“Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring; the early rain also covers it with blessings. They go from strength to strength, every one of them appears before God in Zion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob!” (Psalm 84:6-8)

The promise of the Lord is that the day will come when all who are in Him will walk in His presence and they will see as they have always been seen. In Him, they will no longer be afraid, for the wickedness of this age will be banished. Come into His presence now and prepare for the day when the city of Zion is the abode for all who become children of the light and stand in the presence of the Lord.

Lord, You have made possible redemption for all who come by Your grace and mercy and walk with You. Guide us in the upward call of grace to walk in Your mercy and lead us to do those things which are pleasing in Your sight. Help me now and always to hold fast to Your presence and purpose and keep me from straying from the path upon which You have set me.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for making the way of salvation possible. Guide me now and always in the way You would have me go that I would walk forever in Your footsteps and become whom You are creating me to be. Lead me now and always according to Your goodness to live the life to which You have called me. Teach me how to be thankful and to praise You in all circumstances. Amen.

THE PRAYERS, 

St. Mary Magdalene, Cycle B (July 22, 2018)

Let us pray to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of the Church, the world, and one another.

A brief silence

Merciful Father, establish the Church as your living temple, built on the foundation of prophets and apostles, with Christ as its cornerstone. Make its words precious and its actions holy. Through its proclamation and deeds of mercy, use it to feed the world with the living bread of your holy Word.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 Give such loveliness and holiness to your persecuted people that even their enemies will say, “Entreat us not to leave you; your God shall be our God.” Shield and guide missionaries of the Gospel, and let them constantly and clearly say, “We have seen the Lord!”.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Thank you for making this congregation part of the Body of Christ. Keep us in union with him who is our Cornerstone and Savior. Grant that our worship, teaching, outreach and fellowship is always shaped by, and founded, on the witness of the prophets and apostles, martyrs, saints and confessors of the Church.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Draw our teens into closer fellowship with Jesus, so that the dangers and temptations of this broken and fallen world do not harm them.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Warn and guide our earthly leaders. Teach them to use power and authority to increase health, safety, and justice among their citizens, especially the poorest and most vulnerable. Teach each of us to gladly share what we have with one another, confident that you will bless and multiply our gifts to your glory and for the benefit of all.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Be with those whose work is difficult and dangerous, especially those in our military and all first responders. Bless them with wisdom, courage, and skill as they complete their tasks. Use them to establish safety in chaotic places. Keep them safe; shield them when they fall; give steadfast and cheerful hearts to their loved ones; and grant them swift and joyful homecomings.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Tend and nourish, we pray, all the poor and needy, the sick and injured, the lonely and grieving, the imprisoned and abused, the homeless and dispossessed; and use us to help ease their suffering or sorrow. Especially this day we pray on behalf of: {List}. Fill them with your Holy Spirit and keep them close to their beloved Savior’s side. Restore hope in many hearts; and grant the health and salvation that only you can give.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Most merciful Father, we entrust into your keeping all those who have died trusting in you, especially those nearest to our hearts. Grant us such faith in your dear Son that we may walk even through death’s dark vale with confidence, encouraging one another in his name. Bring us into your eternal home, where you have promised all whom you have redeemed, the banquet fare and rich wine of the Lamb’s high feast.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 Hear and graciously answer our prayers, dear Lord, as it is best for us and most glorifies your holy name. Amen.

THE PRAYERS, 

9^th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 11, Cycle B (July 22, 2018)

Let us pray to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of the Church, the world, and one another.

A brief silence

Merciful Father, establish the Church as your living temple, built on the foundation of prophets and apostles, with Christ as its cornerstone. Make its words precious and its actions holy. Through its proclamation and deeds of mercy, use it to feed the world with the living bread of your holy Word.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 Be the gracious and faithful Shepherd to your persecuted Church; and protect them from those who hate the name of Jesus and seek to scatter and destroy his flock. Use your missionaries to feed many hearts with the Word of life and salvation.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Thank you for making this congregation part of the Body of Christ. Keep us in union with him who is our Cornerstone and Savior. Grant that our worship, teaching, outreach and fellowship is always shaped by, and founded, on the witness of the prophets and apostles, martyrs, saints and confessors of the Church.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Draw our teens into closer fellowship with Jesus, so that the dangers and temptations of this broken and fallen world do not harm them.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

You pronounced judgment upon the false shepherds of Israel because they did not care for your people in accordance with your Word. Warn and guide our earthly leaders. Teach them to use power and authority to increase health, safety, and justice among their citizens, especially the poorest and most vulnerable. Teach each of us to gladly share what we have with one another, confident that you will bless and multiply our gifts to your glory and for the benefit of all.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Be with those whose work is difficult and dangerous, especially those in our military and all first responders. Bless them with wisdom, courage, and skill as they complete their tasks. Use them to establish safety in chaotic places. Keep them safe; shield them when they fall; give steadfast and cheerful hearts to their loved ones; and grant them swift and joyful homecomings.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Tend and nourish, we pray, all the poor and needy, the sick and injured, the lonely and grieving, the imprisoned and abused, the homeless and dispossessed; and use us to help ease their suffering or sorrow. Especially this day we pray on behalf of: {List}. Fill them with your Holy Spirit and keep them close to their Good Shepherd’s side. Restore hope in many hearts; and grant the health and salvation that only you can give.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Most merciful Father, we entrust into your keeping all those who have died trusting in you, especially those nearest to our hearts. Grant us such faith in your dear Son that we may walk even through death’s dark vale with confidence, encouraging one another in his name. Bring us into your eternal home, where you have promised all whom you have redeemed, not morsels of bread and dry fish, but the banquet fare and rich wine of the Lamb’s high feast.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Hear and graciously answer our prayers, dear Lord, as it is best for us and most glorifies your holy name. Amen.

