Grow on Your Journey

April 28, 2014
Opening Hymns:
341 I Sought the Lord http://hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh341.sht

Scripture Reading:
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
2:14a: But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.

2:36 Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified."

2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"

2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

2:39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him."

2:40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."

2:41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.

Message:
Imagine, 3,000 people being baptized in one day! 3,000 people being forgiven and being saved! As I ponder this amazing number, I also wonder how many people continued on their faith journey. How many of the 3,000 dedicated their lives to serving our Lord?

As we go through our lives things can come and go. We can become interested and dedicated to something, and the next year find interest in something else. My interests seem to fluctuate a lot. One year I’ll be striving to be better at chess, and the next year I’ll focus on learning Spanish. Our favorite TV shows, games, and activities can change. However, one thing that I don’t want to lose is my dedication to following Christ.

Our walk with Christ will and should change. We should learn and grow ever closer to Him. One thing that I fear for the 3,000 who were baptized is: will they grow in their walk with Christ, or will they let their interests change? Every Sunday new babies are being baptized. My hope for them is that they will continually know the love and forgiveness of Christ throughout life’s journey.

Time of Prayer
Lord, Help new Christians hold fast to Your love. Please let our dedication to You be something that grows stronger, and not something that fades away. Give us the strength to teach others about Your love, and remind fellow Christians of Your everlasting forgiveness. Thank You for giving us all that we have and all that we are. Let us use who we are to make the world a more beautiful place. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn

301 Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross http://hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh301.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

Christ is Risen!

April 20, 2014
Opening Hymns:
302 Christ the Lord is Risen Today http://hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh302.sht

Scripture Reading:
Matthew 28:1-10
28:1 After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

28:2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.

28:3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.

28:4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.

28:5 But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.

28:6 He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

28:7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you."

28:8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

28:9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.

28:10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Message:
Imagine this scene, grief and terror turn to joy! Christ has risen, and the victory is God’s. “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis somewhat resembles the Easter story. When I was in high school I was able to be Lucy in that play. I remember the sorrow my character went through as they found out that Aslan had been killed in order to save Edmond. And the astonishment and joy that they had when Aslan came back to rescue them just in time.

Today we get to celebrate with the women and the disciples, the joy of Jesus’ resurrection. We get to sing joyfully, and exclaim that Christ has conquered death! We get to stand in awe and wonder as we reflect on God’s mercy, love, and victory. We get to be saved as well, just as the four children were saved in Narnia. Christ is risen, Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for rescuing us from our sins, and saving us from death. Thank You for giving us this day to remember Jesus’ victory over the grave, and victory over our sins. Let us remember this day throughout the year so that we may share this joy with everyone we meet. Amen


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
327 Crown Him with Many Crowns http://hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh327.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

Give Glory to God

April 15, 2014
Opening Hymns:
127 Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh127.sht

Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 1:18-31 1:18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1:19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."

1:20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe.

1:22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom,

1:23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

1:24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1:25 For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

1:26 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

1:27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

1:28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are,

1:29 so that no one might boast in the presence of God.

1:30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

1:31 in order that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

Message:
Sometimes, it can be good to have confidence in ourselves. It’s wonderful to speak with authority, and be a leader to those who need guidance. However, we must be cautious of who we give the glory to. Do we uplift ourselves, longing for people to admire us? Or, do we give the glory to God? Ponder the last verse of today’s scripture reading. Now, try to think of one thing that you’ve done on your own without God’s help.

God has created us, and all of creation. He has helped us when we’ve fallen, and forgiven us when we’ve sinned. Everything I’ve done in my life would have been impossible without God. Sometimes I can feel myself becoming proud of my own work. It can be humbling to remember that none of it would have been possible without our Savior and Lord. This reminds me that each day we are given a gift from God. Each day we have a new chance to share God’s love with others, and boast in what the Lord has done. What is God calling you to do today?

Time of Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us life, forgiveness, and love. Let us use the gifts You’ve given us on this day to serve and do Your will. Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
165 Hallelujah What a Savior http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh165.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

A True Story

April 14, 2014
Opening Hymns:
397 I Need Thee Every Hour http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh397.sht

Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 42:1-9
42:1 Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.

