May 3, 2009

"Who Is Narrow-Minded?"
Speaker:
Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus

Sermon / Q&A Text

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En Español

"No Hidden Charges"

May 13, 2009

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 1 Corinthians 2:12

When I travel to a speaking engagement, we usually try to find the cheapest airfares we can.

Unfortunately, some of those cheap airfares often have hidden costs. For example, the discount European airline Ryanair is considering a $1.50 charge if you want to use the plane's toilets.

JetBlue is now selling pillows and blankets for $7.

US Airways has tried charging $2 for a soda.

Most major airlines are now adding a fee for your suitcase and another $15 to $30 if you wish to make a reservation over the phone.

Spirit Airlines charges passengers $15 for an exit row seat (more leg room), $10 for an aisle or window seat, and $5 for a middle seat. (Maybe I'll stand.)

That's the airlines. Now if we want to talk about which airports are starting to charge folks for dropping off and picking up passengers -- well, suffice it to say, there are a lot of hidden fees.

Thankfully, we Christians haven't been given the spirit of the world. We have received a Spirit from God who gives to us freely.

Freely. Jesus was born into this world to save sinners. His life, His passion, His crucifixion and His resurrection proclaim He has defeated sin, death, and devil. Now anyone who is given faith is forgiven and saved. Freely.

Think about the price for this redemption of sinful souls. Winning our salvation cost Jesus His holy, precious blood; it meant His innocent suffering and death. It cost Jesus everything, but it costs us absolutely nothing. We Christians are freely saved by God's grace, which is most freely given.

THE PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, we are saved by grace, through faith in Jesus' great sacrifice. May we be given a thankful spirit and a joyful heart, which appreciates His gift -- a gift that passes no hidden costs on to us. In His Name. Amen.

En Español

"Good Opportunities"

May 9, 2009

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 8:38-39

I've always been impressed when I hear of a person who can make the best out of a bad situation.

The newspapers once told of a holdup man who tried to rob a Detroit store. The thief dropped his weapon and ran when he realized the cashier had set off the alarm.

It didn't take long before the store was swarming with uniformed police officers. It was swarming with more than one hundred police. Observing all the men in blue, the store manager quickly picked up the public address microphone and announced: "We now have a special sale in progress for police officers only!"

That manager ought to get a raise for making the best out of a bad situation.

Not many of us have that ability.

When bad moments arise in our lives, we can easily become bitter, frustrated, and angry. Some folks feel God has it in for them and is getting satisfaction from watching them suffer.

That is hardly the way our loving God works. He not only wants good for us; He also promises, because of His crucified and ever-living Son, to help us when bad times arise. With Jesus by our side and the Holy Spirit working in our hearts we can be given the ability to see things differently and make the best out of bad situations.

That's the gift God gives us today--the faith to lean upon Him so He can make the best out of every situation.


From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"



THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, Paul knew full well the power of Your presence. Relying on You, he endured ill health, being shipwrecked, imprisonment, beatings, hunger, loneliness, and still could say, Your love was always there. When life is tough, grant us the confidence to trust You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.


This Daily Devotion was originally published March 16, 2008.

En Español

"Demands"

May 11, 2009

But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:43-45

Jiminy Cricket used to sing about wishing upon a star.

Nowadays, it seems it's the stars that do the wishing. That's the story according to ABC News. Stars, that is, the famous folk among us, wish for a lot of things:

Madonna wanted eight full-length mirrors in her dressing room.

When she's performing, Mariah Carey wants a special attendant in her dressing room. The attendant's job is to dispose of Mariah's chewing gum. Mariah also wants a puppy and some kittens.

Prince wants an all-black hotel room, black M&M's® machines and "all items in the dressing room must be wrapped in clear plastic until uncovered by Prince."

In contrast, Jennifer Lopez used to demand a 40-foot trailer all in white: white flowers, drapes, candles, couches, etc.

I could go on. I won't.

What a contrast there is between the stars of today and the Savior of eternity.

Lest anyone not see the difference, I encourage him or her to look at the Savior who said He hadn't been born to be waited on hand and foot. No, He entered this world so He might serve and give His life as a ransom for our salvation.

Indeed, every moment of Jesus' life was spent giving to others, not taking from them. Every day He lived was dedicated to making sure all of us might be forgiven of our sins and invited to live with Him in heaven.

In short, stars make demands; the Savior gives Himself. You don't have to be brilliant to see which of the two ought to be followed, worshiped, and adored.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, You have given Your all so we might be adopted into the family of faith. Now, send Your Holy Spirit upon the world so all may see the brilliance of Your love, observe Your caring, and so might be saved. In Your Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,



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

Home | About Us | Jobs | Policies | Disclaimer | Contact Us | Site Map
©2009 Lutheran Hour Ministries, All rights reserved.
Toll free: (800) 876-9880
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Lutheran Hour Ministries is an auxiliary of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod | Lutheran Church—Canada


Visit our friends at Concordia Publishing House

May 13, 2009

No Hidden Charges

May 12, 2009

Gone But Not Forgotten

May 11, 2009

Demands

May 10, 2009

Someone To Talk To

May 9, 2009

Good Opportunities

May 8, 2009

A Helping Hand Always Near You

May 7, 2009

Like Father, Like . . . .

May 6, 2009

Grin And Bear It

May 5, 2009

Thou Shalt Not . . . WHAT?

May 4, 2009

Porkin' Out

May 3, 2009

Caged Bird

May 2, 2009

Little Decisions

May 1, 2009

Who Lives Forever?

April 30, 2009

Murphy Is Alive And Well

April 29, 2009

Non-Interchangeable Parts

April 28, 2009

Law In The Heart

April 27, 2009

At Least They're Honest

April 26, 2009

What Do You See

April 25, 2009

Out Of The Shuffle

April 24, 2009

It Is Well With Your Soul

April 23, 2009

Not Even A Nice Place To Visit

April 22, 2009

A Good Foundation

April 21, 2009

The Real Jesus

April 20, 2009

A Ransom

April 19, 2009

Three Point Nine

April 18, 2009

Power And Love

April 17, 2009

Can Someone Help Me?

April 16, 2009

Meeting Together

April 15, 2009

The Name

April 14, 2009

Grace Alone

April 13, 2009

The Name Of Jesus

April 12, 2009

Turning The Tables

April 11, 2009

Worth Dying For

April 10, 2009

The Hand Of God

April 9, 2009

Our Substitute

April 8, 2009

Courage To Care

April 7, 2009

Real Safety

April 6, 2009

Strange Custom

April 5, 2009

Power To Stop The Waves

April 4, 2009

Scorning Your Master

April 3, 2009

He Gives Strength And Power

April 2, 2009

How About You?

April 1, 2009

A Good Idea At The Time

Apr. 26, 2009

"Surprise!"
Guest Speaker:
Rev. Gary Byers

Sermon / Q&A Text

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Apr. 19, 2009

"A Reasonable Request"
Speaker:
Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus

Sermon / Q&A Text

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Apr. 12, 2009

"The Same Old Good News"
Speaker:
Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus

Sermon / Q&A Text

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	.. "The Same Old Good News" Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus

En Español
"Worth Dying For"
April 11, 2009

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person -- though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die -- but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8

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During the presidency of Jimmy Carter, an attempt was made to reinstate the registration for the draft.

Yes, I know I'm showing my age when I say I remember that time.

Most vividly, I recall a picture featured in many newspapers around the country. It showed a young student, who was attending Princeton University. He was not especially conspicuous other than for the sign he was carrying.

The placard read, "Nothing is worth dying for." From the crowd that surrounded him, it seemed many others shared his opinions.

As a Christian, I am most thankful Jesus did not share that student's political philosophy.

On the contrary, He believed -- He lived -- the exact opposite.

Following the plan set into motion by His Father, Jesus sacrificed Himself because He thought we were worth dying for. He lived and died to save the souls of humanity from eternal destruction and damnation.

Today, in the shadow of Good Friday, we remember His death. Christians once again see Jesus suspended on the cross, silhouetted against the dark sky, and they give thanks they have a Savior who believed they were worth dying for.

THE PRAYER: Dear Jesus, You and Your Father believed I was worth dying for. Today, I remember Your sacrifice on the cross, and I offer you my deepest thanks. Now, by the Holy Spirit's direction may I live for the One who died for me. In Your Name. Amen.


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En Español "Turning The Tables" April 12, 2009 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 .. Have you ever had the tables turned on you? I once heard about a mother and father who raised their daughter with absolute confidence in psychology. That means, when it came time for bedtime they would say something like, "Would you like to take your doll to bed with you, or would you like to take your teddy bear?" They were very pleased with this line of thinking. No matter what decision the child made, she was going to bed. But children are the best of psychologists and their little girl learned quickly. It didn't take too long before their three-year-old darling turned the table on mom and dad. Knowing the house rule that said she didn't go outside after supper, one evening she approached her parents and asked, "Do you want me to go out the back door or should I go out the front?" Centuries ago, the Lord Jesus turned the tables. Because of sin, all of humanity had been condemned to die forever. Since no one had been able to break the pattern of sin and death, there seemed to be no hope. That's the way it would have stayed if Jesus had not come. But the Son of God did come and because He lived His life without sin, because He fulfilled every Law, because He died on Calvary's cross, and because He rose on the third day, the tables were turned. With Jesus' resurrection the last of our enemies is defeated. Because Christ is risen no longer is death unconquerable. Now, because of Jesus, believers know we shall also live with Him forever. And that, my friends, is a table that sin, death, and devil can never turn over again. I pray you celebrate the resurrection of the Savior who has saved you. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, You turned the tables. Your life, death, and resurrection freed us from the condemnation of eternal death. With joy, I praise Your Name and gladly say: "Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed." Amen. Many people share e-mails with groups of people. Some are humorous; some are newsy. If you are a person who has forwarded things in the past, why not forward a Daily Devotion? Let the receiver know that they, too, can receive them by signing up at: http://www.lhm.org/email/register.asp. Remember, it doesn't cost a thing.

