First Day of School

Today is the first day of school at Good Shepherd Lutheran School. My baby just walked in to her last classroom at Good Shepherd. She is now an 8th grader. I don't think that I have ever cried on the first day of school--with the oldest or the youngest! With the oldest, there were still too many little ones at home. With the youngest, it was time for a break! When she started all day school in first grade, it was the first time in 21 years that I did not have a little one home during some part of the day!

Today isn't a crying day but it is a reflecting day! Reflecting on the blessings of a Christian education and knowing that it will not end thanks to Metro East Lutheran High School. But the insight into the daily life of the school at Good Shepherd that can only come from being a parent will somewhat change. I still will be teaching 7th grade Catechism in the school (God willing) and will still know many of the moms and students through my ministry work at Good Shepherd. But it won't be the same. I know from past experience that this will also end the extra insight into the daily life of my child. I won't have those chance opportunities to see her during the day. This is the last year that she can just buzz my office if she left something at home or needs permission to take a Tylenol! It's a step toward the next season of life for both of us.

Our school theme this year comes from Isaiah. It reminds us that the God who redeemed us will never forsake us.

But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine." Is 43.1

Fear not! I don't know what the future holds but I know who holds the future. Or as Bob the Tomato so eloquently put it:

God is bigger than the boogie man.
He's bigger than Godzilla,
or the monsters on TV.
Oh, God is bigger than the boogie man.
And He's watching out for you and me.

May God watch over all students and their families. And I especially ask that He would help me enjoy and appreciate this last year as a Good Shepherd Lutheran School parent!

"wise for salvation"

Proverbs 2:1-6 (English Standard Version)
The Value of Wisdom
1My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
4if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
6For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

With the start of school this week, a lot of attention is focused on learning. Teachers are planning their lesson outlines for the year. There are goals set for what each child should learn during this academic year. My daughter is getting ready to start her last year at Good Shepherd. My son just went to freshman orientation for his first year of college. I’m excited for all the wisdom they will gain this year. But these verses remind me of how wisdom comes from the Lord. While I want my children to be wise and competent, I am even more concerned that they become wise in the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God. I want them to be “wise for salvation.” as we read in 2 Timothy.

2 Timothy 3:14-15 (English Standard Version)
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

This wisdom doesn’t end with a graduation. This learning continues throughout our lifetime. The start of the school year also starts a lot of other activities and opportunities.
Take advantage of some of those “learning” opportunities at home and at church as you attend Sunday School and Bible Class on Sunday mornings, have family devotions, take advantage of worship opportunities and attend other weekday Bible studies.

Heavenly Father,
Keep us ever focused on Your Word that we might receive true wisdom so that we might become “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” May we always seek and treasure Your wisdom.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen

Back to school. That seems to be on everyone’s mind these days. Today was the “Day of Spiritual Renewal” for the church workers in the Southern Illinois District. At the opening worship service this morning, we heard the Gospel lesson from last Sunday from Luke 12. We read in verses 22 & 23: And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing."

You know, one hour on Sunday is just not enough for most of these texts. I heard the sermon about worry on Saturday night at Good Shepherd Lutheran, spoke to the preschoolers about this during the sermon on Sunday morning at Good Shepherd Lutheran, and then heard President Mueller preach an excellent sermon on this again this morning. What a blessing! I suppose that means I should be through with all worrying! NOT! Satan continually puts those worrisome thoughts into our heads.

I mentioned to the preschoolers on Sunday that they might be both excited and nervous about the start of school. Maybe they are going to school for the first time. Maybe they are going to a new school. Maybe they won’t know anyone on their first day. Maybe this is their first time away from Mommy. Those are real worries for many children. Older children worry about fitting in, about their hair and clothes and shoes, about their new teacher, about making the team, about their grades. Back to school brings worries for parents, too. They worry for their child’s safety and for their happiness. And the teachers—even the experienced ones—worry about this new school year. What will the students be like? What will their parents be like? Will I be able to make a difference?

