Daily Devotion for October 31, 2005

Answer To Violence

 

As we flick the channel, nightmarish wreckage of mangled bodies assaults our senses. The news anchor person speaks of violent death. In our city, in our country, in the Middle East, in Africa, Sudan, Pakistan.  Is there anywhere in our world were there aren’t acts of violence? Death, bloodshed, and violence bombards our already saturated senses with intense pictures of grief and despair punctuated by outrage. And we are reminded of the writer of Ecclesiastes who wrote:

 

Moreover, no man knows when his hour will come:
As fish are caught in a cruel net,
or birds are taken in a snare,
so men are trapped by evil times
that fall unexpectedly upon them. Ecclesiastes 9:12

 

Into this wilderness world of hopelessness and revenge, Jesus walked, scattering peace and hope. Into such darkness, death, and the grave, He called to those whose souls were weighed down from grief and despair. To the despair and gloom, God in Christ spoke, "Let there be light." Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." That was Jesus' answer to violence and vengeance. Forgiveness.  Peace. And we are His agents. We are His hands, His feet and His instruments of peace in this place.

 

Prayer
O Christ, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

 

Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. (Prayer of St. Francis)

 

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Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
		333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
		(866) 455-6466 • Fax: (866) 451-1476
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At the end of the day. . . Making A Difference In People's Lives and In God's Kingdom

Daily Devotion for October 28, 2005

My Greatest Pleasure

 

How excellent are the Lord's faithful people! My greatest pleasure is to be with them.  Psalm 16:3

 

What is our greatest pleasure? The answer will tell us much about ourselves. The problem, however, is to narrow it down to one pleasure. Most of us have several pleasures that rank high.

 

But what is my greatest pleasure?  I thought about this.  Eventually my greatest pleasure became crystal clear. In a moment; in the twinkling of an eye, as it were, the words of the ancient psalmist said it all: "How excellent are the Lord's faithful people! My greatest pleasure is to be with them." In my mind I started identifying my very best friends. It turned out that they were all among God's faithful people. They all belonged to some branch of the widespread Christian community. This doesn't mean that all Christians give me the greatest pleasure but, rather, that when I find a person who gives me great delight, that person always turns out to be one of God's faithful people.

 

Prayer
Almighty God, giver of every good and perfect gift, we praise and thank you for the joys and pleasures that enrich our lives which you provide through your faithful people. Help us all by your Spirit to give joy and pleasure to others even as they give joy and pleasure to us, Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

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Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
		333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
		(866) 455-6466 • Fax: (866) 451-1476
		Web Site: lcc.LutheranChurchCharities.org
		E-Mail: TimHetzner@LutheranChurchCharities.org
At the end of the day. . . Making A Difference In People's Lives and In God's Kingdom

Daily Devotion for October 27, 2005

Accept Our Thoughts and Words

 

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.  Psalm 19:14

 

These words are often used in worship, very appropriately, as a prayer by the minister before delivering a sermon. The request is made that the spoken words of the sermon and the silent thoughts of the whole congregation may be acceptable to God.

 

That's a prayer, of course, that only God can grant. But when any of us read God's Word, praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can believe that God will accept and bless the thoughts it prompts us to think and the words it prompts us to speak.

 

The closing address to God in a way sums up the whole psalm. God is revealed in nature as my Rock - strong, solid, powerful, and dependable. God is revealed in Scripture as my Redeemer - personal, loving, rescuing and restoring.

 

Prayer
We give you thanks, God, for this psalm and for the light and truth we receive from it. May our meditation on your Word, and the words we speak in witness to our faith be acceptable in your sight, Oh Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

 

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Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
		333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
		(866) 455-6466 • Fax: (866) 451-1476
		Web Site: lcc.LutheranChurchCharities.org
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At the end of the day. . . Making A Difference In People's Lives and In God's Kingdom

Daily Devotion for October 26, 2005

Protection from Sin

 

Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 
Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.  Psalm 19:12-13

 

Have you ever had the experience of being in a room in your home when a single shaft of bright sunlight shines into it? You've always assumed that the room was clean but the sunlight reveals tiny particles of dust everywhere.

