9-14-2019

Good Morning All,

        Romans 12:18; “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

      The world claims it desires peace.  Yet how does the world define peace?  Most of the time, peace is the absence of violence.  Unfortunately, this usually means getting ready for the next battle to occur.  This is true of nations, of neighbors even of families.  Too often we see peace as what I get when you lose.  We seek peace but it is often a fleeting thing and hard to have.

    Some of this is because of all the outside pressure that the world applies to us.  The pressure that the world exerts with all the force it has often causes us to crack.  The stress can be great and peace is hard to find.  So, if we want peace, we need to see how God desires peace for us.

    Peace is one of God’s greatest gift for us.  Peace allows us to rest.  Peace allows us to be part of God’s designed rhythm of rest and work.  This is part of the reason that God made the Sabbath; it gives us a chance to rest and to find some peace.  Peace gives us the sense of comfort in his arms.

    Another part of peace is the need to forgive and to receive forgiveness.  Where there is no forgiveness, there is no peace.  This simple truth speaks a lot to us.  This is a lot of what this verse is saying.  Don’t just prepare for the next battle but forgive and move on from this one.  If you are unwilling to forgive, you will have no peace because you are not at peace with each other.  If you have no peace with someone, your friend or your spouse or a family member, seek to reconcile with them.  Seek out each other and pray for peace and ask each other for forgiveness and when you speak forgiveness; mean it; truly mean and desire to have peace with each other.

     Perhaps the hardest place to find peace is with our self.  This can be the hardest to find because we know how our heart and our sinful nature knows our fears.  Our sinful nature will attack our sense of peace; using fear, worry and painful memories.  Our peace is attacked by the devil and our sinful nature by questioning our health, our wealth, our hopes and dreams, even drawing on painful experiences from years gone by.  The devil spares no effort in seeking to keep you from peace.

    Yet God wants you to be at peace.  He gives us peace which will give us the comfort to face today.  We have the certainty of our eternal salvation and we have the promise of comfort for today’s problems.  God comes to us with his grace and mercy, using His Word to remind us of his promises, his sacraments to renew and refresh us and our brothers and sisters in Christ to be his hands, arms, shoulders and voice of flesh and blood love and compassion.  God wants us to be at peace with Him and with each other so we can live the life He desires us to have.

Gracious Father, we give you thanks for peace.  We give you thanks for the rest that we receive from your peace.  Give us the power and wisdom to seek peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ that we may live as you desire.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

9-13-2019

Good Morning All,

        Psalm 55:22; “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”

    Why do we do it to ourselves?  Why do we worry about everything?  It is either too wet or too dry.  When we are at work, we worry about being behind in our work or else we worry that there is not enough work and we may get laid off.  We worry about everything.  I used to be fascinated by the young men who played baseball for me.  It seemed some were more comfortable striking out than getting a hit.  If they got a hit; everyone expected them to do it again and they were worried that they wouldn’t.  Some preachers worry about when they get a compliment on a sermon that now the next one has to be better!

   I have listened to people who worry about something bad going to happen because they have enjoyed such blessings lately.  It is almost that we feel that every good blessing earns a little punishment; why do we do that?  Why do we punish our self and for absolutely nothing?

    Our psalmist addresses this problem for us.  Instead of thinking that the cares of the world are upon us; he invites us to cast our burdens upon Jesus.  Jesus bore our burden on the cross at Calvary.  He paid the debt of our sin and freed us from the burden of the Law.  We now can freely and boldly come to our heavenly Father and seek his peace and grace.  We are in the loving hands of our benevolent and loving God.  Jesus used the story of the birds or the grass to tell this truth to his disciples.

    Look at the birds; seriously take a look at them.  They have absolutely no worries.  They fly around, eat and chirp.  They don’t worry about the boss or the banker or the government.  They have no worries.  Yet they have no worries because they don’t know any different; what about us?  We do know better, shouldn’t we worry?

    Aren’t you worth more than a bird?  Of course, you are!  If God takes care of the birds; how much more will he gladly take care of you!  We have no need to worry; God will provide for our needs.  Worry is the tool of the devil.  The devil uses it to inflict pain and discomfort to us.  Think about what happens when we worry; we don’t sleep right, we don’t eat right, we get crabby and short with others, we fail to act and we can often begin to question God.  Once we do this, the devil smiles.

   When worry hits you, stop, drop and pray!  Ask God to help you and to remove your worry about something.  This will help in all these areas.  Prayer will drive the devil away and we will begin to see a little more clearly what God wants for us.  We will see that it is not others causing us problems but it is our own lack of faith.  We lose sight of God’s grace and mercy. 

We begin to look inward for our answers instead of looking to God as the source of all our needs.  You are worth more than any bird; God sent his Son to die for you in order to redeem you.  He did this because he loves you and values you deeply.

Dear Jesus, you have saved us because you love us.  Give us the courage to trust you to take care of all of our needs.  In your precious name we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

9-12-2019

Good Morning All,

   Psalm 85:12; “Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.”
        I think, for many of us, the most exciting word is “yes”!  This word is so full of potential and so full of promise.  Think back to your dating years.  You would agonize over calling; what if they say no?  Do you remember the relief and excitement when they said, “Yes, I would love to go.”  Do you remember later when the marriage proposal was there, would I get asked, would they accept?  The thrill of hearing “yes” sent you into ecstasy. 

    When you applied for your job or tried to rent or buy some land, being told “yes” gave you a lift and a joy.  Maybe even more to the point; remember when you looked at the doctor questioning and he said, “Yes, she will be fine in a couple of days.”  You breathed a sigh of relief and the world suddenly looked brighter.  We love being told “yes”.  It affirms us, comforts us and gives us joy and hope.

