Daily Devotion for January 31, 2006

Bring the Children

 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

 

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.  Isaiah 11:6 

 

[Note: Although those of the Lutheran tradition baptize infants while those of the Anabaptist and other traditions dedicate infants, the point of this devotional about including older children is the same in either case.]

 

I remember being at a church service some time back when there was a baby that was being baptized. At the children's story the pastor asked the Sunday School class to join him and sit in the front pew. The Spirit of God must have rested on them that morning because the baby cried all through the first part of the service but settled into the pastors arms without a whimper for the baptism. After the baptism he took the baby and knelt before the Sunday School and showed him to them. Then he walked the baby through the congregation as they sang the last hymn. The looks and actions of the people as they smiled and touched the baby's hands brought tears to my eyes and the eyes of many others in the service.

 

Suddenly the words of the scriptures had entirely new meaning for me. The words of the baptismal hymn used came to life also.

A little child the Savior came,
The mighty God was still his name;
And angels worshipped as He lay
The seeming infant of a day
We bring them, Lord, and with the sign
Of sprinkled water name them thine
Their souls with saving grace endow;
Baptize them with Thy Spirit now.

 

Prayer
Lord, as you were baptized so we baptize our children. Help us to realize that by including older children in this sacrament we help them to remember their baptism. As they remember their baptism it also helps us to remember ours also. May we always see you in the eyes of the children as we include them in worship of you.  Help us daily to remember our Baptism in YOU.  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 January 30, 2006

False Security

 

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  James 1:22 

 

Living here in the Midwest we get our fair share of driving on snow-covered roads. One thing I have noticed is that when snow has deteriorated the road conditions, those in 4x4s drive at the same speed as when the roads were dry. I have talked to some people about why they do this and they tell me that when they put the 4-wheel drive on, they believe this will negate the road conditions. While a 4-wheel drive will help pull a vehicle through snow, it does not compensate for the loss of friction that the snow induces. Having a 4-wheel drive gives a false sense of security, so, often their vehicles slide off the road. I saw much of this last week.

 

Sometimes I wonder if this applies to the church also. Sometimes just going to church can give us a false sense of security, making us think that we've done all we need to do. While I see church parking lots filled on Sunday, what are these same people doing in their communities the rest of the week? While there are many church people out there in the community helping, this number is by far smaller than church membership. There is more to Christianity than just going to church and sitting there for an hour a week. Today's verse says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." There is more to our faith than just being saved. There must be action in that faith as a response to our salvation. Without this action, faith is dead, as James says. There is a difference between just existing and living. We can exist in the church but never live in the Word. There is more to faith than just sitting in a pew. There is a journey that we take as Christians and it starts with our salvation, rather than ending with it.

 

Prayer
Lord, You showed your great love for us when your Son died for us on the cross. We have received that which is more precious than anything on the earth. May that gift you have given us change our lives and may we show others that change through our actions so that you may be glorified. Help us to serve others as you served others.  In Jesus' name. 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 January 27, 2006

Standing on your Head

 

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

Charlie Brown was pitching and doing a lousy job. Lucy was giving him grief, as usual. Finally, he could bear the misery and humiliation no longer. In an expression of exasperation that only Charlie Brown could think of, he stood on his head right there on the pitcher's mound. As Lucy's degrading mockery continued, the ever-loyal Snoopy did the unexpected. He walked onto the pitcher's mound and stood on his head beside Charlie Brown, sharing his humiliation.

Dutch Sheets, in his book entitled Intercessory Prayer - How God can use Your Prayers to Move Heaven and Earth, shared the above illustration. As Christians, we are called to "carry each other's burdens". There are many ways we can do this - it may not necessarily mean that we have to go and stand on our head like Snoopy, but it might!

 

Dutch gives another analogy of what happens when we "carry each other's burdens". He talks about how a gardener will tie a stake to a tomato plant to sustain it under the weight it carries. The strength of the stake is transferred to the plant and thus "bears it up". In other words, we are to "stake ourselves to one another". We are to come alongside a brother or sister who is "weighed down" and say, "you're not going to fall and be broken or destroyed because I'm staking myself to you. My strength is now yours. Go ahead, lean on me. As long as I can stand, you will."

 

What a wonderful picture of the Body of Christ. Just imagine what fruit would grow if we learned how to "stake ourselves" to one another.

