Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & School

If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:11-b

“All things are possible to him who believes, they are less difficult to him who hopes, they are easier to him who loves, and still more easy to him who practices and perseveres in these three virtues.” - Brother Lawrence, 1666.

Jesus said: “All things are possible for him who believes.” Mark 9:23 The amazing thing about faith – believing the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ crucified, buried and raised from the dead – is that that very faith – that belief in His merits - is a gift from God so that none of us can boast. Ephesians 2:9

The Psalmist wrote “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.” Hope is a confidence; an expectation that what God has said He will do, He is faithful and will do it. Those promises are all found in the scriptures.

“God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 18 There is no fear in love. Perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. 19 We love because he first loved us… 21 and he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

  Brother Lawrence’s life was not perfect but a practice; a “Practice of the Presence of God.” As we look forward to spending eternity with our God, we too can practice being in the presence of Holy God forever and ever. God bless you in your practice!

 

Pastor Phil