Monday, February 28, 2022

2-28-2022

  Good Morning All,

Luke 7:1; “After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.”

    We all have heard the comment. It has become a code phrase for all the excitement is over. Maybe you have even said it; I must confess; I have.  “Elvis has left the building.”  The amazing thing is that in the mid to late 1960’s, that phrase actually meant something. When Elvis Presley would perform at a concert, thousands of fans, mostly women, would wait anxiously wait for Elvis to reappear for an encore or a chance to meet him in the hall. Many would wait for hours, believing the rumors that he was going to come out and sign autographs. Finally, the concert sponsors would have to come on stage and announce to the crowd that “Elvis has left the building.”  Then and only then, often hours after the end of the performance, would people slowly go home.

    In our verse, we see a different event. Rather than leaving after the exit of a person; we hear of Jesus’ entrance. Jesus entered Capernaum, a fishing village where Jesus began his preaching. Jesus entered Jerusalem to meet the Jewish leaders and, ultimately, defeat the devil.  Jesus entered many other villages but most importantly, Jesus entered people’s lives. He entered the lives of the blind and the lame. He entered the lives of the possessed and the lost. Jesus entered the lives of the people who knew nothing but despair and hopelessness and changed their lives. He gave them hope; he forgave their sins.

    Jesus enters your life as well. Jesus enters our gritty, painful lives and gives us hope. We may have parents who don’t understand. We may have spouses who don’t care. We may have bosses that demand more than they should. We may fight health problems that destroy our body and rake us without mercy. The world takes these struggles and beats us over the head, telling us that “hope has left your life.”  Jesus enters your life. He enters your life with his incredible love and picks you up and tells the devil and the world that “this one is mine; leave them alone!” Hope will dwell in this one’s heart. Hope will dwell in this one’s life. This one will dwell with me forever!

    We will still have to experience these events; a sinful, broken world sees to it. But we live in hope. We live in God’s precious grace. We live in his comfort, and we live in his mercy. Jesus enters your life to make you a redeemed child of God. We live in his grace waiting for his glory to complete us.

 Dearest Father, by your mercy, Jesus has entered our lives to give us hope. Lead us to have confidence in your wonderful love. Guard us by your Spirit that we may always live in your grace, peace, and hope. Defend those who are most vulnerable at this time. Fill them with your Spirit of confidence and trust. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

Sunday, February 27, 2022

2-27-2022

 Good Morning All,

  1 Samuel 16:7; “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

   We have all been told “don’t judge a book by its cover.”  Yet how many of us do? When the women were given the right to vote for the 1920 election, the Republicans nominated Warren G. Harding. One of the primary reasons was because he was handsome and thought to be able to swoon the woman vote. He did win but not sure how much this fact matters. Yet we often are drawn to the handsome and/or beautiful people. We even joke about it. I often tell people that I have a face for radio. Yet all too often, we go on appearances in our decision making.

    We see this in every facet of our life. Have you ever eaten a meal in a restaurant that even remotely looked like the picture? How many times do you buy fresh fruit only to get home and find that the rotten ones are hidden in the back or bottom of the package? When a person sells a house, one of the first things to do is paint it so it looks good. Paint can cover lots of ills like water stains or mildew issues. So, if you don’t look a little deeper, you might get the short end of the deal.

    The same is true of religion. As Jesus walked the earth, the Pharisees and Sadducees were viewed as extremely pious. Yet Jesus called them “whitewashed tombs” pretty on the outside but full of filth on the inside. Jesus did not then, nor does he now; look at the outside. Jesus always looks at the heart. He looks at the heart that has faith; the heart that trusts in God’s promises. Jesus heals that heart. He restores it with his love and grace. It doesn’t matter if you look like the most handsome movie star or if you have a face built for radio, Jesus looks at your heart. He comforts the downtrodden and he heals the broken hearted.

    So, as we go out today and the world makes sure to show us that we are not as pretty as the world thinks we should be known that you are beautiful.  You are beautiful because Christ has saved you. You are gorgeous because you are a redeemed child of God; loved and cherished by Him. Know that God’s inner beauty is shining out through you. Know that as you share his love and the message of his Gospel; you are the most beautiful person in the world. This is not from an outward view or a casual view but from a look at the depth of your heart into the very bottom of your soul. God sees you as a forgiven heir to his kingdom. You are beautiful to God and his people.

 Dearest Father, by your mercy we are brought into your everlasting kingdom. You see beauty where the world sees ugliness. We give you thanks for your great loving kindness. Give us the courage to acknowledge the beauty of our fellow believers. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

Saturday, February 26, 2022

2-26-2022

 Good Morning All,

          Romans 1:16; “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”

     As we watch the events of the world unfold, it is amazing to me how fragile our world really is. Whether geopolitical complexities or something as familiar as losing electricity in a storm the fragility of everything is exposed. Think about what happens when the electricity goes out for a while. Most of us cannot prepare food, heat, or cool our houses and, as darkness settles in, we cannot see, even in our own houses. If the power outage lasts very long, the area can actually begin to shut down as businesses cannot conduct business and sometimes traffic controls do not work.

   This is one of the interesting facts about our faith. Christianity is not about “finding serenity” or “finding myself” or “connecting to the cosmos;” our faith is about power. Our faith is about being connected to the power. This is what Paul is telling us in this verse and elsewhere in his epistles. Paul does not call the gospel “good advice,” “a nice path to follow,” or even “a viable lifestyle;” Paul calls the gospel “power.”  It is the power that God uses to save us. It is this powerful statement, Christ died for your sins, and you receive it by faith; that connects us to God. It is God’s power given to us.

    Our faith is about power. It is about the power of God to forgive us. It is about the power that God gives to us to forgive others. It is about the power that God gives us to change our lives. It is about the power that God gives us to reach out to others and change their lives. Never doubt for one moment that when the Gospel of Jesus is spoken to a heart that will receive this message in faith; lives are changed. The Word of God in the hearts of men (and women) changes lives. The Gospel of Jesus is the power to change lives and to do so in a most dramatic fashion.

   Our lives are never the same when we hear the Gospel of Christ. We either receive it and live a life of faith or we fight it and try to keep pushing God out of our life. Either way, your life is different; changed forever. The Gospel is the power to change your life. It is the power to keep you firm in the face of adversities which come at us. It is the confidence that God’s love for you will not fail. Receive it as God’s mercy to bring you into his kingdom as his redeemed child.

 Almighty God of power and might, you give us the power to change by your Holy Gospel. Use us as the agents of change in this world bringing your message of hope and forgiveness. Bring your power to change lives to those who suffer the most and are desperate for your mercy. Father we ask that you bring an end to tyranny and subject every unruly power. Keep your children in Ukraine safe during these dangerous times. Keep all your children in safely within your holy tent. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

 God’s Peace,       

Pastor Bret

Friday, February 25, 2022

2-25-2022

 Good Morning All,

Revelation 1: 17-18; “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

    The dogs of war are barking loudly again. The talking heads will bloviate, the politicians will wring their hands and pontificate but average, every day people will suffer and die. Today it is Ukraine which, sadly, is just another in a long list of places where wars were fought, and people suffered and died. We do not know where this one will go. It may be a flash in the pan and over. It may simmer and smolder for years or it may all blow up in everyone’s face; I do not know where it is headed. I do, however; know the One who does know.

    John received his vision in the Book of Revelation at a time of great uncertainty within the Church. The Church was being harshly persecuted with exiles, property seizures and executions being common. They were fearful of the events of the time. There are many today who are fearful of the times. We have political and civil discord in this country. We have economic uncertainties; we still have questions and concerns with a pandemic and now there is a wicked war raging. So, we turn again to God’s Word for some comfort and reassurance.

    As Jesus speaks to John in our verses, we see some things to cling to. John is terrified but Jesus tells him to, “Fear not,” that oft repeated encouragement from Scriptures, “Fear not.” Yet this is an admonishment that many make. FDR said, “we have nothing to fear but fear itself.” We are told we can over come our fears with certain specific mental exercises that for a mere $19.99 +shipping and handling can be yours. There is no lack of life coaches who will tell you to not fear but they never tell you why you should not fear. Jesus tells us not only to “fear not” but why we should “fear not.”

    The reason you and I should not fear is because Jesus is in control. That is what it means when it says He “holds the keys of Death and Hades.” Later, He will speak of “holding the scrolls” and repeating the idea that Jesus is in control. He rules for the glory of His Father and to protect and benefit the Church. He allows these wars and other things because He has turned sinful man over to himself and do whatever perverted things he wants, yet His Church He has marked, with the waters of Baptism, as His own and He will bring us through the rivers, through the fires, through the deep waters, through the tribulation to safety and to glory with Him for all eternity. We do not have to fear because our loving Lord Jesus is in control, and He desires to bring us into His holy kingdom.

    So, what do we do? First and foremost, we pray. For peace, for healing, for an end to tyranny, for justice and for the return of Jesus, these are a good place to start. But do so in confidence, not in fear. Be confident that our Lord hears us and will protect us until then end.