42:2 He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;

42:3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.

42:4 He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

42:5 Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it:

42:6 I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations,

42:7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

42:8 I am the LORD, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols.

42:9 See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.

Message:
Sometimes when we read the bible it can seem like just a story. It can be hard to imagine the blind being able to see, and the dead being brought back to life. It almost makes me shiver when I realize that this has actually happened! Harder still to truly realize that Jesus died for us, so that we can be forgiven.

This story can seem like a fairy tale. Sometimes it seems too good to be true. The real world isn’t always full of happy endings. Too often the harshness of the world can drown out the beauty of it. But this story is even happier than any Disney movie I can think of. It is more beautiful than our imaginations could create. And it is more real than we could ever imagine. Christ came to this world just as Isaiah had predicted. He taught us, and saved us. We are forgiven, and that is not a fairytale.  

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for Your loving forgiveness of our sins. Thank You for creating us to be a part of Your family. Let us rest our trust on You when we are overwhelmed with the hard things in this life. And help us remember Your story of truth, love, and kindness. Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
378 Amazing Grace http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh378.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

Everlasting Love

April 14, 2014

Opening Hymns:
374 Standing on the Promises http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh374.sht

Scripture Reading:
Philippians 2:5-11
2:5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

2:6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,

2:7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form,

2:8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross.

2:9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,

2:10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

2:11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Message:

How can such corruption turn into something so beautiful? How can a dark betrayal lead to a life giving forgiveness? Only from the love of God, and the obedience and forgiveness of Jesus. Putting Jesus to death on the cross was a way to show who was in power. It was a move that gave comfort to the Romans and those who served the Romans… they saw Jesus as a threat. Jesus’ trial was far from fair. He was sinless, and was killed by the sinners he came to save.

Yet God was able to show the world a different kind of power. One of kindness, humility, and love. Jesus shows us that love is powerful enough to save us from our sins. He shows us that there is an everlasting life that can conquer death!


Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, You have set us free from sin. Thank you for Your everlasting love and forgiveness. Thank you for showing us that true power comes from love, and not hate. Amen


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
427 Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh427.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

Trust

April 10, 2014

Opening Hymns:
His Eye is on the Sparrow http://nethymnal.org/htm/h/i/hiseyeis.htm

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 31:9-16
31:9 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also.

31:10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away.

31:11 I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.

31:12 I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel.

31:13 For I hear the whispering of many-- terror all around!-- as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.

31:14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."

31:15 My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.

31:16 Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.

Message:
My stresses cannot begin to relate to what the psalmist is feeling. Yet in his despair he finds comfort in the Lord. He is able to trust that God will deliver him from his enemies. Earlier we learned about having confidence, and now we are learning more about trust. When the world turns against you, when people hate you and even plot to take your life there is one thing you can always trust in… the love of God.

Hopefully most of us will not have to experience the kind of stress or fear that the psalmist is feeling. However, as we face challenges and fears of our own we can respond the same way. We can call upon the Lord and ask for His provision and His deliverance. Whatever we are facing, with God’s help and strength we can prevail. All we need to do is call upon the Lord, and trust Him. Remember, He is with you every step of your journey.  

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for always being there for us when times are hard, and when times are easy. Help us remember to call upon Your name when we have fears, stress, and trials. Guide us through all of these difficult times, and help us find peace in You. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
Come Thou Found of Every Blessing http://nethymnal.org/htm/c/o/comethou.htm

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

Confidence

April 10, 2014

Opening Hymns:
153 Thou Hidden Source of Calm Repose http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh153.sht

Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 50:4-9a
50:4 The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens-- wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.

50:5 The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward.

50:6 I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.

50:7 The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame;

50:8 he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me.

50:9a It is the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty?

Message:
Isaiah is speaking with such a beautiful and powerful confidence. He is not afraid of any adversary, nor any punishment or cruel thing that man can do. He is fully confident in the Lord, and God’s plan for him. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have such confidence, and to speak with such an authority?

