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Living in the Spirit … Shows God's Power

In the Word

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power (1 Corinthians 2:4–5).

Of the Word

Commercials! Radio, television, newspapers, and magazines are full of them. Advertisers pay billions of dollars annually to promote their goods, services, and ideas.

How many times have you been persuaded to buy a product only to be disappointed? Unfortunately, the advertisers’ proclamations are sometimes only empty promises and powerless words.

God’s Word, on the other hand, is filled with power. His promises are always true. Man’s wisdom can and will fail, but God will never disappoint those who trust in His power. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to trust in God’s promises.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

Walking with my Lord

Dear Lord, thank You for the words of truth and power in Your Word. Thank You for giving me the Holy Spirit, who enables me to trust in You. Make me strong to resist false words and empty promises in my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living in the Spirit. Authors: Marcia Gomulka, Dcs. Betty Knapp, Myrna Lou Meyer. 4/30 ©2007 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Now Thank We All Our God

In the Word

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. (Psalm 105:1–2).

Of the Word

Now thank we all our God With hearts and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, In whom His world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms Has blest us on our way
With countless gifts of love And still is ours today.

One essential part of our worship is thanksgiving. This hymn reminds us to thank our God “With hearts and hands and voices.” We offer our whole selves in thanking Him for all His blessings.

Those blessings include life, home, health, peace, grace, and guidance. Most importantly, we thank God for a new life in Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer. We thankfully acknowledge His work of salvation in our lives and look forward to living with our Savior God in heaven forever.

“All praise and thanks to God The Father now be given, The Son, and Him who reigns With them in highest heav’n, The one eternal God, Whom earth and heaven adore; For thus it was, is now, And shall be evermore.”

Walking with my Lord

I give You hearty thanks, gracious God, for Your innumerable gifts to me! Thank You for all the people You have given as blessings in my life. Most of all, I thank You for the gifts of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life in Jesus. In His bountiful name I pray. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Joyful, Joyful. Rev. Larry and Shari Miller, authors. 11/31. Hymn Text: LSB 895. ©2011  Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.
All hymns are public domain with the text reprinted from Lutheran Service Book, ©2006, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO.

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Joy in Knowing Jesus

In the Word

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4).

Of the Word

Paul wrote many of his letters from prison. Accused, berated, beaten, imprisoned, he still practiced what he preached: Rejoice! Rejoice in the Lord. In the dark and dank maximum-security cell of the Philippian prison, Paul and Silas found joy in the Lord.

Nothing in their circumstances or surroundings seemed to give reason for rejoicing. But they were able to look beyond those things and hold fast to the promises of God. Those promises gave them reason for rejoicing.

What “prisons” surround God’s people today? Unemployment? Over commitment? Depression? War? Paul’s exhortation, inspired by God, is the same for the 21st century: Rejoice in the Lord. And the Lord says to us … I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you (Joshua 1:5b). What a reason to rejoice in Him!

Walking with my Lord

Lord, no matter what circumstances face me today, help me to find joy in You. When I become weak and anxious, give me strength to endure. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living in Joy. Authors: Dcs. Betty Knapp, Irene Mensing, Myrna Lou Meyer, Margaret White. 4/30 ©2005 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Goal and Gift

In the Word

But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself (Psalm 49:15).

Of the Word

“We’ve done all we can do. We’ll disconnect life support in the morning.” The doctor’s quiet words verified what the family already knew. Their loved one’s earthly life would end in a matter of hours. But because Jesus died and rose for their loved one, heavenly life would begin. Their tears of sorrow over losing him were mixed with the joy of knowing that they would someday join him in heaven.

Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms … I am going there to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1–2).

Because of sin, … death is at work in us … (2 Corinthians 4:12a). But for the Christian the resurrection is the doorway to eternity. Fear of death is common, for it is human to fear the unknown. However, no Christian need fear death because God promises, “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10b).

Walking with my Lord

Dear Lord, when death draws near — whether for my loved ones or for me — help me to cling to Your promises. Through Your gift of faith in Christ Jesus, I know that heaven is mine. In His name I pray. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Comfort from the Psalms. Authors: Marcia Gomulka & Myrna Lou Meyer. 6/30 ©2009 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

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A Sparrow’s Sermon

In the Word

O Lord, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God. Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior (Psalm 38:21–22).

Of the Word

Today’s mail brings bills, bills, and more bills. Both the fridge and the gas tank are nearly empty. So is the bank account. We cry out to God, “I’m worried. Lord, how will I manage?”

Jesus says, “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?” (Matthew 6:26)

Are the robins and sparrows preaching a quiet sermon? As they hop here and there, are they worried about finding the next seed or worm? What a silly thought! They simply take what the heavenly Father provides for them.

God provides even more for us. The Father gives us life. The Spirit gives us faith. Jesus promises rest. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Walking with my Lord

Lord, You know that I am weak, weary, and worried. Forgive me and come quickly to strengthen me. Help me to trust in You for every need. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Comfort from the Psalms. Authors: Marcia Gomulka & Myrna Lou Meyer. 5/30 ©2009 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Forgiven and Free

In the Word

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered (Psalm 32:1).

Of the Word

The prison chaplain visited the death row inmate whose life would soon end because of his crimes. As they talked, the inmate confessed to beatings, bombings, and murders. The chaplain quietly but firmly assured him that God was willing to forgive every crime. Incredulously the inmate cried, “All of them? How? Why?”

The chaplain told the story of God’s love for all men, the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, His death and resurrection. “God assures you through His Word that His grace is for you, so you can believe in Jesus and confess your crimes to Him, knowing you are forgiven. In Jesus Christ, you are a free man.”

No matter what the sin, God is big enough to forgive it. Something perceived as a “small” sin (telling a white lie, wasting company time with long lunch hours) or something thought to be a “big” sin (embezzlement, abortion, addiction) all disappear in God’s sight through His grace and mercy. The Lord redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him (Psalm 34:22).

Walking with my Lord

Lord, I have sinned against You and against others. Forgive me and help me to live according to Your holy will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Comfort from the Psalms. Authors: Marcia Gomulka & Myrna Lou Meyer. 4/30 ©2009 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Faith is … Trusting God’s Plan

In the Word

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

Of the Word

Assembly of an automobile begins by welding one ugly piece of metal to another piece of unattractive steel. To a person who has never seen the finished product, this might be viewed as a waste of time and material. But when the vehicle rolls off of the assembly line, it becomes apparent that those first two pieces plus about 13,000 others were part of an intricate plan. Each piece has its specific place and purpose. Without precise plans the outcome would be disastrous.

God has prepared a plan for each of us. We have been … called according to his purpose.

Our lives fit into His master plan. Right now the assembly line of our lives is in process. The Master Planner is watching closely and is making sure everything fits together perfectly, piece by piece and step by step.

If we compare our lives to an assembly line, we see that the final outcome won’t be completely known to us until we enter heaven. By grace through faith, however, we know that God is molding us into the people He wants us to be. What a truly remarkable and loving God we have!

Walking with my Lord

O Lord, strengthen my faith so that I accept Your plan for my life. Forgive my sins and guide me through each step of life. I pray in my Redeemer’s name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living in Faith. Author: Rev. Darold Reiner. 6/30 ©2007 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

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