Who Is Like the Lord Our God?

photo by Seminary staff

“Praise the Lord!

Praise, O servants of the Lord,

praise the name of the Lord!

Blessed be the name of the Lord

from this time forth and forevermore!

From the rising of the sun to its setting,

the name of the Lord is to be praised!

The Lord is high above all nations,

and his glory above the heavens!

Who is like the Lord our God,

who is seated on high,

who looks down

on the heavens and the earth?

He raises the poor from the dust

and lifts the needy from the ash heap,

and makes them sit with princes,

with the princes of his people.

He gives the barren woman a home,

making her the joyous mother of children.

Praise the Lord!

Last night was graduation from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.  I stood with my fellow graduates thankful for God’s faithfulness to all of us for seeing us through our seminary training–for me as a deaconess and the rest as future pastors.  We serve the Lord our God who does the impossible for the poor, the needy and the barren.   Just as we have been raised up and made to bear fruit by the power of the living God through the Holy Spirit we give thanks and praise to the Lord our God.  Who is like Him?

No one even comes close!

Lord God, thank you for the privilege of being called your servant.  Have mercy on me and grant me grace to faithfully serve and love others in Your most Holy Name.  For Jesus’ sake I pray, Amen.

 

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February 13 Sprung To Life

Image by Michael Hickman

Exodus 35:10-36:38;  Matthew 27:32-66;  Psalm 34:1-10;  Proverbs 9:7-8

“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two

from top to bottom.  The earth shook and the rocks split.

The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people

who had died were raised to life.  They came

out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection

they went to the holy city and

appeared to many people.

When the centurion and those with him

who were guarding Jesus saw

the earthquake and all that had happened

they were terrified, and exclaimed,

“Surely he was the Son of God!”

Matthew 27:50-54

* * * * *

The earth quaked

darkness reigned

but some near

Jesus

saw the light–

“Surely he was the Son of God!”

Sometimes it takes

a shaking of our world

our aloneness

our being in the dark

before the Light comes to us

and we realize

Jesus IS who he says

He is,

the Son of God

who reigns

over the darkness

who draws near to us

with His love,

His assurance

that we are

not lost.

“I sought the Lord,

and He answered me;

he delivered me from

all my fears.

Those who look to him

are radiant.

Their faces are never

covered with shame.”

Psalm 34:4-5

He has sprung us

from our spiritual graves.

Lord God,  Blessed are you who comes to us in our darkness and spreads your glorious light.  Holy are you who stoops to touch us with your love and grace.  Gracious are you who rescues us from our spiritual prisons by the blood of the Lamb on the Cross.  Blessed are you, O Lord and most worthy of our praise!

November 3 Time To Remember

Photo by Laura Jostes

Ezekiel 7:1-9:11;  Hebrews 5:1-14;  Psalm 105:1-15;  Proverbs 26:28

O, give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!  Sing to him, sing praises to him;  tell of all his wonderful works!  Glory in his holy name;  let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!  Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!  Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and judgements he uttered, O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob his chosen ones!

Psalm 105:1-6

~

Take time to remember

all God’s done

to knit you together

and keep you as

one

who is precious in his sight.

Take time to remember

his faithfulness to you

by sending his son,

your life he has won,

the battle is done.

No longer sin reigns,

death has no power,

Satan cannot snatch you out of his arms.

Glory, glory be to thee,

dearest Jesus until thee!

Take time to remember

the times when you’ve strayed

far from your Shepherd’s side,

the times you’ve heard him call your name

reclaim you,

embrace you

tend to your wounds,

soothing you,

calming you,

restoring you.

Glory, glory be to thee

dearest Jesus unto thee!

Greet this day with confidence,

based on remembrances of him

and his great love for you.

There’s nothing today that

can change your place

in his Grace.

Glory, glory be to thee

dearest Jesus unto thee!

Lord God, your Word is full of your promises, kept;  full of history recounting all the wondrous acts you performed on our behalf.  When we are faced with trials and difficulties may we look to you first–for you have never failed!  Your word is truth that we can stand full upon and trust with our whole hearts.  Forgive us for looking to ourselves or to others to solve our problems;  for our lack of faith in your promises.  Help us to remember all that you have done for us in the past and to place ourselves- today- in your tender care.  For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

April 17 Hurt

Photo by Aleisha Knight

Joshua 15:1-63;  Luke 18:18-43;  Psalm 86:1-12;  Proverbs 13:9-10

“Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and every thing that is written about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.  He will be handed over to the Gentiles.  They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him.”   Luke 18:31-32

 

“IF I feel injured when

another lays to my charge

things that I know not,

forgetting that

my Sinless Savior

trod this path

to the end,

then I know nothing of

Calvary Love.”

