From Gary Tonniges, member of Hope Lutheran.
Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
It speaks to God’s plan for our lives.
We ask that Christ continue to open our hearts to the plans in our lives.
Hope Men's Ministry
Monday, March 9, 2015
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Devotion 3.9.15
From Larry Tanner, member at Hope Lubbock.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
It succinctly says “I AM” and it was my father’s favorite verse.
We praise God for being the same yesterday, today, and forever. We continue to seek Christ as the great "I am" and ask or his guidance, forgiveness, grace and mercy.
Hope Men's Ministry
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
It succinctly says “I AM” and it was my father’s favorite verse.
We praise God for being the same yesterday, today, and forever. We continue to seek Christ as the great "I am" and ask or his guidance, forgiveness, grace and mercy.
Hope Men's Ministry
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Weekend Devotion 3.6.15
Came to Fredericksburg this week for an opportunity to enjoy the Hill Country here in Texas. It's hard not to enjoy this area and part of it is the history that the Hill Country. Tuesday found my friend and me in Austin looking at the Travis letter at the Texas Library and Archives on the capitol grounds. The Travis letter, for those of you not intimately knowledgeable in Texas history, is that letter written by Col. William Travis, commander of the Alamo, which was written asking for more troops, status of the Alamo, and saying he and the volunteers will man the garrison faithfully. It is a piece of living history.
Outside of Austin is home to Lyndon B. Johnson's ranch, another piece of history. Using LBJ's name draws one of two responses depending on who hears it: powerful man who occupied offices of importance and used his power to bring about meaningful and lasting change and programs OR powerful man who abused his power to bring about change that was detrimental to the country.
When interviewed after his last volume in his biography of Johnson (four in all at this point with one more in the works), Robert Caro (who has given a sober assessment of Johnson that is truthful but well-crafted to reserve opinion of Johnson) said he neither admired nor disliked Johnson, but as a historical figure, he really grew a sense of awe toward Johnson. It is likely that this country will never again have a figure who can amass the kind of political power and influence like Johnson did for a variety of factors.
It is said that Johnson truly knew the men and women he dealt with and what made them tick. He was, for better or worse depending on your viewpoint, a man who knew people and how to manipulate them. He is, much like all of us, flawed and used his influence for his own gain.
Christ stands as a stark contrast to Johnson (and us). "I do not accept glory from human beings, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts," Christ says to the Jews (and to us) in John 5:41-42. Christ often references the heart and the motive of man. Where our hearts are. Christ knew where our hearts are and what drove us. He viewed us as sheep, easily moved and influenced. He loved us. He had compassion on us. In the end, with all of our flaws, he died for us rather than use his own power and influence to avoid the cross.
We pray that we use our time on earth to glorify God and that our hearts be with him. We pray that when we fail him, we seek his forgiveness for our weakness and that he strengthen us. Keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Hope Men's Ministry
Outside of Austin is home to Lyndon B. Johnson's ranch, another piece of history. Using LBJ's name draws one of two responses depending on who hears it: powerful man who occupied offices of importance and used his power to bring about meaningful and lasting change and programs OR powerful man who abused his power to bring about change that was detrimental to the country.
When interviewed after his last volume in his biography of Johnson (four in all at this point with one more in the works), Robert Caro (who has given a sober assessment of Johnson that is truthful but well-crafted to reserve opinion of Johnson) said he neither admired nor disliked Johnson, but as a historical figure, he really grew a sense of awe toward Johnson. It is likely that this country will never again have a figure who can amass the kind of political power and influence like Johnson did for a variety of factors.
It is said that Johnson truly knew the men and women he dealt with and what made them tick. He was, for better or worse depending on your viewpoint, a man who knew people and how to manipulate them. He is, much like all of us, flawed and used his influence for his own gain.
Christ stands as a stark contrast to Johnson (and us). "I do not accept glory from human beings, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts," Christ says to the Jews (and to us) in John 5:41-42. Christ often references the heart and the motive of man. Where our hearts are. Christ knew where our hearts are and what drove us. He viewed us as sheep, easily moved and influenced. He loved us. He had compassion on us. In the end, with all of our flaws, he died for us rather than use his own power and influence to avoid the cross.
We pray that we use our time on earth to glorify God and that our hearts be with him. We pray that when we fail him, we seek his forgiveness for our weakness and that he strengthen us. Keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Hope Men's Ministry
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Devotion 3.5.15
From Kerry Wright, member of a Bacon Heights Baptist Church in Lubbock and former colleague and friend of David Baldner, Hope Lutheran Lubbock. Kerry is one of many who get our devotions who are not members of Hope Lutheran.
Proverbs 3:5 - 6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
"It is my go-to verse when l cannot figure out what to do and why life is the way it is at the moment. Comforting. . ."
A common thread has been taking our struggles, our weaknesses, our "can't figure out what to do" moments to Christ. Pray that we love and trust in God with all of our hearts, even in our struggles, and lean on him, not ourselves.
Hope Men's Ministry
Proverbs 3:5 - 6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
"It is my go-to verse when l cannot figure out what to do and why life is the way it is at the moment. Comforting. . ."
