NO EXCUSE FOR MEDIOCRITY

"To call myself a Christian & then not strive to be the best I can & 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

OUR STRONGHOLD

"The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when He delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand . . . The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them & delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked & saves them, because they take refuge in Him." (Ps. 37:23-24, 30-40)

Our Lord does not abandon us, His children, to the schemes of the wicked, but on the Last Day, He will fulfill our salvation & eternally deliver us from our enemies of sin, death, & the devil." Rev. Peter Jurchen, ed. "Engaging the Psalms:  A Guide for Reflection & Prayer"

WE ARE BLESSED

"We are poor, miserable sinners all. And yet, we are blessed. We are blessed by a true confession of the Scriptures. We are blessed by pastors & teachers who believe the Scriptures. We are blessed by enormous resources. We are blessed by great seminaries. We are blessed by Christian leaders at our Concordia universities. We are blessed by growing parochial schools. And we are blessed by thousands of faithful families who love Jesus. Bottom line:  We are blessed to know the Gospel of forgiveness in Jesus. O Lord, take not Your mercy from us. O Lord, stay with us for it is evening. O Lord, thank You for Your blessings. Let it rain, Lord. Thank You! Keep sending us the showers. O Lord, spare us what we deserve." Rev. Matthew Harrison, "The Lutheran Witness, Dec. 2023"

TODAY'S PRAYER

"O God, the Protector of all who trust in You, without whom nothing is strong & nothing is holy, increase & multiply Your mercy on us that with You as our Ruler & Guide we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen." Collect for the 10th Sunday after Pentecost, "Lutheran Worship"

A HYMN OF CONFESSION

"To You, Omniscient Lord of All," LW #234, Sts. 1 & 3

To You, omniscient Lord of all, With grief & shame I humbly call; I see my sins against You, Lord, The sins of thought, of deed & word. They press me sore; to You I flee:  O God, be merciful to me!

O Jesus, let Your precious blood Be to my soul a cleansing flood. Turn not, O Lord, Your guest away, But grant that justified I may Go to my house, at peace to be:  O God, be merciful to me!