    When I was in high school, one of my favorite Christian song was called “And God said YES”.  It spoke of God saying ‘yes’ to his people whom he had redeemed and saved from the reign of sin.  This is what our verse today tells us; God says “yes” to you and to me.

    You and I were nothing more that lost people with no hope, no future and with nothing to offer anyone else.  Yet in the depth of our despair, God saw us.  He sent His Son Jesus to pay the price that we owe.  In doing so, he picked us up, cleaned us off, fed us, gave us new clothes, held us tightly in his arms and said “YES”.  “Yes, I will keep this one as my dear child.”  There is no better way for you and me to hear the word “YES”.

   Yes, you are redeemed.  Yes, you are saved.  Yes, you are valued by the Father as a dearly loved child of God.  Yes, He means this.  Yes, he has forgiven all of your sins, even the really, really bad ones.  Yes, He wants you to take comfort and to have hope because God looked at you and said “YES.”  We have all the comfort and hope we can ever need.  God, through Jesus, says “YES” to us every day.  His love, his grace and his mercy say “Yes” to us each day.  No matter how often the world tells you “no”; God’s love is always “YES!!”

    It is through this “YES!!” that God gives us all that we need; what is good.  It is through the “Yes!!” of Jesus that we receive what is good.  We receive the forgiveness of sins and the hope of everlasting life.  It is through this “YES!!” that God reveals his nature to us; a nature that desires to give to us as a loving Father desires to give to his son.  We are no longer left as orphans but we are claimed by the grace of God to be heirs of the kingdom.  We have eternal life “YES!!” we do!

 Dear Father, through Jesus you tell me “yes.”  I am loved and treasured by you and I receive your wonderful grace and mercy.  You sustain and give me hope.  Help me to share this wonderful news with those around us.  Defend those who suffer at this time.  Bring healing to all in need.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

9-11-2019

Good Morning All,

   Luke 4:43; “but he (Jesus) said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”

    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 was telling the people why he was leaving Capernaum, a fishing village where Jesus began his preaching.    The people wanted Jesus to stay; they wanted him right there.  But Jesus told them he had to go because that was why he was sent’ to proclaim the Good News to everyone.  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!”

    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. Guide us to ever trust your love that we may stand strong in our faith.   In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

9-10-2019

Good Morning All,

   Psalm 139:1; “O Lord, you have searched me and known me!”

   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 “white washed 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; know 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.  God has searched you; he has searched your heart and chose to forgive you.  He knows your fears, your pins, your sorrows and your needs.  He knows you as his loved and chosen child.  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

9-9-2019

 Good Morning All,

   1 Corinthians 2:5; “so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

    It is amazing to me how fragile our world really is.  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 doesn’t 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. 

    We also have the power of peace.  We can have peace because God gives it to us through Jesus.  We can have peace at all times because of who Jesus is and because of who God has declared us to be.  We rest in his loving but all-powerful hands.  This is one of the great messages of Scriptures.  Because of what God has done, is doing and will do for us; because of who God is; we can live without fear.  We can live in peace with God because of his love for us and the power He has to defend, preserve and bless us according to his good gracious will.

    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; 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.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,               

Pastor Bret

9-8-2019

Good Morning All,

   Psalm 119:105; “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
    I am somewhat adventurous in my travels (I have had a few adventures in the Black Hills) but not much of a navigator in a large city. By the time I figure out which lane I am supposed to be in I am in the wrong one and headed for places or parts unknown.  Now, that isn’t always bad, some of lives best adventures are mistakes in planning but when you have a vehicle full of people looking to get to a ball park on time and you are driving in some guy’s soybean field; it is time to get back to the right road. 

    So, we now use a GPS.  It is supposed to know what we are looking for and for the most part it does.  It occasionally tells me to turn around, but not very much or that I am going the wrong way but it does make seeking out the spots we want to go to a little easier to find.  You have to trust it a little so we do.  Once, in St. Paul, we found a really neat park and the GPS took us right to it.  Then when we were ready to go home; it took us right back to the hotel.  If we would have had to “wing it”; we would have had an adventurous day but maybe not at the park. 

    In our verse, we learn an important trait about God.  God is our light and our lamp.  Yet when Adam sinned, we lost the light.  We try to hide from God because we do not want the light.  Adam hid.  God knew where Adam was; Adam couldn’t hide.  Yet God went seeking him and God seeks you as well.  God does not sit back, withdrawn from the world; rather He is actively seeking us out with his grace and mercy.  This often goes missing in the world.  People think they have to go to God.  People think that they have to make a conscience decision to find God.  The truth is that God is seeking them and has been for longer than they even know. 

    God’s redemptive action in this world is alive and going strong.  God is actively seeking out all the lost and hurt.  We see this most clearly in the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus.  Here we see God, in flesh, seeking out the hurt, the lost and the suffering in order to redeem them.  We see the same today in the activity of the Holy Spirit.  He calls, gathers, enlightens the whole Christian Church here on earth.  In all ways, God is actively seeking you to be his child.  He is constantly seeking you out with his grace, calling us out of our hiding place. 

    God provides us with His word to remind us of the wonders that he has done and what is in store for us.  We have eternal life and the promise of being part of his holy family, a member of his chosen people.  In his mercy, God seeks you out and invites you into his wonderful kingdom of salvation.  He seeks you out to redeem you and to give you hope and to give you comfort.  He gives us his word so that we remember his great promises and points the way to our salvation.

 Dearest Father, you seek out those whom you love.  You bring us into your loving arms protecting us from the devil’s attack.  Keep us, and all the faithful, safe in your house.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray.  Amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret