2-7-2022

 Good Morning All,

   Philippians 3:20;” But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

    There is a story about an older couple who had spent their entire life working with the poor people of a foreign land.  After 40 years of tireless and anonymous work, they returned to the United States.  As luck would have it, they were on the same ship as a famous Hollywood couple.  As the ship docked, all the media went running up to the Hollywood couple, leaving the older couple to shuffle off the ship.  As they went, the husband turned to his wife and apologized for not making more of their lives.  “I never took you to any place exciting; we never did anything to be noted for.  If we had, maybe everyone would be excited when we got home.”  As he walked with his head down and dejected, his wife turned to him and said, “We aren’t home yet.”

    We are not home yet.  Heaven is our home.  It is where our welcome, our celebration waits.  This is why we do not worry about worldly accolades.  Jesus tells us that those who seek worldly fame already have their glory.  Our glory waits for us in heaven.  As we toil here on earth, doing the tasks that the Lord has given us; we can do them with joy knowing that the Father is glorified by them.  We don’t seek the awards from man; we only receive the love of the Father. The reward which awaits us is far greater than any type of earthly reward. It is the total love of the Father who created all things. We walk in his care and in his providence. We seek not the things of this earth they tarnish or corrode away. We seek what is eternal and permanent. 

    So, as we serve the Lord and look around, we don’t need to be jealous of others, envious of their notoriety.  We know that what we do is what the Lord wants us to do and while we do these tasks; we are witnessing to our faith in Jesus as our Savior.  We can take great joy in seeing that all those who we speak to we can speak of the love of Jesus.  This can be to hundreds of people or to your grandchild while reading a bedtime story.  This can be over the radio or through the internet or it can be over a cup of coffee with the neighbors.  There is never a time when witnessing the eternal love of Jesus is trivial or unimportant.  Every soul is to be reached; everybody is to hear the story that their sins are forgiven.  For in the end ours is not the accolades or the wonderful retirement here on this earth; our citizenship is in heaven.  Our hope, our future is assured with our Savior.

Dearest Father, remind us that our hope is in you and our citizenship is in heaven.  Keep us from jealousy or envy for those around us.  Keep us mindful of your great love and reward which you give to us through Jesus. Keep us safe in your saving arms.  In Jesus’ precious name, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

2-6-2022

Good Morning All,

Galatians 3:11; “Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 

    The righteous shall live by faith. We have heard or said or even memorized this verse many times. We often say this verse, but I think most of us are usually a little afraid to think that we are righteous. We often feel this is a little pretentious. We feel that others will look at us and see us as “too good” or “above them.”

    Here is where we need to see the definition of and the difference between being “righteous” and being “self-righteous.”  The difference is like night and day. The Pharisees were self-righteous. They looked at themselves and saw their own piety and greatness. This is why Jesus spoke of the “log in your eye” when judging others.  Their log was huge. Yet God calls us to be righteous so what does this mean?

     First, and above all, the relationship that the righteous have with God is not based on the actions of the man but on the grace of God.  Our righteousness is not our own; rather it is given to us by God through Jesus.  We know this, we trust this, we place our life on this. It is not what we do it is what God has done/ is doing/ and will do for us that gives us our righteousness.

     Since the righteous know that their righteousness comes only from God and not from their own actions; they are humble and meek. They know who God is and who is not. They know that the LORD is the only source of their sustenance. So, the righteous are also needy. They need God’s mercy and grace to survive.

    The righteous know that all is from God, so they praise God for his gifts and his blessings. They live their life in constant praise to God. They live their life in the constant communion with God. They hear God speak to them through His Word and then speak to God through their prayers. This constant conversation refreshes them and gives them hope.

    Yet all this righteousness from God, this passive righteousness, does not mean a passive life. The righteous are active in living out their faith. They are active in living as the disciples that God has called them to be. For some this is preaching, for some it is teaching. Yet for most of us, it is sharing God’s love with your family, your neighbors, and your friends. It is listening as a friend worry about a doctor’s appointment. It is consoling a crying friend when they mourn the loss of a loved one. For most of us, it is offering a sympathetic shoulder when the time is needed.