Gracious Lord, we ask that You send your Spirit of peace to the wars of the world especially to the people in Ukraine. Give them strength to endure. Strengthen our hearts that we may proclaim the truth of your peace and hope. In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

Thursday, February 24, 2022

2-24-2022

 Good Morning All,

Jeremiah 31:34b; “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

     Have you ever been told, or said, “I’ll forgive you, but I will never forget it!”  Or perhaps the phrase “You’ll have to earn my forgiveness!”  These are two very common phrases; phrases that the world will tell you are good plans to follow. After all, if someone hurt you, you should remember it, so it won’t happen again.  Secondly, everyone who has ever studied Economics knows that “there is no such thing as a free lunch;” everything comes at a cost and forgiveness is not much different.

   We hear this often when a person feels betrayed, whether by a spouse, a friend, or a co-worker. We feel the pain and it cuts like a knife and we want our pound of flesh for our revenge. We often want the other person to “feel our pain.”  Yet as we see in our verse this is not the way that God forgives us.

    Scripture gives us the definition of forgiveness. Forgiveness is just that: given. It cannot be earned for that is either a fine or punishment of some type or a wage that is paid for a job done. Forgiveness can never be bought or sold it can only be given. So, if we say to someone, “you need to earn my forgiveness;” we are not really forgiving them.  We are simply extracting a payment from them. It is sad that many see forgiveness this way because they miss the huge benefit of forgiveness and that is the healing of a breach between two people. That is why God forgives us. He does it to heal the breach that we caused with our sin. We could never pay that debt, so God forgave it because of Jesus.

    The other thing is that the world tells you to never forget. Forgiveness comes from the heart and is only true forgiveness if we let it go. By remembering the breach, it remains in place. If the “sinner” is not really forgiven or if the “sinned against” does not really forgive, there is not a healing that takes place. The interesting thing about forgiveness is that it heals the “forgiver” as much as it does the “forgiven.”  When we cling to past pains or past injustices, it keeps festering in our heart and we never heal. We need to let it go; let God take the pain from us and let the healing take place. I have often listened to people who felt wronged so many years ago and now they look and sound sad and, often times, more hurt than the original wrong caused.  There is bitterness in their voice that never seems to leave, and they seldom look happy.

    This is part of the reason God tells us to forgive as He does. It is the joyful reaction to our forgiveness by God and it is also a healthy cleansing of our heart that allows us to truly love one another.

    Dear Father, teach me to forgive as you forgive. Give me the strength and wisdom to do your will. Fill my heart with your love and peace. Help me to walk in your ways of holiness. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen

God’s Peace

Pastor Bret

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

2-23-2022

 Good Morning All,

Proverbs 14:30; “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”

    When I was in high school, there was a country song by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson titled “Luckenbach, Texas.”  It was a song that a man was singing to his wife. He was telling her that they were “so busy keeping up with the Jones, four car garage and we’re still building on maybe it's time we got back to the basics of love.”  This is a common theme among songs that can be popular; yet we do not often live this way.

    While our music seeks a simpler, easier paced life, our existence seems driven to more and more. We seem driven to want more, buy more, demand more and then be farther in debt. We seem to always look at our neighbors and think that they really have it made; why can’t I have that?

    I recently visited with a lady who experienced this firsthand. She was in her early fifties. She grew up on a farm but went to school in the “big town” up the road. Her friends were “townies” and always had the newest clothes, all had jobs for their spending money, always went to the movies and ate a lot of fast food. She rarely got new clothes, made most of them, worked on the farm for her dad so had to ask for any money, went to a few movies and seldom ate at McDonald’s. She always felt her friends had it better than she did, so she sulked a lot and felt sorry for herself. She skipped her class reunions until her 25th when her husband made her go.

    She was surprised when she started talking to her friends. They were all jealous of her when they grew up. She had a horse, no nosey neighbors, she did not have to work; she had real home cooked meals and her own room. When she talked with me, it was bittersweet. On the one hand, she learned that while our experiences may be different, in many ways they are the same. Yet she also saw that for the first 40-45 years of her life she was mad at what she did not have instead of happy for what she did. This she was changing and was enjoying what she had and that was a loving husband, wonderful children, fantastic friends, and a grandchild on the way.

    This is what our verse is telling us. We can rot with envy and jealousy, or we can see God’s gifts to us and enjoy the life we have right now. One way to do this is to, each morning, look for 5 beautiful things from God and look for 5 things you are grateful for. God’s Spirit gives us peace; peace with God and peace with ourselves. The devil tries to disrupt this and when he does; pain surely follows. God gives us the gift of a tranquil heart, a heart at peace. Trust in God our Father to take care of you and enjoy the simple gifts of life. Enjoy the love of your family and friends, the stars at night, the sounds of nature when you can and especially enjoy the grace that God bestows on us.

