Daily Devotion for February 28, 2006

Choices

 

Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?"   Luke 12:14

 

I know a Christian family in Israel who each Christmas, December 25th, have their children save a Christmas present for opening on Ukrainian Christmas (January 7th), to honor their grandmother's heritage. I asked them, "Who chooses which gift will be kept, you, or the children?"

 

The children always made their own choice, was the parents reply.  This reminded me how very fortunate those of us are who can make choices in life, simple choices, hard choices, but choices nevertheless. We, who can see, smell, touch, hear, walk, talk, breathe with ease, and think, have many choices. We, who live in a land where Bibles and books are readily available through libraries for borrowing or in bookstores for buying, may choose to read what we wish. We may choose whom or what to worship, or not.

 

In those times when we are required to make choices for others, we must be respectful of what is in their best interest.

 

The hardest choices may be when our faith is challenged in those times when God has chosen for us: death of loved ones, loss of jobs, disabilities. Yet, we are told time and time again to trust in Him, to believe that He is Master of an overall plan. He has given us the gift to choose to believe or not, hard sometimes as it may be.

 

Prayer
We thank you for being with us, Lord, especially in those times when we are challenged. Help us, and guide us, in making the right choices and to see things as YOU see things and to choose what you would choose.  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 February 27, 2006

And Then

 

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me shall live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26

 

Walking on the campus of a famous law school, a man fell into conversation with a student. The man asked the student, "When you have completed your studies, what do you intend to do?
"I shall take my Doctor's degree."
"And then?" asked the man.
"Then I shall impress everyone with my eloquence and learning and gain a great reputation."
"And then?"
"Then I shall be promoted to a high office and make money and grow rich."

 

"And then?"
"Then I shall live comfortably in wealth and dignity."
"And then?"
"Then I suppose I shall die."
"And what then?"
The student made no answer. Hanging his head he walked away.

 

We live our lives with many "And thens." Ultimately -- inevitably we will be faced with the final "And then?"

 

In today's verse, Jesus' friend Lazarus had died. There was no doubt about it. He had been dead and buried for four days. Jesus arrived to hear the grief and pain from Lazarus' sisters, Martha and Mary. Jesus offered assurance by saying that Lazarus would rise again. He proclaimed His most wonderful promise to them: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me shall live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die." The life Jesus spoke of is spiritual life. It's the life that is lived with and for God. It's life that is eternal, but it doesn't start in the future at the point of death -- it starts with faith in this lifetime. Jesus Christ lives. Through faith, He shares with us His victory over death. This isn't just a wish. It's not just a gamble. It's not an investment that may or may not pay off. It is our assurance.

 

At the final "And then?" we will not hang our heads. Instead, we will raise our heads in victory and join Christ in saying, "I am the resurrection and the life!"  Until that final “and then” what are you doing here in touching others with the compassion of Christ – so they to can have eternal life?
 
Prayer
Lord we give you thanks for the blessed assurance that is ours that allows us to face life and death knowing your care is eternal.  Help us to not live comfortably but useful as we touch lives in your name. 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 February 24, 2006

Useful or Be Thrown Out

 

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.    Ephesians 6:11

 

I have an old pair of boots that I refuse to get rid of!  I have rescued them several times from the trash.  “There’s no good reason to keep them because they are not waterproofed – they leak!” I am told.  Well guess what – I got myself some beeswax and worked it into the leather of the boots and now they ARE waterproof.  I probably will not wear them for years, but for now they are rescued. 

 

As Christians we have materials given to us by God that we can apply to our lives. We can put on the armor of God, as we are instructed by today's text. God provides us with the pieces we need to help us through the battles we face in life, armor like faith, salvation, and the word of God. God works by his great love and grace to produce faith and salvation within us; it is all God's work. We cannot have faith without hearing the word of God: the word of God which guides us like a beacon in the night; the word which became flesh and died for us so that we may have salvation. Without God working these things within us we would not be able to put them on as armor. Without them we would not be spiritually waterproofed, and when the rains come, the waters would saturate us. But with the armor that God has given us, we are able to repel the evils just as beeswax repels water. BUT always remember, God equips us to go out into the battle – not just to sit back and be ready!

