“Splendid and majestic is His work, and His righteousness endures
forever. He has made His wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and
compassionate.” (Psalm 111:3-4)

Marvel at the mountains. See the
beauty of an insect flying through the air. Watch as critters scamper around. All
creatures are provided for. How wonderful that God gives to all that have need.
See this and not the destruction that is evident in our age. The Lord looked at
all that He made and said, “It is good.” Be guided by this goodness and live
into the hope He gives.

Lord, I need this new heart that You promise. I am often negative in focusing upon the death and destruction of this age. Help me live into the hope and promise You give that I may be free to enjoy all Your promises. May I be guided in You to live into the truth of Your revelation, knowing that all things now, then and forever are,have been and will be in Your hands. Your goodness is evident in Your creation.

Holy Spirit, as I live through this day, help me to see the good things that are around me. Lead my heart, mind and soul to focus upon what is right and good. Lead my footsteps to do right things, living into the image of Christ. May I be found today to have been truthful, thankful and praising You for all that You give. Lead me into the goodness of spirit that You have promised through my salvation. Amen.

NALC LIFE CONFERENCE AND MARCH FOR LIFE
WERE AWESOME AND INSPIRING

Many thanks to Pastor Dennis DiMauro for organizing and to the congregation of Trinity Lutheran Church in Warrenton, Virginia for hosting the NALC Life Conference the day before the March for Life in Washington D. C. They were both amazing events.

Pastor DiMauro, who holds a Ph. D. in church history, began with a strong Biblical defense of the pro-life position along with a summary of how many great Christian leaders have spoken out in defense of life in the womb. We were all mightily encouraged as we heard how the current number of abortions is the lowest since the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Decision in January 1973. We were also told that three-fourths of Christianity is pro-life and to anticipate 100,000 participants in the March for Life the next day.

The next speaker, Mona Fuerstenau, from Bethesda Lutheran Communities, has been a disability advocate for over thirty years. She reminded us of how as followers of Jesus we need to speak up for all people, no matter the age, stage, or level of ability or disability. She referenced two passages of Scripture, 1 Corinthians 12: 22 and 1 Peter 4: 10. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “The members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.” Those who “seem to be weaker,” such as the disabled, can be seen as having nothing to contribute. On the contrary, God calls all of us to minister in His Kingdom. The title of her talk was “Everyone is necessary in the body of Christ, and we have a lot of work to do!” She also quoted 1 Peter 4: 10. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” The verse contains no qualifier and gives no exception. Instead it says, “each of you.”

Mona has a son with a significant disability. He accompanies her as she goes around to speak. Mona finds that the way people respond to her son is a good litmus test for the congregation. She can tell within the first five minutes in the way in which she and her son are greeted whether this congregation will be welcoming to people with disabilities.

The third speaker, Melissa Ohden, was amazing. She is the survivor of a failed saline infusion abortion. I am in awe over people who are able to tell their personal life stories, including sharing their deepest hurts and greatest struggles, in a way that is clear, confident, and compelling.

According to Melissa, we have been fed the lie that abortion prevents suffering. Instead abortion causes suffering – to the parents and grandparents, to say nothing about to the fetus that has been killed. She asked, “If we have lost sixty million lives to abortion, how many hundreds of millions of lives are and have been affected?”

We have also been fed the lie that abortion is about choice. The truth is that the majority of women do not have a choice. Sixty-four percent of women who have had an abortion tell about being coerced into having the abortion. Melissa said, “It is not about empowerment.”

Melissa shared how her maternal grandmother had pressured her birth mother into having an abortion, and for thirty years her birth mother did not know that actually she had survived. She told the amazing story of how she was able to come across her own birth records and then was able to find her father and birth mother. She shared how her ten years of searching were a “journey of mercy.” “God allowed me to learn what I needed to learn and not the rest.” After she truly surrendered her search to God, “everything happened.” She said, “God performs miracles still today; it is not just in the Bible.” “God blessed me with finding my medical records so that I could agitate in this world.” “I loosened my grip on my career so I could fulfill my calling.” “My birth mother is one of my greatest supporters. She tells me, ‘I need you to keep doing this.’”

Melissa concluded by saying, “Women, families, our culture deserve better than abortion.” She then spoke of the March for Life the next day as she shared, “We are not here to have fun. Rather we are here to grieve the loss of life and to find joy and support in each other.”