 

Prayer
Loving Father, we thank you that by your grace, you have staked yourself to us and that you have carried our burdens. Thank you that you have called us into your great family. Help us to see when our brothers and sisters need a helping hand. Help us to "stake ourselves" to each other and help us to "carry each others burdens" in the name of Jesus Christ. 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

Daliy Devotion for January 26, 2006

PRAYER BEFORE STARTING WORK

 

My Heavenly Father, as I enter this work place,
I bring Your presence with me.

 

I speak Your peace, Your grace, Your mercy,
and Your perfect order into this office.

 

I acknowledge Your power over all that
will be spoken, thought, decided, and done within these walls.

 

Lord, I thank You for the gifts You have blessed me with.
I commit to using them responsibly in Your honor.

 

Give me a fresh supply of strength to do my job.

 

Anoint my projects, ideas, and energy,
so that even my smallest accomplishment may bring You glory.

 

Lord, when I am confused, guide me.
When I am weary, energize me.
When I am burned out,
infuse me with the light of the Holy Spirit.

 

May the work that I do and the way I do it
bring faith, joy, and a smile to all that I come in contact with today.

 

And Lord,
When I leave this place, give me traveling mercy.
Bless my family and home to be in order as I left it.

 

Lord, I thank you for everything You’ve done,
everything You’re doing, and everything You’re going to do.

 

In the Name of Jesus I pray,
with much love and Thanksgiving… 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 January 19, 2006

How is your chain being yanked?

 

You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. James 2:22

 

Anyone who has ever used a choke chain to walk their dog is probably familiar with the "p" and "q" rule. That is to say, when making the loop for the animal's head, the chain is dropped through the slip ring at the end. Depending on which way it is held to put over the animal's head, it looks like either a "p" or a "q".

 

The proper way to do it is to put the loop over the head when it is in the form of the "p", for that is gentle on the neck; when tugged, it will tighten up and then slacken back down again. The animal gets the message in a gentle, firm and harmless manner that it is to stay close, or to stop what it is doing.

 

When used in the "q" formation however, the chain gets tighter and tighter and there is no slack, thus it literally "chokes".

 

It reminds me of how very like our relationships this can be, with our families, our friends, our faith in God.

 

We can be caught in the "q", "choked" by fear, control; questioning, misunderstanding, misinterpreting; scared and alone, not really knowing God's love. Or, we can put ourselves in the "p", a place of prayer and peace; accepting His love, listening to what He wants for us; and letting Him help us in whatever we do, gently bringing us back if we wander. When our faith and our actions work together, our faith is strengthened, our lives made more complete.

 

Prayer
May we strive to strengthen our faith each day by "doing", not just by "saying". Help us to help those who feel they are being "choked" or smothered in their relationships or beliefs to see that you are a God of love. In Jesus' name we pray. 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 January 25, 2006

Refugees

 

Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt and remain there until I tell you."  Matthew 2:13

 

During Holiday times, especially Christmas and News Years, we have a family tradition where we usually schedule a marathon family video time. We get out the pillows and blankets, we snack on popcorn and Christmas goodies and we watch hour after hour of Christmas specials, old and new!

 

One of my favorite movies is “The Sound of Music." I am not sure why other than it is one of the first movies my parents took me to see in a movie theatre.  I suppose this movie is appropriate to Epiphany. After all, the story line is about how the Von Trapp family escaped from the Nazis during Austria's occupation.

 

I know people who, like the Von Trapps, have escaped from unjust and oppressive regimes. Some of these refugees carried infants and children with them and I have heard about what they left behind: friends, families, material goods. I have heard about their fears. What and who would they find in the country into which they fled? I have heard how it was to travel to a place where they could not speak the language, or understand the culture and traditions. How it was to find no place where they could worship in their own language, or eat the food to which they were accustomed. How it was to keep on adjusting day after day, year after year, in the knowledge they may never return home. When I read the account in Matthew about the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt, the stories of these other flights influence my understanding of the experience of Mary and Joseph.

 

I wonder what the Holy Family packed. Did Joseph have time to gather some of his carpentry tools? Did Mary fear the sound of footsteps behind her? Did they try to disguise themselves? Did they weep as they left neighbors to face the fate the angel foretold? Did they take time to warn friends and family? How wonderful they had the magi's gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, an amazing resource. Or did they have to leave even these gifts behind in their haste to follow the angel's directions?

