JUNE 2009 DEVOTIONALS

 Main Devotional Page

 June 8            June 9          June 10           June 11         June 12

June 15          June 16        June 19           June 22         June 23

June 24          June 25        June 26           June 29          June 30

June 8                   To see and to tell

Acts 1:1-11

Key verse: 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

To be a witness you not only have to see or experience something first hand, you have to tell someone else about your experience.

The History Channel has a show called Monster Quest.  Each episode focuses on a different crypto-animal – an animal science has not proven exists.  A large portion of the show includes interviews of witnesses, people who have seen or experienced this crypto-animal.  While science has yet to prove any of the so-called monsters, the witnesses still come forward and share their accounts.

As Christians, we are called to be witnesses of our experience with Jesus.  In our life, we have seen how Jesus has touched us, forgiven us, and saved us.  Now in order for us to be complete witnesses, we need to tell others what we have experienced. 

At Living Spirit Lutheran Church, Jesus is alive in our midst forgiving, saving, feeding, and so much more.  Take a moment today to ask yourself how have you experienced Jesus alive in your life and in the midst of our congregation – then who have you told about your experience?

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June 9                   Can you hear me now?

Acts 1:12-14

Key Verse 1:14 “All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

To pray means to talk with and listen to God, to be in communication with the Holy One.

My mom was one of the last people I knew to get a cell phone.  I myself once thought cell phones were unnecessary.  When I lived in rural Michigan, reception was so bad, most people who had one could never use them reliably.  Now that I have a cell phone, and live in an area where cell reception is great, I fin d myself using it all the time.  Getting important phone calls even while away from home – being able to stand in the recovery room over my newborn son’s bed calling family and friends with the good news.

Prayer is like our cell phone connection with God.  Prayer is not something we are automatic at doing.  We need to see its importance in order to use it.  But prayer is better than a cell phone.  God pays for all the minutes we use and reception is never bad.

At Living Spirit Lutheran Church prayer is essential to our life as Jesus’ disciples.  We need to pray for one another, for our health concerns and encouragement for our leaders.  And we need to pray to hear God’s calling and leading in our ministry.  Take a moment today to think about the importance of prayer in your life.  Have you shared with God your needs?  Have you heard God leading your life?

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June 10                 huh?

Acts 2:1-13

Key verse 2:12   All were amazed and perplexed saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

To be confused means to have no idea what is going on, to not share common language or experience so you do not understand what is happening.

Have you ever been confused to the point where you just say, “You might as well be speaking Greek to me?”  Usually when we are dealing with those who have similar professions, we don’t experience confusion.  But when we are somewhere new, where this is little in common, confusion abounds.

I offered to be PTA president at my daughter’s school.  I have never done any PTA thing before.  But they had a need, and I learn quick, so I thought “Why not?”  But then I sat in on my first meeting.  And they were talking about programs I never heard of, saying people’s names I didn’t know, and throwing around acronyms and inside jokes that only I didn’t get.

When new people come to the church, this is their experience.  Perhaps you remember your first day in worship, hearing prayers and scripture stories and singing songs that you didn’t grow up singing.  It takes time to learn the common language, and to have common story and experience for it all to make sense and become entrenched in our soul so we are not confused.

At Living Spirit Lutheran Church, we are a growing community – always expecting visitors and newcomers.  We must always be aware of how confusing it is to join the church and help people through their time of transition.  Take a moment to think about what it was like when you joined the church.  What took the longest for you to understand?  How can you help someone else grow into the shared story of Jesus?

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June 11                 One is the loneliest number there can ever be

Acts 2:14-21, read verses 22-36 for part 2 of the sermon

Key verse 2:21   Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

One – a number less than two and more than zero.  A number that has been called the loneliest number that can ever be.  That which is our ultimate concern.

In the movie City Slickers the Billy Crystal and Jack Palance characters are riding with the herd, talking about the meaning of life.  Curly (played by Palance) says the meaning of life is this – and he holds up one finger.  Crystal makes a joke, and Curly says it is one thing.  But the lesson continues – it is up to everyone to discover for themselves what that one thing is.

As Christians, our scriptures tell us what our one thing is.  It is the Lord Jesus.  As our Lord, Jesus has our life in his hand.  Our life is secure and free from bondage to sin, free from worries and concerns, free to be all that God has created us to be.