Dear Father, you give us more than we need yet we demand more. Help us to enjoy the blessings which you bestow on us with the joy that you desire us to have. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

2-22-2022

       Good Morning All,

2 Corinthians 5:17; “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

    I have had the pleasure of knowing a couple of guys who enjoy restoring old wooden tables, chairs, and dressers. They get really giddy when they go to flea markets or old estate sales.  I doubt if they have ever paid more than $10 for anything. The drawers are broken or missing from the dressers; the tables are wobbly and maybe have a piece missing.  Anything they buy looks like garbage. I would imagine the people who are selling this stuff have to hold their breath until these two are gone so they don’t break out laughing at the two “rubes” who paid good money for kindling.

    The truly amazing thing is what the projects look like after they finish them. They look magnificent. The truly amazing part is how they can incorporate and actually highlight the stains and the cracks that give these old pieces their character.  When we look at them, I marvel at their skill, but I also wonder about the stories that those old pieces would tell. Cut marks and burn marks abound. Was that the height of a child at age 5? Was the burn mark left when a sudden announcement, good or ill, was made? How many Thanksgivings and Christmas meals did a family share around them? They all have stories but the change in the chairs and tables is remarkable. They have a new lease on life. They are ready to start over as pieces of art, masterpieces even.

    This is what Jesus does to us. He reclaims us from the junk piles and flea markets of the world. We are broken, warped and may even have some pieces missing. Yet Jesus fixes us all up. He cleans away all the years of scratches and dents and cut marks and makes us whole. Those marks may still be seen but they do not define who we are. We are new creations made so by the blood of Jesus and declared so by God the Father. The old is all gone, and we are new again. Redeemed by Jesus and freed by his atoning sacrifice. Just like those two wood workers who scour the sales, God seeks you out and no matter what condition you are in, or think you are in, you are never too far gone for Christ to redeem you and shape you into a new creation. There is no amount of damage to you that Jesus cannot fix. No matter what sins you feel you carry; Jesus makes you a new creation. His mercy will heal you and remove all the nicks and scratches and his grace will replace all the damage done to your heart and soul. There is nothing he cannot do and his love for you knows no bounds. Trust in his mercy and surrender to his love.

   Dearest Father, in your mercy you sent Jesus to redeem us and to make us new creations. Give us the joy of your eternal grace and keep us safe on our journey home. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

 

Monday, February 21, 2022

2-21-2022

 

    Good Morning All,

Genesis 50:20; “Even though you planned evil against me, God planned good to come out of it.”

    The best laid plans of mice and men; they often go awry. How often has this been true in your life? How often have you planned a day out only to have the weather be perfect the day before or after but junky on your day? Do days like this frustrate you and drive you nuts? To many people, they do. But do frustrations cause you much distress and pain? These are some of the devil’s favorite ploys to cause Christians pain.

    For example, do you feel embarrassed often? The devil loves to attack us with this because it strikes at our self-worth. He loves to needle away at your view of yourself. Most people have some level of personal insecurity. Most of the time, your friends and relatives don’t even see it, yet we often struggle with it.  The devil loves to pick and poke at this sore point. The thing we need to remember is that we don’t need to look at our self through the world’s eye but should look at our self through God’s eye.  Our worth is based on being God’s blessed children that is the source of our worth.

    We can also see what our worries say about our sense of security. While God wants you to have a solid sense of security, worry damages your ability to accept the security that God is offering you. Pay attention to worry’s warning that you’re jeopardizing the peace God wants you to enjoy – peace that comes from trusting Him. Realize that God actually is aware of the situation you’ve been worrying about, He does care, and He is more than able to do something about it when you place your trust in Him. Entrust every part of your life (from your health and your relationships to your job and your finances) to God and trust Him to intervene in every situation you face. See God’s grace and mercy every day and rely on Him day by day to provide what you need.

     The devil loves to take these and any of a thousand other little struggles in our life and tries to blow them up. The devil means nothing but evil to us. His only designs are for our torture and despair. Yet God takes all these tortures and turns them around. God takes our struggles and makes them our gain. When we look at our struggles, we see our own weaknesses and we see the only source for our hope is in Jesus and his saving grace and atoning sacrifice.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

   Gracious Father, the world and the devil battle us all day long to pull us from you. Give us the strength to hold onto your incredible love and mercy. Keep us in your loving arms. Send your Spirit to our brothers and sisters who feel the sting of the devil’s attacks and give to them your comfort and hope.  Use us to bring it to them. May we be your arms and shoulders. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

Sunday, February 20, 2022

2-20-2022

  Good Morning All,

   Luke 19:10; “Indeed, the Son of Man has come to seek and to save people who are lost

    A number of years ago, there was a movie called “Runaway Bride.”  It starred Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. The gist of the story was about Richard Gere being a journalist who was on the bad list of his editor and sent off on some sappy story about a girl who always ran away from her weddings. Julia Roberts played the girl and ran away from many weddings; she even started showing up in sneakers. Eventually love conquered and they married, and she did not run.

