Thursday, August 15, 2024 - HOPE BUILT ON JESUS

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Thursday, August 15, 2024 - Day 228 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today: Psalm 105,106; Romans 15:1-20)

HOPE BUILT ON JESUS

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13 ESV)

The US Constitution does not promise happiness, it simply promises the pursuit of happiness. The Bible does promise joy, genuine, deep down and lasting joy and peace to all who trust in Jesus!

Do you realize how blessed you are to be a child of God? Do you recognize the glorious hope / guarantee of sins forgiven, you relationship with God restored, and heaven promised that you have in Jesus?  

   My hope is build on nothing less 

   Than Jesus blood and righteousness.

   No merit of my own I claim 

   But wholly lean on Jesus' name.

   On Christ the solid Rock I stand; 

   All other ground is sinking sand.

   (Lutheran Service Book, #575 stanza 1)

Lord Jesus, thank You for filling me with hope, joy and peace by taking my place on the cross and covering all of my sins. Help me to not rely on my own deeds but wholly lean on Your precious name. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

Daily Bible Reading Chart covering the entire Bible in one year. 

http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf

Wednesday, August 14, 2024 - WE ARE THE LORD’S

 

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Wednesday, August 14, 2024 - Day 227 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today: Psalm 103,104; Romans 14)

WE ARE THE LORD’S

7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. (Romans 14:7-9 ESV)

The far greater majority of humanity believes that life is all about self... “You only go around once, so live for good old number one,” they say. However, Paul has a different perspective.

1) It’s not about us... “None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.” 

2) Whether we live of die, we don’t belong to ourselves... “We are the Lord's.”

While we may not like this concept on the surface, actually, deep down, this is where we fine true peace and comfort. 

“We are the Lord's.”

We belong to the Creator of the universe.

We belong to the Savior of all and any who repent and believe.

He’s in charge. 

He knows what is best for us. 

He loves us with a love that never ends.

He is with us now. 

And He promises that we will be with Him forever in heaven!

“For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.” And His is Y0UR LORD!

1. Christ, the life of all the living, 

Christ, the death of death, our foe,

Christ yourself for me once giving 

To the darkest depths of woe:

Through Thy suff'ring, death, and merit 

Life eternal I inherit.

Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, 

Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

(Lutheran Service Book #420)

Heavenly Father, please grant me the peace that comes from knowing that I belong to You, and that You are watching over me. Remind me every day that whether I live of die, I am safe in Your loving arms. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

Daily Bible Reading Chart covering the entire Bible in one year. 

http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf

Tuesday, August 13, 2024 - BLESS THE LORD

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Tuesday, August 13, 2024 - Day 226 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today: Psalm 99-102; Romans 13)

BLESS THE LORD

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit...

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;  as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:1-4, 10-12 ESV)

Fellow repentant sinner, through Jesus’ death on the cross God has made you holy and fit for heaven.

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;  as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

All of your sins, fellow believer are gone, separated from you as far as the east is from the west. WHAT A WONDERFUL REASON TO BLESS THE LORD!

1. O bless the Lord, my soul!

    Let all within me join

    And aid my tongue to bless His name

    Whose favors are divine.

2. O bless the Lord, my soul,

    Nor let His mercies lie

    Forgotten in unthankfulness

    And without praises die!

3. 'Tis He forgives thy sins;

    'Tis He relieves thy pain;

    'Tis He that heals thy sicknesses

    And makes thee young again.

4. He crowns thy life with love

    When ransomed from the grave;

    He that redeemed my soul from hell

    Hath sov'reign pow'r to save.

5. He fills the poor with good;

    He gives the suff'rers rest.

    The Lord hath judgments for the proud

    And justice for th'oppressed.

6. His wondrous works and ways

    He made by Moses known,

    But sent the world His truth and grace

    By His beloved Son.

    (Lutheran Service Book #814)

Gracious heavenly Father, I do bless You holy name for all of Your benefits showered upon me every day. Above all, I thank you for not repaying me according to my iniquities. Please continue to sustain me with Your steadfast love.  In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

Daily Bible Reading Chart covering the entire Bible in one year. 

http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf

Monday, August 12, 2024 - MARKS OF A CHRISTIAN

 

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Monday, August 12, 2024 - Day 225 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today: Psalm 96-98; Romans 12)

MARKS OF A CHRISTIAN

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:9-10, 21 ESV)

“Let you love be genuine.” How do you measure up? Need help? Then focus on this godly definition of love: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10 NIV)

Love in Christ is strong and living, 

Binding faithful hearts in one;

Love in Christ is true and giving, 

May His will in us be done.

(Lutheran Service Book, #706 stanza 1)

Lord Jesus, may Your dying love for mankind motivate me to return Your love by loving others.  Amen. 

Pastor David Paape

Daily Bible Reading Chart covering the entire Bible in one year. 

http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf

Sunday, August 11, 2024 - O SING TO THE LORD

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Sunday, August 11, 2024 - Day 224 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today: Psalm 93-95; Rom. 11:22-36)

O SING TO THE LORD

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. (Psalm 95:1-5 ESV)

God’s children can truly sing to the Lord because He is the “great King above all gods.” He is the God of creation who made the sea and the land. He is the God of salvation through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross. This makes Him “the rock of our salvation.”

Any attempts to earn forgiveness and salvation are like sinking sand, offering empty promises with no reason to sing. But we believe in the free and gracious gifts of “the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.” Therefore, we sing!  

O, Sing to the Lord, O sing God a new song,

O, sing to the Lord, O sing God a new song,

O, sing to the Lord, O sing God a new song.

O, sing to our God, O sing to our God.

For God is the Lord! And God has done wonders.

For God is the Lord! And God has done wonders.

For God is the Lord! And God has done wonders.

O sing to our God, O sing to our God.

(“O Sing to the Lord, LSB #808 stanzas 1&2)

Heavenly Father, because of Your overwhelming love in sending Jesus to save sinners like me, I will sing Your praises for the rest of my and beyond. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen. 

“See” you at the Communion rail this morning!

Pastor David Paape

Daily Bible Reading Chart covering the entire Bible in one year. 

http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf

Saturday, August 10, 2024 - MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Saturday, August 10, 2024 - Day 223  MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!  Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100 ESV)

Sins forgiven...

Relationship with God restored...

Strength for today provided...

Heaven promised...

That is pretty impressive list of the treasures that are yours as a believer in Christ. May your response to these undeserved blessings reflect Psalm 100!

Gracious heavenly Father, please accept my joyful noise of praise and thanksgiving for all that You have freely bestowed upon me in Jesus. May my life reflect this in all that I do and say this day. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

“See” you in church tomorrow!

Pastor David Paape

Friday, August 9, 2024 - LORD, HAVE MERCY

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Friday, August 9, 2024 - Day 222 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today: Psalm 88,89; Romans 10)

LORD, HAVE MERCY

 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13 ESV)

What good news for sinners caught in an evil world! God invites us to call on Him for forgiveness and salvation. In fact, this is what we get to do every time we gather around God’s Word and Sacraments on Sunday morning. We cry out to the Lord for peace and mercy. And He grants these treasures in great abundance to all who repent and believe!

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord. 

Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord. 

Amen.

  (The Kyrie, Lutheran Service Book, CPH 2006, Divine Service One)

Lord, thank You for promising forgiveness and salvation to me when I call on You. Lord, have mercy on me, a poor, miserable sinner. Amen. 

Pastor David Paape

Daily Bible Reading Chart covering the entire Bible in one year. 

http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf