Saturday, November 30th

“Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.  It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.  Even angels long to look into these things.”  1 Peter 1:10-12

Dear Jesus, By grace you chose me to learn what you had your prophets write down for centuries about your life and sacrifice for mine.  By grace you had apostles tell their stories about how you lived out the prophecies right in front of you.  By grace you had family and Sunday school teachers faithfully teach me the grand story of the Bible.  By grace you had mentors available to talk me through my doubts and guide me to your promises.  By grace you sent your Holy Spirit who used your word from the prophets, apostles and my mentors to give me faith in your salvation for me.  Here in the first chapter of Peter’s he leads us in a word of praise (doxology) over the grace you have showered on us through all these people.  I am “wowed” by your grace.  I am privileged not because of race but because of grace.  Help me to live this grateful and graceful mindset all day today.  Amen.

Live in gratitude for grace today or destine yourself to be a confused, ignorant, curmudgeon. 

Saturday, November 30th

Advent is really a Latin word, advenio, which mean to approach or draw near.  During this season we reflect upon the coming of Jesus.  We see him come to us first at Christmas, but we also know that he is coming again on the last day.  Advent then looks at Jesus coming from those two perspectives reminding us to prepare our hearts for his coming to our world at Christmas and for his coming on Judgement Day.

One of the ways we prepare our hearts is through the decorations that we put up.  They are more than just beautiful to look at, they also carry a message.  For example, the banner that now hangs on the (from your perspective) right side of the chancel (the chancel is the front part of the church) has four candles on it, representing the four candles of the Advent wreath and therefore the four weeks of the Advent season.  Each candle has a different word printed on it.  The first word is WATCH.  During the season of Advent we watch for the coming of Jesus.  We know when we are going to celebrate Jesus coming; December 25th of course!  It is on our calendar, but it wasn’t on the shepherd’s calendar.  They were out in the fields keeping watch over their flocks by night.  They were surprised to hear from the angels that the savior had been born to them, because they were keeping watch for his coming.  We keep watch for Jesus glorious return not by staying awake forever or going up some mountain and staring at the sky.  We keep watch for Jesus by listening to his word and using the sacraments.  Through word and sacrament the Holy Spirit keeps our faith strong, faith that is constantly watching for Jesus return. 

Friday, November 29th

“’Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory?  How does it look to you now?  Does it not seem to you like nothing?  But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD.  ‘Be strong, Joshua song of Jozadak, the high priest.  Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work.  For I am with you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.  ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt.  And my Spirit remains among you.  Do not fear.’  “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.  I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty.  ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty.  ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty.”        Haggai 2:3-9

Dear Heavenly Father, I am intrigued by this word you sent through the prophet, Haggai, when the rag tag remnant of your people was rebuilding your temple for you.  You comforted the older people that although the rebuilt temple would nowhere near match the old one, that you would give it more glory by sending your Son and his gospel there.  In the same way, I have often wondered what it is about my home church building that makes me like it.  It’s not because it’s the most beautiful building I have ever worshiped in.  It’s so much more.  It’s because I meet your Son there and I receive his mercy and peace.  My heart is purified, set right and comforted when I’m there.  Thank you for my home church and your servants who labor there to bring Jesus to my heart.  Amen.

If you have a home church where one or more servants bring you Jesus, you are among the most privileged souls on the planet. 

Thursday, November 28th, Thanksgiving Day

Kind and compassionate Father, we must admit our hearts are not always filled with thankfulness, especially as we see so much sin in the world.  Too often they overflow with discontentment and a desire to see better days.  As broken people living in a broken world, it is so easy to focus on all that causes pain and suffering, on all that is wrong with this world and the billions who inhabit it.  Forgive us, Lord!  Forgive us our daily discontentment, worry, and complaining.  Wash it all away in the blood of our Savior! 

Send your Spirit through Word and Sacrament to open our eyes to the many blessings you shower down upon us every day.  Help us to recognize and appreciate every good and perfect gift that comes from your gracious hand.  Fix our eyes on the blood-stained cross and empty tomb of your Son from which flow our greatest blessings: pardon and peace, new life and eternal life.  Open our minds to the wonder of your generous daily care.  Fill our mouths with praise for your blessings of daily bread, the love of family and friends, the purpose and meaning of our vocations, and the pleasures of joy and laughter.  Move us to cling to your promise that in all things, even things that bring us pain and sorrow, you are graciously at work for our ultimate good.  Fill our hearts with compassion and move our hands to action so that we may be one of the reasons that our neighbors give thanks to you and praise your saving name.

For all your blessings, Father, we give you hearty thanks in the name of your dear Son, our Lord and Savior Christ.  Amen.

Wednesday, November 27th

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.  To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:  Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”  1 Peter 1:1-2

Dear Trinity, Peter doesn’t attempt to explain how you could be triune.  He simply reminds me of the great and wonderful blessings you give me.  Father, you chose me from eternity.  Spirit, you penetrate my heart and make me honest about my sins and need for redemption.  You also, make sure I understand the gospel.  Jesus, you paid for it all laid the foundation for daily lifelong grace.  I am chosen, befriended and loved.  I’m going to be okay.  I am blessed by your grace and peace, so, I do not care how you could be three persons in one Godhead.  I just never want to live without this salvation.  Amen.

When you know God’s love, you don’t care so much about God’s mystery. 

Tuesday, November 26th

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,…” 1 Peter 1:1

Dear Jesus, It’s interesting to find Bithynia in your list of churches to receive Peter’s letter.  That was the region that you forbade the apostle Paul to go preach to.  But because here I see that later there were Christians there, it reassures me that you had good plans for them to hear the gospel.  Your plans just didn’t include Paul.  Help me to live in that peace that although you often limit and reduce my impact on the world around me, you still have plans to reach those people.  You are the humongous God who has millions of ways past my finding out.  I will rest in the furrow you have appointed me and I will trust that you can reach those who are closed off to me now.  It gives me peace and hope.  Amen.

God doesn’t include you in his world planning meeting for a reason.  Enjoy your work for him and the peace of letting him work around you without your approval. 

Monday, November 25th

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating.  Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”  “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no commandment greater than these.”  “Well said, teacher,” the man replied.  “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.  To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”  When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”  And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.”  Mark 12:28-34

Dear Jesus, You cleared away all the piffle that so many earthly laws create for our souls.  You made it simple and clear.  When you were challenged to come up with the two most important laws, you put God the father first and all people second.  You told us to love God and people.  That’s profound, simple and clear.  But then you ended the conversation with an invitation to believe in you.  It was intriguing and subtle.  You said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”  Once the law is clarified and reduced to its two key components, it’s still law.  No one can keep it.  We all need you to save us.  You were and are the embodiment of the two great commands.  You never once failed them.  You did that for me.  My life is covered by yours.  Thank you for keeping the greatest commandments in my place.  Now empower me to keep them from the heart.  Make me a lover of God and people because I want to not because I feel I ought to.  Use your race to make me a pure-hearted servant.  Amen.

Learn to love people and at the same time you’ll learn to love the God who made them. 

Saturday, November 23rd

“Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’  ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.’”  Revelations 14:13

Dear Jesus, There are so many encouraging words in this fantastic book you revealed to John in visions.  When I read this loud cry from heaven, I’m encouraged that although I have so many loved ones whose short lives are over, that they live on in a restful heaven with you and their good deeds are bearing fruit in your venerable hand on earth.  I trust you with their lives and mine.  If you can take one word from the thief on the cross (whose name you know) and comfort millions of people for over 2000 years, then you can take my small life and harvest ten thousand times ten thousands more fruit from them.  I will robustly sow good deeds now in the sure hope that you will reap a harvest from them that I could have never imagined.  Save me a place in heaven where I can sit and listen to how you did wonderful things after me with what you did through me while I was here.  Amen.

Your good deeds are seeds in the hand of the Creator.  Sow them vigorously and from heaven one day you will hear how they keep bearing fruit down through the ages. 

Friday, November 22nd

“Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, ‘Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? … Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”  Daniel 3:13-18

Dear Heavenly Father, Long before we were born you resolutely decided that you were going to sacrifice your own Son to save my soul.  I love how you led these three men to resolutely decide to follow you, honor and worship you above all other men and gods.  I want that pre-life resolution.  Before my day ever starts I resolve to follow and worship you alone.  I know this will be tested.  Make me strong in my appreciation of grace so I follow you in every circumstance without regard for the opinions of consequences that other people produce.  Help me shine for you before all people so they seek you and find you because of my spiritual holy stubbornness.  Amen.

The decision to live only for God is best made before the other offers come. 

Thursday, November 21st

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”  2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Dear Jesus, I remember how you prayed the night before you died that your Father would not take us out of the world but that he would protect us from the evil one.  I know you have good and holy reasons for leaving me here on earth to serve and be served, to give and to be given to, to suffer and to suffer with others.  Your words and promises speak a lot of comfort to my heart.  I know you are with me as I walk some of the same trails that you did.  I know you will greet me face to face at the end of my race.  I know you speak to the Father on my behalf and I know you are growing me through my trials.  When I suffer, help me to speak from that stage words that reflect your Holy Spirit’s message for all who would see me suffer.  Use my suffering and the comfort I receive to bless others in their hour of need.  Give purpose and power to my suffering!  Amen.

When you suffer with a purpose, everything about it looks and feels different. 