    Many of us are runaway brides. We run every time we can. Even if we do not run, we may feel like it. This is one of the little tactics that the devil uses on us. He tries to get us to run from God and from the relationships that he gives us. The devil tries to separate us from God, and he tries this by getting us to run. When you look at stories of youth who run away, they always see it as the answer, and it never is. They think that getting away from the ones that love them will make it so much easier. What they find is that pain, trouble, and deeper despair.

    We are the same way. We run from God; we run away from his love. We think that what we have or know is far better to anything which God has so we run away from God. We hide from God. When we think of a small child who tries to hide from their parents by covering his eyes, thinking that if he cannot see his parents then they cannot see him. This is how God looks at us when we try to hide from him. We are still in plain sight even if we think we have hidden well.

    Many in the Bible tried to hide. Jonah tried to hide. Moses tried to hide. Elijah tried to hide. David tried to hide. We are in pretty good company when we try to hide. We all try to run and hide. Some of us run to self-help books; some of us run to the “false prophets” of our day: the talk show hosts and the self-proclaimed “experts.”  Some of us run to drugs and alcohol. Some of us run to a life of bad decisions, often compounded by even worse ones. We run like the wind; we think but we only run as far as the nearest mud hole where we fall in and wallow.

    This is why Jesus came to do his earthly ministry; to seek the lost and then save them.  He continues to do this today. Jesus seeks you in all the mud holes and wallows and pulls us out with his merciful love. He washes us and feeds us and then comforts us with his love. Jesus never stops seeking us; no matter how many times we run; he just keeps coming. So, if you think you are so lost you cannot be found; just take your hands away from your eyes.  If a loved one seems to just run and run; keep praying and reaching out; Jesus is seeking them as well. Trust in God’s love to work his will in our lives and in the lives of our loved ones.

   Dear Father, your mercies roll over us like a river. As we run, you seek. As we hide, you see us at all times. Forgive us when our fears win out and our sin takes over. Redeem us with you love and guard us from the devil’s power. Give an extra dose of your grace to those who struggle with running from you. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

Saturday, February 19, 2022

2-19-2022

 Good Morning All,

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

    Here we have it. This is one of the most pregnant statements in the Bible. Martha is talking to Jesus after the death of her brother Lazarus. “Lord IF you only would have been here.”  “IF” is one of the biggest little words around. It can play havoc with our own sense of well-being. It drives us crazy because it drives our doubts. It always raises the question, even the probability of a better outcome or turn of events. It dangles before our eyes alternate realities that, at the moment, seem better.

    If I were better looking, I could get a date. If I were smarter, school would be easier. If I had a better job, I would make more money and be happy. Yet our biggest “if” is often directed toward God; “IF” you would have been here, my parent would not have died. “IF “you would have been here, the accident would not have happened. Where were you God, why did you let this happen? Why did you not prevent this catastrophe from happening to me? This is essentially what Martha says, says for us all, and, in all honesty, Jesus doesn’t really address this statement.

    What Jesus does tell her was this, “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me, though he were dead, shall live…”  So, while we look at the temporary things of this world, Jesus is dealing with our eternal salvation. He is working to rescue us from sin and the devil. The very difficult thing for most of us to realize is that the world is still broken by sin. As painful as it is, really sad things happen.  The world is broken and will be until Jesus returns in triumphant glory. That is the real reason that bad things happen, the world is broken, and sin rules the world. Sin that still crushes hopes and dreams and leads to death. Yet Christ rules our lives and while sin will impact us and affect us, it will not defeat or control us. This is why Jesus came to earth. First, to defeat death and the devil and then to bring us into His kingdom that we may live, knowing that Jesus reigns and the victory is ours.

    At times like this, it is difficult to see. We mourn the loss of life especially young, innocent lives that seem to have so much to live for. While you and I cry, we do so knowing that God is merciful and that all believers are saved by his grace. We feel the pain for it is real. Yet we can and should see that even through our pain; God is there to comfort and console us. While we may feel like Martha and think, “where were you God?” we can take comfort in that he is there beside us walking through the storm with us.

