Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So what else did you want to know?
This passage is my go-to for funerals or at the bedside of someone facing surgery or death. Seems to me that it sums up all the most important things we need to know at those most important points in life: nothing can separate us from God's love... not this funeral, not this surgery, not this death.
But it's probably a good reminder for those of us not going through a death or particular grief right now as well.
So what else did you want to know?
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour for ages 3 through adult at 9:45. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Thursday
Romans 3:3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?
We are an arrogant bunch, aren't we? Even when we are down on ourselves and feeling worthless, it comes out in arrogance. I can't tell you how many times I've thought "I don't deserve it." I have thought that whatever I had done was just so bad that nobody, not even God, should or would forgive me. When good things have come my way, like family and love, I've thought "I don't deserve it." I have thought that there was nothing I could possibly have done to deserve those things. There must be some kind of cosmic mistake.
And that's just it. I don't deserve it. I don't deserve any of it. And God gives it anyway. God has promised to give us life. End of story. If we, by being unfaithful, could make God not give us life, then we'd have some power over God, wouldn't we? And that's ridiculous. God promises to love us and God will love us no matter what.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour for ages 3 through adult at 9:45. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
We are an arrogant bunch, aren't we? Even when we are down on ourselves and feeling worthless, it comes out in arrogance. I can't tell you how many times I've thought "I don't deserve it." I have thought that whatever I had done was just so bad that nobody, not even God, should or would forgive me. When good things have come my way, like family and love, I've thought "I don't deserve it." I have thought that there was nothing I could possibly have done to deserve those things. There must be some kind of cosmic mistake.
And that's just it. I don't deserve it. I don't deserve any of it. And God gives it anyway. God has promised to give us life. End of story. If we, by being unfaithful, could make God not give us life, then we'd have some power over God, wouldn't we? And that's ridiculous. God promises to love us and God will love us no matter what.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour for ages 3 through adult at 9:45. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
ASLC Devotions - Wednesday
Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength* of my heart and my portion for ever.
Are you having a bad week? Things dragging you down? Are the bills piling higher than you thought they might? Had you hoped for a little relief, for a little bit easier time this week than last and it's just not there.
I don't have and won't attempt to give any easy answers to life's very complicated troubles. I know that pain and stress and heartache are just too real for that.
All I know is this: there is a God who is strong and powerful. The God of all the universe has claimed you and washed you and promised to be with you forever. Try something: memorize this verse and repeat it to yourself when it feels like the end of the line:
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength* of my heart and my portion for ever.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour for ages 3 through adult at 9:45. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
but God is the strength* of my heart and my portion for ever.
Are you having a bad week? Things dragging you down? Are the bills piling higher than you thought they might? Had you hoped for a little relief, for a little bit easier time this week than last and it's just not there.
I don't have and won't attempt to give any easy answers to life's very complicated troubles. I know that pain and stress and heartache are just too real for that.
All I know is this: there is a God who is strong and powerful. The God of all the universe has claimed you and washed you and promised to be with you forever. Try something: memorize this verse and repeat it to yourself when it feels like the end of the line:
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength* of my heart and my portion for ever.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour for ages 3 through adult at 9:45. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Tuesday
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
In the Christian calendar, today is Holy Cross Day. It's a day born of a mama's boy and son and mother's devotion to Christ. Helena went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land some time around the year 325. She found what she believed to be the actual cross where Jesus had been killed. Well, it just so happened that Helena's son was named Constantine and he happened to be the ruler of most of the known world, the Roman emperor. So he built a church on the spot and started a festival to honor the cross, Holy Cross Day, September 14.
This story of an emperor and his mother connect the cross to historical greats and to powerful people with massive influence, more influence than we can even imagine. And Paul reminds us, as he reminded the Corinthians, that the cross is all about foolishness and overcoming power. It's a message of foolishness to say that one killed by another Roman emperor became worshiped and adored by this Roman emperor, and down to thousands and millions of Christians 2000 years later, including you and I. The cross that Helena found may or may not have been the actual cross on which Jesus died. I don't know. But I do know that the cross and what Jesus did there for you and I have opened life to us.
A few light thoughts for your Tuesday morning!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour for ages 3 through adult at 9:45. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
In the Christian calendar, today is Holy Cross Day. It's a day born of a mama's boy and son and mother's devotion to Christ. Helena went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land some time around the year 325. She found what she believed to be the actual cross where Jesus had been killed. Well, it just so happened that Helena's son was named Constantine and he happened to be the ruler of most of the known world, the Roman emperor. So he built a church on the spot and started a festival to honor the cross, Holy Cross Day, September 14.
This story of an emperor and his mother connect the cross to historical greats and to powerful people with massive influence, more influence than we can even imagine. And Paul reminds us, as he reminded the Corinthians, that the cross is all about foolishness and overcoming power. It's a message of foolishness to say that one killed by another Roman emperor became worshiped and adored by this Roman emperor, and down to thousands and millions of Christians 2000 years later, including you and I. The cross that Helena found may or may not have been the actual cross on which Jesus died. I don't know. But I do know that the cross and what Jesus did there for you and I have opened life to us.
A few light thoughts for your Tuesday morning!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour for ages 3 through adult at 9:45. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Monday, September 13, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Monday
Amos 7:3 The Lord relented concerning this;
‘It shall not be,’ said the Lord.
Looking for a bit of inspiration, I looked up relent on dictionary.com. Here's what I came up with: "to soften in feeling, temper, or determination; become more mild, compassionate, or forgiving."
I love the image of God softening in feeling, temper, or determination. God softening, God melting, God's angry face turning into a soft and compassionate face of love. It brings to mind one of those tear-jerking Hallmark commercials. Picture the parents coming down the stairs early in the morning bleary-eyed to find their children in the kitchen in the middle of a big mess. Broken eggs on the floor, flour spread all over the place, coffee sputtering out of the pot onto the counter. At first, anger. And then, when the kids look up sweetly offering their homemade breakfast, the parents melt.
God softens toward us. God relents. Even if we're not trying to do something nice like make breakfast. Even if we're not trying to do anything nice at all. God relents. God forgives. God softens. Thanks be to God!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour for ages 3 through adult at 9:45. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
‘It shall not be,’ said the Lord.
Looking for a bit of inspiration, I looked up relent on dictionary.com. Here's what I came up with: "to soften in feeling, temper, or determination; become more mild, compassionate, or forgiving."
I love the image of God softening in feeling, temper, or determination. God softening, God melting, God's angry face turning into a soft and compassionate face of love. It brings to mind one of those tear-jerking Hallmark commercials. Picture the parents coming down the stairs early in the morning bleary-eyed to find their children in the kitchen in the middle of a big mess. Broken eggs on the floor, flour spread all over the place, coffee sputtering out of the pot onto the counter. At first, anger. And then, when the kids look up sweetly offering their homemade breakfast, the parents melt.
God softens toward us. God relents. Even if we're not trying to do something nice like make breakfast. Even if we're not trying to do anything nice at all. God relents. God forgives. God softens. Thanks be to God!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour for ages 3 through adult at 9:45. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday
Psalm 101:1,5
1I will sing of loyalty and of justice;
to you, O Lord, I will sing.
5One who secretly slanders a neighbor I will destroy.
A haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not tolerate.
It can feel pretty innocent, those hushed-tone conversations that happen behind the backs of our neighbors and colleagues, in parking lots and backyards, on the phone or over e-mail. And yet, let's all be really honest -- bullying doesn't stop when we leave school. As adults we often engage in versions of the very behaviors that we find appalling among children. The slandering of neighbors and our arrogant hearts do nothing to sing of our loyalty to the Lord and the justice that God seeks.
God calls us into relationship with one another, and David's psalm rejects the ways that we often function in those relationships. It is my prayer and hope that we can reject the slandering, haughtiness and arrogance that permeates our cultures. Let our song be of loyalty and justice to the Lord. Let us sing that song together.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
1I will sing of loyalty and of justice;
to you, O Lord, I will sing.
5One who secretly slanders a neighbor I will destroy.
A haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not tolerate.
It can feel pretty innocent, those hushed-tone conversations that happen behind the backs of our neighbors and colleagues, in parking lots and backyards, on the phone or over e-mail. And yet, let's all be really honest -- bullying doesn't stop when we leave school. As adults we often engage in versions of the very behaviors that we find appalling among children. The slandering of neighbors and our arrogant hearts do nothing to sing of our loyalty to the Lord and the justice that God seeks.
God calls us into relationship with one another, and David's psalm rejects the ways that we often function in those relationships. It is my prayer and hope that we can reject the slandering, haughtiness and arrogance that permeates our cultures. Let our song be of loyalty and justice to the Lord. Let us sing that song together.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
ASLC Devotions-- Tuesday
1 Timothy 4:14
14Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.*
This section of 1st Timothy contains instructions under the modern heading of "A Good Minister of Jesus Christ." Let me remind you that you are ALL ministers of Jesus Christ. Also, those headings were added by 20th Century editors. There are a number of times when we lay hands on people in the church -- at baptism, at an affirmation of baptism (often called "confirmation"), an ordination, and during times of healing and commissioning.
Within you is a gift, a gift from God. As with most things from God, it seems in poor taste to ignore it or neglect it. Instead, nurture it, use it, expand it, and respect it. A gift from God is far more than an ill-fitting sweater or book you've already read. What is the gift God has given you? How will you use it today?
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
14Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.*
This section of 1st Timothy contains instructions under the modern heading of "A Good Minister of Jesus Christ." Let me remind you that you are ALL ministers of Jesus Christ. Also, those headings were added by 20th Century editors. There are a number of times when we lay hands on people in the church -- at baptism, at an affirmation of baptism (often called "confirmation"), an ordination, and during times of healing and commissioning.
Within you is a gift, a gift from God. As with most things from God, it seems in poor taste to ignore it or neglect it. Instead, nurture it, use it, expand it, and respect it. A gift from God is far more than an ill-fitting sweater or book you've already read. What is the gift God has given you? How will you use it today?
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
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