A Weekly Walk in the Word

Matthew 24:12-13  Because of increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

It would be easy to give up on humans with all the evil that happens in our world every day. I struggle to turn on the 5 o’clock news anymore because it seems all the stories televised involve hatred, corruption or death.

So, how do we stay warm in a world filled with coldness?

Jesus is the only answer. When we focus on Jesus’ love, we are like the brightly colored orange pumpkins blanketed by the white snow. Jesus will melt away the cold hearts so that His love shines through for all to see. The cold may stay for a season, but eventually it melts into brighter, warmer days.

How can you be a pumpkin this week to share the warmth of Jesus’ love?

Today is Reformation Sunday, and this year Lutherans are commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation!
Reformation Sunday remembers when Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses in Wittenberg, Germany, on Oct. 31, 1517, which led to changes that have shaped the course of Western Christianity for 500 years. 

Luther’s Preface in the catechism was written in A.D. 1529. It begins…..

The deplorable conditions in which I found religious affairs during a recent visitation of the congregations, has impelled me to publish this Catechism, or statement of the Christian doctrine, after having prepared it in very brief and simple terms. Alas! what misery I beheld! The people, especially those who live in the villages, seem to have no knowledge whatever of Christian doctrine, and many of the pastors are ignorant and incompetent teachers. And, nevertheless, they all maintain that they have received the Lord’s Supper. Yet they cannot recite the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, or the Ten Commandments; they live as if they were irrational creatures, and now that the Gospel has come to them, they grossly abuse their Christian liberty.

We pray for the church.

Psalm 125:2  As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.

Mike and I were in Colorado last week visiting our daughter who attends Colorado State University. While there we attended the CSU homecoming football game, tailgated, ate too much and hiked the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. During every trip to Colorado, I am in awe of the beauty of nature, but especially in the fall with the Aspen leaves turning a brilliant yellow color against the mountain backdrop. It is breathtaking!

The hardest part of going to visit Hannah, is coming home. I thought it would get easier to leave her after two years, but it isn’t. I hate leaving her by herself when she is so far from home.

The day after we returned to Minnesota, I was working on a Beth Moore Bible Study, and guess what the Bible treasure for the day was?! That’s right! Psalm 125:2. God is so good! I sobbed as I reread the verse. The Lord surrounds his people like the mountains. The physical mountains of Colorado surround the CSU campus. God surrounds my daughter. Nothing can get to her without going through the mighty mountain of the Lord.

Thank you Lord for protecting your children!

1 Thessalonians 5:15-18:  Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I have a difficult time watching the news these days without becoming depressed. The news anchor goes from hurricanes to floods to earthquakes to fires to shootings. A wise friend told me just this week that when she watches the news she looks for acts of kindness people are performing in the midst of disaster. Instead of sticking my head in the sand by not watching the news, I began putting this practice in action. I encourage you to do the same.  Watch the news intentionally looking for kindness, and if you cannot find any, then I challenge you to become the kindness in the world for someone that day!

Romans 8:37-39  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Following the tragedy in Las Vegas, the President of the United States of America ordered all flags be flown at half-staff as a mark of respect to honor the victims of Sunday night’s senseless act of violence. There are no words to express the feeling of loss and devastation. Our only comfort comes from knowing that even through the evil in this world, there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God.

Mark 4:14-20  “The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop – thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.”

It is harvest time in the mid-west. Combines are moving through fields. Tractors are pulling wagons. And semis filled with corn or soy beans are lined up at the coop. Because of their hard work, careful watch over their crops, and perfectly timed rain from God, the farmers have had another successful year in the field. They are reaping their reward.

I pray that your harvest is going as well. When seeds are planted on good soil, continue to work hard, carefully watch over the crop and remember that those perfectly timed rains come for a reason….  we grow best after the rain!

Revelation 19:7  Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

Last weekend I had the privilege of taking pictures of the first view at my niece’s wedding. The looks on their faces says it all. They were so happy and so in love! After two years of planning their big day to publicly declare their love to each other had finally come.

Despite everything happening in the world, the weekend was one of those rare weekends when everything feels right. My children, parents, sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews all attended the wedding. My daughter read the scripture and my husband gave the blessing before the meal. As I sat back and soaked in the evening of vows, laughter, food and dancing. I thought, this must be what heaven will be like….   living in peaceful community, surrounded by those we love.

I look forward to the first view in heaven. When my weary feet and glad heart see Jesus’ face. Oh, what a day that will be!

Acts 20:28 – 31  Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I (Paul) leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears  

Happy Rally Sunday!  Today is the day that many churches kick off their Sunday school year, offering several educational opportunities for children and adults. How will you contribute to Christian education in your church?  Will you be a shepherd to the flock? Or will participate as a student?

A group of women in my church met at my house this week after taking the summer off, to begin a new Bible study.  I praise God for these women and their commitment to study God’s word.  Their relationship to me and our church is such a blessing.

I challenge you to dig deeper this year in your knowledge of Christ…..  attend a Bible study, stay for Sunday school, shepherd the flock!

Philippians 4:12-14  Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have yet taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

It seems like just yesterday we were taking the training wheels off our boys’ bikes….  and today they are participating in our town’s Jesse James Bike Tour, riding the 100 mile getaway route.  Their goal was to complete the course by 2:00 in the afternoon. They encountered several large hills on the road and a strong headwind.  It was closer to 4:00 when they pulled back into our driveway. But, they completed the ride. Through their extensive training over the entire summer, they overcame today’s obstacles by pressing on to finish the 100 mile route!

As I press on toward the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus, I know that I can not reach the prize on my own. Jesus took hold of me during those days when the training wheels came off, when I struggle up a hill or when I am riding into a headwind. The road I am on may take unexpected turns and the timing may not be what I had planned, but I press forward. I know Jesus is with me….  so I press onward in peace and gladness.

Enjoy your journey heavenward in Christ Jesus!

Ecclesiastes 5:19-20  Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work – this is a gift from God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

Happy Labor Day Weekend! As we take a day to reflect on the work we do throughout the year, are you content and happy with your work?

Earlier this week, my husband and I worked on the unending task of pulling weeds in our flower beds. At the end of the day, we had quite a pile to take to our city compost site. On the way, we noticed a widowed neighbor halfway up the block with a large pile of weeds accumulated in her driveway. When we stopped to ask her if we could add her weeds to our load to dispose of them, she was in tears. She had no way to dispose of her weeds. Within minutes, we had her pile added to our truckload and drove away. Such simple work, but such meaningful work that made a difference in someone’s life!

This morning I took my cup of coffee to the garden to think about the work I do. God has blessed me in so many ways, and one of those blessings is the ability to work. My favorite days are when I am busy and at the end of the day when I crawl into bed, I am exhausted. I feel that on those days, I have lived!

Take time this Labor Day to reflect on the work you do. Praise God for the opportunities you are given to work!