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Joy in our heavenly reservation

In the Word

In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you (John 14:2).

Of the Word

The tired family entered the city after a long drive. Cranky children cried to get out of the car. Weary parents watched for a motel advertising a vacancy. But red letters flashed only the “No Vacancy” message. The next city was an hour away. Why, oh why, had they failed to reserve a room?

Jesus’ beautiful promise brings comfort and joy to our hearts: In my Father’s house are many rooms (John 14:2a). But how can we be absolutely certain that the reservation has been made? Will the “Vacancy” sign be shining for us? Jesus Himself has made the reservation. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6b). He paid the price for that reserved room, not with Visa or MasterCard, but with His own blood on Calvary’s cross. Faith in Him guarantees the reservation. Never fear that a “No Vacancy” sign will appear at heaven’s gate. Instead, Jesus will be there to welcome all who trust in Him. He has the place prepared, not for a night or two but for all eternity.

Walking with my Lord

Lord Jesus, thank You for reserving my room in heaven. Thank You for preparing my eternal home and for giving it to me by grace. I can hardly wait to see You! Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living in Joy. Authors: Dcs. Betty Knapp, Irene Mensing, Myrna Lou Meyer, Margaret White. 19/30 ©2005 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

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God’s Forgiveness

In the Word

Be merciful to me, O God, because of your constant love. Because of your great mercy wipe away my sins! Wash away all my evil and make me clean from my sin! (Psalm 51:1–2 GNT).

Of the Word

The great King David of the Old Testament wrote Psalm 51 after he had committed adultery with the beautiful, married Bathsheba. She became pregnant and David gave orders Uriah, her husband, was to be killed in battle (2 Samuel 11–12).

When we read David’s story we see that people caught in the grasp of sin are able to do deplorable things.

But wait! That’s not the end of the story. Was David punished? Yes. The sin he tried to cover up was made known to the nation, and the baby died. But David admitted his sin to God, asked for God’s forgiveness, and received it.

Did God forgive David because He loved him more than He loves us? No! Is our sin so gross that Jesus will turn away from us? No! Does Jesus even want us to bring our sin to Him? Yes! Will the Spirit forgive us and make us clean? Yes! How can this be? … if we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing (1 John 1:9 GNT).

Walking with my Lord

Father, I thank You for allowing me to lay my sins before You. I ask for Your forgiveness. Help me to be what You would have me be. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Comfort from the Psalms. Authors: Marcia Gomulka & Myrna Lou Meyer. 21/30 ©2009 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked GNT are taken from the GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION – Second Edition, American Bible Society, New York, NY. Copyright © 1992.

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God’s Healing and Forgiveness

In the Word

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool” (Isaiah 1:18b).

Of the Word

The teenage victim of an illegal abortion lay in the ICU. She was not expected to survive. My heart ached to tell her of God’s love and mercy, but no visitors were allowed.

I decided to write a letter. I told her that God loved her and that through Jesus our scarlet sins would be washed as white as snow. I assured her that the members of the church were praying for her.

That night, a Christian nurse read my letter to her and prayed with her. By morning her condition had improved. During her long recovery, prayers continued. Some weeks later, she, her mother, and her brother were baptized.

No matter how severe the ailment or how great the sin, God offers His love, forgiveness, and comfort to all. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding (Ephesians 1:7–8).

Walking with my Lord

Thank You, Lord, for dying on the cross to save me from my sins. Forgive my sins and empower me with Your love to share the Good News with all I meet. In Your saving name I pray. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living as a Woman in Mission. Author: Marilyn McClure. 27/32 ©2009 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Rock Solid

In the Word

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation (Psalm 95:1).

Of the Word

Jesus ends His Sermon on the Mount with the parable of the wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24–29). He likens those who hear His Word and obey it to the man who built his house on the rock. When battered by wind and rain, it stood firm because it had a solid foundation.

The foolish man was compared to those who hear Christ’s Words and choose not to obey them. This man’s house, built on the sand, was also battered by wind and rain. Having no foundation, it fell flat!

