ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

Matthew 4:1-2 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted 40 days and 40 nights, and afterwards he was famished.

Have you ever tried to give something up for Lent? I know it’s not typically a Lutheran tradition, but having a number of Catholic friends and working for a Catholic organization, I am often surrounded by people who are abstaining from chocolate or sweets or some other vice during the season of Lent. I have tried to give up soda for Lent in the past, and for me it was nearly impossible.

It would be easier to give up something like broccoli, homework, or exercise, wouldn’t it? But that’s not the point. Today’s lesson reminds us that Jesus didn’t give up something easy--- no, no. He gave up food. For 40 days. I dare you to try that.

(No, I actually don’t.  I’m a medical professional—don’t do that.)

The point is, Jesus gave up life-sustaining nutrients for a long time. And in the midst of it, he fought with the devil, and won on the strength of His faith alone. Your faith will carry you during your times of struggle as well.

Karen Goodlow

Join us for midweek Lenten supper and worship TONIGHT on Wednesday. Soup supper at 6:15 and worship at 7. This week, we will encounter a reflection on Creation. Then, join us for the Second Sunday in Lent at 8:30 and 11. Full calendar is available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.

Remember last year’s insurance commercial where one little act of kindness begets another? When someone is nice to us, it is easy to be nice in return. But if someone is rude to you, can you swallow the urge to be mean to them as well and instead be kind and “repay with a blessing”?

When we seek revenge, we get sucked into an emotional downward spiral. While we know this on a logical level, it can nevertheless be hard to avoid it when we are angry or hurt. God calls on us to be a better person, to get past our pride and the feeling of entitlement. I believe God is asking us to be generous with handing out blessings. Each time we dispense a blessing on someone that has done us wrong, we have the potential to break the cycle of evil. God is challenging us to take that opportunity. We just might get blessed in return.

Monika Fiedler

Join us for midweek Lenten supper and worship on Wednesday. Soup supper at 6:15 and worship at 7. This week, we will encounter a reflection on Creation. Then, join us for the Second Sunday in Lent at 8:30 and 11. Full calendar is available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org

ASLC Devotions - Monday

Ephesians 2:10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Every year during Pentecost, the sermon is about the Holy Spirit and the Pastors struggle to explain the Holy Spirit.  Ironically, for me, the Holy Spirit is the easiest of the Holy Trinity to explain.  My personality is not naturally spiritual.  I want to be spiritual, but I’m just not; I need help. 

I absolutely love life and all the fun and excitement it brings me every day.  I’ve been very blessed to have this “my glass is always half full” philosophy.  This is not to say, I haven’t had bad things happen to me.  During these bad times, I go through the usual depression and despair.  But, in not a very long time period, I wake up one morning full of hope and excitement at making “lemonade out of lemons.” 

My sense of humor and making people laugh is the tonic from which I drink. What a gift for good works and my way of life God has given me !!

What other explanation is there, but the Holy Spirit gives me grace and saves me.  I’m not sure what the plan is the above verse from Ephesians states, but I certainly look forward to the trip, thanks to my faith in the Holy Spirit.

Have a Blessed day.  Drink a glass of lemonade today.

George Buerger

Join us for midweek Lenten supper and worship on Wednesday. Soup supper at 6:15 and worship at 7. This week, we will encounter a reflection on Creation. Then, join us for the Second Sunday in Lent at 8:30 and 11. Full calendar is available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org

ASLC Devotions - Saturday

Matthew 9:2 And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

Faith is a funny thing. Can you see it? Is it something you hold in your hands? Something you receive wrapped up in pretty paper as a gift? We talk about ‘having’ faith in something: we’re confident that something will act in a certain way, sometimes without knowing ahead of time that it will. People in relationships pledge to be faithful to each other, to act in certain ways so that their bond together is strengthened. We encourage each other to faithfully come to worship and offer our gifts of time, talent and treasure in response. So faith sounds like it’s something to do. Faith is action.

The paralyzed man’s friends surely wanted to help him. It’s likely they had done all they could to ease his pain and discomfort. But these friends wanted to do more. So they took action, picking him up on his bed, taking him to the person they trusted could help. And Jesus, recognizing their faith immediately, healed the paralytic man.

Let your faith be active this Lenten season. Seek out ways to help others. Bring them to Jesus, in prayer, in worship, through acts of kindness. Let faith-in-action be what assures you that God will act also – people will be healed; strife will cease; fears will be calmed. Then be filled with awe, and glorify God.

Doug Williams

Join us for worship this First Sunday in Lent at 8:30 and 11. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar.    

ASLC Devotions - Friday

2 Timothy 4:2 Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.

When we put the term "evangelist" in the context of our own lives, we may think of sharing the news with our friends and co-workers.  But, we should not forget that we need to share God’s Word with people of all ages. When reading this verse from 2 Timothy, I could not help but think of how we teach our children about Jesus. Timothy asks us to “proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable.” I have had many moments where my children have asked difficult questions about the church or Jesus.  While, the best and easiest answer is to say that we can ask Pastors Seth or Jenn the next time we see them, I also know this will not satisfy.  I usually try to give them an answer that will be satisfying to their curiosity, but also give them the confidence to ask more questions about their faith. 

As the reading continues on to say, “for the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires.” This makes me mindful that like adults, children will continue to search, if they do not get answers to their questions.  These may come from rock stars, TV personalities, or others who will give them answers that may be easier to accept, but not necessarily the truth as we Christians would like to see it.  Now is our chance to give our children, and other adults, the right answers. While it may seem like “suffering” to find an instant answer to “Who created God?” or “How does God make it snow?”, Timothy reminds us that if we do our work as an evangelist and a child of God, we are fulfilling God’s will for us.

Vikki Drucker

Join us for worship this First Sunday in Lent at 8:30 and 11. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar.  

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.

During the long winter days the darkness is upon us and I cannot wait for the days to get longer to let there be light.   Then I remember God is light and the darkness is only there if I do not let the light of God into my life.

What do you do to remember that God is light and to keep yourself out of the darkness?  Do you pray, read the bible or just look around and see all the beautiful things God has given us?  Let us all remember to walk in the light with God each and every day and to enjoy each other’s friendship as we walk with God.  Together we can keep out the darkness. May the light of God be with you always.

 

Kathy Garner 

Join us for worship this First Sunday in Lent at 8:30 and 11. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

With this message, we begin hearing from members of All Saints who wrote for our Lenten devotional:

Joel 2:12-13 “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

Joel speaks about the return of our Lord and how we are to wait for God.  During the time when this was written, King Uzziah was in the height of his reign.  The lifestyle most lived was one of self-indulgence.  It was also a time when people would observe various religious practices.  However, what they practiced and what was in their heart were often two different things. 

Joel first states that God will return and what would God think of returning to a people who were not giving everything they had to God?  In verse 12, the Lord says, “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”   God is saying, if you are going to doing something in my name, put your heart into it.  Let it mean something.  Don’t just do it because you think it puts on a good show.

It goes on to say, in verse 13, “rend your heart, and not your garments.”  If you look up rend in the dictionary, it doesn’t just mean to give something up, it means to rip violently from its place.  What an image!  Don’t just give your heart to God, but rip your heart violently away from the things that hold you back from God. 

What things are holding you back from being fully able to wait on the Lord?  Take time during Lent and make this a time to return to God with all your heart.

Kimberly Kuhlman 

Join with the All Saints community for Ash Wednesday worship (Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes) at both noon and 7 pm. A dramatic interpretation of the Gospel will happen at the 7 pm service.