MARCH FOR LIFE

We have all heard much about the March for Life, especially in light of the events that took place near the Lincoln Memorial. I personally was not near the Memorial, so I cannot speak from personal observation. But I am very glad for recent reports which have exonerated the students from the Catholic school in Kentucky.

The main thing I would want to share is how deeply impressed I was with the very large number of young adults who were enthusiastic participants in the March. We constantly hear about the conspicuous absence of young people from our churches. Younger people are not attending traditional denominational churches. And it is not just the Lutheran churches. We wonder what will happen to our churches if we continue to be unable to reach younger people. And yet somehow the pro-life movement has been able to catch the attention and capture the enthusiasm, energy, and commitment of the millennial generation. Our churches, and many other groups that promote traditional values, have much to learn from the pro-life movement. How could we place ourselves in a position for that movement to teach us?

There are two other things I would like to say. First, how clean the march route was after the event. The crowd was huge, but they were polite and respectful in addition to being massive. Second, how deeply I was moved at the end of the route, in front of the Supreme Court Building, by all the signs which read, “I Regret My Abortion.” What can we do to help keep more women from making a choice and taking an action that later they will regret? The song that was sung at the end of the National Memorial Service for the Pre-Born and Their Mothers and Fathers earlier that morning contained these words: “What was your name? What were you meant to be? I wish I could have known.”

“REKINDLE YOUR FIRST LOVE” EVENT

I remember a several year period – during the years when I was serving as a pastor before I retired – when I would have jumped at the chance to be able to attend a gathering which was intended to help me regain my first love. I recall the energy, enthusiasm, and optimism with which I began my ministry. I served the same congregation for forty years. After eighteen years there we completed a major, two-million-dollar development of the property, including the building of a new sanctuary and fellowship hall. But then, immediately afterwards, began a process in which all hell broke loose.

One of the major families in the congregation became intensely angry with me. For a full year I received hate mail from them, as often as three times in the same day. When the congregation council finally stood up to them, they left. During the same time, as well as immediately afterwards, I was accused of having an affair with one of the staff members, our school principal was accused of embezzling funds, and the rumor was that there must be a reason why the school principal was able to blackmail me into being silent. For years this kind of behavior was tolerated and allowed to continue. When it was finally confronted, the inevitable blow up occurred, and everyone who was contributing to the problem, as well as everyone else whom they could influence, left within a matter of a few weeks. I gained a new appreciation for Paul’s image of the church as the body of Christ. In order to be able to survive, a living organism must be able to get rid of highly toxic material. The church finally stood up to and was delivered from everyone who was engaging in highly toxic behavior. But the damage was done – to the congregation, as well as to my relationship with the congregation. I could have used a “Rekindle Your First Love” event.

For most of you I do not know what you are going through and have gone through. But I do know that ministry is tough. Jesus said that it is going to be tough. No wonder we need to put on the full armor of God.

I would strongly urge you to sign up today. We have a great group of presenters who will lead us in rekindling our first love for Christ, for the church as the body of Christ, and for mission and ministry as the work of Christ in the world. In addition we have a fourth presenter who will help us take the next steps as we move from rekindling to re-establishing the fire of our first love. The presenters represent a wide-range of church body affiliations – NALC, LCMC, and ELCA.

The contemporary Christian singer/song-writer, Keith Green, in his song “Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful,” sings these words –

“Oh Lord, please light the fire
That once burned bright and clear.
Replace the lamp of my first love.”
 

The date is Wednesday, May 1. The location is Trinity Lutheran Church in Warrenton, Virginia (the same location as for the NALC Life Conference). Here is a link that will take you to the flier that will tell you more about the gathering and how you can register. I urge you to do so today.

Blessings in Christ,
Dennis D. Nelson
Executive Director of Lutheran CORE
dennisdnelsonaz@yahoo.com
909-274-8591

“Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart, in
the company of the upright and in the assembly. Great are the works of the
Lord; they are studied by all who delight in them.” (Psalm 111:1-2)

The complexity of all that is
around us and the wonder of creation are reflections of the Lord. He who made
all things demonstrates His goodness in all that He has made. Delight in what
the Lord has made and live in the promise of His grace and mercy. The faithful
delight in the works of the Lord and marvel at His creation. Great is the Lord
and greatly to be praised.