 

Mary and Joseph, the Von Trapps, my refugee friends, escaped from totalitarian, oppressive, and dangerous regimes. There are other kinds of dangers, other kinds of oppression. From what oppression or danger does God's angel warn you and me to escape? Is it a habit? A life-style? A circumstance? A group of friends? An unhealthy relationship? A place? A job? A fear? An attitude?

 

From whatever we seek to escape, no matter what we must leave behind, God will be with us as we travel. Jesus promised.

 

Prayer
Gracious and merciful God, as you call us out of danger and oppression, and into "Egypt" we give you thanks that as we move onward, we carry with us your son's promise: "I will be with you always." Grant us confidence in your presence and faith in your love as you lead us forth in Jesus' name. 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 January 24, 2006

Face Value

 

Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.  2 Peter 3:17-18

 

If we take an American five-dollar bill (or any bill for that matter), it tells us on the face of it what denomination it is, and we believe it. If we take it to the store and see something marked five dollars, we know that the five-dollar bill will be accepted toward the cost of it, as five dollars. It will be accepted "at face value".

 

When we take that five dollars to another country, it's another story. We first have to convert it to their monetary system, but, in exchanging it to Israeli shekels, for instance, we don't get five dollars American back, we get something like 23 shekels. The face value has changed.

 

Recently, I found myself in the middle of a negative situation because I had taken everything I'd been told "at face value" and I took everyone I had listened to "at face value". Upon looking at it from another side, I realized I was "short-changing" the situation. The whole truth was not being told because what I'd accepted at "face value" was only several people's truth, but not everyone's.

 

I know better. I know that there are always at least two sides to every story and I was upset to realize that I'd allowed myself to be swept into all that negativity. However, I also know that there is something we can take at "face value"; God's love and understanding, His forgiveness and faithfulness. Always and forever.
 
Prayer
We thank you Lord, for your forgiveness in those times when we sometimes sway, those times when we know better, but for some reason we just are led away with even the smallest wickedness of a situation. We thank you for the knowledge you give us to rectify our mistakes with grace. In Jesus' name we pray. 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 January 23, 2006

SO HOW MANY TIMES DID HE CROSS OVER THE ROAD?

 

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7 (KJV)
Wisdom is supreme; therefore, get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7 (NIV)

 

Which version do you prefer?

 

Recently I received an e-mail which begged the age-old question "Why did the chicken cross the road?" complete with thirty-nine different explanations. There were answers from someone's perception of how Plato would have responded and ranged from Moses to Mark Twain, Dali to Dickinson, Marx to Machiavelli, Seinfeld to Colonel Sanders.

 

Of course this was sent in jest, but it illustrates how each one of us has our own perception of and ways to process answers to one question. There were thirty-nine answers to that question, thirty-nine ways in which each of those people might perceive the question and answer in the way they understood it.

 

However, not everyone could, or I dare say does, accept every single explanation. A few were very long and difficult answers, probably too long for some of us. Some were very technical, not readily accepted or understood by an "un-technical" thinker. Some were short and to the point, supposedly not to the satisfaction of the long and difficult answerer. Some were ridiculous because the thinker thought the question redundant. This though, is merely my perception of someone else's answers.

 

It seems that this is the way with "the Word" also. Some people prefer one version of the Bible while others a different.  They may prefer one way in which a translation shows a verse over a different translation.  Same verse. Two interpretations or translations.

 

Granted, a particular verse in the Bible may strike each of us a different way.  That is God and His Spirit working in our lives.  However, we have to remember, God’s word is constant and NON-changing.  We can’t just take a verse and if we don’t like what it says go and try to find a translation that makes us feel better.  There are many verses in Scripture that are not written to make us feel better – they are written to change us.  Change is painful!  Let God’s Word say what it says – and let’s try to heed what it says!  And that’s NOT my opinion!

 

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word, your Word that is eternal and unchanging.  Fill us with your Spirit so we can be changed by it. 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 January 20, 2006

Early Morning

 

In him was life, and that life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. John 1:4-5

 

I remember seeing a church sign that always had different sayings on it.  Some were better than others but one that caught my attentions was: "Shadows fall behind when we walk in the light."