As we enter in to this fear of the unknown, one thing is certain. We are not alone. We do have a friend with us in all situations—our best friend, Jesus. And even as we worry about all the uncertainties of life, Jesus reminds us in verse 32 why we needn’t worry: "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

We have the kingdom! We have forgiveness! We have the gift of eternal life! God has taken care of our sin problem (and what problem could possibly be bigger than that?) through His son, Jesus Christ. Trust Him to take care of everything else as well.

Heavenly Father,
We thank you for Your gift of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ, Your Son. Please fill us with Your peace as we face the many uncertainties of life, confident of the certainty of Your care for us.
In Jesus name we pray. Amen

At our church, we give parents the option on Sunday morning of sending their preschoolers out to the narthex during the sermon. They hear a simplified version of the sermon, sing songs and pray. Usually, whichever pastor isn’t preaching, does the children’s message. On Saturday I realized that we had a pastor on vacation so I could probably assume that I was doing the children’s message. Sometimes I don’t realize this until the middle of the service on Sunday morning! I shared a verse with them last Sunday that Pastor was sharing in the sermon.

1 Timothy 6:10 (New King James Version)
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

That is such a misquoted verse. It doesn’t say that money is evil but that the LOVE of money is a root of evil. That love of money and of the things it can buy is where many evils start to grow. We all need money. We all like money. We all (adults and children alike) like the things money can buy. The problem comes when we love money and the things that money can buy MORE than we love God. We love God because He first loved us and gave Himself up for us. None of those “things” we love has ever done that nor can they ever do that. I gave each of the kids a penny and asked them to drop it in the offering plate. (Kids don’t always like to let go of that money! Adults, either, for that matter!) Every time they put money in the collection plate they should remind themselves, “I love money. BUT I love God more.”

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the many gifts you give us on this Earth. Help us to receive these blessings with thanksgiving. Help us also to hold loosely to these earthly blessings while we hold tightly to the gift of life and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. May You always be our first love.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thoughts on Convention Opening Service

This has taken me three weeks to write. Three weeks ago we were in Houston for the LCMS convention. I was so excited to have my daughter experience an opening service. I still have great memories of my first several back in the 70’s. Coming from a small town and a small church, that was quite an experience. Opening services were amazing—large crowd and everyone (especially the men) singing with great gusto. I wanted that experience for my daughter. Unfortunately she did not get it. Someone in their great lack of wisdom tried to design one worship service with a little bit of everything in it in an effort to please everyone. It didn’t work. Individually much of the music was great, collectively it was a disaster. And the service just didn’t flow. From where we were sitting the drum was painfully loud and distracting. Even the songs that should have been easy and familiar to sing became difficult. You didn’t know when to come in and it was very hard to follow the melody—especially when they did things like suddenly throw a jazz beat accompaniment in on one of the verses of “The Church’s One Foundation.” Many of the songs with the “praise band” made for great entertainment but I wasn’t attending a concert, I was attending WORSHIP. And the laser lights only added to the theatrics.

After the service my daughter and I were walking back to our room with my sister and 2 other women (I think they sincerely enjoyed the service). One of the ladies turned to my 13 year old daughter and said, “I want to hear what a young person thought about that worship service.” At this point my daughter shivered and said, “Oooohh, it was too ‘pop’py. They tried to make it like the ‘pop’ular music and that’s just not right.” SCORE! The poor lady had to pick her jaw up from the floor. I was so proud of my daughter. She nailed it! She has attended concerts and loved it—but she recognizes that it is not the same as worship. I do need to add that these were wonderful ladies and we did still talk and spend time together for the next several days!

Now, to prove that I am not totally against drums, I would like to share a youtube video from Rev. Jonathan Fisk. I would invite you to watch the whole thing but the part that fits this topic is at 2:25-5:25.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mb5YfX6Y4o&feature=related


BTW. The opening service is available to watch for a few more days(30 days following the service)at the following link. See for yourself.

