Day by Day

[Soldier4Christ]

Hi def, I'm glad that you liked that.

[def]

"Learning Still?"

Teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. Proverbs 9:9
   

School days. Graduations. Finished at last. You may feel saturated with learning and content just to live a little. However we never stop learning as long as we live. In our rapidly changing society, everyone struggles to keep abreast of constantly growing knowledge. Who would have expected that computers would become so essential to daily life? If learning stops, we can scarcely adapt to modern life.

Unfortunately, we also may think of our knowledge of God and His Word in terms of graduation. We attended Sunday school and perhaps a Christian elementary school. We received confirmation instruction. Now we think we have arrived!

The writer of Proverbs would disagree. Mockers refuse to learn or accept correction. But Proverbs 9:9 tells us, “Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.” The righteous person, declared righteous by Christ’s death on the cross, rejoices in salvation and never ceases to want more knowledge about God’s love in Christ. Humbly and simply, the wise come to the waters of life again and again for a drink. Not like a cup, which fills with water and can hold no more, but rather like a sponge, which absorbs more and more water, the wise keep learning and sharing with others.

God’ Spirit creates in us the desire to absorb more and more of God’s good news. The more we live for Christ like a sponge emptying, the more we need to learn like a sponge absorbing. Jesus Christ fills our lives with His forgiving love. Yes, as God’s wise and righteous people, we are learning still!

sponge willing to be fill to capacity here

[Soldier4Christ]

sponge willing to be fill to capacity here

Amen!

[Soldier4Christ]

"Who's Afraid?"

"Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
   

Around 1932, a minister traveled across the country on the train. He and another young man had an entire compartment to themselves. To pass the miles they started to talk. The young man talked about how, although he had once been a Christian, he had neglected the Lord. He related how reverses had left him despondent of today and afraid for tomorrow. Indeed, he confessed that he didn’t believe he would be able to stand on his own much longer.

The minister reached into his canvas suitcase and brought out his Bible and a pencil. He put the Bible on his lap and asked the young man, “How would you like to see me stand this pencil up on the cover of the Bible?” “Even with the train rocking?” “Even with the train rocking.” The young man, thinking this would be a nifty trick, encouraged, “Please go ahead and begin any time you wish.” The minister replied, “I’ve already begun. The pencil is standing on the Bible.” “Unfair,” came the reply. “You’re holding the pencil.” To which the minister confessed, “Of course! A pencil can’t stand without someone holding it.”

I’m reasonably sure that most of the folks reading this book have been or are afraid. They may be afraid of failing health or that a rising crime rate will show up at their door. Possibly they’re afraid their children won't love them or their parents might embarrass them. Maybe you’re afraid that someone might find out about your past? Or you’re afraid of what you might do in the future. The list is endless. Let me sum it up by saying that it’s likely you have a fear that is souring your life—both the todays and the tomorrows. Let me add this: If you’ve tried to deal with your fear all by yourself, you’ve probably not done a very good job.

If that describes your life, remember, Jesus Christ came into this world to hold you up. That is why He was born; it is why He suffered and died; it is why He sends His Holy Spirit. Jesus wants to call you to faith, to forgive your sins, to change your perspective, to make you unafraid—to hold you up. A promise to hold us up is what Jesus makes to all who believe on Him. It is a promise He alone can keep. He, who conquered sin, Satan, and the grave, can conquer your fear as well. Believe Him when He says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

[def]

"Who's Afraid?"

"Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
   

Around 1932, a minister traveled across the country on the train. He and another young man had an entire compartment to themselves. To pass the miles they started to talk. The young man talked about how, although he had once been a Christian, he had neglected the Lord. He related how reverses had left him despondent of today and afraid for tomorrow. Indeed, he confessed that he didn’t believe he would be able to stand on his own much longer.

The minister reached into his canvas suitcase and brought out his Bible and a pencil. He put the Bible on his lap and asked the young man, “How would you like to see me stand this pencil up on the cover of the Bible?” “Even with the train rocking?” “Even with the train rocking.” The young man, thinking this would be a nifty trick, encouraged, “Please go ahead and begin any time you wish.” The minister replied, “I’ve already begun. The pencil is standing on the Bible.” “Unfair,” came the reply. “You’re holding the pencil.” To which the minister confessed, “Of course! A pencil can’t stand without someone holding it.”

I’m reasonably sure that most of the folks reading this book have been or are afraid. They may be afraid of failing health or that a rising crime rate will show up at their door. Possibly they’re afraid their children won't love them or their parents might embarrass them. Maybe you’re afraid that someone might find out about your past? Or you’re afraid of what you might do in the future. The list is endless. Let me sum it up by saying that it’s likely you have a fear that is souring your life—both the todays and the tomorrows. Let me add this: If you’ve tried to deal with your fear all by yourself, you’ve probably not done a very good job.