 

I like that. I am an early morning person.  I like the time between 4AM and 6AM best.  It's so peaceful; sounds are so acute; the birds begin breaking the news of the coming dawn. You can actually hear the water rippling along in the run-off drains. You can soak in the smells of the morning dew and watch little lights flicker on as people begin to rise, signaling households coming to life. And it's wonderful to walk into the light of the coming day.

 

Even when it's raining and grey, one is always able to distinguish the darkness diminishing into some sort of light.

 

So it is with prayer. Though our burdens may weigh heavily and our problems may make us feel dark and grey, if we offer them up in prayer, our load begins to feel lighter. We start to feel the darkness diminishing into the light. And so it is in life. When we walk in the light of living with Christ, the shadows of our old thoughts, our old ways, our old feelings fall behind.

 

Prayer
We thank you Father, for the many ways in which you let your light shine through. Help us to be instruments that show others your light!  In Jesus' name we pray. 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 January 18, 2006

UNDER IT ALL

 

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.  Micah 6:8

 

I learned to pick berries when I was just little. My mom taught me that if you lift up the bushes or leaves, the juiciest, tenderest, best berries are underneath... you just have to look. Some people just pick from the top, never taking the time to see what wonderful gifts lay underneath.

 

We're that way with people and/or situations sometimes too. Sometimes we meet people who are brash, brazen, or rough around the edges, and we may be embarrassed to be seen in their company. But usually, there's a reason for their behavior, and when we take the time to know them a little better -- to "look underneath" -- we see what wonderful gifts they have to offer.

 

Some situations on the surface may look too hard, too involved, too time-consuming, or too petty, but once accepted, we find treasures "under the surface". We learn new things, meet new people, and see new places.

 

Often Christians are viewed as something of an oddity, but once explored we find that on the whole Christians are actually quite normal people. They breathe in and out like everyone else. They laugh at jokes, sing regular songs, watch television. Yes, when you take the time to look beyond or "underneath" the label, there's usually nothing odd at all.

The same holds true with God. When we really read the Bible, His inspired word, when we "look underneath" and see what's being said, we are "shown" what wonderful gifts He has to give.

 

Prayer
We thank You for Your word, for revealing what it is You want for us and from us. In Your name we pray. 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 January 17, 2006

Who has God placed in your path?

 

If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. Romans 12:18
Then let us no more pass judgment on one another, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.  Romans 14:13
 
Occasionally, the subject comes up regarding anonymity in our e-mail, especially where it pertains to our place of residence. There is a certain amount of risk in having people know where you reside.

 

The phone is another bit of technology which allows us either to be unlisted or to block our number from call display, while being able to see incoming calls on call display.

 

Recently, an unfamiliar name and number showed up several times on my cell phone call display without any message being left. Thinking that it was perhaps a marketing call, I decided to just ignore it. After about three times the same number appearing and no message I decided to call the number and asked to be off the marketing list.  Well, when I called it turned out NOT to be a marketing call but someone that needed to talk and didn’t feel comfortable leaving a message.   Good thing I called back! 

 

In today's verses from Romans, we are asked to trust one another, not to pre-judge others, and not to be judgmental or hurtful by putting up stumbling blocks. Wherever possible, we should try to live peaceably, sharing with our fellow man. We are each responsible for taking the first step.  I learned that I have to be careful not to ignore the things and most importantly the people that God puts anonymously in my path!
 
Prayer
Lord God, help us to try each day to be a little more trusting, a little more open, a little less judgmental, and much more responsive to whom you place in my path.  Where we see stumbling blocks, may we have the courage to move them out of the way.  In Jesus' name we pray. 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 January 16, 2006

Looking Down

 

Only be strong and very courageous (brave), that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then will you make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage (brave); do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:7-9

 

Joshua had just been given the responsibility of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land after Moses died. Picture him standing on a cliff of a mountain or small hill, looking into the valley of the Promised Land. Can you imagine what was going through his mind? I'm sure if he was anything like the rest of us, he had doubts, worries, and might have been afraid. I have felt like this.

 

You may be going through a situation right now where there are lots of life changing decisions, most of which will be very painful. You may feel so overwhelmed that the smallest thing will send you into a crumbled state of tears; times where you can't even find the words to pray for what you feel inside your heart. I've stood on that valley where Joshua stood. Maybe you’re standing there now also.  Looking down into the valley of your life, beating yourself up over things that have happened in the past, wondering where in the world God is going to carry you next. When I came across this passage in Joshua, I heard the Lord distinctly say to the quiet place of my heart, "If you remain in My Word, if you remain in Me, you will never be alone. I will not leave you nor shall I forsake you. Have I not told you? Have you not heard? Be strong and of good courage, do not be dismayed nor afraid, for the Lord thy God will be with you wherever you go."