Lord, I become wrapped up in daily life and do not see things as they
are. Help me Lord to see the beauty that surrounds me each day. Guide me to be
one who looks through what is ugly to see what You have created. May my heart
be changed that I may live into the promise of hope that You give and know the
unchanging character of Your presence and purpose in all things.

Lord Jesus, Word made flesh, help
me now and always to see the truth You have revealed. The world gets wrapped up
in immediacy and everything is a crisis. Help me to know that Your salvation is
complete and that all things are in Your hands. Help me to trust what You have
done that in freedom I may live each day knowing Your goodness and mercy and
live for the Father’s glory. Amen.

“The Lord is at Your right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of
His wrath. He will judge among the nations, He will fill them with corpses, He
will shatter the chief men over a broad country. He will drink from the brook
by the wayside; therefore He will lift up His head.” (Psalm 110:5-7)

What have you to fear? It is the
Lord who governs all history and times of repression will pass away as He
shatters the power of those who rule for only a short while. Come into the
presence of the Lord and know His unfailing love and mercy. Know that the Lord
shall accomplish all that He has purposed and nothing shall hinder what the
Lord will accomplish by His will.

Lord, I am often tossed about like a ship in a storm. Guide me to the
place where I know that no matter what storm comes upon my life, You have
promised to work it all for good according to Your will. Lead me in the faith,
hope and love that You give that I may grow according to Your will and fulfill
the purpose for which I have been created. You alone are God and all things are
in Your hands.

Help me moment by moment, Holy
Spirit, to know that You are there to guide me through whatever the day will
bring. Though ten thousand fall at my right side, keep me from being one who
fails to stand back up that in the end I may be found in You. Teach me wisdom
that I may grow in understanding and have the strength to stand firm. Lead me,
O Lord, and grant me a new and clean heart. Amen.

“Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power; in holy
array, from the womb of the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew. The Lord
has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever according to
the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:3-4)

The Lord has come and the faith
of His true followers is evident. They care for all people and serve in the
midst of them. They do not lord it over others, but join alongside, where work
needs to be done. You are invited to join in the work of the saints. The
blessing comes to those who hear the Word of the Lord and then act upon it. Come
then to the house of the Lord and be saved.

Lord, You have promised to prepare me through a life of faith to become
like Christ. You know all of the obstacles that stand in the way. Guide me, O
Lord, to see in You the only hope of glory, that I may now and forever live
into this life to which You have called me. Lift me up through Your grace and
mercy to become what You have created me to be, Your beloved child..

Lord Jesus, You have called me
through faith and enabled me by Your grace. Lead me, O Lord, in the way You
would have me go that I may grow into the person You are calling me to be. Remove
from me the resistance or laziness that would hinder my journey of faith that I
may grow according to Your will. Amen.

THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

1^st Sunday in Lent, Cycle C (March 10, 2019)

NOTE: This is a “bidding prayer,” with announcement of topics, time for silent personal prayer,

and a brief “collect” before the  “Lord, God, hear our prayer.” You may want to print out the prayer, or explain how it is to be done!

For the Church, the world, and our poor sinful selves, let us pray to our Lord, who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

A brief silence

Let us pray for the Church throughout the world, that our Lord should purify, forgive, heal, unite, strengthen and guide it, and thereby bring many to the foot of his life-giving Cross.

Silence for individual prayer; then:

Holy Lord; holy and mighty; holy and immortal, have mercy on your Church, and bless it; for your glory and for the salvation of the whole world.

Lord God, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for all who are persecuted on account of Jesus, that they may be strengthened in their trials by his strong Word; and for our {synod/district}; our partner congregations and dioceses in {names/places}; and all missionaries throughout the world, that this same strong Word should dwell in their hearts and be confessed by their lips.

Silence for individual prayer; then:

                Holy Lord; holy and mighty; holy and immortal, have mercy on your servants, and bless them; for your glory and for the salvation of the whole world.

Lord God, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for this congregation, that God should keep us steadfast in faith, humble in service, diligent in worship, persistent in prayer, and loving in fellowship.

Silence for individual prayer; then:

                Holy Lord; holy and mighty; holy and immortal, have mercy on this congregation, and bless it, for your glory and for the salvation of the whole world.

