Joy Lutheran Church Ocala, Florida

Do you have balance in your life?  I am not asking you if you can walk a balance beam; however, visualize walking on one. Can you keep yourself upright and one foot in front of the other? Not always easy, especially if you are having an “off” day. Our minds can get full of “stuff” and it easily can throw us off balance. At this stage of life for me, I make lists before a trip, so I pack all the “things” I will need. Our calendar is huge and up on the wall of my walk-on pantry.  At eye level, we can see upcoming events, times for appointments and even birthdays and anniversaries of friends and family. Are we balanced based on the busy-ness of our lives?

During my daily walks, I am quite entertained by the squirrels.  Some stay on the walk way, busy eating, too involved to move.  Others skitter away quickly and dart up the nearest tree.  Again, I found myself laughing right out loud.  One furry friend dashed up the tree with his goodies in his front paws. He leaned his tail back against the thin branch and balanced himself quickly to finish eating his goodies! How easy his balancing act appeared to me.

Having the Lord in my life and knowing I am unconditionally loved certainly keeps me balanced. God wants us to offer ourselves to Him daily.  Give Him your day, your mind, your busy-ness, your travel, your work, even your quiet time. Amazingly, you will find balance and peace. A gift from God helping you keep one foot in front of the other. He wants you to give him ALL of you.  Be balanced.

Jill

In my research for a blog topic, I read this quote by Dallas Willard, former professor of Philosophy at USC who was touted as an icon for Christian scholars around the world.

Grace is not earned. Grace is not an action. Grace is freely given by God. Grace you know, does not just have to do with forgiveness of sins alone.

Being saved by grace means acknowledging that salvation is a divine gift, not something earned through our efforts or good deeds. Grace, by its very nature, is undeserved favor…God’s loving plan to rescue and restore humanity despite our sinful nature. No amount of moral striving, acts of charity, or religious rituals can bridge the gap between human failings and divine holiness. Instead, it is through faith in the redeeming work of Christ that we receive forgiveness and new life.

This truth humbles the proud and comforts the broken. It reminds us that we are not in competition for God’s love, nor do we need to prove ourselves worthy of it. Grace frees us from the constant pressure to perform, inviting us instead into gratitude and transformation. Good works then flow naturally, not as a payment for salvation but as a joyful response to it. They become evidence of a heart changed by mercy.
Having more money and power does not make us better or worse than those less fortunate. What matters is our faith and belief in what God has provided for us through the sacrifice of His son, Jesus Christ. How blessed we are. Thanks be to God!

Patty

I read this in “The Practice of the Love of Jesus” by Alphonsus de Liguori: “Kindness should be shown to the poor especially, since they are often treated harshly simply because they are poor. It should be shown in a particular way to the sick, who often meet with little understanding from others. Most of all, it should be shown to our enemies.”

When I was in college I wore a button that said, “Try a little kindness.” After I was ordained I rarely talked about kindness because it seemed too wishy-washy. It made it sound like Christianity was merely about being nice to people when the demands of divine love called for something much stronger. I’ve reconsidered my attitude. We could use some kindness.

I always knew life was tough. Memories of bullies haunt me. However, something has gotten worse in the last 20 years. When I was in school, the teachers were on high alert for kids smoking cigarettes. Today they need police help to keep guns out of schools.

People seem meaner.  Hostility has increased. Violence is often the first response to disagreement. Just watch when two people grab for the last roll of toilet paper.  Kindness has almost vanished.

How does Alphonsus’s message play today? Be kind to the poor. Maybe, if they deserve it. Be kind to the sick. OK, as long as they don’t have Covid. Be kind to enemies. Never! That’s treason.

How can we ever obey Jesus’ command to love one another if we can’t even be kind to people?

Read Zechariah 7:9-10 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

Recently I mentioned my problems with distractions in prayer. Some distractions are external like noise or other people. A friend of mine had to drive somewhere in her car and park to have any undisturbed place to pray. Most of my distraction, however, is internal. I quiet my mind but then the chattering monkeys start in. “Remember you have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow. When should you start supper? What’s on TV tonight?” It’s most distressing. What kind of Christian am I let alone what kind of pastor if I can’t ever pray without by mind wandering? I feel guilty for my faults.

