Short Video Devo on Keeper in Psalm 121

Hi Family!

Here’s a short video devotion on Psalm 121. God is your Keeper, and that’s comforting indeed!

Love, Dad

Hi Family. Here’s my sermon for Sunday.

I love you! Dad

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gafz1h6dge6w6cw/20-03-22%20VOTM4U%20Psal.%20142%20Hemmed%20In%20-%203_20_20%2C%2012.04%20PM.m4a?dl=0

Here’s a little devotion from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther. You are not alone!

COMFORT WHEN FACING GRAVE TEMPTATIONS

First, such a person must by no means rely on himself, nor must he be guided by his own feelings. Rather, he must lay hold of the words offered to him in God’s name, cling to them, place his trust in them, and direct all the thoughts and feelings of his heart to them.

Second, he must not imagine that he is the only one assailed about his salvation, but he must be aware (as St. Peter declares) that there are many more people in the world passing through the same trials [I Pet. 5:9]. How often does David lament and cry out in the Psalms, “O God, I am driven far from thy sight” [31:22], and, “I became like those who go into hell” [28:1]. These trials are not rare among the godly. They hurt, to be sure, but that is also in order, etc.

Third, he should by no means insist on deliverance from these trials without yielding to the divine will. He should address God cheerfully and firmly and say, “If I am to drink this cup, dear Father, may your will, not mine, be done” [Luke 22:42].

Fourth, there is no stronger medicine for this than to begin with words such as David used when he said in Psalm 18 [:3], “I will call upon the Lord and praise him, and so shall I be saved from all that assails me.” For the evil spirit of gloom cannot be driven away by sadness and lamentation and anxiety, but by praising God, which makes the heart glad.

Fifth, he must thank God diligently for deeming him worthy of such a visitation, of which many thousands of people remain deprived. It would be neither good nor useful for man to know what great blessings lie hidden under such trials. Some have wanted to fathom this and have thereby done themselves much harm. Therefore, we should willingly endure the hand of God in this and in all suffering. Do not be worried; indeed, such a trial is the very best sign of God’s grace and love for man. At such a time it is well to pray, read, or sing Psalm 142, which is especially helpful at this point.

Martin Luther, Devotional Writings I, ed. Martin O. Dietrich, vol. 42 of Luther’s Works. (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1969), 183-184.

Read Isaiah 7:10-14 and Matthew 1:18-25

Hi Family!

Quick trivia: what does the word “merry” mean? In the Olde English it means “mighty.” So God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen means God Rest Ye, Mighty Gentlemen. So Merry Christmas means Have a Mighty Christmas.

Are you buying presents for some people? Why do people buy presents for other people? Do they expect something in return? And what about the person that gets the present; what’s his or her “responsibility?”

AND–have you ever thought about Christmas and the birth of Jesus as Judgment? Here’s the Christmas Eve sermon.

Have a Mighty Christmas! Love, Dad

Read Isaiah 35 and Matthew 11:2-15

Hi Family!

You can see that it’s Christmas time. Look at the lights, the trees, the sales, the decorations. The signs are all over the place! You can see it. It’s right in front of us and it’s all around us.

But what about “seeing Christmas” in April or May? It’s tougher then because there are other things on our calendars and in our minds. But Christmas is there nevertheless.

Problems in life cloud our vision and the truth of God. He has something waiting for us who follow Jesus. That’s what Isaiah 35 is all about. And Christmas–the birth of the Christ Child–is what began to usher this all in. Can you see it? That’s what this sermon is about.

I love you! Dad

#Isaiah35, #Hope, #Advent3

Read Isaiah 9:6-7

Hi Family! Here’s a little Luther for you today. Enjoy!

