Hope-Full Living

When Jesus taught the crowd to pray the Lord’s Prayer, He used plural pronouns: our, us, and we. Why didn’t He teach, “My Father, who art in heaven, give me this day my daily bread, and forgive me my debts”?  Jesus emphasized that our neighbors, too, strive to follow our Father more closely. Most are burdened with needs. Forgiveness is a struggle for many. All are tempted.  I am never alone in ask...

The word “hymn” derives from the Greek word, hymnos, which means a song of praise. The act of singing is a complex physiological and emotional experience that engages our emotions as well as our brains. Twentieth- and 21st-century scientists have uncovered the scientific reasons why singing helps humans feel good. It has been proven to stimulate emotional release and helps the singer develop a sen...

I am often connected to my phone. Through it, I hear from coworkers, family, and friends. Pictures, videos, and texts might come my way, or I can search for faces of loved ones I miss.   Though I value this phone connection, I have a more valuable, eternal connection with Jesus. Faith enables this connection with the Father through the Holy Spirit. Additionally, faith connects me (and you) to ever...

The women picked up their books and prepared to leave Bible study. “These Bible stories are not the same as the ones we learned in Sunday school,” one woman commented. “Adultery, bigamy, lying, human trafficking ... and that’s just Jacob’s family! It’s more dysfunctional than a soap opera. Why is this stuff in the Bible?” Jacob was a con man; David committed adultery and murder; Peter denied Jesus...

During the summer I enjoy watching baseball. I especially like to see the play when a man is on third base, and the batter makes a sacrifice bunt so the man makes it home safely. This reminds me how we Christians long to be at our heavenly home with God. We depend on Jesus Christ to make the sacrifice. Paul says that Christ gave Himself up for us, as a sacrifice to God, as He died on the cross. So...

Imagine you’re at a wedding reception, and you hear the song, “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge. You flock to the dance floor with everyone else and find yourself belting out, “We are family. I got all my sisters with me. We are family. Get up everybody and sing.” (Admit it; you’re singing it now.) Through the waters of Baptism, God has made us His own. We are forever connected to Him, and through...

The weekly foursome sits around the dining table, settling in for another Bible session. Four years and it still starts, “God-sightings, ladies?” One in conflict says, “Going to work after another morning argument, I wiped off angry tears. A semi pulled in front of me with a huge up arrow on the back. Couldn’t miss that nudge.” The women smile and instinctively look up. Another mentions financial...

Recently, my grandchildren came into my house singing, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart …” It is an old song. They learned it that day in Sunday school. I heard them singing earlier as the chorus of voices drifted through the doors of their classroom into our adult Bible class. What joy! One of the great blessings of Christian fellowship is to sing together with joy. Our fellowshi...

We chose the hymn, “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” (LSB #739) for my daughter’s memorial service. “Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand; I am tired, I am weak, I am worn. Through the storm, through the night, Lead me on to the light.” This beautiful hymn was written by gospel singer, Thomas Dorsey, out of deep grief after losing his young wife and baby in childbirth in 1932. His wor...

Dotty was training to be a nurse; she married a newspaperman. Soon, she was delivering newspapers on her bicycle and writing a regular column. I asked her once if she ever wanted to pursue nursing, and she said she was content to be where God placed her. Whenever I wonder about turning points in my life, I think of Dotty. One huge blessing of living into old age is the revelation that I am where G...

It was in the narthex of church. She saw the woman, recognized her needs, outstretched her arms and warmly said, “Bring it in.” And a holy hug ensued. A simple hug is a personal expression of compassion — understanding and extending the grace of God to another human being. Although there are no specific references that Jesus hugged others, it just seems part of His nature in that He was often foun...

As the women left my home, each expressed thanks for a refreshing and hope-filled time. While I loaded the dishwasher, my friend Alicia removed tablecloths and rearranged chairs. “We met needs today,” she commented. “Women were encouraged and I saw a lot of joy.” Twenty-two widows attended our monthly lunch bunch. Women brought salads and desserts. We enjoyed delicious food, feasted on mutual enco...

