Joy Lutheran Church Ocala, Florida

Just what is GRACE? (The Hebrew word for grace is khen. This word is used many times in the Old Testament.) The Message version of the Bible states in Psalm 145: 8-9:” God is all mercy and grace— not quick to anger, is rich in love. God is good to one and all; everything he does is soaked through with grace.”

God’s grace is given in love.  It is kindness, compassion, caring. God loves us unconditionally and through that love, He extends to us, (though sinners and undeserving in so many ways), His kindness, compassion and care. GRACE.

Knowing Jesus Christ is my Savior and Lord and I am His child, I am fully aware He died for my sins, so I can be forgiven of my sins. What a gift! The wrapping on this gift He has given is GRACE.  Given in love, kindness, compassion and caring pour over my sins. I ponder this world we live in, the turmoil, the wars, the unrest, the anger, and wonder if we can follow our Lord’s example. What if we extended GRACE to one another? If you are quick to anger, and spit out unkind words or turn your back on someone in need, you are not showing GRACE.  Can you imagine showing kindness, compassion and caring attributes? Our world would be changing in front of our own eyes.

Learn from our sweet Lord. As He pours His grace on you, learn to extend GRACE to those around you.

Jill

Recently, I have noticed in my blog research, daily devotionals and scripture readings there are many words that deeply shape and guide us as Christians that begin with the letter “P”.  I suppose because of my language arts background I tend to notice things like that and I love the use of alliteration in writing. I decided to pick out some ‘p’ words and reflect on how they guide us in our faith and direction in our lives as Christians.

The first word I chose was patience. Patience is essential in the Christian journey. It teaches us to trust God’s timing, especially during trials. Romans 12:12 encourages us to be “patient in affliction”.

Peace is a gift from Christ that transcends circumstances. Philippians 4:7 promises a peace that “passes all human understanding. Peace gives us the security we need in the face of troubles in our lives.

God’s nature and His work are perfect. While we are imperfect, God works tirelessly blessing us through His spirit. Matthew 5:48 urges us to be “perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”.  He gives us the tools and guidance and it is up to us to follow Him.

Praise is ourreaction to God’s greatness and love for us. Praise gives us the opportunity to forget our struggles and remember His faithfulness and power. Psalm 22:3 says God inhabits the praises of His people reminding us that worship draws us closer to Him.

In Matthew 25, Jesus speaks of being prepared like wise virgins with oil in their lamps.  Preparation is a call to be ready, both in our daily lives and for Christ’s return. We are to live aware, grounded in God’s Word and active in service to others.

God’s role as our refuge is His example of protection. Psalm 91assures us of the Lord as a shelter and fortress with us resting in His loving arms. With God’s divine protection, we can face emotional and spiritual battles and feel confident we are never alone.

Purpose reminds us our lives have special meaning. We are created to do good work (Ephesians 2:10). Every trial, blessing and relationship is part of God’s plan to shape us for His glory.

Finally, Prayer is our lifeline to God. Through prayer we commune with our Father and receive wisdom, comfort and patience. We are strengthened in our faith as He gives us His power in every situation.

Because of God’s unconditional love, in addition to giving us His only Son Jesus to die for us and give us eternal life, He has given us patience, peace, protection and purpose, modeled perfection, taught us how to be prepared and praise His love for us. He has taught us to pray, aligning our hearts with His. Together, these words form a path of spiritual growth, shaping our lives in Christ and keeping us faithful in His truth and love.  Thanks be to God!

Patty

I did some experimentation today with my word processor’s AI component. I asked for a 300-word piece about God’s sadness over the continued conflicts between the races that He created. To say that I was amazed at the result would not give sufficient praise to the profound thoughts contained within.  

From the first words, I was drawn in. This is exactly what I wanted to say to you.  I cannot improve on the thoughts and reflections, nor on the urging to “help dry those sacred tears.” So, I am sharing the whole piece with you in quotation marks because I did not write this blog today-God did. 

