Turning off the lights

Good morning kind readers!

I started this blog in the summer of 2011.  It was to serve as an online journal for tracking all I did and saw during my summer sabbatical.

When I returned from sabbatical it was suggested that I keep the blog going.  So I did.  And except for summer vacations and Christmas/New Year's holiday, I've continue to blog 3 to 6 times a week.  Not all my entries were original.  I passed along words of wisdom and thoughts from the journals I keep.  I can't say that this blog became "must reading" for many.  I average about 100 views a day.

I've reached the point where I'm going to turn the light off on this blog, so to speak.  I've not been practicing good "self care" for a long time.  Now, I'm exhausted.  I need to take a break.

Pastors, as a group, rarely take good care of themselves.  To ask for help might be taken for weakness, we think. Most pastors work harder, put in more hours, pray for everyone but themselves and feel guilty to take even a short break.

On top of all that, there is the constant stress of the vocation.  Ministry is a 24 hour a day/7 days a week calling.  Some people can be so disrespectful, so demanding, and so unreasonable.  Many rarely consider the burdens the pastor carries; they only care about their issue, their concern, their complaint!  The joy of the Lord is a pastor's strength.  Unfortunately, in every congregation, their are those "joy zappers" who make life in the parish so tough.

We hear a lot of what is "essential" and what is "non essential."  I've come to realize that this blog falls in the "non essential" category.

Essential is my relationship with my Savior, Jesus.  Essential is taking good care of myself so that I might take care, with the Lord's help, of course, of those who are part of the flock.  Essential is making my family top priority instead of being moved off to the side.

It's been wonderful sharing thoughts and ideas with you.  I hope that from time to time you received some encouragement and help from the blog.  There is no better subject to write about than our loving and gracious God.

God be with you! Rest in His grip! (John 10:28)

Pastor George Spicer

A word for all leaders, including pastors

The truth is no man can have any convictions or stand for any principles or stick to any standards at all and be liked by everyone.

Peter Marshall, "His Hand on Your Shoulders," page 44

Be sure to tune in and worship with us online.  The service begins at 9 am on our Website, Facebook page and YouTube channel.  Join us!

Give Us Clear Vision

I have always appreciated this prayer petition from the sainted Peter Marshall:

Give to us clear vision that we may know when to stand and what to stand for - because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything.

Another reason to treasure God's Word

Search the Scriptures like a miner digging for gold.  Once you find a nugget, grasp it.  Trust it.  Take it to the bank.  There is no greater treasure.

Max Lucado, "God is With You Every Day," October 6

Coronavirus is a cause of all kinds of deaths

When were you saved?

When a Lutheran is asked, 'When were you saved,' the answer is often 'about 2000 years ago, when Jesus died on the cross and then rose from the dead.'

Gene Edward Veith, "The Spirituality of the Cross"

Be back on Monday! Join us for worship this Sunday morning beginning at 9 am.  You can find our online service on Facebook, YouTube and the LICL website!

Jesus meets all our needs

Let that miracle at Cana remind us! Jesus' first miracle was not to stop a pain or heal a disease but to make wine at a wedding, as a reminder that our needs, big and little, are seen and satisfied by Him.

Together With Jesus
January 27

Some dogs are not crazy about sheltering at home orders!

Talk the Talk and Walk the Walk

"You can talk the talk but can you walk the walk?"  That the question we often ask of someone who makes bold statements or contends that they can do something that no one else has been able to do.

If you "talk the talk," you'd better be able to "walk the walk" is the message the Apostle Paul delivers to young pastor, Titus, in the letter that bears his name.  Titus is to teach the elders of the church how to "walk the walk" in showing the love of God in word and deed.  Titus is also to warn those who are only "mere talkers and deceivers" who "claim to know God, but they their actions, they deny Him."

We believers need to be on our guard too.  Satan, who wrote the "deception playbook," is continually at work in order to lead us away from our Lord.  The devil loves nothing better than to see us compromise our principles and follow the ways of the world that can look so good to our sinful nature.

