Patience In Suffering

Everlasting Father, source of every blessing, mercifully direct and govern us by Your Holy Spirit that we may complete the works You have prepared for us to do; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Merciful Justice. Worship: September 22, 2024

In today’s Old Testament Reading, Jeremiah has just learned of a plot against him, and he asks God to provide him justice, ridding him of his enemies. David’s psalm likewise asks God to intervene and provide justice. Indeed, when we are weak in the face of opposition, that is when we need to rely on our great God. But if He measured out the same justice on us all, we would be doomed! Even one of the Twelve betrayed our Lord! But God “gives grace to the humble,” James teaches in the Epistle. Only when we acknowledge God’s grace in Christ can we pray for His justice. The Twelve were ignorant of Jesus’ coming sacrifice, but we are well aware that by it we have received every grace and blessing. Today we thank God for His grace to us as He deals with the sin-filled world around us. 

Never “If” Worship: September 15, 2024

Photo Credit: Aimee Munson, Signal Hill, NL Canada 2024

In today’s Gospel, the father of a possessed boy says, “If you can do anything . . .” As God in the flesh, Jesus can do anything—and He wants to! His concern is never an “if,” but an “always.” When our troubles increase, their resolution awaits not God’s intention but our waffling faith in His concern. Few of us have the resolve and bravado of Isaiah in the Old Testament Reading. Seldom do we recognize how we use our tongues for both good and evil. Today the Scriptures encourage us to turn from relying on ourselves to putting our faith-borne trust in Him alone. 

God’s Instruments. Worship: September 8, 2024

Illustration: Mosaic in Basilica of San Vitale. Ravenna RA, Italy

The Readings for today tell us that God will change people’s circumstances. The Old Testament Reading lists those who are blind, deaf, lame, and mute. Instead of advising them simply to pray, Isaiah promises that God will take action, like water in the desert. Among the ways God will help is through His people; according to the advice to James, we, who have been given the gift of faith, are called to be fair in court, to try to keep the entire Law of God, and to see that the people around us are clothed and fed. Jesus casts out demons and heals a deaf man in the Gospel. He is doing no less when we become His caring instruments. Today we let the Word come into us so that we might be part of God’s healing answer to prayer.

Guest Pastor this week: Pastor Michael Heggen

Where Is the Gospel? Worship: September 1, 2024

Gossip with Breakfast. Oil Painting by: Charles Joseph Frederick Soulacroix

The Holy Gospel for today is about why the dietary laws never saved anyone and is a warning about what we think or say. The Old Testament Reading provides a warning against not passing on the teachings to the next generation. The Good News of the Gospel is most clearly found in the Epistle, which clearly tells us to rely on the armor God provides, not ourselves, so that we can stand up in this evil age. That we shall do in song and speech today, asking God’s help for the coming week.

With Wonder upon Wonder. Worship: August 25, 2024

Illustration: Robert McCloskey “Time of Wonder"

One of the saddest things in life is when we lose our sense of wonder—when we can no longer behold the beauty of God’s creation and be moved by it or when we take for granted the mystery of our salvation by the blood of the Lamb. The prophet Isaiah promises the restoration of wonder and the Spirit fulfills that promise with faith that trusts in what we have not seen. Today we ask the Lord to fill us with awe as we receive the inheritance of the saints who went before and add to it the witness of our age of the joy of salvation to bequeath to those who come after. 

You Have the Words of Eternal Life. Worship: August 18, 2024

Our Lord has argued with His enemies and insists that His flesh is real food and His blood real drink. Even the truth can sometimes be unsettling. The disciples are not sure what to make of it all and watched as many of His followers abandoned Jesus. Peter speaks what is on all our hearts. The way of faith in Christ is not easy, but what choice do we have? Where else is the One who keeps His promises and delivers what He says? Christ alone is the Word of eternal life. 

I Am the Living Bread. Worship: August 11, 2024

Many grumbled when Jesus said, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). Perhaps we grumble as well. We are always looking for God to meet our expectations and to answer our needs as we see best. But we meet the Lord where He reveals Himself—from a manger that cradles the Son of God in flesh and blood to a cross on which the King dies to free His people from their sin, down to bread that promises His flesh and a cup, His blood. Where we will meet Him on the ground of faith, He will not leave us wanting. He will bestow upon us far more than we ask or dare to desire—the communion of His body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins and as pledge of the eternal life to come. What a blessed mystery is given to us by faith. 

Wondrous Works and Ways. Worship: August 4, 2024

An interesting list of seven publicized in recent years is that of “The Seven Natural Wonders of the World.” Six of these wonderful parts of God’s amazing creation are specific to a certain location: Mount Everest in Nepal, the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, the Harbor of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Victoria Falls between Zambia and Zimbabwe, Mount Paricutin in Mexico, and the Grand Canyon in the United States. The seventh natural wonder on the list is the aurora borealis (or northern lights), which can be seen in many countries in the northern hemisphere of the globe, including Canada, Russia, Iceland, Norway, and the United States. Whether we live near any of these seven special natural wonders or not, the beauty of God’s handiwork surrounds us in every place. Many centuries ago, the inspired psalmist wrote, “Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them” (Psalm 111:2). From colorful rainbows to delicate snowflakes to lofty mountain peaks, “full of splendor and majesty is His work” (Psalm 111:3a). May we be inspired by it as well! 

Steadfast Love Forever. Worship: July 28, 2024

Photo Credit: Aimee Munson, 2024. Tablelands are of Gros Morne Provincial Park, Newfoundland, Canada.

Lutheran Service Book: Concordance contains an alphabetical listing of key words in the texts of the hymnal. Although it might seem to be structured for church professionals choosing hymns for services, it has value for all people in the church. Paging through the book, it is easy to discover what words are frequently repeated in hymns—words that are important to singers of Christian songs. Among frequently repeated words are “eternal,” “forever,” “everlasting,” “endless,” “eternally,” and “eternity.” There is no time limit to the relationship God has with His faithful people. This makes it easy for us to begin a hymn by singing confidently “Thine forever, God of love” (LSB 687:1) or to conclude a hymn with the words that affirm what God in steadfast love has done for us: “You had mercy so that we might be saved eternally” (LSB 559:5). God is with us through time and beyond it as well—a great reason for us to rejoice endlessly!