Hope-Full Living

Every time I visit my neighbor, I pass stacked stones next to her door. This cairn, seen by her children and now grandchildren, witnesses to specific God-sightings from their family history. It serves the same purpose as the stones God commanded Israel to set up after crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Jacob and Samuel also set up stones as ways to remember what God had done. I decided to make my own memory cairn — but drawn on paper. Each stone bears a phrase recalling a specific event where God did something remarkable. At present, 76 stones are la...

My husband was undergoing rehab at a facility, and that day wearied me. Finally, I was leaving, my purse and one bag over one shoulder and another bag in my hand. I dreaded having to set down everything at the main entrance to call the night nurse to let me out. At the other end of the empty hallway, someone was coming toward me. It was someone I knew from our church! She might as well have been an angel. Everything felt lighter when she said she could let me out.

Chance? Coincidence? The...

The day my husband, David, lost his job was one of the scariest days of his life. How would he provide for his wife and his two little girls? He was our primary wage-earner.

A new job didn’t come quickly. David took on manual labor and temp work. He even dug graves for a friend in the funeral business. Gift cards appeared in our mailbox and groceries on our front steps. We worked hard, prayed, and hoped God would keep His promise to take care of us. 

Two lon...

It all started while climbing a ladder to clear debris from my gutter. It felt like when you bend over and quickly stand up. Except I hadn’t bent over. After a battery of tests, my neurologist said, “There’s nothing wrong with you physically. You’re just getting old. No more ladders for you.” This was hard to hear. I started to wonder if God could still use me now that age had become a factor.

That night, I sought comfort by reading about Abram (99 years old) and Sarai (89 years old) becoming Abraham and Sarah...

I watched my granddaughter play volleyball, unaware that my husband, coaching a team in a different state, was collapsing from a heart attack. I didn’t know — but God did. 

God knew what my husband needed to survive. God had placed four health professionals there, watching their daughters near the court where my husband’s team was playing. By the time I knew my husband needed God’s intervention to live, He had already answered the prayer I hadn’t yet prayed. Before I called on God for help, He answered me. He calmed my heart as...

In 2020, COVID-19 changed the way we do church. Many congregations began to livestream services on the internet. After the COVID-19 pandemic subsided, the advantages of this technology remained: shut-ins could “attend” services, travelers logged in, and unchurched neighbors could see what church was about. Able-bodied members discovered it was more convenient to worship in pajamas at home. But watching church is not the same as going to church. Church is God’s redeemed people, participating together in worship. The inspired writer of Hebrews reminds us not to neglect meeting together. In this assembly, we encourage one another and hold each o...

We are loved by God, not because we chose to be loved and certainly not because we deserve this love. It is simply because He loves us. When I fell in love with my beautiful wife and asked her to marry me, she said, “Yes,” and, in effect, chose me. 

God assures us that He loves us because He chose us before we were born, before we had done anything worthy or unworthy of love. Certainly, if we had to do something to deserve that love, we would quickly be cut off from God and l...

Read Psalm 22 and THEN read Psalm 23, and you will feel the hope that comes from reading on! These psalms appear in this sequence in the original Hebrew manuscript. First, Psalm 22 recounts our salvation that Jesus completed on Calvary’s cross, and then Psalm 23 gives a serene confirmation of God’s promises for the present. Isn’t our God orderly to follow Psalm 22 with Psalm 23? It’s a package deal! Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb in Psalm 22, and we are His little lambs in Psalm 23.

You are a package deal with your Savior. When someone might fl...

Sticks and stones are usually not thought of as good or valuable. It wasn’t my birthday. It wasn’t Christmas. But my then 5-year-old grandson, Lukas, brought me a gift. It was simple, not of great worth. It was just a quart Mason jar that contained sticks and stones that he had collected. On it, Lukas taped a little drawing of a tree, a shining sun, and a man standing in a garden. Lukas knew his grandpa well. He knew I was a nature lover and an admirer of God’s gifts of creation. So, he enthusiastically presented me wit...

My husband and I spent many hours sitting side by side assembling jigsaw puzzles. Our marriage of nearly 54 years was a huge puzzle that was sometimes fun and sometimes frustrating to work out.

Now that I’m a widow, I’m starting on a new life puzzle. Though widowhood is not new under the sun, this is the first time I’ve been a widow. God’s Word reminds me that I’m not alone in assembling my new life. He is at my side and has equipped others to help me, to love me, and to...