But often in our life, what should be #1 often becomes #2, or #3, or #15 as worries about this life or other concerns get in the way.  We let our jobs, homes, sports teams, families, desires for more all take their turns as #1 in our life.  But only ONE has the ultimate say in our life.  Only our Lord Jesus has the ultimate word for our life.

At Living Spirit Lutheran Church, we teach that the Lord Jesus Christ is #1 in our life and we say our mission is to connect people with Christ – connect with the true #1.  Take a moment today to think about what is your ultimate concern.  Are you able to rest peacefully giving all other concerns over to Jesus?  What can you do to connect better with the true #1?

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June 12                 Employee Pricing Now For You

Acts 2:37-47

Key Verse: 2:39  “for the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.”

The words ‘for you’ imply gift.  This is ‘for you’.  It says something of value is being to you and that you are the intended recipient.  It is no accident that you are getting this.  This is for you.

A few years ago, the US automakers started a new promotion hoping to spark sales.  They began offering to everyone employee discount pricing.  Aside from being a way to boost sales, this promotion was billed as being “for you.”  They wanted you to have what was previously only available to a few.  Now as if they were really best friends with every buyer, they were offering for you this great deal.

Not every “for you” is a sales promotion.  In fact, the promise God makes is no promotion at all.  It is simply a reality God is bringing into the world – and it is for you.  For you – God sent his Son.  For you Jesus died and rose again.  For you the signs of Jesus (communion and baptism for starters) are given for you.  And this “for you” comes with no price tag, no warrantee offer, no buy back incentive.   It is no accident.  It simply is for you.  Because God loves you, because God desires you to be in his kingdom. It is for you.

At Living Spirit Lutheran Church, we live out this “for you” by freely passing on the gifts god has first given to us.  We grow together in faith by sharing the gifts “for you.”  Take a moment today to think about the last gift someone gave you with the words “for you.”  How did you feel?  How have you given the gift of God’s love to someone with the words, “for you”?

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June 15                 Do you want a Gift receipt?

Acts 3:1-10

Key Verse Acts 3:6           But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.”

Gift – giving something of value to another person, without expectation of return.

In our society gifts are taken for granted.  Birthdays, anniversaries, new baby – these are times that we expect to receive gifts or give them to our friends and family.  Gifts are so prominent during the holiday season of December, I am always asked if I want a gift receipt when shopping at department stores – which is quite silly when I am just picking up diapers or new shoes for my kids.

But the gifts given for these occasions are not true gifts.  They are given out of obligation (and yes, love too) to our family and friends.  People we know will return a gift to us on a similar occasion.  To give a gift in a Christian sense is to give without expectation of return – and to give to those who have true needs.  When we put our donation of loose change into a collection jar for a cause – that is a gift.  When we volunteer at Hesed House  or with Habitat, that is gift.  We need to train ourselves to see these acts as gifts.

At Living Spirit Lutheran Church, we teach that Jesus has gifted us so that we can in turn give what we have to others.  It is not always money.  It is time, it is an act of love, it is that which is valuable to us that we can gift to someone in need.  Take a moment today to think about what is valuable in your life.  How did Jesus Christ gift you with that?  How can you in turn give that as gift to someone else?

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June 16                 Green Energy in the church

Acts 3:11-16, with 17-26 for extended reading

Key verse: 3:12 When Peter saw it he addressed the people, “You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us as though by our own power or piety we made him walk?”

Power   -              a source of energy, a force of control, something environmentalists are trying to change to wind, water, solar instead of coal or nuclear.

The current energy crisis has generated a lot of talk about what source of power is best.  From powering our cars and lawn maintenance equipment, to how our homes and businesses are powered, a lot of attention is given to which is the best way to generate the power that keeps our lives moving.

In the Church, there is another type of power struggle.  This one is over personalities.  We have all seen the so called “pastor-driven ministries” where a church grows around a pastor with a strong personality.  These churches grow quickly because of the attention drawn by the power of one person. These churches also tend to fade quickly when scandal comes or when the Pastor leaves.