And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
ISAIAH 9:6

The kingdom of Christ is beyond grasp, reason, and experience. Here the flesh must be put to death with all its wisdom and judgment, and it must be grasped only by faith. We must believe that Christ’s righteousness is ours…. Lest we come short in the matter of faith He gives us counsel, that is, the Word, so that we may abide in so wonderful a government of His kingdom…. [“God,”] that is, strong, Power. Here it is not the person or nature of this king that is depicted but only His wonderful government of the kingdom. Therefore, He has counsel, He has full power, He can come to the aid of the weary and those spent by trials…. He gives the strength to triumph through the Word and the Holy Spirit…. This [“Everlasting Father”], then, indicates the work and business of this King, not His person. This name fits no one else. He always increases His reign, He always begets children and rules over them, He always remains the Father, He does not assume the role of tyrant, His children are always His beloved. This is beyond question the most delightful kingdom. From Lectures on Isaiah (Luther’s Works 16:100–101)

Luther, Martin. Day by Day: 365 Devotional Readings with Martin Luther . Concordia Publishing House. Kindle Edition.

Read Matthew 3:1-12

Hi Family!

I hope you’re having a GREAT day today! Hey, which one of yous guys doesn’t like a surprise? We all love surprises–if they’re good ones. There are bad surprises too. But let’s stay with the good ones. It’s really fun to watch kids at Christmas time because their faces are full of surprises. When you guys were little, it was so much fun watching you open up your gifts and see the surprises on your faces.

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Read Matthew 3:1-12

Good morning Family!

You’ve probably been involved in staring contests before. Haven’t you? It’s 1-2-3——-GO! and then you stare the other guy in the eyes until one of you blinks. Whoever blinks, laughs, or turns away first loses. Simple. Fun.

John the Baptist is setting things up here for a staring contest. The contest is between Jesus and sinners. His preaching calls all people to repentance. In other words, turn to God. But not just any god. There’s a specific person the Baptist turns people toward, and that person is his relative–Jesus. When he says, “the kingdom of heaven is near!”, he’s not talking about a place or geographical location. John is saying that the rule and reign of God is right here among you and He’s staring you right in the face.

At Christmas time the Christian remembers that God needed to have a showdown with Satan, Sin and Death. He needed to have a stare down with them in order to save you! But the stakes were a lot higher than claiming a victory in a game. This was no game. Eternities were on the line–your eternity!

On the cross, the Babe born in Bethlehem’s manger had a knockout, drag-down staring contest with the unholy trinity. Jesus stared the power of Sin in the face. He stared Death and damnation in the face. And He stared Satan himself in the face. Whoever blinked first lost.

Jesus never blinked. He continued through the suffering, beatings, crucifixion and ultimately death. In His death, the Christ-child demonstrated His victory. It’s weird to think of it like that–that death is victory. But in God’s plan of salvation, that’s what it is and that’s how it works. Through the Christ-child’s death you now have life. That’s God’s GIFT to you!

The Kingdom of God is staring you in the face right now. He calls you, and all people, to repentance. In other words, turning to Jesus and follow Him. This is a staring contest that God WANTS us to lose! He wants us to blink and turn to Him because in doing so, we really win! In repentance, God opens our hearts to let Jesus the King enter into your lives. There He rules with love and mercy, not fire and judgment. And it doesn’t matter what you’ve done or who you are. He’s stared down your pasts, presents and futures for you–AND WON!

I love you! Dad

Read Romans 15:4-17

Good morning Family!

It was October 20, 1982. It was Game 7 of the World Series. The relatively new Milwaukee Brewers had finally arrived on the scene as they made it to the World Series as the American League Champs. Their rivals were the National League Champs, the St. Louis Cardinals (the Brewers were in the American League @ that time). This was the big game, and this was for the whole enchilada. Harvey’s Wall Bangers, as they were known then, were just one game away. Everyone hoped they would win. But hope led to disappointment in the 6-3 loss to the Cardinals.

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Read Psalm 72:1-7

Hi Family!

Growing up in Sheboygan I remember being surrounded by monarch butterflies. I love them. And they’re one of the most beautiful butterflies out there. I always assumed, growing up, that monarchs were everywhere. But I found out that they’re not. You see, monarchs (as with each individual type of butterfly) need the right environment. It’s a unique environment. They live only where there is milkweed. If there’s no milkweed, then there are no monarchs. They need it for food, for laying their eggs, for eating the leaves once the eggs hatch, for growing into caterpillars, to go into their chrysalis stage, and then to emerge once again to repeat the whole cycle over again.

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