As children, my brother Dan and I delivered newspapers. Periodically, we could buy Mom a sweet treat at the drug store. Dad and Mom provided love, shelter, and food daily. They believed that God enabled and expected them to do that.

Lamentations seems like an ironic title in the Bible because in the book, Jeremiah points out God’s unfailing mercy. Through challenges, despite sinful choices, toward needs of all kinds — God has been faithful, unfailing. This is a festive quarter of the calendar year. We celebrate Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas Eve and Day...

How often do we hear that it is better not to dwell on the past? You know, don’t look back — yesterday is gone. Well, that depends on how we look back. Whether we focus on the past, present, or future, let us do so in our Lord’s loving company.

As you read the Bible each day, immerse yourself in the Scripture. Meditate and imagine being at that moment in time. Then explore the graces — the “mighty deeds,” or in another translation, “the wonders of old” — that you discover. The Lord gives us His loving graces...

As I think back, I admit I am a little confused about whether my childhood cookie jar featured “Little Red Riding Hood” or “Porky Pig.” I do remember that it was usually filled with one of my favorite cookies. With six children in the family, you always wanted to make sure you weren’t the last one to open the top and find the jar empty.

Thank God, He provides us with spiritual food in His Word and in His Sacrament! He invites us to reach into His Word daily, to be fed and nourished...

As my husband lay in a hospital bed from an unknown condition, the uncertainty of his future overwhelmed me. Realizing that sometimes the unknown can cripple one’s spirit more than the known, I asked myself, “Where can one find hope during difficult times?”

Within minutes, a local pastor entered Tom’s hospital room and offered the words of Psalm 91. The words he read calmed my anxious mind: “I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.” My spirit renewed, and my heart was revived. When unknown concerns seem to tighten l...

Life is full of ups and downs that include joyful moments and painful struggles. Yet through everything, one truth remains unshakeable — God is good. His grace and mercy surround us daily, even when we cannot see it or feel it. God’s goodness is not based on our circumstances because it is rooted in His unchanging character. He is always working for our good because He is generous and full of mercy. The goodness of God far surpasses anything that the world has to offer. The wonderful thing about His goodness is that He wants to demonstrate it through us t...

A psychologist on the “Today” show mentioned that the root of anxiety is not feeling safe. I’m not sure if I agree, but it made me think. Have you ever felt the pins and needles of anxiety? I have quite a history of dealing with it. Like Paul’s thorn in the flesh, anxiety can be a thorn in my flesh that reminds me to run to Jesus and feel the safety of His love 

(2 Corinthians 12:7). 

Jesus has quite a history of providing His constant presence and healing touch. We can trust Jesu...

My parents read to me and regularly took me to the library. I read in bed, on the sofa, and in our treehouse. What a blessing to fall in love with books.

When I became a Christian as a teenager, God kindled a desire in me to read the Bible. Later, I shared my love of reading and God’s Word with our children and now our grandchildren. Countless students in my classes benefited when I shared the wonder of books with them. I still enjoy reading — and now writing — devotions.

G...

Do the words of Deuteronomy 6 apply to grandparents as well as parents? I hope so. I want to share the message from Moses before our five grands leave the nest. In these Old Testament verses, Moses is speaking to a new generation. The time is before the Israelites enter the Promised Land. Many of the now-adults in his audience were infants when God’s people started this lengthy journey out of Egypt. That was nearly 40 years earlier. Now, those “babies” are adults. And like us at the beginning of our life journey, Moses, too, was younger; now, he’s 120 years ol...

Do you ever get the feeling that you are all alone? Maybe it seems like no one really cares what is happening in your life. Perhaps you live alone, and it is difficult to leave the house. It has been a long time since anyone has visited you or even called you on the phone. But remember, God has promised you that He will never leave you. When you were baptized, you became God’s child, and He takes care of you as a father cares for his child. God promises in Matthew 28:20b, “I am with you always, to t...

Remembering: At the end of April 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, I “retired” after 17 years as volunteer leader of “LifeLight,” an in-depth Bible study. I led Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning groups of couples, men, and women at our church. At age 80, would I experience gain or loss after almost 55 years of pastoral ministry?

Paul wrestles with that question as he writes to struggling believers in the Philippian church. He bares his soul about a life of religious achievements which only crushed him under God’s law, exposing his selfish sin. Then he counts as gain Chris...

