TODAY'S VERSE

Nahum 1:7-8.  “The Lord is good. When trouble comes, He is the place to go! And He knows everyone who trusts in Him! But He sweeps away His enemies with an overwhelming flood; He pursues them all night long.” The Living Bible

THE CENTRAL CHRISTIAN BELIEF

"The central Christian belief is that Christ's death has somehow put us right with God & given us a fresh start." C.S. Lewis, Men's Devotional Bible

LIFE THOUGHTS IN THE CHURCH YEAR

"Our culture discriminates based on size, skills, & circumstances in order to make abortion & assisted suicide possible. But our Lord & God has a soft spot, a definite preference for the feeble (Ez. 34:16), the insignificant (Luke 15:8-10), & the failures (1 Tim. 1:15) If it gladdens Him to save such as us, won't it also enrapture us to advocate the sanctity of every life?" Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin

WORSHIP

"In church we worship in the presence of God as a community of believers. As the body of Christ on earth, God's Holy Spirit works mightily among us, strengthening our faith, drawing us closer to God through Jesus' presence in the Word & the Sacraments. No longer outsiders & unfit to be with God, He has graciously done all things possible to make us His own, to live with Him forever. This He has done in Jesus who told us, 'In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go & prepare a place for you, I will come again & will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also' (John 14:2-3).

"Jesus has made it possible for us to enter into God's presence, once & for all. Before His atoning work on Calvary & His Easter resurrection--all done on our behalf--the weight of our sins formed an impregnable wall between us & God. But now, the wall lay in ruins:  the temple curtain has come down. What we could not do, God has done for us. He has given us the gift of eternity in His house. He has poured His Holy Spirit into our lives. He has given us a taste of His presence not just one day in the future, but right here & now. And in our congregations He has given us the joy of fellowship with other believers. In this we are strengthened, knowing that God is with us when we are together & that He goes with us when we return to our day-to-day lives. He has promised to never fail nor forsake us; this is God saying we are always in His presence." The Lutheran Layman, Summer 2022

TODAY'S HYMN

I AM Forever Who I AM, by Kurt Von Kampen

Though mountains slide into the sea, And waters rush where fields should be, Though monuments & nations fall, Your holy city stands through all When nothing seems to stay the same,You teach us Your eternal name.

(Refrain) I AM forever Who I AM. Above you, beneath you, Around you & within you, Be still &know that I AM God.

We buy & sell, we lose or gain; Our fortunes shift like sun & rain. Sustain our lives, reward our toil, With bread & honey, wine & oil. Save us & others from our greed; You always give us what we need. (Refrain)

Our lust for power, wealth, & land Diminishes the earth You planned. Prevent our crimes & futile wars; Convince us that all things are Yours. We rage & burn & kill & steal, But You redeem, restore & heal. (Refrain)

Like shepherds watching for the light, Aware of dangers in the night, We hear the angel:  "Do not fear, The Savior of the world is near." We run, we see, we touch, we laugh; You came to earth on our behalf. (Refrain)

Each generation looks for truth And doubt can trouble age or youth. If other gods would take your place, Remember us with love & grace. Reclaim us if we go astray; You are the Truth, the Life, the Way. (Refrain)

Some days seem long, though life is brief, And death is waiting like a thief. When vision fades & dreams go dry, We will on unseen things rely. Our stories take up but a page, But Yours goes on from age to age. (Refrain)