Joy Lutheran Church, Ocala, Florida

Dear blog reader,

I know many of you can attest to the power of prayer in personal experience. If you’re new to our website, maybe God’s amazing power has led you to us. If you’re not sure about religion, God, church, then He has definitely led you to us!

 When you get a direct answer to a direct prayer request, you KNOW it to be fact. On the brink, at the end of yourself, yet still making it through the day – that is the FACT of God’s care. With God, doubt need not be a deal-breaker for you. Second chances come your way. He knows the trouble you’ve seen; He has taken an active part in getting you through it. The attentive listening is always happening.

 True story, shared and paraphrased:

It was Day 5 of an electrical outage in sweltering heat and humidity. Family on the way for a visit. Mom’s three–year-old, wailing because the fan wouldn’t come on.

“Popsicle, Mommy”.

“Sorry, baby, everything is gone.”

“Kool-Aid! Mommy, mommy, pleeeeeeeez”!!

“Let’s pray about it. Lord, please bring us relief…”

“And turn the fan on!” the little one interjected.

At that moment, guess what – fan blades started to turn; TV sounds, refrigerator humming.

The fact is, prayer is  a powerful thing. Maybe THE most powerful thing.

Our go-to God gives us Jesus, angels, and the Holy Spirit to intercede for us. With unconditional love, the fact of our reality is felt and known. Read Psalm 34 for timeless assurance.

Pastor Art

Romans 12:3Paul tells us: “I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.”

We are loved so unconditionally and given such an important gift…Jesus. You can be young, old, female, male, red, yellow, black, white, frail, ill, healthy, educated, uneducated, rich, poor….we have ALL been blessed with God’s grace and forgiveness. Jesus died on the cross for EACH of us, no exceptions. We are forgiven, renewed, redeemed, given grace and loved freely.  WOW!

Feel His warmth and love surround your heart OR fret and worry and swirl in a pit of turmoil. He has chosen YOU! What a gift! I am loved for me, just as I am. There is beauty in the words of that old hymn, JUST AS I AM. There is nothing better than God’s gift to us, His Son.

Feel the love. It is given to you, just as you are.

Jill

My fondest memories of play time in July are the days I shared with my dear aunt, who was most definitely young at heart.  Together we’d dress up in old clothes, usually well-worn shabby work shirts worn backwards and topped with scruffy straw hats.  We were the happiest of hoboes grinning from ear to ear for the camera.  I was blessed with a family of loving folks, but no one was quite as fun-loving as Emily.  A fine Christian woman in every respect, she had a joyful heart.  She was forty-three years older than me, but she was my best summer playmate.

Fun is a gift from God, and she embraced that idea fully.  The Bible tells us, “A happy heart makes the face cheerful.”  Proverbs 15:13.    “A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”  Ecclesiastes 3:4.   Having fun and maintaining a cheerful heart not only brighten our days but those around us. 

Summer seems like a great time to embrace God’s gift of fun with a smile on our faces.  I’ve outgrown my days of “dressing up”, but I hope to keep a smile on my face and remember that having fun is a gift from God.  God never intended that we be serious and somber all of the time.

Here’s a song to lift your spirits today.

Judy

What is a sage? Sage: Someone recognized for wisdom, deep knowledge, and sound judgment, often in philosophy or life.

In Proverbs 29:11, we are told: “A fool lets it all hang out;
a sage quietly mulls it over.” This proverb, as well as many of the others, is attributed to King Solomon. (If you remember, he asked God for wisdom, thus the meaningful proverbs from him.)

Have you ever watched or heard someone really lose their “cool?” Giving full vent to their rage regardless of the consequences or who might be listening to their outbreak, FOOL. As the proverb states, a fool can give full vent to their rage, BUT the sage quietly brings calm as he ponders the situation. Hm?  Which are you? Fool? Or Sage?

I would never credit myself with being a sage, but I hope definitely not to be a fool.  Lashing out.  Losing my cool.  Venting in a rage. That does not describe me. I’m not a fighter. All that being said, does not mean I don’t have some “foolish” thoughts on occasion. What I do find amazing is Jesus loves me unconditionally!  We are so blessed to know we can be forgiven. His grace and mercy pour over us. Perhaps knowing the truth of trusting and believing in our Lord, does encompass the word SAGE for me.

Just as you take your worries, your concerns, your thanks, your praises to our Lord, you can take your anger to Him also.  Let Him know what has set you off and caused you such angst and rage. Be open to receiving comfort and calm as He anoints you with His peace. I’d say, that is SAGE advice.

Jill

Our country has had 250 Fourth of Julys as of today. What a milestone to celebrate and a beautiful thing to be thankful for. As we commemorate this day, we have the opportunity to reflect on both the unity and division we have experienced. Through it all, God’s hand has never been absent. While no nation is perfect, we can be grateful Christ has continually offered hope, mercy and direction to those who seek Him.

Our freedom is a gift which we should never take for granted. This freedom has allowed countless people to worship openly, share the Gospel, and serve others in the name of Jesus Christ. Throughout our country’s history, faithful believers have prayed for our leaders, cared for their neighbors and pointed others to the saving grace of Christ. Their quiet (and sometimes not so quiet) faithfulness has helped shape communities and strengthened our nation.

However, underneath all of this, there is a deeper freedom we hold onto. This is the freedom that was won for us long before we understood it. Let us keep in mind our greatest hope is not found in governments or human achievements but in our Savior Jesus Christ. From God’s unconditional love for us we received the gift of salvation. We know from scripture “Christ is the same yesterday today, and forever”. Hebrews 13:8 He continues to faithfully guide those who trust Him.”

May America’s 250^th birthday inspire us to seek God’s wisdom, walk in His truth and live as faithful ambassadors of His love. With grateful hearts, let us thank God for his enduring blessings and pray He will continue to lead our nation in the freedoms we enjoy in the years to come.  God Bless America!

Patty

Yes, it’s time to celebrate the 250^th birthday of the formation of the United States of America. What a big day for everyone-near and far. I wonder if I will be able to see some real fireworks this weekend. Usually there are fireworks all around the lake, if I can stand the bugs.  

The process of forming the USA was not a smooth and quick procedure. These men and some unmentioned women had to start from scratch. No other country in the known work governed the way these folks were suggesting.  

Do you think that God had a part in this process? No question! Religious freedom and the right to choose whom to worship or not formed the basis of the Declaration of Independence and later the Bill of Rights.  

In Massachusetts, the Puritans were fleeing from a government which forced a belief system on them that they could not tolerate. In Pennsylvania, the Quakers were searching for the freedom to practice a religion that was very different from the accepted standards. In Maryland, the settlers brought the Roman Catholic religion to the table. All with the goal of freedom of religion, these authors worked tirelessly to find a new solution to an age-old issue. 

They succeeded and brought forth a new nation united with the goal of personal freedom combined with compromise and sacrifice. God must have watched with loving notice of their efforts.  

It was not easy. It is still not easy. God loves the people of the United States of America unconditionally. No matter what faith tradition they subscribe to or do not. We are all God’s children, even if some do not believe in God. He loves us anyway, all ways, unconditionally! Amen and thanks be to God. 

Happy 250^th Anniversary and God bless the USA! 

Terri 

On July 2, 1776, 250 years ago today, the Continental Congress voted to declare independence from Great Brittan. We celebrate instead  July 4, when the Declaration of Independence was adopted.

The Declaration was largely written by Thomas Jefferson. It contains the memorable lines: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” 

The use of religious language in the Declaration is striking. Although Jefferson identified himself as a Christian, he did not believe in miracles, the virgin birth or the resurrection. He might better be called a Deist. It was from enlightenment Deism that he derived the idea that God gives people the rights to Life, Liberty, and pursuit of Happiness. 

As a citizen of the United States and a Christian, I embrace this idea of unalienable rights given by God. I am astonished sometimes that many Americans have the notion that these rights come from the government which can grant or withdraw them at will. In the view of the Declaration, government derives its power from the consent of the people governed. It only has the power the people give it. This is a very different view than the one held by people like Martin Luther who saw government as instituted by God.

How do you, as a Christian, understand human rights?

Read Proverbs 31:8-9 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

On Independence Day this week, we remember the action of the Second Continental Congress declaring the American Colonies independent from Great Britain. The Declaration contains Thomas Jefferson’s noblest words. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The notion that there are natural rights given by God and that the purpose of government is to secure these rights seems to escape some people. I sincerely desire that our lawmakers keep this purpose in mind.

When the First Continental Congress met in 1774 the Reverend Jacob Duché, Rector of Christ Church of Philadelphia, was asked to offer prayer. John Adams later remarked, “I must confess I never heard a better Prayer or one, so well pronounced.” Here’s part of that prayer.

“O Lord our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings, and Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers on earth and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all the Kingdoms, Empires and Governments; look down in mercy, we beseech Thee, on these our American States. . . Be Thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation. That the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that order, harmony and peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst the people.”

It’s a prayer worth praying today.

Read Daniel 2:21 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

Customer satisfaction, unlike Christian satisfaction, is hit or miss. The satisfaction we are blessed with is one hundred percent guaranteed by Jesus’ death on the cross. However, our faith in this satisfaction is not without risk. When we trust in what we cannot see, the world often mocks us to scorn. What we can see and believe in are the promises, the covenants God makes with us.

We can wallow in self-pity, lament about the state of the world. Or we can choose the best alternative: Jesus Christ, who redeems, satisfies, and helps us overcome all adversities. Because he shared our humanity, he is perfectly qualified to be the exemplar of faith. More than faith in Jesus, it is the faith of Jesus that saves us. OUR faith in HIS faith is the reward, the guarantee. We can let go of our misgivings, our remorse for not seeing immediate result or answers to prayer. We get to live within a totally different framework of understanding. We don’t have to be like those who stand in the long line at customer service, bringing back whatever didn’t meet our satisfaction. We get the “lifetime warranty”, no strings attached promise of complete satisfaction. This way of being carries the promise of unconditional love.

Pastor Art

Not too long ago, I purchased a new pair of glasses.  As many of you know, it’s not as easy as purchasing a new shirt.  First there’s the doctor’s examination, then the new prescription.   There are frames to try on, are they the right shape, do they fit, do I like the color?  And then of course ordering them made up with the new prescription.  All the while hoping that on that final day when they arrive, they will actually fit and my vision will be improved as promised.

We do all this because our vision is important to us.  We want our sight to be as good as it can be.  If it is possible we want to see clearly enough to drive, to read, and to enjoy the world around us.

Do we also need sight to walk our spiritual journey?  We need sight to read and study God’s word. We need sight to see the needs of those around us, those who we can help and serve.  But in 2 Corinthians, Paul tells us that our spiritual walk is guided by something more than sight alone.

For we walk by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7

There’s a wonderful hymn that expresses this thought beautifully.  The English theologian and hymn writer, Henry Alford (1810-1871) composed a hymn based on this text.  More recently Marty Haugen composed a newer interpretation, exploring the Christian’s experience of faith over physical evidence.  I quote one stanza of the hymn:

We walk and not by sight
No gracious words we hear
Of Him who spoke as none e’er spoke
Yet we believe Him near

God in his unconditional love gives us the strength to believe, the courage to have faith even in that which we cannot see.

I hope you enjoy the following rendition of the hymn set to the tune “Dunlap’s Creek” and sung at the First Presbyterian Church in Clarksville, TN.

Judy