 

Trials are unfortunately a part of every Christian's life. There are those who have lost children, who have terminal diseases, who are unemployed, depressed, suicidal, whose marriages are in shambles, who may have stumbled into sin. Cling to the promises in God's Word, because if you meditate in His Law day and night, you will have good success and He's with you wherever you go, through the midst of everything you're experiencing right now.

 

Prayer
Dear Lord, You are forever faithful, and Your promises are Yours for us to claim. Grant us strength through Your Son Jesus Christ to make it through these difficult times in our lives, and as You showed Yourself to Joshua, show Yourself to us. We know that no matter which way things may turn, You are with us wherever we go. In Jesus' precious name. 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 January 13, 2006

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men. Mark 1:17

 

I remember giving a ride once to a friend who was Irish, and when he was getting out of the car he said, in his lovely Irish accent: "Thanks for leadin' me over". Not "Thanks for the ride," or "Thanks for bringing me home," but "Thanks for leadin' me over".

 

I thought it sounded so beautiful, and for some reason it really caught me. Perhaps, because LCC does work with physically disabled people with Voice of Care, and it made me think of those whom we help to "lead over". It suggested an element of trust. I thought too, about the leaders in our lives.

 

I thought about how, as kids, one of our earliest games is "Follow the leader". We trust "the leader" to take us somewhere exciting, interesting, safe. I thought about how we have Sunday School leaders, Scout and Brownie leaders, teachers, coaches, spiritual leaders, community leaders, political leaders, world leaders. And as parents and friends, we too, are leaders. We trust, and are trusted.

 

Ultimately however, we are invited to follow one leader, Jesus Christ. If we put our trust in Him, it is He who will "lead us over" our bad times. Our good times. Our life.
I thought how He'd like to hear us say "Thanks for leadin' me over" a little more often.

 

Prayer:
We thank you Lord, for your unfaltering guidance, for those times when we are lost and scared, and you lead the way. We are ever thankful that we need only trust in you, and look to you for direction and you will "lead us over". In Jesus' name we pray. 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
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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 January 10, 2006

Coffee Mugs

 

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  Psalm 119:105

 

Some time ago a local radio station ran a promotion to increase its daytime listeners. It was giving away coffee mugs with the station's call letters on them, asking listeners to drink coffee at work with the station's mugs. It promised listeners that, "if you have one of our coffee mugs, you're in control." That's quite a claim for a coffee mug! I thought all they were useful for was holding beverages, and displaying a snappy saying, like "I'd rather be …."

 

If you think about it for a moment, it's quite a slick promotion. It's tapping into some deep-seated fears in us that there are no fixed anchor points left in society. As the pace of society increases, we're getting the feeling that things are spinning out of control, and we'd sure like something solid we can grab and hold on to.

 

For those who make the choice, a firm handhold is right there. It's called the Bible. God's eternal Word has acted as a guide for people for thousands of years. People talk about ethics in politics and ethics in business. God has been talking to humanity about honesty and upright living since "hard copy" was writing on a stone tablet. People were using the Psalms for comfort and guidance during Jesus' time, and long before then.
God is in control of this earth, appearances to the contrary. I know the appearances can be quite contrary. God never promised us a trouble-free life. Quite the opposite! We are told that we are "born to trouble, as surely as sparks fly upward" (Job 5:7). But the Word does say, five times, that God will never leave us or forsake us: Deuteronomy 31:6, 8, Joshua 1:5, 1 Kings 8:57 and Hebrews 13:5.

 

What Christians have is the Word of God to nourish their minds and feed their spirits. Believers have God's Spirit to help and guide their lives in every situation. In addition to all that, Christians have the church as a group of local believers they can be a part of, for fellowship and guidance.

 

Coffee mugs have their place in society. I myself have several 58oz. ones!  But I use them to drink coffee as I read the Bible!!!

 

There's an old spiritual that says the whole world is in God's hand. Where else would you want it?
 