A common thread has been taking our struggles, our weaknesses, our "can't figure out what to do" moments to Christ. Pray that we love and trust in God with all of our hearts, even in our struggles, and lean on him, not ourselves.
Hope Men's Ministry
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Devotion 3.4.15
From Eric Hiner, pastor of Hope Lutheran Lubbock.
Mark 9.24 - Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!"
Mark 9.24 - Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!"
“I believe; help my unbelief.” "I love this verse because it reminds me of the constant struggle I have with faith and life. I strive to be faithful, but fully recognize my inability to adequately do it. In my faith, there are still moments I don’t rely on God, or trust in him. I would even say that my unbelief drives thoughts and actions instead of God at times. That is not to say that I don’t have faith. I do. But even in my faith, I struggle."
We all struggle with our faith from time to time. We ask that Christ be with us in our struggles and to strengthen us daily, in strength and in struggles.
Hope Men's Ministry
Monday, March 2, 2015
Devotion 3.3.15
From Eric Hiner, pastor of Hope Lutheran Lubbock.
2nd Corinthians 12:9 - But he said to me (Christ to Paul), "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
"The greater context helps explain why this is my favorite verse. Paul, struggling with a thorn in his flesh accepts the fact that it will not be removed by the Lord. In fact, it is more than mere acceptance, it is comforting. In Christ, Paul does not need the thorn removed by God, but rather Paul needs grace. God’s grace is sufficient for all his weakness. God’s grace is what gives strength to Paul to overcome his weakness or his thorn. For me, it is a reminder that as I deal with and struggle with my weaknesses, God’s grace is the answer. There is no answer in turning to self-help remedies, rather turn and look at God’s grace because it is sufficient for me and his power is perfect in my weakness."
Where are we weak? Pray to God that Christ strengthen you, even in your weakness, and allow you to show Christ's grace in you.
Hope Men's Ministry
2nd Corinthians 12:9 - But he said to me (Christ to Paul), "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
"The greater context helps explain why this is my favorite verse. Paul, struggling with a thorn in his flesh accepts the fact that it will not be removed by the Lord. In fact, it is more than mere acceptance, it is comforting. In Christ, Paul does not need the thorn removed by God, but rather Paul needs grace. God’s grace is sufficient for all his weakness. God’s grace is what gives strength to Paul to overcome his weakness or his thorn. For me, it is a reminder that as I deal with and struggle with my weaknesses, God’s grace is the answer. There is no answer in turning to self-help remedies, rather turn and look at God’s grace because it is sufficient for me and his power is perfect in my weakness."
Where are we weak? Pray to God that Christ strengthen you, even in your weakness, and allow you to show Christ's grace in you.
Hope Men's Ministry
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Devotion 3.2.15
From Mike Ratke, member of Hope Lutheran Lubbock.
Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
"When you look at it on its surface it seems really simple. It is a clarification to me of the Great Command given by Jesus. But it is much more. It tells us that there is no reason to hide our faith and to share it will all we come in contact with. Paul uses the line 'first the Jew, then the Gentile' because in his time, in a Jewish culture, they were who you would come in contact with first, and were God's chosen people. God gave us the gift of Jesus, but bear in mind at the time the Jews were who he promised Jesus to all the way back to Adam and Eve.
"So first the Jew, then the Gentile. Meaning, this is my special gift to my chosen people, but he is my gift to all mankind. It is our job to tell all about him and do so in a very deliberate and proud manner...proud because we are 'boasting in the Lord.' Do not be shy about this go forth....To me this is one of the greatest challenges to the Lutheran mindset. To actually get up off of our collective butts and do something that Jesus commanded us and have faith in the fact that the Holy Spirit will give us the skills to do it. I read much more into the simple verse than most would, but my mind works that way, never is there a simple answer to a simple question. All simple questions are designed to make us simply think they are simple, when in fact they are there to probe much deeper and look for a much more complex answer."
Pray that all Christians move from their collective seats in the stands to follow Christ's command to take the gospel to all nations by getting on the field of play and engaging.
Hope Men's Ministry
Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
"When you look at it on its surface it seems really simple. It is a clarification to me of the Great Command given by Jesus. But it is much more. It tells us that there is no reason to hide our faith and to share it will all we come in contact with. Paul uses the line 'first the Jew, then the Gentile' because in his time, in a Jewish culture, they were who you would come in contact with first, and were God's chosen people. God gave us the gift of Jesus, but bear in mind at the time the Jews were who he promised Jesus to all the way back to Adam and Eve.
"So first the Jew, then the Gentile. Meaning, this is my special gift to my chosen people, but he is my gift to all mankind. It is our job to tell all about him and do so in a very deliberate and proud manner...proud because we are 'boasting in the Lord.' Do not be shy about this go forth....To me this is one of the greatest challenges to the Lutheran mindset. To actually get up off of our collective butts and do something that Jesus commanded us and have faith in the fact that the Holy Spirit will give us the skills to do it. I read much more into the simple verse than most would, but my mind works that way, never is there a simple answer to a simple question. All simple questions are designed to make us simply think they are simple, when in fact they are there to probe much deeper and look for a much more complex answer."
Pray that all Christians move from their collective seats in the stands to follow Christ's command to take the gospel to all nations by getting on the field of play and engaging.
Hope Men's Ministry
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)