If that describes your life, remember, Jesus Christ came into this world to hold you up. That is why He was born; it is why He suffered and died; it is why He sends His Holy Spirit. Jesus wants to call you to faith, to forgive your sins, to change your perspective, to make you unafraid—to hold you up. A promise to hold us up is what Jesus makes to all who believe on Him. It is a promise He alone can keep. He, who conquered sin, Satan, and the grave, can conquer your fear as well. Believe Him when He says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Thank you Pastor Rogers,It is a good thing to be able to believe in Jesus..Thank you thank you Father for your mercy,and has given me the gift of faith in Your Son My Lord Jesus Christ now I am not Alone and Fear does not touche me,perfect Love cast out all fear ,thank you again, Pastor Rogers it is good to be able to testify,.

[def]

"Learning Still?"

Teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. Proverbs 9:9
   

School days. Graduations. Finished at last. You may feel saturated with learning and content just to live a little. However we never stop learning as long as we live. In our rapidly changing society, everyone struggles to keep abreast of constantly growing knowledge. Who would have expected that computers would become so essential to daily life? If learning stops, we can scarcely adapt to modern life.

Unfortunately, we also may think of our knowledge of God and His Word in terms of graduation. We attended Sunday school and perhaps a Christian elementary school. We received confirmation instruction. Now we think we have arrived!

The writer of Proverbs would disagree. Mockers refuse to learn or accept correction. But Proverbs 9:9 tells us, “Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.” The righteous person, declared righteous by Christ’s death on the cross, rejoices in salvation and never ceases to want more knowledge about God’s love in Christ. Humbly and simply, the wise come to the waters of life again and again for a drink. Not like a cup, which fills with water and can hold no more, but rather like a sponge, which absorbs more and more water, the wise keep learning and sharing with others.

God’ Spirit creates in us the desire to absorb more and more of God’s good news. The more we live for Christ like a sponge emptying, the more we need to learn like a sponge absorbing. Jesus Christ fills our lives with His forgiving love. Yes, as God’s wise and righteous people, we are learning still!

Learn Learn Learn all the time  

[Soldier4Christ]

Thank you Pastor Rogers,It is a good thing to be able to believe in Jesus..Thank you thank you Father for your mercy,and has given me the gift of faith in Your Son My Lord Jesus Christ now I am not Alone and Fear does not touche me,perfect Love cast out all fear ,thank you again, Pastor Rogers it is good to be able to testify,.

Amen, to all. It is great to be able to testify to God's perfect love.

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"Bodies Offered as Living Sacrifices"

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices. Romans 12:1
   

Today people are encouraged to donate organs of their body at the time of death for use in organ transplants. A heart, a kidney, or a liver can bring new life to a seriously ill person.

Saint Paul in Romans 12 urges the early Christians to offer their bodies as living sacrifices. He is asking them to commit themselves totally – body, mind, and spirit – to the service of Christ, which he calls a “spiritual act of worship.” In many respects a living sacrifice requires much more than a sacrifice of body organs at the time of death. A living sacrifice means daily commitment. Not always or even usually dramatic. Sometimes dull and routine. Time-consuming. Unpopular at times. Often unnoticed. Contrary to human nature. Living sacrifices demand more than we can possibly give on our own power.

That’s why Paul makes this a Gospel appeal: “…in view of God’s mercy.” Paul has described God’s mercy in the 11 glorious chapters of Romans preceding this text. He is “not ashamed of the Gospel” (Romans 1:16). He faces the ugly reality of sin and the Law which condemns the whole human race, but rejoices in God’s free “gift of … eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Jesus presented His body as a living sacrifice in perfect obedience to the Law. He then went to the cross and sacrificed Himself in payment for the world’s sin.

In view of this mercy of God, Paul urges us to offer our bodies – ourselves – as living sacrifices. Forgiven and empowered by the Gospel, we freely and joyfully give ourselves to the Lord. We love, care, give, share, witness, and obey in view of God’s mercy. Falling short, we repent and receive Christ’s forgiveness; then we offer our bodies again as living sacrifices.

Will be using David `s crucified Christ cause that how I feel ,I am crucified with Christ i tried to live like him but i could `t so i let go, now i am dead with Christ and resurrected in him .

[def]

Will be using David `s crucified Christ cause that how I feel ,I am crucified with Christ i tried to live like him but i could `t so i let go, now i am dead with Christ and resurrected in him .

Pastor Rogers I must say good night now.I am tired again, love in Jesus to all of you my dear brothers and sisters and all those who are alone and crying well I got new for you ,you are not Alone the Lord thy God is with thee...

[Soldier4Christ]

"A Lesson in Faith: Getting Out of the Boat"

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Matthew 14:29
   

The lesson in faith continues. Reassured by the voice of Jesus, Peter boldly asserts, “Lord, if it’s You, tell me to come to You on the water” (Matthew 14:28). Then he gets out of the boat and walks on the waves toward Jesus. Impetuous? Yes. But nevertheless a genuine faith response to do the impossible.

“Get out of the boat to serve others,” Jesus tells us. “Don’t just play it safe.” Reassured by His voice, we get out of the boat and walk on the water to Him as we serve Him.

But then fear returns. A second test of faith. Peter looks at the waves and feels the wind. Afraid and beginning to sink, he cries out, “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:30). Problems enough in the boat, but out here on the water, only a watery grave!

We, too, learn the meaning of fear when we step out of the boat. We reach out to others, take risks for the Lord, testify to our faith in Christ. In the process we often take our eyes off Jesus and look at the waves. We begin to sink. Desperately afraid, we cry out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught Peter. When they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. A third lesson in faith. Jesus said to Peter, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). Those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:33). And they traveled on to land, where they got out of the boat to continue ministering to people.

Recognizing our fear and weakness, Jesus reaches out His hand and catches us, guiding us safely to the boat. Our sin of doubt rebuked, we see Jesus as the true Son of God and our Savior. We follow Him to land and get out of the boat again to minister to people in need.

[Soldier4Christ]

"A Lesson in Faith: Jesus on the Water"

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Matthew 14:27
   

Feeding 5,000 – a heady miracle for the disciples who distributed the food and saw the loaves multiply – surely a faith-strengthener. But immediately thereafter they experience paralyzing fear in a boat. Asked by Jesus to travel alone at night by boat to the other side of the lake, they run into strong winds and high waves. Though seasoned fishermen, the rough conditions and eerie night hour grip them with fear. Add a ghostlike figure walking on the water, and they cry out in terror. Faith tested.

Could a lesson in faith be in order for us? We participate daily in God’s Word-and-sacrament miracles among His people. We see others come to saving faith and experience His daily providence in our own lives. But then stormy circumstances arise – difficult family situations, illness and death of loved ones, mountains of bills. We feel surrounded by the eerie darkness of loneliness. When a shadowy figure appears which we understand as a judging and condemning God, fear paralyzes us too. Faith tested.

Help in sight through the darkness. Jesus says to them, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Their Friend. Their Savior. Nothing to fear. His voice comforts. The darkness remains. The wind continues to blow. The waves buffet the boat. But they need fear no longer. A lesson in faith.

Jesus walks on the water in the midst of our paralyzing fears and says, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” He came into this dark world in the little town of Bethlehem. He triumphed over sin and fear in the darkness of Good Friday. Faith tested, the darkness remains. The wind continues. The waves buffet the boat. But our Savior says, “It is I.” We need fear no longer. For us too, a lesson in faith.

[Soldier4Christ]

"You Feed Them"

“They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” Matthew 14:16
   

The scene: a lonely wilderness place by the Sea of Galilee. The situation: a hungry crowd of 5,000 men plus women and children. The startling command: You feed them. The disciples ask Jesus to send the crowds away to the villages where they can buy food. Jesus says, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” Taken aback, the disciples reply, “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish” (Matthew 14:17). Impossible!

Does that scene look familiar to you? We live in a world of hungry people – physically hungry and spiritually hungry, hungry at day’s end, week’s end, and year’s end. We recognize their hunger and would like to send them somewhere else for help. Then Jesus startles us with the words of our text. Taken aback, we look at our checkbook balance, our cupboard, and our social calendar. Reporting we say, “We have here only two one dollar bills, a can of sauerkraut, and 15 minutes a week.” Impossible! What is that for a hungry world?

But Jesus replies, “Bring them here to me” (Matthew 14:18). He proceeds to work a miracle. Having the crowd sit down on the grass, He takes the five loaves and two fish, gives thanks to the Father, and then the disciples distribute it to people. The entire crowd eats, with 12 basketfuls remaining. Impossible? No, not for Jesus working through the disciples.

Jesus says to us, “Bring them here to Me.” We invite them to come and sit. He takes our gifts and multiplies them for all to receive. Then He asks us to feed them. He has fed us. He gave His body as bread for the world. He feeds us with His body and blood in the Sacrament. And He asks us to distribute our physical and spiritual blessings to the hungry. Impossible? On our own, yes, but with His bountiful grace, no. The Crucified and Risen One supplies us and then commands, “YOU FEED THEM!”

[Soldier4Christ]

"Sin and Salvation in Storybook Land: The Ugly Duckling"

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17
   

Once a mother duck hatched her eggs. Little fuzzy ducklings joined their mother, one at a time. One egg took longer to hatch. It looked different from the other eggs. When it hatched, an ugly little duckling emerged. This duckling didn’t look or act like the others. She could not swim as well. The other animals ridiculed the ugly duckling for being so different. Finally, the duckling had to set out on her own. She tried to be a farmyard chicken, a dog, and other animals. But she simply failed to belong. All alone and unhappy, the ugly duckling weathered the winter.

In spring the duckling came to a pond where some beautiful white swans were swimming. She started to swim toward them. She expected them to avoid her, but they accepted her and invited her to stay. Then she looked down at the water and saw her own reflection – not the reflection of an ugly duckling, but of a beautiful white swan.

We are all ugly ducklings at first, because of our sinful nature. But God cared about us. He sent His own Son Jesus Christ to be an ugly duckling for us. “He was despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:3). They nailed Him to a cross, to die. He did not stay in the grave, however, but rose from the dead on the third day as a beautiful white swan.

He makes us beautiful swans too in our baptism. “If any on is in Christ, he is a new creation.” Unfortunately, some of our ugly duckling nature is still with us, but gradually He is transforming us into something new. And someday He will permit us to take our places at His throne forever as beautiful white swans.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Sin and Salvation in Storybook Land: The Emperor’s New Clothes"

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2
   

There was once an emperor who loved beautiful clothes. One day two men came to his palace claiming to be weavers. They promised him the world’s most beautiful suit of clothes. So he hired the men and gave them a generous advance. Day after day they labored, although they had no cloth. After a time the king sent some of his advisers to see how the work was proceeding. They saw nothing, but not willing to risk the emperor’s wrath they returned with glowing praise. Finally the weavers summoned the king to see the finished product and to march in a special parade. Eager to wear the new suit, the king came. Although he could see nothing, the weavers talked about the suit and fitted it to his body with a flourish. “Could I be ignorant?” thought the king. “I can’t admit such a thing.” And so the king permitted the men to dress him in nothing, while praising them.

When he walked in the parade, none of the thousands of viewers could see anything, but no one dared say a word. Finally a young boy cried out, “Look at the king, he doesn’t have any clothes on.” But the proud emperor continued to walk in the parade with his head held high, wearing nothing but his birthday suit.

We laugh at the emperor, at his pride and stupidity. But doesn’t he mirror our relationship to God? Somehow we think we are such fine people. Pointing the finger at others, we pat ourselves on the back. Proudly we walk before God sporting our “fine” clothes. But God sees us as we really are – poor, miserable, sinful human beings.

But we need not stand naked before God. He offers us a brand new suit of clothes, made of the finest cloth. He sent His Son to die for our sins and rise again. We can put on the clean robe of Christ’s righteousness and stand before God as His beautiful, well-dressed sons and daughters.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Sin and Salvation in Storybook Land: Belling the Cat"

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23
   

Once there was a dangerous cat who constantly attacked a group of mice. Eventually the mice decided to summon a council where they could discuss the problem. A young, self-assured mouse came forward with a brilliant idea. He said, “Let’s put a bell around the cat’s neck. Then whenever he comes near us, we will hear the bell and be able to escape in plenty of time.”

The mice nodded their approval. “A wonderful plan, brilliantly conceived. It’s bound to work,” they cried. “Shall we select a silver bell, a gold bell, or a brass bell? What color ribbon should we use to fasten the bell around the cat’s neck?” Enthusiasm grew by leaps and bounds.

At length, a very old, wise mouse spoke. “Wait a moment! I want to ask one question: Who is going to put the bell on the cat’s neck?” Complete silence. Several mice nervously cleared their throats. A few shuffled their feet. No one stepped forward to volunteer, least of all the young, self-assured mouse. The elder mouse said, “That shows it’s not enough just to talk about something unless you can also do something about it.”

Despite what we learned from Peter Rabbit about our rebellion against God, we somehow think we can come up with a brilliant plan to atone for our failures. But can we? We talk a great deal about how our lives will change. We make New Year’s resolutions. But how often do we back up our talk with actions? How often we sit at church for hours in meetings and make plans for evangelism, education, and service! Often we believe our task accomplished because we have talked about our responsibilities. As Proverbs says, “Mere talk leads only to poverty.”

And so this story shows the futility of our attempts to justify ourselves before God. We need to turn to God’s Son Jesus Christ. He alone can save us.