Tuesday June 8th

“As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not ,let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”

Matthew 10:12-15

Dear Jesus, You told your disciples to infiltrate the world with your gospel and if they weren’t accepted to shake the dust off their shoes. I know you wanted them to keep caring for the lost, but you didn’t want them to lose sleep over them. Nor did you want them to lose time for finding others. You would send more people behind them to once again reach out to the lost that had rejected them. You give us all so many opportunities to come to faith. Help me to be bold and also to refuse to tarry too long with people who just aren’t ready. I want to make the most of my life and I realize it could be a waste to keep returning to some folks. Thank you for giving me the freedom to move on without worrying that you might miss something. Amen.

Let God decide how many opportunities to give people to come to faith. Just keep preaching and keep moving.

Monday June 7th

“ Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

Psalm 2:12

Lord God, You are the only safe place I can run in any situation, whether in danger, in fear, in guilt, or sin. I can run to you. I can run to you after sin because, in you, there is forgiveness. I can run to you in danger because, in you, there is protection. I can run to you in fear because in your there is compassion and help. I can run to you in weakness because, in you, there is strength. Here I come, Lord! Hold me close.

Amen.

Saturday June 5th

Blessed is the person...For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.”

Psalm 1:6

Lord God,

You are all that I need. You loved me first, most, and best. Teach me to love you first, best, and most. This day, this week, this year, I’m leaving for you and your applause. Amen. To be blessed means to enjoy the happy and rewarding life which comes from God alone. Real happiness is the peace which comes through the forgiveness of sins. Real happiness is receiving the freedom to live according to God’s Word. Real happiness is enjoying the glory of living with God throughout eternity.

This is the blessing that awaits all those who delight in God’s Word”

Friday June 4th

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wine skins, and both are preserved.”

Matthew 9:16-17

Dear Jesus, John the Baptist’s disciples asked you why your disciples didn’t fast twice a week as they did. You told them it was because fasting was for more difficult times than what your disciples were experiencing. Your presence filled them with joy. Oh, how you are bigger than life! Harder times did come for your disciples after you eft. Then they fasted but not the way the Pharisees did. Instead, they sought your will in prayer and fasting. They did not fast to earn your favor. After you taught about fasting you used these two powerful illustrations (unshrunk cloth and new wine) to describe how incompatible your gospel is with religion built on moralism and laws. You cannot try to fit your good news about all sins forgiven into a system of religious ceremonialism. I’m thankful that you have graciously chosen me to learn about grace. I’m forgiven of all my sins, free from all laws and happy to live a life of love toward you and all people. I have a renewed desire to live well that I never got from rules. Help me to live a good life today not because I lust but because I love to.

Amen.

Living for God is a no-brainer when you know he lives for you

Thursday June 3rd

“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means:“ I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”’”

Matthew 9:10-13Dear Jesus, You did life with everyone. You did not discriminate. Love does that. It reaches out to all. I know why you did that too. You came to find the lost, confront them, forgive them and bring them into your fold. I want to live the same way. I’m on mission with you. Help me to live with the “sick” and challenge the scruples of the comfortably religious people around me. Help me to live in the soup with people and to find ways to present to them your redeeming grace in conversations that engage and enlighten them. I’m also open to learning from too. Even lost people you let me meet can teach me things. So, help me to ever become cliquish again. Amen.

Everyone has a soul that needs redeeming and an experience that will bless others under God’s providence

Wednesday June 2nd

“The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!’”

Matthew 8:27

Dear Jesus, They asked what kind of man you were. As the God/man you really are very different from us. My

generation spends so much time talking about how you came to be with us and save us that we forget

sometimes to give credence to your majesty. You rule all things! You are the center of the universe. And you

are our friend. It means we are going to be okay. We don’t need to fear so easily in a storm. You are in the

boat with us. Calm my troubled heart and help me let go to the thought that you are guiding so much more

than our ship. You are guiding the planet on which the seas roll under the ship. When I think about who you

are I think less about short term storms. Amen..

He guides the ocean beneath the ship, not just the ship

Wednesday June 2nd

“The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!’”

Matthew 8:27

Dear Jesus, They asked what kind of man you were. As the God/man you really are very different from us. My generation spends so much time talking about how you came to be with us and save us that we forget sometimes to give credence to your majesty. You rule all things! You are the center of the universe. And you are our friend. It means we are going to be okay. We don’t need to fear so easily in a storm. You are in the boat with us. Calm my troubled heart and help me let go to the thought that you are guiding so much more than our ship. You are guiding the planet on which the seas roll under the ship. When I think about who you are I think less about short term storms. Amen.

He guides the ocean beneath the ship, not just the ship

Tuesday June 1st, 2021

“When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’ Another disciple said to him, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus told him, ‘Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.’”