When I was directing handbells, one of my favorite ringers was Shirley. As she walked into a rehearsal, I would say, “Shirley, goodness and mercy is here.” Not only did God’s goodness and mercy follow Shirley into our rehearsal, but they live in her heart forever. Recently, Shirley and her husband have faced a serious cancer diagnosis. Through it all, they have found God’s goodness shining through as He provided everything they needed through dark valleys. God’s love and compassion were evident as mercy flowed through both of them. 

David concluded Psalm 23 wi...

My daughter assigns her college-level poetry students this icebreaker on the first day of class: Write a free-verse poem, each part beginning with “I am from ….” Recall the street you grew up on — the music, smells, foods. Recall people, activities, expressions. Try it! It’s interesting what appears in the mind’s eye: “I am from a street paved with cinders and tar that softened in summer and captured our footprints.” “I am from orange-colored corduroy pants.”

How have those little puzzle pieces of your life led to the hope and future God planned for you? The joyful...

According to one commentator I read, the word “remember” appears 137 times in the Bible. One interesting passage in Deuteronomy is when God exhorts the Israelites to “remember.” They were on the verge of entering the Promised Land — a daunting and scary prospect. God reminds them of how He’s been with them in the past: through plagues, the Red Sea, and hunger in the desert. Remembering the ways that God has been with us in the past can help us in the hard times we’re enduring right now, too. Remembering the times He’s answered our prayers, healed us, and provided...

When Jesus taught the crowd to pray the Lord’s Prayer, He used plural pronouns: our, us, and we. Why didn’t He teach, “My Father, who art in heaven, give me this day my daily bread, and forgive me my debts”? 

Jesus emphasized that our neighbors, too, strive to follow our Father more closely. Most are burdened with needs. Forgiveness is a struggle for many. All are tempted. 

I am never alone in asking for daily blessings. As we pray together, we affirm that God’s will is best for all...

The word “hymn” derives from the Greek word, hymnos, which means a song of praise. The act of singing is a complex physiological and emotional experience that engages our emotions as well as our brains. Twentieth- and 21st-century scientists have uncovered the scientific reasons why singing helps humans feel good. It has been proven to stimulate emotional release and helps the singer develop a sense of well-being. In a worship context, the resulting sense of well-being is associated with being a member of the congregation. Historically, during a Christian worship service, the opening hymn helps establish the conceptual focus of t...

I am often connected to my phone. Through it, I hear from coworkers, family, and friends. Pictures, videos, and texts might come my way, or I can search for faces of loved ones I miss.

Though I value this phone connection, I have a more valuable, eternal connection with Jesus. Faith enables this connection with the Father through the Holy Spirit. Additionally, faith connects me (and you) to every believer in Christ on Earth and with those at rest awaiting His return — “You are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28b). Every soul who trusts the sav...

The women picked up their books and prepared to leave Bible study. “These Bible stories are not the same as the ones we learned in Sunday school,” one woman commented. “Adultery, bigamy, lying, human trafficking ... and that’s just Jacob’s family! It’s more dysfunctional than a soap opera. Why is this stuff in the Bible?”

Jacob was a con man; David committed adultery and murder; Peter denied Jesus — every one of these “heroes” was unfaithful. But God remained faithful to them and sent His Son to die in their place. God is the hero of every pa...

During the summer I enjoy watching baseball. I especially like to see the play when a man is on third base, and the batter makes a sacrifice bunt so the man makes it home safely.

This reminds me how we Christians long to be at our heavenly home with God. We depend on Jesus Christ to make the sacrifice. Paul says that Christ gave Himself up for us, as a sacrifice to God, as He died on the cross. So when we trust in Jesus, God declares we will be safe at His home...

Imagine you’re at a wedding reception, and you hear the song, “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge. You flock to the dance floor with everyone else and find yourself belting out, “We are family. I got all my sisters with me. We are family. Get up everybody and sing.” (Admit it; you’re singing it now.)

Through the waters of Baptism, God has made us His own. We are forever connected to Him, and through Him, we are connected to others as family. If someone in our family is hurting, we pray for him or her...

The weekly foursome sits around the dining table, settling in for another Bible session. Four years and it still starts, “God-sightings, ladies?” One in conflict says, “Going to work after another morning argument, I wiped off angry tears. A semi pulled in front of me with a huge up arrow on the back. Couldn’t miss that nudge.” The women smile and instinctively look up. Another mentions financial stress when sales were off. “And this check from a delinquent client came. It was enough to get by.” More nods. A third woman says, “At the airport I was nervous flying without m...