 

Earlier in this Psalm the writer had spoken of God's revelation of himself in nature, especially in the sun. Here as he thinks about Scripture, the image of the sun may well be in his mind again. God's Word is like a piercing ray of light: it conveys truth but it also shows up everything in our lives which is not clean. Here lies the paradox that it is often in the lives of the most saintly people, the people who are closest to God, who are most aware of their failings.

 

Again and again, as we read God's Word, we become aware of our own shortcomings and failures. We all have "hidden faults" - failings that we drift into without being aware of it. And certainly we all have "presumptuous sins" - failings that arise from our stubborn conviction that we know best and we can lead our own lives without reference to God. The correct response to the realization of our failings is not to give way to hopelessness but to seek God's forgiveness to free us from the guilt of sin, and his help to free us from the power of sin.

 

Prayer
Lord, you know our faults and failings better even than we know them ourselves. Grant us your forgiveness for the sins that have marred our lives in the past, and the help of your Holy Spirit in combating the power of sin in the future. Amen.

 

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Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
		333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
		(866) 455-6466 • Fax: (866) 451-1476
		Web Site: lcc.LutheranChurchCharities.org
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At the end of the day. . . Making A Difference In People's Lives and In God's Kingdom

Daily Devotion for October 25, 2005

The Value of God's Word

 

By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.  Psalm 19:11

 

There are many reasons for reading God's Word regularly and seeking to absorb it into our daily lives. Here the Psalmist highlights two reasons.

 

First, Scripture can act as a warning to us. We tend to be impatient with those who try to warn us. But think, for example, of the flashing light and the ringing bell at a railway level crossing that warn of an approaching train. Each year unfortunately there are tragic accidents when people ignore the warning or become impatient and try to cross ahead of the train. We neglect such warnings to our own demise. The warnings in Scripture are similarly designed for our own good, to protect us from harm and from doing what is foolish.

 

Second, obedience to the teaching of Scripture brings its own rewards. This of course is not to suggest that we should obey God's Word simply for what we can get out of it. Nor is it suggesting that the rewards are necessarily material or monetary. But living in accordance with God's Word does bring its own satisfaction even when it involves suffering and sacrifice on our part.

 

Prayer
Dear God, so often we are willful and impatient and think we know best; help us to heed the warnings you give us through your Word. Help us to serve and follow you more faithfully in the assurance that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness shall indeed be satisfied. Amen.

 

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Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
		333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
		(866) 455-6466 • Fax: (866) 451-1476
		Web Site: lcc.LutheranChurchCharities.org
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At the end of the day. . . Making A Difference In People's Lives and In God's Kingdom

Daily Devotion for October 24, 2005

The Desirability of God's Word

 

They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.  Psalm 19:10

 

In this verse the Psalmist continues to praise God's Word in a way that really challenges us to reassess our values.

 

It's easy to say that God's Word is precious to us, that we value it and treasure it, but can we honestly say that it is more important to us than financial success and material pleasures? That's what the Psalmist is saying here.

 

Even today, gold remains the symbol of material wealth. In a society in which hockey players can make $10 million a year and "the bottom line" seems to be the only thing that counts, do we really think there are some things more important than money?

 

In ancient times there was no such thing as sugar; the only sweetening agent was honey. Today we have gourmet foods and an incredible array of luxury items at our disposal. Where do they rank in our scale of values?

 

The words of the Psalmist invite us to conduct an audit of our life style and to assess where God's word fits in our order of priorities.

 

Prayer
Lord, there are so many pressures on us today which in subtle ways distort our scale of values. Help us, we pray, to value your Word, spoken to us through Scripture, above even the best of what this world has to offer. Amen.

