“So they ate and were well filled, and their desire He gave to them. Before they had satisfied their desire, while their food was in their mouths, the anger of God rose against them and killed some of their stoutest ones, and subdued the choice men of Israel.” (Psalm 78:29-31)

What is in the heart of a man? Only the Lord knows. He who knows the hearts of men judges them according to where their heart is leading them. We see the outside, but the Lord sees through us all and judges according to what He knows. Live in the truth that the Lord sees into Your heart and knows the direction it will head. Come into the presence of the Lord and live there.

Lord, You know my heart and You know the way it will go. Help me now and always to see clearly what comes out of my heart, for I know that apart from You and the Holy Spirit working on my heart, there is nothing good. Only in You can goodness and mercy come. Fill my heart with You that I would abide in You and Your presence always and live according to Your Word.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for coming to fill my heart with Your grace and mercy. Lead me, knowing that I am always in Your presence. Guide the thoughts of my mind and the attitude of my heart that I may be one who is thankful in and through all things. May my daily life be a thank-offering of praise for all the goodness You have done that we may abide with You now and forever. Amen.

“When He rained meat upon them like the dust, even winged fowl like the sand of the seas, then He let them fall in the midst of their camp, round about their dwellings.” (Psalm 78:27-28)

We may not understand the ways of the Lord, but this does not mean that we should not see the ways in which He provides for us. Look, and not even that carefully, and you will see how the Lord is kind and good to all His creatures. The grace of God abounds. We may focus on the harshness of evil that has been unleashed, but there is more grace to overcome the evil.

Lord, this world focuses upon what it sees as bad and does not look at all of the good which reflects You in the world. Help me, I pray, to see more clearly Your hand in all things knowing that You have provided for all things that live. Lead me to have a heart that rejoices in Your goodness and mercy and shares the truth of how You provide. Lead me into a renewed view of things.

Lord Jesus, You are not what we would have expected. You have come humble and lowly, living as a most ordinary man. You have set the example by simply pointing to the Father. Help me, O Lord, to live into the example You have given that I may abide in You and You in me all the days You give me on this planet. Lift up my heart to be thankful and sing Your praises. Amen.

“Man did eat the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance. He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens and by His power He directed the south wind.” (Psalm 78:25-26)

The Lord is always before us, leading and directing. He will bring you to the place He promises. Why do you doubt when all around you are given provision after provision. He who grants life, gives the food of heaven to those who turn to Him. He who knows grief carries all your grief upon Himself. Come then to the Lord, see His goodness and walk with Him always.

Lord, I see the paradox all around me. There are people who go about their business and do as they should and then there are those who abound in wickedness. It is the reality of this age. Help me now and always to simply look to You who provides for all for what I need. Help me to walk humbly with You in all things knowing that You who made all things knows what needs to happen.

Lord Jesus, You are familiar with pain and death, for You suffered for us all. You know the anguish that comes in this world, but You have prepared a path for us all to follow. Lift me up with You to partake of the heavenly food which You abundantly provide that I would feed on heavenly food and not the garbage of this world. Guide me in all of the ways You have established now and forever. Amen.

“Yet He commanded the clouds above and opened the doors of heaven; He rained down manna upon them to eat and gave them food from heaven.”  (Psalm 78:23-24)

The Lord provides in season and out of season for all.  He causes the rain to come down upon the just and the unjust.  He who is faithful provides for all that He has created.  See and believe.  Know that the Lord who provides in every circumstance provides what is needed.  Come then to the Lord and know His goodness and mercy.  Eat from the bounty that the Lord provides.

Lord, I know these things are true, but I hesitate because of the bad things that happen in this world.  You who knows when a bird falls from the sky, why do you allow some things to happen?  Yet, there is so much evil that I let these things I do not understand outweigh the goodness I see.  But then, it is not You, but we who have caused these things to come to pass in this way.

Lord Jesus, You have come that all who turn to You would be given the bread of heaven and live forever.  You who have brought all things into being have given us the greater portion by uniting us with You.  Lead me away from wavering over things that happen which I do not understand to those things which I still do not understand for they are too great for me.  Lead me into You by faith.  Amen.

“You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15:14)

Have you ever met someone who makes it easy to be his or her friend?  Someone, you might imagine, who not only seeks your friendship, but then, in a sort of wonderful, strange way, keeps working to make you a good friend?

It’s the friend who takes you out for her birthday as well as yours; the friend who, when you’re sure you’ve said something wrong, calls you and chit-chats in a way that lets you know all is well; the friend who asks for what he needs, and doesn’t wait for you to offer; the friend who’s ready with a relieving joke when you feel stupid or ashamed—in short, the friend who makes you a friend by being your friend.

That friend is your Lord.  He came to earth to gain friends, lovers of the kingdom, and yet He did not play the hard-to-get, fickle friend.  What He demanded He also provided: His words, His commands, His gifts—these things blaze the path of friendship with Jesus, making you His friend by being your friend.

