Grief with Hope

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matt 5:4

This morning, I grieve. The family at Zion Lutheran lost two very special ladies on Friday. They were both very gentle and kind; but, also very strong. Both Eunice and Carol were strong in Lord, in their faith.

It is difficult to lose someone you love. It is natural to grieve. Yet our grief is not without hope. St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: "And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died." 1 Thess 4:13-14

I am grateful for the opportunity to have known both of these women. It brings me peace to know that even as Christ rose from the dead and lives, so shall all who believe in him.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Rev 9:13-21 Sixth Trumpet; Fiery Plagues

Rev 9:13-21 NIV

The sixth trumpet sounds and what is this army that God sends that it would have no impact on the hearts of humankind? John sees a powerful image of hundreds of thousands mounted troops to destroy one third of mankind by three plagues of fire that come out of the mouths of the horses. What a fearsome site that would be! My husband, who as a young man was a "tanker" in the U.S.M.C., always surmised that these horses would actually be something like tanks.

Now, most people have a little fear of fire or at least a little respect of it. If we or someone we know has been burned by fire, we usually figure out that fire is not to be played with. We change the way we do things so that we do not get burned. But, not the people in John's vision. The plagues of fire that God sends do not change the hearts or minds of any of those who were not believers before the great army of mounted riders came. Those who are not killed still cannot comprehend that God is Almighty; that He is God, and He alone is to be worshipped. They do not repent. They continue to worship demons and all sorts of false man-made idols. They do not repent of any of that things they have been doing against God or man.

May God have mercy on humankind and soften our hearts so that all might follow in the way He would have us go.

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 Peter 5 Resist the Devil

1 Peter 5

It is not easy being a Christian. The Way in which we are to follow is not the way of the world and the world will neither understand or appreciate you. You will be subjected to all sorts of attempts to humiliate you. But, you must be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Do not let him devour you. Resist him. Stand firm in the faith knowing that the family of believers throughout the whole world is undergoing similar sufferings.

 

Elders in the church are to support and be shepherds to the flock under their care. Those who are younger are to submit themselves to their elders. Everyone is to clothe themselves with humility for God opposes the proud and shows favor to the humble.

 

Therefore, put aside the pride of the world and in humility serve the Lord with gladness in all things. Resist the devil and follow in the Way of the Lord.

 

God's peace to all of you who are in Christ. - Pr. J

3 Corinthians 4 Not About Us

2 Corinthians 4 NIV
Again, we hear that it is not about us; but about Christ who works in and through us.

There are times that it is actually embarrassing to receive accolades when I know that I have done nothing to receive them. If someone's eyes has been opened; if their mind and heart has been open to comprehend the glorious gospel of Christ it is not my doing. It is the work of God. If the glorious light of Christ has shone through me, it is not me. I am just the instrument that God uses so that others might see the light. I am merely the lantern. Jesus is the light that shines forth. The Holy Spirit is the oil within the lamp that keeps it burning for all without to see.

Yes, there are times when we are persecuted; there are times we are troubled. But, it is not about us. It is about Christ reaching out to a world in need of mercy and salvation through us.

May you be filled with His light that the world around you might see and know the glory of God !

God's Peace - Pr. J
 

John 20:19-23 Peace Be With You

John 20:19-23 NIV
"Peace be with you!" "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." How and why exactly did the Father send Jesus so that we might know how it is the Father sends us. He sent Jesus into a broken world; a world full of sin, of anger, hatred, self-centeredness and of violence. He sent Jesus into the world that by his sacrifice the world might be forgiven; might be reconciled to one another and to God the Father through him. He sent Jesus into the world to proclaim this Good News of the Kingdom. And, so He sends us promising us peace, breathing on us the Holy Spirit, that we might go forth proclaiming the Good News of reconciliation with God and with one another. This will not be without hardship. It will not be without pain. Jesus suffered much in order that we should know our Father in heaven; so shall we suffer if our brothers and sisters are to know and love Him. But, knowing that God can and will work all things for the good of His Kingdom gives us the peace of heart and mind to be able to continue in His way.

God's Peace -Pr. J

John 14:15-31 Peace

John 14:15-31 NIV
My morning prayer requests included praying for the children of northern Iraq. Apparently, ISIS has been busy beheading even the children. And, what kind of turmoil do we live in? Is it even comparable to atrocities like these?

Yet, life does have a way of turning our lives upside down. Everything is not always peaceful. It might be a whole lot more peaceful if humanity would just get it together and serve the one true, living God; following His loving will for humankind, rather than our own personal agendas. But, our egos get in the way and life can become one set of problems or obstacles after another. We do not always live in peaceful environments. Yet, Jesus tells us that he gives us his peace. In the midst of turmoil in the world around us, we can still live in the peace of and with God.

