Hope for the Prodigal

 Even the most perfect father has prodigal children.  He did not do anything wrong as a parent and yet His children use their free gift of free will to go against him.

"Hope for the Prodigal"  page 49

God gives you what you need to keep going

 (God) gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the week.

 Isaiah 40:29

Words to fight the Black Dog

This was a very bad week for me.  I just couldn't shake the "black dog," A black dog follows you around and makes your life miserable.  Takes away your hope.  Steals your joy.  The black dog, if he could talk would love to say, "I'll be in your life forever."

This doesn't have to be the case.  There are many people who also have black dog and are managing to keep the mutt in place.  Talk to a counselor who is trained to listen to you and offer the kind of wisdom to keep the black dog from overwhelming you.  Let family and close friends in on what you're dealing with.  Exercise and diet are proven to help.  

And as hard as it might be, stick close to God.  The black dog wants you all to itself.  So, as hard as it might be, get up and go to church.  Sing the songs.  Listen to the Scriptures.  Hear the pastor as he proclaims the hope of Jesus.  Read your Bible each day and pray continously.  I know that so much of that sounds impossible.  The black dog saps your energy to the point so that you might not even want to get up and get going.  Try anyway.  Don't make it easy for the black dog to hound you into believing that your life has no purpose or hope.

My dear, sweet wife, Sherri, has loved me unconditionally, along with my kids and grandkids. The congregation I serve, Life in Christ in Peoria, AZ, has been incredibly supportive and helpful.  This morning I found a card that was pushed underneath my door.  The words come from Isaiah 40:29 - He (God) will give strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Best of all, God is "ever-present" and is ready to help us in any trouble, especially when being followed by a  mongrel.  Flee to the One who is your refuge, your fortress of protection when depression has left you lonely and afraid.  He says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  (Matthew 11:28)  You'll receive no better invitation than that.

 

Contending for the faith

According to a story in the Chicago Tribune, a London, England husband and wife had more than they're share of arguments.  One argument turned violent.  The wife got so mad at her husband that she got into their car and ran over him.  The husband suffered 45 leg fractures and a skull fracture and spent five months in the hospital.  His wife was thrown in jail for grievous bodily harm.

Then the husband did something that shocked everyone - he forgave his wife and asked the court to set her free.  The man, now wheelchair bound, told the court, "I can't live without her."  In response to her request, the court suspended her sentence and set her free.

Sometime later, a London newspaper did a follow up story on the couple.  The husband reported, "We are back together and very happy.  But my wife is very argumentative."

In the post-Christian world of ours, it seems that everyone has an opinion about religion or Christianity or about God or Jesus.  Maybe you know an opinionated neighbor.  Perhaps you cohort at work holds some pretty strong views.  You might even have an acquaintance who likes to create controversy by challenging teachings and beliefs that the Christian church has held true for centuries.

As Christians we must contend for the faith.  But we are to avoid those who simply want to argue for the sake of arguing (see 2 Timothy 2:22-26).  Instead, the Christian tries to treat everyone with kindness while looking for opportunities to teach the truth of God's Word to those who seek answers to the important questions of life.  Who is God?  What does God think of me? How can I be sure I am going to heaven?

As we witness and teach God's Word to those who sincerely want to know the truth, we trust the Holy Spirit to lead our hearers to repentance and faith in Christ.  Such gentle instruction is much more effective than running a person over with a car!

What the devil's temptations can do for you.

 For as soon as God's Word takes root and grows in you, the devil will harry you and will make a real doctor of you, and by his assaults will teach you to seek and love God's Word.

Luther's Works, vol. 34, page 287

Are you an "hilarious" giver?

 It was one of the first Christian songs I learned.  Maybe you know it too:

Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy are the people whose joy is the Lord 

 Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy are the people whose joy is the Lord

Where does this happy feeling come from?  Where does the happy feeling come from?

 This happy feeling comes from Jesus, every day He more than pleases

That's where this happy feeling comes from!

This happy feeling, according to the apostle Paul, carries over to the giving of our tithes and offerings as well.  Because believers live under grace and not the law, Paul teaches that "every man should give what he has decided in his heart to give..."  (2 Cor. 9:7a).  As disciples of Jesus, we have freedom to give whatever we want and to be as generous as we want.

God has been generous to us.  He gave the very best He had - His only begotten Son to be our Savior.  God's grace moves us to be generous as we give a portion of our riches back to Him and His church.  There is no set amount - we can be as generous as we want to be!

The word, "cheerful," in the Greek can actually be translated as "hilarious."  May God's love for you in Christ move you to be a happy, hilarious giver of your time, talents and riches to your Lord and His church!

Music is a gift from God

 I have no use for cranks who despise music, because it is a gift of God.  Next after theology, I give to music the highest place and the greatest honor.

Martin Luther