One thing I feel my life lacks from time to time is confidence. As I read the scripture for today I recognize that Isaiah is not showing all of this confidence in himself, but rather in God. He knows that God is going to use him in His plan. He is trusting that God will give him the words to say. Isaiah is not the only person God chooses to do His will. He has chosen each one of us. He trusts us and has confidence in us as well.

Most of us will be a leader in our lives. Whether it is from being a parent, leading at work, leading at church, or showing leadership in a skill we’ve acquired. Try right now to think of someone over the age of 30 who has never had to be a leader at some point in their lives. It’s hard, isn’t it? The question for each of us is, what kind of a leader are we going to be? Will we live our lives with confidence, inspiring others to follow? We can have confidence by trusting in the Lord, and remembering the Lord believes in us as well.  

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, let me have the confidence on this day to serve and do Your will. Amen


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
453 More Love to Thee, O Christ http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh453.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

Rejoice in Today

April 9, 2014

Opening Hymns:
332 Spirit of Faith, Come Down http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh332.sht

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
118:1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!

118:2 Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever."

118:19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.

118:20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.

118:21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.

118:22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

118:23 This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

118:24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

118:25 Save us, we beseech you, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech you, give us success!

118:26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD.

118:27 The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.

118:28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you.

118:29 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Message:
Prayer can be so powerful. This psalm is praising the Lord for his love and his provision. When we call on the Lord He answers. He doesn’t always answer in ways that we can see; however, prayer can often bring comfort and peace. This psalmist recognizes all that the Lord has done for him.

I enjoy the verse 24 “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” It reminds me to recognize every day as a gift from God. In what ways will we be able to help others on this day? In what ways will the Lord show His Glory? Each day is a new chance to find out, rejoice, and be glad.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for giving us this precious day. Let us reach out to others, and serve and do Your will. Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
380 There’s Within My Heart a Melody http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh380.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

The Celebration Before the Sorrow

April 9, 2014
Opening Hymns:
73 Oh Worship the King http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh073.sht

Scripture Reading:
Matthew 21:1-11
21:1 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,

21:2 saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me.

21:3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately."

21:4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,

21:5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

21:6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them;

21:7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them.

21:8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

21:9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!"

21:10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?"

21:11 The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."

Message:
Palm Sunday is coming up. A time of celebration, as Jesus is coming into Jerusalem. To me, Palm Sunday feels out of place. We wave palm branches around, sometimes marching around the church, and sing praises to God. It is a big celebration of Jesus’ arrival into Jerusalem… but we know what will happen shortly after. Almost too soon we have Good Friday where we focus our hearts on Jesus’ Sacrifice.

Palm Sunday and the days leading into Good Friday remind me of how easily hearts can change. The crowd turns against Him, and instead of cheering for Jesus as a prophet and a savior, they are yelling “Crucify Him.” Lent is a time where I focus my heart on Jesus’ love and sacrifice, but Palm Sunday throws me for a loop. Why do we have such a big celebration before Jesus’ death? It can remind us to be cautious with our actions, and ensure that we are following God’s will and not our own earthly desires. It also can prepare us for Easter celebrations. Death does not have the final say! Jesus is our Savior and is worthy to be praised!  

Time of Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, let us sing for joy as we celebrate Jesus’ arrival into Jerusalem. Thank You for Your love and the gift of Your Son, Jesus. Amen


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
361 Rock of Ages Cleft for Me http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh361.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

"Jesus Wept"

April 8, 2014
Opening Hymns:
351 Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh351.sht

Scripture Reading:
John 11:1-45
11:1 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

11:2 Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill.

11:3 So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, "Lord, he whom you love is ill."

11:4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, "This illness does not end in death; rather it is for God's glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

11:5 Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus,

11:6 after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

11:7 Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again."

11:8 The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?"

11:9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world.

11:10 But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them."

11:11 After saying this, he told them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him."

11:12 The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right."

11:13 Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep.

11:14 Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead.

11:15 For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."

11:16 Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

11:17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.

11:18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away,

11:19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother.

11:20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home.

11:21 Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

11:22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him."

11:23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

11:24 Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day."

11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,

11:26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

11:27 She said to him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world."

11:28 When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you."

11:29 And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him.

11:30 Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him.

11:31 The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there.

