Bad habits are difficult to give up.  “Those snacks are so good, but not good for my health.  Those late nights are a lot of fun, but tough on my health.”  And so we try to “lose” what’s bad for us, to gain something better.   That’s the way it is with following Jesus.  Really following Jesus, believing in him and all that he says, and then following in his footsteps, can be incredibly difficult.  But as we do, we give up what was holding us back from God and his good life.  And we gain blessings we never imagined.  Get a good look at all that you have to lose, and to gain, with Jesus.  Joi ..read more

What’s a good way of living one’s life?  Many ask, “What would Jesus do?” (WWJD) and try to follow in his way of blessing.  But without Bible knowledge of Jesus’ teachings and especially his way of salvation, WWJD can easily turn into WWID (what would I do?).  And that’s a minefield.  Jesus as The Way leads us to hear “what did Jesus say?” (WDJS) and “what did Jesus do?” (WDJD).  That’s the “left right, left right” of marching in Jesus’ Savior steps.  Sound kind of complicated?  It’s not.  Not when you get a better look at Jesus’ life and how it aligns your life with his.  Join Jesus and us, f ..read more

All You Need – All the Time What’s one thing that you need to do (or have done for you) every day?  To have a friendly talk with someone else? To have others express that they care about you?  To be able to get things done, or to be sure those you’re responsible for, are cared for? The list could go on.  Often, it feels like things you need to do, or have happening for you, aren’t.  Then comes alarm, disappointment, anxiety, and envy.  Which is why God tells us about Abram in Genesis 15 (before God changed his name to Abraham – read the whole chapter for “the rest of the story”).  Abram ..read more

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God . . .”  Aren’t most people doing that?  And at least, in their own way finding the kingdom?  It’s striking that Jesus gave this command to his closest disciples – that they and every other believer needed to literally “keep on seeking the kingdom.”  And when we do, God keeps it securely in our grasp.  This weekend, “keep seeking and finding” all the kingdom riches God so graciously gives. The post Keep the Kingdom Secure appeared first on St Matthew Lutheran ..read more

There’s a dilemma in praying.  You truly are in need, of unloading the guilt or getting rid of the stress.  And you pray and pray, and things only get worse.  What’s wrong?  Is your faith lacking?  Are you not asking the right way?  Should you be praying for something else. Praying isn’t that complicated or confusing when you start with the Lord’s Prayer.  In the Lord’s Prayer, we pray for and receive all that we need and more.  REALLY!  Join us this Sunday to be reminded of how true that is. The post Having It All in Prayer appeared first on St Matthew Lutheran ..read more

It’s discouraging, and angering, to get into trouble when you’re innocent.  To be blamed or punished for no reason.  But it’s not too surprising, when you know that someone has it out for you.  That’s what it’s like to do the right thing, even the Godly thing.  Others can feel guilty, or feel threatened, or simply not like you, and so they lash out at the “goody too shoes.”  (Read about Joseph & Potiphar’s wife in Genesis 39)  But actually it’s not the worst thing in the world.  Despite the pain and the loss, you’re “in the right.”  As a Christian, even following in “God’s way.”  Even “car ..read more

It’s interesting.  When people of faith do remarkable things (including what they think and say), it often goes without notice.  What they do, think, or say might even seem questionable.  They’re accepting of what happens, rather than demanding what they might have coming.  But God notices.  Jesus said of a humble and unassuming military officer, “Such great faith I have not found in all of Israel.”  Be on the lookout for “great things” you and other believers are doing by faith.  They might not seem great to many – but are great before God.  Join us Sunday to celebrate the great things we do ..read more

You feel beat – beaten down.  Expenses are killing you.  Anger and distrust are coming between you and those you love.  You’re very pessimistic about your future.  It doesn’t seem like your faith is doing you much good.  Or do you even have faith anymore?  The victory of having faith, isn’t having a rosy outcome to every evil.  Nor is it necessarily trust or confidence in the face of trouble.  The victory of faith is God’s giving you faith and keeping you in faith, even when it seems like you’re barely hanging on.  God-born faith is your victory in every trouble.  Experience how true that is ..read more

Have you spoken in tongues?  Been “stricken by the Spirit?”  Had a conversion experience that you could point to, in which you felt “you were saved?”  It’s possible that you did.   But most Christians don’t have these, and are still filled with the Holy Spirit.  Ephesians 4:4, “There is one body and one Spirit–just as you were called . . .”  That verse speaks of every Christian, who gets and is filled with the Holy Spirit, by the “means” of the Spirit, the gospel story of Jesus from the Bible.  Be with us again this Sunday to get filled up with the Holy Spirit, as you hear and learn a l ..read more

“And in him all things hold together.”  Even when it seems like things are falling apart?  Especially then.  Join us this weekend as we celebrate Jesus’ ascension. He ascended out of sight above, to assure us that he is over all things as Lord.  And that he’s invisibly at work in all things, holding things together for us. The post All Honor to Our Ascended Lord appeared first on St Matthew Lutheran ..read more