Prayer:
Lord, in a world where, too often, people are wondering if You even exist, help us remember, You created the world, redeemed it and care for it and for us, day by day. Help those who follow You to express that caring love to others around 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
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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 January 12, 2006

FAMILY

 

And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8
How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! Psalm 133:1
If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3

 

I thank God that I have always had a good relationship with my family, both immediate and extended. In my line of work I often speak with single parent families, and with those caught up in abusive family relationships.

 

I must confess, my relationship with my older sister was really never that close until after we both got out of college.  Not sure why, but I am glad it is what it is today!  Last night an incident happened in my family to one of my children and I witnessed the other three rally to their support.  They have learned something that took me longer to learn – the value, support, and importance of family!

 

As I was contemplating this devotional and what to write I was thinking strictly about my earthly family. But then it struck me that no matter what our earthly family relationships are, all of us have a Heavenly Father who will always love us no matter what we do. We can mess up our earthly family lives, or have them messed up for us by someone else. The wonderful thing is that our Heavenly Father will always be there for us and love us. His grace will always see us through.

 

Prayer
Almighty and loving heavenly Father, we thank you for having the wisdom and the love to give us earthly families. We also praise your holy name for loving us so much to give your Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us. Through this act you have assured and guaranteed that we will always be your family. 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
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		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 January 11, 2006

What a Quilt!

 

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.  Micah 6:8

 

I think that often, in our Christian faith, we think that we have to have a big story to tell, a turning point in our lives that will make people really sit up and listen. You know, like the story of Saul, who was stopped in his tracks on the way to Damascus to persecute the Christians and then he became one of the great apostles for the Church. Is that who we are called to be? Another Paul?

 

And then every once in awhile we meet those quiet pilgrims in the faith. Recently we had 80 quilts donated from a LWML group from Trinity Lutheran Church in Marseilles, Illinois for us to handout to people affected by Katrina.  What an act of love!  I did a little research on quilts and found the following that was written by a “quilter”. 

As many of you know, I am a quilter. A quilt has three parts: the backing, the filling and the top. I would like to share with you the pattern of my life's quilt. When a quilter begins to quilt, the first thing they need is a plan, a guide, a study - just as we need to study God's Word from the Bible and to pray every day. The top of the quilt is usually made up of small pieces joined together - a memory quilt is one of loved ones, family, friends, teachers, leaders, ministers - people we have known who cared for us and loved us through the years. We all experience rainy days and bright sunny days. In quilting you will see dark colours and light colours. Quilters have to learn how to contrast colours. Life isn't given to us by the meter's length, it comes in bits and pieces, small patches of time and from them each must make their own quilt of life.

 

In 1 Corinthians 13:13, it says, "Meanwhile these three remain, faith, hope and love; and the greatest is love."

 

In the making of my life's quilt, the backing is faith, the top is hope, the filling is God's love, and it is stitched together with my love, my service to others and to God.

I think this quilter has caught the essence of what our journey of faith is all about. I am not a quilter and don’t pretend to know much about quilting, but I love to admire the finished product. All of us have been given different materials (different experiences) to work with in our life's quilt and so we're all a little bit different. There are no two quilts that will look the same, but God does give us the resources to make a beautiful living quilt: faith, hope, and love!

 

Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, for the resources that you have given to us to create our life's quilt. Thank you that you have created us all differently. We thank you for people like Paul and we thank you for people who quilt and for the variety of people in between. Open our eyes to see the value and the colors of the living quilts all around us. Help us to understand and appreciate the diversity of your creation in the name of Jesus Christ. 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
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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 January 9, 2006

Slow Down

 

So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.  Genesis 1:21 –
Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10

 

As I was "buzzing" down an old highway this last summer, I came upon a farmer's field that contained the following message, each word on its own sign and set in succession in a row, about 20 feet apart:

 

DRIVE
SLOWLY
MEADOWLARKS
SINGING

 

I couldn't help but feel the impact of those four words. Who, with windows rolled up, the buzz of the engine, whirr of the air-conditioner, output of the radio, or just good old conversation, was even thinking of birds out there singing? Who, without being reminded, would have thought to drive slowly, roll down the windows and listen to the meadowlarks?

 

Who was so thoughtful as to remind us, and by whom had they been inspired?

 

No matter what the phrase, "Wake up and smell the coffee", "Take time to smell the roses", or "Drive Slowly, Meadowlarks Singing", they have all been created to get us to stop and appreciate all that God has given and continues to give us, to take the time each day, to "be still", if only for a moment, and know that He is God.