Lord God, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for our children, that God would set his angels around them, to shield them from evil; deliver them from danger; and guide them in the way of eternal life.

Silence for individual prayer; then:

                Holy Lord; holy and mighty; holy and immortal, have mercy on our children, and bless them; for your glory and for the salvation of the whole world.

 Lord God, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for our broken world, that God should heal and transform it;  for our leaders, that he grant them wisdom, justice and compassion; and for all people, that he deliver us from evil, strengthen us in every good gift, and bestow his peace among us all.

Silence for individual prayer; then:

                Holy Lord; holy and mighty; holy and immortal, have mercy on your world, its leaders, and its people, and bless them; for your glory and for the salvation of the whole world.

 Lord God, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for all whose work is difficult and dangerous, that God would give them cool heads, wise words, and right actions; and that he would shield, support and strengthen those who fall and those who await their loved one’s return.

Silence for individual prayer; then:

                Holy Lord; holy and mighty; holy and immortal, have mercy on these servants, and bless them; for your glory and for the salvation of the whole world.

Lord God, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for the sick and injured; the abused and their abusers; the despairing and the confused; the homeless, imprisoned, abandoned and oppressed; the dying and the bereaved, and for all who cry out for mercy, including: {List}: That God would save them from their time of trial, deliver them from evil, and bestow upon them the promise of his eternal Kingdom.

Silence for individual prayer; then:

                Holy Lord; holy and mighty; holy and immortal, have mercy on all who suffer, and bless them; for your glory and for the salvation of the whole world.

Lord God, hear our prayer.

Let us with gratitude entrust our beloved dead into our Savior’s keeping; and let us pray for ourselves, that throughout the Lenten pilgrimage of our lives, Christ Jesus would give himself as bread for our journey; forgive us and make us eager to forgive each other; strengthen us in times of trial; deliver us from the power of the Evil One; and bring us safely to his Father’s house.

Silence for individual prayer; then:

                Holy Lord; holy and mighty; holy and immortal, have mercy on us, and bless us; for your glory and for the salvation of the whole world.

Lord God, hear our prayer.

Hear us, gracious Father, for the sake of your well-beloved Son, who intercedes for us before your throne of mercy.

Amen.

THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

Ash Wednesday, Cycle C (March 6, 2019)

Let us humbly beseech God for his mercy upon the Church, the world, and one another.

A brief silence

Have mercy on this world that you created in love, though it has turned away from you, most Holy Father. Have mercy on the people who sit in the darkness of sin and the shadow of death, and whom you came to save, most Holy Son. Have mercy on this fallen and broken creation that cries out in travail for its deliverance from futility and death, most Holy Spirit.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Have mercy on your Church, O Lord. Cleanse it from false teaching, feigned holiness, and fake discipleship. Form it in the likeness of your dear Son, fill it with your Holy Spirit, and use it to draw all people to yourself.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Have mercy on your persecuted servants, O Lord. Cleanse them from bitterness, hatred, or thirst for revenge. Form them into the likeness of your dear Son, fill them with your Holy Spirit, and use them to lead the enemies of Christ to repentance and salvation.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Have mercy on this congregation, O Lord. Cleanse us from apathy, inattention, and contention. Form us into the likeness of your dear Son, fill us with your Holy Spirit, and use us to draw our families, friends, and communities to the foot of Jesus’ Cross.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Have mercy on all who doubt your existence or your goodness, O Lord. Cleanse them from spiritual darkness, intellectual pride, or emotional despair. Form them into the likeness of your dear Son, fill them with your Holy Spirit, and bless them with faith and trust in you, their Savior, Lord, and Friend.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Have mercy upon all who are entrusted with power and authority in this sin-shadowed world, O Lord. Cleanse them from cruelty, lust for power, and worship of self. Form them into the likeness of your dear Son, fill them with your Holy Spirit, and use them to bring your blessings of peace, prosperity, and concord to all people.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Have mercy upon all who stand in harm’s way on behalf of others, O Lord. Cleanse them from wrong judgment or base motives in the execution of their duties. Form them into the likeness of your dear Son, fill them with your Holy Spirit, and use them to bring a measure of safety, justice, and freedom in places of chaos and danger.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Have mercy on all whose lives are shadowed by suffering, sorrow, or any kind of evil, O Lord. Cleanse them from all that troubles them and prevents them from turning to you, their Strength and their Redeemer. Form them into the likeness of your dear Son, fill them with your Holy Spirit, and restore them to wholeness and hope, in the company of all who love them.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Most holy and gracious Father, we commend into your mercy all our beloved dead. We who are but ashes and dust humbly beseech you for your mercy upon us as well. Cleanse us from every sin which separates us from you and from one another. Form us into the likeness of your dear Son, fill us with your Holy Spirit, and use us to help lighten our neighbor’s burdens throughout our earthly pilgrimage. Lead us, with all whom you have redeemed by the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus, into your Kingdom, where, untroubled by sin, evil, or death, we may rejoice in your goodness and gaze upon your glory forever.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For these things, and for whatever else is needful, dear Father, we pray in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your
enemies a footstool for Your feet.” The Lord will stretch forth Your strong
scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.” (Psalm 110:1-2)

The gentiles rule by lording it
over others. This is the way of the wicked. The Lord rules with love, mercy and
compassion. When the Lord rules it is not as the world rules. See the
difference and know that the Lord is lord over all. His strong scepter, the rod
of Jesse is that which was promised long ago and fulfilled with the reign of
Christ. Come sit with the Lord who invites you by His side.

Lord, You have spoken Your Word and it has come to pass as You have declared. Guide my heart and mind to see through the nonsense of this world to live into the hope of glory You give for those who believe. Let me not worry about kings and rulers, but about Your Kingdom which is forever. Guide me day by day to live according to the truth of Your declarations.

Lord Jesus, You are the King of kings and the fulfillment of the promise that the rod would not pass from Judah until peace came. You are the Prince of peace and in You is the everlasting hope. You have offered Yourself that I may abide in You. Teach me how to abide in You that I may learn from You and know the unsurpassable

“Let my accusers be clothed with dishonor, and let them cover
themselves with their own shame as with a robe. With my mouth I will give
thanks abundantly to the Lord; and in the midst of many I will praise Him. For
He stands at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who judge his
soul.” (Psalm 109:29-31)

How is the attitude you have
toward the things of the Lord? Is it constant questioning and pondering over
your own circumstances or does it come down to giving the Lord thanks for all
the goodness He has brought into your life? The Lord is good and greatly to be
praised. Know that the Lord will accomplish what He has purposed and that
nothing or no one can stand against Him.

Lord, in my day-to-day life, help me live knowing that all things are
in Your hands. Guide me in Your goodness to see in You the hope of glory. Lead
me according to Your will to do what is pleasing in Your sight that I may now
and forever abide in You and the promise You give by Your grace and mercy. Lead
me in the upward way to come into Your presence with thanksgiving that I may
now and forever abide in You as You abide in me.

Lord Jesus, You have taught us
that we are blessed in You. Lead me now and always to daily become more a
person of praise and thanksgiving. Help me to follow through with what You have
spoken that I may become more like You, learning to love my neighbor. In all
that happens, teach me to come to the place where I am thankful above all
things knowing that the Father’s will shall be done. Amen.

“Help me, O Lord my God; save me according to Your lovingkindness. And
let them know that this is Your hand; You, Lord, have done it. Let them curse,
but You bless; when they arise, they shall be ashamed, but Your servant shall
be glad.” (Psalm 109:26-28)

The way of the Lord is not the
way of sinful humanity. We may become angry and desire retribution, but God is
the God of love. He is always good and He repays wickedness with kindness. Yes,
He does become angry, but does not act like the sinner, Come into the Lord’s
presence and know His goodness, for He shall accomplish all that He has
purposed.

Lord, I do not have the patience You have, yet I long for the day when
Your will shall come to pass. Lead me, O Lord, in the way of Your goodness that
Your presence in my life would fill me. Lift up my countenance to see in You
the hope of Your glory and the way in which You have always dealt with the
wicked. May I not give in to the way of this world but learn to react as You
would have me respond in every circumstance.

Lord Jesus, You know first-hand
the difficulty of this world. Teach me to be like You that I would reach out to
those around me, no matter how they act, with grace and mercy. Lead me in the
way I should go that I would go that way. Teach me to trust that in You alone
is the grace I need and that all shall come to pass as You have spoken it. Guide
me now and forever. Amen.