Dearest Father, we often cry “where are you?” when the world seems to spin out of control. Bless us with your presence and keep us secure in the knowledge of your unending love. Draw us closer to your loving arms that we may rest in You. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

Friday, February 18, 2022

2-18-2022

 Good Morning All,

    Psalm 34:18; “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

    Have you ever shopped at a discounted discount store? They have all the “seconds” or the damaged goods. You can buy some of them real cheap if you want to. It is amazing how cheap these can be. They are so cheap that people often pass right by them, afraid that there must be something wrong with them. The packaging is damaged so the product must be damaged as well, right?

    These goods, especially the canned goods, are often dented. Sometimes the label is missing. Some of the boxed goods are broken open and taped up to be somewhat presentable. The store knows that the only way to sell these items is to put a huge discount on them. Even then most just get tossed out; they are just not shelf worthy anymore.

    All of us at one point in time have felt the pain of being damaged goods. Maybe you made some bad decisions when you were younger and have been viewed as “damaged goods” ever since.  Maybe the pink slip from your last employer left a dent in you, especially since you are on the top side of 45 now.  Perhaps your spouse has left and now you are all dinged up. You feel worthless and damaged. Perhaps a loved one died way too early in life and now you are trying to figure out how to go forward, even as you don’t really want to go forward.  All these things can take a toll on a body and a spirit.

    The truly good news is that God has great compassion on us. All you have to do is read the Gospels and see time and time again where Jesus had compassion on the lame, the blind, the sick and dying. Jesus came to seek out the “seconds,” those who were cast aside, abused, and “discounted” for some reason or another. Jesus looks past the dings and the dents and sees the heart that is broken and the spirit that is crushed. He reaches to you and to me with all the love that we need, and he gently lifts us up in his arms and brings us to his loving bosom and holds us close, safe in his arms.

    The world will ding us pretty good and then throw us away as damaged goods, but God continually retrieves us from the damaged goods shelf and restores us to his family keeping us safe from the true pain that devil will try to cause. God chooses to love even when the world devalues us and throws us away. God reaches out to the brokenhearted and the crushed spirits and gives us hope; and gives us life. We are loved by the God who created all things and delights in our salvation, that we might live in his kingdom for eternity in joy everlasting. There is no end to God’s love. There is no end to the mercy He shows, even to the dented and dinged versions, God loves us with all the fatherly divine goodness and mercy that we will ever need.

Dear Father, we are all dented and dinged by the sin of the world and our own failings. Give us your precious grace to cover us and your mercy to save us. Protect us from the sorrows of this world. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

Thursday, February 17, 2022

2-17-2022

 Good Morning All,

Genesis 4:7b; “And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

    Over the years, I have watched children as they have struggled with “doing the right thing,” that is; to avoid sin. I have watched them when they are young when candy gets passed around. They are told to take one to be sure everyone gets one and you can almost bet that at least one of them will take one, put it in their mouth and then take a second one. As they get older, it is pretty much the same, but the value of the items increases.

    Many of us struggle with “sin crouching at our door.”  The devil loves to wait for you to slip in his muddy trap. For you, it may not be to take an extra piece of candy; it might be that little piece of gossip that is just too juicy to pass up. Maybe the internet leads you to websites you shouldn’t go to.  We all have those sins that are just waiting to sneak up on us. Perhaps you are a little too critical of someone else.  Maybe you are a little too quick to make a crude or rude remark.  You might even speak without really thinking about it.

    One of the really dangerous things about these sins is that they prey on you and weigh you down.  These are often the sins that the devil tries to convince that we need to hide. “No one will know” might be the tact that he uses, or he might go the other way, “If anyone knew you did that; they would never speak to you again.”  Whatever he can say to you; the devil uses sin to try and separate you from God.

    That is what sin does, it separates us from God and his love, and it leaves us cold and alone. The devil’s goal is for you to think that you are in a tiny life raft in the middle of the ocean, all alone, with sharks circling around you. The devil wants the exact opposite of what God wants. God wants for you and for me to have good, strong relationships. God wants us close to him, close to our families and friends, close with our Christian brothers and sisters. God wants you connected to his love. The devil wants you unconnected. The devil wants you to drift in fear and darkness. That way he can torment you at his leisure. He can stir the heart to fear, the spirit to tremble and faith to waver.

    This is why daily prayer and devotion time is so important.  Prayer and reading God’s Word is the holy conversation between you and God. This gives us a stronger desire to be with God and thus weakens our desire to sin. It reminds us of the great love that God has for us and the certainty of hope that we have in Him. God’s love for you is greater than anything the devil can throw at you. We must trust God’s promise to defeat the devil and his lies.

