God Pause Daily Devotions

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Jim Boyce — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Psalm 8 -- Some of us would probably be a bit uncomfortable about standing up and cheering in worship. But here the psalmist assumes the role of cheerleader and invites us to get up on our feet and join in a few cheers for the Trinity. An enthusiastic "Rah, Rah" for God brackets the psalm. "How majestic read more...

Monday, May 20, 2013

Jim Boyce — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 -- Tradition sets aside this week for reflection on the Trinity. Many of us have probably had more than one lesson on how complex and weighty a matter it is to comprehend the Trinity. But here the voice of wisdom invites us to experiment with a lighter touch. If you want to understand read more...

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Luverne A. Jacobson — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

"Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart," ELW 800 -- Spirit of God, descend upon my heart; wean it from earth, through all its pulses move; stoop to my weakness, strength to me impart, and make me love you as I ought to love. I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies, no sudden rending of the veil of read more...

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Luverne A. Jacobson — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

"Oh Master, Let Me Walk With You," ELW 818 -- O Master, let me walk with you in lowly paths of service true; tell me your secret; help me bear the strain of toil, the fret of care. Help me the slow of heart to move by some clear, winning word of love; teach me the wayward feet to stay, and guide read more...

Friday, May 17, 2013

Luverne A. Jacobson — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

John 14:8-17, 25-27 -- As the Sunday when we celebrate Pentecost approaches, we may marvel at how the ways in which the "outpouring of the Holy Spirit" has been understood in various church groups over the centuries. There was a time when it became almost a "sign" that one was truly a Christian only read more...

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Luverne A. Jacobson — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

John 14:8-17, 25-27 -- Jesus is very concerned about the power of God's peace, so that our hearts are not troubled or afraid. The word Advocate means "helper," the Holy Spirit, that God has sent to us, not only on a day called Pentecost, but to abide with us, and be in and among us every day of our lives. The read more...

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Luverne A. Jacobson — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Acts 2:1-12 -- We celebrate Pentecost on the seventh Sunday after Easter. It is indeed the reverse of Babel in Genesis, for the "devout Jews from every nation under heaven…heard the apostles speaking in the native language of each." When the suspicion of some was "They are filled with new wine," Peter read more...

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Luverne A. Jacobson — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- This is indeed a hymn to God the Creator and Provider. It brings to mind the meaning of the word ecology: The science of the relationships between organisms and their environments, and the effects of human civilization on them as well. It even heralds the "Leviathan" that God read more...

Monday, May 13, 2013

Luverne A. Jacobson — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Genesis 11:1-9 -- The origin and evolution of human languages continue to fascinate us to this day. A commentary on the Tower of Babel text in Genesis states: "People are ambitious—they want to succeed. Genesis portrays humans as so ambitious that they try to compete with, rather than serve, God. read more...

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Ron Pechauer — Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

"For All The Saints," ELW 422, verses 1, 2, 6, 7 -- For all the saints who from their labors rest, who thee by faith before the world confessed, thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest. Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might; thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought read more...

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Ron Pechauer — Sat, 11 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

John 17:20-26 -- A few summers ago my wife and I served for 6 weeks as organist/docent volunteers at Sitka Lutheran Church in Sitka, AK. At Sunday worship, each week, during the Prayers of the Church, a prayer was offered "for those who go out to sea to make their living." It was a powerful reminder read more...

Friday, May 10, 2013

Ron Pechauer — Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

John 17:20-26 -- Our local library has a section titled, "Self-Help." The average age in Sun City, AZ is in the mid 70's. What kind of self-help books do we read? Well, we read about aging well (whatever that means), how to invest wisely (should have done that a long time ago), how to lose weight (a read more...

Thursday, May 09, 2013

Ron Pechauer — Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 -- Many people act as if the Bible begins with Genesis, chapter 3: the sin and fall of humankind; and ends with Revelation 20: the lake of fire and death. Genesis, chapters 1 and 2 are the beautiful story of God creating the heaven and earth, plants and animals, humankind, read more...

Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Ron Pechauer — Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Psalm 97 -- Imagine a world that is out of control: wars, drought, poverty, inequities and divisions among people, hateful rhetoric based on scriptural interpretation. Where is God? In 587 B.C.E., the Hebrew people found themselves far away from the land of Israel and Judah. They were captives in read more...