Recently I read an essay by John of Ruusbroec (1293-1381), a Flemish mystic. He writes in A Mirror of Eternal Blessedness: “If during a period of choral prayer or during your other exercises distracting thoughts or images come into your mind—no matter from where they come—do not get upset over this, for we are all unstable; when you come back to yourself and become aware of all this, quickly direct your attention and your love back to God. Even though the enemy shows you his booths and his wares, if you do not buy anything with affection, nothing of all that remains with you.”

It’s wonderful advice–especially the words “do not get upset.” Distraction happens to everybody. I like the image of the enemy showing you his booths and wares. The Devil may try to tempt us with alluring thoughts, but we don’t have to buy anything.

May you be sustained in your prayers–even with distractions.

Read Colossians 4:2 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

When Peter wanted to walk on water, as his Lord had done, Jesus directed him to get out of the boat.  I often wonder, as much as I desire to follow Him and learn of Him and listen for His directives, would I “get out of the boat?”

I believe sometimes we are comfortable with God’s blessings. We may attend church and learn of His commands for us. We may talk about Him with friends and even encourage the “unchurched” acquaintance to come to the community of believers; BUT how eager are we to leave our comfort zone?

Peter was a fisherman. He was more than likely on his boat more than on land. He and his brother and other fishermen had fishing as their “occupation.” As Jesus’ chosen disciples, they must have eagerly “hung” on His every word. Daily they learned to trust Him more and more and helped to spread His word.  When faced with a direct command to “Get out of the boat,” Peter did not hesitate. He must have had some concerns about the tossing waves, the storm, and the sanity of going overboard to follow Jesus. Still, he did enter the water and even manage to walk a few steps before his fear and possibly doubts caused his comfort level in trusting our Lord to vanish and flounder amid the waves.

I pray that floundering is not my outcome as I “get out of the boat/comfort.” Trust me, floundering has indeed happened on many occasions in my life. Strength to follow with no fear is my prayer.

If God directs you out of your comfort zone, GET OUT OF THAT BOAT, and know with certainty, your Lord is not willing to lose you. He is holding you above water and loving you unconditionally. Let your step out be filled with wonder and not fear. You are being led and upheld.

Jill

If you have worked in an administrative office or in a management position, you know all about paperwork. In my Navy musician days, most of my band mates had a collateral duty when we weren’t out performing. Every fleet band was self-contained; we had to purchase equipment and supplies, maintain a music library, make sure all our vehicles were serviced, etc. One of my collateral duties on a couple of occasions was Administrative Petty Officer. I had to keep files of all correspondence, personnel records, regulations, anything paper that had to go out with the Bandmaster’s signature. It was stressful. Chain of custody. “Paper trail.”

Did you know that God has left us a “paper trail”? Of course, it was first delivered via two stone tablets. From the earliest days of papyrus and scrolls, we have been given The Holy B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth). I hope you understand it as more than a huge list of dos and don’ts. It is ongoing, continuous story. It is God’s “love letter”. It is literally life-saving. Consider how this is so: a railroad worker finds a page from John’s Gospel, finds out where the nearest church is. A turn-around event. Or a person considering suicide in a hotel room until he opens the bedside drawer and sees a Bible placed by the Gideons. We grow spiritually even if we don’t have a specific event we can point to. The “paper trail” leads us to connect with God, to grow in His grace as we embrace the relationship He offers.

You can’t explain it. You just feel it. The world tries to pull wool over our eyes to blind us from the truth. Nothing is to be added or subtracted from it. Anything else may be helpful, but it is still supplemental. Even in trouble, woundedness, grief, and brokenness, we have a constant paper trail. In it there is unconditional love.

Pastor Art

“I know that my Redeemer lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives.”  (emphasis mine) The words are so familiar, the Easter message so full of joy, we can’t help but sing it with vigor and a heart filled with wonder.

But where did this great hymn come from?  The hymnal tells us it was composed by Samuel Medley in 1775.  That doesn’t really tell me much, except that it’s old.  So I set out exploring.  Who was this Samuel Medley and what prompted him to write this hymn that has lived through the ages?

Samuel Medley was brought up in Hertfordshire England in a very Christian household, but he himself was godless.  In his younger days he left home and joined the Royal Navy. While at sea, he was involved in a sharp fight in which a number of French vessels were destroyed.  Medley’s leg was badly wounded.  The surgeon declared that he would have to amputate the leg to save Medley’s life.  Despite his unbelief, that night Medley turned his face to the wall and prayed hard that the Lord would save his leg.  When the doctor visited the next day, he was amazed at the healing done in just twelve hours.  “You will not need to have it off!” 

