables us to be what Paul is telling us about in the Epistle lesson. He says “live as children of light.” He hopes that we can be “wise making the most of every opportunity.”  What wonderful gifts we can celebrate together in Christ, ‘the living bread.”.

God Provides, August 12 Worship

The prophet Elijah falls to the ground in exhaustion, content to die. Suddenly an angel is standing over him commanding him to get up and eat. Fortified by the angel’s meal of bread Elijah finds that he is able to travel on for forty days and forty nights. Whenever we doubt in our abilities we can be renewed by relying on how God defines us. In baptism God claims us and says, “You are mine.” As his children we hear God’s invitation that we can admit our weakness and rely on His strength. God provides for us today and forever in the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.

I Am the Bread of Life, August 5 Worship

It seems that our culture values what is new more than what endures. We throw away so much that is perfectly good---simply out of style or no longer wanted. In the midst of this throw-away culture, our Lord cautions us against seeking that which does not last. Instead, He points us to Himself and calls on us to seek the eternal things. The people remembered Jesus as the miracle worker who had fed thousands with nothing but a few loaves of bread and some fish. But Jesus' miracle was not just a momentary amusement. It pointed to the food which does not perish, which feeds and nourishes, and fills us with the spiritual things of God. This is the food we really need.  Jesus is this bread, he is the eternal, for today, for tomorrow, and forever.

Take Courage, it is I, July 29th Worship

Fear has the power to steal our joy, to distract us from our hope, and to enhance whatever current misery befalls us. Life is never smooth sailing and the waters of life are filled with waves of doubt and discontent and the storms of fear and trouble. Jesus who comes to his disciples walking on water stands forever above our doubts, fears, and storms: "It is I . . .do not be afraid." So from our little boats nearly swamped by its storms and our doubts we too look out and can see Jesus transcending all things to come to us.  "It is I , take courage; do not be afraid."

Jesus Invites Us to Rest in His Presence, July 22 Worship

Paul tells his friends the Ephesians that God has knocked down the dividing wall and made himself to be our peace. In Jesus we find real rest from things that trouble us in body and soul. In Him we find rest with one another because Jesus gives us reason to leave behind the things that would seem to divide us. Ultimately all things will be brought together in unity under the reign of Christ. To anticipate this we can imagine joining the large crowd of diverse people that came and sat down in the green grass to listen to Jesus. They had come from different towns, but they all were “like a sheep without a shepherd.” After Jesus fed their souls with his teaching he also fed their bodies with a meal he amazingly produces for 5000 from five loaves of bread and two fish. Today and forever we are invited to rest in God’s