LET US PRAY: Thank You, good Friend, for being the Lover of my soul, the good friend who I cannot be.  By Your friendly Spirit, teach me to love as You have first loved me, and thus keep Your commandments to the end.  Amen

Pastor Steven K. Gjerde

Zion, Wausau

“Therefore the Lord heard and was full of wrath; and a fire was kindled against Jacob and anger also mounted against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust in His salvation.” (Psalm 78:21-22)

In spite of all that the Lord has done, the nations go their own way and do not look to the One who brings all things together and has done all things for His glory. He who put the stars in their places and has always provided for us is the One who is often ignored. Open your eyes and see that it is the Lord who gives and provides. Trust in the One who sustains, saves and lifts up all who come to Him.

Lord, I become selfish and want what I want. I do not see things the way I want to see them and think that things are not fair. Guide me, O Lord, to see in You the hope for all people and the great love You have lavished upon us all. Help me to see through the nonsense of this age to come to the place where I praise and thank You for all things. O Lord, we all need what only You can provide.

Savior of the nations, You have come that we may know the way and truth of life. You have come to lead the way of all who are willing to follow after You. Guide me this day into the way of truth that I may forever hold fast to Your goodness and mercy. Help me now and always to have a heart that is thankful and willing to serve as I have been served. Guide me in Your way, Lord Jesus. Amen.

MARY: A MODEL OF MOTHERHOOD
Devotional for Mothers’ Day 2018 based upon Luke 1: 26-38

If you were looking for the perfect mother to leave your one and only child with, who would she be and what would she be like? Would she be wealthy? Would she live in a nice house? Would she be famous, well educated, experienced, and mature? Well, think about the young woman whom God chose to give birth to and to raise His Son. As we look at Mary, the mother of our Lord, I believe we see a model of motherhood.

Two times in our Bible reading the angel Gabriel tells Mary that she is favored by God. Why? What was there about Mary that caught the Creator’s attention? I believe that God chose Mary partly because of what she already had and partly because of who God knew she would become.

When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, the Gospel writer Luke tells us that Mary was much perplexed and greatly troubled. I am sure that she was troubled simply by the fact that an angel was speaking to her. But even more, the message that the angel was bringing to her was a very disturbing message. After all, she was already engaged to Joseph, and engagements in those days were taken very seriously. If an engaged woman were found to be unfaithful, she could be put to death. As her pregnancy began to become known, Mary, a young teenage girl, would be facing many troubling possibilities. Such as rejection by Joseph, a ruined reputation, and the prospect of raising a child alone in a culture that was not supportive of women.

Mary had many things to be troubled about. Not to mention the fact that Mary probably felt very insecure, unworthy, and insufficient for this great task of being the mother of the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Mary could have easily said, “Lord, I am just a young girl. I am not ready to be a mother. I am not worthy. I am neither wealthy, nor well educated, nor well situated. You need to find someone else.” But instead Mary said, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord. Let it be with me according to your word.”

Mary had the right perspective. She knew who God is – the Lord Almighty. And she knew who she was – a servant of the Lord. And in her saying, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord,” she was also accepting what the angel was saying, “Nothing will be impossible with God.” If God said it, Mary knew it would happen. And even if she did not really understand all the how’s, she would go along with the what because she was the servant of the Lord.

And Mary also had the right perspective about her role as a mother. She saw being a mother as an honor and as a blessing from God. Luke 1 also contains Mary’s song in which she tells how her soul magnifies the Lord and her spirit rejoices in God her Savior. She sees herself as being blessed by God in what He was going to be doing in her life. Mary saw being a mother as an honor and a gift.

And mothers today need to be like Mary in seeing being a mother as an honor and a gift. Mothers, you too are God’s servants in all things, including in your raising God’s children. And though there will be times when you, like Mary, will feel overwhelmed and totally inadequate for the task, along with Mary remember that “nothing is impossible with God.” And though there will be times when your children will totally frustrate you, they really are a gift from God and it really is an honor that God has entrusted them to you and your care.

And then I believe that God looked upon Mary with favor also because she had a solid foundation. She knew the Scriptures. In her song of praise she recognizes God as the Mighty One who has done great things for her. She knows God as the Holy One whose mercy reaches out, who lifts up the lowly, and who fills the hungry with good things. Mary’s solid foundation is an example for mothers today. For a mother who praises God and who knows His Word is going to make a huge difference in her child’s life.

Mothers, how solid is your foundation? Do you know God? Do you know God’s Word? Do you know it well enough to be able to quote it and pass it on to your children? Do you set a good example for your children as one who loves, worships, and praises God?

And then I believe that God also chose Mary because of what He knew she would become. First, she would be unrelenting in her protection. From the very moment that Jesus was born, His life was in danger. Mary protected Jesus from wicked King Herod and from many other people and things that could have done Him harm.

And mothers today need to be unrelenting in their protection of their children. Which is obvious when they are very young, when there are many potential dangers everywhere. So mothers must protect their children from germs, electric outlets, sharp things, stoves, and stairs.

As your children grow, they still need your protection. Oh, they may be able to climb the stairs and keep their fingers off a hot stove. But there are many new dangers out there as they grow. And these new dangers can be even more deadly. There are new dangers like low self- esteem, substance abuse, peer pressure, sexual immorality, and thoughts of suicide. Children need their mothers to protect them from the world’s value system, which is being marketed all around them and which stands in total opposition to the Christian faith. And they need their mother’s protection from all the subtle things that really do not seem all that bad, but which totally crowd God out of your life.

Mothers, your children may not always want your protection. They may think they do not need it, and they may even resent it. But, mothers, don’t stop protecting them, for the dangers out there are very real.

And then God knew that Mary would be unwavering in her love and devotion. Mary’s love and devotion for Jesus began before He was born and lasted beyond the cross. The final time the Bible mentions Mary is not at the foot of the cross and not at the empty tomb – though she was present at both. In fact, the last time we see Mary is not in any of the Gospels, but instead in the book of Acts. In Acts 1: 14 it says that the disciples “were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as His brothers.” Thirty-three years later Mary is still right where she is supposed to be. Jesus is still the center of her attention. He is still the focus of her being.

Mothers, may God look with favor upon you as He looked with favor upon Mary. May you have the proper perspective and see yourself as a servant of God. May you see being a mother as an honor and as a gift. And may you know and experience that nothing is impossible with God. May you build your life upon the solid foundation of God and His Word. And may you be unrelenting in your protection and unwavering in your love and devotion for your children. For if you do, then you and your children will be blessed by God.

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

“Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out, and streams were overflowing; can He give bread also? Will He provide meat for His people?” (Psalm 78:20-21)

The Lord provides. Daily around the world and throughout the ages, the Lord provides. We sometimes focus on times of need and forget about all of the times of plenty. Look to the One who has provided for all. He causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. He brings good things and asks that we share of His bounty. Will the Lord provide? He always has and always will.

Lord, let me see through the sin of this world to understand that You have always provided for us all. Grant that I would have a gracious heart and see in others the gift You have given me. Lead me to have a heart for You and one that loves others as You love. Guide me, O Lord, in the way You would have me go and then keep me on the path of Your goodness and mercy.

Lord Jesus, You came intentionally to a time and place where You could teach us to take joy in life and all its circumstances and see the truth in You and what You accomplished. Lead me this day in the way of thankfulness for the many good things that You give for all. Amen.

“And in their heart they put God to the test by asking food according to their desire. Then they spoke against God; they said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?” (Psalm 78:18-19)

The Lord is able to fulfill all desires, but He loves us enough to grant only what we need and not what we want. We do not even know what we want. We live in this flesh and seek to have its desires filled. Move away from being driven by slavery of the body to live the life for which you have been created to live. Know that only in the Lord will the desire of righteousness be fulfilled.

Lord, You have given me a heart that desires You and yet there still remains this fleshly heart that battles against the Word You have spoken. Save me from myself and the conflict within that I may be guided by Your Spirit and walk upright before You all the days of my life. Lead me, O Lord, to become what You know I will be and guide me according to Your never-failing truth.

Truth made flesh, Jesus my Savior, I need You each and every day to hold my hand and guide me from where I am to where I need to be. Lead me this day in the way I need to go and help me not to rebel against Your leading. In the love of the Father, lift me up from the pit and hold me fast that I may do what is pleasing in Your sight and listen as the Holy Spirit speaks to me. Amen.

“He brought forth streams also from the rock and caused waters to run down like rivers. Yet they still continued to sin against Him, to rebel against the Most High in the desert.” (Psalm 78:16-17)

No matter how the Lord has provided, the miracles He has done, or the ways in which He has saved people, there are those who reject Him and will not follow after the Lord. The rebellion is that people will do what they believe is right in their own minds. They will not follow after the ways of the Lord. Come to the One who is gracious and kind and loves those whom He has made.

Lord, You have loved me in spite of my rebellion and given me what I needed even when I have ignored You. Lead me away from the rebellion in my heart to surrender to You and know that only in You is there hope and a future. Lift me up out of the pit of despair that is the result of the rebellion that I may know the peace You give which surpasses all understanding. Create in me a new and clean heart, O Lord.

Savior of those who believe, lead me this day in the way I should go and that fulfills the Word that has been spoken. Take me away from the place of having a rebellious heart that I may be guided by You who has come to save as many as believe. Lord Jesus, apart from You I can do nothing, but in You all things are possible. Lead me this day in Your established way of righteousness. Amen.