The one true power source for the church and all we do is Jesus Christ.  It is not one person, pastor, musician, or elder. Only Jesus Christ can be the power source we have in the church.  As we humbly submit ourselves to the power source that is Jesus, a great thing happens – ministry in his name is generated and sustained – no matter what scandal interferes, no matter who the pastor, directors or elder are.

Here at Living Spirit Lutheran Church, we connect with Jesus because he is our true power source.  In Jesus we receive our direction and energy for ministry.  Take a moment today to think about your personal power source.  What gives you the energy and drive to get up each day and live?  Are you fossil fuels (totally of earthly power) , a hybrid (sometimes Jesus, sometimes other sources of power), or are you completely GREEN (Jesus is my only power source)?

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June 19                 Are you sure you want to save?

Acts 4:5-12, read verses 1-22 for the whole story

Key Verse:          There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.

Salvation – a state of being secure, having a place in God’s kingdom, something Jesus achieved  for all humanity by dying and rising.

One of the earliest e-mail forwarded jokes was about Jesus and the devil typing an essay for God explaining why each is right.  With one minute to go the power went out and the devil lost his entire essay, while Jesus was still able to print.  Why?  Because Jesus saves.

The computer analogy of saving a document is a fairly good one.  The document itself cannot do anything to be saved.  The person doing the typing must press the save button.  Then it is in cyber space for all time.  Even the act of deleting the file doesn’t destroy it.  There is system restore and other clever ways lost documents can be recovered.

The author of life is Jesus Christ.  Jesus pushed the save button for our life when he stretched out his arms on the cross and died.  Nothing, no computer scrubber, magnet, or evil plot of the devil can undo the salvation of Jesus.

At Living Spirit Lutheran Church, we proclaim boldly the salvation won for us in Christ.  It is our mission to connect people to Christ, in whom our salvation is secure.  Take a moment today to reflect on your status as a saved document.  Have you thanked the Lord for saving you?  Have you told someone else they have been saved by Jesus Christ?

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June 22                 The Wonder Disciples

Acts 4:32-35        (read through 5:11 for stories that reflect the teaching in this section)

Key Verse:          Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.

Community        -              A group of people living and working together for a common goal or purpose.  A group of people linked with shared story or characteristics.

One of my children’s favorite cartoons is the Wonder Pets on Noggin.  Each episode, they are presented with a challenge to help an animal in need.  To solve the problem, they sing a son, “What’s gonna work – Team Work.”  They learn that if they are going to help the other animal, each one of them Lenny the Hampster, Tuck the Turtle and Ming-Ming the duckling each must use their gifts and talents together.  In one episode, Ming-Ming thought she could solve the problem herself, without the others.  Of course she too got into trouble and her friends needed to work together to help her too.

In community, we learn to rely on one another, to share our gifts and talents for the greater good of the community.  We are not a collection of individuals, we are a community filled with individuals who grow together by sharing what God has given us.

At Living Spirit Lutheran Church, our second part of our mission is to grow together in faith.  We strengthen our community by sharing the gifts and talents we have for the greater good of the church.   Take a moment today to think about how you are involved with the church.  In what ways are you involved that lets your gifts and talents shine?  In what ways do you need to be encouraged to share your gifts?

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June 23                

Acts 5:33-42        (read starting at verse 17 for the whole story)

Key Verses: 5:38b-39      “because if this plan or this understanding is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them – in that case you may even be found fighting against God.”

Discernment      -              coming to know something, which leads to making choices

 In an age of great many philosophies, every person is called upon to discern what is true.  And must follow that path they have discerned.  Whether you follow a certain religious order, philosophical tract, or scientific study, we are always discerning.  The American Revolutionaries discerned that being governed by Britain wasn’t right – and they choose to fight for freedom.  The apostles, having witnessed Jesus’ resurrection, discerned there was more to faith than religious sacrifices and political aligning with Rome and chose to tell people about Jesus.  The Northern Illinois Synod of the ELCA discerned there was a need in Oswego, and chose to start a church here.

Discernment leads to choices – choices that require hard work and that face resistance.  How do we know we have discern the right thing?  Prayer and community are the place where discernment happens.  As we pray and study God’s word together, we will discern where God is calling our congregation and our individual lives. 

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June 24                 I Choose . . . Me!

Acts 6:1-7

Key Verse: 6:3   And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom.  We will give them this responsibility.