“If we listen quietly, beneath the noisy headlines and the daily grind, perhaps we can sense the sorrow in the heart of God. For a Creator who fashioned every human in a tapestry of color, culture, and language, the ongoing divisions between races in our world must be an ancient and abiding ache. Racial strife, prejudice, and injustice are not mere social failings—they are wounds in the fabric of humanity that God so lovingly wove. 

According to many spiritual traditions, God delights in diversity. It is written in sacred texts and sung in hymns: every face reflects a spark of the divine. Yet, as we witness prejudice and violence, as we see walls rise between neighbors, what does God see? Surely, it is anguish—a grief that humanity cannot live as one, that the beauty of our differences is so often used as fuel for conflict rather than joy. 

This sadness is not distant or abstract. It is woven through history’s tragedies and today’s heartbreaks: families separated, voices silenced, opportunities denied, and dreams deferred because of skin tone or heritage. God’s tears, imagined falling like gentle rain, water the hope for healing. Every act of kindness, every honest conversation, every protest for justice is a balm to that divine sorrow. 

In the face of ongoing racial division, let us not become numb to God’s grief. Instead, let us feel it and allow it to move us toward empathy, justice, and reconciliation. When we honor each other’s humanity, we honor the heart of God—and, perhaps, help dry those sacred tears.” 

 God continues to love us unconditionally; to hold us in the palm of His hand; and to wait for the unity of man. 

Terri 

Leah Libresco Sargeant coordinates a debating program. She thinks learning to debate can help bridge the differences among people. She’s also a Christian. Here’s a fascinating quotation from her.

“If the church is framed as a way to have community, so is the Rotary Club. If it’s a place to get into justice, so is your union. If it’s framed politically, so are party politics. We need to talk about our foundation in Christ. If the church isn’t Christ’s church, it isn’t worth people’s time. We need to proclaim loudly what it is.” *

She’s right.  I’ve been involved with the church since I started Sunday School in September 1951. The church is at its best when it is proclaiming and living Christ. It becomes useless or even dangerous when it isn’t doing that. I am grieved that most young people today have no connection with a church. Maybe some of it is that younger people today simply don’t join things, but I think some of it is that many Christians don’t regard church as a place to be transformed by Christ. The church is a private club where we can do things we like, and we only want to include people who like the same things we do. My experience as a pastor was filled with occasions where church members were outright hostile towards young people. It gnaws at me.

Hey folks, we’re about the good news of Christ. That’s what matters in a church. That’s why you matter to us–young or old. Christ loves us. That’s the truth.

Read 1 Peter 3:15 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

*The Christian Century, November 2024, p. 53

My church’s Ladies Guild is having a tag sale this Saturday. I had the privilege of visiting the church hall for a few minutes during their setup this week and helping to bring out a few boxes for them to arrange (my wife has spent much of the week there). Moving from table to table, I saw items of all kinds ready for their value to be recognized beyond their appearance and given new life and purpose.

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. – Matthew 4:18-20

I couldn’t help but notice how the tag sale items reminded me of Jesus calling His disciples. What a rag-tag, random bunch of men, all of whom had previous lives and purposes! Jesus saw beneath their appearance – among them fishermen, a tax collector, religious zealots – and recognized their value. He gave them new life and new purpose. His call benefited not only them, but through them, others – us – as well.

And even beyond the original Twelve, He continued with Saul of Tarsus (St. Paul) and others, noticing their inherent value and giving them new purpose. To this day, He continues to find value and use for people of all kinds, from the good-as-new to the very “tag sale table” members of society. Let everything that has breath give praise to the LORD! – Psalm 150:6

Sadly, many of the items I saw on the tag sale tables will go unclaimed. What’s not sold will be donated to various agencies for the benefit of the needy. But that’s not so with God, is it? Everyone who makes themselves available to God will be claimed as His! God has a use for everyone! He can change everyone’s lives and can use their lives for the benefit of all! Imagine having a tag sale, and nothing goes unclaimed. Isn’t that wonderful?