Dear Father, give me the power and the strength to avoid the traps that the devil sets for me. Set your Word about me for a lamp so I can see you clearly. Keep me strong through your grace and when I do fall, restore me with your tender mercy. In Jesus’ precious name, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

2-16-2022

 Good Morning All,

          Jeremiah 33:3; “Call to me, and I will answer you. I will tell you great and mysterious things that you do not know.”

     “Listen, do you want to know a secret?”  That is the opening line of a Beatle’s song. It is also the source of many of our thoughts and desires, especially secrets about us. Do you ever wonder about your future? Do you ever wonder about times in your life when you made a major decision and wonder how your life would have been different? What if the line would have been busy when you first tried to call your future spouse for the first time? What if your job interviews would have been in a different order? What if the rain would have come a little earlier? What if you would have trusted your instincts and bought the land your neighbor tried to sell you a longtime ago?

    What about all the prayers that you thought went unanswered or at least not answered as you wanted? What about the times when you prayed for something and someone else got it? Did you pray to get a job that went to a friend? Did you pray for a child only to watch all your friends having children? We sit and sometimes think God just does not listen or care. Yet he clearly tells us something different. He promises to tell us great and mysterious things.

   The thing is that we need to listen to what God is telling us. Too often, our prayers are more a shopping list or a “honey-do” list. We go to God with this logic, “These are what I need and want you to do; preferably right now!” Or we come to God with the attitude “well, I’ve tried everything else; I guess I’ll ask God.”  Neither of these are a very faithful or faith-based way to pray. God calls us to come to him in faith and he will answer. We pray according to his will and trust that his will is the best for us. Sometimes what we want is not what is best for us. Sometimes what God has in store for us is greater than anything we could even imagine. God answers our prayers and always acts in our best interest.

    This is why we encouraged to always pray “Thy will be done.” This statement of faith recognizes that God knows best, his will for us is perfect so we must trust His good and gracious will. He has promised us abundant life but according to his definition and timeline. God will always give the faithful believer exactly what he needs, when he needs it and in the fashion that he needs it.

    With this certainty, we can come before him and boldly ask for what we need and even what we want; we know that God’s answer will be what is best for us. This trust in God’s faithful answer will show us things which we do not know and cannot even imagine. God answers our prayers because He loves us, and He has promised to do so, and He is faithful to His promise.

 Dearest Father, too often we look at the prayers that we want answered that we miss all the ones that you have answered. Forgive us for missing the love and health of family and friends, the beauty of creation, and the wondrous gift of our salvation. You answer all our prayers and give us peace. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

2-15-2022

    Good Morning All,

             Hosea 14:4; “I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.”  

     When my nephews were little and needed some discipline, they would have to sit on “the bad chair.”  Nobody wanted to sit on the bad chair. It sat in the corner of the kitchen and did not look any different than any other chair. If you moved it to the table, it was ok but as long as it sat in the corner, it was “the bad chair.”  The first time I encountered “the bad chair” was quite by accident. We were visiting them, and we were gathered around the kitchen, and I went and sat on the “bad chair;” I did not know any better. I just got sat down when my little nephew’s eyes got huge and he shouted, “Uncle Bret’s sitting on the bad chair!!”  I thought the chair was broken so I jumped up, not sure of what I had done; everyone else laughed. The power of sitting on that chair was firmly ensconced in that young boy’s mind. Nobody ever wanted to sit on that chair.

    This was just the place for a rambunctious child to sit and think about what he had done and why it was wrong. After the set amount of time, he was allowed to go back to playing again. Sometimes, mom or dad was pretty angry when someone was placed on the chair but as the time went by the anger faded and all was well again. 

    This is what God is telling us here. We call it many things; mistakes, over rambunctious, errors in judgment, slip ups, whatever; the truth is we sin. We violate God’s law and go against His holy will. We do this even as we profess to know better. So, we sit on the “bad chair.”  The thing about the “bad chair” is that we always miss out on the good things. For the child placed there by their parent, the fun of playtime or even a special treat goes by as he sits and misses out on the enjoyment of life. The same is true for us. When we sit in sin, in apostasy, we miss out on God’s blessings; not because God withholds them, we just missing out on being spiritually connected to God. When we are on the “bad chair,” we see the sad side of life and fail to see God’s blessings because sin has clouded our eyes and vision.

   Yet God continually heals us. Through the mercy we have in Jesus’ atoning sacrifice, God renews us, restores us, and heals our ruptured soul of sin. God heals us with his love and because of his love, He is not angry with us. He restores us to His holy family and gives us the hope of salvation and comfort in this life through His Spirit. You are healed because you are loved.

 Dearest Father, your mercies are new to us each day and they roll over us like a river. We praise you for your healing touch and for bringing us into your wonderful kingdom. We pray that all may know this peace. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

Monday, February 14, 2022

2-14-2022

  Good Morning All,

             John 15:13;The greatest love you can show is to give your life for your friends.”

