STEER OUR HEARTS

Verse

As my life was ebbing away, I remembered the Lord; and
my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.Those who
worship vain idols forsake their true loyalty.
Jonah 2:7-8

Voice

The great enemy of freedom is the alignment of political
power with wealth. This alignment destroys the
commonwealth — that is, the natural wealth of localities
and the local economies of household, neighborhood, and
community — and so destroys democracy, of which the
commonwealth is the foundation and practical means.
Wendell Berry

　
Prayer

Lord God, thank you that we are unable to save ourselves
and that each time we try, we fail. Have mercy on us. Be
the strength in our weakness. Clear our heads of the
foolishness of believing we can be our own gods. Steer our
hearts to utter dependence on you. Amen.

Common Prayer

MILES OF SMILES

"I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the Kingdom
of God like a child will not enter it" (Mark 10:15).

The late great humorist, Erma Bombeck, told the story of what
happened to her in Church one Sunday. She said,

"I was focused on a small child who was turning around and
smiling at everyone. He wasn't gurgling, spitting, humming, kicking,
tearing the hymnals, or rummaging through his mother's handbag.
He was just... smiling.

"Finally, his mother jerked him about and in a stage whisper that
could be heard in a little theater off Broadway said: 'Stop that
grinning! You're in Church!' With that, she gave him a glare, and,
as the tears rolled down his cheek, the mother added, 'That's better,'
and returned to her prayers." Bombeck reflected, "We sing, 'Make
a joyful noise unto the Lord!' while our faces reflect the sadness of
one who has just buried a rich aunt who left everything to her
pregnant hamster."

She continued, "Suddenly I was angry. It occurred to me the entire
world is in tears, and if you're not, then you'd better get with it. I
wanted to grab this child with the tear-stained face close to me and
tell him about my God. The happy God. The smiling God. The God
who had to have a sense of humor to have created the likes of us.
I wanted to tell him He is an understanding God. One who
understands little children who turn around and smile in Church,
and even curious little children who rummage through their mothers'
handbags. I wanted to tell that little child that I too have taken a few
lumps for daring to smile in an otherwise solemn religious setting.
By tradition, I suppose, one wears faith with the solemnity of a
mourner, the mask of tragedy. What a fool, I thought, this woman
sitting next to the only sign of hope -- the only miracle left in our
civilization. If that child couldn't smile in Church then where was
there left to go?" -1

Indeed, where is there left to go?

(Sunday Sermons Online)

EYES RIGHT

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

It was World War I and the British lieutenant was leading his
soldiers back to the front.

His men had seen considerable action in the trenches and all of
them had lost friends and close comrades. They had been given a
two-week furlough, but the time of rest and relaxation was over,
and their orders said they must return to the conflict.

The soldiers' shoulders sagged because they knew ahead of them
lay mud, blood and possible death.

Nobody talked. Nobody sang. It was a heavy time upon their hearts,
made heavier by a dark sky and a steady, cold drizzle. As they
marched, they passed the remnants of a church. The lieutenant's
eyes were drawn inward. Although the walls of the church had been
blasted by cannon and small-arms fire, the altar of the church was
still intact.

And above the altar, miraculously having escaped damage was a
statue of the risen Christ.

The lieutenant, a Christian, remembered His Redeemer who had
suffered, died and victoriously conquered death with His third-day
resurrection. He recalled how the knowledge and faith in the living
Lord had given him forgiveness and eternal life. He knew, no matter
what else happened to him, because of Jesus, he would also be
victorious.

Although the lieutenant was not prepared to preach a sermon to his
marching men, he did what he could. With faith in his heart, he
barked out the order: "Eyes right!"

Every head turned to the right. As the soldiers marched by, they also
saw the cross and the representation of the risen Redeemer. Many
of those boys also drew comfort from those church symbols which
had, almost miraculously, survived the conflict which had raged around
them.

The soldiers took courage and with straightened shoulders they
continued their march, but now with strength in their steps and a smile
on their faces.

This morning, as I write this devotion, I don't know what battles and
conflicts you are facing in your life. If, by God's grace, there are none,
then I rejoice with you. I pray that the Lord continues to smile upon you.

On the other hand, if you are struggling, then I -- like that lieutenant --
encourage you to lift up your downcast eyes and see your Savior. He
has successfully completed His divine mission of grace, which was
designed to forgive our sins and save our souls.

Because of that, we, like St. Paul and hundreds of millions of other
Christians, can rest secure in the knowledge that "in all these things
we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure
that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor
things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in
all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ
Jesus our Lord."

THE PRAYER:

Dear Lord, grant that I may cast all my cares and concerns upon the
Christ. Then, having done so, may I be given that peace which passes
all human understanding. This I pray in the Savior's Name. Amen.

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

WHEN CONFRONTED

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make her face
to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift
up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26

Voice

You may choose to look the other way but you can never
say again that you did not know.
William Wilberforce

Prayer

God, we seek to emulate your love. Whenever we are
confronted with injustice, may we seek to look upon
survivors of evil as you look upon your children. Amen.

KEEP IN MIND

Psalm 91

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]

2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust

GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS

"If anyone wants to be a follower of Mine, let him renounce
himself and take up his cross and follow Me" Mark 8:34


There is an amusing story about a priest and a rabbi who
are playing golf together for the first time. The rabbi soon
discovers that the priest is an excellent putter. He also
notices that before putting, the priest always makes the
sign of the Cross. Halfway through the course, the rabbi
is losing by ten strokes. Consequently, he asks the priest
if he thinks it will be all right if he too crosses himself.
"Sure rabbi, go ahead," the priest says. "But it won't do
you any good until you learn how to putt."

We can go through the motions making the sign of the
cross. But until we begin making the cross the ultimate
sign that we have accepted the teachings of Jesus, it
won't do us any good.

AN UNKNOWN FUTURE

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13

All of us in this world, believers and unbelievers alike, are blind.
None of us knows what is in front of us and what tomorrow will
bring.

But some of us, with Jesus as our Savior, are able to live life
rather than just endure it. Christians don't know what the future
holds, but they do know their Lord holds the future. They know
a God who loves them so much that He was willing to sacrifice
His Son for their salvation is not going to walk away from them.

He is not going to desert them. He is not going to play cruel
and nasty jokes on them. He is not going to change His mind
and one morning decide to hate them and make their existence
as miserable as He can.

No. Christians know they are in the hands of a loving Father.
They may not always understand why He allows things to
happen to them. They may not always be able to figure out
where He is leading them. But they know His hand is a loving
hand. When they are afraid, His arms are the place to which
they run. When things seem dark, His presence is what they
seek. When they are sad, He may not take away their cause
for sadness, but He will comfort them by sharing their pain.

The knowledge that "God is love" makes all the difference in
how Christians approach their unknown tomorrows
(see 1 John 4:7-12).

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, grant that I may rely on Your love and support,
which are always there. Let my risen Savior stay with me,
and may I always live a life that stays with Him. In His Name
Amen

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

THERE IS ENOUGH

Verse

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not
see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not
smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not
walk; they make no sound in their throats. Those who
make them are like them; so are all who trust in them.

- Psalm 115:4-8

Voice

The things that we love tell us what we are.
Thomas Aquinas


Prayer

God of abundance, help us live today trusting that there
will be enough for tomorrow. Your sources have no end.
Teach us to share our resources, believing that the more
we give, the more you will provide for all. Amen.
Common Prayer

(Our Daily Bread)

DISAPPOINTMENT AND STRENGTH

Scripture:

James 1:2-17
You know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a
chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully
developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing
(James 1:3-4).

Roger Bannister was considered the favorite for the 1500m race
at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952. He planned to retire if he won
gold, but an unusual schedule at the Games affected his chances
and he came in fourth. Instead of quitting, however, his
disappointment spurred him on to continue competing. Two years
later he went on to change sporting history. On the 6th of May in
1954 at the Iffley Road track in Oxford, England, Roger Bannister
became the first man to run a mile in less than 4 minutes.

James encourages us to use our disappointments and difficulties
as an opportunity for our faith to be tested and for our endurance
to grow (James 1:3). And when patience is allowed to grow and
becomes fully developed, we become “perfect and complete” and
need “nothing” (James 1:4).

Slogging our way through difficult times with a sour demeanor and
a self-pitying attitude won’t develop the character God desires to
see in us. As we joyfully and patiently withstand times of testing
and temptation, we also experience His blessing (James 1:12).

God places little value on achievements and wealth, as they can
fail to produce humility and endurance (James 1:10-11). Instead,
He lifts up those who have been humbled by their difficult
circumstances; they will receive the crown of life that God promises
to those who love Him (James 1:9,12). Although we may despise
pain and difficulty, God can use it for our good—part of the good
and perfect things He provides to make us more like Himself
(James 1:17).

Had Roger Bannister given up following the Helsinki Games, he
would never have gone on to become the man who broke the
4-minute mile. In God, we find all we need to grow through
disappointment.  —Ruth O’Reilly-Smith

(Our Daily Bread)