DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thoughts to Ponder by Pastor Larry Sydow, Prayers by
Pastor Bruce Freeman
Sunday, September 1, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Ezekiel 28:25 — When I
gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered, I
will show myself holy among them in the sight of the nations.
Revelations 15:4 — Lord,
who will not fear and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations
will come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been revealed.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
The world seemed like such a
big place when I was seven. Look magazine showed pictures of some of
those far-away places. The radio told about fighting in parts of the world I
could only imagine. Norfolk, Nebraska (population @ 25,000, 12 miles from our
farm) was the largest “foreign country” I had ever been to! I was happy when
they announced the end of the Korean War on the radio. It meant peace among the
nations! (I no longer had to worry about dodging bombs and bullets on our trips
to Norfolk for groceries.) Our perspective changes with age and experience. I
have been privileged to travel in twenty-one different countries. I now have
almost instant access to news worldwide - as it happens, and I’m not sure I’m
any better off. When will all the nations of the world and all the world
leaders acknowledge the Lord God as the KING and ruler of the Universe who
wants His subjects to make peace and justice a way of life? It seems so far
away. But then, in the 1950s, I could not imagine people walking on the moon
laptop computers, or digital cameras. Therefore, I am convinced the DAY will
come when all nations will worship the Lord God. I may be only one person, but
it has to start somewhere! How about you too?!!
PRAYER
O God, King of the
Universe, I pray that all people will come to know You and to worship You. I
pray for peace among nations, communities, and families. Use me to proclaim Your
love and greatness to others and to bring peace to all I encounter. I ask all
this in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, September 2, 2024
Labor Day
(Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundvig - Bishop, renewer
of the Church, 1872)
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 73:24 — You guide me
with Your counsel, and afterward, You will receive me with honor.
1 Corinthians 15:55 —
Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I woke up from a terrible
nightmare! I was fighting with a big gun, holding off an oriental army. From my
perch atop the fallen horse shed near the boys’ outhouse at our country school,
I could see we were about to be overrun. My gun was out of ammunition, just as
an enemy soldier with a very sharp bayonet on the end of his rifle came over
the top! It was a terrifying dream for an eight-year-old, and it left me
shaking and hiding under my covers until morning. Dying was scary! Death was a
puzzle. I knew about Jesus and the resurrection. I knew about Grandma and
heaven. But what was it really like? Death is still a mystery. It separates us
from those we love. It causes our earthly body to decay and turn to ashes. It
makes no distinction between young and old, rich or poor, Christian or
non-Christian. Death claims everyone. Death and sin are closely related. “The
wages of sin is death!” Paul declares. So we will all die, but thanks be to God,
who gives us victory through Christ. The message of the gospel is true “good
news.” Dying may cause pain and discomfort, but death is swallowed up in the
victory of Christ. We will leave this world - war, poverty, pain, illness, and
suffering - behind, and Christ will welcome us into His World for eternity!
What more could we ask for?
PRAYER
When I fear death, O God,
remind me that through the death of Jesus, I will live with You forever and
that I have nothing to fear. Until that day, in which You welcome me with open
arms, use me to make Your world better. I pray in the name of Your Son, Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Zechariah 2:10 — Sing and
rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the
Lord.
John 14:23 — Jesus
answered, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them,
and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
A lot of work goes into
having guests come to stay. When I was a kid, I didn’t notice it as much. I
only knew that while they were visiting, we would have special foods, we could
stay up later than usual, and we got to learn about the world outside the Sydow
farm. We were not that isolated, but we received new thoughts, ideas, and
sometimes new versions of old stories. Then, as now, I discovered that some
guests were easier to have around than others. Some wanted to be waited on hand
and foot. We dreaded their visits because nothing was ever good enough. Others
came to pitch in and help in whatever way they could. These were the friends
and relatives whose visits we loved. The Lord is a lot like them! He is with me
daily. I don’t have to be or do anything special. He accepts me as I am. Having
Him “make His home with me” is not a burden. It is a blessing. He is a real
friend and helper in any and all circumstances. I always look forward to the
Lord’s coming again, not with the dread of judgment but with the joy of
celebrating His presence. There is forgiveness, acceptance, understanding,
healing, singing, and rejoicing with Him. How thankful I am to receive Him in
Word and Sacrament! How about you? Have you made room for the Lord to reside in
your heart?
PRAYER
Make room in my heart,
dear Lord so that You may enter. Be with me as a welcomed guest each and every
day. Thank You for the opportunity to worship You through song, prayer, and
confession and to receive You once again in Word and Sacrament. I pray this in
the name of the Christ. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, September 4, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 119:77 — Let Your
mercy come to me, that I may live.
Mark 10:52 — Jesus said to
Bartimaeus, “Go; your faith has made you well.”
Immediately, he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
My sister had a couple of
disastrous cake-baking experiences as she was learning the art of baking.
However, she also had numerous delicious successes, which she generously shared
with us. In the middle of a hard afternoon of picking up hay bales, the sight
of the car coming out to the field was a welcome relief. We could see by the
look on her face that this mid-afternoon “coffee” break (cool water or
lemonade) would be special. She had made her first pineapple-upside-down cake,
which was a winner - still hot and gooey from the oven! Because of the heat and
the hard work, we had worn off a good dinner and were famished and feeling
lifeless. We agreed. None of us had ever tasted anything so delicious. After
our break, we were alive again. The presence of the Lord can do that for us. It
did for Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness. It did for blind
Bartimaeus. It does it for me when I receive Him in the Word - not just letting
the Word go in one ear and out the other, but absorbing it into my heart. The presence
of the Lord does it for me when I receive Him in communion - not just going
through the ritual and taking the bread and wine for granted, but inviting His
living presence into my life. Have you invited Him to come to you so you may
live too? If a pineapple upside-down cake can revive some hot and hungry
teenage farm boys, imagine what Jesus can do for you!
