Everyday Lutherans

Within today’s Gospel reading, Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray.  A simple thing but something that we all could use a lesson, a reminder, and even encouragement on.  Yet Jesus takes it even further, and shares with the disciples how prayer enriches their entire life because truly everything that is around you, everything that is you, has been given to you by God.  Jesus understands the question is not simply how can we pray, but relates also to how can I have a relationship with God. Jesus is helping the disciples understand who they are, why they are there and help them realize where they are within the big picture.  Now each and everyone of you were created as Children of God.  You were made in love and created for a purpose within the world.  So we desire to have a relationship with our creator. But we are not perfect, we do our best but either our work or the work of someone around us hurts us. I would like to share with you a story about a litt...

Mary, Martha, do you know which one you are?   In our modern time, the more you do, the better you are.  We have a lot of mantras: Faster is better. Newer is better.  We have more stuff, but less time to enjoy it.  We have more things to help us do the chores that Martha was so busy doing, but we do not stop and be like Mary. Today we are reminded that sometimes mantras can be misleading and even guide us away from what is truly important.  You may have heard this kind of sermon before, filled with guilt and perhaps even a lot of what you should be doing. Instead, I would like to remind you of all the things that you may be missing within your busy life.   10. Sharing your gifts - This can look many different ways, volunteering, teaching, mentoring, leading 9. Appreciating others gifts - this can also look different but often means encouraging and supporting someone else in your life with their gifts, sending them a card, calling them, letting them know you...

The words of Haggai and Zechariah are ones that could easily be shared with us even today.  Remember the people were taken captive from this land of Israel to the land of the Babylonians.  The Persians were the ones who not only told them to go home if they wanted, but also gave them the money, supplies and support to build their homes.   More importantly the Temple of the Lord was to be rebuilt once again. Haggai and Zechariah were sent to the people of Israel to show them what it is they have.  Who they should put their trust and focus in, but also to direct the people into what they should be doing. For the people were so glad to have their freedom and be within their homeland, that they were overjoyed.  In fact when the people began, one of the first things that they did was offer sacrifices and thanksgiving to God.  But then they met resistance from those around them.  They became discouraged and focused on what was more important for themsel...

Recently I was watching a movie in which a large congregation was gathering together. The pastor within the congregation was speaking about the great work that the people were doing within the church.  Instead of going on and on, the pastor turned the microphone over to the leader of the new group.  The leader began speaking to the congregation about the work they were doing and how simple it was but then turned and said you need to be a part of it too.  God is calling you to do the same thing.  More people needed to join this movement and enjoy the same success and glory that they have enjoyed.  The inspiring speech was great, motivating and yet was so very scripted for the movie it was in. At first, I thought that this movie was great.  The Pastor was encouraging and growing leaders within the congregation gathering everyone to Jesus Christ.  This is what the church should be doing and helping people live out within their life.  The people were ...