“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits--
who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.         Psalm 103.1-5

 Excerpt from Gratefulness, by George Herbert

Dear Lord,

Thou that hast giv’n so much to me,

Give one thing more, a grateful heart.

See how thy beggar works on thee

                        By art.

 

Wherefore I cry, and cry again;

And in no quiet canst thou be,

‘Till I a thankful heart obtain

                        Of thee.

 

Not thankful, when it pleaseth me;

As if thy blessings had spare days:

But such a heart, whose pulse may be

                        Thy praise. 

Amen.

 

“Give us this day our daily bread,”

What does this mean?

God gives daily bread to all people though sinful, but we ask in this prayer that He would teach us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanks.

What is meant by “daily bread”?

Daily bread includes everything required to meet our earthly needs, such as food and clothing, home and property, work and income, necessities, devout parents, children, and communities, honest and faithful authorities, good government, seasonable weather, peace, health, an orderly society, a good reputation, true friends and neighbors, and the like. (Small Catechism, by Martin Luther, Reclaim© 2011)

A beloved new hymn for you to sing along… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E

Benediction: “The Lord bless you and keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” Numbers 6.24-26

God's last word over you

Verse for the week:
“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered.” Psalm 32.1

Prayer for the week: Almighty God, Christ Jesus is the one who was, who is, and who is to come. In him your reign has broken in for us in our iniquity and for this troubled world. While we yet wait for the fulfillment of your kingdom, rescue our bones from our own bondage and hide us in Christ; through the same Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Bible reading for the day:  Deuteronomy 18.15-22

¹⁵ “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— ¹⁶ just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ ¹⁷ And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. ¹⁸ I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. ¹⁹ And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. ²⁰ But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ ²¹ And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— ²² when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.

Prayer of the Day: Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for sending your Son to be the ultimate and final prophet… your living Word for us. The great fire of your law stands… and Christ alone quenches its demands. He is your righteousness for us, the unrighteous. Give me and your whole church ears to hear him again, and again, and again each day for he alone is trustworthy and true. I ask this through the same Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAigUNye_jI

“I believe in Jesus Christ…”

What does this mean? I believe that Jesus Christ – true God, Son of the Father from eternity, and true man, born of the virgin Mary – is my Lord.

At great cost he has saved and redeemed me, a lost and condemned person. He has freed me from sin, death, and the power of the devil – not with silver or gold, but with his holy and precious blood and his innocent suffering and death.

All this he has done that I might be his own, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as he is risen from the dead and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.  (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther)

Benediction: For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.   Psalm 149.4

 

*This is now our congregation’s 99^th year in the Word. In 2025, we are reading from Genesis to Revelation, with a few interludes along the way.

  

What to do with your sin...

Verse for the week:
“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered.” Psalm 32.1

Prayer for the week: Almighty God, Christ Jesus is the one who was, who is, and who is to come. In him your reign has broken in for us in our iniquity and for this troubled world. While we yet wait for the fulfillment of your kingdom, rescue our bones from our own bondage and hide us in Christ; through the same Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Bible reading for the day:  Psalm 32 (the setting is the week leading up to Jesus’ passion. He has just entered Jerusalem, the city of peace, where he will be flogged and crucified.)

¹ Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered.
² Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
    and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

³ For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
⁴ For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
    my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.      Selah

⁵ I acknowledged my sin to you,
    and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
    and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.      Selah

⁶ Therefore let everyone who is godly
    offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
    they shall not reach him.
⁷ You are a hiding place for me;
    you preserve me from trouble;
    you surround me with shouts of deliverance.      Selah

⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
⁹ Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
    which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
    or it will not stay near you.

¹⁰ Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
    but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
¹¹ Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,
    and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Prayer of the Day: Gracious and almighty Father, in Christ alone you forgive and cover my sin, you reduce my iniquity to zero and finally remove all my deceitfulness. Thank you, thank you. A bit in my mouth can only curb so much; you will to have all of me: heart, mouth, deed, and life. So dear Father, teach me to confess my sin rather than cover it up… that I may rejoice and be glad in you. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQMo8TDFxiQ

“I believe in Jesus Christ…”

What does this mean? I believe that Jesus Christ – true God, Son of the Father from eternity, and true man, born of the virgin Mary – is my Lord.
 At great cost he has saved and redeemed me, a lost and condemned person.
He has freed me from sin, death, and the power of the devil –
Not with silver or gold, but with his holy and precious blood
And his innocent suffering and death.
 
All this he has done that I might be his own, live under him in his kingdom,
And serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness,
Just as his is risen from the dead and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.  (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther)

Benediction: For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.   Psalm 149.4

 

*This is now our congregation’s 99^th year in the Word. In 2025, we are reading from Genesis to Revelation, with a few interludes along the way.

 

The best thing to pray for...

Verse for the week:
“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered.” Psalm 32.1

Prayer for the week: Almighty God, Christ Jesus is the one who was, who is, and who is to come. In him your reign has broken in for us in our iniquity and for this troubled world. While we yet wait for the fulfillment of your kingdom, rescue our bones from our own bondage and hide us in Christ; through the same Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Bible reading for the day:  John 12.44-50 (the setting is the week leading up to Jesus’ passion. He has just entered Jerusalem, the city of peace, where he will be flogged and crucified.)

⁴⁴ And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. ⁴⁵ And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. ⁴⁶ I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. ⁴⁷ If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. ⁴⁸ The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. ⁴⁹ For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. ⁵⁰ And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

Prayer of the Day: Gracious and almighty Father, in Christ you rescue us from our own deafness and darkness and reunite us with yourself. Thank you! Your word judges my sin and speaks forgiveness, life, and salvation for me. Please Father, daily give me and your whole church ears to hear. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pQuShbAGyk

“I believe in Jesus Christ…”

What does this mean? I believe that Jesus Christ – true God, Son of the Father from eternity, and true man, born of the virgin Mary – is my Lord.

At great cost he has saved and redeemed me, a lost and condemned person.

He has freed me from sin, death, and the power of the devil –

Not with silver or gold, but with his holy and precious blood

And his innocent suffering and death.

 All this he has done that I might be his own, live under him in his kingdom,

And serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness,

Just as his is risen from the dead and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.  (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther)

Benediction: For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;

    he adorns the humble with salvation.   Psalm 149.4

 

*This is now our congregation’s 99^th year in the Word. In 2025, we are reading from Genesis to Revelation, with a few interludes along the way. 

You and the great multitude of forgiven sinners...

Verse for the week:
“Salvation belongs to the Lord;
    your blessing be on your people!” Psalm 3.8

Prayer for the week: Almighty God, in Christ Jesus your reign has broken in for us and for this troubled world. While we yet wait for the day of the fulfillment of your kingdom, make of your church a people who confess that salvation belongs to you alone; through your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: Revelation 7.9-17  (The Revelation to John was written between 95-100 AD. Under the reign of Caesar Domitian, Christians were persecuted and commanded to curse Christ and pledge the allegiance to the Roman Caesar as their lord and god. John writes not to predict the future, but to give Christians courage for today and hope for tomorrow.)

⁹  After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰ and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” ¹¹ And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

¹³ Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” ¹⁴ I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

¹⁵ “Therefore they are before the throne of God,
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
    and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
¹⁶ They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
    the sun shall not strike them,
    nor any scorching heat.
¹⁷ For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
    and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Prayer of the Day: Gracious and almighty Father, salvation belongs to you and to the Lamb… and you choose to bequeath this gift to me and the great multitude of unworthy ones who are your church. Thank you! The tribulation we endure today is really not much compared to what your church has borne throughout the generations… but our sin is great and foul. So dear Lord, you do the wash… and dress me and my congregation in Christ alone. In his name I pray, amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-_-rXYe_x0

“I believe in the Holy Spirit…”

What does this mean? I believe that I cannot by my own understanding or effort believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and kept me in true faith.

In the same way he calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it united with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.

In this Christian church day after day he fully forgives my sins and the sins of all believers. On the last day he will raise me and all the dead and give me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true.  (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther)

 Benediction: For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.   Psalm 149.4

 

*This is now our congregation’s 99^th year in the Word. In 2025, we are reading from Genesis to Revelation, with a few interludes along the way.

 

Your three foes...

 ...and your Champion.

Verse for the week:
“Salvation belongs to the Lord;
    your blessing be on your people!” Psalm 3.8

Prayer for the week: Almighty God, in Christ Jesus your reign has broken in for us and for this troubled world. While we yet wait for the day of the fulfillment of your kingdom, make your church a people who confess that salvation belongs to you alone; through your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: Psalm 3

¹ O Lord, how many are my foes!
    Many are rising against me;
² many are saying of my soul,
    “There is no salvation for him in God.”      Selah

³ But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
    my glory, and the lifter of my head.
⁴ I cried aloud to the Lord,
    and he answered me from his holy hill.     Selah

⁵ I lay down and slept;
    I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
⁶ I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
    who have set themselves against me all around.

⁷ Arise, O Lord!
    Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
    you break the teeth of the wicked.

⁸ Salvation belongs to the Lord;
    your blessing be on your people! 

Prayer of the Day: Gracious and almighty Father, from the holy hill of Golgotha you have answered me and the whole history full of desperate believers…  you have answered in Christ crucified and raised for our rescue. Salvation belongs to you, O Lord. Thank you! My foes are not as numerous as King David’s, but they certainly close upon me: the devil, the world, and my own sinful self. So, strike them and break their teeth, that I may lay down and sleep and wake again sustained by you. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyedsfF6hNk

“I believe in Jesus Christ…”

What does this mean? I believe that Jesus Christ – true God, Son of the Father from eternity, and true man, born of the virgin Mary – is my Lord.
 
At great cost he has saved and redeemed me, a lost and condemned person.
He has freed me from sin, death, and the power of the devil –
Not with silver or gold, but with his holy and precious blood
And his innocent suffering and death.
 
All this he has done that I might be his own, live under him in his kingdom,
And serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness,
Just as his is risen from the dead and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.  (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther)

Benediction: For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.   Psalm 149.4

 

*This is now our congregation’s 99^th year in the Word. In 2025, we are reading from Genesis to Revelation, with a few interludes along the way.

 

"I will change your speech..."

 says the Lord.

Verse for the week:
“Praise the Lord!
Praise the name of the Lord,
    give praise, O servants of the Lord,”  Psalm 135.1

Prayer for the week: Almighty God, in Christ Jesus your reign has broken in for us and for this troubled world. While we yet wait for the day of the fulfillment of your kingdom, make your church a people humble and lowly who seek refuge in your name alone; through your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: Zephaniah 3.9-13  Zephaniah preached to Judah & Jerusalem during the reign of Josiah (640-609 BC). His message proclaims clear judgment and hope. He decries pridefulness and lifts up the humble who call upon the Lord.

⁹ “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples
    to a pure speech,
that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord
    and serve him with one accord.
¹⁰ From beyond the rivers of Cush
    my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones,
    shall bring my offering.

¹¹ “On that day you shall not be put to shame
    because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;
for then I will remove from your midst
    your proudly exultant ones,
and you shall no longer be haughty
    in my holy mountain.
¹² But I will leave in your midst
    a people humble and lowly.
They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord,
¹³     those who are left in Israel;
they shall do no injustice
    and speak no lies,
nor shall there be found in their mouth
    a deceitful tongue.
For they shall graze and lie down,
    and none shall make them afraid.”

Prayer of the Day: Gracious and almighty Father, in Christ you make me no longer a dispersed one and you take my proper shame as your own. Thank you. Change my speech, therefore, each day… day after day… to a pure speech. Make me and my congregation a people humble and lowly and therefore fearless… a people who do no injustice, speak no lies, and who seek refuge in your name alone. In Jesus’ name I ask this, amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymKxTkrRNBA

“What does baptism mean for daily living?”

It means that my sinful self, with all its evil deeds and desires, should be drowned through daily repentance; and that day after day a new self should arise to live with God in righteousness and purity forever.

Paul writes in Romans 6: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”  (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther)

Benediction: For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.   Psalm 149.4

 

*This is now our congregation’s 99^th year in the Word. In 2025, we are reading from Genesis to Revelation, with a few interludes along the way.