 

Prayer:
Our Heavenly Father, may we remember to be ever thankful for the little things that we forget to notice, or take so much for granted, or forget to appreciate. We thank you, Father, for those people in our lives who, in their gentle ways, remind us of all that you offer us. In Jesus' name we pray. 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
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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 December 6, 2006

One Important Thing

 

Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs.  Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.  There will always be poor people in the land, Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
Deuteronomy 15:8, 10, 11

 

Many churches have small group Bible Studies or prayer groups.  There is no admittance fee. No weekly donations. No contribution towards the lights, the maintenance costs, janitorial services, Spiritual Director's fees, or the heating costs. So, studying the Bible and prayer and ministry to each other often becomes the focus.  All noble causes grant you.  But what is it that Jesus calls us to do? 

 

I remember being at a gathering of “Christian religious professionals” some time back and there was a guest singer at the gathering.  I remember what the singer said.  His only bit of evangelism was to ask the question "What is the one thing Jesus asks of us?"  No one answered. Again he asked, "What is the one thing Jesus asks of us?"  Still no one answered. The room was very quiet, and most notably amongst those who regularly "delivered the word".

 

"I'll tell you", said the singer. "It is, Feed the Poor. And that is the only bit of evangelizing I am going to do." With that, he broke into a beautiful song.

 

Although the singer was probably overstating his case for emphasis, I agree that "feeding the poor" could encompass many aspects pertaining to one's "poorness".  The financially poor, the spiritually poor, the emotionally poor, the morally poor. We are asked to “Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart”.  We are told that we will be blessed in whatever it is we set ourselves to do that eases the burden of the poor. He asks of us one thing. With His guidance, by fulfilling it, we can accomplish a lot.

 

Prayer:
Thank you Father, for the many ways in which you show us that by doing one thing, we are led to be doing others. In Your name we pray. Amen.

 

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Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
		333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
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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 January 5, 2006

The following Devotion/Poem was written by one of the people receiving my daily devotions, and with her permission, I am sharing it with you today as the devotion.

 

Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path.”
Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

 

December 12, 2005, my husband Glenn had a triple by-pass.   
December 17, 2005, I brought him home and he is walking half a mile two times a day. God has renewed his heart--given him new life!
We thank God for renewing his heart -- giving him new life.
Barbara Jean Ryburn
December 25, 2005 

REMEMBER TO BREATHE

 

Journey through life we feel in control
Triple by-pass this won’t be a stroll
Life has taken us by the hand
Into The Valley of Numb we land

 

We have no control just follow along
Words in my head repeat like a song
Remember to breathe, remember to breathe
Just be still remember to breathe

 

The Valley of Numb dark shadows abide
Fear and doubt try to get inside
But words from God come to my mind
His words light the path I find 

 

Remember to breathe for I am here
With comfort and peace my child so dear
Fear disappears replaced by God’s love
A wonderful gift sent from above

 

We know not what tomorrow holds
But we believe God’s in control
Out of The Valley of Numb we climb
Our spirit renewed we have peace of mind

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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 January 4, 2005

Memorials

 

Hereby you shall know that the living God is among you. . . .So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever. —Joshua 3:10 and 4:7

 

In today’s Old Testament passage, the feet of the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant touch the water of the river Jordan, the river parts, and the people pass through on dry ground. Joshua then instructs representatives from the twelve tribes to take stones from the dry riverbed and make a memorial to the miraculous act of God in the lives of his people.

 

We are in the season between memorials. We no longer have the markers of Advent to remind us of God in our midst—the candles and wreath, the calendar to count the days to his miraculous birth, the angel on top of the tree. Christmas is past, and Easter is not yet here, with its markers of the Last Supper, the cross, and the empty tomb. But perhaps we have our own personal memorials; those things that help us tell the story of God’s work in our lives. The people in Joshua’s story take their stones from the midst of the waters that were calmed by
God. Perhaps our memorials include stones gathered from rapid currents. The stones remind us of a story without end, the ongoing story in which we are called to participate.

 

We have many memorials on our journey: birth certificates and adoption papers, tassels and diplomas, wedding rings, family photo albums and gravestones. If we look closely at these markers as we tell our story, perhaps we’ll see that God was in our midst all along.