We, like the houses in Christ’s parable, also need a strong foundation. Learning, believing, and putting into practice the message of the Bible gives us the substance we need to withstand the storms of life. Through God’s gift of His Holy Spirit, we are able to put our full confidence in Jesus Christ, our Rock, our Lord, and our Savior. When the winds and rains of life come our way — as surely they will — we will still be standing solid. God will see to that! 

Walking with my Lord

Heavenly Father, may I forever boldly proclaim “On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.” In His redeeming name I pray. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Comfort from the Psalms. Authors: Marcia Gomulka & Myrna Lou Meyer. 20/30 ©2009 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

“My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” words by Edward Mote, music by John Stainer. Public domain.

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Faith is … Trusting God to Hold Us Securely in His Outstretched Hand

In the Word

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:29b–31).

Of the Word

It was dangerous that day on the Sea of Galilee when Peter walked on the water to Jesus. The waves and the stormy weather inspired fear, and the sea under him was deep.

When Peter began to look at himself, he took his eyes off of Jesus. When faith looks at itself it is no longer faith. Faith fixes our gaze on Jesus and trusts Him to save us with His outstretched hand. We all need the strong hand of Jesus to hold us up. It has crushed the devil’s power and broken the chains of death. Jesus has the power over the devil and death, so we can confidently entrust ourselves to His hand.

We need His hand always. It is the only true hope we have. The day is coming when we will need it most of all – the day when we must pass through the dark shadow of death.

When the waves of the river of death wash over us and we, in terror, begin to sink, Jesus has promised to stand. He will reach out His hand, and hold us securely.

Walking with my Lord

“Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.” In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living in Faith. Author: Rev. Darold Reiner. 20/30 ©2007 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.
“Abide with Me! Fast Falls the Eventide” words by Henry F. Lyte, music by William H. Monk –Public Domain.

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Faith is … Trusting God

In the Word

In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them (Psalm 22:4).

Of the Word

Trust is the foundation of every good relationship. Children trust and depend on their parents. Patients who submit to surgery rely on the doctor’s skilled hands. Couples count on one another for love and support.

So often our trust and confidence is misplaced, and then disappointments come. We may trust our physical strength, yet illness lays us low. We build our assets with investments, and then a recession comes to threaten our security. We confide our secrets with friends only to find their hearts are false.

We are reminded to focus our attention on God, who alone is trustworthy. We can rely on Him because we have proof that He has acted mightily for us. In Jesus Christ, God assumed the burden of our broken nature and paid the price for our sin.

On earth there is no sure and certain cure for all that ails us. No insurance policy will protect us against the evil around us. But the Lord has promised His presence even in the middle of our problems and crises. His promises are sure and certain. That is why we can trust Him!

Walking with my Lord

“I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus; Never let me fall. I am trusting Thee forever And for all.” In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living in Faith. Author: Rev. Darold Reiner. 19/30 ©2007 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.
“I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus” words by Frances R. Havergal, music by Henry W. Baker – Public Domain.

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Shaped by God

In the Word

Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out (Romans 12:2a MSG).

Of the Word

St. Paul exhorts the Romans not to be conformed to this world. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God remould your minds from within … (Romans 12:2a Phillips). The world around us exerts its influence upon us in many ways, both subtle and obvious. Today’s moral values are often empty inside while shiny on the outside. God, not the world, is the potter. As God’s children we are the clay. We are formed by His hands. The prophet Isaiah said it clearly: … O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand (Isaiah 64:8).

How can we as God’s children hold firmly to His high principles and resist being squeezed into the mold of worldliness? St. Paul says let God remould your mind from within (Romans 12:2b Phillips). Daily reading of God’s Word helps us focus on what is God pleasing. The Holy Spirit helps us grow in faith and spiritual strength.

Walking with my Lord

Lord, keep me from being as weak as clay. With Your Word, mold me, making me strong to resist the false values of the world. Thank You for being my Strength. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Living as a Woman in Mission. Author: Marilyn Sagehorn. 18/32 ©2009 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked “MSG” are taken from THE MESSAGE, by Eugene H. Peterson. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked “Phillips” are taken from THE NEW TESTAMENT IN MODERN ENGLISH. Copyright © 1958, 1959, 1960 J.B. Phillips and 1947, 1952, 1955, 1957 The Macmillian Company, New York. All rights reserved.

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