Matthew 8:18-22Dear Jesus, You seemed so harsh to those two men. But I know you had to have a loving reason to be so pointed. You always want to win souls. You wanted them to know that following you was more than a vacation. It’s a whole-hearted adventure of service to God and one’s neighbor. I get it. You put everything on the line for us and so a full-bodied response is to put everything on the line for you. If you will give me the strength, I will do that for you today. Just show me how you want me to do it. You deserve no less since you have redeemed my soul with your very life. Amen

.We give it all for God since he gave it all for us!

Monday May 31st ,Memorial Day

God of our fathers and Lord of the nations, a melancholy melody lingers over America these days. It is the sound of Taps. Each evening, to weary warriors in barracks or aboard ships is has called out, “All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.”

But this weekend we hear the call sound forth in cemeteries-where warriors sleep in graves. Flags fly over these grave sites, and tears water the grass around the headstones. We bow our heads in memory of the lives lost to defend America.

But we lift our eyes in thanksgiving for your protecting hand over our nation. We beseech you to remain our great Defender. We beg you to forgive our individual sins and our national sins for Jesus’s sake. You, Lord, are our only hope. Your Son once rested in a grave after he had fulfilled his mission to rescue mankind from the grip of the eternal enemy. Then he rose from that grave to reign in glory.

So may it be with our warriors who have closed their eyes with your name on their lips, and your promise in their hearts. Raise them to serve you in the sweet and blessed country of God’s elect

.Let the final words of Taps become our own;

“Thanks and praise, For our days, ‘Neath the sun, ‘Neath the stars, ‘Neath the sky, As we go, This we know, God is nigh.” Amen.

Saturday May 29th

“When Jesus came into Peter’s house he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.’” Matthew 8:14-17

Dear Jesus, You not only promise to listen to our prayers and heal us of many of our diseases, but you also do life with us. You did not sit in heaven and pontificate blessings. You came down and entered our difficult drama. You submitted to the birth, growing up and growing older. You endured pain, broken furniture and sicknesses. Your friends and family hurt too. But you also healed and released them of burdens. All the while, you were marching to the cross to save us. Matthew’s quote from Isaiah 53 reminds me that your journey on earth that included healing was still a journey to rescue us forever. I see in the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, your great compassion for those close to you. I am close to you. I trust you are still on earth with me through your Holy Spirit and that you understand the difficulty of my health problems. Be my healer and the healer of those I love so dearly. Heal their bodies and lengthen their lives on earth. Since you have rescued me for eternity I accept your decision either way, whether it be to heal or to simply accompany me in my misery. Amen.

Jesus did life with us so we can do eternal life with him

Friday May 28th

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27

Dear Jesus, When hard moments come, I don’t want to be depending on my own wisdom, the opinions of others or faulty human tendencies. I want to be standing on your word alone. I look through your teachings in the Sermon on the Mount and I see rock solid objective truth and unrelenting light on the path of life. You make me honest with myself and humble with my actions toward others. You replace my duplicity with integrity and faith-based obedience. You lead me to want your grace and forgiveness. Help me to remember to practice your word in my life instead of leaning on my own understanding. Amen.

Jesus’ words about relationships with God and people are the foundation for social and spiritual health.

Thursday May 27th

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name driveout demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23Dear Jesus, I know you want me to be authentic with you. You deserve no less. You’re authentic with me. I struggle to keep your command to love everyone because honestly sometimes I just don’t want to. I’m conditional, resentful and selfish. I repent of this too. I know you want me to be your light in the world. Help me. Please help me deal with my stubbornness to love the porcupines in my life. Give me the “want to” and the “get to” so I will do the will of your father in heaven. I’m deeply grateful that you never sinned. I hide my shame in your righteousness. Now help me not to hide your righteousness under my shame. Amen.

If you love God who loved you first, you will struggle mightily to practice his love in every relationship he brings your way.

Wednesday May 26th

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14Dear Jesus, I have been challenged throughout my life by people who said that there has to be more than one way to heaven. But here you remind me that it is a narrow way that leads to life eternal. Your words make me think long and hard about getting it right. I know that if it depends on me I will never make it. You are the narrow way. You lived a perfect life in my place and hung there on the cross with my sins nailed through your soul. I trust in you. I don’t trust in myself. I would never want to diminish your personal gift for me by saying there could be ways that people could find a self-made way to eternal life. Help me point people to your great gift, so they find the narrow way too. Amen.

The way to heaven thru Christ is narrow but easy to find in the Gospel.

Wednesday, May 26th

“Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14

Dear Jesus, I have been challenged throughout my life by people who said that there has to be more than one way to heaven.  But here you remind me that it is a narrow way that leads to life eternal.  Your words make me think long and hard about getting it right.  I know that if it depends on me I will never make it.  You are the narrow way.  You lived a perfect life in my place and hung there on the cross with my sins nailed through your soul.  I trust in you.  I don’t trust in myself.  I would never want to diminish your personal gift for me by saying there could be ways that people could find a self-made way to eternal life.  Help me point people to your great gift, so they find the narrow way too.  Amen.