 

Prayer
Help me to always see that you are with me on this journey of life, you have a reason, a purpose for me, and will enable me to accomplish all the good you have planned, if I only surrender to you.  Take my life!  Amen

 

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Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
		333 W. Lake Street, Addison, Illinois 60101
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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 January 3, 2006

IN ALL THINGS

 

Psalm 33

 

When I read the verses of Psalm 33, and think back over this last year, especially the last 4 months and Hurricane Katrina, the words of this psalm seem so real. “Rejoice in the Lord…Sing to him a new song…Behold the eye of the Lord is on all the sons of man…he delivers their soul from death and keeps them alive in famine…he is our help and shield…Thy steadfast love be upon us, even as we hope in thee.”

 

Over the last 4 months, I have witnessed meals being served to our new friends from Katrina, I was given a gift I will carry with me forever. I met people who had lost everything they owned, and yet they found comfort in the faces of their children as they played on a church playground. I shared dinner with families who in the midst of death and destruction still had hope. God had delivered them from the rising waters of New Orleans. He had stood with them on the roof of their homes or the side of the road as they waited to be rescued. He was with them in line at the Red Cross and FEMA offices. He brought them to one of our churches for a hot meal or brought one of our hundreds of volunteers to them with food.

 

Because of them, we know that the Lord is watching over his children. Firsthand, we have experienced the steadfast love of the God we know intimately through the birth of his son, Jesus Christ. The baby is here, and we are the gifts God has given to others.  Allow yourself to be unwrapped this year so others can see the hope you have that passes all human understanding. 

 

Prayer
Use me Jesus this year as your gift to others, and through my life let others see the giver of the gifts, YOU.  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
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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 January 2, 2006

Crowns of Splendor

 

Psalm 148
Isaiah 62:1-5, 10-12
Revelation 19:11-16
Matthew 1:18-25

 

I couldn’t settle on one reading this morning, but on four.  You’ll have to look them up!  In these readings, we find bold and powerful images of our relationship with the divine. Through praise, righteousness, faithfulness, openness, and obedience, we are sent into the world to be “true” and to be “salvation like a blazing torch”.

 

The psalmist reminds us to praise the Lord! The heavens in all their glory praise him—the stars and sun and moon and angels. We praise him as part of the earthly body, along with the mountains, the “great sea creatures and all ocean depths.” I wonder how we each manifest our praises. The heavens and the earth praise God in spectacular diversity, in redundant and continuous chorus, in color and texture, in sound and silence.

 

And we are not to keep silent, but to allow our “righteousness (to) shine out like the dawn.” As described in Isaiah, Zion is renamed by God, as perhaps we are called to take on a new name, a new life. We shine brightly, unable to keep silent about our miracles, and are told, “You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand.”

 

Revelation sends the power of God forth from heaven on a horse, named The Word of God. The rider, Faithful and True, charges into the world bearing God’s will powerfully, with justice and light.

 

Reading these texts in preparation for Christmas shines a new bright light on the familiar story. Mary and Joseph were incredibly open and vulnerable. They were willing to receive and to obey, to become manifestations of God’s Word and work on earth. Their boldness and the power of their receptivity are so strong that we are still amazed.

 

This Advent season and into a new year, may we find ways to ride out, “faithful and true,” resting in the Lord’s hand and creating lives that are “crowns of splendor.”

 

Prayer
Heavenly Father – in this New Year help me to BOLDLY proclaim your salvation to those lost in darkness.  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
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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 January 1, 2006

A New Year

 

We are still in the Christmas season, but for many, Christmas ended six days ago. On December 26th, I find it so sad to see Christmas trees unceremoniously tossed out by the street, a few strands of tinsel still managing to glisten in the sun. It makes me wonder what else was tossed out with that tree: Good tidings to all men? Peace on earth? Hope?

 

We worked so hard to prepare our homes during Advent for the coming of Christ(mas). Did we also prepare our hearts?

 

When January comes, we are tired and ready to get back to “normal” life. We are ready to take down the decorations and store them away until next year. However, do we also store away the sentiments of our hearts that we felt so strongly during the Christmas season? Can we keep those heartfelt sentiments within reach all year long?

 

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with the flocks,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost, to heal the broken,
To feed the hungry, to release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations, to bring peace among peoples,
To make music with the heart.

 

May the spirit of Christmas flow through your life today in this New Year and out into the world all year long.

 

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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