 

Prayer
Lord, thank you for giving us the materials to help us through the struggles of life. Thank you for loving us and caring for us. Thank you for showing us how to wear this armor so that we can grow in your love.  Give us the courage to go out equipped to do the work you called us to do.  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 February 23, 2006

TO-IT

 

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay.    Hebrews 10:36-37

 

I remember years ago in a church service, we were given a round circle with the words "To It" written on it. The minister explained that so many people really have good intentions, but they say they'll do something when they "get around to it". Well, he said he was just helping us out. He had given each of us a round "to-it" so we'd have one the next time we were asked to do something.  So no more excuses!  

 

No doubt there have been times in our lives when, having prayed faithfully, seemingly without an answer, we wonder when God is going to get around to it... to us. Our need seems so great, we wonder why He doesn't see it; we wonder what He is putting before us. What could possibly be more important than what we are asking Him to do for us, for others? It is in these very times that He asks us to be patient, and to listen. He asks us to trust that He is listening, and that our prayers will be answered when it is the right time, and in a way which is right for us.

 

Perhaps we need to ask ourselves if the only time we talk to God is when we need something or when we get "around to it".

 

Prayer
Our Heavenly Father, may we be ever mindful to thank you for those things which are going right for us, as well as asking for changes for what's wrong. May we remember to give thanks for even one thing each day. In Jesus' 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 February 22, 2006

Polaris

 

Jesus answered "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

 

Polaris or North Star is the star nearest the north celestial pole. It marks the end of the handle of the Little Dipper. It is a very important navigational star even though it is only of second magnitude; it always marks due north from an observer. Anyone who is ever lost knows the importance of locating your Polaris!

 

When one is at sea it is very easy to lose one's bearings without a reference to guide the way. In our Christian life we can easily lose our way without a reference point to guide us. The point that should be our reference is Christ. When we use Jesus as our Polaris, then we can steer towards the one true path. We must remain focused on Christ to achieve this however. If we remove our focus from Christ, it is very easy to stray from the path. As I look at my life I see where I have strayed, but when I put Christ first, things just seem to feel right again. I have great joy within myself as I try to steer my life by the example that Christ shows us. May we all find the joy in our lives when we use Christ as our Polaris.

 

Prayer
Lord, You are the light that is our guide. We thank you for loving us and never leaving us, and for showing us the way which leads to life everlasting. In Jesus' name. 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 February 21, 2006

WANTING SNOW

 

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28

 

One of the reasons I like living where I do is because we get snow.  At least we use to get a lot of snow, but the last couple of years there seems to be less and less.  I WANT A BIG SNOW STORM!

 

Snow has always come as a gift to me. When I was little, we made snow forts and snow balls. We flopped back into the snow, moving our arms from our heads to our sides, and our legs together and away from each other. Then we got up to see the impression of an angel.

 

We used to "walk out" words in the snow like "H E L L O" and "H I THERE" hoping some small aircraft would see it. I sometimes do it still. We'd whisk down any old hill on a toboggan, sleigh, inner tube or cuts of old cardboard. We'd try to catch a snowflake on our tongue. We'd pick it up in handfuls and eat it. Snow was a gift.

 

Now that we're older, it seems to some not to be a gift. They see only the hazards of driving or walking. They see their employees coming late to work or not at all. They see cancelled meetings and get-togethers. They see inconvenience. And it is all of those things, because we live such busy lives.

 

I want a huge snow fall again so that things on my busy schedule get “cancelled”.  It would gave me a much needed break, a time to "recharge my batteries", a time to catch up on some neglected things, and an opportunity to do some things for some people that I'd otherwise not be able to do.

 

For me, a snowfall would work for the good. God please intervene.  Take what may seem to be an inconvenience and turn it into something good!  We will see! 

