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Devotions

“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS January 2019

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

Date Hymns Reading Comments

Jan 1 WS 782/LSB 726 Psalm 1 Walk with the Lord in the new year, for He will watch over your way.

Jan 2 TLH 532 Luke 1:26-38 Mary trusted the Lord to guide her life in whatever way He considered best for her.

Jan 3 TLH 275/LSB 933; Luke 1:39-56 Mary’s humble station did not prevent God from giving her great blessings. Truly He lifts up the humble.

Jan 4 TLH 84 Luke 1:57-66 Zechariah and Elizabeth also played significant roles in God’s plan of salvation. What role does God give to you?

Jan 5 TLH 272/LSB 346; John 1:1-14 John would prepare the way for the Savior’s ministry by testifying concerning Him.Read More »“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS January 2019

Advent Is for Expectation

COVER STORY – ADVENT

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,” 

as the old song goes. We see it all around us: lights and decorations, Christmas songs, Christmas shopping, and the planning of Christmas events. Even without a calendar, you would know that Christmas is coming soon.

You may be surprised to know the situation was somewhat similar leading up to the first Christmas. Of course, there were no Christmas decorations or music, but Daniel had given some very specific prophecies so that people who paid attention would know that the time was coming soon. That explains why, as Luke records, “Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, . . .” (Luke 3:15) It also explains why there were several people who claimed to be the Messiah at that time. The people were in expectation of Messiah’s coming soon. They were looking for him and testing the various claims.

Isn’t the same true for us?

We have been given many prophecies, many signs that Christ is coming soon. We, too, should be in expectation of His coming. Therefore the Apostle Paul urges us,

“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”
(Romans 13:11-14)Read More »Advent Is for Expectation

“He Must Increase, but I Must Decrease”

DEVOTION – JOHN THE BAPTIST

Pick one of today’s more “popular” preachers with a large following. Maybe it would be Joel Osteen with his average attendance of 52,000. Or maybe it would be the “Purpose Driven” preacher, Rick Warren, with his average attendance of 22,000.

Regardless of the numerically popular preacher’s name, can you imagine him telling his followers to quit coming to his church and start following another preacher? What would ever cause a popular preacher to do such a thing? Why would a preacher voluntarily surrender followers by directing them to someone else?

Why? Ask John the Baptist.Read More »“He Must Increase, but I Must Decrease”

“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS November 2018

Date Verse Reading Comments

Nov 1 TLH 383/LSB 671; Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 Human effort will ultimately come to nothing, but whatever God does will endure.

Nov 2 TLH 57 Zephaniah 3:14-20 The Lord would bring judgment on Judah, but He would restore them by sending the Messiah.

Nov 3 TLH 129/LSB 949; Acts 11:1-18 Peter learned that salvation in Christ was for all who believed, not just for a particular people

Nov 5 TLH 417 James 4:1-10 What causes arguments and quarrels? Very simply, they are clashes of wills. Learn to put your own desires away and do the Lord’s will.

Nov 6 TLH 35 Deuteronomy 3:1-11 As Moses recounted Israel’s history, he reminded them how God had even given Og, the king of Bashan, into their hands—giant that he was!

Nov 7 TLH 22 2 Chronicles 33:10-17 After being captured by the Assyrians, Manasseh finally humbled himself before the Lord. Often we must be brought low to be brought back to God.Read More »“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS November 2018

Frequently Asked Questions about HEAVEN

DEVOTION – HEAVEN

The promise of life in glory, forever in heaven, is the Christian’s most cherished hope. We would like to know more, of course, about the wonderful place which will be our home for all eternity. Many of our questions can only be answered when we arrive, but here are some answers God has provided us now.

Can I know, for sure, that I’m going?

Most people hesitate to answer “yes, definitely” to this question, because of the sins which we commit daily. But when our trust is in Jesus’ work—His life, death, and resurrection—then His promise will certainly hold true, “Because I live, you will live also.” (John 14:19) Apart from Christ there is no hope, but WITH Him there is no doubt!

Will I be some kind of angel or spirit?

No. The Bible is very clear that what happened to Jesus is the same thing that will happen to us. He rose with His physical body (Luke 24:39), and the Bible says that we, too, will have glorified bodies in heaven: “He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11) See also Job 19:25-28 and Philippians 3:20-21.Read More »Frequently Asked Questions about HEAVEN

“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS October 2018

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

Date Verse Reading Comments

Oct 1 TLH 261/LSB 655; Numbers 22:21-41 Balaam wanted to prophesy as Balak desired, but the Lord hindered him so that the truth came out instead.

Oct 2 TLH 570/LSB 558; Psalm 117 Meditate on the Lord’s love and His faithfulness!

Oct 3TLH 203Psalm 118:13-24Though we face trials and sorrows, the Lord does not give us over to death, but He becomes our salvation.Read More »“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS October 2018

The Unseen Church

DEVOTION – THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

“The hand is quicker than the eye” is a very familiar adage. This saying was demonstrated to me quite thoroughly just last year. Our town had a festival at which a street magician was performing. Time and again this man astounded the gathered crowd with his sleight of hand. One trick in particular had me flummoxed, because I knew the trick. I had seen videos on the preparation and deception, and yet I couldn’t see this man’s execution. I saw the result, as we all did, but how did he get there?Read More »The Unseen Church

“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS September 2018

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

Date Verse Reading Comments

Sept 1TLH 141 John 11:45-53Caiaphas was right that one man needed to die for the people, but not in the way he thought. Jesus needed to die for the sins of all people.

Sept 3 TLH 502/LSB 830; 2 Timothy 1:8-14 Even if it brings us suffering and trouble, we need not be ashamed to testify about our Lord.  The Spirit will help us in this.

Sept 4TLH 488 Numbers 12:1-15Miriam and Aaron should have thought twice before speaking rashly against God’s called servant. We should respect our called servants, too.

Sept 5 TLH 633/LSB 610; 1 Chronicles 22:2-16 David (who made his reputation by fighting) was not to build the temple because it was  supposed to remind the people of the peace and rest God gives.Read More »“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS September 2018

Labor Day Thanksgiving

DEVOTION – THE BLESSINGS OF LABOR

“Here is what I have seen:
It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good
of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God.” 

(Ecclesiastes 5:18-19).

Labor Day—what does it mean to you?

The last big weekend of summer and the beginning of the school year are perhaps the two most common answers. But it also has to do with recognizing those who labor, and what they contribute to our society. Many feel that working men and women are the fabric of our society. They make, build, sell, or service many of those things that we take for granted as part of our daily lives. At the same time, they are working to support their families so that their dependents have a roof over their heads, food on the table, and clothes on their bodies. Perhaps it’s a good thing to have a special day on which those who labor are recognized for the blessings they bring to others around them. Read More »Labor Day Thanksgiving