Recently, my grandchildren came into my house singing, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart …” It is an old song. They learned it that day in Sunday school. I heard them singing earlier as the chorus of voices drifted through the doors of their classroom into our adult Bible class. What joy!

One of the great blessings of Christian fellowship is to sing together with joy. Our fellowship is also with the saints in glory and their joyful worship. Youth ministry builds community with singing. The whole church sings for joy...

We chose the hymn, “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” (LSB #739) for my daughter’s memorial service. “Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand; I am tired, I am weak, I am worn. Through the storm, through the night, Lead me on to the light.” This beautiful hymn was written by gospel singer, Thomas Dorsey, out of deep grief after losing his young wife and baby in childbirth in 1932. His words and music have reminded many broken spirits that we’re never alone. 

Our faith, family, and friends give us comfort during the sto...

Dotty was training to be a nurse; she married a newspaperman. Soon, she was delivering newspapers on her bicycle and writing a regular column. I asked her once if she ever wanted to pursue nursing, and she said she was content to be where God placed her. Whenever I wonder about turning points in my life, I think of Dotty.

One huge blessing of living into old age is the revelation that I am where God wants me to be. He dropped me in this pool, helped me swim along, and become part of...

It was in the narthex of church. She saw the woman, recognized her needs, outstretched her arms and warmly said, “Bring it in.” And a holy hug ensued. A simple hug is a personal expression of compassion — understanding and extending the grace of God to another human being. Although there are no specific references that Jesus hugged others, it just seems part of His nature in that He was often found reaching out and touching people with His love and peace. A hug can often transfer what words cannot, and this act of kindness can guide us to express love a...

As the women left my home, each expressed thanks for a refreshing and hope-filled time. While I loaded the dishwasher, my friend Alicia removed tablecloths and rearranged chairs. “We met needs today,” she commented. “Women were encouraged and I saw a lot of joy.”

Twenty-two widows attended our monthly lunch bunch. Women brought salads and desserts. We enjoyed delicious food, feasted on mutual encouragement, and tasted of God’s goodness in friendship. After lunch, we shared Bible verses that guided our days. Some included the words abide, trust, and rest. When we finished, one of the lad...

Quotes my neighbor has said to me:

 “Every time I am at the hospital undergoing another test or treatment, I think of our Tuesday morning Bible class, and it gives me comfort. I know that every member of the group is praying for me.”

 “Battling cancer has been a blessing for me. My faith is so much stronger. I have become closer to God. Many times, I can’t sleep at night. I get up and read my Bible. It is just God and me. It is like He is talking...

Sometimes, at the loss of a loved one, it feels as though the heart breaks into so many pieces that there could never be enough cardiac glue to put it back together, at least not in any coherent or recognizable way. At that moment, kindness and compassion within a faith community help gather those wayward fragments. A caring someone’s prayer over the condition comes as a silent song to God, like a warm, engulfing hug or a mug of soothing hot chocolate offered with a listening ear. That melody and the Lord’s loving response can spill over in c...

I was devastated when my son died. I was angry with God. I wondered why my son was taken when he was doing so much for the Lord. The days following my son’s death helped me greatly. Many people from our home church, from our community, and many we didn’t know, came to the funeral home and the funeral. We received hundreds of sympathy cards and had many people praying for us. All of this brought me back to the assurance that God is in control. I knew my son was with the Lord. What brought me back...

Soulard is an old neighborhood in south St. Louis city. Trinity Lutheran Church, the oldest Missouri Synod church west of the Mississippi and the “mother church” of all Missouri Synod churches, is situated in the heart of Soulard. Two blocks from Trinity is 149-year-old Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. The two congregations have jointly served the homeless in Soulard for decades. The two churches also unite together every Palm Sunday. One year, the members of Trinity sang while walking the two blocks to Sts. Peter & Paul, and the next year the members of Sts. Peter & Paul sang while walking the...

Over the years I’ve been blessed with friends who have helped me with various issues and undertakings, and I am grateful for their love. Yet, as I’ve aged, I realize true help comes from God. He knows me, what and who I need, sometimes before I even think I need help! He grants me the gifts of wisdom, forgiveness, patience, strength, and faithful friends.

Reading God’s Word when it’s quiet is a consistent goal in my day. Ideally in the morning, it trains my mind to think about how I want my...