 

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Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
		333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
		(866) 455-6466 • Fax: (866) 451-1476
		Web Site: lcc.LutheranChurchCharities.org
		E-Mail: TimHetzner@LutheranChurchCharities.org
At the end of the day. . . Making A Difference In People's Lives and In God's Kingdom

Daily Devotion for October 21, 2005

The Attributes of God's Word

 

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.  Psalm 19:7-9

 

In rapid succession these verses invite us to consider six attributes of God's Word. Scarcely a day passes without the truth or the authority or the competence of Scripture being questioned from one quarter or another. What a refreshing change these verses make! God's Word is "perfect," i.e. complete, all-sufficient; it is sure, right, pure, clean and true.

 

As such it revives us; it constantly renews our faith and brings us newness of life.

 

It confers on us, however foolish we may be, what the Bible calls wisdom - practical, down-to-earth direction for daily living.

 

It rejoices the heart, for the study of Scripture is not a dull chore but something which should brighten our day.

 

It enlightens the eyes, helping us to see clearly.

 

It endures for ever, unlike so much else in this life. "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8)

 

It is righteous altogether; if we follow God's Word we can depend on it to lead us in the right paths.

 

Prayer
O God, in Scripture we have one of your greatest gifts to us. Help us to read it and study it carefully and prayerfully so that it may bring joy and peace in our hearts, enlighten our eyes, and lead us always in the right way. Amen.

 

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Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
		333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
		(866) 455-6466 • Fax: (866) 451-1476
		Web Site: lcc.LutheranChurchCharities.org
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At the end of the day. . . Making A Difference In People's Lives and In God's Kingdom

Daily Devotion for October 19, 2005

God Makes His Sun Rise

 

In them he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes forth like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and there is nothing hid from its heat. Psalm 19:5-6

 

Of all the forces of nature the sun is perhaps the one that affects us most obviously and directly. So great is our dependence on its light and warmth that from the earliest times many have worshipped the sun as a god. Nowadays, of course, sun-worshippers tend to seek the sun on beaches and follow it south in the winter time! At the very outset (Genesis 1:16) the Bible makes it clear that the sun is no independent power; it was brought into being by God. But as part of creation it does point to the Creator.

 

The Psalmist speaks here of the sun in strong and joyful poetic images - rising in the morning and setting out on its daily course like a youthful and happy husband leaving home for his day's work, or like a powerful athlete springing from the starting blocks.

 

Without the light and heat of the sun life would be impossible. This psalm reminds us that behind the sun is God, the giver of all life.

 

The unwearied sun, from day to day,
Does his Creator's power display,
And publishes to every land
The work of an almighty hand. (Addison)

 

Prayer
O God, how often do we complain when the sun does not shine; how seldom, when it is shining, do we pause to give thanks for its light and warmth. Help us to remember that all good gifts around us are sent from YOU, and help us to respond in gratitude and love. Amen.

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Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
		333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
		(866) 455-6466 • Fax: (866) 451-1476
		Web Site: lcc.LutheranChurchCharities.org
		E-Mail: TimHetzner@LutheranChurchCharities.org
At the end of the day. . . Making A Difference In People's Lives and In God's Kingdom

Daily Devotion for October 18, 2005

Silent Voices

 

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.  PSA 19:3 
Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, Psalm 19:2-4

 

Of all the things we take for granted, one of the most amazing is surely the regularity of nature, the fact that the sun appears each morning bidding us rise and shine, and sets each evening bidding us rest and sleep. The Psalmist invites us to discern in the regularity of day and night the goodness and the provision of God the Creator.

 

He does so in a very arresting way. In one sense the rotation of the earth is silent (v.3); but in another sense it "pours forth speech," "declares knowledge," and sends out its voice and its words.

 

The idea of a "natural theology" is not always popular with theologians but if this psalm is saying anything it is surely saying that all people everywhere can know something of God, however partially and imperfectly, from the world in which they live. Note the repeated emphasis on the fact that God's voice in nature, though silent, is heard "through all the earth," and "to the end of the world." From one end of the universe to another the silent voice of nature speaks of the Creator.

