Jesus Knows Us

It is the great privilege of Christians, that they have the mind of Christ revealed to them by his Spirit. They experience his sanctifying power in their hearts, and bring forth good fruits in their lives. 1 Corinthians, chapter 2 (Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible)

For your wound gapes wide as the ocean; who can heal you? Lamentations 2:13

During life sometimes our wounds, our needs, and problems seem too big to handle. God tells us there is a way. We are invited to pray to God at difficult times. This gives us so much that non-Christians do not have. At times when I could do nothing but cry with my circumstances, I could get on my knees and pray to my Lord in heaven. His spirit leads me at those times.

The Spirit, not content to flit around on the surface, dives into the depths of God, and brings out what God planned all along. Whoever knows what you’re thinking and planning except you yourself? The same with God—except that he not only knows what he’s thinking, but he lets us in on it. God offers a full report on the gifts of life and salvation that he is giving us. We don’t have to rely on the world’s guesses and opinions. We didn’t learn this by reading books or going to school, we learned it from God, who taught us person-to-person through Jesus, and we’re passing it on to you in the same firsthand, personal way. 1st Corinthians 2:10-15 (Eugene H. Peterson THE MESSAGE- The Bible in Contemporary Language)

My friend, Judy Welch, who writes devotions too, wrote what Jesus can do for you at your most difficult times:

“When the tiger of life is mauling, with wounds that cut so deep:

Who can heal you?

Be still, and you will hear Him, “This is my body, broken just for you.”

Be still, and you will hear Him, “This is my blood, shed just for you.”

For every place you’re going and all you have been through and left to do." 

Our Lord had you in mind when he died on the cross. He knows what you have been through and he knows what you need. He can heal you. You just need to remember to pray to our Lord Jesus.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for making it so clear to us that you saved us when you gave your life for us. Amen

Sandra Hilsabeck

Time

For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 

I have enjoyed watching the curling games at the winter Olympics. The players have so much to think about from the rolling of the stone, the positioning of the stone, the strategies to consider with the opponent’s stones, and the possibilities of multiple stone hits. I learned this year that the teams have a set number of minutes (38) during the match for "time to think". It seems important to take time to view the situation, discuss the options, communicate, and make a plan. They must use their time wisely to make sure they have enough time to do this by the end of the game.

This made me consider my time to think about God. This could be in reading the Bible, pondering a devotion daily, attending a Bible study, participating in worship services, praying, and thanking God throughout the day for His blessings. Like the curling players, there is much to consider in every situation. Take the time today to think about God.

Prayer: Heavenly Father help us to take time to think about you every day. Help us remember your abundance of love for us and your promises to stay by us in all situations. Amen

Nancy Hall

Unwavering Resolve in the Face of Life’s Challenges

We are troubled on every side yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; cast down but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

This passage of a letter from Paul to the Corinthian congregation reflects the hardships and challenges faced by believers, while offering assurance that they are not abandoned by God, but empowered to persevere through their faith. Paul encourages us to hold on to hope and trust that we are not alone. This message brings unwavering resolve in the face of life’s challenges.

Related biblical passages like Romans 8:35-39, James 1:2-4, and Philippians 4:13, echo the consistent theme of God’s unwavering love, the opportunity for growth through trials, and the strength found in Christ. These passages reinforce the message of perseverance and faith in the face of difficulties, echoing Paul’s encouragement to the Corinthians.

When we face troubles and difficulties in life, it is important to remember that as believers, we are not alone. The verses remind us that even though we may be hard-pressed on all sides, we are not crushed. We may be perplexed, but we are not in despair. We may be persecuted, but we are not abandoned. This reassures us that no matter what challenges we may encounter, we can persevere because of the strength and support we receive from God. In times of trouble, holding onto our faith and trusting in God’s promises is crucial. We can find resilience to endure and overcome any obstacle we may face by leaning on Him for guidance, comfort, and strength. Remembering that God is always with us and will never forsake us provides the hope and courage needed to persevere in difficult times. This verse directs us to rely on God’s power and not solely on our own abilities, knowing that His grace is sufficient to see us through every trial and tribulation.

These verses also remind us that our trials have a purpose in building our character and faith. Rather than being consumed by our present struggles, we can look forward to the hope and restoration that God promises to those who trust in Him. This perspective helps us to endure with patience, knowing that our temporary afflictions are producing an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Life can feel like a never-ending workload, but remember: you’re pressured, not broken; confused, not hopeless; attacked, not alone; knocked down, but still standing. Let this truth fuel your determination and faith as you tackle every obstacle. Stand firm, work through the struggle, and lean on God’s promises.

Prayer: I pray that when I feel under pressure and am anxious that I cannot continue, I will feel the comfort of God’s hand on my shoulder, reassuring me.  Help me to remember God’s promise to all believers that he will be with us as we learn from our trials. We are confused, not broken, but still standing. Know that with God’s grace we are able to work through every obstacle, leaning on God’s promise. Amen.

