Author: Pastor Doug

Mom is home from the hospital, continuing with meds and physical therapy to regain strength. Bless you all for your prayers for her!

Our scripture this morning is Luke 6:36-37 (NLT).

You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.

Jesus preached an extravagant standard of forgiveness, telling Peter to forgive “Not seven times, but seventy times seven!” (Matthew 18:22). This doesn’t mean 490 times but so many times we forget to count. In this same way God forgives us, saying “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins” (Jeremiah 31:34), quoted also in Hebrews 8:12.

God has forgiven us so much, how could we be unforgiving toward others? This passage concludes Jesus’ teaching here about loving our enemies, a difficult subject as we know. Most of us are way too good at judging and not so hot on love and forgiveness.

We need to forgive those who do not follow the way Jesus taught and love them just the same, because that’s exactly what He did. His love and forgiveness is based on who we are at the deepest level, children made in God’s image. When we forgive those who don’t treat us well, we show the world His love in action.

Gracious God, in Your mercy You made a way for our sin to be blotted out. Bless us to forgive as we have been forgiven. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is James 1:5 (NLT).

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

James writes to remind us that our knowledge alone is not enough. We certainly can’t save ourselves, we need the love and wisdom only God can provide, and He is more than willing to give it to us when we ask.

King Solomon, often noted as a tremendously intelligent man, only become wise by asking God to help him. Solomon says “Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong” (1 Kings 3:9). Because he recognized his need for God’s assistance, God was there for him.

This passage reminds me of my life verse:“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (Proverbs 3:5-6). When we give it up to God and accept His forgiveness, He will be with us to guide our steps.

Patient God, we are sorry it takes us so long to quit doing it our way and ask for the help we desperately need. Bless us to be wise in Your ways, sharing the love You have for all of us. Amen.

Thanks for all your prayers for my mom. She’s stable, they are running more tests, and in her own words “I am weak as a cat!” However, she is improving and we appreciate all your love and concern.

Our scripture this morning is Esther 4:14 (NIV).

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?

Esther was placed in a difficult position. Through court intrigue and treachery, a decree to exterminate the Jews had been issued. Her cousin Mordecai advised her to go to the king, uninvited, which was a crime punishable by death. Her people needed an intercessor, someone to speak for them but it will put her at great risk.

The statement “and who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” shouldn’t surprise anyone who has seen God work before. God uses His children as resources for His work here on earth. He certainly doesn’t need our help, but He gifts us with the capabilities necessary to accomplish His purpose.

Jesus tells us “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:12-13). Jesus did exactly that, and Esther faces a similar situation. She reacts with faith and courage and goes to the king in spite of the danger. We may not be called to risk our lives, but we are all called to give our lives to Christ and stand with Him in the good fight.

Loving Lord, we know that You didn’t promise our walk would be easy, but You promised to be there with us at every step. Help us to do right things even when they are hard, and to love one another as You first loved us. Amen.

Friends, I need prayers for my mom (91), taken by ambulance this morning in Chicago, infection making her dizzy and confused. Thank you!

Our scripture this morning is Jonah 1:17 (NIV).

Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Most of us know the story of Jonah and the whale, but do we know the meaning of the lesson? God called Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh to warn them against the wicked lives they lived. Instead of obeying God, Jonah ran away. 

During his “escape” from God he encountered a storm at sea, confessed that he was the probable reason and was thrown overboard at his request. God sent an unlikely rescue, “and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” While this doesn’t sound very pleasant, it was God’s way of giving Jonah a “time out”, not as punishment, but as an opportunity to think.

Later, while he obeys God’s call and is successful in convincing the people of their need for repentance, he is angry that they have repented and God will not destroy the city! How often is this the case with us, wanting others to “get what’s coming to them” rather than rejoicing at their return to fellowship with the Lord? We need to see all God’s children as beloved brothers and sisters, and if they are worthy of His love, they are certainly more than worthy of ours!

Gracious God, forgive us for our lack of forgiveness toward others. Help us to see Your face in everyone, and to know them as our own family. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Philippians 1:20-21 (NIV).

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Paul may sound like he doesn’t care if he lives or dies, however it’s not out of depression or defeat, but from his confidence in Christ’s victory. Author Chris Tiegreen paraphrases Paul this way: “Whether we live or die isn’t the highest priority. The goal is to honor Jesus whether in life or death.”

Paul’s faith assures him that he is doing what Jesus called him to, and will continue, if that is Christ’s command, or join Him in eternity. He is happy to carry out the Great Commission, but he is ready to go home as well. This is the calm assurance we can have when we put our trust in Him.

