He Holds The Children In His Hands

In you, O Lord, I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame.

In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
    incline your ear to me and save me.
Be to me a rock of refuge,
    a strong fortress, to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.

Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
    from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.
For you, O Lord, are my hope,
    my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
Upon you I have leaned from my birth;
    it was you who took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of you.

Psalm 71:1-6 NRSV

 

My birth family did not attend worship. I never attended Sunday School; but, thanks to some wonderful neighbor ladies I was able to go to Vacation Bible School. I was confirmed; but, that was because I wanted to affirm my baptism. I would find rides or walk the few miles to the classes at church. I attended services with my grandmother when I was very young and stayed with her at times. I remember some of those services being in the Finnish language, which I did not understand. But, in spite of a very minimal formal Christian education, I came to know and to trust God. He came to me when I was not able to go to Him.

 

Family life as I grew up was pretty chaotic and there were many times, as a young child, that I simply had no one to turn to. I feared for my safety and felt very alone. So, I turned to God for comfort and for safety and for love. There were many nights that I could not sleep because of troubles in the household. Weekends were usually the most rough. I remember hiding knives and ammo in the evenings before our parents came home on Friday and Saturday nights. But, I must stress that in spite of the many times of trouble, there were also many good times, as well. There are many children growing up today who do not have the benefit of these good times.  

 

But, where and to whom shall a child turn when they are afraid? One of the few songs that I knew from Vacation Bible School was "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands."  In order to rest without fear and to be able to fall asleep in peace, I would often envision myself laying in the comfort and safety of God's great hands. He came to me. He was and is my strong fortress to save me. He is my refuge and strength. He was and is with me always. He is with you always. 

 

There are children today who live in much greater fear than I did. My heart goes out to them and I pray that they will live and rest in the comfort and safety of God's hands.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Teach and Baptize

IV. The Sacrament of Holy Baptism

As the head of the family should teach it in a simple way to his household.

First.

What is Baptism?--Answer.

Baptism is not simple water only, but it is the water comprehended in God's command and connected with God's Word.

Which is that word of God?--Answer.

Christ, our Lord, says in the last chapter of Matthew: Go ye into all the world and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Again, we are reminded that it is the head of the family who is to teach their children what baptism is. At Zion, our Sunday School Staff are well aware that this does not actually happen in most of our homes. We are also well aware of Christ's command to go and baptize all nations; all people. Therefore, we find it prudent to ensure that our children know what baptism is and begin formal instruction; albeit, in a simple way, to our children at the age of three. We are; after all, all members of the family of God and as spiritual parents we desire that all of our children know what an awesome gift they have or will receive and what it means for their lives and ours.

Baptism is a precious gift from God. So when He offers us this gift, should we refuse it and should we refuse to allow anyone else who desires it to receive this gift? It is a gift for all nations; all people.

Do not hinder anyone; but, teach and encourage everyone to receive this awesome gift.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Acts 13:13-52 Old Testament; Our History

Acts 13:13-52 NIV
Every Sunday, the Sunday School Youth assist in leading the prayers of the church. Before we do this, I usually pause during the service to see what they learned during Sunday School. (I don't do children's sermons well - so I don't do them.) This past Sunday, I was just a little surprised when I asked them what they had learned and the response was that they had learning about Absalom. They actually knew the whole story including how he had turned on his father, David. I wondered how many of our adult members knew the story of Absalom. (I didn't ask for a show of hands.) Knowing our history is very important to help us know who we are and where we are going. That history can be found in the pages of Holy Scripture which definitely includes the Old Testament.

Each Sunday we begin the readings from scripture with the old testament. I have been questioned (a few times) about doing things the same old way every single Sunday and have been told that following this order of service tends to be boring. As we read Acts 13 we can see that this order is not exactly something new that the Lutheran church or any other has just made up out of thin air. There is a purpose to it all.

When Paul proclaimed the Good News in the synagogues, he began by reminding the people of their history. He began by reminding them why they need the Good News of Jesus Christ in the first place. We need to be reminded of all that God has done and will do for His people. We need to be reminded of the reasons God sent His Son to be our salvation. We need to remember our history, for it is indeed our history - the history of the church - and so we begin with an old testament reading every Sunday.

God's Peace - Pastor Judy

Matthew 26:17-30 - This Is My Body

In a couple of weeks our third graders will begin preparing to receive their first Communion on Maundy Thursday. At Zion, we remember the night in which he was betrayed and the night that he shared this Passover meal with his disciples, by the washing of our children's feet prior to them gathering at the Lord's Table to receive his body and blood for the first time. Not that they have not already been preparing; but, during Lent they will focus more intently on "What does this mean?" as a part of our pre-confirmation Sunday School curriculum.

I, as well as many of our members, get a little anxious that everyone may or may not understand that in receiving this "communion," we are receiving the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is not just a memorial. Communion is one of the means of grace, by which Christ comes to abide in us and we in Him. We are emptied of our sin, through the forgiveness received in this Sacrament, and then filled back up with the presence of Christ with the same Sacrament. (So, tell me again, why you're not rushing to the Lord's Table at every opportunity.)

This question is asked of everyone learning about this Sacrament: "How do we know that we are truly receiving the body and blood of Jesus?" The answer I usually receive is: "Because Jesus said it is."  Indeed he did.

   While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

   Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matt 26:26-28 NIV)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Amos 7 - Microphones and Hearing

"Then Amaziah said to Amos,  'Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom.'” (Amos 7:12-13 NIV)

The king Amaziah does not want to hear the word of the LORD. He does not want the people to hear it, either. His desire is that Amos not speak it any longer at Bethel, lest the people turn and hear the word and worship the LORD, rather than him.