 

Prayer
Thank you Father, for those times when you intervene to show us another way. Thank you for the times that YOU cause our schedules to be cancelled!  Let it snow!  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 February 20, 2006

GRACE

 

Lord, who my go and find refuge and shelter in your tabernacle up on your holy hill? Anyone who leads a blameless life and is truly sincere. Anyone who refuses to slander others, does not listen to gossip, never harms his neighbor, speaks out against sin, criticizes those committing it, commends the faithful followers of the Lord, keeps a promise even if it ruins him, does not crush his debtors with high interest rates, and refuses to testify against the innocent despite the bribes offered him -- such a man shall stand firm forever. (TLB) Psalm 15:1-5

 

WOW!

 

Who could measure up, who could enter His tabernacle on those terms?

 

I think of Job in the passage where he tells God that he does not deserve his severe suffering because he has lived an upright, blameless life. Pretty serious claim. Perhaps he made it on the basis of having lived up to the required sacrifices and ritual of that day. In our day, the Light of the World shines through in Christ! Often when I pray I feel overwhelmed with the need to somehow express adequate thanks to God for what He has done, and I soon realize it is impossible to do so. I get an inadequate feeling because of the immensity of His grace and my inability in human language to tell him how I feel. And then I remember the passage where we are told the Holy Spirit is our intermediary, interpreting our feeble attempts at thanksgiving into something worthy of our eternal God who has shown us such awesome grace (Romans 8:26). I am brought through the process to a feeling of exhilarating celebration. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.

 

Prayer
Heavenly Father, in the midst of Your awesomeness, we rest in the beauty and security of the peace and joy you give us in Christ Jesus. Thank You that we can see You in Him. This helps us to feel at home with You even though Your greatness is beyond our understanding. 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 February 17, 2006

The following was given to me by a friend who said – you’ve got to hear this!  They were right!  So here it is for others also – and I hope you are as taken by it as I was. Thank you my friend!  It is taken from Nichole Nordeman newest album called "Brave".

WHAT IF
For a friend who thinks this Jesus stuff is nuts.

 

I’ve never felt comfortable arguing about God. That’s not to say I haven’t done it. Trust me. I’ve engaged in more than my fair share of full-blown Bible beating with people.  It’s so embarrassing and humiliating to remember.  Especially since my victims probably never set foot in another ring (and not because I was such a formidable opponent. I just had this nasty habit of always hitting below the belt). Winning an argument for God was a big deal.

 

When I was a young Christian kid, the arguments were about creation vs. evolution. In college, the arguments became about politics.  These days, people are fully entrenched in arguments about how to reconcile “religion” with stem cell research, gay marriage and the complicated choices we make in a time of war.

 

Because I am a follower of Jesus, and I believe that the Bible is a timeless and true roadmap, I tend to head there for my answers. But I don’t argue any more. Nobody ever got argued into the arms of Christ. Nobody gets brow beaten or humiliated into a relationship whose very foundation is mercy and grace. When every argument and piece of well defended evidence sounds empty to a hurting ear, it is the love of Jesus that comes rushing in and changes things. I wrote this song for a friend who I believe strongly will run out of arguments one day and straight into the arms of Jesus.

 

What if you’re right? / And he was just another nice guy / What if you’re right? / What if it’s true? / They say the cross will only make a fool of you / And what if it’s true? // What if he takes his place in history / With all the prophets and the kings / Who taught us love and came in peace / But then the story ends / What then? // But what if your wrong? / What if there’s more? / What if there’s hope you never dreamed of hoping for? / What if you jump? / And just close your eyes? / What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise? / What if He’s more than enough? / What if it’s love? // What if you dig / Way down deeper than your simple-minded friends / What if you dig? / What if you find / A thousand more unanswered questions down inside / That’s all you find? // What if you pick apart the logic / And begin to poke the holes / What if the crown of thorns in no more / Than folklore that must be old and retold? // You’ve been running as fast as you can / You’ve been looking for a place you can land for so long / But what if you’re wrong? //

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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 February 16, 2006

In a Boat

 

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him saying "Lord save us! We're going to drown!" Matthew 8:23-25

 

I like boating and being on the water – except in a storm!  The dog paddle is my favorite, and dare I say only, method to stay afloat!  Bad storms concern me.