Since Jesus conquered sin and death for us, we need not fear either. We are weak, but He is strong and when we accept Him as our savior, His strength stands with us in every situation we face. Paul knew this and shared it as a blessing we can all claim through our connection to the Lord.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for the gift of Your Son to save us from sin and death. Bless us to go in Your name to tell the Good News to everyone. Amen.

Good morning friends! Celeste and I are back from a wonderful trip, refreshed but more aware of how happy home makes us and the blessings we have every day.

Our scripture this morning is John 1:29-31 (NIV).

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

John the Baptist is the original Herald of Christ, signaling the coming of the Messiah and urging us to repent and be baptized. He calls Jesus “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”, an indicator of the sacrifice He makes for us and the saving power of the Cross.

In Israel at that time, people would wash to become “ceremonially clean” and animal sacrifices for their sin were performed in the Temple. Our baptism in His name and His Crucifixion reconcile us to God, and we no longer need the ritual washing or regular sacrifice, all we need is Jesus!

One of my favorite anthems during my choir days began with the words “Heralds of Christ, who bear the King’s commands”. By His grace we are saved, and we are all called, as John was, to carry the Good News to the world. 

Heavenly Father, in Your mercy You sent Jesus to be our Savior. Forgive us for our failure and send us to tell everyone of Your love for us. Amen.

Friends, I will be out of touch beginning tomorrow through March 10 as Celeste and I take a retirement trip. Please stay safe and healthy, God bless you all, and I’ll be back online then.

Our scripture this morning is Revelation 4:11 (NIV).

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.

This passage from Revelation states a very obvious but often ignored fact: Only the Lord God is worthy of our praise and worship because He is the Creator of all things. Everything else that exists was created by His Word and we cannot worship any created thing.

This relates back to Jesus teaching us about the Greatest Commandment, to love God with everything we have and are, and our neighbor as ourselves. This is the starting point for all our relationships, the most important being with Him. If we are honest with ourselves, we see that without Him we are literally nothing.

We learn in Genesis that God created all things through His Word, speaking everything into existence. Human beings are the last of His creation, formed in His image for a special purpose. We are charged with the stewardship of everything else, responsible to the Father for sharing His gifts wisely. In all of this we declare “You are worthy, our Lord and God!”

Gracious God, we owe You everything. Thank You for all You have given us and the love behind each gift. Bless us to go in Your name to all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 59:16-17 (NIV).

But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.

David composed this psalm while on the run from King Saul, whom he had been anointed to replace, and who was also his father-in-law. He laments the evil raised against him, but even during this difficult time, he sings praise to the Lord for His love and protection.

David knew the power of prayer and was in contact with God morning and night. This pattern of thanking God when we get up and when we lie down can help us begin and end in peace, no matter what we have encountered during our day.

Below is an anonymous morning prayer I came across. It echoes David’s bold confidence in the Lord and reminds us that we can call on Him in every situation. May we all wake with joy and sleep in peace through His love and protection.

I sing as I arise today! I call on my Creator’s might: The will of God to be my guide, the eye of God to be my sight. The word of God to be my speech, the hand of God to be my stay, the shield of God to be my strength, the path of God to be my way. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Proverbs 19:17 (NIV).

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.

God commanded us to care for the poor, saying “Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart” (Deuteronomy 15:10). This proverb compares it to “lending to the Lord”, that those who benefit from our giving have no means to repay, nor should we expect it. It is our duty as His people to care for all of creation, but especially those who suffer.

Paul writes: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Our giving is between us and the Lord; it is not to make us look good in the eyes of others.

In Mark 12:41-44 Jesus shares His teaching about the Widow’s Mite, who gave out of her own poverty. Mother Theresa of Calcutta cared for the poorest among us and even though she had no wealth of her own, she shared her love and encouraged others to join her efforts. Our capability to give is not based on how much we have, but rather a response to the love God has shown us. We go in His name to minister to the needs of all.

Loving Lord, in order to care for each other we must see and hear each other. Help us listen and learn, and to care for the physical and spiritual needs of all our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Galatians 5:13-15 (NIV).

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

Losing our unity leads to destruction. We have seen this time again throughout history. We seem to forget the love we are commanded to show to one another. In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells us “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

Christian author Mark Norton writes “If we fail to use love as our guide for action, the inevitable result is conflict among believers.” This is what Paul meant when he told us “If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” How we treat each other is how we can expect to be treated.

Notice none of this is about how we are treated, only about how we treat others. Poor treatment does not allow us to respond in kind. That is the human reaction! Jesus shows us a better way to live and love, as He first loved us. 

Gracious God, in Your mercy You sent Jesus to save us. Help us to see the blessing of Your love poured out for us and offer the same blessing of love to all our brothers and sisters. Amen.