   This is how you are righteous. You are righteous because God declares you to be righteous. This is the righteousness which God redeems us and then calls us to use in his name to bring about the reconciliation of man back to God. You are righteous if you live by faith, trusting in God’s promise of eternal life.

Dear Father, you give to us your holy righteousness. Through the blood of Jesus, you declare us holy and righteous in your sight. Keep us safe and keep us holy. Lead us in your paths that we may touch those whom you place in our lives with your tender mercy. Amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret 

2-5-2022

 Good Morning All,

         Psalm 147:5; “Our Lord is great, and his power is great.  There is no limit to his understanding.”

    Do you understand what this means?  How many times in your life have you heard or used that phrase?  This is a question that can be very hard to hear.  Sometimes we hear that and simply want to shout, “NO!!, I haven’t got a clue.”  Sometimes this question revolves around the implications of the answer.  If your employer asks you how you want to fill out your W-2 form, he might ask if you understand the implications of the change.  If your insurance agent is showing you some facts about your policy and any changes you want to make, he might ask if you understand what this will mean.

   Sometimes we hear this question at the doctor’s office and the understanding can be too plain.  We can hear this as a marriage sours and the pain occurs.  We can hear this when our business fails, and the bank forecloses on our loan.  We can hear this if a loved one gets in trouble with the law and must face the consequences.  We hear this phrase often and usually we don’t like the answer.  Do you understand what this means?  It means that someone is going to get hurt. 

    Sometimes, it means the exact opposite.  Sometimes when we hurt, we talk to someone, a doctor or a friend and when we finish, they respond, “I understand.”  Have you ever asked the question, “What does this mean, I don’t understand” and have someone answer, “I understand”?  I call this the Linus moment.  You remember from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” when Charlie Brown asks if anybody can explain Christmas and Linus answers, “Sure, Charlie Brown” and then he recites Luke chapter 2.  Linus understood what Christmas meant even when the rest of the world seemed to forget.  It is nice when someone understands. 

    Whether it is setting the clock on your VCR or making the computer work the way it should or knowing the pain that you are feeling right now; it helps when someone can come to you and say I understand.  This is exactly what God does for us.  He understands.  He understands you and me.  He knows our heart and he knows our life.  He sees our pain and heals it.

    We live in a world that is full of pain.  Sometimes this pain is inflicted by people we know and love.  This pain is inflicted may be accidental or it may be intentional.  This pain can hurt right to the core.  Yet God truly does understand our pain and our need.  He understands our need for forgiveness.  He forgives us of our sin and then brings us into his family.  Here we can come to God with all of our pain and all of our hurt and God says, “I understand.” He continues with the ability to solve our pain.  He gives us life and hope.  God understands what we need, even before we do.  His grace is sufficient for us.

Dearest Father, even when we don’t understand; you do.  Give us the faith to trust in you.  Father we come to you like the father who exclaimed, “I believe, help my unbelief.”  Help our unbelief that we may go forth with the confidence and faith in your mercy and love.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

2-4-2022

 Good Morning All,

      John 13:17: “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

    The four mothers were bragging about their sons. The first said her son was a colonel in the army and had hundreds of men that served under him. The next mother said her son managed a Fortune 500 company and had hundreds of employees serving under his watchful eye. The third mother said her son was the CEO of a huge hospital chain and he had thousands of employees who served under him. The fourth mother said that her son just owned a restaurant and that he could get a waiter any time he wanted.

    This verse comes from what we call the “Upper Room” discourse. Jesus is spending the last few hours of this last night with his disciples before he is betrayed by Judas. He was giving them the instructions and encouragements that they would need to manage these next few days. In the first part of chapter 13, we see Jesus as he demonstrates true humility. In the next section he teaches about holiness. In this verse, Jesus tells us about happiness or being blessed. Our happiness is based on holiness and humility. We are given Jesus’ holiness so that we can stand before God, so we can come to God in prayer in confidence. This is given to us we do nothing to earn it. Because of this fact, we should be humble, humble before God.

    But we see that knowing what is right, is not enough to keep us happy; we must put this knowledge in practice. Jesus has just shown his disciples a lesson in humility, in serving others. The world will ask,” how many people serve you?”  God asks us,” how many do you serve?’  How many do we help? How many feet have you washed today? While this may sound strange to the world, God gives us peace and happiness in our task. This is so we may be a blessing to those in the world who are most often left behind, the poor and the orphans and the widows and the aliens in the land. Our group of “throw-away folks” may be different but the meaning is the same. We have no great effort to do to earn our salvation, we have no great work to do to battle the devil; Jesus has done this already for us.  Now that we are saved; we are free to enjoy his grace and to share his love with those around us. Especially those who are the downtrodden and the suffering, the “least of these, my brothers.” It is only by God’s grace that we have eternal life, a gift that only God can give. Now He wants to use our skills and talents to bring comfort and peace to those who are hurting. This is part of God's plan for you; to enjoy the life that He gives you. Then to freely share this gift with your family, your friends and with those who are in most desperate of need. So be happy with God's blessings and share!

Lord Jesus, we are too often unhappy because we do not place our trust in you. Forgive us our weaknesses and sins. Give us strength to follow you with all humility and holiness. Use us as your hands to serve others that we know true happiness in your grace.

In your name we pray, Amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret  

2-3-2022

 Good Morning All,

       Luke 10:18; “And he (Jesus) said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven.”

     Satan falling like lightening from heaven; what an image that creates. In fact, that is something that I would like to see. Here lies one of our biggest challenges; we want to filter everything in our lives through our human reason, logic, and senses. We want to bring God and all his power and majesty, His mercy, and blessings down to our level. We want it to make sense to me.

     God, in His love and mercy, brings us up to His level. We may not see this happen with our human eyes, but we can see it with our eyes of faith. This is what Paul was talking about in Ephesians when he spoke of “having the eyes of your hearts enlightened” (Eph. 1:18). But we are weak and sinful, so we keep slipping back to the old level. Yet God keeps pulling us up with His Word and with His sacraments. God’s grace pulls us up and it drives the devil insane!!  God loves you and when Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins; then rose again to seal the deal; Satan lost. He no longer has the control he once had. We experience God’s miracle every day. Every time God forgives our sins, Satan falls like lightening and through faith; we see it.

    We see it and experience it every time a person, young or old, is baptized into Christ. As the waters wash away the dirt of sin and this new Christian is marked with the sign of the cross as one redeemed by Christ the Crucified. We see it when we approach the altar and kneel at the rail and we hear those words, “take and eat” and we hold the very body of Jesus in our hands as we wait to take it into our mouth or the words, “take and drink” as we receive the cleansing blood of our Savior and our faith is strengthened and our sins are removed as far as the east is from the west.

    Satan falls but he continues to fight. We must always be vigilant, always staying close to Jesus by studying his Word and engaging in prayer. Satan continues to prowl but one little word can stop him. Jesus, our victory, has overcome all the devil’s lies and deceits and has given us the victory that we may see Satan falling from the skies.

    The victory is ours, so “fear not!” The joy of life eternal is ours, so “fear not!” The peace of God is ours, so “fear not!” Satan has fallen from the sky, so “fear not!” For in all things, we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. You are claimed by the Risen Savior, so “Fear not!!”

  Gracious Father, by the waters of Baptism You claim us as Your children and give to us the forgiveness of sins, eternal life and you free us from Satan and his bondage. Lead us to see You with the opened eyes of faith that we may see Satan fall and walk closer to You. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

 

2-2-2022

 Good Morning All,

          Galatians 3:28; “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male or female, for you are all one in Christ.”

    Why is it that we always seem to look for the differences at first? Why do we seek those things which we use to divide and separate? It often starts out innocent enough: it is how we identify individuals. We see Suzy as the short, blonde girl and Billy as the tall red head. But all too soon we take those differences and use them to hold others down or try to push them back; all in an effort to get to the front.  So, we take those differences, and we begin to categorize people. This group is greedy; this group is lazy, this group is selfish, this group is made up of criminals. (I did not list who, but you probably filled in the blanks).  Instead of looking at what we have in common and try and build on that; we build walls to keep some back from us or out of our sight or away from us.