 

In Matthew chapter 8, we see that the disciples had a similar experience. They got caught in a bad storm on the water, and they were panic-stricken. They woke Jesus up and yelled at him, "Save us!" Some of these disciples were fishermen. They were experienced on the water, yet the faith they had in themselves and their boat disappeared. Now all they had left was to call on the Lord. We see that Jesus then tells them, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Their faith was not in Jesus but in their little fishing boat and in their experience to carry them through.  That day they quickly saw that would not cut it.  In so doing them (we) forgot something very important in our Christian faith: our focus is to be on Christ and our faith is to be in Christ. When we get caught in the storms and problems in our lives, we are to put our faith in Christ to see us through and not in our surroundings. It is Christ who controls the storms around us. When we put our trust in Christ, he will provide us comfort and calm the storms.

 

Prayer
Lord thank you for always being there for us when there are storms raging around us. Thank you for seeing us through these storms and helping us to grow from our experiences. Without you, we could not make it, but in your great love and mercy, you come to us and guide us. We can only offer our gratitude to you. In Jesus' name. 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 February 15, 2006

In Christ there is …

 

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.    Galatians 3:28

 

Several years ago I was on a train into Chicago; I had been selected for Jury duty.  Not thrilled that I had to do this, I decided to make the best of it and use the time to catch up on reading and maybe do some preparation for the Bible Study I was teaching. The train was crowded and I was sharing the row with a complete stranger, an older black gentleman. As well-trained and polite travelers should, we acknowledged each other's presence with a brief "Is this seat taken?" and "May I sit here?" and then studiously minded our own business. After a while, having tired of reading the latest series of income tax regulations and new tax planning schemes, I decided it was time to work on the Sunday School lesson I was to teach and had yet to prepare.

 

I had just opened my Bible when my neighbor stirred and started asking me a series of unsolicited questions: What study Bible did I use? Did I teach from the NIV, and which study version -- Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran etc.? I was quite taken back at this sudden violation of traveler’s etiquette by someone who had been so diligently observing it up until now. At first I answered briefly, but politely, hoping to end the conversation and get back to my reading. However, as the interrogation wore on, it became more and more a two way conversation. We moved from Bible versions to other matters: New Testament versus Old Testament, favorite hymns, the importance of an organ versus a strong choir, and the need for children to be well grounded in Scripture. We talked about matters of family, hobbies and exercise. The rest of what had initially promised to be the typically tedious train ride passed rapidly. We ended the trip trading favorite Bible verses and attracting the surprised stares of surrounding passengers as we both exuberantly quoted Micah 6:8: "And what does the Lord require of thee? But to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God."

 

It was in the stares of the fellow passengers, wondering what these two so obviously different people could have in common and could find so interesting, that I realized what the true meaning of our conversation was. Here was Christ in action, uniting two strangers, overcoming the barriers of race, age and economic status that we have erected over time to separate ourselves from one another. Despite all these supposedly profound differences, we shared the same faith and belief as Christians and that was more than enough to bring us together. Since then, I have had this same experience repeated in restaurants, courtesy vans and other unexpected places. Each time, Christ has served to create a bond with strangers, with whom; superficially, I should have nothing in common. Yet, each time, I found that in sharing the same faith, hope and values, we had far more in common than with those that society would tell us are our own class or race. Just as two thousand years ago Christ broke down the barriers between Jew and Gentile and fulfilled prophecy by bringing God's word to all nations, he continues to do so today, if only we will open our hearts and minds and respond when he speaks to us.

 

Prayer
Gracious Lord, let your Spirit reside in our hearts and open our eyes and ears so that we may recognize our sisters and brothers in Christ, whoever and wherever they be. 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 February 14, 2006

RUNNING

 

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,    Hebrews 12:1

 

"Let us run with patience" -- it seems to be an oxymoron, for me at least, for I tend to always be thinking ahead. I constantly have to remind myself to appreciate the moment, for it is such a fleeting thing.

 

The New International Version writes it as "run with perseverance", which seems to give it a little different slant. Perhaps it is me, focusing on the wrong meaning of the word. I'm thinking about "running" in the sense of going fast, passing things by quickly, when I should really see it as "going" or "doing" and not think of the word in terms of speed.

 

We are meant to focus, I believe, on the patience and perseverance part of the scripture, for it continues on to say "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God".

 

It means that whatever we do, whatever hardships, pain or suffering we endure, whatever is set before us, we must face it, do it, go with it, go on through it, keeping our focus on Christ, living the way in which He would be pleased to see us live, knowing what lies ahead, the joy, at the end of the race.

 

Prayer
May we, as we go about our daily lives, strive to see You in whatever we do. In Jesus' 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 February 13, 2006

Where is it?

 

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 2 Peter 1:5-7

 

Today I opened an e-mail I had received to find what appeared to be a blank page. As I scrolled down to the bottom of the page, I found a familiar signature, which told me that whatever was written above, was done in colors my computer couldn't "read", or I couldn’t see because I am color blind. I knew that by the process of sending this letter through to my printer, it would be revealed to me what had been written, and so I clicked the "print" button. Sure enough, out came two pages of writing which when read, had a wonderful Christian message.

 

I see faith working in my life in much the same way. There are times when I feel as if I have all but lost my faith, as I look at my circumstances and am unable to see God's hand or feel His presence. However, as I continue to go through the process of seeking Him, I begin to see His handwriting on the pages of my life. Ultimately, I am brought to a greater knowledge of how He is working in me and in those around me.

 

When you come to those times when your faith seems invisible, take time to scroll down to the bottom of this page in your life and recognize His signature. It is then that you will remember that He is revealed through the process of seeking and persevering. And you will begin to recognize what you are experiencing, not as a trial, but rather an opportunity to get to know Him better.

 

Prayer
Father God, I pray that as we walk through the pages of our lives here on this earth, we will not fail to recognize Your signature. 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 February 10, 2006

Dancing

 

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.  Psalm 30:11-12

 

I like snow!

 

We have an office dog.  Her name is Luna.  We refer to her as the resident therapist – and Lord knows we all need one.  I watched Luna the other day from my window as she was out in the snow.  She approaches snow as an unexpected delight. She sniffs the air, nose up, tail wagging furiously. There's one still moment while she holds herself in expectation, then she hurls herself headlong into a cloud of white, plunging into the deepest part of it as though it were there just for her amusement. She rolls, revels, glories, delights in it. She sticks her head into a snow bank just to see what's there, and comes out looking like a reverse of her black self. She eats it, gobbling it down with doggy enthusiasm, like some great sweet manna from heaven. She throws herself around in it with wild abandon, and comes up snorting, wagging, and laughing.

 

  
Never once does it occur to her that she has to earn the right to play in the snow. It's just there. It's a gift.

 

It occurs to me that we should approach God's grace with the same delight, joy and enthusiasm. We should hurl ourselves into it, roll in it, cover ourselves with it, snarf it up with great gusto and let it melt in our mouths, trickling down to the very core of us. We should delight in it, reveling and dancing with abundant joy, hooting with laughter.

 

Would God want us to enjoy His gift to us any other way?

 

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me delight in your gift of grace instead of feeling burdened by what sometimes feels like an obligation to respond. Give me the ability to dance with enthusiasm; help me to plunge into the deepest part of this sweet manna; help me accept what you give so freely. Father, encourage me to roll in an enormous drift of your love, grinning from ear to ear with wild, abundant joy. 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 February 9, 2006

Potential

 

So because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:16

 

When I was younger I was involved in tennis. I liked playing tennis because it was only me playing, so there was no one else on the team that could mess things up!  I played competitively!  I always wanted to beat my opponent. I had to win, and win convincingly; I was not there to play. I did not want to hurt anybody but I wanted my opponent to know they had been beaten. As I matured, I found that the sport was not about how badly I could beat people, but about how much I was putting into it. Instead of comparing myself to others, I began to compare myself only to myself. Was I giving it 100% effort? Was I pushing myself hard enough to be the best I could be? I found that it did not matter what other people thought of me, but how I felt about myself. I started to realize that as long as we all are trying our best, that is all that matters in the end. It is not how many trophies we bring home from a tournament but whether we did our best.

 

Potential, what does that mean for the Christian? When we receive salvation, do we meet a goal and that is all there is, or do we still have a potential? Is there anything after salvation for us, or do we just exist in the grace we have received? Do we just attend church and tell ourselves that we are not bad people? Or do we live in Christ and not merely exist? Do we become new creations in Christ? Do we give ourselves completely to Christ or only a small portion? We see in today's verse that being merely lukewarm is appalling to the Lord. He will spit out that which is lukewarm. I find it interesting that some people feel that going to church once a week is all it takes. How many Christians are still being fed baby food with a spoon? How many just exist and do not live in Christ? How many listen but do not hear? Potential, we all have it in Christ. We should be burning hot for the Lord. We should want more than just one hour a week with the Lord. We should crave it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We should not put on a front for self-justification but instead we should serve the Lord because we love him. Do not merely exist; start to live in the Lord.

 

Prayer
Lord, it can get so easy just to sit back and do nothing. We can become lukewarm so easily but I pray that you will shower your love upon us so that we may be motivated to be red hot for you, that we may live up to our potential in you, and serve and glorify you. Thank you for opening our ears so we may hear and our eyes so we may see what we are to do. 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 February 8, 2006

Time to Talk and Show Something-

 

Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.  Hebrews 4:11 
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  Hebrews 4:16
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, Hebrews 6:19

 

It's a rare month that passes without the news of the death of a family friend or member, or someone who is close to the ministry of LCC. The news is received either by e-mail, by phone, or sometimes in person.

 

Throughout my life I've experienced the sudden, tragic deaths of friends and family. They die and they are gone. Those left behind struggle through their grief until they reach a place of acceptance. They did not have time to say goodbye.

 

Some family and friends have had terminal illnesses lasting months or years. Just as lengthy illnesses teach us about time management, we are also given the gift of time: time to talk about important things, silly things; time to tell each other we cared, we loved, that they mattered in our lives and we in theirs; time to heal old wounds; time to forgive; time to say goodbye.

 

It took Jesus six hours to die when He was crucified. As He cried out in His suffering, one man rushed to give Him water and vinegar on a sponge... time to let Him know that He mattered, that in His final hour, someone cared.

 

We can't stop some illnesses and impending death. With His grace, we can accept the time given as a gift to be used wisely and lovingly.

 

Prayer
We thank you Father, that in the darkness of despair, you offer us light. Help us use the time you have given us to use our gifts to help others and tell others about your 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 February 7, 2006

Coffee Pots

 

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.  Ephesians 4:11-12

 

At some of the work places I have been in there are coffee-pots so that we could drink coffee if we wanted to. One thing I hated was the few people who always left just a drop in the pot so they could justify not making a new pot of coffee. This used to provoke me, because, for one thing, it is not a difficult task to make a new pot of coffee. So there were a few who wanted to reap the benefits but did not want to do the work. This seems to be a common line of thought; so many want something for nothing.

 

What parallel is there to our spiritual life in this? Salvation is a gift we receive from God that is freely given; there is no work we can do to attain it. But once we have received salvation there should be a change within us. Today's verse tells us that since God has given us a gift, we must use it "for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up." We should use these gifts and not just sit idly by, thinking that someone else will do the job.