 

Prayer
O Lord, you have provided for us in so many ways, yet there is so much we take for granted. Give us ears that we may hear in nature the voice of the Creator, and in response may praise you for all your goodness to us. Amen.

 

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Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
		333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
		(866) 455-6466 • Fax: (866) 451-1476
		Web Site: lcc.LutheranChurchCharities.org
		E-Mail: TimHetzner@LutheranChurchCharities.org
At the end of the day. . . Making A Difference In People's Lives and In God's Kingdom

October 17, 2005

God’s World

 

The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19:1

 

Psalm 19 brings together in an extraordinary way two assertions: God speaks to us through his World (vs.1-6) and through his Word (vs.7-13).

 

Scholars who find here two quite separate psalms completely miss the point (some even see in vs.1-6 a pagan hymn worshipping the sun god). The God who speaks to us through his Word in Scripture, the God who called Israel to be his servant and who sent his Son to be the Savior of the world - this God is the same God whom we can also see in the majesty and mystery of creation.

 

It is on God the Creator that the psalm initially focuses. In recent decades space probes have vastly increased our knowledge of the universe. Astronomy is a popular and fascinating subject and it continually reveals more to us of the unimaginable size and unbelievable complexity of the universe. For believers, such new discoveries do not lessen our faith; on the contrary they fill us with greater awe as we marvel at the glory of God revealed in the heavens. As Addison so eloquently put it

 

The spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great original proclaim.

 

Prayer
O God, as we look up at the heavens, and as we learn more of the secrets of the universe, we are filled with awe and wonder. Help us to recognize and to revere you as the Creator, not only of the vast immensities of space, but of each one of us individually. Amen.

 

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Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
		333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
		(866) 455-6466 • Fax: (866) 451-1476
		Web Site: lcc.LutheranChurchCharities.org
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At the end of the day. . . Making A Difference In People's Lives and In God's Kingdom

Daily Devotion for October 14, 2005

A Short Tale Of Two Solitudes

 

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you - you of little faith? Matthew 6:28-30

 

Two worlds are represented in my life at this moment. They are as different as night and day.

 

I took a moment today to talk and share with a dear, dear friend.  I told him that I had felt like I had come to the end of my rope. I had just spent the last 40 plus days’ working 12-18 hr days with the Katrina relief efforts that LCC is heading up.  I wasn’t sure when there would be light at the end of the tunnel for some time away – at least before Christmas. 

 

He looked at me and quietly said he hadn't had an hour of meaningful work that entire week and then asked which of us I'd rather be?

 

I didn't need to answer but I have two prayers. The first is for those who feel they are run off their feet. The second is for those who have been out of work for a long time.

 

Prayer
Lord, lead me to a path of still water where I might quench my thirst for a quiet moment and then simply have time to be still.

 

God, grant me meaningful work to do, a joy in living life to the full, and a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day, whatever the day may bring.

 

Both prayers I offer in the name of Jesus Christ who is my way, my truth, and my life. Amen.

 

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Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
		333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
		(866) 455-6466 • Fax: (866) 451-1476
		Web Site: lcc.LutheranChurchCharities.org
		E-Mail: TimHetzner@LutheranChurchCharities.org
At the end of the day. . . Making A Difference In People's Lives and In God's Kingdom

October 13, 2005

Three Kinds of Giving

 

Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 1 Corinthians 9:7

 

There are three kinds of giving: grudge giving, duty giving, and thanksgiving.

 

Grudge giving says, "I have to."
Duty giving says, "I ought to."
Thanksgiving says, "I want to."

 

The first one comes from constraint; the second from a sense of obligation; the third from a full heart.

 

Nothing much is conveyed in grudge giving since the gift without the giver is bare. Something more happens in duty giving, but there is no song in it. Thanksgiving is an open gate to the love of God. It is the "Amen" of giving.