    Yet when God looks at people He sees one thing, a sinful creature in need of salvation. Before God we are all the same. There is no difference; we are all sinners deserving eternal punishment. But by God’s grace, God sees only righteousness and holiness when He looks at His redeemed children. All God sees is Christ’s atoning sacrifice. He sees us as one in Christ, holy and undefiled. We are not male or female, tall or short, fat, or skinny, black, brown, white, yellow, purple, or orange; we are the redeemed children of God. That is how God sees us and that is how we should see our fellow believer. We are all the same. We are forgiven sinners who live by God’s grace and mercy. We need to tear down the walls we build and see what God sees, forgiven creatures.

    This is part of what Jesus came to do for us. Sin had built up walls between people. Jesus came to break those walls down and He did. So, why do we insist on rebuilding those walls? Those walls, those judgements, those selfish claims only serve to destroy. In this act of sinfulness, God weeps. He weeps over his children who still will not get along, who still fight with each other. As Christians, we are better and should not let ourselves be drawn into a tussle which serves only the devil. Our neighbors deserve better of us. Do not hate, do not seek revenge, so not judge, all these are God’s directives for his believers. Because we are forgiven, we should be able to rise above the devil’s ploys. Yet we often fail. Yet, with a love that we cannot understand, God continues to forgive His people and to call us back into His holy family. Seek the Lord’s face while it may be sought, the psalmist tells us. Seek the Lord, receive his forgiveness and walk in His ways and break down the walls that sin has built.

Father in heaven, too often we let our sinful nature lead us into prejudice and suspicion. Forgive us our sin. Guide us Lord to remove the walls and the barriers which we build between us and our fellow believers. Cause us to see them as our brothers in Christ and to feel their pain and to share in their joy to your glory here on earth. In Jesus’ precious Name we pray, Amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

2-1-2022

 Good Morning All,

      Exodus 24:17: “Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.”

    Why don’t we see this anymore? Why don’t we see this miraculous display of God’s majesty? When we think of the story that surrounds the plagues of Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, the leading through the wilderness with the pillar of cloud and fire; when we think of the awe and majesty of God’s very presence at Mount Sinai we think, “now that is what God should be like.”  “I could believe in a God like that very easily. I would never leave a God like that.”  “Just give me a God with thunderbolts and lightening and make Him very, very frightening to all my (His) enemies.”

   You would think that wouldn’t you? It must have been so easy for those early Israelites to believe in God; they saw Him and the mighty works that He did. Yet a mere 8 chapters later in Exodus, in chapter 32, while they are still camped at the bottom of Mt. Sinai, they fall away and worship a golden calf. Too often, our pleas for God to do something, is really a call for God to do what I want, when I want and to whom I want it done. Ultimately, we don’t want God to show His power so we can have faith; we want God to show His power so we can try and control God to do our will.  We are trying to trade places with God and place ourselves on His holy throne and rule all. That is too often the “proof “we seek.

     Fortunately, God knows better than all of us. He acts in ways that are designed to reconcile back to Him with love and not total fear. He does not try to scare us into faith; rather He leads us back to Him with “a still, quiet voice” a voice that offers hope and comfort.  God’s majesty is all around; all we need to do is look. God’s love is revealed to us in the empty tomb of Christ. The power to overcome death and then give to us as a gift is truly awe inspiring. To give us the power of the Holy Spirit as a down payment and as a way to keep us connected to Him is majestic as well.

    It is in the quiet and comfort of His Word that we see God in his glory. We see it in a God who loves, delights, and preserves his creation even when the human part of this creation has despoiled it and walked away from God. We see his glory in his patient treatment of sinners and his desire that no one be lost to sin. It is this desire to redeem all that should encourage us to walk in his ways and to sing his praises eternally. We should then respond to the world with love, as God does to us, and leave the “thunderbolts and lightening” to old rock songs.

God of power and might, we give you thanks for your great power, but we especially give you thanks for your great love. Guard our hearts that we may desire your will. Look with favor upon all who are suffering at this time. Send your Spirit to comfort and console. Make us your hands, shoulders, and voice to proclaim your mercy to all. Move us to share that love with one person today. In the precious Name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret