A PERSONAL NOTE

This morning we attended church at Christ Lutheran, which is just a block south of our home congregation, Grace Lutheran. The students at CLS, K-8, sang, so we got to watch our 8-year-old grandson Bentley join in the singing. He is a 2nd grader at CLS, & we are very, very thankful that his parents, Derek & Rachel, are seeing for his Christian education at CLS. What a blessing this is for Bentley! We were blessed to be able to provide a Christian education for our three children at Trinity Lutheran School in Lincoln, Our Savior Lutheran School in Aiea, HI, CLS in Norfolk, & Lutheran High Northeast, also in Norfolk.

TODAY'S VERSE

Isaiah 5:21  "Woe to those who are wise & shrewd in their own eyes." The Living Bible

MEAN PEOPLE

"When you believe that God lets mean people in your life for a reason, you take away their power to hurt you & instead allow God to shape you. So don't be afraid of your enemy,  but trust God to show you the path of righteousness in how you react to them . . . God is still God & no one, not even a mean person, can take away His power in your life."  Michael DeMarco, Devotions for the God Guy

JESUS SAVES

"Jesus did not die just to give us peace & a purpose in life; He died to save us from the wrath of God. He died to reconciles us to a holy God who was alienated from us because of our sin. He died to ransom us from the penalty of sin--the punishment of everlasting destruction, shut out from the presence of the Lord. He died that we, the just objects of God's wrath, should become, by His grace, heirs of God & co-heirs with Him." Jerry Bridges, Men's Devotional Bible

LIFE THOUGHTS

"This world idolizes sexuality so much it sacrifices unborn children in worship. Our Heavenly Father establishes boundaries to protect us from this slavery. He elevates us by connecting sexuality to marriage, intimacy, procreation, & family. Human bodies testify that we're born already belonging to somebody. Where the world sees selves for expressing or enjoying, we celebrate them in sharing & serving." Grace Lutheran Church bulletin

STEWARDSHIP CORNER

"Giving generously isn't easy because our sinful nature isn't generous. We love to have rather than to give, & we are always looking out for number 1. Only because God makes His grace abound in our lives can we give generously & cheerfully. Through faith, we begin to realize the depth of the generosity of Christ Who holds nothing back from us. Knowing that God entrusts to us time, money, & abilities, we are enabled to give, not under compulsion, but as God has freely given to us. 'Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.'" (2 Cor. 9:7) Grace Lutheran Church bulletin

THE END OF WORRY

"Christ promises more than our idols could ever tempt us. He shows us the futility of worry, which does not change anything. Christ, by His self-offering on the cross & His resurrection from the head, has changed everything. He promises the fullness of His creation to His people. The righteousness that we seek, like the kingdom that we seek, is His. He bestows them all by grace, fully sufficient for all our needs, & soon all will be added unto us. Then we will have life without death, feasts without hunger & faith without doubt. Jesus & His promises are indeed, the end of worry. 'Seek first the kingdom of God & His righteousness, & all these things will be added to you'" (Matt. 6:33). Rev. David Petersen, The Lutheran Witness, May 2021