It is interesting to look at the lives of people and see how the many seemingly unrelated events and circumstances come together to create the lives they have at any point in time.

We can see this in Biblical personalities as well. Would Moses ever have thought that he would become the leader and liberator of the Jewish nation, or Joseph becoming so powerful in Egypt after being sold as a slave by his brothers, or Paul at one point persecuting the early Christians, then later becoming the leading spokesman for Christianity?

We can see some of these things in our lives too today. How we came to know our best friends, how we met our spouse, or how we ended up living and working where we do. We cannot predict what God has in store for us, even tomorrow. 1 Corinthians 2:9 Paul writes, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

We don’t know why things are going the way they are for us at any one time, but we can know that God loves us and has plans for each of us.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the peace of knowing that you have control of all that happens to each one of us. If we only surrender ourselves to your will, our lives will be the beautiful picture that you are painting. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

You have probably heard this before, but I think it is fitting to hear again today as we recognize Veterans Day in the United States.

“There are only two defining forces that have offered to die for you; Jesus Christ and the American Soldier.”

Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater Love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

Soldiers don’t join the service with the expectation of being killed, but all know the possibility exists.

Two key articles in the US Military Code of Conduct express why we give our respect to veterans today.
I. I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.
VI. I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.

To those who have served. Thank you!

Dear Lord, You have done something special in America, and our veterans chose to put their earthly lives at risk to maintain it. Thank you for them, and help us all have the courage to defend our Faith and its critical place in America. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

You have probably seen movies, where one person wronged another and it started a “cold war” between them, where neither will talk to the other. Until they can put that bad experience behind them, they cannot complete some important objective that is critical to both of them. Ultimately it comes down to one of the characters apologizing, in order to become “right” with the other, and the other granting forgiveness.

This is the type of relationship man has with God. Paul writes in Romans 3:24,25, “..assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.”

People are in a “cold war” with God, separated from him until we believe that Jesus was raised by God from the dead. Jesus’ sacrifice for us, and our belief in him, makes us “right” with God, so that we can finish the story and live in and with God eternally.

Dear Lord, though it may seem to some that we have to do the work to become right with you. Really, you have done all the work already. We must only accept this righteousness you offer. Help us to accept your gift, and remember it regularly in prayer, reading scripture, attending church, and receiving your holy communion. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

James 3:1-12 writes about the power of our words for good and evil.

James wrote in James 3:4-6 “And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire.”

There are many ways we can misuse the power of our words. One is sarcasm. We often think when we use sarcasm, “it is harmless, he/she knows I am kidding.” However when we stop and think about what sarcasm is, “The use of irony to mock or convey contempt. Synonyms including ridicule, and scorn.” Would we every chose to mock or ridicule those we love most and who are most influenced by what we say?

On the other hand, the amazing power we have for good in what we say can change those peoples’ lives. Let us use this power to strengthen, encourage, and uplift those we love.

Dear Lord, Help us remember the powerful effect of our words on those we love and who love us. Give us the wisdom to use this power for their benefit. Inspire us with words they will remember for strength, hope, and peace in their lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Sustaining anything requires maintenance. To stay alive we need to eat and drink; to stay fit we need to exercise; to stay effective at our jobs we need to maintain our skills. In the same way, to sustain our faith we need to spend time with other believers, grow our knowledge of God’s word, and show praise and gratitude for what God has done for us. We do this by attending Church services.

In the Old Testament, the Jewish laws dictated when to go to the temple, and all the rituals needed to please God. Jesus Christ removed the burden of these rituals and Old Testament rules; so going to church is no longer about doing good deeds to win favor from God, it’s about engaging with other Christians to worship God, learn, sustain and support each other.

Acts 2:42 says about the early Christians, “They joined with the other believers in regular attendance at the apostles’ teaching sessions and at the Communion services and prayer meetings.” TLB

Our churches are the places we do this. We all need a church that is comfortable for us so it can be a core part of our lives.

Dear Lord, help us each find a church home, and attend regularly to sustain our faith in You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.