 

Always remember – that in giving we are not really giving something we own since God is the owner of it all already, we are simply being Christian Managers of that which God entrusts to us!

 

Prayer
Let our greatest joy come from the magic moments when we freely give of all that you have entrusted to us.  Give us the one thing necessary to be complete - a grateful heart. Amen.

 

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Class sites are across the USA. Click here for more information.

Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
		333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
		(866) 455-6466 • Fax: (866) 451-1476
		Web Site: lcc.LutheranChurchCharities.org
		E-Mail: TimHetzner@LutheranChurchCharities.org
At the end of the day. . . Making A Difference In People's Lives and In God's Kingdom

October 12, 2005

Aglow from an Elder

 

Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise them up. James 5:14-15

 

One of my Word Among Us students shared the following experience with me….

I have to share with you what happened last Sunday morning in our church where I am an elder. Toward the end of the service the minister called all the elders to join him at the front of the sanctuary. At the same moment, Scott, a four year old boy was brought from his Sunday school class and was placed in the midst of the assembled elders. The next move was to have everyone else in the congregation join hands including the elders. With one hand each elder was holding the hand of a member of the congregation while the other was gently touching Scott. In the hushed wonder of this moment, our minister offered a prayer for God's help and blessing for the very critical heart operation Scott was to have the next morning. In every truth the directions of James 5:14-15 was being followed precisely.

 

We do not yet know the full results of the operation but the initial report was very positive. We do know, however, that the effect on the congregation was fantastic. Happy smiles were everywhere. A few days after the service two more of those who shared the experience were still bubbling over with joy and they were still very keen to tell me the story yet once more. A new excitement aglow with faith, hope and love has descended upon my congregation for which I can truly say, "Thanks be to God."

Prayer
O living God, we praise and thank you for the wonder of your ways and for the transforming power of your presence. We add our prayers for Scott and for your continued blessing on his congregation as well as on all your people everywhere. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

 

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Class sites are across the USA. Click here for more information.

Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
		333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
		(866) 455-6466 • Fax: (866) 451-1476
		Web Site: lcc.LutheranChurchCharities.org
		E-Mail: TimHetzner@LutheranChurchCharities.org
At the end of the day. . . Making A Difference In People's Lives and In God's Kingdom

 

October 11, 2005

In the Boat Together

 

As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:21

 

The Church of Jesus Christ always seeks to gather the shattered fragments of faith that are the one Church of our Lord and Savior, bring the pieces together in an embrace of love and unity. That dream is encompassed in the ecumenical movement of the modern era. Ecumenical comes from a Greek root meaning the whole inhabited earth, a word expressing the hope and dream and prayer that one day we will fulfill the prayer of John 17 that we all be one in Christ.

 

One symbol of the ecumenical movement is that of the boat, which reminds us that we are all in the boat together and that literally we will sink or survive together, and that in the closed confines of creation we must care for one another.   Recently, on one of our search and rescue teams in New Orleans, I had Christians from very different “theological” backgrounds together on the same boat.  No one drowned!  Although we at times may differ on theological grounds – a crisis many times tears down the walls that separate – especially when we are serving others in the name of Christ.  There is good that comes out of hurricanes!

 

Prayer
Bring closer the day when we are all one in the love of our Lord. Help us to work together for the common good of your Kingdom!  Let others see what we ARE united in.  Amen.

 

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Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
		333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
		(866) 455-6466 • Fax: (866) 451-1476
		Web Site: lcc.LutheranChurchCharities.org
		E-Mail: TimHetzner@LutheranChurchCharities.org
At the end of the day. . . Making A Difference In People's Lives and In God's Kingdom

 

October 10, 2005

Share The Peace

 

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. Ephesians 2:13, 17

 

If you knew me well enough you'd know I would never try to scare someone out of their wits, at least not on purpose. Well, I did it not to long ago at a gathering of “religious” people.  The worship leader invited us to offer a sign of our oneness in Christ, and suggested we share the peace. So far so good. The peace is an ancient and honored way for Christians to communicate their unity in the body of Christ. Many traditions have many ways...

