Intrigued, she asked, "How can you tell them apart?" He replied, "three were on the beer can and two were on the phone."
Have a blessed weekend!
By the time I was 19, I was commuting to Los Angeles and doing feature articles on different stunt men and other film personalities for magazines. Four years later, an article I wrote with John Wayne's stuntman won the attention of the Duke himself. One day he invited me and my husband, Brock, to come to his house. He talked to us as if we were friends, showing a keen interests in us as individuals. From that day on, I began writing for his film company. Brock helped me with the historical research.
We were awestruck. Here was this man who had been in film for 50 years and he takes a young couple with small children under his wing. Once I asked him, "Why are you doing this? You're so good to us!"
John Wayne replied, "Because somebody did it for me."
Interesting, isn't it, that the famous actor didn't take credit for extending a kindness to another person? His motivation, instead, came from a kindness that had been shown to him at another time and occasion.
So it is regarding love. We cannot take credit for the love that we offer to others. We love because we were first loved by God. Indeed, we wouldn't even know what love looks like except that we have seen the love of God in His Son, Christ Jesus. Touched by the sacrificial love of the Savior, we want to reach out and love our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Think about it - who do you know who needs a touch of God's love today?
Pinched for time? Here's a daily devotional for busy people. Thanks for checking out this week's Treasuring God's Word!
TGW – Feb. 7-12, 2022
Monday, February 7, 2022 Read Ruth
1:1-18
Verses 16 and 17 often make for a
fine Wedding text. Ruth makes it clear
that her love for Naomi is complete, so much so that Ruth is willing to
renounce her Moabite God to worship Naomi’s God, the one true God. Pray: God, help me believe that when
life’s situations seem dire to me, I can still trust in Your promise to bring
good from bad. Amen.
Tuesday, February 8, 2022 Read Ruth
1:19-2:7
Whom does Naomi blame for her
bitterness? Almighty God! And yet, here is an important lesson for us to
learn. Even in the midst of Naomi’s
suffering, God is at work, creating a way for Ruth to provide the necessary
support to survive. The two women
receive God’s love and care through Boaz.
Pray: Lord, help me to remember that when life is seemingly gone
sour for me, You are at work to grant hope where there is hopelessness. Help me trust you! Amen.
Wednesday, February 9, 2022 Read Psalm 19:7-11
It is important to remember that
the use of the word, “Law,” often refers to the whole revelation of God, both
Law and Gospel. See vs. 11 again. Notice the blessings received when the Word
of God becomes a treasure to the reader.
The Word is “trustworthy,” “right,” “radiant,” and so on. Pray: Lord, keep me from willful sins
that they not rule over me. Amen.
Thursday, February 10, 2022 Read Matthew
14:22-36
First, let’s read the text for
what is it – a miracle of Jesus. Second,
we can relate to Peter. How often have
we trusted Christ in a particular situation but, at some point, took our eyes
off of Him. It was Jesus who enabled
Peter to walk on water. It was Jesus who
saved Peter when He began to drown. Pure
grace! Pray: Holy Spirit, strengthen our faith so that we always confess You
as the Son of God! Amen.
Friday, February 11, 2022 Read
Matthew 15:1-20
Why do the Pharisees even try?
Again, Jesus sees through their hypocrisy.
Their traditions lead people to disregard the true Word while failing to
love neighbors. Do you think Jesus cared
that he offended the religious leaders? In a word, “no!” Pray: Create in me a clean heart, O
God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Amen.
Saturday, February 12, 2022 Read Galatians
6:1-10
Paul brings this amazing letter to
a conclusion by encouraging his readers to: share carrying each others burdens…support
God’s servants…do good to all, especially those in the church family. Pray: Thank You, Lord, for my church
family. Make me sensitive to the needs
of those around me and give me courage and faith to reach out and offer help
and love. Amen.
A pastor was in the middle of his sermon when he noticed a man had fallen asleep with his head on this wife's shoulder.
"Wake up your husband!" the pastor snapped.
The wife smiled and replied, "You put him to sleep. You wake him up!"
God bless your weekend!
The church where my dear, sweet wife and I are currently attending, St. Mark Lutheran in Phoenix, has a sermon series going, "When God Whispers Your Name." A very good text that ties into that theme is found in 1 Samuel, chapter three.
The Old Testament book begins with the story about Hannah's barrenness. Hannah prays that should God enable her to conceive a child she would dedicate that child to the Lord's service. God, in His mercy, enables her to conceive a child. "Hannah's Song," as found in the beginning verses of chapter two is pure praise and thanksgiving for God's compassionate love for His people.
In chapter three, we find God whispering to Samuel. But Samuel believes that Eli the Priest is calling out for him. Three times God calls Samuel by name. By that point, Eli realizes that is is God who calling to Samuel. The priest tells Samuel that when it happens again, respond with the words, "Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening."
So, we have here some blessed instruction. When God whispers your name, tell Him that you, His servant, is listening.
This is the best response we can give to God. So often, we are tempted to listen to every other voice under the sun except the voice of God. But He does speak to us - in His Holy Word! He speaks and we listen - to His Word of forgiveness...His promise to hear us when we pray...His good news that He has sent to us a Savior...His instruction that we love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Yes, God speaks all these things to us and much more.
So, when we hear God speak to us, we say, "Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening." What then shall we do? Jesus said, "Blessed are they who hear the Word of God and obey it." (Luke 11:28). We put that
Word of God into practice in our daily life. We see Scripture for more than just words on a page but, instead, as the very Word of God. Just as you would spend quality time with a good friend, spending time with Jesus brings with it rich fruit of faith. His love motivates us to love others. His faithfulness leads us to be faithful as well. His promises assure us that Jesus is with us now and will be until He comes to gather His church on the Last Day.
God called out "Samuel." The young man replied, "Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening." May the Holy Spirit move us to speak the same to us when God whispers our names.
Contentment is not a human production. It's God's work in us as He keeps our eyes fastened on Jesus.
Richard Lauersdorf, "As Luther Taught the Word of Truth," page 129
Suppose God kept a family photo album. What snapshots might He include? Hebrews 11 gives us some broad hints:
God "spoke well" of Abel's offerings (vs. 4)
Enoch "pleased" God (vs. 5)
Noah became an "heir of righteousness that comes by faith" (vs. 7)
Abraham "obeyed" (verse 8)
Jacob "worshipped" (verse 21)
But we know these "children" - and there's more to the story. Where are photos of Noah's drunkenness or Abraham's lies? Where are the news clippings that detail Jacob's cowardice? If all the facts were in, this chapter would be a "hall of shame."
But all the facts are in. Jesus' death on the cross destroyed sin's power to accuse those who belong to God by faith. You see, God did not just sweep human guilt under the rug. He atoned for it at the cross. Noah's sins are forgiven! Abraham's sins are forgiven! Your sins and my sins are forgiven! Hebrews 11 is an accurate record of the lives lived by these people made perfect by faith (Hebrews 10:4).