11:32 When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

11:33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved.

11:34 He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see."

11:35 Jesus began to weep.

11:36 So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"

11:37 But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

11:38 Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.

11:39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days."

11:40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

11:41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, "Father, I thank you for having heard me.

11:42 I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me."

11:43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"

11:44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

11:45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

Message:
Verse 35 is the shortest verses in the bible (depending on the translation), and is also translated as “Jesus wept.” As I reread this story I wonder why He wept. He is about to bring joy to many, and bring a man back to life! It seems there were many more times in the bible where this verse would have fit in better. But perhaps if we take a closer look it will make more sense.

Jesus, at this point, is surrounded by people who are deeply saddened by Lazarus’ death. Mary is also devastated and crying over her brother. Their devastation was moving to Jesus. He may have been crying, almost wishing he had spared them this sadness. After all, He had the power to heal those who were near Him or far away. However, He knew that for God’s glory the healing would come after death.

Part of me wonders if He is thinking about His own death as He’s weeping. He knows that it will also cause this devastation to others. He knows the pain He will need to endure, and the grief it will cause His mother, disciples, and followers. Again, He knows He must follow God’s plan in order to bring salvation to all.

This is one of my favorite verses in the bible. Even though it is short, it holds so much meaning for me. It shows us Jesus’ love and compassion. It demonstrates Jesus’ human nature. It helps us relate to Jesus, and have comfort in knowing that He is moved by our sadness. When we’re troubled or sad our savior is with us. He is there to comfort us, and cry when we’re crying. I think that Jesus wept because of His love for us.   

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for being with us during the hardest moments of our lives. Let us support others in love as You have supported us. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn
510 Come Ye Disconsolate http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh510.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

Good from the Bad

April 4, 2014

Opening Hymns:
341 I Sought the Lord http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh341.sht

Scripture Reading:
John 11:1-14
11:1 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

11:2 Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill.

11:3 So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, "Lord, he whom you love is ill."

11:4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, "This illness does not end in death; rather it is for God's glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

11:5 Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus,

11:6 after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

11:7 Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again."

11:8 The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?"

11:9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world.

11:10 But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them."

11:11 After saying this, he told them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him."

11:12 The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right."

11:13 Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep.

11:14 Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead.”

Message:
I can’t imagine how Mary and Martha must have felt. Jesus had said the illness wouldn’t end in death, and yet Lazarus is dead! How could that be? Has Jesus been wrong before? Reading it over again, we can see that Jesus wasn’t wrong. The illness wouldn’t END in death. But before Jesus’ arrival Mary and Martha were devastated.

Thankfully, God is able to use even sad or bad things to bring good to the world. Do you remember the story of Joseph? Joseph was sold to be a slave by his brothers, and because of all the bad events in his life he was later able to save the Egyptians and his people from starvation. He even stated “And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. ⁶ For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. ⁷ And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. ⁸ So it was not you who sent me here, but God; and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt” (Genesis 45:5-8)

Looking back, the hard times in my life have shaped who I am. I wouldn’t be as strong as I am had I not gone through all of those struggles. As I’m Thinking about the challenges, heart break, and “bad” parts of my life I find it hard to think of one thing in which no good was born out of the bad. God can use bad things for good. He can even use all of us who are sinners for good things. Just another reminder that we have an awesome God.    

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for making good things out of bad things. Shape us and mold us so that we can serve and do Your will on this day. Amen


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
420 Breath on me Breath of God http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh420.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

Waiting for the Lord

April 3, 2014

Opening Hymns:
157 Jesus Shall Reign http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh157.sht

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 130
130:1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.

130:2 Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!

130:3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?

130:4 But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.

130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;

130:6 my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.

130:7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.

130:8 It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

Message:
In this busy world that we live in it can be hard to wait for the Lord in earnest as described by the psalmist. Our minds get distracted with worldly things. We concern ourselves with the next homework assignment, bills, work, and our hobbies. How do we take time to “hope in the Lord”?