Wednesday, November 20th

“Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:20

Dear Jesus, There are hardly more comforting words for me today and every day.  You walked this earth and endured everything we do right through the jaws of death.  You conquered it all too.  You are the one who is now with me wherever I go.  It’s easy to visualize you in a place or time that I must go to in order to find you.  But you are right here with me.  You will be with me when I rise up and go out of my house to live in a crazy world too.  It makes me bold to take chances, to seize opportunities, to say the important and true things to others and not try to control the outcome by being silent.  You are with me when the unforeseen problems visit my life and you are with me when I am put in vulnerable situations.  Stay with me Lord Jesus and be my strength, wisdom and shield today.  Amen.

There’s always a big brother with every Christian every day.  Live boldly knowing he’s got your back. 

Tuesday, November 19th

“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away.  Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.  When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”  John 16:7-11

Dear Jesus, You spoke these words the night before your life on earth ended.  You promised your Holy Spirit would come and he has.  I sense his work every time I read your divine Word.  I feel his discerning presence when the thespians on the television or at the movies shove their agenda to normalize immorality.  I sense his conviction in the comments of my critics.  I feel his comfort in grace and mercy when I feel guilty.  I seem to have his law and gospel as my constant companion.  Help me to soften my heart to his promptings.  To change my course with just a nudge.  Make me sensitive to him so I season my demeanor with grace, love and understanding.  Use him to flush the rogue judgements out of my heart.  Use him to guide me in my part of every relationship.  Finally, don’t let me fall from the grace you hold out to me through him.  Amen.

The Holy Spirit is the teacher of your conscience, the guide for your interpersonal relationships and the antidepressant for your heart. 

Monday, November 18th

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.”  Revelation 22:14

Dear Jesus, These are some of the most comforting words in the entire Bible.  As I read your description of heaven I go on a roller coaster.  First my soul soars to heights of excitement as I hear how beautiful, peaceful, and void of earth’s temptations and trials it is.  Then I read the couple of lists you have of those who won’t be there.  I can find my sins in those lists and I wonder, “Will I get to be in heaven forever or am I destined for eternal unspeakable torment in hell?”  Then I come to this passage where you speak to us with grace and assurance.  “Blessed are those who wash their robes.”  It takes me back to chapter seven where you tell us that “these in white robes are those that have come out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.”  I have washed my sinful life in your sacrifice and now I am white with righteousness.  I am worthy of heaven.  I won’t be excluded.  Now I read Revelation 21 and 22 with full assurance that this is my destiny.  It gives me a vacation from my troubles today.  Thank you for rescuing me from myself and promising me a blessed forever.  Amen.

If God clears your schedule for you, be ready.  He’s about to bless you more than you could have blessed yourself. 

Saturday, November 16th

“Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, And princes will rule with justice.  A man will be as a hiding place from the wind, And a cover from the tempest, As rivers of water in a dry place, As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.  The eyes of those who see will not be dim, And the ears of those will listen.  Also the heart of the [b]rash will understand knowledge, And the tongue of the stammerers will be ready to speak plainly.”  Isaiah 32:1-4

 Dear Jesus, Isaiah foretold how when you came you would create shelters out of your followers.  Each one of us has enough spiritual blessings from you dripping from your gospel promises to be shelters for others, even our enemies, even those who take care of our earthly needs.  We can be a shelter of grace and forgiveness for those hurting in shame and guilt.  We can be a shelter of truth and guidance for those darkened by the world’s counsel.  We can be a shelter for security and love for those who have been shattered by abuse and neglect.  We love to be shelters just as you were.  We are your hands and feet.  Guide your church, dear Jesus, to engage the world and people on her edges into the wonderful gospel truths that have made her who she is.  Make me a shelter today for someone new also.  Amen.

Gospel greatness resides in the heart of every Christian.  Don’t put a cover over yours. 

Friday, November 15th

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  John 3:16-17

Dear Heavenly Father, What intentionality!  You made us, watched us fall and then intentionally sent your Son not to judge us but to save us.  You intentionally sent Jesus to his own people when you knew that they would reject him and have him killed.  You intentionally sent him to die for us.  You prompted him morning by morning to go out and find people to tell them he was here for them.  You sent him day after day to reach out to his disciples and restore them time and again.  You intentionally sent your Holy Spirit to enliven and enlighten the twelve apostles to start the church through preaching, teaching and writing.  You forced your good news into a world that twistedly had learned to love darkness.  Your love and grace are so intentional!  Make me intentional too with love and grace to reach out to others with the offer of a real relationship bathed in grace and held up by truth.  I want to live with intentional love toward everyone whether I know them well or not, whether they treat me well or not, whether I feel like it or not.  Amen.

Few things in life are more impactful than being intentionally loved by another human being. 

