3-7-2021

Good Morning All,   

         Romans 8:34; “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

          I remember one of those brain teaser problems a few years back.  It was a list of about 25-30 instructions.  Most of them were silly and embarrassing; things like “stand on one foot and sing ‘Twinkle, Twinkle.”  The trick was that the first instruction told you to read ALL the instructions before you did anything else.  Instruction #22 told you to only follow instructions 1, 22 and the last one which told you to sit quietly.  Those who read and followed the directions would sit quietly.  Those who chose just to start doing the list did anything but sit quietly; they would sing and dance and twirl around.

     Sometimes, we read the Bible like this.  We do not read it all the way through, and we only see parts of it.  We tend to focus on the death of Jesus.  We tend to focus on his suffering and then his dying.  While this is a significant event, the Son of God dying in your place, it is only part of the story.  We really should not separate Good Friday from Easter, but we do.  We should look at the time from Good Friday until Easter morning as one continuous event.  Jesus’ death is important but so is his resurrection. 

    Jesus’ resurrection is the sign that Jesus’ words are true and are valued and accepted by the Father in heaven.  It is also the preview to our future when Jesus returns.  We get a glimpse of our perfected bodies.  The resurrection gives us hope.  The resurrection reveals to us what God’s promise to us looks like.

   The resurrection of Jesus also means that he is not dead but that he lives in heaven, with the Father, and pleads and intercedes for us.  We often ask others to pray for us, but do we ever stop and realize that Jesus is also praying for us?  What a comforting thought this should be!!  The Son of God prays for you all the time.  

    So, as we look with joy at what Jesus has done for us.  We look not only at his death but at the death and resurrection, together as one great mercy given to us.  Through this event we have the forgiveness of sins and the promise of the resurrection.  Through this event, we ca live with the certainty of our life eternal. 

    So, do not stop with “Jesus died for me!” but continue on with “Jesus rose for me that I might have life!”  Because it is by his glorious resurrection that we have the promise sealed by his blood and given to us by the Father.  This makes this event joyful and worth celebrating.  Jesus lives and he lives so that you and I may have life and have it abundantly.

Father of all good things; grant to us your Spirit that we may live in the wonders of your mercy.  Keep us alive in your grace.  Guide us to rejoice in the living Savior who reigns with you.  Be with those who are lost and suffering.  Be with those who are in pain.  Comfort them and give to them the hope of life eternal.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret   

3-6-2021

 Good Morning All,   

         Psalm 119:50; “This is my comfort in my misery:  Your promise gave me a new life.”

       So, when you are down or sad or just in need of comfort, where do you turn?  Many of us turn to food.  In fact, we have a whole host of food that we call “comfort food”.  It seems that much comfort food has a common element; it is simple.  The favorite comfort food listed is macaroni and cheese.  It does not get much simpler than that.  Other foods are meatloaf, fried chicken, some put tuna sandwiches on the list, but I prefer shrimp and grits.  There is chicken potpie or chicken noodle soup or mashed potatoes and gravy.  Personally, I prefer pie and ice cream.

     It is interesting how we turn to food for comfort.  I suppose part of it goes back to our early childhood when a full tummy and a soft blanket solved all the world’s problems.  Part of our comfort from food may be this.  It also may be that preparing simple food does not require a lot of thought allows us to “mull” while we work.  It also might be that simple foods, foods that we associate with growing up or home, gives us a sense of being home, safe from all the struggles of the world and it may even remind us of simpler times.  It might remind us of times when our big decisions were which color shirt to wear.  It might have the effect of reminding us of the safety we found in the walls of our childhood home.

     At times of stress or sorrow we often seek comfort.  From the time we are a child and seek mom or dad to kiss an “owie” through our younger years when that certain boy or girl who was “to die for” turned us down; we sought comfort.  When the stress of a job or a lack of rain, or low prices causes us to wonder about decisions made; we seek comfort.  We seek comfort from different sources whether it is food, family or perhaps the solace of a quiet space.  All of these may offer a temporary respite, the stress or the sorrow may return.  We need to find a place of lasting comfort and that is in God’s grace.

    The Apostle Paul tells us that “for those who love God, all things work together.”  Now that does not mean that there will not be some pain or struggle.  What it means is that we will never face it alone, never be left to be left dangling in the pain or sorrow.  God gives us comfort.  We take comfort in the certainty of his promise.  God has made to us a promise, delivered at our Baptism, to always hold us close to him.  He has promised to always give to us the forgiveness of sins and to always call us back to his loving mercy.  This mercy is always extended to us at all times.

