March 21, 2017
Lenten Devotions – Respond Gratefully

Respond gratefully! When was the last time you pondered what G-d has first given you? Everything we have is a gift from G-d – everything. All that we do is a response to G-d’s grace, just as everything we are, we have, and we use comes from G-d. But the best gift that G-d has given you and me is the gift of Jesus Christ and the community of believers. Everything we know in this world, including the church, begins with G-d. Our confession of faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior calls us to be Grateful stewards – which requires that we put G-d first and our own wants and needs second.

“O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.” Psalm 105:1-2

Generosity is the natural consequence of abundance.

The most effective way to break the power of money is to give it away – to give it away generously, to give it away in a manner that the world would describe as reckless. The goal of our stewardship ministry is to help God’s people grow in their relationship with Jesus through the use of the time, talents, and finances God has entrusted to them. There are certain characteristics that the Bible lifts up when it talks about giving. These following six characteristics could easily be seen as the values of a steward.
Intentional: Being intentional in one’s giving means to develop a plan for your giving and then follow through with that plan.
Regular: Regular giving … means to establish a pattern in your giving, and to follow that pattern.
Generous: Generous giving is perhaps the most basic stewardship value. God’s incredible generosity is the basis for any call for generous giving on the part of God people. We can’t out give God.
First: First-fruit giving … means giving to God first and living off the rest. Proportional: The Bible always calls us to percentage giving.
Cheerful: Cheerful giving … comes from 2 Corinthians 9:7; “God loves a cheerful giver.” The key to being a cheerful giver is to practice the other stewardship values.” (Lenten Devotional Stewardship Principles, We walk together as stewards in God’s church, ELCA, 2012, March 5)

The six characteristics of stewardship that the above Lenten devotion outlines are necessary if we are to be grateful givers. However, the sixth characteristic, being a “cheerful giver” perhaps is the most important and the most difficult if we are to live a life of stewardship. As Paul says: “G-d loves a cheerful giver”. And to become a cheerful giver, we must employ the other five characteristics: we must be intentional, regular, generous, first-fruit, proportional givers. To accomplish that requires the assistance of the Holy Spirit – we cannot do it alone. And it requires assessing how grateful we are for the blessings G-d has blessed each one of us. When we thank G-d for our daily blessings, it can move us to more frequent opportunities for grateful living.

This week, I want you to collect a roll of toilet paper each day to donate to Trinity’s Table. Bring in your six rolls of TP to church on Sunday, March 26.

Pastor Dave

March 20, 2017
Lenten Devotions – Accept a Challenge

To accept a challenge means realizing that our lives are not always roses and sunshine (or strawberries and cream). Accepting a challenge for our faith recognizes the dynamic nature of our faith as set within the framework of our lives. As our faith grows so will our blessings, our challenges, and our responsibilities.

“Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord, and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it.” Psalm 22:30-31

The Law of Single-minded Service

There’s no question that money has an alluring power, tempting us with all that it can purchase or accomplish. If we give into it, we learn to our dismay that it has the power to control us and make us its servant. Jesus taught His disciples, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Luke 16:13 NIV)

In Jesus’ teaching, the term “money” has a very broad meaning. It includes actual money, but it also includes everything which we can become attached in this material world – all the things that money can buy. One of the most important principles of Christian stewardship is the Law of Single-minded Service. When we use the term single-minded it’s obvious what we mean: having a single focus, a single interest, a single purpose.  Single-minded service requires … self-denial, the setting aside of personal wants. Single-minded service also requires sacrifice. Single-minded service requires perseverance as well Single-mindedness demands constant spiritual discipline. Living by this precept is not easy, but it is rewarding. (Lenten Devotional Stewardship Principles, We walk together as stewards in God’s church, ELCA, 2012, March 3)

If you want to accept a challenge this Lent, try some self-denial. What is it you most crave every day? This Lent take a week and do not use it, drink it, eat it, or seek it. Self-denial or the setting aside of our personal wants takes a single-mindedness that requires the help of the Holy Spirit. We may be able to follow some self-denial on our own – but if we want to make it not only a Lenten discipline, but a spiritual discipline, then we will need the power of the Holy Spirit. Will you accept the challenge? This week, I want you to collect a roll of toilet paper each day to donate to Trinity’s Table. Bring in your six rolls of TP to church on Sunday, March 26.

Pastor Dave