Jesus promised that after he was gone, the Father would send the Holy Spirit in his name to teach us his way. The Holy Spirit will guide us on the way; that we might be reconciled to God through Christ Jesus. In this promise we can find peace of heart and mind.

Do not let your hearts be troubled. No matter what the world throws at you, God is with you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 20:20-26 Give To God What Is God's

Luke 20:20-26 NIV
The summer property tax bills are coming in. Earlier this month, I paid our Estimated Federal and State taxes. Over the course of a year, I write at least ten checks to cover some kind of tax and that is not even considering all the taxes that are paid at the cash registers. I'm not complaining, just stating the facts. We owe them, so we pay them. After all, it is God who establishes governing authorities. "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established." (Rom 13:1) 

If we are "to give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's," then what is it that we are give to God? What then belongs to God? According to Malachi 2:15: "Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit." Would it not then follow that if we belong to God that we should give ourselves wholly to Him?

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 5:12-26 - Forgiveness and Healing

Luke 5:12-26 NIV
Jesus heals the sick. He heals a leper by touching him and simply saying, "Be clean!" (vs 13) He tells the paralyzed man that his sins are forgiven. Then, after discussing who has the power to forgive sins with the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, he tells the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” (vs 24) The man takes up his mat and goes home praising God.

So what does the forgiveness of sin and healing have to do with one another. Are we to think that we become ill because we are ill. In the story of the blind man that was healed by Jesus (John 9), Jesus pointed out that the blindness was not due to any sin, but so that God's works might be revealed. On the other hand, I have seen many a person who no matter how many prayers are said, what the doctors do, a person remains chronically ill. There may no longer be anything physically wrong with them, but they remain tired and maybe even bed bound. We often overlook that our physical state can affect our spiritual state and our spiritual state can affect our physical well-being.

It is not because God does not forgive; but, sometimes we refuse to receive our forgiveness, hanging to our own sins and our own guilt. We refuse to let go and receive the blessings of forgiveness and healing. We must get over ourselves and let God have His way, blessing us with all the abundance He has to offer, beginning with forgiveness of our sins. Like the paralyzed man; sometimes, we must receive our forgiveness before we can move forward to wholeness of body, mind, and spirit.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 12:28-34 Love God; Our Ultimate Concern

Mark 12:28-34 NIV

As I think about it, there is probably no scripture that I quote more often in my sermons than this one that answers the question which commandment is most important.

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)

All of the big ten commandments have to do with loving God or others. This is how we teach it to our children. It is not so much about what we cannot do; but, about what we get to do. We get to love God with our whole hearts, minds, and souls. We get to love our neighbors. It just naturally follows that when loving and serving the LORD is our ultimate concern followed by loving and caring for our neighbors that all else falls into place. It just does. It is as simple as that.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Zephaniah 1 - Fence Sitting Complacency

“I will sweep away everything
    from the face of the earth,”
declares the Lord.
“I will sweep away both man and beast;
    I will sweep away the birds in the sky
    and the fish in the sea—
    and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.” (Zeph 1:2-3a NIV)

Just imagine, for a minute, God with a big broom sweeping clean the earth. That's the picture Zephaniah provides this morning. The prophecy is a warning to those who worship false idols. It is a warning to those who worship false gods as well as feign to worship God. It is also a warning to those who are complacent; to those who think that God might be complacent.

"At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps
    and punish those who are complacent,
    who are like wine left on its dregs,
who think, ‘The Lord will do nothing,
    either good or bad.’" (Zeph 1:12)

There is only one God, either we are for Him or against Him. There is no in between. Therefore; worship the one true God with your whole hearts, soul, and mind. Do not be distracted by the pleasures the false gods would tease you with, which end up being not pleasures; but, troubles. For many years, I believed that to say that "I believe" was enough to save me. But, saying something isn't necessarily believing it with our whole hearts, minds, and souls. Complacency and sitting on the fence is about as useful to salvation as non-belief. At least that is the conclusion I came to for myself years ago, after reading, in the Revelation of St. John, the letter to the church in Laodicea.

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." (Rev 3:14:19)

 

Maybe, it's time to consider whether the church on earth (we) has become complacent. Are we sitting on the fence? 

 

May the God of all grace and glory fill us with a desire to worship and serve Him above all others.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

 

Ezekiel 30 - Listen But Do Not Hear

Today, we read pretty much the same as yesterday. Egypt and her allies will fall. The Egyptians will be dispersed among the nations and then they will know that God is God.

Sometimes preachers and prophets have to say the same exact thing day after day, year after year, and still many do not hear. They listen but they do not hear.

