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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