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In Christ I remain His servant and yours, Pastor Ken Klaus Speaker of The Lutheran Hour® Lutheran Hour Ministries

.. .. .. .. Print this page Get devotions by e-mail Forward this devotion to a friend Support this Ministry Visit 'The Lutheran Hour' Learn more about Pastor Klaus Subscribe to this Podcast!

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©2009 Lutheran Hour Ministries, All rights reserved.
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Lutheran Hour Ministries is an auxiliary of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod | Lutheran Church—Canada

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The Suffering and Glory of the Servant

Isaiah 53

En Español
"Our Substitute"
April 9, 2009

We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5: 20b-21

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If you didn't want to serve in Napoleon's army, you didn't have to.

That's right. Back then, you could hire a replacement, a substitute, to take your place. That's exactly what one man did. When he was drafted, he hired a friend to take his place.

Unfortunately, that friend was killed in battle.

Then, as such things happen, through a clerical error, the young man, the one who had done the hiring, was drafted again. When he appeared before the draft board, the summary of his argument was this: "You can't make me go... I have been killed in a battle."

Of course, with the young man standing right in front of them, the bureaucrats thought they had a pretty good case, too.

Eventually, the man's plea was brought to Napoleon. After examining the evidence, the Emperor passed down his judgment. His decree said, "Through a surrogate, this man has not only fought, but has died in his country's service. No man can die more than once; therefore the law has no claim on him."

This Holy Week, Christians give thanks for their heaven-sent Surrogate. Purely by grace and out of love for lost humanity, Jesus came to earth to be our Substitute. So we might be forgiven and freed from the law's curse He lived, suffered, died, and rose.

As St. Paul says, 'Jesus who committed no sin of His own, carried the sins of everyone else. By His sacrifice believers are forgiven, saved and made righteous.'

To paraphrase the Emperor: 'No believer can die more than once. Because of Jesus' life, suffering, death, and resurrection, sin, death, and Satan cannot lay claim upon those who acknowledge Christ as their Substitute.'

THE PRAYER: Dear Savior, for doing all that was necessary to save me, I praise Your Name. May I daily give thanks for the fact that You, by grace alone, became my Substitute. Now, because of what You have done may I rejoice in my freedom. In Your Name. Amen.


By God's grace, this devotion is freely shared with you. Still, I don't know all the people who need it or should read it. Won't you forward it to that someone? Just click the "Forward this devotion to a friend" link below. You can also direct them to sign up for the DD's at: http://www.lhm.org/email/register.asp.

En Español
"Courage To Care"
April 8, 2009

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Galatians 1:3-5

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The boy was watching when the woman stepped off a sandbar into the ocean's deep current.

He watched as the woman panicked. He watched as 20 adults, all dressed in their bathing attire, looked at the woman and listened to her cries for help. Wondering if anybody would do anything, the boy found himself cheering when, at long last, a fully-clothed young man dove into the water and brought the woman to safety.

On the way home, the boy spoke to his father about the events he had witnessed and the anger he felt toward those folks who had stood by and done nothing.

Later on, he recalled what his father had said that day. As an explanation, his father wisely told him, "The world often seems divided between those who care and those who don't care enough. But don't judge too harshly. It takes courage to care greatly."

Courage to care greatly.

This Holy Week, we will see the Savior, and we will see just how greatly He cared for you and me. Thirty-three years earlier, He had left heaven and had been given a manger for His first bed.

From that moment, until the very end, His life had been spent resisting Satan's many temptations and avoiding all of humanity's transgressions. Every one of those days had been marked by Jesus' caring.

Now, as the Savior's earthly life was drawing to a close, His caring would be proven again. Jesus' commitment would have Him carry our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane. His caring would have Him keep silent when liars were brought to His trial to testify against Him.

Not the nails, but His caring, His dedication to the salvation of humanity's sinful souls would keep Him on the cross until He could say; "It is finished." From beginning to the end Jesus had shown His courage to care.

And this week we remember, and we give thanks for what He has done.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I care for those who are close to me and love me. You show Your caring by giving Yourself for our sins and delivering us from this evil age. By following the will of Your Father You have saved all who believe. This week and always may we give you glory forever and ever. Amen.


By God's grace, this devotion is freely shared with you. Still, I don't know all the people who need it or should read it. Won't you forward it to that someone? Just click the "Forward this devotion to a friend" link below. You can also direct them to sign up for the DD's at: http://www.lhm.org/email/register.asp.

Real Safety
 

En Español
"Strange Custom"
April 6, 2009

For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15: 21-22

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Years ago, tourists to the Fiji Islands returned home speaking of a strange native custom: the custom that was known as 'the calling of the dead.'

When someone had lost a loved one, he was encouraged to climb to the top of a high tree or a cliff. From that lofty spot, a spot where his voice would carry a long distance, he would call out the name of the deceased.

Then, as loudly as possible, he would yell, "Come back! Come back!"

You will not be surprised if I tell you there was never any record of a dead individual responding to the sorry summons. Indeed, the only reply that was ever heard was the mocking of an empty echo that came back again and again.

Eventually, and at long last, the disappointed and forlorn mourner was forced to return to his village. There, with his plea unanswered, he would try to pick up his life and continue on.

In stark contrast to that lonely picture is the joy that is given by the risen Redeemer to all who believe on Him. Through Christ's perfect life, His suffering, His death and resurrection the chains of sin are shattered and death no longer has a final victory.

Yes, believers mourn, but they are spared the despair that rules in the hearts of those who have no hope. Yes, we suffer heartache when a dear one goes to rest, but we know, because of Jesus' third-day victory, our pain is of short duration.

Because of the Savior's resurrection we know that in Christ all will be made alive.

Which is why, for us, the native's plaintive call, "Come back!" has been replaced by the Easter shout, "Christ is risen and because of Christ all believers shall be made alive."

"Christ is risen." "He is risen, indeed!"

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, for sparing me the total desolation and depression that once accompanied death, my heartfelt thanks. Because You sent Your Son to suffer and die in my place, I have been forgiven and saved. Now, I ask You to send Your Holy Spirit upon those who do not know what Your grace has done. Let them believe so they may be given the knowledge that death's reign is over. In Jesus' Name. Amen.


By God's grace, this devotion is freely shared with you. Still, I don't know all the people who need it or should read it. Won't you forward it to that someone? Just click the "Forward this devotion to a friend" link below. You can also direct them to sign up for the DD's at: http://www.lhm.org/email/register.asp.



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En Español "Power To Stop The Waves" April 5, 2009 And He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" Mark 4:39-40 .. Throughout the world, most of Christianity has begun its celebration of Holy Week. With repentant hearts, the Christ's redeemed remember how the crowds welcomed the Savior into Jerusalem. But they also recall how, a few days later, crowds screamed for Jesus' crucifixion. Crowds can be fickle like that. Their opinions flip like pancakes. Almost 1,000 years ago, a king by the name of Canute, grew tired of the false flattery of the people gathered around him. To show the limitations of his power, Canute had his throne taken to the seashore. With a stern voice, he commanded the tide not to come in. You won't be surprised to hear, in spite of the kingly decree, the waves came crashing in anyway. In my readings, I am convinced there has been only one person in all of history who has had the power to stop the waves: Jesus of Nazareth. In fact, on the Sea of Galilee, the Savior showed He could stop a storm with one word. Still, as impressive as that display of power was, Jesus showed even greater strength by not responding to the cries of the crowds, or defending Himself against those who lied about Him, beat Him, and crucified Him. In order to save us, Jesus put His powers on hold and died in our place. This He did because He never forgot His work -- first, foremost, and always -- was to complete His Father's plan of salvation. On behalf of Lutheran Hour Ministries, I invite you to join us this Holy Week in giving thanks to God for His Son of power: Jesus, the Savior. THE PRAYER: Dear Father, I thank you for Your Son's sacrifice. To believe in a Redeemer who holds the power to stop wind and wave and, at the same time, set aside that power in order to save us is, well, almost unbelievable. Lord, help all the world believe in this wonderful Savior. In Jesus' Name. Amen. Many people share e-mails with groups of people. Some are humorous; some are newsy. If you are a person who has forwarded things in the past, why not forward a Daily Devotion? Let the receiver know that they, too, can receive them by signing up at: http://www.lhm.org/email/register.asp. Remember, it doesn't cost a thing.

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In Christ I remain His servant and yours, Pastor Ken Klaus Speaker of The Lutheran Hour® Lutheran Hour Ministries

.. .. .. .. Print this page Get devotions by e-mail Forward this devotion to a friend Support this Ministry Visit 'The Lutheran Hour' Learn more about Pastor Klaus Subscribe to this Podcast!

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Home | About Us | Jobs | Policies | Disclaimer | Contact Us | Site Map
©2009 Lutheran Hour Ministries, All rights reserved.
Toll free: (800) 876-9880
Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center, St. Louis, MO 63141

Lutheran Hour Ministries is an auxiliary of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod | Lutheran Church—Canada

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Visit our friends at Concordia Publishing House

En Español
"List Of Thanks"
March 1, 2009

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your steadfast love in the morning, and Your faithfulness by night. Psalm 92:1-2

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The Army tells us if you join them, you can "be all that you can be."

It's a good advertisement. It appeals to the sense most of us have that we haven't reached our fullest potential.

That idea wasn't shared by baseball pitcher Dizzy Dean. Diz had a pretty good idea of who he was and what he wasn't. For example, he never claimed to be an intellectual, or a lot of other things.