http://www.lcms.org/ca/convention/vids/saturday/opening_worship.html

Devotions

We have 2 people in our congregation that have been on emotional and physical roller coasters for the past several years. One is a 30 year old nurse who contracted a rare virus several years ago that destroyed her kidneys. The other is a 22 year old student with Crohn’s disease who also developed kidney failure several years ago from some complications. Both were very blessed to receive very selfless gifts. The young mom received a kidney about 3 years ago from the mom of one of her son’s classmates. God’s hand was in it as the donor mom (who really only casually knew the other mom) was tested and deemed a match! The young student had several relatives tested as possible donors and one of his uncles was deemed to be the best match. 2 years ago he received his uncle’s kidney. Life was good. Everyone felt overjoyed by the blessings from God as these 2 were restored to good health because of these selfless donations from fellow Christians. But then our young mom got sick again. Complications began that started to destroy this gift of life, her donated kidney. Over the past year we saw her health and energy begin to diminish until last month she was forced to return to the life of dialysis and of waiting on a new kidney donor. Last week, our young student went to the doctor for tests. His numbers were alarming. He was immediately placed in the hospital and put through a battery of tests. What they had hoped was just a blockage, turned out to be rejection. He began dialysis last night with a slim chance that an overnight treatment might kick start his kidney but knowing that the probability of needing a new kidney was very real. As a church family, we are heartbroken and questioning. God gave us these great blessings just a few years ago and now he appears to be taking them back! We find ourselves with the age old question, “Why, Lord?” It just doesn’t make sense! And I am reminded of the words in Romans 11.24: For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”Definitely not me!
The mother of the young man sent me a message yesterday that simply said “Philippians 4.4-7. The Lord is at hand.” My first thought was, “Wait. That’s the rejoice passage—pray about everything with thanksgiving. Peace of God stuff. We all have memorized those verses at some time in our lives. The Lord is at hand? Wow. That section is packed with so many jewels and she picked out "The Lord is at hand." I had to look at it again. Let me read those wonderful verses.
Philippians 4.4-7 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Well, of course. That makes sense. We can let everyone know our reasonableness, our patience with whatever situation because the Lord is at hand. I have to quote the footnote from the Lutheran Study Bible. “The Lord is at hand. The Lord is near to give you patience, wisdom, and help. The Lord is near in coming for you. This is life from a resurrection and eternal perspective.” Wow. You bet. He’s here. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Wait a minute. Kidney failure--small stuff? Compare it to forgiveness of sins, life and salvation! Yep. Small stuff. We’ve already trusted Him on the big stuff (forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ who lived, died and rose again for us and for our salvation), now trust Him to know what’s best for all the details of this earthly life. And to quote the LSB one more time on verse 7: “When life makes no sense, God’s peace sustains and directs us.”

Heavenly Father,
We thank you and praise you that are our God—the God Who sustains us through all of life’s trials--especially those that make no sense. Lord, many of your children are hurting. They face many physical difficulties in their life. They are confused and questioning. Please lead them to Your Word which gives forgiveness of sins, life and salvation that they might be able to feel Your Peace in all circumstances. The Lord is at hand! Amen

Waiting--July 6 devotion

Waiting. We seem to always be involved in waiting. I will admit that I am not very patient with waiting. Traffic, doctor’s office, restaurant, airport, and so many other places where we seem to be stuck waiting. Then there are the bigger waits, for vacation, the family visits, weddings, 1st day of school, spring, driver’s license, graduation, the inevitable death of a sick loved one and, of course, the birth of a baby. Most of those waits have an end in sight. We know it won’t last forever even though it may seem like it at times. Simeon in Luke chapter 2, was waiting also. Like many Jews, he was waiting for the coming Messiah. Unlike the others, Simeon had a promise from God that the Messiah would come in his lifetime. As Christians, we have a big wait as we wait for the second coming of Christ. We also know that it won’t last forever. There will be an end. But, unlike Simeon, we do not have the promise that it will be in our lifetime. The Bible tells us in Matthew 24 that no one knows the day or the hour of Christ’s return.
While we wait for that second coming, we still have the opportunity to regularly come face-to-face with our Savior in Holy Communion. It is following this time of Communion that we can join in the words of Simeon from Luke 2.29-32.
29"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and or glory to your people Israel."
Then we can return to our families, neighborhoods, and jobs with renewed encouragement to face the wait and to share Christ with others so that they may join us in the fellowship.

Heavenly Father, We praise You for Your perfect timing. Please teach us to wait patiently and to use those times of waiting as a service to You. Come, quickly, Lord! Amen