GOD'S POWER, WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING

Jeremiah 51:15  “God made the earth by His power & wisdom. He stretched out the heavens by His understanding.” The Living Bible

MEDIOCRITY

"To call myself a Christian & then not strive to be the best I can be & do the most I can with what has been given me would be the height of hypocrisy. Being a Christian is no excuse for mediocrity or passive acceptance of defeat. If anything, Christianity demands a higher standard, more devotion to the task." Orel Hershiser, Men's Devotional Bible

FORGIVEN, NOT PERFECT

"The Pharisees & the scribes grumbled, saying, 'This man receives sinners & eats with them.'" (Luke 15:2) "The Church is not a country club for the spiritually elite. It is a field hospital for the battle weary. The Gospel is for sinners only. The Church is for sinners only. That is why we confess our sins as Christians. In the Church, we do not find perfect people, but we do find forgiven people. And Jesus? He comes for sinners. He especially comes for sinners on SUN mornings. So come to the place where Jesus can be found--His Church. Come to the Lord's Church, where the Word & Sacraments are proclaimed into your ears, poured upon your head, & laid upon your tongue." Matthew Richard, Minute Messages

THE PROBLEM OF DEATH

"The 'problem of death' becomes a great opportunity to confess Jesus & to show one's loved ones how to die in Christ & live in the certainty of a resurrection just like His." Rev. Matt Harrison, The Lutheran Witness, Sept. 2021

A PRAYER FOR OVERCOMING MY FEARS *

* I found this prayer to be especially pertinent, given the current turmoil in our country & abroad.

"Lord God, heavenly Father, 'whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is nothing upon earth that I desire beside Thee. My flesh & my heart may fail, but God is the Strength of my heart & my Portion for ever.'

"I am deeply grateful that You are my God, who has promised never to leave me or forsake me. I trust Your Word that nothing shall be able to separate me from Your love which is in Christ Jesus, my Lord.

"I am ashamed to confess that sometimes my heart is filled with fear a I look at the trouble & turmoil in the world today. Sometimes I am afraid to face a difficult problem in my personal life. Forgive my little faith. Increase my faith in Your loving-kindness & in Your almighty power that I may overcome my fears & meet every trying experience with confidence. Make Your strength perfect in my weakness.

"By Your Holy Spirit enable me confidently to say, 'I fear no evil, for Thou art with me.' In Jesus' name. Amen. My Prayer Book