God Pause Daily Devotions

Saturday, November 7

Tom Jolivette, Philanthropic Adviser, Luther Seminary — Sat, 7 Nov 2009 01:01:00 -0600

"Now Thank We All Our God," ELW 839 + LBW 533 -- "O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us, With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us, And keep us in all grace, and guide us when perplexed, And free us from all harm in this world and the next." Vs. 2 Our texts this week have all spoken to the generosity of our God. We learn that God is generous with the gifts of life, help, hope, possessions and the sacrifice of Jesus. read more...

Friday, November 6

Tom Jolivette, Philanthropic Adviser, Luther Seminary — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 01:01:00 -0600

Mark 12:38-44 -- It's inspiring to work with donors who make large gifts for very important projects at Luther Seminary. I often wish that I could be one of them. I'd love to give a gift to fund a program, or build a building, or cover the cost of tuition for a student each year (donor envy?). read more...

Thursday, November 5

Tom Jolivette, Philanthropic Adviser, Luther Seminary — Thu, 5 Nov 2009 01:01:00 -0600

Mark 12:38-44 -- God must have a special love for widows. First, we learn of the widow in Monday's Old Testament lesson who faithfully fed the prophet Elijah what would have been her last meal. And now, another widow. read more...

Wednesday, November 4

Tom Jolivette, Philanthropic Adviser, Luther Seminary — Wed, 4 Nov 2009 01:01:00 -0600

Hebrews 9:24-28 -- I grew up with the ill-conceived notion that if I didn't ask for forgiveness just before I died, those sins not covered by my last confession would work against me. Timing was critical to this theory. That's a heavy burden for anyone, let alone a child. The writer of Hebrews tells us that our salvation isn't dependent upon our repeated and numerous confessions. read more...

Tuesday, November 3

Tom Jolivette, Philanthropic Adviser, Luther Seminary — Tue, 3 Nov 2009 01:01:00 -0600

Psalm 146 -- Tongue in cheek we mimic the grandiose answers of Miss America Pageant contestants when asked what they want most in this world: "World Peace." "Elimination of hunger and starvation." "Justice and fairness in the world." Throw in care for the orphan and widow, freedom for the unjustly imprisoned, sight for the blind and hope for the weary and we all become grandiose in our wishes for the world. We also begin to understand the generosity of our God! The Psalmist reminds us that God is the maker and keeper of all, and that God is abundant with help for people in need and hope for a new era on earth. Grandiose? Perhaps. read more...

Monday, November 2

Tom Jolivette, Philanthropic Adviser, Luther Seminary — Mon, 2 Nov 2009 01:01:00 -0600

1 Kings 17:8-16 -- The widow of Zarephath gave her last meal to the prophet Elijah. That's pretty gutsy if you ask me. Did she expect that her faith or actions would save her life? Who knows? What the text tells us is that she obeyed the prophet and her life was spared because of God's generosity. read more...

Sunday, November 1

Jack Hustad, ELCA Global Mission Volunteer, Mukilteo, Wash. — Sun, 1 Nov 2009 01:01:00 -0600

"Bind Us Together," WOV 748 -- When our group of global missionaries would gather annually for a week of fellowship, prayer and encouragement, our theme song was always the same: "Bind us together, Lord." "Bind us together in love." Oh, how we need to sing that song with gusto today! "You are the family of God. You are the promise divine. You are God's chosen desire, you are the glorious new wine." On All Saints Day we surely want to remember with grateful hearts all those who "from their labors rest." My remembrance list includes "Grandma D," a Pentecostal lady who probed my seminary learning with: "Jackie, are you ready for the rapture?" Ready or not, we also want to pray for the Spirit's encouragement amongst the family of God today, binding us together "with cords that cannot be broken," traveling music toward the gathering of all Saints in heaven. read more...

Saturday, October 31

Jack Hustad, ELCA Global Mission Volunteer, Mukilteo, Wash. — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:01:00 -0600

"God's Word Is Our Great Heritage," ELW 509; "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," ELW 504 -- We Lutherans love to sing both #509 (God's Word is Our Great Heritage) and #504 (A Mighty Fortress is Our God) in Evangelical Lutheran Worship. The melodies are the same (Ein Feste Burg), but the texts are not. The words of A Mighty Fortress are like a national anthem. read more...

Friday, October 30

Jack Hustad, ELCA Global Mission Volunteer, Mukilteo, Wash. — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:01:00 -0600

John 11:32-44 -- As Lazarus stumbles out of the grave, Jesus doesn't take a bow of adulation for the miracle. Rather, he says, "Thank you, Father." Surely, our Lord senses that in his suffering love he will be repeating the dying and rising. Nathan Solderblom said: "The cross unveils in its divine brutality, nothing less than God's own love." Jesus died a malefactor for all to see. What is unseen is the heart of God's burning desire to save us all. read more...

Thursday, October 29

Jack Hustad, ELCA Global Mission Volunteer, Mukilteo, Wash. — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:01:00 -0600

John 11:32-44 -- Jesus wept. His dear friend, Lazarus, has died. But why the weeping? Is it because people aren't getting what he is teaching, or because he's human, truly human, with itches and scratches like all of us? We understand that Mary and Martha would cry. read more...

Wednesday, October 28

Jack Hustad, ELCA Global Mission Volunteer, Mukilteo, Wash. — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:01:00 -0600

Revelation 21:1-6 -- Local election days are here. As citizens, we are responsible for rendering judgment on things present. Our calling as Christians is to use the gifts that God has given us to help make a better and more believing world. read more...

Tuesday, October 27

Jack Hustad, ELCA Global Mission Volunteer, Mukilteo, Wash. — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:01:00 -0600

Psalm 24 -- "They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from the God of their salvation." Many of us have a place we want to visit before we die. For the Apostle Paul it was Rome. "I am sure that when I come to you, I shall come with the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ." (Romans 15:29). read more...

Monday, October 26

Jack Hustad, ELCA Global Mission Volunteer, Mukilteo, Wash. — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:01:00 -0600

Isaiah 25:6-9 -- Pot-luck suppers are wonderful -- just ask Garrison Keillor. Sometimes there is even lutefisk! Whatever the tables include, the theme of these food fests is the same: "All are welcome." Pot-lucks are a foretaste of the Lord's Feast in our text. When the Lord is host, the meal is sumptuous and includes "well-aged wines, strained clear." Like our pot-lucks, the grace sung at the start of the Lord's feast is always the same: "All are welcome." The difference is that the hearty feast comes from a wide variety of cook-books, written in many languages. read more...

Sunday, October 25

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:01:00 -0600

"Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life," ELW 719 & LBW 429 -- The Mount of Beatitudes, where some think Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount, is a place of awe-inspiring beauty. The site of a gracious chapel, the hill gently gives way to the sea. The hills of Jordan climb steeply in the east. read more...