How do we stand firm against the devil's crafty schemes? It's simple - faith in Christ Jesus and His victory over Satan at the cross and tomb is the strength that enables believers to keep from falling to temptation.  St John writes: "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work."  Since the devil is a defeated foe, let the Holy Spirit be your guide so you can "walk the walk and talk the talk" of the new life in Christ!

The Valley of Vision

Let me learn by paradox

that the way down is the way up

that to be low is to be high

that the broken heart is the healed heart

that the contrite spirit is the victorious soul

that to have nothing is to possess all

that to bear the cross is to wear the crown

that to give is to receive

that the valley is the place of vision

Arthur Bennett

Maybe this is why we feel the coronavirus so much

I am convinced that human beings instinctively seek two things.  We long for meaning, a sense that our life somehow matters to the world around us.  And we long for community, a sense of being loved.

Phillip Yancey, "Vanishing Grace," page 32

You are daily in the devil's kingdom

Let me tell you this, even though you know God's Word perfectly and are already a master in all things: you are daily in the devil's kingdom.  He ceases neither day or night to sneak up on you and to kindle in your heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against these three commandments (the first three) and all the commandments.  Therefore, you must always have God's Word in your heart, upon your lips, and in your ears.  But where the heart is idle and the Word does not make a sound, the devil breaks in and has done the damage before we are aware.

Martin Luther, "Large Catechism," 3rd Commandment, paragraph 100

And now this public service message

Tuned in to God's Word

If you take two C tuning forks, tap one and simply hold it next to the other, the one that wasn't tapped will begin to resonate.  Its like that with our hearts as well.  Sometimes when we hear God's Word, something inside our hearts starts to resonate.  That's because we were created to hear His Word.

Dr. William Lane, quoted in "The Walk," page 22 by Michael Card

A prayer for patience

Does impatience get the best of you? These days our patience is being tested in ways we could never have imagined.  Most of us are tired of sheltering in place, not being able to spend time with family and friends, being off work or working from home or not being able to shop at our favorite stores and eat at our favorite restaurants. 


But as good citizens we follow the lead of our governmental leaders and do our part to stop the spread of the coronavirus.  If today is another day of struggle for you, consider the prayer below.  It wasn’t written specifically for this season we’re in.  Still, it might be helpful for you to pray as you live out your new life in Christ under these times of testing.

“Dear Savior, how patient you have been with me! Too many times I have failed You, yet You have not turned from me, but with compassion You have sought me and drawn me to Your forgiving heart. How thankful I am that you have tenderly pleaded with me through Your Word and Your Christian church! Grant that I might learn from You to be patient with others, thoughtful and considerate, even though they irritate, upset, and disturb my peace of mind.  Remove from my heart all resentment toward those who provoke me by word and action.  Do not let me return evil for evil, unkindness for unkindness, harsh words and caustic comments.

When You, gracious Savior, were mistreated, misunderstood, hurt and bruised in body and sorrowful in soul, You prayed, "Father, forgive them."  Grant me the grace to face the many vexing problems of the day with patience and contentment.  Let me lean on You for strength and guidance and abide in Your time, Savior and Lord.  Amen.”

From "My Prayer Book," Concordia Publishing House

The Pocket Prayer

I found Max Lucado's Pocket Prayer helpful in ordering daily prayers....

Father, You are good...

You have given me life, You give me everything to sustain this life, and you do so simply out of Your goodness and mercy which is like no other.

I need help...

I've come to the end of this week and there is still so much to do.  Give me patience and peace so that I don't panic but work with diligence and finish up those things that have to get done today.

They need help...

Have mercy on those who are ill; grant comfort to all who mourn; strengthen faith for all who are being tested; change the hearts of those who lack love and seek selfish ways.

Thank You...

Thank You, Father, for the faith I have received so that I might believe; Thank You, Father, for the hope that I have received which makes life worth living; Thank You, Father, for the love I have received from You - help me to share that love with others today.

In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Thanks to author, Max Lucado, and his book, "Before Amen."