 

some kiss,
some hug,
some shake hands,
some say the words, 'the peace of Christ'.

 

So I chose the second option, the one I am most comfortable with, and hugged this wonderful, older, conservative Pastor next to me... and he went into shock! Don't ask me why, but he did. He pulled away and said. "I've never shared the peace like that before," and he just stared at me for a moment more. Finally he said in a whisper, "Can we do that again?"

 

Prayer
Let your peace, that passes understanding, become a way of life for those who seek to follow you. Help us share peace wherever we go. Amen.

 

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Class sites are across the USA. Click here for more information.

Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
		333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
		(866) 455-6466 • Fax: (866) 451-1476
		Web Site: lcc.LutheranChurchCharities.org
		E-Mail: TimHetzner@LutheranChurchCharities.org
At the end of the day. . . Making A Difference In People's Lives and In God's Kingdom

 

October 7, 2005

Forward or Backward

 

Isaiah answered, "This is the Lord's sign to you that the Lord will do what he has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps?" 2 Kings 20:9

 

Our God is awesome. Consider for a moment the wonder of our God's infinite all-knowing and all-seeing power.

 

There is an illustration which reflects on the all-knowingness of God (and perhaps the concept of predestination) which will be clear to many of us as parents. Often we as parents (who have finite but extensive knowledge of our children's behavior) are able to predict our children's actions in a given situation -- we know what they will do. How much more does our heavenly Father know our minds, when God's knowledge above ours is infinitely greater than ours above our children?

 

As mere children, we have a limitation in understanding the truly infinite and what it means. With infinite knowledge our God can (and does) transcend time. We often speak of God being everywhere at the same time while we are unable to comprehend that God is everywhere at every time. All-knowing makes time, if not compressed, at least irrelevant.

 

Prayer
Dear Lord and Father of us all, be with us and watch over us as the sun rises and sets, and in your awesome power, be our God, even should you reverse the sun's course. Amen.

 

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Class sites are across the USA. Click here for more information.

Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
		333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
		(866) 455-6466 • Fax: (866) 451-1476
		Web Site: lcc.LutheranChurchCharities.org
		E-Mail: TimHetzner@LutheranChurchCharities.org
At the end of the day. . . Making A Difference In People's Lives and In God's Kingdom

October 6, 2005

Good For Nothing

 

Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the dominion of heaven.  Matthew 5:20

 

I guess I really don't want to hear that I am supposed to be perfect, yet there is a theme throughout scriptures that points us toward perfection:

 

Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48

 

Now I like the way the New English Bible puts this passage from Matthew:

 

"There must be no limit to your goodness, as your heavenly Father's goodness knows no bounds."

 

There have been things in my life that I have just never been able to reach, to attain, to live up to. As I was growing up it was the reputation of my "big sister Ann". Every teacher in grade school held her presence. "Are you like your sister Ann?" was the first question teachers always asked, as she was the “smart” one!

 

Can you be as good as Ann? Can you be better? And then I married Jackie and it began all over again. God preserve us from all such vain comparisons! Yet here is the Bible and here is our Lord doing something not all that different. Can you be as good as the scribes? Can your righteousness exceed that of the Pharisees (who made a point by the way, of observing all 613 regulations in the Law of Moses)? And we're supposed to be as good as them, no... better than them? Ha!

 

Only in the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ can I find the strength to live a life of love.  And according to Jesus, that was the fulfillment of the law!

 

Prayer
Loving Lord, help me this day to be all that I can be and in your mercy, let me follow the more excellent way through Christ my Lord, to love as you did.  Amen.

 

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Class sites are across the USA. Click here for more information.

Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
		333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
		(866) 455-6466 • Fax: (866) 451-1476
		Web Site: lcc.LutheranChurchCharities.org
		E-Mail: TimHetzner@LutheranChurchCharities.org
At the end of the day. . . Making A Difference In People's Lives and In God's Kingdom

October 5, 2005

Christians Aren't Perfect

 

What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

 

I was given a button by a friend who probably thought I needed it more than he did. It says,

 

Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven.

 

Anybody here perfect? Have you kept all the laws and rules and regulations at your house, at school, on the road, all the do's and don'ts of life and every law you have ever read in your life? My kids have a perfect way of answering this...

 

I don't think so!

 

We try our best, but our best is not perfect. But Jesus is perfect and we know Jesus and Jesus helps us to become the very best we can be.

 

Prayer
Jesus, you invite us to follow in your footsteps. We find it hard going much of the time and we need your light to lead us, your hand to hold us, and your love to complete us. Amen.

 

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Class sites are across the USA. Click here for more information.

Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
		333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
		(866) 455-6466 • Fax: (866) 451-1476
		Web Site: lcc.LutheranChurchCharities.org
		E-Mail: TimHetzner@LutheranChurchCharities.org
At the end of the day. . . Making A Difference In People's Lives and In God's Kingdom

October 4, 2005

Hope In The Lord

O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plenteous redemption.
And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities. Psalm 130:7,8

If Psalm 130 begins with the author "in the pits", it ends with a call to hope.

There are two grounds for this hope. One is God's "steadfast love," God's loyalty to his promises, God's absolute commitment to keep his side of the covenant even when we often default on ours.

The second is God's promise of redemption to his people. Notice how the psalm begins with the author's own personal problems and personal distress, but how in verses 7 and 8 these problems are seen in the light of God's love and care for his people. When the Israelites were in slavery in Egypt, God promised them, "I will deliver you from bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm" (Exodus 6:6). God kept his promise. In Titus 2:14 we are reminded that Christ "gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds." Through faith we belong to the People of God, the people whom God loves with a steadfast love, the people whom God has set free to serve him.

Prayer
Lord, how often things look hopeless - in our personal lives, in the life of the church, in the world in which we live. Give us a new awareness of your redeeming love so that we may indeed hope in the Lord. Amen.

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Class sites are across the USA. Click here for more information.

Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities

333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
(866) 455-6466 • Fax: (866) 451-1476
Web Site: lcc.LutheranChurchCharities.org
E-Mail: TimHetzner@LutheranChurchCharities.org
At the end of the day. . . Making A Difference
In People's Lives and In God's Kingdom

October 3, 2005

Wait For The Lord

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning. Psalm 130:5,6

If you're like me, you like quick results. Nothing frustrates me more than attending a meeting where decisions are made but nothing ever happens to move forward. Or worse, a meeting where NOTHING happens! Maybe this is why I rarely attend meetings!

One of the hardest pieces of advice Scripture gives us is to wait upon the Lord. The author of Psalm 130 conveys this in memorable fashion by comparing his experience to someone on the night shift. I imagine that for such a person, about 3 or 4 a.m. must be the worst time. The author's repetition of the phrase "more than watchmen for the morning" graphically conveys the sheer boredom of the night watch and the passionate longing for the first signs of dawn.

It is important to note that this is not just a general piece of advice to the effect that "all things come to those who wait" or "patience is a virtue." We are not just urged to wait, but to "wait for the Lord." When we wait for the Lord it is a hopeful and expectant waiting.

We are reminded that when we pray to God, sometimes the answer is not "Yes," nor is it "No"; it is "Wait." God always answers prayer, but sometimes it is in his own good time which may not coincide with our time.

Prayer
Lord, forgive our impatience, our demands for quick results. Help us not just to pray in faith but also to wait for you, confident that you will answer our prayers in the way that is best for us and in your own good time. Amen.

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Class sites are across the USA. Click here for more information.

Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities At the end of the day. . . Making A Difference In People's Lives and In God's Kingdom