 

Prayer
Lord we thank you for the gifts you have given us. We pray that we may use those gifts for your glory and not for our own, for it is your will that is the agenda of the Christian community, not ours. May your love guide us and strengthen us. 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 February 3, 2006

FAILING

 

For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again… Proverbs 24:16

 

When I was younger I was so afraid of failing at something. When I went to tennis tournaments my nerves were just shot because I was so worried about failing. Failing was not an option that I enjoyed and to fail at something meant that I was a failure. But as I have grown older and matured a bit, I have found that, in order to succeed, I must take chances, and because I take chances I may fail, but that does not mean I am a failure. We are only failures if we let those failures keep us down. If we can learn from them and get back up and try again, then there is growth.

 

This holds true for our spiritual growth as well. For our faith to grow it must be tested. We may not always pass the test that God puts before us, but if we learn nothing from our failures our growth is stunted. Today's verse says, "For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again." If we let an object keep us down and block our way, we can never go forward. If we rise up and overcome the object that is blocking us then we may continue to go forward. While I still do not enjoy failing, I have come to learn that failure provides chances for me to grow, and what is more joyful than growing in our relationship with God!

 

Prayer
Lord, I thank you for showing me that failure can lead to growth, and that through growth I may come to know you better and to serve you better. 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 February 2, 2006

Don’t Just Lie There!

 

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

 

When the flu bug gets us, we feel like just staying in bed and not doing anything. Our strength is drained and our heads ache. Sometimes just lying in bed is also painful, yet we must rest in order to overcome the virus which has overtaken us. I hate it when I am sick and I must still go to work. It makes the day very long because the body is aching so much. Yet somehow I still get through the day. When I get home all I want to do is sleep. When we are ill it is very natural to give up our activities so that we may overcome our illness. It is very easy to stay in bed and sleep because we are not at 100%.

 

While this works when we are sick, it does not work with our Christian faith. It should never be easy to just give up on God and let things happen. Today's verse tells us: "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong." With our faith we may have difficult times but we are not to just give up. We are to stand firm in our faith. We are to be strong. We must trust in God. When we let that trust take a second seat to our pain then our faith suffers. For faith to grow there must be testing. To become stronger one must overcome, not submit. We must keep our trust in God and not in our own abilities, for when we do that we weaken our faith.

 

Prayer
Lord, we thank you for giving us situations that cause our faith to grow instead of just sitting and stagnating. We thank you for being the Good Gardner that cuts back branches that hinder the fruit from growing. You are our strength and our life. 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 February 1, 2006

Build Ups

 

If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin -- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Romans 6:5-7

 

With the winter months in many places comes the snow. While I like the snow, there are certain aspects of it I do not enjoy. One is that the driving conditions become very poor. Another is that I must shovel the snow around my house, and of course this includes the driveway. I try to NOT shovel the snow thinking “God put it there; He in His time will take it away!”  That doesn’t fly well with my wife!  After we receive a big snowfall, the plows are out on the roads trying to clear them of the snow. By clearing the snow off the road, the driving conditions may improve just a bit. If the snow were to be left on the road, it would only make driving that much more difficult. If I do not shovel the snow out of my driveway I may not be able to get in and out of the driveway. If there were continued snowfalls throughout the winter, the build-up in my driveway would then be an even greater obstacle for me to overcome. By shoveling the snow when it falls, the driveway is kept clear, making it easy to drive in and out.

 

Sin can be like the snow in many ways. It can continue to pile up and offer an obstacle between us and God. It can make the going very tough. How does this sin get cleared? How in our lives do we shovel out the sin? As Christians, we are told in Romans 6:5-7 that we have been united with Christ in his death and his resurrection. Because of this unity with Christ's death, our evil desires, our bondage to sin, and our very love of sin have died with him. Then, in our unity with His resurrection, we have fellowship with God and the chains that bound us to sin have been broken. We know this because we are told that our old self was crucified. We are no longer slaves to sin. We are now free!

 

Prayer
Lord, let us who have died to sin, live in it no longer. Enable us to keep short accounts with you, by confessing our sin quickly, and letting You forgive it before it begins to build up. 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