A March to Victory
Messiah Lutheran Church and School » Pastor’s Blog
by webmaster
4d ago
Good morning: Was this past week a “march to victory” for you, or did it seem more like a stumble toward disaster? Maybe there was more to do than you had hours in which to do it. Did major plans fall apart at the last minute? The days dragged by because you came down with a nasty cold or flu? Did you receive bad news which is still weighing on your heart? But then look at Jesus. On Palm Sunday he was welcomed to Jerusalem by thousands of cheering crowds shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” It looked like an unstoppable march to triumph. Yet by Friday the jo ..read more
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Nothing To Do?
Messiah Lutheran Church and School » Pastor’s Blog
by webmaster
2w ago
Good morning: Every once in a while my Google calendar will send me an email saying, “You have nothing planned today.” It always gives me pause. If I have nothing to do, how will I spend the hours of the day? Of course, there are usually things to fill the time, even if they are not noted on the calendar. But still, it’s worth thinking about. How will you spend the day? Solomon reminds us that no matter what our stage in life, our time is not really our own. “A person’s steps are directed by the LORD” (Prov. 20:24). Each day is a gift of God’s grace. Each day is meaningful because of the new l ..read more
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A Good Day For House Cleaning
Messiah Lutheran Church and School » Pastor’s Blog
by webmaster
3w ago
Good morning: Is Saturday your cleaning day? Without work or school, it can be an ideal time to vacuum floors, shake out rugs, scrub bathrooms, wash clothes, maybe even straighten and organize the garage. It’s not a one time effort. Regular cleaning is important. It doesn’t get any easier if you close your eyes to it, or if it’s put off until “tomorrow” or “next Monday.” The mess only gets worse and more unmanageable until it seems completely hopeless. Regular spiritual housecleaning is even more essential. Every day our lives become cluttered, stained, and filthy with sin. Instead of showi ..read more
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What To Give Up For Lent
Messiah Lutheran Church and School » Pastor’s Blog
by webmaster
1M ago
Good morning: TV, social media, meat, caffeine, chocolate. These are just a few of the things people give up during the season of Lent. The practice can be a helpful reminder to reflect on one’s life, recognize our lack of the holiness God demands, and then turn to the Lord in repentance. But one thing Lenten sacrifices cannot do is merit God’s love and forgiveness. Our works can never measure up to God’s standards. They can’t save us. Infinitely more important during Lent than what we give up is what Jesus sacrificed in our behalf. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5 ..read more
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Just Be Yourself
Messiah Lutheran Church and School » Pastor’s Blog
by webmaster
1M ago
Good morning: Have you ever been a little nervous about going to a large social gathering? Have you been uncertain about how to dress or act when you’ve traveled outside the Midwest or overseas? Maybe someone told you, “Just be yourself.” That’s usually good advice. It’s hard to pretend that you fit in with a large group in formal dress when you’re more comfortable wearing jeans and sitting in a friend’s kitchen. Why try to cover up Wisconsin roots just because you’re a thousand miles from home? It’s better to just be yourself. That is even more true when it comes to our faith-life. Living ..read more
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The Right Time
Messiah Lutheran Church and School » Pastor’s Blog
by webmaster
2M ago
Good morning: There is a right time for everything, but does it ever seem as though your timing is off? You get to the store and have to wait an hour for the doors to open. You underestimate how many red lights will slow you down, and you’re ten minutes late for the doctor’s appointment. You stop at the gas station and the next day the price drops 20 cents a gallon. Before you get around to talking to someone you’d really to meet, they move out of state. It’s hard to know sometimes what the right time is.  Timing is never a problem with God. He is the creator of time. He directs it accord ..read more
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How’s Your Hearing?
Messiah Lutheran Church and School » Pastor’s Blog
by webmaster
2M ago
Good morning: “Hear what you’re missing! Hear better and live better!” Commercials with tag lines like that are designed to convince people with hearing loss to seek treatment. Why would anyone hesitate? Hearing is an amazing gift from our loving God which enriches our lives. Hearing makes it possible to appreciate the whispered voice of a loved one, the melodic singing of birds, the crescendos of a heart-pounding symphony, and the warning wail of a siren. Still, many put off getting hearing help. They might deny that they have a problem. They tell themselves their hearing is fine. Rathe ..read more
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A Resolution Worth Making
Messiah Lutheran Church and School » Pastor’s Blog
by webmaster
2M ago
Good morning: Have you made your New Year’s resolutions? According to one survey, the top three resolutions for 2024 are saving money, reducing stress, and spending less time on social media. Maybe you’ve decided on something else like exercising more or eating better. There are all kinds of worthwhile goals to pursue, and the beginning of a new year may be just the incentive we need to put out the effort. We want to make the most of the days and months ahead. In Psalm 90 Moses made a type of resolution too. It’s in the form of a prayer seeking God’s help to make it happen. In v. 12 he wrote ..read more
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What’s to Celebrate?
Messiah Lutheran Church and School » Pastor’s Blog
by webmaster
3M ago
Good morning: “Doing anything special for New Year’s Eve?” I asked the young nurse at the hospital. “For a long time I didn’t even know New Year’s Eve was a thing,” she told me. She explained that she had grown up spending the week between Christmas and New Year’s with her family at a remote cabin in northern Michigan. While the rest of the world was celebrating, her family didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. What is that makes New Year’s Eve such a “thing”? There is no seismic change to note from December 31 to January 1. The favorite moments of 2023 can’t be carried over into the new ..read more
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The Greatest Gift in a Surprising Place
Messiah Lutheran Church and School » Pastor’s Blog
by webmaster
3M ago
Good morning: Sometimes the greatest gifts come in ordinary, unassuming packages. A diamond engagement ring may be hidden in a box of chocolates or be discovered in the box of a thousand-piece puzzle. A gift card to the most expensive restaurant in town might be tucked into a plain white envelope. The packaging doesn’t detract from the gift. In fact, the stark contrast between the gift and where it is placed only adds to the surprise and joy of it being found. There is no greater contrast in all of human history between a gift and where it is found than with God’s gift to the world of His Son ..read more
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