Immanuel Lutheran Blog

Don't just survive...THRIVE!

This week we focus on the work of God for you and I.  God has a plan for you and I.  The plan is to do His work...not just simply survive this earth and life, but thrive in it as we prepare for the next life.  When one looks at Proverbs 8:22-35 we see that God has had you and I in mind from the very beginning, He has a plan for us that is greater than the greatest wonders of this world.  God has a mission and purpose for us.  That mission and purpose is to Thrive for Him.  To yearn for his touch, love and voice in our life. 

In Luke 10:38-42 we see a model of someone who is yearning for His touch and voice.  We see Mary who is listening at the feet of Jesus.  She is forsaking everything else including her family responsibilities to listen and worship our God.  When Jesus is made aware of this (though He always was aware of her devotion), he reminded her sister Martha...that Mary has her priorities in order.  The responsibilities and cares of this world are temporary, but the joys and mission of God are eternal. 

God wants you to Thrive in His wisdom.  We strive to be wise, but we will thrive when we are wise in the wonders and ways of the Lord.  May you Thrive today and everyday as you focus on God and His great love and purpose for you!

God's People Ask...What's God want from us?

In our second part talking about the desire God wants from us, we remember that we are commanded to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.  This is a pretty daunting request for me. 

When I think about loving others as I love myself that becomes a mountainous task.  Not to sound vain, but I love myself greatly.  I think of myself constantly when I am standing in a line, I like to make sure that I am taken care of when it comes to having things, I sometimes even struggle to put my spouse ahead of my own needs.  I don't believe that I am alone either.  I believe that this is our human nature.  I believe that all of us love ourselves a great deal, often times loving ourselves even more than we love God.  This is why in the Scriptures He says the greatest command is to love God with our whole heart, soul and mind, and the second greatest command is to love others as we love ourselves.

So what does it mean to love others as we love ourselves...it means that we think of others needs first, we are patient with them as we are patient with ourselves, it means that we accept their faults as faults, and learn to live with them, it means that we make sure their daily necessities are met, not wants but necessities. 

To love other as we love ourselves means that we serve others not ourself.  This is difficult and nearly impossible.  But, just as it is impossible to love God with our whole heart, soul and mind on our own, it is impossible to love our neighbors as ourselves on our own.  We need the motivation, the compulsion, and the movement of the Holy Spirit to bring us to the very love of Jesus for others. 

This week as you think about yourself and are reminded how great your love is for yourself, be reminded of how great the love is you are to have for others...as much love for them as Jesus has for them and for you.  What's God want...He wants you to love on His behalf!

God bless your love as you love others on behalf of His great love for them! 

God's People Ask...What's the greatest command?

I had a seminary professor who used to always say to us, "When someone says Pastor...what, who, when...we should always first respond, Why do you ask?" The same question needs to apply here, someone came and submitted for our sermon series, What is the greatest command? Why do you ask I say. Is it because you want to make sure that you are obeying that command so then you must look okay to God, or is it because you are doing something that you know is wrong, and you want to hear that God doesn't see that as the worst thing. When Jesus was asked this question it was to trick Him so that they could say that He says some sins are worse than others. So Jesus answered in the greatest way that is possible...He said "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind." He went on to further say "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." These two statements sum up the entire commandments. How much do you love God...well, without Him in your life, you can't love Him at all...and once He comes into your life, then He brings you the ability to love Him greater than you ever could. What's the greatest command: it's all about love! Love God, Love others!

Honoring our Soldiers and our God

This weekend at Immanuel we had a special service honoring all of the service men and women who have bravely responded to the call of God to serve our country and defend our freedom. On our campus we had 1000 flags planted to remember all the service men and women who gave their lives so that you and I would be free.
I believe that God has set up small ways for us to see the eternal picture of His great love. Some examples of this are communion as we take bread and wine, and see a small picture of what heaven will look like, or worship as we see a small picture of the activities that we will have in heaven. Another, is our freedom here in America. The American motto is that each person has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Jesus Christ gave His life for us so that we will have eternal life, eternal liberty, and eternal happiness. Our soldiers have risked their lives and many sacrificed their life so that you and I can live freely, Jesus Christ gave His life so that you and I can live freely.
Each of us need always be grateful and remember the great love of Jesus and the great heroism of our service men and women as they have boldly and bravely defended freedom, and our Lord has brought freedom to us.
Truly, we live in the greatest country in the world, and we serve the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, who has set us free. Have a great fourth of July and celebrate the freedom won for you in the cross of Christ.