Thursday, November 14th

“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.”  2 Thessalonians 3:5

Dear Heavenly Father, I love Paul’s prayer.  It touches on two of the biggest needs I have.  I need love and perseverance.  Both come from you.  They do not originate with me but I need them oh so desperately.  If I follow my heart there is a good chance I will end up in a black hole.  I need to follow you as you lead my heart.  Then I read that you will lead it into love and perseverance.  You know those whom I struggle to love.  You know how prone I am to avoid, criticize and blame.  You know how discouraged I get.  You see every nook and cranny in my soul.  Come Lord and Savior and lead me out of my dark corner into the bright light of forgiving and given love.  Lead me away from debilitating self-pity into an open transparent optimism based on your gospel of life now and life eternal!  Amen.

If your heart is running sluggish, check the fluids: grace, faith, hope and love.  With these filled back up you’ll be good to go!

Wednesday, November 13th

“I want to know Christ-yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11

Dear Jesus, These are some of the most thought provoking words in your whole Bible.  I kind of just want to sit near them and think with my mouth shut and my hands off the keyboard.  The power of your resurrection has to be about living with joy even in hard times because we know we will survive and be raised up at the last day.  But then Paul follows with “I want to know the participation in his (yours) sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”  Now, that’s a mind-bender.  I don’t wake up any morning wanting to fellowship in your sufferings, at least not by nature.  But that’s what he said.  He said he wanted to participate in your sufferings!  I know that you will put us through suffering just like you had.  But I don’t see how I can want to have you do that!  If I sit quietly and meditate on it, I believe your Holy Spirit will lead me to understand and embrace it.  Help me to want to suffer anything and everything in order to serve humanity the way you did.  Help me want to do it!  I won’t if you don’t.  Amen.

When the Sacrificial Christ lives in your heart, he makes you suffer willingly to serve people like he did. 

Tuesday, November 12th

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.  Who can understand it?  ‘I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind.’”  Jeremiah 17:9-10a

Dear Heavenly Father, You are so patient that you would put up with the deception that lurks in all of our hearts.  You knew that we would fall into deep self-conception when Adam and Eve fell.  Yet, you were so optimistic in your grace that you refused to scrap the human project.  Instead, you forged forward to fill the earth with human beings who had a marred image compared to what you had planned.  You knew you would have to patiently deal with each one of us to help us come to our senses about our own fallen-ness and need for redemption, divine change and restoration.  I love how you announce it here through your prophet.  “I the Lord search the heart and mind!”  It’s not an order to find a reason to destroy us.  No!  It’s to help us self-realize our great need for honesty, forgiveness and change.  Thank you for searching my heart and using circumstances and people to be the mirror that reveals the blemishes there.  I will watch for how you arrange my life today through events and people to help me purge myself of all self-deception.  Give me the humility and wisdom to embrace the pressure washer you use on my soul.  Amen.

When God “pressure washes” your soul, don’t run and hide.  Make sure he gets every nook and cranny. 

Monday, November 11th

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  John 15:13

Dear Jesus, I know there are droves of men and women who join the armed services as mercenaries who live to fight.  But as many more joined up out of the same motives you had when you came to earth and spoke these words the night before you laid it all on the battlefield for us.  They served in the military of the United States of America to protect their family, friends and fellow Americans from tyrants and the enemies of justice and freedom.  On this special day I thank you for creating and sustaining people like this who have secured for my family and me a peaceful and tranquil life where I can worship freely, preach energetically, travel without interruption and pursue opportunities not known in most of your world.  These folks are a gift from you.  Today help veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much for so many, to feel their worth and comprehend the gratitude that the rest of us have for them.  Give them the honor they are due that will combat their feelings of chaos and worthlessness that war can ravage on a soul.  Make them understand that their sacrifices are not spent in vain on us who respect their heartfelt gift.  Protect their hearts from foolish despair.  Amen.

If your biggest earthly concerns today are your job, family, education and faith, you have a veteran to thank for the freedom and safety that allows for it. 

Saturday, November 9th

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.  For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.”  Romans 1:18-23

Dear Heavenly Father, You want to be known and understood by the wonders of creation we behold every day.  In every sunset and sunrise we see your artistic prowess.  In the intricacies of a flower we see your creative wisdom.  In the symbiotic relationships between all living things we see your designer’s strength.  We see your love, your justice and your mercy in the animal kingdom.  We also see the chaos and death caused by sin.  Help us to worship you for who you are when we experience the wonders of creation.  Even though your nature teaches us volumes about you, it cannot tell us about your Son.  Your word has to do that.  When we are paging through your word, help us to marvel at the love that you show us through the cross of your Son.  With these two: nature and the cross, lead our hearts to worship and commune with you in ways that satisfy both you and us.  I want to be your revelation in nature and the word to become like Abraham, the friend of God!  Amen.

If staring down the throat of a hibiscus does not lead you to praise the Lord of heaven, then get on your knees and stare at the cross of Christ.