You can see that reflected when, in 1953, as he was brought into the Baseball Hall of Fame, he confessed: "I want to thank the good Lord for giving me a strong right arm, a strong back, and a weak mind."

Now, that may not seem to be much of a list to thank God for, but it worked for Dizzy.

Inspired by him, I started to draw up my own list of things for which to thank God.

True, there are a lot of things I know I'm not, a lot of things I will never be able to do.

On the other hand, the Lord has given me reasonable health, a wonderful family, and allowed me to write these Daily Devotions to you almost every day. He has taken me to places I never thought possible.

Yes, the Lord has given me a lot of gifts, the most important of whom is Jesus, my Savior. As I say, that's the beginning of my list that is labeled, "Things For Which To Thank God."

Possibly you have such a list? If not, maybe it's time to draw one up. Write things down and you just might be amazed at how you, along with the Psalmist, can say, "It is good to give thanks to the Lord for His steadfast love and His unending faithfulness."

THE PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for all the undeserved blessings You have given to me. Forgive the times when I am ungrateful and move me to praise and thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son and the salvation He won for me with His blood. In His Name, Amen.

En Español
"The Light"
February 28, 2009

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

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It was a nasty Sunday afternoon a few years ago when my younger daughter and I were talking about her Sunday school lesson.

It had been on the 23rd Psalm.

When we walked into the kitchen, it was pitch black because of a thunderstorm outside. Suddenly there was a close flash of lightning and an immediate, loud boom.

We both jumped and my little girl turned to me and sweetly said, "Daddy, I know even when we're walking through the valley of the shadow of death, we don't fear any evil. But can we turn on the light, please?"

I like that. She had, and still has, a very practical outlook when it comes to her faith.

She believes in the Lord Jesus as her Savior; she trusts in Him for protection and salvation. She knows that Jesus' love comes to her in a multitude of ways.

Although she may not completely understand the miracles and mysteries of the faith, which God gives through Word and Sacrament, she trusts they come from a loving Lord. But she also knows the Lord has shown His kindness and care through electric lights and a doctor's prescription.

With a complete faith in God's goodness she can say, "I will fear no evil, for You are with me, Your rod and Your staff they comfort me."

It is a confidence I pray all of us have today and always.


From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"



THE PRAYER: Father of light and Shepherd of our lives, thank You for comfort and strength along life's difficult path. Your Son took our sins and our fears to the cross; remind us to leave them there. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

En Español
"Excuses"
February 10, 2009

And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, "Come, for everything is now ready." But they all alike began to make excuses. Luke 14:17-18a

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I like Australians. They are a fun-loving, hard-playing group of people. Apparently, they, like many of us, are also very creative.

Recently, Australia's The Sunday Telegraph noted some excuses Australians have used to talk their way out of speeding tickets. Some of the more creative explanations were these:

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En Español "Someone Else" February 14, 2009 For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 .. Each of my children has gone through a stage where they loved to tell jokes. Some of their jokes were good, and some of them, well, I'm still trying to figure out the punch line. One that stuck with me came from my daughter who approached me while I was frying eggs for breakfast. "Dad", she said "how can you eat an egg without cracking the shell?" I thought and then gave up. She replied, "Have someone else crack it for you." That one gave me a smile, but then again, maybe you had to hear it from my daughter to understand. At any rate, Christians know that is exactly what Jesus did for us. So that we could live forever, Jesus cracked open the shackles of sin; He cracked open the slavery of Satan and He cracked the death grip of the grave. He did all the work, so we could have all the benefits. Jesus' life's work is a wonderful gift that is absolutely, totally free. Saint Paul said it better than I can: "For our sake He made Him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." The only problem is that people aren't used to that kind of generosity. Life has taught us that there's no such thing as a free lunch. We know that when a deal seems to be too good to be true, it is. There is always a gimmick and a catch. If you feel that way, guess again. We have a Lord who has done the work, all the work, so we might have all the benefits. From a devotion originally written for "By the Way" THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, for me and all of humanity, You cracked the curse of sin, undermined the devil, and defeated death. There are no gimmicks or catches here. Thank You for the free gift of Your life's work. In Your Name. Amen.

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In Christ I remain His servant and yours, Pastor Ken Klaus Speaker of The Lutheran Hour® Lutheran Hour Ministries

.. .. .. .. Print this page Get devotions by e-mail Forward this devotion to a friend Support this Ministry Visit 'The Lutheran Hour' Learn more about Pastor Klaus Subscribe to this Podcast!

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Home | About Us | Jobs | Policies | Disclaimer | Contact Us | Site Map
©2009 Lutheran Hour Ministries, All rights reserved.
Toll free: (800) 876-9880
Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center, St. Louis, MO 63141

Lutheran Hour Ministries is an auxiliary of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod | Lutheran Church—Canada

I am re posting this true love story of mine.  It is the telling of how Tricia & I came together, not once, but twice.  A true love...A forever love.

Have a box or two of Kleenex handy.

Happy Valentines Day.  

Peace & Prayers

Dan 

The Prayer...A true love story that is. ....

For a version set directly to you...with the pictures, plz e-mail me directly.....

dfthompson@wyan.org....

How it all began....


I was a kid at the time when I went to Mackinaw Island for a LCMS youth gathering for all of the High schools in the state of Michigan. We were all staying at a conference center that is now known as Mission Point Resort.



(where it all began)

I was to meet up with a friend, Wendy P. that had moved to another part of the state, but just before the gathering her dad took a call to be a Pastor way out in southern Ca. I was all alone at the opening night mixer/dance. It was being held on a dance floor on the roof of one of the buildings. The night was perfect. Full moon over looking Lake Huron and not a cloud in the sky. As I stood there all alone, missing my friend, I just said the simple prayer..."Lord, just let me find someone to dance with." I decided that I was going to ask 5 girls to dance, and if nobody said yes, I would go back to my room. I asked the first girl, she said no... I asked another, and she said she wasn't interested...the next 2 said thank you, no... The 5th girl, Teri Jerome, said no, I just want to be with my friends. I began to turn away, when a small voice came from behind the girl that turned me down, saying, "I'll dance with you."...it was Tricia. We spent the rest of the 4 days together, falling in love...teenage puppy love....



(our first picture together)

More to come....



Part 2...The time to grow...

When the days on the Island were over, we boarded our boats back to our homes, we both cried.



(Playing on a seesaw before heading home on different boats. My favorite picture of all that I have ever taken)

We wrote back and forth to each other for the next year or so. Tricia went back to her family farm in Reede City, MI. Her mom & step-dad were far from rich, and were divorced shortly after & Tricia, her mom, sister & 2 brothers moved to Lansing Mi. By this time the letters had slowed to almost nothing. Tricia was enjoying life as well as she could.



(Tricia & her siblings...Teri Jerome, in white, Rick Kage, standing, Tricia Jerome (Thompson), in red, and Dale Kage, seated; Tricia's mom...Judy Renyolds, in pink)

School wasn't very easy for her, she was dyslexic, She decided that she needed to get out of town, so she took a live in nanny position for a family in Texas, but that didn't go so well. It pretty much ended the letters.

I, Dan, went back home, back to Woodhaven & Carlson High school. I dated a couple of different girls, but I never saw them in the way that I could see them as my forever love. Actually I saved that for my notes & letters...I would sign them at the beginning as Friends Forever, and as things went on to Love Forever. Nothing special happened in this time period to me, except I got my first SLR. My only other life passion was sparked into full flame...Photography. I then went, sorta...commuter student, to Eastern Michigan University.



(My senior picture...I was only 16 when it was taken in 8/85)

As I was working my way through school as a historical guide at The Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village, and later as a photographer for Auto Trader. Tricia was having some major problems in her life to deal with. She was walking in downtown Lansing when she had a grand maul seizure. She also came to the realization that her first expirence was really a case of date rape...she suppressed certain parts of the event. She was doing different jobs to get by, as she was taking classes at the local community college.



(Tricia, before she got sick....there is a great ghost story that goes with it.)

I was either in class, working, or on the road between school, home & work. I think I was the first real threat to the water tower...EMU students know what I'm talking about.



(Ypsilanti, MI water tower...most notable building on/bordering EMU campus...its said that if a virgin ever graduates from EMU, it will fall down...has been standing for well over 100 years.)

The fall of 1989 was going well for me. I was in school, and enjoying life. It wasn't so good for Tricia, she had a just broken up with a summertime boyfriend, she was working, but not feeling to good. She thought she had a walking flu when she was taken to the family dr. The Dr was sure it was just another case of the flu or a bad chest cold, but to be on the safe side he ordered a chest x-ray...that's when he saw it.

More to come later...



Part 3... Pair of Hearts



Tricia's Dr looked at the x-ray, with all expectation of seeing either nothing or signs of something not too major. Instead what he saw broke his heart, for he had been her Dr for a long time, What he saw was a heart that was more than twice the size it should be. Not good. She was sent to a near by cardiology dept at a local hospital. It was an infection of the heart muscle. She had no other options but a heart transplant. The long, it seemed to the family, but surprisingly short wait for a new heart began.

I was just going on with my life in 89. I was taking the summer off from having a day job that summer, so I could take a few classes that I needed. Life was good for me, except that I wasn't dating anyone. I was pathetic. I would go to sleep I would pray to see who I would marry. The funny thing is that the only person that ever came up in those dreams was a vision of a young, beautiful woman I had known for really only 3 days & hadn't talked to or heard from in years. So I brushed it off as just another crazy dream.

Tricia was now going through all the testing & doing everything the Dr.'s and her family were asking to do to keep going. She went from hospital to hospital all over the Midwest to find the right team to do the operation, if a heart came available. She at this time had met a law school student, Chris, she went out with him a couple of times, it was a good distraction for her at this time. He was there for her at the time, but her didn't like him. They knew it wasn't a good thing, but their concerns were elsewhere. The decided to stay in Michigan for the procedure, they chose the University Of Michigan Medical Center to do the job.

As the fall came & went nothing much happen for me. I was still just another EMU Huron student...this is the time period when they made the decision to changed their name to the Eagles. The funny thing is that the U of M hospital & EMU are only 10 miles apart. It was a bit strange that year for me, for some reason seemed to spend all of my free time between classes in Ann Arbor...spitting, into a strong wind, distance from the hospital...if I had only known.

Tricia at this time had been admitted to the hospital and was waiting. She was emotionally & physically at the breaking point. She was ready to "home", so one day they came in and told her & the family that they had a heart for her. Tricia turned it down. She wasn't ready for it, it was a devastating blow for the Dr.'s & the family. She just wanted to go home to heaven. Her mom & family were there for her, but she how hurt they were, so she took it to God. She said that she begged him to take her home, but she would take the next one, if it came available...almost never happens, usually they take you off the list, but they didn't think she understood what was happening, so they didn't. She did improve enough to go home from the hospital for the holidays.

I just spent the holidays with my family & went to Orlando on our Christmas brake. Nothing special.

February 14th 1990 comes along and I am all alone, nothing new for me. Just another snowy day in Michigan, as far as I was concerned. Not for Tricia.

For Tricia the day started out with her having a secluded Dr.'s appointment, but she was having a hard time finding someone to drive her there. Mom was sick, sister had to work, brothers had school & work. It came down to her grandma, she made a few calls & somehow worked it out to drive her the 70 miles, in a blizzard. At this time all the way down in North Carolina, a family of a 24 year old woman were having the worst day of their life, they lost a loved one In a car accident. With this passing, ball began to roll all around the country, The race was on.



In His time... part 4...



Yes the race was on, to get a heart from North Carolina to Ann Arbor Michigan. To get Tricia the 70 miles to n Arbor from Lansing. Normally this wouldn't be too much of a problem, but that day all of southern Michigan & northern Ohio were having a blizzard.

It was hard enough to find someone to drive her down for what everyone had thought was just to be a normal Dr appointment, not the surgery, but Tricia & her grandma were on the road heading to the hospital when they called to tell them the good news.

The Dr.'s wee having to fly down to North Carolina, and get back to Ann Arbor in just a few short hours... too much time & the heart would be useless. The flight down & everything in Carolina went fine. Things got interesting on their return...the weather caused the private plane to be diverted from Ann Arbor to Toledo Oh. About 60 miles away. It took a police escort to get the heart up US 23 to U of M medical center just in time to do the operation. As they did the surgery and were removing the enlarged heart that was so damaged that it literally fell apart in their hands. Trice said later that she could see this happen from outside herself, The new heart took over & did fine. After the surgery, when Tricia saw her mom for the first time, her mom cried, for she could see her daughter with the color of life again, for in the time she was waiting she had turned almost ash gray, everyone said. Judy (Tricia's mom) cries a river of tears of joy that Valentines day...There was never a better heart ever given to anyone for a Valentine day.



(Tricia going out for the first time after the transplant.)

I was still just plugging away at school, deciding what to do for the rest of my life I was told that I needed to declare a major to graduate, so after some consideration & discussions with the university, we figured out that I had all but a couple of classes done in 2 separate areas... History & Sociology, great if you want to be a teacher, and deep down that is what I thought I would like to do. So, I went and talked to my dad, who had at the time been tacking for 30 years and asked him what I should do. I said, "dad, I want to be a teacher. " He said, "Please don't." He told me how it was when he came out of school and how it had changed. He didn't think it was at the time a good move for me. He was right. I would have to figure out my life later on.


Tricia spent a good bit of the next few months in the hospital getting things all set with all the meds, not being able to work, having to give up her cat, and having to move out of her moms place. That last one was forced by social security rules at the time. She also decided that the guy that had been there all through this for her wasn't what she really wanted in her life. It was easy to have someone there for you when you don't see having a future, but things had changed. The hard thing was that he didn't want to accept this, so he went back to his home in New Jersey, but somehow continued to call & stalk her. With all of this happening & all the medications she was now on, depression soon set in.



(Tricia 1 week after the transplant...in the hospital still)

I on the other had had found a great summer job that paid me just to drive around & take pictures of people selling their cars, boats, & other stuff...I worked for Auto Trader, I made over $8K that summer & fall...and back in 1990 that could pay for a lot of school & other stuff. I was going to take a real spring break. I was going to go on a Windjammer Barefoot Cruise.

It was January, now and the day that I couldn't get my deposit back on my trip had just passed. I had been up at school all day & got home (parents) after 10 pm. I was so tired just fell fast asleep on the couch, my mom through a blanket over me, and turned off the ringer on the phone. Around 2 am my mom came downstairs & woke me up....



Part 5...His time comes....

Mom came down & woke me up to tell me that she just got a call from a girl named Tricia, and she said she met me at Mackinaw Island. She just wanted to see if the number she found in some old letters was still a good number for me. She also asked her to tell me that she had had a heart transplant, and that she was o, but would like me to call her if I got a chance. After about a 1/2 hour...about 2:30 am...I couldn't wait to talk to her. I was on the phone that morning for more than 2 hours. We decided to meet a couple o days later in Lansing, where she was living. I had never been to Lansing before. I got lost trying to find her apartment. When I finally found it she came down to meet me & we went across the street to her mom & sisters place...the sister that turned me down for a dance. She actually told Tricia, before I came up that she thought I was a great guy.

So I met the mom on the first time I see Tricia in 7 years. We went out to see a movie, and dinner, we sat & talked, caught up some more, and just had a great time. I called her when I got back home, 2 hours later...about midnight, we talked for a while longer & talked each day for the next week by phone & I drove the drive another time just to be with her, to be her friend.

We then after a couple more trips up to Lansing, she came back for a weekend to meet my family & to where I lived. We were just really good friends, at the time, we ha a passion for each other that went beyond anything either of us had ever experienced. I actually did something just as we were pulling out heading back to her home, when I asked her for I was already knowing where I thought we were heading, so I asked her "Hypothetically, if I asked you to marry me, what would be your answer?' she just said I cant say yes yet. We held hands all the way back. Life was good getting better.

We thought everything was going perfectly, until we got into her apartment to see 20 messages on her phone, all from her old boyfriend from New Jersey. 20 calls in about 40 hours...there were probably more, but he ran out the recording time & counter. If you have ever heard the crazy, scary crazy stuff people can say. He called just as we were walking in. she took the call & even though I was standing 10 feet away I could sill here him clearly. It took her over 20 minutes to tell him off. He hung up finally.



(Tricia & I at Cedar Point...old time photo studio)

For the next couple of weeks, as we drew closer, he didn't stop calling & doing as much ha rrssament as you could do from New Jersey in the early 90's. We were both praying that something would bring his harassment to an end. We didn't think it would be an end like it turned out to be. He just upped & died on the golf course, while playing in New Jersey. Tricia found out from his mom. They actually liked each other They both relaxed that the nightmare of what Chris was doing was finally over for Tricia, but it was still a sad day for her, so when she called to tell me, I drove right up to comfort her. That night, with all the emotions in the air we finally let our passion go to full bloom, it was my first time.

June was now approaching, I cashed in my cruise, so I could finish up my studies as soon as I could...I finished all my classes by August that year. We got a bit of a scare when she thought she was late, so when she went in for standard Doctors exam for her, they did a test for her. (We bought the wrong size one day...too small to even get on at all.) We had talked through our options as I drove her back to her home, before one of my evening classes. She was going to have the results by mid class break. I took my 15 min break to call her. She told me that she wasn't, it sorta broke both of our hearts that she wasn't. I though was wasn't going to stop loving her, I was actually just beginning to love her, so I decided to just do it...to ask her again, with out any hypatheticals, so I said "Tricia, will you..." She was yelling in the phone yes, yes, yes. I was stuck, happily, with what question I was asking.



Part 6...Happily after all...



So, I had to ask it..

We got engaged between classes for me, over the phone & without the question, at the time, ever being asked. Life is good. I went home happy, and told my mom what had happened. The first thing she said wasn't that we needed to get a ring now. So we did the next time we saw each other. We went to the local mall, foe we saw a few there the last time we went shopping. We went in & I told her to get what ever she wanted, so she went around the store, looking at all the rings & came across what was one of the smallest diamond solitaires they had, 1/4 karat. Its what she wanted, she had small hands & she didn't want it to be too big for her to live with. It was all her. As we were waiting for all the paperwork to get done, this was 1991, we saw & both of us entered a drawing they were having for a $500 shopping spree, it was something to pass the time. We then drove back to my parents.. home & showed the ring to my mom & sister, they went all goo-eyed over it. Everything was good, them my godmother & uncle invited us over, they had heard that she had accepted, & wanted to see the happy couple. We didn't think too much of it, it was just my godmother & uncle. Two very special people to me, for outside of her being my godmother, which is a very important position to Lutherans, because of the sacrament of baptism. It was also that my Uncle Nick was a survivor. He had come over after the was a young man & done a few things, including a jeweler. He did something at his retirement, from being a jeweler, 20 years before. He put away for all of his nieces & nephews, if they wanted them, engagement rigs. We were the last of them. The ring that Tricia chose, somehow, was a perfect match for the rings that had been waiting for u for 20 years. They are he rings I have around my neck in my profile picture.

The following months went by way too fast, but good times always do. I graduated from college, My 7-day-older cousin, best friend, fell in love with a special country girl. Her & Tricia became good friends. So the 4 of us were running around southern Michigan that summer as happy & carefree as 2 couples could.

