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Devotions

Back to School Joy

DEVOTION – BACK TO SCHOOL

What do you remember about the first day of school? It’s always exciting, isn’t it? New clothes, new school supplies, possibly a new classroom, a new seating arrangement. If you struggled with your math last year, there’s good news! The new school year brings a fresh start. Even those of you who dreaded school must admit that you felt that certain spark the very first day. Now compare that with what you remember about the one-hundredth day. The feelings just aren’t the same. It’s not long until the excitement wears off, new clothes and supplies become old, frustration with classes builds up, and children begin making excuses to stay home.
I wonder if the disciples shared similar feelings the week after Easter. After Jesus died, confusion and dismay filled the disciples’ hearts. Fear was also present, as we know they had locked themselves in a room, afraid of the Jews. But all those feelings evaporated in an instant when their Lord appeared to them behind locked doors and announced, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19) What peace! What joy! Their teacher Who was dead was now alive! Their lives, which appeared to be ending, had been restored! They were given a fresh start.Read More »Back to School Joy

“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS August 2019

TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941; WS = Worship Supplement 2000; LSB = Lutheran Service Book, 2006

Date Hymns Reading Comments
Aug 1 TLH 512; LSB 839 Romans 11:25-36 In His great wisdom, God sent Jesus to die for all people. So let’s not adopt a condescending attitude toward others whom He wants to save.
Aug 2 TLH 440; LSB 747 Romans 12:9-21 We can’t always stop others from hurting us, but we can overcome their evil with good rather than retaliating.
Aug 3 TLH 417; LSB 857 Romans 13:8-14 If you just don’t know what to do, you can always love!
Aug 5 TLH 46; LSB 921 Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 If your hope and joy is only in this life, you will be disappointed; but if your hope is in the Lord and in the life to come, you will find meaning.
Aug 6 TLH 224; LSB 502 Romans 15:1-13 As you help build up another Christian, you will both benefit from the encouragement of the Scriptures and bring praise to God.
Aug 7 TLH 238; LSB 948 Romans 16:25-27 It is the Lord Who establishes us in the faith through the Gospel of Jesus Christ! All glory to Him!Read More »“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS August 2019

Faithful Stewards

DEVOTION – Stewardship

“Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2)

“Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate.” (Genesis 39:6)
It is a strange course on which the Lord led Joseph. At home, he was living the good life. He was his father’s favorite, a dreamer in the coat of many colors. From that high position he found himself at the bottom of a cistern, thrown in there by his jealous brothers. Then he found himself sold into slavery, headed for Egypt.
Life in Egypt certainly had its ups and downs. His first stop was the home of Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and a captain of the guard. Joseph was purchased by Potiphar as a slave and put to work. Yet, we don’t find Joseph grumbling about his servitude. Instead, the Lord was with Joseph and he was a faithful worker in Potiphar’s house. Potiphar took note of how faithful Joseph was and entrusted all into Joseph’s hands. Joseph was a steward—a manager of someone else’s home and possessions. And he was a faithful steward.Read More »Faithful Stewards

“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS July 2019

TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941; WS = Worship Supplement 2000; LSB = Lutheran Service Book, 2006

Date Hymns Reading Comments
Jul 1 TLH 191; WS 727 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 Get rid of what is sinful so that it does not corrupt everything around it.
Jul 2 TLH 424; LSB 600 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 Those who continue in sexual immorality without repentance are rejecting the Lord Jesus Who bought them with His own blood.
Jul 3 TLH 246 (LSB 507) Leviticus 10:1-11 The deaths of Nadab and Abihu reminded Israel of the need for holiness before the Lord.
Jul 4 TLH 623; WS 791 1 Corinthians 7:1-14 The apostle Paul reiterates God’s intent for the marriage relationship. God wants husbands and wives to stay together until parted by death.
Jul 5 TLH 418; LSB 847 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 Sometimes just being permitted to do something doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to do it.
Jul 6 TLH 415 (LSB 510) 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 The apostle disciplined himself carefully so as not to lead others or himself away from the prize in Christ Jesus.Read More »“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS July 2019

A Six-Step Engagement Plan

Life is full of choices—some of little consequence, and some that can change the entire course of your future. There is perhaps no other decision that has more far-reaching implications than selecting a spouse. Here are some time-tested scriptural principles, as well as practical advice on how to go about making this choice in a way that will bring the Lord’s best blessing.
First, keep in mind what marriage itself is. At its heart, marriage is the unconditional promise between one man and one woman to be husband and wife, faithful to each other so long as they both shall live. In Jesus’ day, “betrothal” was just such a public and unconditional promise, although the man and woman did not live together as husband and wife until after the actual marriage ceremony. That’s why the Bible refers to Mary and Joseph both as being betrothed (Matthew 1:18) and also as being married (Matthew 1:20) prior to their wedding day.Read More »A Six-Step Engagement Plan

“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS June 2019

TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941; WS = Worship Supplement 2000; LSB = Lutheran Service Book, 2006

Date Hymns Reading Comments
Jun 1 TLH 456/LSB 545; James 5:7-16 Patience and prayer go well together.
Jun 3 TLH 156/LSB 530; Acts 15:1-21 Having considered the Word of God, the council recognized that the Gentiles were also saved by grace through faith in Jesus.
Jun 4 TLH 355/(LSB 526) Galatians 1:6-12 The Gospel message is not man-made; it has been revealed to us from God Himself.
Jun 5 TLH 529/LSB 719 Proverbs 16:1-9 Let the Lord have the last word in your life. Let His plans be your plans.
Jun 6 TLH 324/LSB 609 Galatians 2:1-16 You can’t justify yourself before God by doing better at keeping His rules.
Jun 7 TLH 390/LSB 597; Galatians 3:1-14 Beware that you don’t ever substitute the Law for the Gospel as the Galatians were doing.Read More »“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS June 2019

Our Father’s Day

DEVOTION – FATHER’S DAY

How difficult is it to get a national holiday started? If one were to look at the history behind Father’s Day, the conclusion would be—quite difficult.
It seems as far back as the Middle Ages, Catholic Europe held a Father’s Day of sorts on the Feast of St. Joseph. However, the practice just didn’t seem to catch on. Several cities in the U.S. attempted to get something going with parades and speeches in the early 1900’s, but still—nothing doing. Most attempts to get a Father’s Day going were seen as collusion between the promoters and manufacturers of ties, tobacco pipes and other traditional father-type gifts. Congress rejected no fewer than three bills attempting to establish the holiday, even with the backing of several presidents. Finally, dads got their day when Richard Nixon made the holiday permanent in 1972.
In the beginning, Father’s Day was received with cynical and sarcastic attacks and jokes. Not much has changed. Watch any TV program or movie and look at how the father is being portrayed. Fathers are often viewed as dimwitted knuckle draggers outsmarted by their wives and offspring. In most presentations, these narrow-minded men need their opinions changed, or at least need to be taught a lesson.Read More »Our Father’s Day

Graduating with the Lord

DEVOTION – GRADUATION

Near the end of my first grade year, I asked my mom how much longer I needed to go to school. I enjoyed first grade as well as kindergarten the year before that, but I did wonder if there would be a day when I wouldn’t have to go anymore. I had suspected that I would need to go at least until eighth grade, and my suspicions were confirmed. Then my mom surprised me with the news of eight more years of school, called “high school” and “college.” For a young child squinting to see the end of school as upon a distant horizon, graduation seems like a fantasy which will never materialize. For those who are now arriving at their graduation day, the common question is, “Where did the time go?”
While graduation is the end goal for millions of young people around our nation, graduation day is not the end. The word itself implies a progression to something new. Just as the celebration of a sports championship is shortly followed by a new season, so each graduation brings on a new season of life. And how intimidating it can be to graduate into that unknown! Whether you are an eighth grader graduating into the intimidating halls of high school, or a high school senior progressing to the pressures of college, or a college senior stepping into your career, graduation is often accompanied by fear of what comes next.Read More »Graduating with the Lord

“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS MAY 2019

TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941; WS = Worship Supplement 2000; LSB = Lutheran Service Book, 2006

Date Hymns Reading Comments

May 1 TLH 144/LSB 421 Exodus 17:1-7 We, too, are just as tempted to test the Lord saying, “Is He among us or not?”

May 2 TLH 363Acts 3:1-19Peter used the miracle to point the people to Jesus, which is what the miracles were for.

May 3 TLH 203 Acts 4:1-12 How do we know Jesus truly rose from the dead? Well, we find Him still doing miracles after Good Friday (v. 10)!

May 4 TLH 294/LSB 523 Proverbs 8:22-36 Solomon is describing wisdom in a picturesque way, but don’t these descriptions fit Jesus too—the Wisdom from on high?

May 6 TLH 366/LSB 536 Proverbs 9:1-10 A truly wise person puts the Lord first in his heart.

May 7 WS 736/LSB 633 Acts 7:1-22 Stephen is not just telling any story here, but the story of God’s love and mercy.Read More »“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS MAY 2019

Graduating with the Lord

Near the end of my first grade year, I asked my mom how much longer I needed to go to school. I enjoyed first grade as well as kindergarten the year before that, but I did wonder if there would be a day when I wouldn’t have to go anymore. I had suspected that I would need to go at least until eighth grade, and my suspicions were confirmed. Then my mom surprised me with the news of eight more years of school, called “high school” and “college.” For a young child squinting to see the end of school as upon a distant horizon, graduation seems like a fantasy which will never materialize. For those who are now arriving at their graduation day, the common question is, “Where did the time go?”Read More »Graduating with the Lord