TGW - January 31 to February 5, 2022

 This week we continue with readings from Joshua, the Psalms, Matthew's Gospel and Galatians. This week's Memory Verse is 1 Timothy 1:15 - Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst.  Have a great week!

TGW – January 31-February 5, 2022

Monday, January 31, 2022                                  Read Joshua 23:1-11

Joshua reminds the people that God kept His promises to them.  Vs. 3 – God enabled them to topple the nations; Vs. 7 – His Word is good and brings blessings; Vs. 11 – God’s kept promises moves them to love the Lord.  Pray: Lord, help me be very careful so that nothing would keep me from giving my love, my heart to You.  Amen.

 

Tuesday, February 1, 2022                                  Read Joshua 24:1-15

We might title this reading, “The Choice.”  In the opening verses, did you notice the personal pronoun, “I’?  All that the people experienced, all the blessings they had received, had come from God alone.  Then Joshua gives them a choice – choose the God that You will serve (should be a “no-brainer,” right?).  But for Joshua and his household, they will serve the Lord, the true God.  Pray: God, thank You for Your many blessings.  Give me joy as I serve You.  Amen.

 

Wednesday, February 2, 2022                           Read Psalm 18:1-6

A short but interesting reading.  God as rock means much more than simply a large rock.  This rock is something like a fortress, a place to flee for protection.  Throughout the Psalm, David describes how God his Rock has delivered him from his enemies.  Pray: Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.  Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.  Amen.

 

Thursday, February 3, 2022                                Read Matthew 14:1-12

What a weak and fearful leader is Herod.  He wants to kill John but is afraid of the people who believe John is a prophet.  Then he fears he will look too weak if he fails to carry out John’s death.  The one he should be afraid of is God for having put the forerunner of Jesus to death!  Pray: God, give me courage to speak Your truth no matter the cost.  Amen.

 

Friday, February 4, 2022                                      Read Matthew 14:13-21

Poor Jesus! He doesn’t even have time to mourn the passing of the Baptizer.  Meanwhile, in this familiar story we find the disciples completely befuddled – where are we going to find enough food for the people to eat? Jesus gives them one more reason to look to Him when the situation seems impossible.  Pray: Jesus, help me keep my eyes firmly focused on You when seemingly impossible problems come my way.  Amen.

 

Saturday, February 5, 2022                                 Read Galatians 5:22-33

Some readers don’t get past verse 22.  That word “submit” seems too harsh, too much to ask of a wife.  Perhaps a better way to look at the verses is – wives, love your husbands enough that you will live for them.  Husbands, love your wives enough to die for them.  This is true love, sacrificial love, the kind of love Jesus has for each of us.  Pray: Jesus, You care for Your church.  Give to us Your gifts of grace as we come into Your presence tomorrow in worship.  Amen.

This world is not my home

Let me never think, O eternal God, that I am here to stay.  Let me still remember that I am a stranger and pilgrim on the earth.  For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.  Preserve me by Your grace, good Lord, from so losing myself in the joys of earth that I may have no longing left for the purer joys of heaven.  Let not the happiness of this day become a snare to my too worldly heart.  And if, instead of happiness, I have today suffered any disappointment or defeat, if there has been any sorrow where I hoped for joy, or sickness where I had looked for health, give me grace to accept it from Your hand as a loving reminder that this is not my home.

John Baillie, as found in "For All the Saints," Volume 3, page 323

Church Joke #549

A man, down on his luck, went to a church which catered to the smug, uppity and self-righteous.  Spotting the man's dirty clothes, a deacon, worried about the church's image, went to the man and asked him if he needed help.  The man said, "I was praying and the Lord told me to come to this church."

The deacon suggested that the man go and pray some more and possibly he might get a different answer.  The next Sunday the man returned.  The deacon asked, "Did you get a different answer?

The man replied, "Yes I did.  I told the Lord that they don't want me in that church and the Lord said, 'Don't worry about it son.  I've been trying to get into that church for years and haven't made it yet'."

This Sunday I hope you meet the Lord in His Word and Sacraments as He comes to you in His grace and mercy.  God bless your weekend!

Tiddy Boy

That's our cat, Tiddy.  He was sleek and could run like the wind.  If he felt like it.  Most of the time he enjoyed resting away in my recliner.