After the battle, the fleet was ordered home.  Medley stayed in London with his grandfather, William Tonge, during his recovery.  It was Tonge’s custom to read religious material to him on the Lord’s Day.  The young man dreaded these times but was prudent enough to be respectful.  One day his grandfather read the sermon of Isaac Watts on Isaiah 42:6-7.  Initially indifferent, Medley experienced a spiritual awakening to these words.  He felt his guilt and appealed to God for mercy.  In this awakening, God had saved Medley for a life of preaching and hymn writing.  One of his callings was to work among the seamen at the port of Liverpool.  His non-traditional preaching and fervent faith gave him much success among these men.  His son would later say that the object of all his father’s labors was to humble the pride of fallen men, to exalt the grace of God, and to promote real holiness in heart and life.

And so, we are the benefactors of this magnificent hymn.  Oh the sweet joy and assurance!  Christ not only lives, but he reigns, he hears and he saves!

“Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives,
I know that my Redeemer lives!”

Judy

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he states, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32. In The Message version of the Bible it reads like this ^“Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.”

Do you think this is easy? Many people really struggle with forgiving. Just an FYI, forgiving someone of the misdeed does not mean that you approve of what was done, but you are letting go. Forgiveness frees you of carrying anger or pain or unending heaviness.  Practice forgiving yourself of your own mistakes, misdeeds or shame.  Give yourself grace. Be sensitive to your faults.  We all have them.  Forgive those who have wronged you. Within a court room setting, I have heard parents or families forgive a perpetrator that perhaps killed their child/family member.  How do they manage those words, “I forgive you?”  When you are able to forgive, and give grace, it is actually a spiritual moment. Christ forgives you! True healing can begin and peace can take the place of unforgiveness.

Christ never intended for us to hang on to anger or unforgiveness. Those two “pains” can begin “to eat at you” from the inside. Jesus’ death on the cross forgave us of all our sins, each and every one of them. He sacrificed Himself for us. Because we believe in Him and know that He has forgiven us, we need to follow His example. Forgive others and yourself. The burden of pain and anger will be lifted from you.  Healing can happen. Forgive sooner than later, you will be glad you did. You are unconditionally loved by Him.

Jill

How often I have slid down the slippery slope of pride.  It’s so easy.   In our thinking we lift ourselves up, by putting others down.
“I” would never say a thing like . . .
“I” would never be as pretentious as . . .
“I” never let my kids do  . . .
“I” would never do a thing like . .
And on and on it goes.   Have such thoughts ever crept into your mind?

I’ve been reading an insightful book, Didn’t See It Coming by Carey Nieuwhof.  I quote from him, “Only humility will get you out of what pride got you into.”  Humility is the exact opposite of pride.

It reminded me of these words of Jesus:  “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 11:29.    If the Lord Jesus was humble, how much more should I, the least of these, also humble myself?

Repeatedly he reminded us.  “Humble yourselves before the LORD, and he will lift you up.”  James 4:10.  And again, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”  Philippians 2:3-4.

How awesome that even when we find ourselves sliding down that slippery slope of pride, our God still loves us.  He’s ready with a firm grasp to help us from the pit of pride to a life of humility.   He loves me, and He loves you, unconditionally.

Judy

So often I am caught in the cycle of petitioning God for action that I forget the importance of praising God. Praising God must start my morning. 

Saying, humming, singing Doxology is a beautiful and uplifting way to begin the day. Doxology is a short hymn of praise. There are many but the one that I learned as a child is my favorite. This particular hymn was written by Thomas Kent. If you want to learn the story behind the hymn, follow this site and listen to Luke Powell tell you the story and sing you the song. (https://youtu.be/RBz7vuJ2b1A?si=4aPSHP6ECKPOEh0e) 

The version of “Praise God From Whom …”  that I have attached below is created for a short meditation. Give yourself the gift of time with God. The melody is lovely and the words are profound. No one has to hear you sing it but Our Lord God who loves you unconditionally.  Especially when you sing. 

Have a wonderful, God-filled day! 

Terri