There was only one small hick-up that year, After the scare & much discussion between the Dr.'s, our families, & ourselves. Tricia & I had to make a very hard & heart-breaking decision. We couldn't have kids. I sill cry every fathers day that I never could be the father of Tricia's kids & the more painful realization that she couldn't be a mother to my kids. The risk for Tricia, the baby, or both to die, or worse...sever birth defects were the reverse of the Mega-Millions odds. Some times it's just not meant to be.

The seasons passed quickly, We spent Christmas / New years in Florida, where we had Tricia's birthday...Jan 2nd...Life Was good.



Cousin Rusty got married on Valentine's Day, so we spent her 2nd anniversary of her transplant at a church watching 2 o our best friends get married. They still are & have a brood now running around Texas. Tricia didn't quite understand why, but she was feeling real bad that she wasn't sharing the day with her mom & family. She talked herself into believing that we would make it up next year. We were now deep into the prep for our wedding, set for May 16, 1992.... We had the church, the hall, the best man & maid of honor...we had almost everything. We were just missing 2 things.

1) Presents for the bride..s maids. Tricia really wanted to get them all something special, just from her alone. She was stumped at what she could do for them, then just a couple of weeks before the big day we get a call from the place where we bought her ring. She had won the shopping spree...Tricia had won $500 for anything she wanted in the store, so she got all of the girls in the wedding, flower girl to maid of Honor, and Tricia's mom all had new matching real pearl earrings. My sister wore hers on her wedding day; my niece wore hers to her graduation just last year. From not having anything for them, to all of them having heirlooms to b passed on for generations to come.

2) We were also wondering why the minister that was to officiate wasn't getting back to us on what we needed to work on to help make our marriage a success. So a sunday a couple of weeks before the big day, all he could say was that there was only one area that we needed to work on...money, and the only reason why we needed to work on that is the fact that we didn't have any.

The Wedding day came & it was beautiful It was in the mid to upper 80's & sunny in Lansing. To keep me & the guys happy us guys went out to a local golf course, and played around. There were about 20 of us in all out playing that morning, and I did the only thing I remembered of the whole day, I chipped in for birdie. Tricia, on the other hand was not feeling too good. She had a bad case of the flu. It was still the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Life was good...very good...My dreams & Prayers had been answered...and in ways far beyond my wildest dreams.

....

Later that year, life threw us a nasty cure, Tricia's mom died unexpectedly. She was only 46.

>>>>

The following 7 years were full great joy, but not wealth for us. We lived life to the fullest, a diabetic & heart transplant couple could. Neither of us had any major health problems, we just enjoyed every day we had together. I found that my greatest moments of my life were the times I watched Tricia live hers.


:-(     :- (   :- (   :- (

Tricia passed on to The Promised Land at 7:09 am March 28, 2000.

Life is good...because HE lives, and so does Tricia. She's just waiting for me.

..........................................

HERE IT IS...

How I know she's alright....she sorta told me...

The night she died, I went to my mom & dad's for a couple of days, as we got everything taken care of with the arrangements. I dozed off on their sofa, again. I woke up & couldn't get back to sleep, it was about 3 am, again. I was flipping through the channels on their TV...a new 36"...when I came across CMT. The remote came to a dead stop. It would not go up or down the dial. The song that was playing was a song called "She's More"...by ???. The very next song was a little tune that runs 3:16 long..."I'm Alright"...It has a part of it that goes..."The skies has cleared, the sun is bright, I'm with a friend, and I'm alright..." As soon as the song was over, the remote went back to working just fine.

********************************************

Peace

Dan

From www.LHM.org daily devotions

Rebuilding the Ruins"

July 8, 2006

"I will ... restore its ruins, and built it as it used to be." Amos 9:11



Constantine's Arch is a tourist attraction in Rome. Unlike many such monuments, it was not built of new material. Constantine, the first Christian emperor, used the ruins of ancient Rome to build his triumphal arch. It stands as a symbol of a Christian empire rising from pagan rubble.

Joseph's life was in ruins. His own brothers had turned on him, and he faced a bleak future as a slave in Egypt. But when Joseph could no longer control his life, God stepped in. And Joseph became a great man who saved many people, including his own family.

God delights in taking the ruins of our lives and rebuilding them into His temple. It's when, by God's grace, we see our utter helplessness that we let Him take over. And as we give our lives to Him, He takes those broken stones and one by one, step by step, builds a beautiful cathedral, a life dedicated to His worship and praise.

Today I take the rubble of my life -- the willfully destroyed relationship, the pride that won't let me admit I made a mistake, the jealousy that has replaced love with hate -- and bring it to Christ for forgiveness and rebuilding. He delights in making a temple out of me!

PRAYER: Direct Your steps, O Lord, to the ruins I make of my life, and work Your salvation in the midst of them; in Jesus' name. Amen.


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_________________

I still cry myself to sleep almost every night, when I can get to sleep...only out of exaustion, please pray for me.

I guess its a good question to ask to start the new year.  Are you looking forward,  backwards, or down at your toes? 

This is a big question.  This tells you where your going, and how your going.  If you are looking forward, its a good thing.  Your ready to move on.  If your looking back, its not nessarrly bad, but thats in the past, and even if it was great, you can't go back, and even if you could it would now be so diffrent that it can't be the same.  I know , I've done that looking back thing.  The only view that realy bothers me, but seems to be very popular these days is the 3rd view...The views of your toes.  The problem with this view is that, unless blocked by a map, leads to noware, and leaves you doing nothing, and in the real world is just one thing, a target, and not usally for good things. 

No matter which place you find yourself at this time.  Its important to decide which way your going to go, and start heading in that direction, and to do it with confidence.  Time to lift up your head, look down your path, and start walking.  Walk with confidence, and with out fear.  Walk do not run, the reason I say this is that when you rush too much, you end up missing so much. 

I know what your thinking, because it keeps being blasted to us on all the media pages, tv channels, and the radio that we are some how in a huge mine field and you can't move.  The problem is that can you really just stop and do nothing?  No.  Life goes on, and you must too.  You will make it out, for the "lind mines" we are looking at these days are not life threating, just new challenges.  Its time to move, and to see the world, and its great beauty that HE has put into it just for you to expirence, for as HE said in John 8...I am the light of the world, anyone that follows me will not walk in darkness, but in everlasting light.

So in conclusion...

Walk on.  Walk in HIS loving & everlasting light, for HIS light isn't an oncomming train, but everlasting love.

Sorry, its been awhile since I wrote anything, but I took a fall on the Christmas day ice that left me a bit banged up.  I'm feeling a better now, it just left me on my couch all day Christmas, and that weekend :-<  Hope yours was better.

Ephesians 1:17 (niv)

 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit^[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Peace & prayers  

Dan

"I Can Take It From Here" Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus

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"Looking Good"

January 5, 2009

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Matthew 6:25

.. --> Body -->

So, do you look good? How is that for a loaded question?

The truth is, most people do their best to look good when they go out. Now, according to an article carried by MSNBC, some folks are carrying "looking good in public" to some pretty serious extremes.

These folks really want to look good -- even at their funeral.

Understand, we're not talking about the kind of looking good a funeral director might normally do to make the deceased look presentable, natural, and at peace. Nor are we talking about the kind of major restoration that is necessary after a devastating illness or disfiguring accident.
According to the article, some folks want the mortician to roll back the calendar, remove all the wrinkles, lift up the saggy parts, and make them better than new.

As one plastic surgeon said, "Society is unfortunately getting more and more vain . . . (now, people) want to look good in their casket. It'll be one last time to show off their new outfit and their plumped lips."

Jesus knew the phylactery flaunting Pharisees of His day would have understood. They would have understood, but not necessarily agreed. Now Jesus had no problem with looking good, but He wanted to make sure people had their priorities in order.

That's why He told His followers not to worry about looks, food, or clothes. Instead, He encouraged them to "seek first the Kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 6:33a).

The Savior who gave His life so we might have eternal life wanted to make sure we were prepared spiritually for our entry into heaven and not so much for our physical exit from this world.

In truth, if Jesus is our Redeemer, Forgiver, and Friend, we will be ready for both.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, unless Your return comes soon, I will someday be dying. May I, by Your great grace, be ready for the moment when I leave this world and enter the next. And, dear Lord, if it be possible, let the lost also seek first the Kingdom of heaven. In Your Name. Amen.

"His Grace Is Sufficient"

January 3, 2009

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

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The spirit is willing, but the flesh... well, the flesh doesn't do so good.

We're only half a week into the New Year, but most of us have already managed to break some of our resolutions. It's not that we don't want to improve and better ourselves, we just don't have the stick-to-itiveness required to do the job.

Some time ago I heard about a story, which came from a prison in Mason City, Iowa.

Some of the prisoners at the facility thought they would stage a protest against the quality and quantity of food they were being served. All agreed that going on a hunger strike would be the best way of getting a favorable answer to their demands.

The day the hunger strike began went well enough. Every prisoner turned down his breakfast. There were cheers and congratulations all around.

By lunch time it was a different story. Cracks began to appear in the fellowship. Yes, they skipped lunch, but not with the same amount of enthusiasm.

By supper time, the resolution and dedication had all but disappeared. Almost all of the men forgot their demands and dug into supper.

Now, I don't want to say those men are weak. There are some pretty tough hombres in that prison. But they are just like you and me. We start out right, and because of our weakness, we fold and give up.

Amazingly, rather than washing His hands of us, God understands our weaknesses, our sins, our shortcomings. He knows that we cannot straighten ourselves out. Which is precisely why He sent His Son. Jesus came into this world to do for us what we could not do. By His life, death, and resurrection, He has given us forgiveness of sins, the guarantee of an eternity in heaven, and help for the living of each day.

Does that mean Christians can keep every one of their resolutions? No, but it does mean we have a Lord Whose strength is made perfect in our weakness. Like the children's hymn says, 'We are weak, but He is strong."

THE PRAYER: Dear God, when I am weak, You are strong. Help me to remember that You are always there for me and that Your grace is sufficient. With a thankful heart, I pray in Your Son's Name. Amen.

Dec. 28, 2008	"Sent to Save!" Guest Speaker: Rev. Dr. James Kalthoff Sermon / Q&A Text	Download Sermon MP3 Download Q&A MP3
Dec. 21, 2008	"Bah, Humbug" Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus Sermon / Q&A Text	Download Sermon MP3 Download Q&A MP3
Dec. 14, 2008	"Things Can Change" Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus Sermon / Q&A Text	Download Sermon MP3 Download Q&A MP3
Dec. 7, 2008	"Prince of Peace and Power" Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus Sermon / Q&A Text	Download Sermon MP3 Download Q&A MP3
Nov. 30, 2008	"How Then Can We Be Saved?" Guest Speaker: Rev. Andy Spallek Sermon / Q&A Text	Download Sermon MP3 Download Q&A MP3

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"Bigger Picture" December 27, 2008 I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10 .. --> Body --> It was the day after Christmas, and the little girl was watching her mother wash the mounds of dirty dishes which had been piled in the sink from the day before. Knowing how much she, herself, detested the task, the little girl asked, "Mom, don't you ever get tired of washing dishes?" The mother's reply showed she was a philosopher, as well as a mother. Mom said, "I'm not washing dishes, nor am I scrubbing pots. I'm building a home." I admire that lady, because she saw the bigger picture of her actions. She was teaching her entire family what it means to give; to do a job well, even if it's a job that you don't relish. Sadly, too many people don't get that bigger picture. For many folks, Christmas ended when December 25th was marked off the calendar. When the wrapping paper and bows were picked up and discarded, so was the memory of the Savior's story of salvation. When the ornaments were put away in storage, so was Jesus and His sacrifice. There is a bigger picture to the holy day of Christmas. God wants us to see that bigger picture. He would like us to remember His Son didn't come into this world for a once-a-year celebration. Jesus came to save our souls for eternity and to give us an abundant life now. This is why I encourage, as you continue your holy-day cleanup, you also keep seeing the bigger picture of the Christ Child's birth. From a devotion originally written for "By the Way" THE PRAYER: Dear Jesus, the "big picture" of Your sacrifice and love extends so much farther than Sunday mornings and Christmas Day. Help me to see and share with others the bigger picture of eternal salvation and abundant life through faith. In Your Name. Amen.

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	In Christ I remain His servant and yours, Pastor Ken Klaus Speaker of The Lutheran Hour® Lutheran Hour Ministries	..TR> ..TR vAlign=top> ..TABLE>..TABLE>..TABLE>.. --> Body -->.. --> InstanceEndEditable --> .. language=javascript src="http://www.lhm.org/footer.js">..> Home | About Us | Jobs | Policies | Disclaimer | Contact Us | Site Map ©2008 Lutheran Hour Ministries, All rights reserved. Toll free: (800) 876-9880 Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center, St. Louis, MO 63141 Lutheran Hour Ministries is an auxiliary of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod | Lutheran Church—Canada Visit our friends at Concordia Publishing House   Print this page Get devotions by e-mail Forward this devotion to a friend Support this Ministry Visit 'The Lutheran Hour' Learn more about Pastor Klaus Subscribe to this Podcast! Currently listening: Walk On By U2 Release date: 2002-09-04 6:56 PM  0 Comments (Add Comment) | 0 Kudos Translate Powered by English Albanian Arabic Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Estonian Filipino Finnish French Galician German Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Indonesian Italian Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Maltese Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese
Thursday, November 27, 2008  Give Thanks... Current mood:  thankful So, today is Thanksgiving day in the USA.  It may seem a bit hard to give thanks when you see some 2-3 million people looking at loosing their jobs because congress would rather give the needed money to keep the real economy afloat to those that need it, but insted give the  $20,000,000,000 just to one company that might have an impact on only a relitive small amount of NYC jobs.  Go figure.  You may be wondering how we can give thanks when over 100 people died in a terorist attack in India.  It may be that your wondering because of other ills in your own life that makes you doubt wanting to thank anyone, or thing.  I understand.  I still have issues in my life that could very well overwhelm me & my spirt, but as I look at my life I also see so much more to be thankful for than to be cursing & worring over.  I might have not had a good month, or year, money wise, I still have my car, my apartment, and somehow I am paying my bills...for this I can only thank God for keeping my head above water.  I could keep cursing God for taking & ripping my heart out when HE took Tricia to HIS great kingdom so much before me, but I am so much more thankful that HE came, HE suffered, HE died, AND then rolled away that grave stone, so that she would, and I will walk together in HIS light forever...one day.  I have so much more to be thankful for this holiday season.  So I will give thanks, and I do give thanks.  Rember tha glass is not 1/2 empty...it's 1/2 full...ok its full, just not too full to be spilling & unstable. So you know what my plans for the day are...mom's for breakfast, then to my brothers for dinner.  Dinner will be in a home today that is a good lesson for America.  A few years ago my brother & his family went off to Hawaii for a 2 week vacation.  Shortly after they left, a pipe bust in the upstaurs bathroom.  Lets just say that the master bath ended up in the basement, along with the kitchen, piano, and most of the interior.  it was more than $160,000 in damages.  What was a disaster turned out to be a God-send.  They were able rebuild, and actually improve the home.  What seemed to be a dasaster, actually turned out to be a great gift from God, as with many things in life.  Where one famuily may grive at the loss of a friend, or family member, when their a gift of life doner, many more...more than 6 usally, give thanks. So, GIVE thanks, and please post a comment of what you are thankful for as a comment...so we may all share in it with you. Here is mine...  The family of car accident victem on Valenstine day 1990 in NC that donated their daughter/wife/and or sisters organs, for the reciver of the heart did make a diffrence to so many, and I get to share so much with those that would not have had the lives they have because she made such a diffrence in all of our lives. In HIS peace... Dan Please take a lisen to the below link to The Luthern Hour.  It fits in very well today.  "Getting Around To God" Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus   En Español "Thanks Always" November 27, 2008 Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20 .. --> Body --> So, what's your "Thanksgiving Quotient" this year? With wars, suicide bombers, economic difficulties, and an uncertain future, it might not be at its highest. So, how do you feel about St. Paul who wrote we should give "thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"? Some might say the apostle needed a "reality check." In fact, there are times when I might have agreed with that opinion. Not any more. An article I came across in my files, at least in part, has brought about a shift in my opinion. I wish I could tell you where it came from, but that information has been lost to me. This Thanksgiving Day, I have made a few changes to that article and share it with you in hopes it may help. "I am thankful for all of the following things: The taxes I pay because it means the Lord has given me an income. I am thankful for snug clothes that show the Lord has put plenty on my table. For weeds and clogged gutters because it shows the Lord has given me a home. For high gas prices, because it shows I have a car and the ability to drive. For my candidate who was or was not elected because I have been blessed to live in a land of freedom. For piles of laundry which is God's way of saying I have more than "two robes." For an alarm clock which goes off early every day. The Lord wants me to know I'm needed. For duplicate emails from my friends because it means I have friends and they are thinking about me." That list could go on. It ought to go on. It ought to be modified and personalized and thought about by every one of us. Truly, we complain about hard times, but the world knows differently. The Lord has blessed us. Now, in response to His generosity, we can thank and praise, serve and share Him. We can thank Him for unnoticed and unappreciated gifts; we can share His Son's sacrifice, which has saved us. In Jesus' Name we can give thanks. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, for earthly gifts neither earned nor deserved, I give thanks. Now, I pray that my life may be filled with thanksgiving for the Son and the salvation His sacrifice provides. In Jesus' Name. Amen.  "Rejoice Always" November 26, 2008 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Psalm 46:1-3 .. --> Body --> There are, I imagine, people who are so isolated that they remain unaware the world's economy is in a state of disorder. Experts seem confused that companies and corporations that seemed unshakable are rocking. At the same time, depression, discouragement, and doubt are on the rise. This is precisely the time when our need for the Savior and His presence ought to be the most obvious. This takes me to the story of Harriet Martineau, a 19th-century atheist. One day she and a friend stepped out into the glories of a beautiful fall morning. As Harriett saw the brilliant sun peaking through the haze, and the frost on the meadow, and the brightly colored leaves falling to the ground, she was awed by the beauty and commented, "I am so thankful. I'm just so grateful for it all." Hearing the comment, her Christian friend asked, "Grateful to whom, my dear?" Right now, people all around us are looking for a savior. I think it quite right and proper for Christians to suggest these searchers would do well to look to the Savior for hope and help. He who gave Himself to win our salvation has also promised to be with us every day we live. He is there to listen, to help, to bring us through good times and bad, happy times and sad. In this we agree with the Psalmist who rightly said, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Because of our loving Lord, we, too, can say, "we will not fear, even though the earth be shaking, and the mountains fall into the sea, and the stock market seems like a roller coaster, and our jobs and retirement funds seem shaky." Because of the Lord of life, we need not be afraid. He remains in control. We can be grateful to Him. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, even though the world seems to be spinning out of control, we who know and trust the Savior are given a peace, which passes all human understanding. May we trust in Him and, whenever possible, help others trust Him as well. This prayer I offer up in the Name of Jesus in whom I place my trust. Amen. To request a free copy of "Rejoice Always" (a pocket-sized booklet of scriptures and meditations on God's love), please e-mail your full name and mailing address to lhmresponse@lhm.org with "Rejoice Always" in the subject line of the e-mail. "I Believe... In Nothing" November 25, 2008 But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1:23-25 .. --> Body --> Do you remember the Daily Devotion that talked about how humanists on the East Coast were putting anti-god advertising on buses?* Now, there is a similar campaign taking place in the West. According to a Denver TV station, Colorado atheists have paid for billboards reading, "Don't believe in God? You're not alone." Ten billboards will go up in metro Denver. One will be put up in Colorado Springs. Joel Guttormson, spokesman for Metro State Atheists, said, he imagined the billboards would "likely offend many Christians." Then he added, "...I've read the First Amendment up and down and nowhere does it say that I have to care about your (Christian's) feelings." I have to admit, when I first heard of these public campaigns of the agnostics who say, "they're not sure there is a god," and the atheists who maintain, "there is no God," I was disturbed. That feeling is still there, but now it has been joined by a few others. First, I am thankful. It's much easier to fight against the devil when he, and his spokespeople, go public. Second, I rejoice that there is still such an obvious need to share the Savior's story of salvation. The Lutheran Hour, our congregations, and each of us must remain dedicated to sharing a changeless Christ with a changing, and unbelieving, world. Lastly, I am grateful. This holy-day season pastors and parishes will be able to offer up special prayers for these individuals and groups who have never been touched by Bethlehem's manger, or Calvary's cross, or the Savior's empty tomb. Let us bring these lost souls to the Holy Spirit for special consideration. Let us also ask Him to use us - through word and witness - to share the redemption Christ has won, with unbelievers who are close to us. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, the devil still keeps claiming those for whom You have died and risen. Use The Lutheran Hour, my congregation, and me to touch these people with the joy that comes to all who acknowledge You as Savior and Lord. In Your Name I ask it. Amen. *Read that devotion here. Currently listening: Heart in Motion By Amy Grant Release date: 1991-03-05 8:41 PM  1 Comments (Add Comment) | 2 Kudos Translate Powered by English Albanian Arabic Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Estonian Filipino Finnish French Galician German Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Indonesian Italian Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Maltese Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese
Saturday, November 15, 2008  The questions that everyone needs to ask before they get married... Current mood:  peaceful Category: Romance and Relationships Ok, I know most of you that read my blogs are wondering where is the Lutheran Hour, and the related phlosaphy...of which, Why doesn't myspace have spell check on their blogs?...It's just that I need to have my neice answer the following questions before she takes the walk.  The following questions are to be answered with either WANT or NEED.  The key to the success of the test is your own honesty to yourself..  So if your in the situation that your taking this test, I am not going to influnce your responces by telling you the "right" answer.  The reason is that by doing so tends to make people fudge their responces to fit desires nad not reality.  Also... If you find yourself sayng Want & Need, thats not a bad thing, but this needs to be counted as need.  These questions ARE on the lines of yes/no only responces.  If your answer is only partly need, its a WANT.  These are questions that I have asked many couples both that have had. or have relationships that are working,and have failed.  The responces of the 2 groups are ALWAYS the same. 1)  I _________ this person in my life. 2)  I _________ to know that this person is OK. 3)  I _________ this person to be the other parent to my children. 4)  I _________ to know, somehow, that they alright, even when apart, to sleep at night. 5)  I _________ to be there to lean on, or be to be leaned on for them...for support in my life.   Thats it.  Those are the questions.  Please feel free to either e-mail me the resonces, if you you want.  I bet that if you went around to all the successes & failures in relationships and gave them this quiz the answers won't be a shock to you.   Peace Dan     Currently listening: Let It Go By Tim McGraw Release date: 2007-03-27 10:51 PM  0 Comments (Add Comment) | 0 Kudos Translate Powered by English Albanian Arabic Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Estonian Filipino Finnish French Galician German Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Indonesian Italian Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Maltese Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese
Sunday, November 09, 2008  Nothing can ever be good enough. Current mood:  sad It's true.  Nothing that has happened, or will ever happen that will be good enough...for me to ever want Tricia here again to expirence it.  It is not possable.  Please put the pens down, and don't go thinking that I'm a cold hearted monster...I'm not.  It's just that where she is now is so much better, and to ever think that what is good & beautiful in life is like asking someone on vacation in Hawaii to be dragged back to the slums of Cleveland in January.  I know that there are times that she would enjoy & celebrate with more passion & love than anyone for some things, but I also know that they are at best trivial.  Those are the days & times in my life that I both feel the greatest joy, for I cvan still "see" how much she would enjoy them & that was/is my greatest joy...its now not just tears of joy, but also of longing & anticipation for when I will join her on that beautiful beach, where the Light Of The World (John 8:12) stands shining forever with us, and before us.   I know that I haven't been able/up to writing my blog for the last few weeks.  The reason I missed out last week was that I was mourning the loss of a friend from church that had been called home unexpectedly.  It was both filled with great joy, for he was now home with HIM, and sorrow for 2 reasons...10 Phil was gone from this world, and we who knew him are still here...in the slums of Cleveland, and he wasn't anymore.  2) It was also heart breaking to see the hope-lessness of those that have not expirenced HIS warming, wonderful, and beautiful never ending Light. John 8:12...niv When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." In HIS peace, and Light... Dan Here are links to the last few weeks broadcat of The Lutheran (1/2)Hour... ..TR> This week's message ... November 9, 2008 ..TR> ..TABLE>..TABLE> "Death And The Blacksmith" ..TR> ..TABLE> Nov. 2, 2008 "No Hope" Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus Sermon / Q&A Text Download Sermon MP3 Download Q&A MP3 Oct. 26, 2008 "Abiding Words" Guest Speaker: Rev. David Schmidt Sermon / Q&A Text Download Sermon MP3 Download Q&A MP3 Oct. 19, 2008 "Nailed To The Wall" Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus Sermon / Q&A Text Download Sermon MP3 Download Q&A M ..TR> ..TABLE> "A Living Hope" October 28, 2008 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3 .. --> Body --> In the course of my parish ministry, I have seen suicides. Those who took their lives were of different ages, genders, and situations. Even so, there were things those deaths had in common. They were all terrible; they were all tragic, and they didn't solve any problems. They only shifted those problems from the deceased to those who were left behind trying to deal with a multitude of unanswered questions. Maybe that's why, last week when Reuters reported a change in America's suicide statistics, I took special note. The changes reported were shocking. From 1999 to 2005, our national suicide rate rose .7 percent. During that same period, suicides of middle-aged Caucasian men rose 2.7 percent and middle-aged white women soared 3.9 percent. Many explanations are being put forth to explain the dramatic increase. Economic downturns, unhappy families, frustration, discouragement, and personal depression are all listed as candidates causing the escalation. There are a lot of reasons that might motivate someone to take his or her own life. Some of those reasons may be familiar to you or someone close to you. This is why, without trying to oversimplify the situation, I want to say that no matter what state of affairs you find yourself in, Jesus and His representatives can help. You may think your future holds only darkness. Jesus is the Light and He has counselors, congregations, pastors, and people around you who will be glad to reflect that light. You may be brought down with doubt and depression, but the Savior wishes to give help -- sometimes personal, sometimes medical, sometimes spiritual -- to lift you up. The risen Savior can bring you up... ... as He did Saint Paul who had committed murder ... as He did St. Peter who had denied and deserted Him ... as He did Thomas who spoke out in doubt ... as He wished to do for Judas who betrayed Him. By the Savior's sacrifice, by the Holy Spirit's power, you can be born again -- both spiritually and mentally. This is the risen Savior's message for the select few of you who are toying with the idea of suicide -- and for many of you who are close to someone who is having a very hard time with life. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, over the centuries, You have transformed lives. Now, I pray that You will bring happiness and hope to those who are in darkness. And, if I can be of help, use me to Your purpose. In Your Name. Amen.   "Rescue From Evil" November 5, 2008 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:18 .. --> Body --> The auction of a home in a mortgage foreclosure is a sad thing. A foreclosure is the end of someone's dreams -- the final chapter in a sad story of shattered hopes. According to a CNN article last week, that's the way it was for Tracy Orr in Pottsboro, Texas. Tracy watched helplessly as her home was being auctioned off to the highest bidder. Through tear-filled eyes she watched the bidding, trying to tune out the person behind her determinedly asking about her home and if it was "worth it?" Tracy's home was sold for $30,000. It was sold to that annoying person who had been standing near her. Tracy's home was sold to a lady who, after the auction said, "I did this for you." The stranger, without knowing Tracy's name, or her financial condition, bought her house and is giving it back. Well, she's not actually giving it back, but close enough. When asked why the generosity, the Good Samaritan stranger said, "If it was you, you'd want somebody to stop and help you." Actually, Tracy's story is mine, and it is yours, too. You see -- we once had a home in paradise. These were homes that we, because of our sin, managed to lose. Seeing our lost condition, a stranger, the best of Samaritans -- the Son of God -- stepped in to save us. That's right. Jesus bought back our home in heaven. There are two differences between our Lord and the kind person in Tracy's story: Jesus didn't make His purchase with gold, or silver. No, the cost was far higher than that. The Savior redeemed us and our home in heaven with His holy precious blood and through His innocent suffering and death. The second difference is also considerable; the benefactor in Tracy's story is not giving her back her home, she is selling it back in a way Tracy can afford. Our Savior, knowing we would never be able to pay the price demanded by a home in heaven, is giving us that eternal piece of property free and clear. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, when humanity lost its home in the Garden of Eden, You had pity and did everything necessary to bring us home. Through Your life, suffering, death, and resurrection, You have graciously given us an eternal home in heaven. For this blood-bought gift may I thank and praise, serve and obey You. In Your Name. Amen. .. --> Title --> November 9, 2008 Open Eyes And Heart November 8, 2008 Fender Benders November 7, 2008 A Father's Love November 6, 2008 Not Too Smart November 5, 2008 Rescue From Evil November 4, 2008 Living By Faith November 3, 2008 Showing Your Love November 2, 2008 Equality November 1, 2008 Listen October 31, 2008 Love Goes The Distance October 30, 2008 Thoughts From Luther (A "Do-It-Yourself" Devotion) October 29, 2008 A Bad Deal October 28, 2008 A Living Hope October 27, 2008 Free Indeed October 26, 2008 Your Importance October 25, 2008 The Boring Christian October 24, 2008 Trust In God ..TR> ..TABLE>   En Español "Your Importance" October 26, 2008 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-30 .. --> Body --> Most of us aren't famous. Most of us aren't going to have our names recorded in the history books. That kind of realization can make us ask ourselves, "Am I important?" Sir Michael Costa, the celebrated conductor, believed everyone is important in the part they play. One day he was conducting a gigantic rehearsal where the chorus was singing and hundreds of instruments provided the accompaniment. In the midst of the music, the piccolo player stopped playing. He was convinced his small instrument wouldn't be missed amid so much music. Immediately the Maestro stopped and shouted, "Where is the piccolo?" The sound of that one small instrument was necessary to the harmony, and the conductor's ear had not missed it. When you go to work, your boss might not know if you exist. When you go home, you may find yourself ignored. When you go shopping, you might just be another customer. The government may know you only by your Social Security number. But God's wonderful ear is tuned to the music of your life. You are important to Him-important enough for Him to give His Son's life to buy your salvation. You are important to the Father in heaven and He listens to the prayers and praises of your life. Which is why, I encourage you, don't let Him down. Don't stop playing your part, no matter how small it might seem. You can be sure the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sanctifier is listening to your life's music. From a devotion originally written for "By the Way" THE PRAYER: Dear God, I may only play a small part in this world, but I know, because of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection I am important to You. Help me to share with others the good news that they are important enough that You gave Your Son's life for their salvation. In the Savior's Name I ask it. Amen. Currently listening: One More Day By Diamond Rio Release date: 2001-02-06 9:04 PM  0 Comments (Add Comment) | 0 Kudos Translate Powered by English Albanian Arabic Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Estonian Filipino Finnish French Galician German Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Indonesian Italian Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Maltese Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese Wednesday, October 08, 2008  neither mud nor mirrors... Current mood:  relieved Category: Religion and Philosophy It may seem like an intresting title.  It is sorta, but you'll need to read/lisen to the last weeks worth of The Lutheran Hour daily blogs and sermon (attached). Here is a brife run down on my feelings of the mud & mirrors.  Mud is the mear fact that no matter how bad I am, how tough life is, and down in the mud we might be in our lives, HE still loves us, and is there for us.  If you doubt this, then what about the man next to HIm on the cross that friday, he was incrusted in mud, but HE washed him clean.  HE is there for us too.  It is HIS job to carry our transgressions on Himself, on that cross...rember Isiaha 53. Ok, now here is the mirror, oddly this is the real problem for us, as humans.  This is when we get so full of pride that it blocks out reality.  This is the sin that comes, and did come before the fall.  The moral is this... Don't get a big head.  We need to accept the fact that being king of the mountain might have a great view, but usally also has a hard fall.  I don't think its a quincidince that the most down to earth sports stars are the NLH hocky players.  They are the only ones that actually have to give the trophy back each year. Oh well, its good not to be mud, and to have a head smal enough to see it all in the mirror. Peace Dan "Mirror, Mirror" En Español "A Stronghold" October 1, 2008 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him. Nahum 1:7 .. --> Body --> Yesterday's top story on the BBC was the U.S. House of Representatives had voted down the bail-out bill. Reuter's banner headline read: "U.S. bailout rejected; fear seizes markets." The Washington Post carried two stories, which topped the others. The first was this: "Lawmakers Scramble to Figure Out Next Move in Financial Crisis." The other was this: "Dow Suffers a Historic Drop, Falling 778 Points in Single Day". But I'm not telling you anything you don't know, am I? You are fully aware global markets are close to a panic, and Washington leaders seem confused as to what should be done, or what should not be done. Now, I am not an economist and am incredibly ignorant in matters of global finance, but there is one thing I do know: the purpose of these Daily Devotions is to let the Lord speak to uncertain times. That is what He does through the reassuring words shared by the Old Testament prophet, Nahum: "the Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble." Those words came at a time when God's people had just found out they weren't as wise, as self-sufficient, or as in control as they thought. The unexpected arrival of the cruel and seemingly invincible Assyrian army had them despairing of their future. In that dark moment, Nahum spoke the truth: human arrogance and greed -- not God -- was the culprit that had undermined their situation. To troubled minds, hearts, and souls, Nahum held out inspired words of comfort: "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble." The Holy Spirit says the same to us who see our tomorrows as being grim and gloomy: God is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble. He wants us to remember that even though the stock market might be bouncing around, His goodness is constant. He wants to reassure us that trust in Him is more secure than any stock. He wants us to believe that His Son, who came to save our souls, remains ready to be our fortress when financial institutions are failing. The risen Redeemer stands as the stronghold of hope to all who come to Him in humility, repentance, and faith. At the beginning of this special devotion, I said I was not an economist. That is true. I am also not a prophet. Even so, I believe this financial crisis will be a theme touched upon in the weeks and months to come. If this proves to be the case then I, like you, should be thankful. Thankful about what? Thankful that when the headlines scream gloom and doom, we have a God who "is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble." THE PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, the leaders of finance said, "Trust us, we know what we're doing." Apparently, they didn't. Now, people who had no part in big-business-boardroom decisions are paying the price. Today, I pray damage might be minimized and individuals may not give in to despair, but may be turned to You. Help us know that You are "good, a stronghold in the day of trouble." I pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen. En Español "Greater Love" September 30, 2008 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person -- though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die -- but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-8 .. --> Body --> Ten-year-old Doug Zehner of Chesterton, Indiana, is alive. Doug slipped into a rain-swollen creek and was pulled into a steel culvert. A next-door neighbor, Mark Thanos, jumped in to try and save the boy. When Mark had a difficult time getting out of the water, his 74-year-old father jumped in to provide assistance. The boy, smaller than the grown men, was flushed through the three-foot-wide culvert and came to the surface about 20 feet downstream. Both men died in their attempt to save the boy. Doug's parents, moved by the selfless devotion of their friend, said, "He gave his life for my child. I can only hope that we live up to his memory. We'll do the best we can with our son for him." Theirs is an appropriate and right reaction. When somebody gives his future for yours, a life well lived is the best and probably the only way to express your appreciation. You can't pay back the debt; all you can do is honor what has been done for you. That's something we Christians understand. We know that because of Jesus' sinless life we no longer live under the law; because of the Savior's sacrifice on Calvary's cross, we have been given eternal life. Now, to the best of our ability, we try to do our best to honor the Christ, the Savior who died for men and women who were sinners. Oh, there is one other thing about this accident you might want to know. Thinking about what had happened, young Doug, with a cracking voice, said, "I wish he (Mark Thanos) didn't love me that much." As for me, I'm thankful there are people like Mark who can love that strongly, that selflessly, that sacrificially. I'm even more thankful I have a Savior who loved a sinner so much that He -- fully aware of what He was doing -- traded His life, His hope, His all, so I might be forgiven and given a new life that will last forever. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, for coming to this world to live and die for ungrateful, unappreciative humanity, my thanks. In dying so I might live, You have given me a gift I could never earn, and can never repay. But may I live a life that honors You. In Your Name. Amen. ..TR> .. -->- ---> ..TABLE>.. --> Klaus and Links --> En Español "Valuable" October 4, 2008 But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8 .. --> Body --> I can't tell you how many times I've let golden opportunities pass me by. That's why I've remembered for years the true story about a big lump of something, a stone supposedly, which lay for centuries in a shallow brook in North Carolina. The few people who saw the lump, paid no attention and passed by. That's the way it was until a poor man saw the heavy lump and thought it would be a good thing to hold his door open. He picked it up and took it home. It was only when a geologist happened to pass by and saw the lump by the poor man's door that the lump was transformed. The guest's expert eye identified the "lump" as a chunk of gold - the biggest lump of gold ever found east of the Rockies. Tiffany's judged the lump was worth over $100,000. Today, I don't wish to talk to you about your missed chances. That's too easy. Instead, I would like to ask if you have ever thought of yourself as being a valueless lump; a lump passed by and ignored by almost everyone. Do you think of yourself as a lump, which is useful only to be someone else's doorstop? If so, you should know that God doesn't think of you that way at all. The Lord saw the value of you and your soul and sent His Son into this world to save you. You were valuable enough for Jesus to spend His entire life saving you. As Isaiah said, we may appear to be a lump, but in the hand of the expert Potter, we can be transformed into something of great value. Which is just the Lord's way of letting you know: you are, in Jesus, made valuable, most valuable, indeed. From a devotion originally written for "By the Way" THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for sending Your Son to save me. I find comfort, as well as salvation in the knowledge that I am valuable to You. Now I ask that You will empower me to live my life in thanksgiving and praise. In Jesus' Name. Amen. http://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions.asp?date=20081005 http://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions.asp?date=20080929 http://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions.asp?date=20080928 http://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions.asp?date=20081008 Read or Listen to Today's Advent Devotion http://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions.asp?date=20081007 http://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions.asp?date=20081006 ..TR vAlign=top> In Christ I remain His servant and yours, Pastor Ken Klaus Speaker of The Lutheran Hour® Lutheran Hour Ministries ..TR> ..TR vAlign=top> ..TABLE>..TABLE>..TABLE> Print this page Get devotions by e-mail Forward this devotion to a friend Support this Ministry Visit 'The Lutheran Hour' Learn more about Pastor Klaus Subscribe to this Podcast! 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