Tiddy was different than most cats.  He followed me around like a dog.  When I got home from work, he would accompany me to the bedroom as I put on comfortable clothes.  If I sat down to watch the evening news, Tiddy would jump in my lap and rub his face against my chin.  Whether it was a sign of affection or not, I do not know.  But that's how I took it.

We inherited Tiddy from my daughter, Katie.  She had just brought home her first child.  As she went to prepare a bottle for her boy, she caught Tiddy on the kitchen counter licking all the nipples to the bottles.  Soon thereafter we got a call from Katie - "Come and get the cat or else!"  We knew what "or else" meant.  Even though we already had a cat, we took Tiddy into our home.  One of the best decisions we ever made.

During the down days of depression, Tiddy was good medicine for me.  Watching him rest on my lap, purring his little heart away, helped me to relax and feel at peace.

Tiddy suffered a stroke a few years ago.  We rushed him to the vet but were told there was nothing that could be done to save him.  We wept great tears as Tiddy was put down.  We grieved for weeks afterward.

Thank God for the gift of pets.  I believe our four-legged loved ones will be in heaven.  I'll know when I am reunited with Tiddy Boy.  He'll be the one in my arms, rubbing his face against my chin.

This week's TGW is ready to go!

Here's a devotional tool for busy people.  Here's this week's Treasuring God's Word...

TGW – Jan. 24-29, 2022

Monday, January 24, 2022                                  Read Joshua 10:1-15

Many are the skeptics who refuse to believe what is written in our reading.  However, if God is God then He is certainly capable stopping the sun in its tracks for a full day.  More important is this – The same God who once made the sun stand still at Joshua’s request listens to our prayers as well! Pray: God, You care for those who are yours.  Thank You for the care and love You give to me.  Amen.

 

Tuesday, January 25, 2022                                  Read Joshua 10:16-28

God’s judgment against the five kings seems too severe.  However, they tried to stand in the way of the Lord keeping His covenant with His people.  Read verse 23 again – these are the very words God spoke to Joshua when He took over leadership of God’s people.  Pray: Lord, bring to my memory some of Your Words so that I might encourage others around me.  Amen.

 

Wednesday, January 26, 2022                           Read Psalm 17:1-15

“Apple of Your eye” is the pupil of the eye, which is essential for vision and must be carefully protected.  God guards His people with the same care with which a person guards his or her own eyes.  He shelters them with the same care with which a mother bird hovers over her babies and protects them. (A Commentary on Psalms 1-72, page 232) Pray: God, keep under Your protective sight.  Amen.

 

Thursday, January 27, 2022                                Read Matthew 13:31-35,44-46

Life in Christ church began quite small, like a mustard seed.  God has grown and grown the church and He is not stopping now! We who are part of God’s Kingdom know that nothing else in this life compares with what God has for us in eternity.  Pray: Lord, save me from the idolatry of this world.  May my heart always be Yours.  Amen.

 

Friday, January 28, 2022                                      Read Matthew 13:47-58

Chapter 13 might be entitled, “Storytime with Jesus.”  However, these parables are not just pleasant tales.  They give us “snapshots” of how God’s kingdom comes and how we should receive this wonderful news.  Pray: Jesus, may I never be offended by You but, instead, speak freely of Your truth and love.  Amen.

 

Saturday, January 29, 2022                                 Read Galatians 5:16-26

In 10 verses Paul contrasts the difference between the sinful nature and that of the person who is led by the Holy Spirit.  There is nothing, no law, to restrict such rich fruit of faith being produced in the life of a believer.  Pray: Jesus, through repentance and faith, help me crucify my sinful nature so that the Spirit can produce rich fruit of faith in me.  Amen.

Church joke #512

Bent over and obviously in pain, the old man with a cane hobbled laboriously through the sanctuary and into the pastor's office while the choir was practicing.

Ten minutes later came out and walking upright, moving with grace and speed.

"Good gracious," the choir director exclaimed.  "Did the pastor heal you by faith."

"No," said the old man with a smile.  "He just gave me a cane that wasn't six inches too short!"

God bless your weekend!

God is strong enough

I don't remember where the following quote came from.  But the writer is spot on - 

If you are weak enough to confess your sins, God is strong enough to save you from them.

Thabiti Anyabwile