Hope-Full Living

On this holy day called Maundy Thursday, Jesus shows us an example to follow by washing His disciples’ feet. “Maundy” comes from a Latin word meaning “command.” Jesus gave His disciples a command to love one another, and He displayed His servanthood personally to them. So how might we show servanthood? In today’s culture, washing feet is probably out of the question. What about helping someone in...

The Apostle Paul made missionary journeys, founded churches, and reached countless souls for Christ. Yet he wrote, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content” (Philippians 4:11). The Lord promises to be with us in every season of life. Our path may not be easy, but His Son strengthens us every step of the way. As we turn to Him in our aging years, we can find hope and peace. We can t...

Jesus faces a “taxing” Tuesday in Holy Week. We, celebrating Holy Tuesday, face another April 15 Tax Day. In hatred, the above question was concocted by Jesus’ enemies. Oh, to trick Jesus into a death trap! Always wise, Jesus responds that Caesar’s image is on the coins. Taxes are Rome’s. Much of the world has God’s “image” on it. All of that is God’s. Marveling at the response, Jesus’ enemies wal...

What did I want to be when I grew up? Through my various life’s seasons, I drifted from being a mom (and to share my kids with my mom because I felt she needed more than my sister and I), a librarian (so I could read all the books), or a teacher (that idea didn’t stick long). Each season of life held surprises, joys, and trials. I knew that Jesus would be with me throughout life. He helped me thro...

Today is Palm Sunday. It’s not Easter yet, but it won’t be long now, just a few short days, and what joy we will feel when we get there! But we have a big problem. To get from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, we must go through the week of Christ’s Passion. In our journey from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, we must experience Good Friday. We, too, must see what our Lord is willing to do for us. We wil...

Where do you stand on your life’s journey? What future are you expecting? With Holy Week near, perhaps Luke’s Gospel can help you with his large section on Jesus’ Journey to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51-19:28). Jesus had predicted that the Son of Man would suffer, be killed, and be raised on the third day (Luke 9:22). Without understanding, the disciples follow Him daily as He teaches and heals. Now they...

Spring-cleaning! I look around my home and see all the ac- cumulated stuff I must dust and polish. One question comes to mind. Is it time to downsize? The thought of giving up items I have collected over my lifetime is a little sad. It is also liberating! Much of what I have I really do not need. The time, attention, and energy spent on them would be better spent with our Lord. How delighted He wo...

A character in a story selects one word to describe people in her life. If she knew me, I hope a word she could ascribe to me is grateful. It has not always been so. In early years we struggled with insufficient supplies, but God always provided, sometimes miraculously, to fill the need while we adjusted the want. In the process, our trust in His provision grew. Harder was trusting when other need...

Take a good look at yourself right now. What clothing, jewelry, or hairstyle are you wearing? What does it say about you? We know that others may judge us by what we wear, and some people put great value in their appearance. There is only one thing we wear that really matters — the robe of righteousness, a gift from God. In your Baptism, you were washed clean with water and the Word then covered w...

Love is often used in today’s communications by many people and in many ways. So, what is love? A commonly expressed thought about love is that it is a feeling of deep affection. Jesus showed His deep love for us when He was crucified for our sins. As a result, we may spend eternity with Him in heaven. It is all His doing, not ours. We are all sinners and cannot do anything to save ourselves. God...

When is the last time you went abounding? Okay, so at our age, abounding might equate more to a determined, but cautiously swift shuffle, when “rushing” to the bathroom at 3:00 a.m. Aligning yourself with today’s text will help you inventory your own abundance of blessings from God. Your list would be long, and most abundant in your bounty is the pile of forgiven sins that your Savior carried to t...

Romans 15:13 has become my go-to Scripture verse these past few months. So many people and so many stories, happy ones and heartbreaking ones — my own and others’ — have all been reasons to resonate with hope and joy and peace and trust. The passage continues: “so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Hope for situations that only God can answer. Hope for the end of war...

What are you hoping for? Perhaps being better at pickleball or taking that dream cruise. As believers, we have the hope of eternal life with Jesus. As Christians, we can rejoice that God is our only source of hope. Our hope is built on nothing less than trusting in Jesus. As an anchor holds a ship in a storm, so the hope of eternal life gives us peace with life’s temptations. Hope is the seed of f...

She told me it was one of the hardest things she had ever done. That was to go to the restaurant she and her husband used to go to frequently. It was so hard to sit and eat alone when all around her people were having a meal with family or friends. But she did go. There is no denying that it is painful to be alone. Some people who live alone feel like they have been left to live in solitary confin...

All winter, I long for the dark, cold days to give way to springtime. I long to “spring forward” and enjoy extra sunlight. I look forward to watching the flowers emerge and bloom. I look forward to the trees filling their branches with green leaves. I look forward to warmer weather and time outdoors. Just as I anticipate spring, my soul longs for the day when the dark, cold days of this life give...

Current events swirled about my head early one morning as I sat on the deck to read my devotion. Suddenly, a mother deer and two fawns (still with spots) walked near to eat grass. Then, the sprinklers came on. The babies jumped and frolicked in every direction as sprinkles of water confused them. I was filled with laughter and smiles as the mother deer watched them play. I returned to my devotion...

I have three children, ages 20, 18, and 16. They all enjoy good connections with older adults who mentor them. My oldest son meets regularly with two older men from church who affirm and challenge him. My middle son talks with older men who visit his workplace and give him practical ideas to consider. My 16-year-old daughter has FaceTime conversations with her great-grandma almost every night and...

David had several talents God chose to use. After retiring, King David wasn’t ready to go home and sit down. He still had energy to serve God. What about you? You may have retired from your 9-to-5 job, got that coveted gold watch, had a big retirement party, but you’re not quite ready to go home and sit in that rocking chair. No worries. God has a place for you. What do you want to do now? Try you...

Growing old includes challenges and moments of opportunity. During aging, these occasions look different than the high impact times of earlier years. We might no longer speak from a convention center platform or lead a company-wide campaign, but God still offers us time to make a difference. As Jesus modeled with the woman who had suffered for years (Luke 8:43-48), these one-on-one moments might b...

It wasn’t hard for me to choose a vocation of service. God wouldn’t allow me to do what I wanted to do: be a garbage man. Those huge orange trucks staffed by drivers who could navigate narrow Chicago alleys and guys yelling “go” just seemed wonderful. I was six. While I believe God would have made me a dedicated and devoted trash collector, I grew to like the prospects of being a successful busine...

Beloved! I have an Abba, a Daddy, who loves me so much that he loved me even before I was born ... even before my parents thought of me or conceived me ... even before I gave my first cry! Beloved! Even though sometimes I’ve wished I were shorter, thinner, blue eyed, and naturally blond, my Abba knew what my gene pool would produce and here I am — beloved, and thankful. Each day I pray that my Abb...

How well do we listen? Often, not well. One inquires, “Did you really hear what the pastor was saying?” My response, “I listen through the text.” However, the message escapes me many times. Paul clearly instructs Titus. Titus is to appoint elders who are faithful, above reproach, husband of one wife, and the list continues. Elders are overseers who are not arrogant, quick tempered, drunkards, gree...

An elderly friend who grew up in Germany told me, “When I was young, my job at our church services was pumping the organ. It was very hard work, and my legs and feet would get very tired. I kept wishing that my singing voice would improve so that I could join the choir instead.” In his parables, Jesus, many times used small or simple things such as mustard seeds, mites, and a lost sheep to teach h...

Our younger years were a time in which we were guided by our parents, teachers, and pastors. During that period, we were expected to do what we were told and follow the directions of those who were guiding us. This was a HAVE TO! As we age, we gain more understanding. There is a realization of how important our early years of HAVE TO were. They gave us the tools needed to become responsible adults...

There she sits. She is no longer active. Her days to serve at church are past. “When I sit here, I feel like I can accomplish anything,” she says, but trying to rise, she finds it is not so. Her formerly busy hands are still; her previously clear eyes are dim. What does she do? She listens. She prays. Heavy hearts find her heart is open. Oppressed spirits feel her spirit is strong. A hard worker,...