Leadership – the ability to inspire, motivate, take on responsibility, share, and about a gazillion plus three other qualities by which one person gives direction to a group of others.

Do you remember those days when you were a kid playing pick-up ball?  When I played, we gathered at the corner of the street.  We didn’t need bases, the corners of the intersection served nicely for that.  And as in the case with any game of pick-up ball, teams needed to be chosen.  So, two guys declared themselves the team managers and they began choosing sides.  Sure there was squabbling over which team got the worse kid, the one who couldn’t hit or catch a pop fly.  But no one ever argued over who would be the team managers.  You just knew, the guys with the best ability, perhaps the biggest or strongest, they would be the team managers.  Somehow, I was never one choosing sides.  Thankfully, I also was never chosen last.

As Christians, we are called to serve one another and share the leadership needs.  Leaders are not chosen automatically.  Christian leaders are chosen for their gifts and desire to serve in one area or another.  In the early Church, the apostles realized their leadership responsibilities meant they had limits.  So other men were chosen to have leadership responsibilities where the apostles were limited.

At Living Spirit Lutheran Church, leadership is a shared experience.  Certainly those who have a willing heart and God-given wisdom step up and fulfill areas of needs.  But there are always more areas needing leadership.  Take a moment today to reflect on your leadership gifts.  Have you been asked to lead an area you are gifted in?  Have you offered to lead an area you are gifted in?  Let’s find a way together to share all the leadership responsibilities of our church.

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June 25                 Let me tell you a story

Acts 7:54-8:2  (read starting at Acts 6:8 for the full story about Stephen) 

Key Verses: 7:59-60        As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”  He fell to his knees shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!”  And with that, he died.

Martyr  -              the Greek word which mean witness, to have seen something extraordinary.  The word took on a special meaning referring to people willing to go to great lengths, even personal injury and death, to stand fast to their faith.

Stephen is called the first Christian Martyr because his story in the book of Acts is the first recorded instance when someone is intentionally killed for believing in Jesus.  In today’s culture, we don’t think about people who are intentionally killed for their faith as martyrs – we think of them as crazy.  Today we place such a high value on life, and not dying, that to be willing to be injured or be killed standing fast for one’s beliefs, baffles the mind.

Our fear of dying for our faith has actually become a problem even more serious than dying for our faith.  Today, we are afraid of being ostracized for sharing our faith – almost more scared of being ostracized than being killed for our faith – that we simply don’t share.  We hire pastors and evangelists to tell the story.  We believe our lack of knowledge or Biblical shortcomings means we cannot share.

As Christians, we can read the story of people who were so willing to share the story of Jesus they were willing to be killed for it.  This does not mean that today when we share the story, the same thing will happen to us.  It does mean we should not be afraid to share the story.  We have faith for a reason.  We believe for a reason.  Even if we can’t explain Lutheran doctrine or quote a verse by memory – we still have a reason for believing.  That story is what we are called to share – to tell others why we believe, why we come to church, why we are part of a new start congregation.

At Living Spirit Lutheran Church, we believe everyone is important in our community as a witness to what Jesus is doing in the world.  Take a moment today to think about what Jesus is doing in your life right now.  How are you experiencing the love of God as you work, as you commute, as you raise your family, as you shop?  This is your story.  This is what you are called to share with others.  Be a martyr – be willing to open up, God is with you just as God was with Stephen. Now Share the story of your faith.

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June 26                 Abracadabra – Poof!

Acts 8:9-25  (read Acts 8:3-8 for the full story on Philip)

Magic    -              an illusion, a trick of one’s perception, mastered by many greats including David Copperfield, and Harry Houdini.  Magic is not power, but manipulation of what the audience sees, in order to make them believe they have seen something amazing.

Have you ever seen a magician’s act that has failed?  I can’t think of a single time. Each time, even when I watch really closely, I am still amazed.   Now I know David Copper field did not make the Statue of Liberty disappear.  He did not walk through the Great Wall of China.  Yet watching those TV specials years ago, I was amazed and astonished and left wondering how did he do it?

As Christians, something amazing happens whenever we enter the divine presence of God.  In Baptism, word and water combine to draw a person into the Kingdom of God.  In Communion, bread and wine and the Word of God combine to draw a person into the Kingdom of God.  Seems magical, seems extraordinary.  Yet what we are told is this isn’t magic.  When the Pastor says the words of institution, nothing magical is happening.  God’s presence is simply being declared.  What we often miss is being proclaimed so we cannot miss what God is doing.  We cannot pay for God’s gift.  We cannot offer all the gold in the world for what God offers.  This is what Simon the sorcerer didn’t understand at first.  What God does is not for sale – it is a gift.  What God does is not magic – it is a gift for all.

At Living Spirit Lutheran Church, we believe that God is at work among us and in worship we declare God’s presence and share in the mystery of God’s divine presence.   Take a moment today to think about how you are aware of God’s presence in your life.  Have you discovered the pure gift of God’s love?  Have to become aware of God’s gifts in the ordinary things of your life?  Look for the signs of God’s presence in your life.  Share that gift with someone else.

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June 29                 Now Showing at a theater near you!

Acts 8:26-40

Key Verses: Acts 8:34-35               The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?”  So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.

Comfortable -    a baby sleeping on his mother’s lap.  Wrapped in your favorite blanket with a good book or watching a favorite show.  Eating foods that have been prepared just like momma did when you were growing up.  Relaxing in a hot tub, drinking a cold beverage, sharing time with your best friend.  An experience we crave more than we actually get.  no matter how comfortable we actually are, we always want more.

My friend called me one day and said, let’s go to a movie.  So we looked over the different movies out at the time and we talked about them.  There was one I hadn’t heard about.  So my friend explained the plot to me.  Then there was one movie my friend hadn’t heard of, so I explained the plot to him.  Soon enough we had decided on a movie to see and off we went.  We took in a great movie, and afterward got the obligatory post-movie men’s treat of Buffalo wings and cold beverage.  We are comfortable talking about movies and helping one another make great entertainment choices. 

As Christians, we know there are people who have seen a commercial about the church; perhaps they heard a brief radio blurb or caught a moment of TV special about Jesus.  But these people are still confused about what it means to be Christian – what it means to be part of the church – what it means to live a life of believing.  How are they to know unless someone goes over and says, “may I help you understand?”

At Living Spirit Lutheran Church, we are a growing church.  We have a invitational ministry built on the premise that our members are willing to go out and walk with non-believers and are willing to say to them, “may I help you understand?”  Take a moment today and ask yourself who was the last person you helped to understand about Jesus?  Who is the person who helped you understand about Jesus?  Who is God calling you to go to now to say, “may I help you understand?”

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June 30                 Once upon a time

Acts 9:1-19

Key Verse: Acts 9:18       Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight.  Then he got up and was baptized.

Beginning            -              a start, with nothing preceding, with everything succeeding.  The point from where it all commenced, initiated, launched, opened, inaugurated, was set in motion.  Not the ending.

“Once upon a time” begins many fairy tales.  I have been reading a lot of fairy tales again now that I have young children.  Once upon a time, tells us when a story began, why the story we are about to hear matters because of that once upon a time.  We all have a “once upon a time” beginning.  Once upon a time, I met a girl named Katie.  12 years of marriage and 3 children later – the story goes on.  Once upon a time, I went to Boy Scout camp.  20+ merit badges later and a ton of hard work I earned my Eagle Award.  Once upon a time, my parents beamed with great joy as a pastor in Glenview lifted water and declared, “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” I was baptized.

We all have a once upon a time story.  Whether it is for our family, or a particular part of our life, or most importantly as Christians – when we began our faith journey – once upon a time something started that remains very important in our life.  As Christians the most important once upon a time is when we became God’s child.  Whether in the waters of baptism as an infant, at Sunday School, or when a friend brought you to church for the first time, you have a beginning to your faith story.

At Living Spirit Lutheran Church, our mission statement says we Connect to Christ and grow together in faith.  Once upon a time Christ called to us, and connected us with himself.  Once upon a time, we committed ourselves to the ministries at Living Spirit.  Take a moment today to think about your “once upon a time” story.  When was that moment when you first believed?  When did the scales fall from your eyes and you became a believer of Jesus?  That “once upon a time” story is the story you have to tell others.  When you share your story, it might just become someone else’s ”once upon a time story.”

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