Carol McClain

For the Beauty of the Earth

These last several days as the snow has fallen and covered our world in Lincoln, I sit and look out of the window and marvel at the beauty of nature. It made me think about the hymn “For the Beauty of the Earth”.  I keep on singing it in my head, and in spite of the enormous amount of snow that we received, I’m glad to live in an area with four seasons.  

Sing or say these words to the song in your heart and mind:

            For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies.

            For the love which from our birth over and around us lies.

            Lord of all to thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.

I started this after our big snowfall, but I’m now finding it difficult to continue to feel blessed for the four seasons in Nebraska. As Pastor Melodie pointed out in her sermon on February 14, the snow keeps coming and with it bitter cold temperatures, and many of us are more than ready for spring to start. We’re ready for crocuses, daffodils, flowering trees, green grass and warm days. But we can have faith that it will all happen and the snow will melt, finally, for this year.  

Prayer: Dear Lord, as we deal with the challenges of winter, let us not forget the beauty of your creation. Be with us during this cold, bleak winter until spring comes to rejuvenate our lives. Amen.

Carolyn Brandle (reprinted from 2021)

Perseverance and Henry David Thoreau

 

 

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4

From Thoreau: ”Do not despair of life. You have no doubt force enough to overcome obstacles. Think of the fox prowling through the wood and field in a winter night for something to satisfy his hunger. Notwithstanding cold, hounds and traps his race survives. I do not believe any of them ever committed suicide.” Now, I know a couple of things about this quote that might rankle:

• In many circles we have moved past the language “committed suicide” to “died by suicide”.
• We should not minimize someone’s feelings and actions by suggesting they could have withstood something in their life we likely know nothing about. 

However, I believe there is something to take away from this. For me, it’s this: we are stronger than we think, and…keep going, keep going, keep going. In addition to what the quote implies, I'd like to include that we can ask for help, from God and others, including professional help.

Some scripture to support was included above, but I also believe that if we can sometimes just hang on until the next day, things may look different. In the chapter on "Appreciate Whatever is Pleasing" in the book "Appreciate These Things" by Jill J. Duffield, she shares that some days we just need to look for the beauty, wherever we may find it. "The ache for beauty was still urgent in me, but my hope for riding out the tide of pain began to rise," she shares after noticing something pleasing on what was for her a difficult day. Small things, and the promise that hope brings.

This Thoreau quote, along with a beautiful Wyeth painting of a fox ("Fox in Winter" by N.C. Wyeth; from "Men of Concord", 1935), was shared on the Thoreau Society page on Facebook. I’ve shared that lovely painting here, plus my own photo of two local foxes playing in the snow!

A bit more about Thoreau: Henry David Thoreau (born July 12, 1817, Concord, Massachusetts, U.S.—died May 6, 1862, Concord) was an American essayist, poet, and practical philosopher renowned for having lived the doctrines of Transcendentalism as recorded in his masterwork, Walden (1854), and for having been a vigorous advocate of civil liberties, as evidenced in the essay “Civil Disobedience” (1849). (from Britannica.com)

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to remember that we can turn to you when we're struggling. Help us reach out to people in our life (friends, family, professionals) when we feel despair. Give us strength to keep going. Amen.

Click on photos to view larger. 

Donna Gustafson

Ash Wednesday

Join us around the table between 8 am and 8 pm for a short service of ashes and contemplation.  

Ashes will be available all day with music for contemplation in our sanctuary.  

Can’t make it to the church on Ash Wednesday?  Packets of "ashes and prayers” will be at the Welcome Desk beginning Sunday, February 15.

 

Helping Others

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13: 12-17

This last month I was fortunate enough to help out on a Tuesday night with the Food Pantry. In all honesty, it wasn’t hard work, and there were enough of us helping that it didn’t take long at all. In a way, I kind of felt guilty as I drove back home that the task wasn’t harder and didn’t take longer! And then I realized what a selfish thought that really is, as though if helping out were harder, then I would feel better about having helped. All me, me, me. Volunteering and helping do things for others shouldn’t be about the helper; it really is all about those being helped. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? And yet we’re humans with complex emotions and wants. Christ provided us with the ultimate example of servitude toward others without asking for anything in return except our faith in him, our knowledge that he died so that we might have a place in the Kingdom of God. What a truly glorious gift he gave to us! Our hope for ourselves should be that we emulate his example as best we can to others here on earth.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to open my heart that I might be a better helper to others. And above all else, let me always remember that the power and glory are yours alone, and it’s through you that I gather strength and comfort to do what I hope is right in your eyes. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Greg Tubach (reprinted from Eastridge Daily Devotion book, 2008)