Jesus Appears to the Disciples

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?  Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.  And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”   They gave him a piece of broiled fish,  and he took it and ate it in their presence.

He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,  and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.  I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.  While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.  Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. Luke 24:36-50

What Am I Waiting For?

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

I can relate to the lyrics in the song, “In the Blink of an Eye”, by Mercy Me: “Sometimes I feel disappointed, by the way I spend my time. How can I further your kingdom, when I’m so wrapped up in mine?” The song also says: “If I give the very best of me, that becomes my legacy. So tell me, what am I waiting for?” Good question. I think I wait because I’m just too timid! I really want to give God my best, but I can’t if I refuse to leave the safety of my comfort zone.

I’ve learned from the first scripture that although God gave me a quiet nature, he didn’t make me timid. Timidity has to do with fear--fear of failure, pain, embarrassment and more. Unfortunately,  I’ve let fear hold me back far too often! Since “there is no fear in love”, I should focus intently on love.  I want to let my Savior’s amazing love wash over me. Not only that, but I want to show my immense love for Him by giving it generously to others. I need to fill my soul with love...so much that I'm swimming in it. So much that the fear drowns in it! 

I've let timidity have too much power in my life. Just imagine what I could accomplish if I would fully rely on the “spirit of power, love, and self-discipline” God has given me! I could “give the very best of me”. No more waiting around. It’s time to take a leap of faith from my comfort zone--free from the grasp of timidity--and allow the power within me to do its work!

Prayer: Loving Savior, forgive us for letting our timidity keep us from giving you our best.  And thank you for boldly going to the cross so we may always have your amazing power, love and guidance within. Amen.

Sharon Irvin (revised June 2018 from Lent 2006)

The Tests in Our Lives

Consider it pure joy, my brother, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-5

Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in time of testing they fall away. Luke 8:13

For many years I worked beside a colleague who, after frustrating conversations or interactions, would observe ruefully, “That ______... he/she is a test.”  Then we would chuckle, knowing that each of us had been at some point (or many points) a similarly disconcerting test to our students and coworkers. In fact, even after retiring, I’ve continued to be a test to others. A high-spirited 7^th grader, with whom I worked this spring as a volunteer tutor, didn’t always appreciate my encouragement to attend to conventions for pronouncing consonants. Sighing, he announced, “Mrs. Stelk, you are running my battery down.” After a momentary pause, we both shared a laugh before getting back to the text. 

Tests have been part of the human experience since recorded history began.  I’m sure that, like the Israelites, 40 years of wandering in the desert eating manna and quail every day would have run any of our batteries down a bit.  Likewise, many current events feel as though they present a test of faith. I must admit, I don’t always (or even often) consider such tests pure joy.  Guess I still have some maturing to do….

Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for providing strength to persevere when we face tests and trials. Help us to comprehend the joy that comes through cultivating true and deep roots of lasting faith in you. We ask for your forgiveness when we fall away in times of distress. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Barry and Alinda Stelk

Honoring Fathers

Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12 

In the same way, let your light see your good works and give glory to your father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 

For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. Galatians 3:26

We will soon be giving honor to our fathers as we celebrate Father’s Day. It is fortunate that we have a special calendar day to call attention and give thanks to our Dad. According to our Ten Commandments, we are expected to give honor and respect to our Dad at all times. This day recalls important memories when he provided support, protection, encouragement, knowledge, love and even punishment.

As the result of our Christian faith, we also have a Heavenly Father to give honor and thanks. In the Bible, we are repeatedly taught that we are the children of God. Gratefully, we have the assurance of a Heavenly Father, a Savior, who loves us and can provide the safety, comfort, or assurance we might need at any moment in our daily lives. By turning to our Heavenly Father and involving Him into our lives and hearts, He too can and will provide fatherly comfort and assurance that we need. Believe and rest assured in Him. 

