Dear Members and Friends of St. John,
The calendar has turned from 2018
to 2019. Many of us attended parties on
New Year’s Eve to celebrate the passing of one year into the promise of
another. You know the stated reasons for
these celebrations. People hope to say
good-bye to the problems and disappointments of the past and hope to welcome
new opportunities and blessings of the future.
But think about this. Will there be parties next year on New Year’s
Eve? Why do we expect more New Year’s
Eve celebrations next year on December 31?
Doesn’t that expectation just say that we are also expecting more struggles
and problems in the coming year of 2019?
So, how do you face the expected
trials of the future? Do you have an
inner strength that gets you through life’s difficulties? Are you young, or just naturally full of
energy and optimism, so that problems roll off your back? Or, do you get weary and weighed down? Do you wonder how you will take one more step
in a positive direction?
Personally, after over 65 years of
life, I know many, if not all, of my weaknesses and struggles. I know that I can and do grow weary. I can feel downcast when the disappointments
and trials of life come. I don’t always make
the best choices or act in the healthiest ways.
In other words, I am a sinful person whose sin affects my life. Ultimately, I know that I need help to live
with the joy and peace and strength that God intends for His children.
Others in Scripture faced moments
of truth and self-realization where they too admitted their need for help,
specifically help from the Almighty and Merciful Lord of all. When the children of Israel had escaped
Pharoah and Egypt and had been saved by their miraculous passing through the
Red Sea, as they stood safely on the other shore they sang praise and
truth. “The LORD is
my strength and my
song; he has become my
salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God,
and I will exalt him. (Exodus 15: 2) The Israelites recognized the
Lord as their strength. God is the one
who had miraculously saved them. God is the One who gave them joy and the
reason to sing.
In the Psalms, as David ponders the question and the scourge
of evil in the world, he admits his own weakness, and looks to our Creator for
strength. “My flesh and my heart may
fail, but God is the strength of my
heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm
73: 26)
In the gospels
of the New Testament Jesus invites those who are wearied by life to come to Him
for rest and renewal. "Come to me, all you who are weary and
burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28) We may find weariness in life’s problems, so
Jesus call us to rest in HIM.
And, in 2 Corinthians 12, Paul
admits that one of his weaknesses may be pride.
But, Paul has learned of his on-going weakness and has also learned his
need for the strength and power of Christ.
“7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these
surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a
messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to
take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for
you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all
the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10
That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in
hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am
strong. (2
Corinthians 12:7-10)
It is delightful to consider the new opportunities and
blessings of a coming year. But, we know
that trials, failures, disappointments, and losses will also tax our strength
and our ability to continue. Therefore,
my practice has been to daily tap into the strength and the grace that God
gives. Each day my goal is to begin by
letting God speak to me in His word, and then sharing with Him the concerns and
the joys, the praise and the confessions of my heart through prayer.
If you know that you need strength each day, I again
suggest that you let the Lord come to you with His love in Jesus. In the midst
of your weakness, the Creator of the world is almighty. In your times of failure, God is faithful to
forgive because of Jesus’ death on the cross.
In your doubt and your times of depression, God’s love in Christ is a
rock which cannot be taken away. When
you face loss, or illness, or death, God offers you eternal life through Jesus
who is the Resurrection and the Life.
Since I know I will need help each day, I go to the Lord
who is my constant strength. Since this
world can steal my joy, I go to the Lord who is my delight. I let the Lord share His plan, His direction,
His love, and His life for me in His Word.
I pour out my heart in prayer.
For me, regular worship with God’s people is also a vital
part of a healthy life. Personal
devotional time is private. Worship
allows me to receive and share God’s love through other children of God as we listen
and meditate, as we pray and praise.
Do you need God’s strength and joy in 2019? Would regular time in God’s Word and worship
with His people be a blessing to you?
Will you join me in regular use of God’s word and time in prayer in the coming
year?
A Child of God, Planning to Let the Lord be My Strength
and My Song,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. PERSONAL DEVOTIONS FOR 2019-2020? I
plan to use the “Today’s Light Devotional Bible” from Concordia
Publishing House in 2019 and 2020.
. If you want to buy one of these
Bibles and study with me starting in January here are links for the Bible.
o From
CPH (Our Church’s publishing house) for $26.39 + $7.00 shipping - https://www.cph.org/p-22950-todays-light-devotional-bible.aspx
o
From Amazon for $32.99 + free shipping - https://www.amazon.com/Todays-Light-Devotional-Bible-Fryar/dp/0758643519/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540403689&sr=8-1&keywords=Today%27s+Light+Devotional+Bible
You could also use for your devotions,
·
Portals of Prayer – Daily devotionals
printed quarterly by our denomination.
They are available in the entry ways to the church.
·
“Jesus Calling” – This is a devotional
given to me by Donita Odland. I used it
when I finished my two year Bible and found the devotional thoughts helpful.
·
Other Devotional books found in Christian book
stores.
P.P.S. Here are
some pictures from another busy week
·
Here are pictures from last Sunday’s baptism for
Keeper Austin Manelick - https://photos.app.goo.gl/BHtWYtUKgSENnkSC8
·
Ethan’s Commissioning and Installation on
Sunday night, December 31. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Hd3vR3mGZFHWkwPS9
· Here are pictures from the
College Student Luncheon on January 2 - https://photos.app.goo.gl/7sNJy9Xc8LpoaNZa7
P.P.P.S. Ice Fishing
trips
·
Here are pictures from a fishing trip with Nufer
/ Helberg clan, visiting Alaska for the wedding of Taylor Nufer and Ellen
Carlson-https://photos.app.goo.gl/RvHx71ftVNDdw5R59
·
Here are pictures from a fishing trip on Monday,
December 31, 2018, with some folks you’ll recognize. https://photos.app.goo.gl/1q9EMgyovUHDpmyw9
******
ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ - I am
sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and
friends whose e-mails I have. (I am regularly adding new names of friends
and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first
time.) However, if you do not want to receive this e-mail, please let me know,
and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message.
******
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