Quotes my neighbor has said to me:  “Every time I am at the hospital undergoing another test or treatment, I think of our Tuesday morning Bible class, and it gives me comfort. I know that every member of the group is praying for me.”  “Battling cancer has been a blessing for me. My faith is so much stronger. I have become closer to God. Many times, I can’t sleep at night. I get up and read my Bibl...

Sometimes, at the loss of a loved one, it feels as though the heart breaks into so many pieces that there could never be enough cardiac glue to put it back together, at least not in any coherent or recognizable way. At that moment, kindness and compassion within a faith community help gather those wayward fragments. A caring someone’s prayer over the condition comes as a silent song to God, like a...

I was devastated when my son died. I was angry with God. I wondered why my son was taken when he was doing so much for the Lord. The days following my son’s death helped me greatly. Many people from our home church, from our community, and many we didn’t know, came to the funeral home and the funeral. We received hundreds of sympathy cards and had many people praying for us. All of this brought me...

Soulard is an old neighborhood in south St. Louis city. Trinity Lutheran Church, the oldest Missouri Synod church west of the Mississippi and the “mother church” of all Missouri Synod churches, is situated in the heart of Soulard. Two blocks from Trinity is 149-year-old Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. The two congregations have jointly served the homeless in Soulard for decades. The two churche...

Over the years I’ve been blessed with friends who have helped me with various issues and undertakings, and I am grateful for their love. Yet, as I’ve aged, I realize true help comes from God. He knows me, what and who I need, sometimes before I even think I need help! He grants me the gifts of wisdom, forgiveness, patience, strength, and faithful friends. Reading God’s Word when it’s quiet is a co...

It is striking how many of Martin Luther’s personal letters to various individuals deal with the subject of melancholy — that complex mix of emotions, including loneliness, a sense of being forgotten or unseen, overwhelm, even despair, and loss of meaning. The Reformer’s consistent advice — don’t go it alone; get out and be with fellow Christians!  A former, beloved pastor of ours always marveled...

It is so nice to be remembered, to know someone is thinking of me. Getting a card in the mail, an email, or a text from someone lifts my spirits because I know I am at the front of another person’s thoughts.  The senior pastor at my church, the Rev. Thomas Eggold, is really good about sending a text each year on my birthday. I find myself looking forward to his text, wishing me a happy birthday an...

I glanced around the room and observed Titus 2 in action. Women in a multigenerational group were building relationships as they chatted around the snack table or in knee-to-knee conversations. These groups from our church gather monthly to pray, visit, and study a Christian-living book. Activities beyond the meetings vary. One lady cooks breakfast for a group of 30-somethings and teaches them how...

One morning, in a rush to an appointment, I forgot my phone. Turning back, I noticed an ambulance at a neighbor’s house. Bob and Bea lived there with an adult daughter with special needs. Could be any of them. I retrieved my phone and thanked God for my blunder so I could pray.  Later that week, I saw Bob on my daily walk. Typically, we’d talk about the weather or his dogs. This time I asked about...

School is back in session! As parents, grandparents, neighbors, and friends, we pray for inspiring teachers, good health, fertile imaginations, and welcoming communities for students. We may know children who have struggled to survive “mean girls” or bullies. It hurts to see children being ridiculed or criticized. Being part of a healthy community can help children cope with these confrontations....

By the time most of us have reached 70 years of age, we have experienced occurrences of grief and sorrow. It may be the death of a loved one, the loss of material things, or on-going health issues. Because we often desire kind and thoughtful words from another, we are disheartened when we don’t receive them. We begin to question why we must go through these events and wonder how God will use them....

I have been a pastor for 25 years and nothing gives me more joy in worship than when I hear or see someone singing along with the hymns or songs. I get especially giddy when I see or hear a child doing it, following the example of their parents or grandparents. Even if it is off-key, I still love it because those joyful noises are going straight up into God’s ears, and He is filled with joy in hea...

My husband’s first pastoral call was to a three-car garage! Though, it did have a small kitchen and bathroom. On Confirmation Sundays, we opened the garage doors and set up chairs in the driveway! Yet it had all the qualities of a Christian community: God’s Word, the Sacraments, fellowship, and most importantly, the presence of Jesus. All these years later, I’m grateful for the lesson that garage...