I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. – Romans 12:1

So, contribute yourselves to that great Tag Sale. Make yourself available to Him. I promise you that He will find a purpose for you; one which you may never have imagined, and you will love it!

What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him. – 1 Corinthians 2:9

We pray:
Heavenly Father, You find use and purpose for all who follow You. We make ourselves available to you: claim us; use us. We ask this through Your Son, who called people from all walks of life into new life and purpose in You. AMEN.

Jeffery L Fiducia
Used with permission of author

That’s what happens sometimes when we make plans – God laughs. It’s because He has something better in mind! He is not making fun of us; His perfect love could not possibly do that. He delights in us. God, personified in Jesus, certainly laughed because of the JOY! He knew. Consider those he hung out with. In the view of the religious scribes and Pharisees, consorting with “sinners” certainly was NOT something the Messiah, the Son of God, would do. At the dinner parties Jesus was invited to, I’m sure that the guests could be a rowdy bunch, with wine flowing freely.

Have you ever allowed yourself to be very loose and care-free? Initially, it might not seem very (ahem) Christ-like. As long as it’s not a frequent part of your life, it is certainly okay to occasionally engage in frivolity. You know, laughing so hard you can’t stand up or breathe. There isn’t a shred of evidence to suggest that life is serious. I get entrapped into thinking that as a pastor, I should be always serious, always “on my game”, concerned about being, well, less than perfect. Yes, I am judged by the content of my character. Even my opinions are subject to intense scrutiny. When I look back on my life, I know there were “God-winks”, where He was bemused by choices I made and the unexpected turns of my plans. Guess what? When I reflect back, I can honestly say I was never disappointed in God’s direction.

Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused. With all the delight and humor in Christ our Lord, we are loved unconditionally.

Pastor Art

I write this for the day of my 85^th birthday.  I understand that we all have birthdays, actually every year.  My birthday is no more significant than yours, and most likely not worth a blog of its own.  But I proceed.

I try to picture the day of my birth.  It was a difficult one for my mother, I did not slip gracefully into this world.  Sorry mom.  But however it transpired, a new life arrived into this world, me.

I recall the days when my children were born.  The anticipation, the preparation, the pain; these were all my experiences.  But then came the moment when the focus shifted to a new life, a tiny child (or not so tiny), someone new had been brought into this world.   A wonderment indeed. 

All through the scriptures we find mothers facing the wonder of a new birth.  Eve, the first to experience childbirth, with no woman to guide her.  Sarah, joyfully anticipating childbirth, when her body was already aging.  Elizabeth, looking forward to a son, while her husband was unable to speak.  And of course, dear Mary, so young, so brave, meeting the day of Jesus birth in awkward and uncomfortable. circumstances. 

For every child born, the “day of thy birth” is most significant.  The date will be remembered and recorded.  No life was ever lived without first having that “day of thy birth.”

God is good.  It is he who determined how new life would arrive.  It is he who created that incredible process.  It is he who is there to welcome each newborn at “the day of thy birth.”  Cherish the day, it is special.  He was there, He is there, He will be there.

Judy

I hope you will enjoy the hymn, “I was There to Hear Your Borning Cry.”

In I Kings, we learn that King Solomon has a dream and, in the dream, God asks Solomon what he wants.  King Solomon asks for an understanding mind, so when he governs his people, he can discern between good and evil. God was pleased with Solomon’s answer and not only gave him that discernment, but also honor and riches.

Solomon is thought to be the author of Proverbs. Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” In The Message version of this verse, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.” In my early 30’s, this was a favorite verse of mine, that I memorized, and have recalled often throughout my life.