 

~  Amy Carmichael

Lord God, may I meet injustice and suffering with the same grace as my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.   May I be slow to anger, quick to listen, and able to show love and mercy like your Son showed while he hung dying on the Cross for my sins.  I don’t deserve your Calvary Love, but I thank and praise you for extending it to me and to all the world.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,

 slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

Psalm 86:15

 

 

March 14 Nothing Is Impossible

Image by Lauren Boebinger

Numbers 21:1-22:20;  Luke 1:26-56;  Psalm 57:1-11;  Proverbs 11:9-11

“I am the Lord’s servant,”  Mary answered.

“May it be to me as you have said.”

Then the angel left her.”

Luke 1:38

 

Simple faith,

though afraid,

Mary’s life

would change.

 

Face to face

with Gabriel

words of praise

seemed strange.

 

“Who am I?

How can this be?

What will happen

next?”

 

Power from God

on High

will plant

the precious seed.

 

Learn of Elizabeth

of great age,

expects a child

as well.

 

Go to her,

share you news

and dwell on holy words,

“Nothing is impossible with God.”

Lord God, create in me a willing spirit like Mary’s, so that when you direct me to go and do and serve, I will gladly do so.  May I remember Mary’s boy-child, Jesus, who gave His life as a ransom for me–and who now reigns with you in Heaven.  In the little things of life may I be found faithful as wife, mother, friend, sister, daughter.  And when it seems you’re asking the impossible, may I remember those holy words–“With God nothing is impossible.”  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“I will praise you, O Lord,

among the nations;

I will sing of you among the peoples.

For great is your love,

reaching to the heavens;

Your faithfulness reaches

to the skies.”

Psalm 57:9-10

 

February 1 To Look Forward, Look Back

Photo by Paul Bruger

Exodus 13:17-15:18;  Matthew 21:23-46;  Psalm 26:1-12;  Proverbs 6:16-19

“In your unfailing love you will lead

the people you have redeemed.

In your strength you will guide them

to your holy dwelling.”

Exodus 15:13

 

Ever wonder if the Lord hears your prayers?  Look back into His Word and read about the many miraculous things He has done for His people.  Moses and the Israelites were delivered out of Egypt, led through the desert, and given a new homeland.  Not by their own strength and power, but by the hand of God.  He had heard their prayers.

God’s unfailing love to them is the same unfailing love to us today!  He has redeemed us by the Blood of the Lamb and saved us from our sins.  His strength continues to guide us day by day.  We may have doubts, but they are for naught.  We may worry, but we needn’t.   Call upon His name in the day of trouble and He will answer.  He remembers His promises to us–and He keeps them for His name’s sake.

“You will bring them in and plant them

on the mountain of your

inheritance-

the place, O Lord, you made for your

dwelling,

the sanctuary, O Lord, your hands

established.

The Lord will reign

for ever and ever.”

Exodus 15:17-18

Lord God, your Word–the Holy Scriptures–show us your faithfulness throughout all generations.  Your mighty arm saved those whom you loved and called to be your own.  Thank you that we can count ourselves among them.  We need only look to the Cross and the empty tomb to see your power and glory and love.  Today we may have troubles, but you tell us to take heart–you have overcome the world!  Grant us faith to trust your faithfulness to see us through this day and the next and the next.  We look forward in Jesus’ name, Amen.

September 21 Joy and Delight

Photo by Filip Ologeanu

Isaiah 37:1-38:22;  Galatians 6:1-18;  Psalm 65:1-13;  Proverbs 23:24

“The father of a righteous man has great joy;  he who has a wise son delights in him.”

Proverbs 23:24

More than the medals and first place wins, more than graduations and successful careers, is knowing that one’s children walk with the Lord;  to know that their treasure is laid up in Heaven; to know that should their lives be ended before ours, we have confidence of meeting them again before the King’s Throne.

Money cannot buy the peace that comes from knowing faith is paramount in their lives, that the Spirit indwells their hearts.

Our Heavenly Father likewise rejoices when He sees the faith in our hearts and  hears us confess our belief in His Son, Jesus.

“Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion;  to you our vows will be fulfilled, to you all men will come.

When we were overwhelmed with sins, you forgave our transgressions.

Blessed are those who choose and bring near to live in your courts!

We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.

You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior,

the hope of all ends of the earth.”   Psalm 65:1-5

Thank you, Father for faithful sons, faithful daughters, faithful mothers and fathers.  Thank you for your faithfulness to us and for the joy we have knowing your Son, Jesus Christ.  He is our delight!   We praise your holy name!  Amen.