PRAYER
Come into my empty heart,
O Jesus, and fill it with Your goodness and love. My soul hungers and thirsts
for that which only You can give. When I read, hear, and study Your Word, I
pray that I might absorb it so that it might nourish me. When I receive Your
body and blood, come to me as a living presence. In Your name, I pray, Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, September 5, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Ezekiel 11:19 — I will
give them one heart and put a new spirit within them.
2 Corinthians 1:21 — Paul
wrote: But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
World War 10-1/2 was about to
begin. We had weapons. We had ammunition. We had spent the morning digging our
bunkers. The enemy was out for blood. The only problem was that part of my army
was tired from digging foxholes and wanted to play something else. Another part
of my army wanted to play with her dolls. That left my youngest brother, Mike,
and me, and he was only three! The war was over before it started. In recent
years, we have seen the same thing happen in the real world at a very high cost.
When the world worked together, walls and dictators fell. When the world
leaders could not agree, the only things that increased were the costs of
fighting and the number of casualties on both sides. It also happens in
marriage when two hearts stop working together as one. God promises to put a
single heart and a new spirit within those who rely on Him. Make no mistake: God
creates and puts that single heart and new spirit within us as individuals,
churches, and nations. When things aren’t going well, when there are divisions
and infighting, it is well that we re-evaluate Who is at the head of our lives,
our marriage, our Church, our country! Is it God, or have we tried to usurp
God’s reign? Are you willing to invite Christ to give you a new heart and
spirit so that you may be part of His solution rather than part of the
problem?
PRAYER
Forgive me, Heavenly
Father, when I become part of the problem rather than the solution. Give me a
new heart and spirit so that I put You first in my life. Make my relationships,
Church, and country strong to follow Your will. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, September 6, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Daniel 11:32 — The people
who know their God will display strength and take action.
1 Corinthians 16:14 — Keep
alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I played in the band and sang
in the choir in high school. During those years, we must have had a new
director every other year, each with their own strengths and weaknesses and leadership
style. When I got to college, I discovered that it was the most demanding of
the directors who had done the most to prepare me for the more significant
challenges of college life. There, I had one strong director who made enormous
demands and got great results. I also had one who made no demands and got abysmal
results. My son tells me the same was true for leadership in the army. There
are some people on whom he did not want his life to depend. Daniel, the
prophet, knew he could rely on God, no matter the circumstances of his life.
Fiery furnaces or lions’ dens were not to be feared when God was on his side.
His strength and courage came not from humans but from his God. St. Paul
experienced numerous beatings, shipwrecks, imprisonments, and persecutions. He
declared he could trust his Director, General, and Lord because He had walked
the hard road to the cross. In Christ - he could trust. In Christ, he could
stand firm in his faith with strength and courage. Who directs your life? Are
you able to “stand firm in your faith?
PRAYER
Let me rest from my labors
this day, O Lord, by staying close to You. Strengthen me with this rest to
follow You as my leader through whatever challenges come my way. Direct my way
and my life. I pray in the name of Christ Jesus, Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, September 7, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 9:2 — I will be glad
and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
2 Corinthians 7:4 — I am
filled with consolation; I am overjoyed in all our affliction.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
When our family - Mom, Dad,
and five (at the time) kids - went to Church, we filled the back pew at St.
Luke’s. With hot weather and squirming little ones, that pew got mighty
crowded. So, my sister and I were permitted to sit alone one Sunday!
After that, we were “allowed” to sit with someone else. I chose my Sunday
School teacher. Even then, most of the sermons were way over my head, so that I
would doodle on the bulletin. I always liked it when there weren’t many
announcements because that left more doodle room. The words “Praise God, all
you people...” seemed to stick one Sunday, and from then on, my doodling took
on a different purpose. I drew gifts I wanted to give to Jesus. I hoped that my
rocket ship would take my praises up to God. I drew a farm with a stream and
what I hoped looked like a tractor. I loved to sing, so whenever there was a
song, I imagined the life-like Jesus on the altar was listening, and I sang
praises to God for all I was worth. That statue always reminds me that Jesus is
present. Sometimes, when no one was paying attention, I held my doodles so He
could see them. When Grandma died, I knew it was only a statue, but in its
gaze, I felt the consolation of Jesus with His outstretched, nail-scarred
hands, bringing peace to my soul. I’m older now. I will always be glad and
praise God’s name, with or without that statue. I write the sermons, and I
don’t doodle - as much. But I still find consolation and joy in the presence of
Jesus. How about you?
PRAYER
Let all I do today, and
even my doodling, be in praise of You, gracious God. Thank You for being with
me each and every day. Let the things that I see be a visual reminder of Your
presence. In the name of the crucified One. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, September 8, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Deuteronomy 13:4 — The
Lord your God is testing you to know whether you indeed love the Lord your God
with all your heart and soul.
Hebrews 2:18 — Because
Jesus himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are
being tested.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I cheated on a test when I
was in the second grade. For half the year, there was a girl in my grade, and
she was smart. I didn’t want her to get a better grade than me on a spelling
test, so I tried to write the hard words where I could peak at them. But I was
caught. The teacher gave me a scolding and a “0.” I was humiliated and vowed,
in my mind, never to cheat again. In college and seminary, I was introduced to
“open book tests,” which my mind considered “legalized cheating.” However, I
liked them much more, even though they often consumed more time than a simple
“True or False” or “Fill in the Blank” test. It was not until I was in a
judging contest that it sank in: “Tests tell the tale!” Tests are necessary to
determine if the soil is suitable for growing certain crops. Tests are essential
to find out if a product is healthy to eat. Tests are necessary to discover
which seed, fertilizer, or equipment is best to use under what circumstances.
OR, which people are ready and able to move on to more important and challenging
tasks. I also learned that I could learn a lot just by taking tests. God also
has a test or two for each of us. God is not trying to be mean. God wants us to
grow in our faith and abilities to carry out our mission. In the same way, I
wouldn’t want an untested brain surgeon trying things out on my brain. God
doesn’t want us to fail our mission because we lack the knowledge, wisdom,
courage, endurance, or faith to complete it. Has God been testing you? Thank
God! He loves you. You have a vital mission to complete in His name, and God
wants to help you prepare.
PRAYER
Please forgive me, dear
Lord, when I’ve failed a test and have not lived up to being the servant that You
want me to be. Help me grow when I am tested and realize that at these times, You
want to see if I am truly Your follower. I thank You in the name of Jesus, who
never fails. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, September 9, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Jeremiah 24:7 — I will
give them a heart to know that I am the Lord.
Mark 3:5 — He looked
around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said
to the man who had the withered hand, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it
out, and his hand was restored.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Thank God none of us is ever
“hard-hearted!” After agreeing to let the Israelites leave Egypt, Pharaoh’s
heart hardened, and he took back his promise. After agreeing to do all the Lord
commanded on Mt. Sinai, the people’s hearts “hardened,” and they returned to
doing their own thing. After promising to love and serve only God when they
entered the promised land, the children of God repeatedly let their hearts
harden and forgot their promises. After centuries of waiting for a Messiah, the
people of God hardened their hearts and rejected Jesus. On the Sabbath, the
rigidness of the Sabbath laws matched the hardness of their hearts, prohibiting
the “work” of healing. Thank God none of us is ever “hard-hearted!” Those
horrible Israelites! Those horrible children of God! We’d never harden our
hearts that way, would we? Right? Or... are we any better? After making
baptismal promises to teach a child to know Jesus as a friend, teach them about
faith, and bring them to worship, .... After making confirmation promises to
worship regularly, study the Bible, and serve as members of the body of
Christ... After committing to live as God’s people in the world, loving and
serving our neighbor.... Oops! If the shoe fits a little too tightly, maybe
Jesus is grieved over OUR hardness of heart! Could we ask Him to “create in US
a new, clean, contrite, and willing heart so that we may serve His purposes,
rather than just our own?
PRAYER
Dear Father, forgive me
for my hard heart and for taking my commitments and promises to You lightly.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me so that I
may care more deeply for those who are in pain, who have no home or food, or
who are different from me. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 24:8 — Who is the
King of Glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle.
1 Timothy 6:12 – Fight the
good fight of the faith.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
There are things worth
fighting for. As a kid, I was sure my toys were one. Name-calling, revenge,
hurt feelings, cheating in a game, wanting what someone else had, and a whole
lot of other things constituted good causes for which to fight. Many of our
world wars were fought over similar things on a grander scale. Terrorism is
seen as a “holy war” by radicals and fundamentalists on both sides of the
borders and in all three major religions - Judaism, Islam, and Christianity! We
are all guilty of fostering and festering the disease, which makes us forget
who the real King of Glory is. Convinced by the gospel and following
non-violent teachings, people like Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. urged
“fighting the good fight of faith” AND social justice - without violence. How
can we “fight the good fight of faith” without violence and without killing off
those whose thinking is different than ours? First, we must acknowledge the
KING. We are not it! Second, we must make what He taught a part of our lives
and live it. That may be quite a “fight” all by itself! Are you up to it?
PRAYER
I acknowledge You as my
Lord and King, O God. Forgive me when I only think a fight is worth it when
it’s about me and my desires and not when I see injustice to others. Let my
fight for others be peaceful but persistent, never giving up. In Jesus’ name, I
ask these things. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Genesis 15:1 — Do not be
afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.
Romans 4:18 — Hoping
against hope, he believed that he would become “the father of many nations,”
according to what was said.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
When he came to this country
at age twelve, his father gave him the few cents the family had left after
their ocean voyage. Unable to speak English, he was to walk fifteen miles
through Indian territory to a town he’d never been to to find relatives he’d
never met before so they could bring their horse and wagon to pick up the rest
of the family. They lived in a hole in a hillside that winter, barely surviving
on what they had harvested that summer. It was hard for him to imagine owning a
nice, warm house, having a family, and
being considered “wealthy.” But my grandfather eventually did build a nice,
warm house; he owned land, had thirteen children, and was considered “wealthy.”
Abram (age 90) was older than Grandpa was when Grandpa died. Abram was still
childless and believed God’s promise that he’d be the “father of many nations.”
If it was hard for Grandpa to imagine, imagine how hard it was for Abram. But
God can do marvelous things through us and with us if we allow Him to use our
lives. Have you ever wondered if some of your hopes or “impossible” dreams
might be your glimpse at what God has in store for you? Think of Abraham and
Sarah, Elizabeth and Zechariah, and Mary, the mother of our Lord. Is there a
ministry or a mission in which God wants to involve you? “Do not be afraid,”
God told Abram. “Do not be afraid,” God tells you! Only believe and trust in
the One who can do what you cannot yet imagine.
PRAYER
Give me the faith of
Abraham, O God. Help me see visions and dream dreams, and know that for You,
nothing is impossible. As You used Abraham and Sarah to build a great nation,
use me to bring others to know about You and Your love. In the name of Jesus.
Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, September 12, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Jonah 4:10-11 — The Lord
said, “You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which
you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. And
should I not be concerned about Nineveh?”
Luke 5:31 — Jesus
answered, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are
sick.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
When I started school, WWII
was over, and the Korean War was in full swing. Since then, there have been
years of peace, with no major world conflicts - at least none that caught my
attention - until Vietnam. Of course, the Middle East, Afghanistan, Iraq, and
Israel-Gaza have been fought in more recent years. A part of me wants us to get
out of those countries and let them blow one another up. Most of them aren’t
even Christians anyway! Right?! Sitting under my comfortable bush, I see no
need to get involved, especially if it involves my family members! But the Word
of God continues to shrink my bush, reminding me that no matter what
nationality or religion they claim, they are still God’s creation and,
therefore, God’s dearly beloved children. Jesus hauntingly asks me, “Who needs
the physician most, those who ‘know not
what they do’ or those who sit complaining about tax-sheltered annuities?” We
must ask ourselves, “Did Jesus suffer, die, and rise again only for me and the
privileged few?” Are we all modern-day Jonahs sent to the despised, the hated,
the feared, the terrorists, and, yes, even those who call God by another name
and proclaim different doctrines about Him? Even closer to home, do we find it
easier to ignore the homeless, the refugees, the illegal immigrants...? The list goes on. How healthy is the bush
under which you are sitting?
PRAYER
Sometimes, what You ask of
me, O God, seems to be so difficult. Please forgive me when I sit in
comfortable surroundings and do not wish to venture out to bring the good news
of salvation to all people. Just as You moved Jonah, stir me to act
today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, September 13, 2024
(John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, 407)
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 81:11-12 — My people
did not listen to my voice.... So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to
follow their own counsels.
John 5:25 — Christ says,
“The hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the
Son of God, and those who hear will live.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
It was a hot and painful
lesson to learn, but we learned it the hard way. There is a way to stack hay
bales so the stack won’t lean and fall over. Dad tried to explain it to us, but
we knew a better, faster way. When he came to examine what we had done with
about 200 bales, our stack was already beginning to lean a little. He shook his
head and reminded us we had about 1000 more bales to stack. We brought home the
next load and began stacking them as the temperature climbed closer to 100
degrees. After 50 bales, our stack was getting wobbly. We didn’t even get the
others off the wagon before we had a major collapse. Dad calmly “commanded”
that we take all the bales off the stack and start at the foundation - “the way
I showed you!” Patiently, he helped us and explained the whole process again.
When we finished building the new stack, it was straight, solid, and ready for
another 1000 bales! I can imagine God’s frustration with us through historical
times. Our ancestors (we) plugged their ears to the instructions that would
give them peace, joy, security, and life while they “did things their way.” One
of the values of reading the Old Testament is the repetition of phrases like,
“They did what was evil....” Or “They
did not do as the Lord commanded....” The good news is that one day, even the
dead will hear, and some will obey and live! Have you been practicing your
listening skills?
PRAYER
Open my ears, Lord, so I
may truly hear what You tell me. Be patient with me and continually show me the
way I should go. Thank You for Your great love and grace. In the name of Jesus,
I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, September 14, 2024
Holy Cross Day
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 32:8 — I will
counsel you with my eye upon you.
Mark 6:48, 50-51 — Jesus
saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind. He spoke to
them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Then he got into the
boat with them, and the wind ceased.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
There was a bluff above
Niobrara State Park, where we had an evening campfire at church camp. A huge
cross looked down on the place where the Niobrara River joins the Missouri. The
cross cast its shadow on the river as the sun set behind it. From the foot of
the cross, I could imagine seeing Jesus walking across the swiftly merging
rivers to get into one of the motorboats, moving down there as if the shadow of
the cross were a bridge. How different the cross was for people in Jesus’ day.
The cross was a sight that caused children to cry and adults to break into a
cold sweat. It was the most painful and cruel form of execution the Romans had
perfected for lawbreakers. And they were good at using it! Jesus’ death was no
“walk in Niobrara State Park.” It was horrible. No wonder so many of His
followers couldn’t watch! But from His painful perch, Jesus forgave our sins.
Even when they took Him down and laid Jesus in a tomb, his disciples must have
cringed at the sight of Him. Jesus bridged the gap between sinful people and
His Father, God. In their time with Jesus, the disciples had seen with their
own eyes what He could do. Neither stormy seas nor stormy demons could prevent
Jesus from coming to them. After the resurrection, even death could not keep
Jesus from coming to those who looked up to see that the sting of death had
been removed on that holy cross. Why not wear a cross today as a reminder?
PRAYER
Thank You for Your
willingness to die on the cross for me, dear Christ. Sometimes, I can’t
understand the depth of Your love for me and the extent to which You want to
bridge the gulf between us. When I wear my cross, let it remind me of that
wonderful love and that You have removed the power of death. In Your name, I
pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, September 15, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Proverbs 1:7 — The fear of
the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
2 Corinthians 13:5 —
Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves.
Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
A friend from western
Nebraska, who wore a beard, visited our house. At the time, our son was less
than two years old and just beginning to talk. As our friend walked in, Dane
came running around the corner from the kitchen to check out our company. He
literally froze in his tracks. His eyes got big. He pointed at Bruce and said,
“Jees!” (His word for “Jesus!”) Nothing we or Bruce could say could convince
him that Bruce was not “Jees!” He was not afraid of “Jees,” but at the same
time, the play did not resume until Bruce was gone. Dane knew “Jees” pretty
well from pictures and stories, and while most strangers could not pick him up
without a scream, Bruce, as “Jees,” and Dane were almost instant friends. After
all, he talked to “Jees” at meal times, bedtime, and sometimes between. In
Dane’s eyes, we could see the reflected love of “Jees,” who would be forever
real! Wouldn’t it be great if we could glimpse Jesus and know the experience of
sitting on his lap, feeling with curious hands His tickling beard, and hearing
Him say, “I love you!”? Think of a time when someone held you, protected you,
and told you they loved you. With eyes of faith, your heart knew the heart of
Jesus in that person. If you are living in faith, Jesus is living in you too -
right now! Has the Jesus in you told someone they are loved? He wants to use
your voice to do so. Are you willing to let Him?
PRAYER
Thank You for those times
when You became so real to me, O Christ. Let me feel Your presence this day by
wrapping Your loving arms around me and holding me tight. Use me to share Your
presence with others by my touch and words. In Your name, I come to You. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, September 16, 2024
Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, martyr, 258
SCRIPTURE
Genesis 49:18 — I wait for
Your salvation, O Lord.
1 Peter 2:24 — Christ
himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we
might live for righteousness.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Waiting is so hard! Waiting
for Mom and Dad to pick me up at my grandparents seemed to take an eternity.
Waiting for the Halloween parade to begin was exciting since our school was on
a float in the parade. Waiting to get a driver’s license, graduating, getting
married, starting to serve a new church, waiting for a house to sell,
waiting.... In a sense, we should all be experienced in waiting. I’ve
discovered that rushing things doesn’t work. Taking a cake out of the oven
before it is done makes a gooey mess. Trying to play an instrument without
practicing or using a picnic table before the paint dries produces other
messes. Abraham was tired of waiting for a son and tried some shortcuts that
were less than satisfactory and messed up his life. Human efforts to achieve
our salvation fall far short of what God already has achieved in Jesus Christ
for those who patiently wait for salvation. The only ingredient that will
produce genuinely satisfying Life and Salvation is the blood of Christ. Are you
able to patiently wait for it? What are you doing while you wait?
PRAYER
Lord, make us instruments of Your peace. Where there
is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is
discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may
not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to
understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is
in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to
eternal life. Amen. (Prayer
attributed to St. Francis of Assisi)
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Hildegaard, abbess of Bingen, 1179
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 141:13 — Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep
watch over the door of my lips.
1 Peter 3:9 — Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for
abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you
were called - that you might inherit a blessing.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Back in the “ancient of days” when teachers could get
by with it - when it was expected of them - one of the “big kids” got angry and
swore at another kid during recess. I didn’t hear it, but I saw the aftermath.
The teacher, who had heard it, was dragging him by the ear into the schoolroom.
We all followed, wondering what would happen. She calmly but firmly demanded
that he apologize and promise never to use those words again! A little extra
twist of his poor ear brought the necessary response. Then she took the bar of
soap, got it wet, and made him open his mouth. She washed his mouth out, turned
to the rest of us, and said, “Let that be a lesson to all of you! There will be
no swearing in this school!” And there wasn’t, while she was our teacher! God
doesn’t wash our mouths with soap, but He urges us to be careful with what we
say because words have power. In biblical days, a person was only as good as
his word was trusted. A blessing brought blessings. A curse brought curses.
What a person said meant something. They were not just empty phrases. The
phrase “Just kidding.” used after making a cutting or hurtful remark, would
never have been spoken. There was no “just kidding” as far as words were
concerned. How well do you guard the words of your mouth so that they convey
blessing to all who hear them?
PRAYER
I am so sorry, dear Lord, for what sometimes comes out
of my mouth. My words have injured people I love and caused wounds in others.
Help me take my words more seriously and remember that words hurt people. Let
me use my tongue this day to lift up and to encourage. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
(Dag Hammarskjold, peacemaker, 1961)
SCRIPTURE
1 Chronicles 28:9 — Serve God with a single mind and
willing heart; for the Lord searches every mind.
Mark 12:17 — Give to the emperor the things that are
the emperor’s and to God the things that are God’s.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
We didn’t have tiny radios we could hide in a pocket
or any of the small hand-held games we could play behind the teacher’s back.
The closest we came to that was an occasional “GI Joe” figure or a comic book
we could hide in a big book. However, “multi-tasking” was not highly thought of
when I went to country school. Any attempts to do anything other than the work
assigned or read an “unapproved” book got many of us in trouble and usually
resulted in additional assignments. Today, “multi-tasking” is the in-thing. To
a point, it may be OK with some things. But in the realm of spirituality and
our relationship to God, trying to serve and please more gods than God is not
acceptable. God wants all of us to concentrate on Him, as I would want a brain
surgeon to concentrate 100% on me and my brain and not think about some sports
event or vacation spot while working on me. Many distractions tempt us to think
of activities other than worship, Bible study, prayer, and serving in the world
as the body of Christ. Jesus understood those temptations, too. Have you been
trying to “multi-task God?” What distractions draw your attention from the One
who concentrated fully on saving you?
PRAYER
I feel important, dear Lord when I spend my time
running here and there, trying to accomplish many tasks. I am sorry when I
think those activities, or I are more important than concentrating on You. I
pray that I may better focus on You and that You will draw me closer. In the
name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, September 19, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Joshua 1:5 — I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Acts 7:56-58 — “Look,” Stephen said, “I see the
heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they
covered their ears and with a loud shout, all rushed together against him. Then,
they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
My first day of school seems to be etched in my mind.
On the surface, I was prepared. Mom had cut my sun-bleached blond hair the
night before. I was wearing new blue striped overalls, a new shirt Mom had made
herself, and my Sunday shoes and socks. I had a bag with new, unbroken crayons,
a pencil, a tablet, and a lunch. I was ready! I was used to staying with
grandparents, aunts, and uncles, but when Mom said, “I’ll pick you up later.” I
nearly panicked! Then, one of the neighbor kids I had played with came over to
say, “Hi!” Mom must have seen the scared look on my face because she quickly
told me John would be there too. I didn’t know him very well, but it was OK. I
was not alone or “forsaken.” Isn’t it
good to know that God gives us that assurance? God never leaves us alone or
deserted. Even in the hours when we face trials and certain death, we have the
promise that Jesus will meet us, usher us into His Home in Heaven, and tell us,
“Welcome, I’ll show you around. I’ve been preparing a place just for you!”
There is no place on earth or in heaven where we need to feel alone ever again!
Call on Him, and He will be there!
PRAYER
It is a relief to know that in my darkest hour, during
my greatest fears, and when I face the unknown, You are always with me, O God.
Thank You for Your promises and Your words of assurance. I pray that You will
give me the opportunity today to let someone else know that You will never
leave them, either. In the name of Christ, Immanuel. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, September 20, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 112:5 — It is well with those who deal
generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice.
2 Corinthians 9:6 — The one who sows sparingly will
also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap
bountifully.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
The assignment was simple - read two pages of my
“Nebraska History” book and answer the questions. But I was in a hurry. I
wanted to go outside and ride Zeke’s bike (his real name was Larry, but in our
school, most of the boys had nicknames). I quickly wrote down my best guess to
the answers, handed in my paper, and asked permission to go outside.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), the teacher
glanced at the first answer, then looked further, folded my paper, and told me
to go back and read the assignment. My paper went into the wire waste basket
beside her desk. I hadn’t put much into it, and I certainly didn’t get much out
of it either. The same is true with our spiritual lives. Some people live with
the delusion that hit-and-miss worship, skimming a Bible verse now and then,
giving God leftovers, and agreeing that “someone” should share the gospel with
“those poor unfortunate heathens” is all it takes. As a gardener, I’ve learned
the hard way that good quality seed produces good quality plants. God asks us
to put forth the best of our efforts, gifts, and all He has given us so that
His Harvest will be abundant. Have you been holding back your time, your
treasure, your talent, your very self from God in any way? His promise is guaranteed:
“You will reap only what you plant! But if you trust the seed to Him, it will
produce abundantly!”
PRAYER
I hate to admit it, dear Lord, but there are many
times when I only give You what is left of my time, my talents, and the money You
have so generously sowed in my life. Forgive me and help me to get my
priorities straight. In the name of Jesus who died so that I might have
abundant life. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, September 21, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 33:12 — Happy is the nation whose God is the
Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.
1 Corinthians 6:9 — Do you not know that wrongdoers
will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived!
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
At the mature age of six, I already decided that I
preferred heaven to hell. I didn’t know a lot about either, but the burn on my
barefoot from the sparkler, the hot, parching Nebraska sun, and the thought of scary devils and demons convinced
me that hell was not a place in which I wanted to spend any time, much less
“forever and ever!” Heaven was where
flowers bloomed, Jesus played with kids like me, there was plenty to eat, and
the sun never set, so we didn’t have to go to bed! Why wouldn’t anyone want
heaven? I was a little upset when one of my Catholic classmates told me she
felt sorry for me because all Lutherans were going to hell. Evidently, she told
her mother what she had told me and apologized the next day, but said I might
not make it to heaven if I wasn’t good enough! Even as children, we had our
theological disagreements. I was so relieved to hear in Sunday School that
Jesus died for my sins so that I could go to heaven! I was so happy! However, I
soon learned I couldn’t do whatever I wanted. Jesus died for my sins, but I
still had to answer for my wrongdoing - to Mom and Dad - and possibly Jesus,
too. No doubt Jesus “would be very disappointed to find out I acted like that!”
So, I had to choose. Did I want to be happy with Jesus and make Him happy? As I
matured, I came to believe that whatever made Jesus happy would make me happy,
too! Want to be happy? Ask yourself, “What would make Jesus happy in my life?”
PRAYER
Thank You for Your great love for me, O Jesus, and the
grace of eternal life. I want so much to please You and to make You happy. May
my life be one which You smile upon because of my love for You and others. It
is in Your name that I pray this day. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, September 22, 2024
(St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist)
SCRIPTURE
Jeremiah 31:3 — I have loved you with an everlasting
love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.
John 12:48 — Nathaniel asked him, “Where did you get
to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called
you.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Since I grew up with over twenty aunts, uncles, and many
cousins, I was used to having people around me who knew all about me. I heard
numerous stories about things I did and said before I could remember doing or
saying them. However, to have a stranger tell me things about myself, I never
knew was a shock. While in College, I worked in a music store. A customer came
in whom I didn’t remember ever seeing. He began to talk about me and my family
as if he were one of my relatives. The look on my face must have told him I was
surprised and curious because he finally said he had worked for my grandparents
for several years. He watched me grow up. At that, I vaguely remembered him
working with Grandpa’s horses. God has been more than a “hired man” watching us
grow up. God has been intimately involved in every part of our existence, from
conception to our present state in life. God has loved us into existence and
through our growing up. God even loved us despite our sinful nature. We are
still known and loved by God and will be into eternity. How well do you know
and love God in return?
PRAYER
Don’t make Yourself a stranger to me, O God. Reveal Yourself
to me by Your word, sacrament, and those You send whom I will encounter. Thank You
for loving me with everlasting love and knowing me so intimately. In the name
of Jesus, who showed me his love on the cross. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, September 23, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 104:33 — I will sing to the Lord as long as I
live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
James 5:13 — Are any among you suffering? They should
pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I guess I was being “biblical” from my youngest days!
I have always loved to sing, except for that brief voice-changing period when I
didn’t want other people to hear me talk. It didn’t take too much for me to
sing. Pots and pans, a grain bin, a tractor, or a piano to accompany me made
little difference. (More than one neighbor heard the racket and stopped to see
if someone was being killed!) My accompaniment could have been a grand
symphonic orchestra or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. When I was happy, I sang
about happy things. When I was sad, my songs were sad and verged on some of the
more somber hymns I heard in Church. If music is a universal language that
speaks from the heart to the heart, no doubt it speaks volumes to the heart of
God. In song, the Spirit reaches into the depths of our souls to pull out words
and emotions we may not be able to express in any other way. My mother didn’t
have the voice of an opera singer or even a Pop star, and she didn’t sing very
often, but when she did, she communicated the love of God through her love.
Have you been suffering? Try singing your pain through prayer hymns so that God
can share your suffering and anoint it with His healing hand. Are you happy?
Sing it up to heaven so that God can celebrate your joy with you. You, too, can
join the “biblical” witness of the ages.
PRAYER
Thank You for the music that tumbles out of me when I
am joyous or when I am down in the dumps. As my spirit is lifted to You, I know
You hear my love for You. I praise You for all of those gifted people who share
their music with me and for their witness of faith. Help me witness also. In
Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Genesis 31:42 — God saw my affliction and the labor of
my hands.
1 Corinthians 15:58 — Be steadfast, immovable, always
excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor
is not in vain.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
When I came in for lunch, I must have looked and
smelled pretty bad that hot September day. I had been building a spaceship for
a trip to Mars from abandoned machinery in the grove of trees north of the
chicken coop. Usually, Mom would have just made us wash our hands before coming
to the table, but that day, she took one look (or was it a whiff?) and sent me directly to the bathtub for a
thorough cleaning. My protests that I wasn’t finished with the spaceship fell
on deaf ears as Mom left to get me clean clothes. I had to jump up to see
myself in the bathroom cabinet mirror, and one look told me why. I was covered
with grease, grime, and sweat. When I finished my bath and put on clean
clothes, I went to the table, only to have my Dad pick up my hand and examine
my skinned knuckles. “You’ve been working a little too hard this morning! You’d
better do something else this afternoon.” By then, my knuckles were beginning
to sting, and I was relieved. God is not blind to our labors on His behalf. God
doesn’t have to see our wounds or smell our sweat to know our genuine
sacrifices and our afflictions. God considers all our efforts and suffering
“sacrifices of thanksgiving.” Using our gifts for the work of the Lord, we may
be assured God multiplies the harvest and the blessings on His faithful
laborers. When God looks to your labors on His behalf, what does He see?
PRAYER
Use me, O Father, for the work of Your kingdom. When I
am bruised, tired, and discouraged, wash me in the remembrance of my baptism
and lift my spirits. I pray that all of my efforts might be pleasing to You. I
ask all this in the name of Your Son, Jesus, the Christ. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 22:10 – Since my mother bore me, You have been
my God.
Galatians 1:15-16 — God, who had set me apart before I
was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his son to me
so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Like many kids, I wondered where I came from. I asked
if I was adopted and had other parents who either abandoned me or left me an
orphan. It wasn’t as if I wasn’t loved and well cared for. I thank God I was!
But once in a while, I’d wonder. Have you ever wondered where you came from?
The biology of where I came from was never a big issue. I grew up on a farm and
absorbed the “facts of life” like most farm kids. Like the Psalmist, Jeremiah,
and St. Paul, I’ve pondered that probing question and appreciated their words
in the Word. We have all been biologically born into this world on our
“birth-day,” but we were conceived in the mind of God long before that. Our
spiritual birth took place the moment God chose our parents and decided we
should be born with the experiences - good and bad - our families would give
us. As our Jewish friends celebrate the seventh month of their calendar as a
New Year’s celebration (Rosh Hashanah), we should join them. We know where we
came from: our biological parents
(chosen by God), the parents who raised us (chosen by God), our spiritual
parents (chosen by God), and the mind and the love of God Himself! May you have
a Happy New Year, knowing Who your Father is!
PRAYER
Thank You, Father, for choosing me as Your child and
for those who helped raise me. Let me begin this New Year knowing You let me
start anew each day. Let me use this newness to follow You as You would have me
follow. In the name of Your Son, Jesus, the Christ. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, September 26, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Habakkuk 3:18 — I will rejoice in the Lord; I will
exult in the God of my salvation.
Acts 8:39 — The Ethiopian eunuch went on his way
rejoicing.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
The only word that adequately describes our efforts to
bring in the last crop of hay bales before the predicted storm arrived is
“struggle!” We were throwing bales as fast as we could, literally running from
bale to bale, giving every ounce of our muscles to the seemingly impossible
task. The rumbling thunderstorm to the west caused us to push our aching
muscles even more. But looking across the field, it was obvious we would get
drenched before we finished the job. Then, two of my uncles arrived! They just
came to see how we were doing. (I think they came for one of Mom’s incredible
chicken dinners!) Seeing our predicament, they pitched in to help. With two
more helpers, we finished as the first
sprinkles of rain fell. Dad threw on the last of the bales, and we all gave a
whooping cheer and headed for shelter before the storm hit. Like a seemingly
endless field of hay bales, our sins can cause us to believe God could never
save us. All of our human efforts fail to solve the problem. As the Old
Testament prophets and the Ethiopian eunuch in the New Testament discovered,
God can do what we cannot do. When we discover that same grace-filled secret,
we too may rejoice - not in what we have accomplished for ourselves, but in
what God has done for us through Jesus! Have you discovered the saving grace of
the love of Jesus in your life? Are you ready to rejoice?!
PRAYER
When You lift me out of my despair, and when I know You
have forgiven me of even my worst sins, O God, it is then that my rejoicing
takes on new heights. Thank You for coming to my rescue and bringing hope so I
may be filled with the joy that only You can give! In the name of Jesus who
loves me despite myself, Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, September 27, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Zephaniah 2:3 — Seek the Lord, all you humble of the
land, who do his commands; seek righteousness, seek humility!
1 Corinthians 13:4 — Love is patient; love is kind;
love is not envious or boastful or arrogant.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Elmer was the janitor in my first parish. He was a
bachelor who seemed to live at the Church and could be found after lunch,
taking a nap on a table in one of the Sunday School rooms. His only
extravagance was a yearly reunion with his World War II buddies. He didn’t
drive, so he would ride a bus to wherever they met. Elmer attempted to keep the
big Church spotless, an almost impossible task with a preschool and meetings
going on nearly every day. He was like a father to the preschoolers, helping in
the bathroom when needed. He had been there for so many years that some of the
children he had helped were getting married. Elmer would be there at wedding
rehearsals, drying his eyes and blowing his nose. He loved his work and did it
with pride, even though it was seldom, if ever, recognized. He loved “his”
kids, even when they made a mess. Elmer would grouse and complain, but we could
feel his patient kindness behind his words. Elmer didn’t do it for Elmer. He
did it for the Lord. This was the Lord’s building. These were Jesus’ little
lambs. At a staff meeting, Elmer surprised us with the most beautiful prayer I
had ever heard. I felt truly humbled by this humble servant, whose prayers,
while simple, were more eloquent than those of brilliant scholars. Elmer taught
me that “love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or
arrogant.” Thank God for the Elmers He has sent to cross my path!
PRAYER
Thank You, dear Lord, for those people like Elmer You
have sent to show me what true love is all about. Help me be more like them:
more patient and kind, less envious, boastful, or arrogant. I pray this in the
name of the one who is love, Jesus Christ. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, September 28, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Jeremiah 30:12, 17 — Thus says the Lord, “Your hurt is
incurable, your wound is grievous. I will restore health to you, and your
wounds I will heal.”
2 Corinthians 5:15 — Christ died for all so that those
who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was
raised for them.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
The nice thing about our childhood adventures and wars
was the amazing rejuvenating effects of a “time out.” I cannot begin to guess
the thousands of times I was mortally wounded, sometimes in the same adventure.
In one dangerous trek through a head-hunter-infested jungle, poison-tipped blow
darts hit me a dozen times. I was run through the middle by a spear, shot three
times by arrows, and had a machete plunged through my heart. It was dangerous
work, but we believed we had to do it. Obviously, “time out” was called
numerous times. (There were only four of us, so the adventure would have been
over if we had all stayed dead.) In real life, my wounds have all been pretty
minor by comparison, and they didn’t heal quite as quickly as a “time out.” The
scars of sin are even more deadly than poisonous darts. Their venom brings eternal
death! The good news is that God has sent the antidote, the healing balm, which
is also eternal. Christ absorbed all the poison of sin into himself on our
behalf so that He could heal our wounds of sin and we could rise with Him to
live with Him. Have you sought healing for your grievous wounds? Jesus offers
His own nail-scarred healing hands. Will you accept them?
PRAYER
I am sorry, Heavenly Father, that my sins have caused
wounds that hurt others, You and me. Turn me from those ways so I do not hurt
others, but Your love will be a healing balm in their lives. Thank You for the
gift of Your Son, who has restored me by taking upon himself all my sins. In
His name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, September 29, 2024
(St. Michael and All Angels)
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 109:21 — But You, O Lord my Lord, act on my
behalf for Your name’s sake; because Your steadfast love is good, deliver me.
Luke 1:13a — The angel said to him, “Do not be afraid,
Zechariah, for Your prayer has been heard.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Angels are “messengers of God.” They are not mere
humans acting kindly, although they may come disguised as humans. Angels are
God’s way of directly communicating His love to us. They are often not
recognized until their message is delivered, as in the case of Abraham and
Sarah. Whole books are written on angels and their many varieties of duties,
from announcing important events, as with Zechariah and Mary, to singing
praises and glorifying God, as with the shepherds. Angels warned of impending
danger, as with Joseph when Herod wanted to kill Jesus. They acted as warriors
of the Lord, as with Joshua in one of his battles and as St. Michael does in
His struggle with evil. I have heard too many real-life stories about angels to
dismiss them as simple myths. They are real! They are God’s messengers and
ambassadors to a sinful and fallen world that would surely die if it were to
look upon the face of God. Angels are not humans returned from the dead to help
us. They are a unique creation, sent to share God’s word with us, often in
human form. Could you have entertained the angels - messengers of God - without
being aware of it?
PRAYER
How many angels have You sent to me, dear God, that I
haven’t recognized? Thank You for Your messengers. Let me be aware when the
message is from You and take heed so I may follow Your will for me. I pray this
in the name of my Savior, Jesus, the Christ. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, September 30, 2024
(Jerome, translator of the Vulgate, teacher, 420)
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 112:1 — Happy are those who fear the Lord, who
greatly delight in his commandments.
1 Peter 2:17 — Honor everyone. Love the family of
believers. Fear God.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Either they hated her, or they loved her. There was no
in-between. Miss Robinson was a teacher to be reckoned with either way. She
could be as sweet as pie but as tough as nails! Miss Robinson made it
abundantly clear when we walked into school the first day. The first thing she
told us was that we could be friends or enemies, and we didn’t want her as an
enemy - and she was right! One of the “big kids” learned the hard way one day.
The spit-wad whizzed past my ear on its way to the blackboard. The splat brought
ominous silence. Miss Robinson slowly got up from her desk, walked to the
blackboard to examine the wet missile, and then turned and stared at us. Time
stood still until she had examined every face. Then she walked to the back,
making Ronnie stand up and empty his pockets. The look on her face was enough
to kill. Ronnie was wise enough not to argue and did as she commanded. The
slingshot was confiscated. He lost all recess and stayed after school
every day that week, washing the blackboards and sweeping the floor on his
hands and knees. (It was several years later before I saw another slingshot at
school.) Miss Robinson was not mean-spirited. In fact, by the end of the year,
Ronnie had a crush on her. Our God is an awesome God who demands our obedient
attention. He loves us with an everlasting love and wants us to love Him in
return. There is no in-between. Either we love God, or we hate God. Either we
obey His commandments, or we suffer the consequences. Knowing that God loves
you, wants the best for you, and wants our love returned, how will you respond
to God’s love?
PRAYER
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