If I am trusting my Lord with my whole heart, then I do not have to understand or try to figure out all the answers. Is or has this been easy?  Absolutely NOT! We tend to try and control outcomes.  Some folks are “control freaks,” having to control all aspects of their own lives and the lives of their family members too. Outcomes of you being “controlling” do not always place you on the right path or provide the right solution.

Key word in Solomon’s writing is TRUST. In Hebrew, bittachon is the word for trust and its meaning is: confidence, reliability and strength. Do you believe in God? He loves you unconditionally and has chosen you as His own. You are HIS creation. Be confident in His strength.  Rely on Him, always. You do NOT have to figure out everything on your own. You have an almighty God whose arms are open, waiting for you to lean on Him with your complete TRUST.

Jill

The Fourth of July, which celebrates our freedom from England’s rule and the birth of our own United States is over for another year. We’ve had our picnics, watched fireworks fill the night skies, sang a few patriotic songs and reveled in our freedom as a nation. All of this celebrating our country’s freedoms led me to think about our freedoms as Christians. We are incredibly fortunate to live in a country where we are free to worship how, when and where we want. How blessed are we?

Paul wrote in Galatians 5:1 – It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

Christianity, at its core is associated with the promotion of spiritual, moral and social freedoms which we enjoy in our country. Christ’s message to us is given through His life, death and resurrection. People are set free from sin, given salvation, grace and eternal life. God has freely given us all of these “freedom” gifts because of His unconditional love and mercy for us. These freedoms are not based on anything we do on our own as they are not given because of any human effort or merit. They are given purely out of His love for us.

Being a Christian means freedom from the fear of feeling you are not good enough, worrying about being judged by others, being concerned about your status in your community, or being driven to find ways to earn God’s approval. There is no need to fear any of those things. In Christ, believers are accepted, valued and loved.

Christianity gives us the freedom to become who we were created to be…children of God, walking in truth, love and hope. It is a freedom that transforms hearts, relationships and  ultimately, eternity. We can live in peace. Thanks be to God for the freedoms we enjoy both in our country and in our relationship with our Lord. We are  blessed!

Patty

July 4^th in our family was always a fun day of celebration.  We lived next door to my grandfather’s grocery store in which he sold fireworks for this special day. Two uncles lived nearby who were always ready for excitement. They were the ones to set off that loud but inspiring display for the whole neighborhood.  

It was a day to enjoy family and friends, food and fun. Picnic fare combined with ethic specialties made the feast as memorable as the fireworks display. We loved it when it fell on a Friday, like this year, because it afforded us a whole weekend of celebrations. 

The Bicentennial Celebration of 1976 created a time of unity in our country which had been dealing with major divisive issues after the end of the Vietnam War and with trying to navigate the unknowns of segregation. Our little Vermont town had a big parade with marching bands, fire trucks, horses and riders in costume and many, many little boys and girls in colonial hats and vests riding their patriotically decorated bicycles down Main Street. 

Now, you are probably asking yourself how does this reminiscence become a meditation? Well, as we pledge on a regular basis, we are one nation “under God”. The God that gave us the New Commandment on Maundy Thursday to love God first above everything else and (just as important) to love your neighbor as yourself. 

This country was created under a God, not of dogma, but of love for the creatures that he bought into being. A God that wanted his children to be able to celebrate their beliefs in Him in a way that was meaningful to them. Not one dictated by the ruling party of the day. This was such a dramatic and daring action by the founding fathers. I believe that the only reason that the union succeeded to this day is because the God of our understanding has been watching and blessing the way of this nation, even in the face of our questionable decisions. 

Our God is a God of love, unconditional love. This is the type of love that doesn’t see color, race or ethnicity. A love that welcomes all. I’m not sure that the writers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America anticipated the unbelievable world that we have come to live in, but I know that God did.  

Think about what we have and how we value these gifts. Thank God every day for the gift of freedom and ask Him to continue His love and support. Remember, God loves you unconditionally! 

Terri