The way to heaven through Christ is narrow but easy to find in the gospel. 

Tuesday, May 25th

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  ‘Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”  Matthew 7:1-5

Dear Jesus, You never pulled your punches.  You embarrassed the woman at the well with her failed marriages.  You berated the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and you confronted the man who slapped you in Caliphas’’ court.  But you never pricked people’s consciences to satisfy your own desire or to justify yourself.  Your bold critique was always motivated by love that made you use the law to drive people toward grace.  Watching your life helps me understand your words here I the sermon of the mount.  The only context in which you want me to point out sin, is a redeeming one.  Help me to be honest with sinners about their need for grace while being honest with them about the grace that meets their need.  Amen.

God wants his children to confine their law preaching to a redemption context.  If you don’t know what that means watch Jesus deal with people in the four Gospels. 

Monday, May 24th

“And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the flowers of the field grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  Matthew 6:28-34

Dear Jesus, It is enlightening that you tell me I was made to be concerned but not about worldly things.  I was made to be concerned about the gospel that gives us all righteousness and eternal life.  I was made to be concerned about living my faith through love for you and people.  I was made to have a spiritual thrust running through every moment of my day.  I was made to be concerned about being fully human.  Everything else that concerns me, such as, vocation and hobbies, are second compared to this first concern.  Help me always keep my life in this spiritual balance.  Give me someone that I can lead back to your race today.  Amen.

We were made to be concerned, but about God and his love, not about self and self-love. 

Saturday, May 22nd

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”  Matthew 6:25-27

Dear Jesus, The birds around us live such carefree lives.  They wake up in the morning and playfully search for food.  They don’t worry about anything.  They just live.  What a great example you use for me.  My body was not designed to worry.  So, when I do, I overwork it and push it to the breaking point.  No wonder I feel the negative effects!  My life is already mapped out for me by you.  I cannot make it last any longer by worrying.  So, teach me to number my days, so I might enjoy them in faith and peace without worrying about anything.  Help me live as if this could be my last day on earth but with the peace of knowing that if it is, it will give way to my first day in heaven.  Amen.

Life is a gift meant to be spent in joyful spiritual productivity.  You cannot save it for another time. 

Friday, May 21st

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”  Matthew 6:14-15

Dear Jesus, I know that you have fully and freely forgiven of all my sins.  But at first glance at this verse following the Lord’s Prayer, it looks like you are making my forgiveness conditional on how well I forgive others.  I have meditated on these words for years.  I understand it like getting a gift from someone but never talking it out of the box.  You don’t give forgiveness for nothing.  You intend for it to totally change the way I look at life and people.  If I accept forgiveness from you but refuse it to anyone else, it denies the power of your love to change me.  I don’t want to do that.  Help me Jesus to forgive everyone just as freely as you did from the cross.  When I struggle with forgiveness, help me work through my anger until it’s all washed away at the foot of your cross.  Amen.

Grace changes us into forgiving people or it rolls off our back and way from our lives.

Thursday, May 20th

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”  Matthew 6:13

Dear Jesus, I truly want to please you when no one but you is watching.  But I am fearful of the devil.  He and his beastly friends have been taking down people for thousands of years.  They are well practiced and have their swords constantly sharpened.  I’m no match for them.  So, I beg you to protect me from them.  Give me a keen awareness of their traps and remind me of the passages from your powerful word that will hide my heart from their lies.  Help me navigate through their land mines on the way that leads to eternity.  I’m thankful that you lived a perfect life for us, but that only motivates me more to live up to your standard.  I want to glorify your grace by being good out of gratitude.  Amen.

We are no match for the devil.  So, take Jesus into the ring when you box with him. 

Wednesday, May 19th

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”  Matthew 6:12

Dear Jesus, I can see how important forgiveness is to you by the place you give it in your parables, your sermons and your prayer.  It’s the reason you came to live with us.  It’s the reason you submitted to the cross.  It’s the reason God the father loves you so much.  For me to say that I freely accept your grace and forgiveness and then to withhold forgiveness from anyone else is a denial of your mission and effect on my life.  I am embarrassed by how hard it is for me to forgive some people.  I’m on my knees before you begging for you to fill me with yourself and your redeeming forgiveness.  Without you I cannot forgive anyone.  But with you in my, heart I can forgive everyone, even the worst, just like your child, Stephen, did in the book of Acts.  So, Jesus, do the miraculous in me and make me a grace-filled person.  I don’t want just a little grace.  I want it overflowing out of my life to all people.  Amen.

The world is filled with thousands of people trying to be good.  Precious few are striving to forgive those who are bad.