A few months ago, I quit using my lapel mic. I just started speaking louder and using the mic on the pulpit more during worship. You see, every few weeks, someone would turn the mic down and I wouldn't find out until after worship that very few had heard anything I said. I would go back into the sound room after worship and turn the volume up, again. A few weeks later, the volume would be down again, but only on the lapel mics. So, I decided not to keep fighting it and just keep my own volume turned up by speaking louder.

In September, after a summer break, our Sunday school resumed helping to lead worship more often. They pray the prayers of the church every Sunday and on the last Sunday of the month they also read lessons, gather the offering, and usually provide an offering of song as well. They do this mostly from the pulpit so that everyone can hear. During the sharing of the peace, one of our members who wears hearing aids let me know that he couldn't hear a thing. I asked him if it was just the children that he couldn't hear, as they do speak much softer than I do. He replied that he couldn't hear me, either. So, I went back to the sound room. Sure enough, someone had turned the volume on the pulpit microphone down to almost nothing. Nothing else was touched, just the volume on the pulpit mic. I am not sure why whoever is doing this, is doing this. This is not the first time the sound has been turned down when our Sunday School was helping to lead. It has happened more often than I can count. A couple of years ago, it was during their Christmas program. Since, I was sitting in the congregation that time, I realized what was wrong and was able to get up during the middle of it and get it fixed.

Yesterday; though, I felt, for a moment, like we had been speaking to a brick wall; after all, there were many at worship, yesterday, who had not heard the word of the LORD during most of the service. They had not heard the scriptures read. They had not heard the sermon. They had not heard the prayers of the church.

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." (Rom 10:17)

Amaziah's intention was that he be lord of all the people. It was, he professed, his temple and the people would hear and listen to only what he wanted them to hear. I can't help wonder why anyone would want the voice of the LORD, His word not be read, by His littlest children.

May God help us to understand why anyone would persist in closing the mouths of the children. May God help us to pray for such a person and proclaim His grace to them.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Isaiah 33 - No One Will Say I Am Ill

"No one living in Zion will say, “I am ill”;
and the sins of those who dwell there will be forgiven."  (Isaiah 33:24 NIV)

Will that not be a wonderful day! When no will say that I am ill.  I am having one of those days when it is hard to focus, again...  Since last week, when I did some hospital visits my thoughts keep turning to this prayer: "Heal them, LORD, please!" One of our Sunday School teachers had a stroke a couple of weeks before Sunday School ended. It was quite severe. He has become bed-ridden. He is a wonderful man - a great teacher! He is constantly in my prayers and I often wonder why God won't heal him. I visited a few others in the hospital this past week, as well.

What is causing my real lack of focus today, though, is a lack of sleep. I spent most of the night at the emergency room with my 14 year-old granddaughter. She had been screaming out in pain. Instead of coming home, we slept in an extra bed at our Adult Foster Care in town when we finally left the emergency room as that would give us at least an hour more sleep before we had to get up. The emergency room Dr. did not figure out what was wrong with her. She was sent home still in pain; although, it was dissipating and she was able to finally sleep. The orders were: no Tylenol as that would exasperate her already elevated liver enzymes and to follow-up with a Dr. of her choice. There's the kicker.... Dr. of her choice. She has been trying to find a female doctor that will see her for over a year. She is rather shy when it comes to things like that. Not much luck at BCMH - lots of administration to go through to see a Dr. if you're not already a patient. We tried last fall to set her up with one, but it got so complicated we finally gave up.  I am waiting on a call now. We shall see if we will be able to get her medical care at BCMH or if we're going to need to drive to Portage or Bell Memorial. BTW - she does have good insurance so that is not a factor.

So there's my focus today. I am waiting for the day when no one living will say, "I am ill." Then we won't need Dr's or nurses, or hospital administrators, or Obama Care...

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Later.... She now has a female Dr. at BCMH.

Psalm 48 - Tell It To The Next Generation

Thanks be to God for our teachers, especially those who teach our youth.  I often consider that maybe the teachers within our congregation don't get enough support from us.  I am confident though that even when we fail to support them, they have God's unfailing help and support or they wouldn't be teaching.  They, above all people within the congregation, most directly tell of God's works, His beautiful Kingdom, to the next generation. 

For a couple of years now, we have not purchased Sunday School material.  Our Sunday School staff decided that they should just teach scripture (and during Lent the catechism).  The children are hearing the stories from both the Old and New Testament.  They are hearing the stories of God's mighty works among and for His people.

The main reason for the change was that it was hard to find material that focused on God's works rather than man's works.  A lot of the material sought to teach our children how to be "moral" or "good children."  They sort of focus on doing good works.  Doing good works is not a bad thing.  It is a good thing.  But, that is not our focus.  Our children (and adults) must hear the Word of God in order for their faith to grow.  Any good works that they might do will be a product of the good news of their salvation, the good news of the kingdom, the indwelling Christ, and not the other way around.  They can not earn their salvation, they cannot win their place in God's temple, through their morality or good works.  It is by faith that they (and we) are saved and faith comes by hearing the Word.  (Rom 10:17)

Open our eyes, LORD, that we might see the mightiness of Your hand.  Help us, LORD, to be witnesses to Your power, Your works, Your beautiful Kingdom, and tell of them to the next generation.

God's Peace - Pr. J