“How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You. How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion!” (Psalm 84:4-5)

Those who walk with the Lord do influence and bless those who come into their house. The children of light may not be known for Whose they are, but their countenance reflects the truth to those who are with them; how much more so the ones who dwell in the house of the Lord, for it is His light which radiates through them and into this world. Come, O People of Zion, and praise the Lord.

Lord, You are worthy of honor and praise. You have called together the saints into Your house, Zion. Lead me away from the foolishness of this world and into Your presence that I may abide as Your child of light. Let me be blessed by simply living in the truth of Your presence that I would worship You all the days of my life. Guide me, O Lord, in the upward call You have given me.

Light of the World, who has shone into darkness, let my eyes see clearly the path You have laid before me. Guide me in the truth You have revealed that I may now and always walk with You in the way You would have me go. Keep me from straying and hold me up when I stumble lest I fall. You are the One who saves and apart from You I am unable to proceed in the way of light. Keep me close to You. Amen.

“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2)

I suppose the best answer is simply to raise one’s own hand.  I am the one who darkens counsel by words without knowledge.  I rush to speak where I should be silent, to explain where I do not know, and to offer my opinion where God’s Word is better.  For what are my thoughts compared to God’s?

Every Christian should pause and sit with this reality for a bit, taking it to heart.  Many people extol the virtue of being still and silent for meditation, but we’re not truly silent until we have pondered the futility of our own thoughts compared to God’s—yes, even our pondering of our ponderings is a chasing after wind.  Until we extinguish our love for our own opinions and discernment, we’re still yakking away in the arrogance of our hearts, however still our mouths may be.

Yet once we have confessed our ignorance and said, “Your thoughts, O Lord, are higher than my thoughts,” then we are truly silent, however much we may speak.  Those who make God’s Word their counsel are quiet and still before Him, even though they may make a great noise, because they have silenced their minds in favor of God’s mind and refrained from exalting their judgments over His.  Here is the joy and gift of the Church: always having a better Word than our own, because it carries so much greater consolation and wisdom.

LET US PRAY: Silence the imaginations of my heart, O Lord, so that I may truly speak and speak the truth.  Amen

Pastor Steven K. Gjerde

Zion, Wausau

“The bird also has found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.” (Psalm 83:3)

Lord, You provide for all the creatures of the earth, for You are the One who made all things. In Your hands are the ages. The people clamor for what You already give. Guide me, O Lord, in the way I should go that I would forever walk in the way You have established. Lead me, O Lord, that I may go according to Your never-failing word and walk in Your grace and mercy all the days of my life.

Lord, You have walked the earth and You know the difficulty of this place. Hold fast to me that I may walk according to Your Spirit and live the way You would have me live. Lift me up to see in You the hope of glory and to look beyond the insanity of this age. In You, O Lord, is the hope of the ages. As You take care of all the creatures, I thank You for caring for me.

Lord Jesus, You have come into the world to lead as many as would follow into the presence of the Father. You through and for whom all things were created must lead the way. Come to me in times of trouble and come to me in times that are good that at all times I may know that it is You who leads. Guide me by Your grace to see in You the eternal hope of glory which You have purchased for those who love You. Amen.

“How lovely are Your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.” (Psalm 84:1-2)

The world imagines a place that is perfect. The perfect place is the dwelling place of the Lord. The world, filled with imperfect people want a perfect place and they imagine they can build it. Why try to build what can never be perfect if created by imperfect people? Why not come to the Lord who has already prepared a place for those who love Him? Let your soul long for the Lord.

Lord, I see the madness of this world where people crawl on top of each other wanting what You are already offering. Guide me, O Lord, in the goodness of Your mercy to walk humbly in the path You have laid before me. Lead me to see most clearly that the way of perfection is You who is my Savior. Guide me in the upward path of salvation that I may walk in Your ways.

Lord Jesus, the only perfect man to walk the earth, Who came down to lift up with You those who follow in the way You have established, guide me in the upward path of grace and faith. Help me overcome the obstacles of this world which seek to ensnare me in traps of vain imagination when You are right here. Lead me today in the way I should go that I would walk with You always. Amen.

PUT ON HOLD
Devotional for July 1, 2018 based upon Mark 5: 21-43

Picture the frantic father in our Gospel lesson for this morning. His little girl was at the point of death when he hears that there is someone who just might be able to save her life. So even though he is a man of power, prominence, and prestige – he is Jairus, leader of the synagogue – in desperation he lays aside all pride, falls at Jesus’ feet, and begs Him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she made be made well and live.” His request is specific, focused, and intense.

Will Jesus go? Of course He will go. Mark tells us, “He went with him.” But then look at what happens next. Beginning with verse 25 Mark tells us, “There was a woman who had been suffering from bleeding for twelve years. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak. Immediately her bleeding stopped.” There is a break in the story. An interruption happens. Jairus’ obtaining help from Jesus is put on hold.

Now just imagine how you would feel if you were Jairus. Here is a woman whose problem is far less serious than your daughter’s problem. But she is interrupting your being able to get help from the one person in the whole world who might be able to help you. Can you imagine the panic that this frantic father must have been feeling at that particular moment? Here is the Master, ministering to someone else, whose problem is far less serious than mine, and His doing so is putting me on hold.

Why does the Master sometimes seem to delay? Why isn’t He quicker to respond to my needs? Doesn’t He know that the matter is urgent? Why does He sometimes put me on hold? These are questions that go right to the heart of the nature of prayer. Why does it sometimes seem that my prayers go no higher than the ceiling?

Picture this frantic father, waiting for Jesus to minister to the woman with the flow of blood, when, according to Mark, his worst fears happen. Some friends come from the house. As soon as he sees their faces, he knows what has taken place. It is the news no parent ever wants to hear. “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”

Up to this point Jairus had had a faint glimmer of hope. But now there seems to be no hope. His friends try to support and comfort him as best they can. But there is a limit to the help that even your best friend can give at a moment like this. Something much more is needed. Something that only Jesus can give.

Fortunately, Jesus is still there. He may have been delayed, but He is still there. Just like Jesus is still there in your times of greatest need. I have a feeling that Jesus touched him gently on the shoulder as He said, “Do not fear; only believe.” Which admittedly is asking a lot of this man.

Whenever we feel put on hold is when we need to hold on even tighter to the promises of God.

And so Jesus makes His way to Jairus’ house, accompanied by His three closest friends – Peter, James, and John. When He comes to the house, He sees family and friends gathered there. He sees hired mourners and hears a great crowd weeping and wailing loudly. “Why do you make a commotion and weep?” He asks. “The child is not dead but sleeping.”

They laugh at Him. They ridicule His diagnosis. He asks them to leave the house and then goes into the room where the little girl is lying. He takes her by the hand and says, “Little girl, get up!” Immediately she gets up and begins to walk around.

Today do you feel like you have been put on hold? Do you feel like your prayers are going no higher than the ceiling? Do you feel like Jesus must be responding to someone else because He certainly is not responding to you?

Know this. Whenever we feel put on hold is when we need to hold on even tighter to the promises of God. Whenever you feel put on hold, do not let go of Him. He will never let go of you. He loves you with a love that will not let you go.

Dennis D. Nelson
President of the Board and Director of Lutheran CORE

“Fill their faces with dishonor, that they may seek Your name, O Lord. Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever, and let them be humiliated and perish, that they may know that You alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.” (Psalm 83:16-18)

Let the wicked of the world be seen for what they are. Let it be known that they are doing wickedness. O Lord, remove them from the earth that the just may live in peace and harmony and not be fodder for the wicked. Keep order on the earth, O Lord, that those who wish to dwell in peace may do so in security. You are the Most High and all authority comes from You. Grant that we are governed by Your goodness and mercy.

Lord, I do not know what to think sometimes with all of the wickedness that is in the world. Lead me, O Lord, in the way You would have me go that I would not abide in the ways of the wicked, but learn to abide in You and Your ways. Help me to see the difference between these two positions that are constantly struggling against one another in this world.

Lord Jesus, You have taught us to abide in You so that You will abide in us. Help me to make You my resting place that I would truly abide in You. Lead me in the way of righteousness that I would do those things which are pleasing in the Father’s sight. In all things, teach me to love all people the way You love them and to walk humbly with You always, my Lord and my God. Amen.

“O my God, make them like the whirling dust, like chaff before the wind. Like fire that burns the forest and like a flame that sets the mountains on fire, so pursue them with Your tempest and terrify them with Your storm.” (Psalm 83:13-15)

When we are threatened with circumstances we come to the Lord and ask Him to make things safe again. Look beyond the moment and see that He does allow for things to be as they are and He does cause those who do wickedness to blow away like the wind. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but many do not fear the Lord. You who do, turn to Him in good times as well as the bad times.

Lord, I do not want to be one of those who comes to you only when things are bad or when I want something. Grow in me a heart that loves You no matter the circumstances. Lead me into faithfulness in spite of the state of the world so that I may live in peace with You always. All things are in Your hands and You are the God of the just and the unjust. Lead me into Your peace that surpasses all understanding.

Lord Jesus, You have told us that there would be wars and rumors of wars. You warned us to look at the signs, knowing that this world is mad and fighting against You. Guide me, O Lord, in Your way of peace that I may learn to love all, even my enemy. Help me to live this day trusting You instead of feeling the anxiety that is in this world. Guide me upward in the calling You have given me. Amen.