    When the stress or pain of this world expresses itself in our life, God is ever present and ready to provide for us the words of comfort that we need to live our life in the contented and restful manner that God seeks to give us.  He is our hope and comfort, at all times.

Father of mercy, you are our only true source of comfort.  You are our only safe place.  Give us the wisdom to know this and the faith to trust in you as our rock and our fortress.  Father, there are many who struggle with the pain and the sadness of this world.  Give to them your Spirit of comfort that they may know your peace.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret 

3-5-2021

 Good Morning All,   

        1 Samuel 16:7b; “God does not see as humans see.  Humans look at outward appearances, but the Lord looks into the heart.”

       Do you remember Eddie Haskell form the “Leave It To Beaver” show?  He was probably the first TV character that really rubbed me the wrong way.  I remember thinking, “they can’t believe him.  He is as phony as a three-dollar bill,” Now I was only about 6 or 7 at the time, so I thought this was a real-life event. Yet I still remember fuming at him.  He was so “gooey” to the adults and just a rat to Beaver.  I would almost tell the TV to “wake up; he’s not a nice guy!”  Of course, I was much older when I realized that this was a TV show that was scripted and plotted out.  Still, Eddie still makes me grumpy.

     The problem with real life is that we do not get to read the script of life.  So, the Eddie Haskells of the world may slip by us once in a while.  We are often blinded by a person’s looks, or wealth, or the way they talk.  We tend to look and if it is pleasant to look at, we like it.  This is one of the reasons that restaurants arrange food on a plate, so it looks better.  It is one of the reasons that do it yourself stores have the grills put together to see or have the patio set up in the store; if it looks nice in the store it will look nice in your backyard.  We tend to listen to and buy into how things look or sound as we make our judgment.  If it looks good or sounds good, we are for it.

      This can get us into all sorts of trouble; most of us can relate to past experiences where it looked good but was a flop.  Perhaps you have even experienced a relationship or two that went the same way.  It looked good at the start, but it went “Eddie Haskell” on you in a hurry; maybe you were the Eddie Haskell.  Yet there are times when we are wrong in our estimation of people.  Too often, we are shallow in our view of people.  We only see the outside and make our judgment accordingly.  The shallow look is often wrong; it takes a deeper look.  It takes a look that we often fail to take because we cannot always see into the heart but that is where we need to look.

    God looks at the heart; he sees the desire of man and knows whose is sinful and whose seeks God’s way.  He looks at your heart; not your wallet or the way you look on the outside.  God looks at who we are not what we look like.  So, God encourages us to look deeper as well.  He encourages us to look at what others do, how they treat others, especially those who cannot help them in return.  God measure for us to use is how we show his love to others.  This is what Jesus told his disciples and it is what he tells us.

    Our tools are limited so we may miss once in a while, but God calls upon us to show his love to others.  How others show his love is to be our standard for those who are around us.  Sharing God’s love is always the key.

Father, help me to look deeper to see those around me that share your love with others.  Help me to share your love with those around me.  Together, let us be your agents here on earth to spread your mercy to the broken and downcast.  Use us to lift them up and to restore them to your kingdom.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret       

3-4-2021

 Good Morning All,   

      Psalm 105:4; “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!”

       About the time that our oldest grandson was two or so, he loved to play hide and seek.  For the most part, he was not too bad.  He usually hid pretty well except he would giggle all the time.  One time, he convinced his uncles to play with him.  They were all at our house.  My grandson went to look for a place to hide.  We have a small entryway on the one side of the house.  There is a door to the outside, a door to a closet, a door into my office and a door to the living room.  He ran into this entry way to hide.  He could not open any of the doors to the office, closet or outside.  His one uncle yelled, “here I come.”

    Our grandson froze.  He extended each arm up against the closet door and tried to attach himself to the door in an effort to hide.  He stood as still as he could.  He tried to blend in with the door and hide.  It did not work but he tried.  He was hoping to hide but his uncles found him anyway.

   When we think of seeking something; we tend to think of things that are hidden, like a grandson or a buried treasure.  Yet in the Bible, seeking means something a little different.  When we read the word “seek” in the Bible, we should think more of turning to or of asking counsel of.  So, in our verse, when it says to “seek the Lord” it does not mean to go looking for someone who is hidden; it means to turn to God where he is and has always been, right next to you.  We seek God where he is, in his Word and in his sacrament.  We seek God when we engage in prayer to him.

    This is what it means to “seek God.”  It is not some great quest or hunt; it is turning to God as our one and only source of true peace.  “Seeking God” is asking for his guidance, for his Spirit, for his wisdom and for his peace.  “Seeking God” is to trust in his faithful promises and to rely on those promises continually.  This is how we cope with life, by trusting in God and his promises.  Whether we are facing surgery in the morning or the loss of a loved one or a painfully sad change in our life, we are to “seek God” we are to turn to him in confident prayer and read his wonderful words of hope and peace.  We are to hear from God about his love for us and the certain confidence that we have because of his love for us.

    We can always take comfort in God’s Word.  It gives us life and hope, nourishment, and comfort.  In God’s gracious Word we have peace.  We can face each challenge with the confidence that God is truly in our side.  Seek God; turn to him and trust in his promises to give you life and hope, comfort, and peace.  Seek God; he waits for you with all his mercy.

Father of all goodness, in you we have all our hope.  Guide us by your Spirit that we may always seek you.  Guide us to always trust in your Word and to trust in your grace.  Be with all the hurting and the saddened people.  Guide them to come to you for peace and comfort.  Use us to help in guiding them that all may come to know the mercy that you bestow on your children.  Protect us we pray in the precious name of Jesus.  Amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

3-3-2021

 Good Morning All,   

             Psalm 88:3; “For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.”

     There has been a lot in the news about depression and suicide these last few days.  With the stress of the pandemic taking its toll; it is a great concern.  Yet, most of us probably have a pretty good grasp of the pain of suicide.  We may have lost a child or parent, a cousin or spouse, a friend or someone else very close to us.  It is painful and is really one of the devil’s vilest schemes.

     Depression and other illnesses are opportunities that the devil thrives on.  The devil will whisper to the one who suffers in a relentless attack to drive them further from God.  The devil will whisper and whisper until, in a moment of great pain, the sufferer can bear no more and, in a moment, makes a decision that cannot be undone by human hands.  The family and friends are left in anguish wondering what they missed or should have seen.  They should have been there; they could have helped so grief is compounded with guilt and the devil laughs with glee while you and I are left to pick up the pieces. 

    Yet, despite what looks like a win for the devil, it truly is not.  We have all sinned in one form or another and we all get to heaven the same way.  We fully, completely, and totally rely on God’s grace and favor.  We rest in his loving arms, always.  We can only cling to his wonderful promise of hope and salvation.  The Apostle Paul tells us that “nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”.  Nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from God’s love.  This is a promise from God who created all and knows all.  God knows what is out there and he still promises that nothing will separate us from his love.

    So, if you have had a loved one who took their own life, know without a doubt that they have a loving God who looks upon them with grace upon grace.  God looks past all the extra stuff and knows the faith that lives within us.  He looks upon each of us with his grace and mercy.  He looks to us with his loving kindness and desires that we be saved. Know too that it was not your fault; you are not to blame.  The blame has belonged to and will always belong to the devil and his murderous lies.  The devil has been referred to as the “father of all lies” and the “father of all murderers.”  It is pretty safe to see where the real fault lies.

    So, while suicide is painful and destructive, it does not mean that we are cut off from God.  It means what it means; that in this world sin still abounds and the devil still tries to trick and confuse God’s children.  Sometimes he succeeds at confusing us but not at separating us from God’s love.  Never forget that; we are never separated from God’s love and grace.  He holds us close even at times like these.  Actually, it is definitely at times like these; for at times like this God’s love is our only hope.

Father of mercy, many hear the whispers of the devil.  Some answer in their pain.  Father before you we are all beggars.  Comfort your people with your mercy.  Be with those who are being tempted by the devil and his lies.  Give them the strength to withstand.  Help us to recognize more quickly the needs of those around us and give us the words and wisdom to come to their aid.  In your precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret     

3-2-2021

 Good Morning All,   

    Matthew 14:27; “But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

     Have you ever been afraid?  I have never been seriously afraid.  I have had some minor disturbances that really are more embarrassing than anything else.  I remember once as a junior in high school I was home alone.  I was reading the book “Helter Skelter” which was about the Manson murders.  I was reading the section about how the “family” used to phone homes to see if someone were home; if they were not home, they would break into the house to practice for the coming murders.  Just as I read that part, the phone rang.  I threw the book up and it hit the ceiling; it took quite a while for my heart to slow down.  I put the book away for the night.  For a few seconds, I was very afraid.

    This type of fear is common and nothing to get too excited about.  It is self-induced and easily avoided.  Yet sometimes we are truly afraid, and it seems to occur to us much like it occurred to the disciples in our verse.  This verse is from Matthew’s account of Jesus walking on the water and Peter trying to.  As the disciples were struggling to row across the sea “the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.”  That phrase can be used to describe many times in our lives.  Life can seem to be far from land, far from options.  Life can seem to always be a struggle like the wind being against us and then just for good measure something totally unexpected beats us from the side.

   Maybe you are dealing with health issues of a spouse or a parent and suddenly you are making decisions that you were not planning on making.  Maybe you watch the news and wonder when they will decide to send troops next.  Maybe it is your own health that you wonder about or whether your job will last until you retire.  There is much in this life that can make it seem like we are a long way from land, beaten by the waves with the wind against us.

    It is at these most difficult of times it is most crucial to remember Jesus’ words to the disciples; the same words he speaks to you and me “take heart, it is I, don’t be afraid!”  We may not always see a clear path, or we may not necessarily like the path, but we need to remember that no matter how big the waves or stiff the wind; Jesus is always with us.  He never has and never will abandon us or leave us to face the wind and the waves on our own.  We need to have faith; we need to trust his grace to sustain us.  Jesus is always with us so do not be afraid and if fear invades seek him, turn to him in prayer.  Use those around you that he has placed in your life to give you his comforting mercy.

Father of all hope and comfort, in you we have no need to fear.  No matter how great the waves, you are there for us to cling to.  You never let us down.  Lord, there are many who feel the wind and the waves and are in great fear.  Guide us to them that we may be the agents of your comfort and the deliverer of your mercy.  In the precious name of Jesus our risen Savior we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret 

3-1-2021

 Good Morning All,   

         Romans 7:15; “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”

    Why did you do that?  Have you ever asked that question of your son or daughter?  It can be a most exasperating question because the answer, oftentimes, is “I don’t know.”  What on earth would lead you to do something like that, what possible good could come from that?  “I don’t know, I guess I didn’t think.”  Sometimes, I am convinced that the blood supply does not always go all the way to the top of most teenagers at one time or another.  I think that and then I wonder sometimes why I do the things I do.

    Have you ever done something that you later regretted doing?  I think if you live long enough, most of us have.  Maybe we walked in on the last part of a conversation and suddenly were offended and made sure everyone knew.  Later we find out that we totally misunderstood what the conversation was.  Maybe you told someone they could count on you, but you failed to deliver.  Or maybe it was a little more painful.  Perhaps you joined in the gossip with more intensity than you should have.  Maybe you did not defend the person or maybe you added a tidbit of “news.”  Maybe you started it.  Why do we do these things?  Usually, we feel horrible afterwards, especially if we think about it and reflect on it.  It can really cut you if you see that person and see the pain in their eyes.  We know it was wrong, we know it going in.  We know the right thing to do but, for whatever reason, we fail to do the right thing.

    The reason is sin.  We are sinful by nature so sinning is the natural thing to do.  But we are redeemed children of God who has given us new life and new hope.  Yet that hope does not mean it will always be easy; in fact, it can be very hard.  We know what is right; God wants us to love one another just as he loved us.  We know this yet our sinful nature continually tries to pull us back into sin.  That is usually why we are so confused when we do some of these things.  It is not a conscious action; it is a regression into sin.  It sneaks up on us and soon we are bit.

    This is why we need to be vigilant; to be “sober” as Peter tells us.  This is especially true when you find yourself in dangerous situations, places where you are predisposed to sin whether it is at the coffee gathering, a bar or night club somewhere, or sitting in front of your computer.  We know our weaknesses but so do the devil and our sinful nature.  So, we have to be very careful to about our actions.  We need to always be thinking about what we are doing.  It is when we do not think that we fall into sin.  Why do we do what we do not want to do?  Because we are sinful by nature, but thanks be to God that we are the forgiven children whom he loves and redeems daily!

Father, I know what is right but too often I fail and fall short of your will.  Strengthen me and give me the ability to live a life pleasing to you.  Help me to love my neighbor as I should.  Guide me by your Spirit to do the good that I would.  In the precious name of Jesus our risen Savior, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret