Psalm 19:14 — May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. ******************************** LIKRAT SHABBAT (preparing for the Sabbath) By Rabbi Jack Riemer We cannot merely pray to you, O God, to end war; For we know that You have made the […]
3249) Good Prayers Read More »
From The Exile, by Pearl S. Buck, 1936; as quoted in Stories of Faith, by Ruth Tucker, 1989. ——————————- Pearl Buck at home in Zhenxiang, China as a child (on left): Â Â Â Spending time in prayer each day is a discipline that is often difficult to maintain, and missionaries sometimes struggle more with time
3238) “Somebody Has to Do the Work” Read More »
    A few days ago, Emailmeditation #3228 told the story of William and Wilhemina Kruse, South Dakota pioneers, who lost nine children to diphtheria in 1894. Upon reading it, my friend Tim emailed to tell me that the story was very personal for him. He sent me a brief account of his family faith history.Â
3232) “In Jesus’ Name” Read More »
Matthew 6:25-34 Â — Â (Jesus said), “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Â Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Â Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or
By Lee Strobel, in The Case for Miracles, 2018.    In Equatorial Africa, far from pharmacies and hospitals, a woman died in childbirth, leaving behind a grieving two-year-old daughter and a premature baby in danger of succumbing to the chill of the night. With no incubator, no electricity, and few supplies, the newborn’s life
3220) A Child’s Prayer Read More »
   (…continued) Funeral for Ora Casdorph, March 31, 1997, Stover, Missouri:    This is a difficult sermon for me to preach, difficult because I did not know Mr. Casdorph well at all. I visited him a few times at the request of his sister, my friend and parishioner, Mabel Schupp.    For
3198) Two Old Friends (2/2) Read More »
    In my forty years as a pastor I visited many people in their last years, months, and days. Many of these people were in nursing homes, or were shut-ins in their own home. For some, my monthly visit would be their only visitor. These people, who at one time were busy raising families, farming
3197) Two Old Friends (1/2) Read More »
La Miseria (1886), Venezuelan painter Cristobal Rojas (1857-1890) ************************** Praise the Lord, my soul;     all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul,     and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins     and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit     and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good
3191) Prayers for Healing Read More »
   Pictured above is the Karna Lutheran church in Malmslatt, Sweden.  Like many of the churches in Europe, this church is very old. The present structure is no doubt the result of several expansions and remodelings of the old church, but the original part of the building is believed to go back over 800
Psalm 32:1-5: Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as
3140) Prayers of Confession Read More »