I remember singing in a Concordia College Choir. Every year there was a Christmas concert. It was a huge concert with 5 choirs. We would sing a beautiful variety of Christian songs with scriptures read in between. The long hours of practicing were hard because it took time away from homework. However, during rehearsals and the concerts I was able to draw closer to God. The scripture above is one of the scriptures that would be read during the concerts. At that time I felt as though my soul was waiting for the Lord.

Christmas is not the only time to wait in anticipation. As we get closer and closer to Easter we can remember a new thing to wait for. Christ is going to come back. I know some people don’t like the ending to be given away, but I’ve read the book and (spoiler alert) God wins in the end. Love indeed does conquer all. That is something worth waiting for.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, draw us close to you. You are our hope, rock, and our salvation. Thank You for being with us now and forever. Amen


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
714 I Know Whom I have Believed http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh714.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

Bringing New Life

April 2, 2014

Opening Hymns:
658 This is the Day the Lord Hath Made http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh658.sht

Scripture Reading:
Ezekiel 37:1-14
37:1 The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.

37:2 He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry.

37:3 He said to me, "Mortal, can these bones live?" I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know."

37:4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.

37:5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.

37:6 I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD."

37:7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.

37:8 I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them.

37:9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live."

37:10 I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

37:11 Then he said to me, "Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.'

37:12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel.

37:13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people.

37:14 I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act," says the LORD.

Message:
This scripture is a reminder that with God all things are possible. As I ponder the scripture, I am amazed at how miraculous God’s works are. God can do more powerful things than bring the dead back to life. He can make the sinners pure once again. He can give us hope when we are hopeless. He created all of creation, and fashioned us in a way that we can each make our own decisions… and He always forgives us when we choose the wrong choices.

As you go throughout your day, remember the scripture. Reflect on the amazing things God has done, and the wonderful things that He continues to do. The challenges that we have don’t look as big with God on our side. He is watching over us, and will be with us through all the hard times.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, sometimes it is hard to imagine how amazing You are. Thank You for the beautiful things that you have done for each of us. Guide us through this day, and help us do Your will. Amen


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
500 Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh500.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

Living in the Spirit or in the Flesh

March 31, 2014

Opening Hymns:
710 Faith of Our Fathers http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh710.sht

Scripture Reading:
Romans 8:6-11
8:6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

8:7 For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law-- indeed it cannot,

8:8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

8:9 But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

8:10 But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

Message:
This reminds me of the scripture where Jesus explains that no one can serve two masters (Mathew 6:24). Likewise, this scripture describes either being “in the flesh” or “in the Spirit”. When our focus is not on ourselves we act differently. We think and respond to things in a different manner. Perhaps we donate more money when we feel concerned and see the needs of others. Perhaps we focus more of our time to heal and do good in the world. When we focus in on the flesh we can find ourselves giving in to the desires of our sins. Our world can start to revolve around us and those who are close to us. We might cheat others we don’t know well in order to get what we want. Wars, violence, and thefts can result in a person who is inward focused. Wars often begin because one group of people want land or possessions that another group of people has. They are focused on themselves.

I heard about something interesting today. Way back when people were in the “hunter gatherer” mode… they would occasionally live in caves and draw drawings. During this time, there was no other form of written history. People were surprised that no pictures depicted any sort of war or fights at all. Most of the drawings were of animals, and some of people. Why would that be? There is a theory that they didn’t have wars back then because everyone was simply struggling to survive. They didn’t have any energy left over to focus inward, because each clan was focused on each other’s, and there is evidence that they also helped support other clans as well.  

While that sounds like a peaceful time, I’m not saying that we should put ourselves in a state where we can barely survive. However, our focus can be changed in a similar way. The earliest humans had a focus on survival which hid the desires of possessions. We can have a desire to serve God, and others which could then hide the desires of the flesh. If we care about other human life, it is harder to steal or commit sins against others. Our focus, and choice to follow our human desires or God’s desires leads our day to day actions. We can tell what our focus is by looking at our actions. What actions show that you are living in the Spirit? What actions show that you are living in the flesh? How can you continue to change and grow closer to God?

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, Thank You for sending Your Spirit down so that we can feel Christ alive in us. Help us on this day to live in the Spirit. Let our focus be outward, on You and Your children. Help guide our actions so that we may better serve Your will. Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer


May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God