Open our ears, eyes, hearts, and minds, LORD, that we might know your word and your will; that we might know You.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Jeremiah 48 - Moab To Fall and Rise Again

Moab is under fire... The cause of their impending destruction:

“We have heard of Moab’s pride—
    how great is her arrogance!—
of her insolence, her pride, her conceit
    and the haughtiness of her heart.
I know her insolence but it is futile,”declares the Lord." (Jer 48:29-30 NIV)

Moab, like so many others, had turned their backs on God, worship false idols, worshipping themselves, and they were proud of it. They could do it without God.

Real stinking thinking going on there. And, they will suffer the consequences. They will be punished; yet, the LORD has good news for them, as well. After all this, He says:

“Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab
    in days to come,”
declares the Lord.

Here ends the judgment on Moab." (Jer 48:47)

The LORD works in such mysterious way. Sometimes those ways seem harsh; but, in the end it is for the good of His people. After we have trod through the refining fires, we will know God and we will desire to worship and serve Him.

May God grant each of us the desire to love and serve Him with our whole hearts and minds and souls.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Jeremiah 5 - Destroyed; But, Not Completely

It was last Sunday, as I was proclaiming the Kingdom through Jesus Christ from the pulpit, that it came to me that there is such a multitude out there that say "LORD, LORD" (Matt 7:21-23); yet do not really know Him or trust Him. My heart became extremely heavy with this burden. My eyes filled with tears for those wandering about aimlessly, chasing after false hopes, false promises, false gods. How could they? Why would they?

The LORD commanded Jeremiah to go into the streets of Jerusalem and try to find one person who sought the truth. If Jeremiah could find that one person, then then LORD would not hand the city over to Nebuchadnezzar. There were many who said "As surely as the LORD lives," yet they did not believe. They had turned their backs on God while pretending to worship Him. God had tried to correct them, yet they refused His correction.

Jeremiah thought that just maybe they were foolish and simply didn't know the way of the LORD. But, the word he sought to bring them fell on deaf ears. The leaders of the people had hearts of stone. They had removed the yoke from their shoulders. And, so... the LORD promised that He would hand them over to Nebuchadnezzar. They would be destroyed, but not completely. There was hope, even if the people didn't want that hope, because they really did not believe that God was Almighty enough to do this thing. They didn't trust God's word for the good or the bad. In spite, of their lack of faith, God would not destroy them completely. In the end, He will save them. But, they will endure much correction, much hardship, to get there.

As we came to the LORD's table following the sermon this past Sunday, the burden lifted (at least a bit) and hope was restored. I was reminded that it is by God's grace that we are saved. That His children are saved by faith in the precious blood of Jesus shed for all. God forgives you your sins. Turn around and worship Him. Trust Him. Love Him above all things. Let us not harden our hearts and say that God will do nothing. God will do something. He has done something. He has given His all for you. He has given His life for your life - that you might live eternally in His Kingdom. Live life!

May God grant you peace of heart and mind in the knowledge that you are forgiven; that the door to the Kingdom has been opened to you; that you have been saved through Jesus Christ, our LORD. 

Pr. J

Isaiah 47 - Mercy

God had delivered his children into bondage in Babylon so that they might repent. However, Babylon showed no mercy to His children that He had delivered to their hands. Rather, Babylon became even more secure in her own power forgetting that it was God who had done this thing. And... Babylon will pay for her ego. There will be consequences for not doing God's will even to those who are not God's chosen ones - consequences for those who have shown known mercy and persecuted His children.

Actually, what first came to my mind this morning as I was reading chapter 47 was the egotistical and self-righteous false proclamations of the prosperity gospel. Do not be deceived. It is a false gospel. When multitudes of God's children are in need (hungry, homeless, dying) for a preacher to be holding himself up as an example of how good works will make you millions or billions is pretty much what that Virgin Daughter Babylon did. They used others to ensure their own riches and security. Just because God sent His children into their hands does not mean that they are allowed persecute them. Rather, they (and we) should show mercy as God has shown us mercy.

Those who preach another gospel - a gospel that promotes their own prosperity, from their own good works (in this world), rather than God's good work in Christ Jesus - will fall as assuredly as Babylon fell. Those who follow in the footsteps of Jesus in His Kingdom know that Jesus did not live so that we might wealthy in worldly goods, but rather we will be rich in things that are eternal - things like: inner joy, love, and peace of heart and mind. We are rich simply because we live in God's presence, in His Kingdom, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Proverbs 2 - Ask For Wisdom

The LORD gives wisdom to those who ask.  Are you asking?

I don't think there are too many days that I don't shake my head in wonder at some of the things that are done with a total lack of wisdom or discernment. So many people making choices to destroy their own lives and they don't even know it. They are not wise enough to even recognize that they are miserable!

If you are tired of making wrong choices and seeing bad consequences, ask the LORD for wisdom. Follow in the path that He has set before you. Quit derailing yourself. The wisdom of the LORD will help you to make your journey through this life with peace - peace of heart and mind.

May God grant you wisdom and peace with His and the whole world around you.

God's Peace - Pr. J