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, may we be comforted and thankful by the knowledge that you are always there for us if we will just turn to you and ask.  As your children, we give You honor for providing fatherly care and concern.  We give You thanks for being there for us.  Amen

Lauren L Holcombe

The Mystery and Message of the Moss Rose

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40: 28-31 

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13  

My mom was a talented florist and gardener. I spent many an hour watching her “green thumb” work its “magic” in our family’s flower shop and her gardens at home. As I was growing up, I learned to appreciate and love flowers by watching her plant, and tenderly care for, a large variety of colorful annuals and perennials she nurtured each cool spring and hot summer. I, too, love to plant flowers each spring but I find I’m not as nurturing as my mom, especially as the summer grows hotter and hotter. So, I look for annuals and perennials that don’t require much attention and can thrive through our hot, and sometimes, very dry Nebraska summers.  One of my favorite annuals to plant, with these qualities, is moss rose.

Last May, I found some beautiful moss rose and planted them in the sunniest parts of our front yard. As usual, and in the extreme heat and drought of the summer, they flourished.  Not only did these plants flourish, several seeds mysteriously found their way to a crack in the hot cement of our driveway. Even in this inhospitable hot and arid place of the cement, they kept growing and growing and reaching their bright and beautiful heads to the summer sun. To me, they took on a quality of defiance, that against all odds, they were going to survive. As I watched these plants continue to grow until the first frost, I suddenly was struck by the message God was sharing with me through them. Their tenacity told me that, even in the hardest and driest times of my life, if I keep my focus on the Son, Jesus Christ, my Savior, and on God, the source of all my strength, I can, and will, continue to thrive and flourish, as well.

The following summer, in that same crack in our driveway, two moss rose plants once again thrived and flourished in the hot, summer sun even though no new plants were added to our yard that previous spring. The mystery and message of the moss rose continued.

Prayer: My Savior and my God, the source of all my strength, I praise and thank you for the messages you send to me each and every day in a variety of ways. May my eyes, ears, mind, heart and soul continually be watchful of, and open to, the mysteries, messages and revelations of Your Word in my life.  Amen

Patty Niemann (reprinted from June 2013)

Love Your Neighbor

When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19: 33-34  

Immigration laws are a hot political topic. Should citizens of other countries who enter the United States illegally be entitled to public benefits such as health care and food stamps? Should there be a path to citizenship for undocumented workers? Should certain immigrant students be allowed to have driver’s licenses, and should they be charged in-state college tuition rates? What should be done about the thousands of unaccompanied children arriving from Central American countries? 

As Christians, in struggling to answer these complicated questions, we must certainly consider God’s law as it was imparted to the Jewish people through Moses long ago.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the privilege of living in a safe and secure environment with access to food and shelter and health care. We know that we have brothers and sisters for whom these basic needs are not easily met. We ask that You guide us in making fair and just decisions that will improve the quality of their lives and bring Your Kingdom nearer for all of us.  Amen.

Judith Keller  (reprinted from September 2014)

Frustration

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Philippians 4:6

Within the last couple of weeks I fell down the last three steps in my house; I remember laying at the bottom of the steps trying to figure out what happened. My foot and ankle swelled up. I would later find out that I had broken my foot in two different locations and also broke my ankle. The good news is the doctor said the bones were still in a good location and that if the ankle bone break stayed in place it would be best to let heal as is but that means, as the doctor has repeated several times, it is critical not to put any weight on it at all. We would need to X-ray as it heals and if the bone moves then I would have to have surgery. Now after a little more than two weeks in and another three weeks before next X-ray, I find myself frustrated as I am not able to complete tasks that I would normally do. I am frustrated waiting for help in doing things and trying to accept that things aren’t being done the way I want or would complete or in the time frame I want.  

I find myself struggling, using crutches and the scooter, which the health representative said, "the kids love the scooter." Now I am frustrated that I am apparently either too old or not coordinated to use. 

How many times does something interrupt our plans and we find ourselves learning to deal with change?  

Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for always being here for me. Grant me patience for those things that I can not change, help me to see the purpose in all things. Thank you for all the blessings you have provided and help me not to forget how blessed I am. Amen

Lori Hood