    This is one of those verses that have many applications. Jesus uses it when he is speaking to his disciples. He speaks a few hours before he is led away to be crucified. He gave his life for his friends; you and me.

   This verse is frequently used on Memorial Day observances and how it applies to the over 1,000,000 men and women who have died while on active duty for this country.  That is an awful lot of people who gave their lives so that you and I can live the life that we live. A lot of people died so that you and I could live some very common and boring lives. We can go to a Memorial Service, if we choose, or we can sit at home or by the lake. We are not commanded to do anything; we get to choose.

    But today, on Valentine’s Day, we can look at it from another angle. I use this verse when I do marriage counseling. I stress to the soon-to-be betrothed that you are laying down your old life and you are now into a different life. This new life, called marriage, means you have to give up on selfish goals and desires and now you look to the good of the new marriage. These goals do not even have to be that selfish. It might be the young woman who is studying to be a nurse with dreams of becoming a practitioner who now finds herself a stay home mom caring for a child with Muscular Dystrophy. All her skills and training are a wonderful tool but seldom seen. It might be the father who passes on a promotion because it would tear his family away from the place that they love. It might mean giving up personal hobbies or activities in order to guide your children. It might be doing the laundry because your wife cannot do the steps anymore. There are many ways to lay down your life for another and live the whole time you do it.

    This is a major part of a marriage. It is the sublimation of the self for the enhancement of the partner. It is “us” and not “me.” This often times can become the point of contention when we keep score or keep tracks of slights. I have visited with a few men who, at the start, were very supportive of their wife’s career but as she flourished and they languished, laying down their life was a bitter pill to swallow.

    So, today, for those of you who have a spouse, I would encourage you to do something special for your spouse, something that is kind and sacrificial on your part. If your spouse is now a heavenly spouse, give thanks to God for the years you had and the promise of the reunion when Jesus returns. For those of you looking for a spouse, ask God’s guidance for a God-pleasing relationship.

 Dearest Father, today as we pause to remember those who laid down their lives for us, we ask that you bless those who were willing to die but did not and that you would comfort the families of those who did. Protect them and keep us mindful of their needs. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

Sunday, February 13, 2022

2-13-2022

 Good Morning All,

John 3:17; “God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world.”

    If you are a baseball fan, do you know who Wally Pipp was? He led the American League in home runs two years in a row. He was the first Yankee to do so. Most people really do not know him. He was a great baseball player, but he is most famous for having a headache. One day he told his manager that he did not feel up to playing so his manager let him sit out and tried a new kid, a guy by the name of Lou Gehrig. Wally never played another game for the Yankees. He was good but not as good as those around him.

    The Bible has some “Wally Pipp” verses. These are verses that are really good and speak to us.  The problem is that they are next to some super verses. Our verse for today is probably the classic “Wally Pipp” verse.  We all know John 3:16 but what about John 3:17?

    This is a verse for those of you who believe they are saved but feel guilty about it. I hear it often. Faithful Christians feel guilty. This is especially true during the Lenten season we are approaching in a few weeks. So much emphasis is placed upon Jesus’ suffering that guilt often reigns in the Lenten services. We just came out of the Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday. We celebrate God’s gracious blessings poured out on His people. Yet many feel guilty for God’s blessings. They feel guilty for what they have when they see others have not. They even feel guilty for being forgiven. This is why churches that push the idea that you must do something to be saved are so popular; it makes sense to us.

    First and foremost, know that guilt is always, ALWAYS, the tool of the devil.  Jesus did not come to the world to condemn it but to save it. He came to remove guilt. He came to free us from this pain. Guilt, by definition, is to feel remorse for doing something wrong; the feeling that we need to “pay” for the wrong. For you, me and all believers, the debt is already paid. Jesus died to pay for your sins. Truly a heavy price to pay, but one which Jesus chose to do out of love, unfathomable love, for us. Our condemnation has been paid; we need not feel the guilt associated with condemnation.

    Rather than guilt we can experience the joy that God has given to us. So, when the devil tries to make you feel guilty, remember that Christ’s blood bore the price for your sin and the guilt which you feel. We do not need to feel guilty; so, do not let the devil remove the grace that God has for you. Jesus came to save, to bring you into his family and into his wonderful kingdom where we can leave in joy and peace. This is no small pleasure; this is what it is all about.

 Dearest Father, the devil loves to make me feel guilty. Keep me in your precious loving arms and give me the assurance of your love to help me remove the guilt which blocks my joyous life in service in your kingdom. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret