God Pause Daily Devotions
Brought to you by Luther Seminary
and its alumni/ae.
 

Sunday, September 5

"O God, My Faithful God," verse 4, ELW 806 & LBW 504 -- In an old German hymn are the words of the final verse: "When dangers gather round, oh, keep me calm and fearless, help me to bear the cross, when life seems dark and cheerless." We would like to think times have changed from 17th century Europe so that we do not need to pray in song to keep us calm and fearless. Yet we can sense the danger and uncertainty of our times. But the hymn writers call us not to cower in fear nor arm ourselves in defense, but rather to ask God to help us bear the cross. The cross is the great sign that God is with us, though it may seem dark and cheerless at times. read more...

Jim Schoenroc
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, North Hollywood, Calif.

Saturday, September 4

"Take My Life, That I May Be," verse 3, ELW 685 & LBW 406 -- A friend once commented on that familiar hymn, "Take My Life, That I May Be," that he wished God would take his voice in the third verse. He could not sing a note and when he tried others would move away from him. He said he prayed, "Lord, give me back a voice that really sings praises to the King, because it is hard to remain silent and noncommittal when it comes to You." I don't think the writer of the hymn text back in the 19th century was thinking of giving God what we wanted to get rid of in return for something better. read more...

Jim Schoenroc
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, North Hollywood, Calif.

Friday, September 3

Luke 14:25-33 -- My wife hates to pay full price for anything. She is always looking for a sale or a bargain before she will spend any money. There are probably many people like her or we would not be bombarded with coupons, money-savers, and going-out-of-business sales. read more...

Jim Schoenroc
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, North Hollywood, Calif.

Thursday, September 2

Luke 14:25-33 -- There is a sizable amount of scripture with which one can struggle to find its hidden meaning beyond what is initially read. Jesus' admonition to the crowds that followed him to hate father and mother, wife and children, brother and sisters is one such difficult passage. Does he really mean that literally? I mean, there are times I am extremely unhappy with my whole family, but hate seems to be such a strong word. Eugene Peterson in his book, "The Message" uses the term "refuses to let go" instead of "hate." Reading the rest of the chapter leads me to believe that this is probably closer to what Jesus said, or at least what I hope Jesus said. read more...

Jim Schoenroc
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, North Hollywood, Calif.

Wednesday, September 1

Philemon 1-21 -- The one thing missing all too often in public discourse in our day is encouragement of one another. We criticize too quickly. Our expectations are often higher than reasonable or practical. read more...

Jim Schoenroc
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, North Hollywood, Calif.

Tuesday, August 31

Psalm 1 -- The landscape of Southern California, once you leave the sprawling metropolis, is lonely desert often without a tree in sight for miles. The exception in the great Mohave Desert is the scraggly yet statuesque Joshua tree. The name "Joshua tree" was given by a group of Mormon settlers who crossed the Mojave Desert in the mid-19th century. read more...

Jim Schoenroc
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, North Hollywood, Calif.

Monday, August 30

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 -- "Choose Life!" The billboard seemed to scream out to me in huge letters as I drove down the interstate highway. I knew immediately what the message was about, but as I drove further this billboard message moved my thoughts beyond-or is it in line with-the words of Deuteronomy. Life and death, blessings and curses, lie before us all as we move into each new day of service. read more...

Jim Schoenroc
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, North Hollywood, Calif.

Sunday, August 29

"Just As I Am, without One Plea," verse 4, ELW 592 -- I am not much for poetry, but one poem I do especially enjoy is Robert Frost's "Mending Wall." Part of the poem reads, "Before I built a wall I'd ask to know/ What I was walling in or walling out/ And to whom I was like to give offence./ Something there is that doesn't love a wall." What walls do we put up every day in our lives, and why do we build them? Are we afraid of what we are walling in? That if any come too close they might see that our lives are not as perfect as we try to project? Or are we afraid of what we are walling out? Is it the homeless person, the man or the woman struggling with addiction, the person battling disease, or the immigrant? Jesus comes just as we are, with love unknown that breaks every barrier down. read more...

Derek Fosse
Hope Lutheran Church, Palm Desert, Calif.

Saturday, August 28

"Just As I Am, without One Plea," verse 1, ELW 592 -- How much of our lives are about making sure the right people are pleased with us? Our lives become so heavily oriented around others' expectations that we lose sight of who God says we are. Our lives then become riddled with guilt and shame because we are not measuring up to the image of the perfect person. But Jesus came for us, just as we are. read more...

Derek Fosse
Hope Lutheran Church, Palm Desert, Calif.

Friday, August 27

Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- How do we experience the power of the resurrection in our lives? Why do we have a need to seek places of honor and the respect of others, especially from those who are in a position to benefit us? Is it simply human nature? Is it how we were created? Or are we part of a new creation? Jesus offers us a new way to see ourselves in the midst of a world where status is everything. As long as one person suffers, the entire kingdom of God suffers. We have no need to exalt ourselves because we know that God will take care of God's own. read more...

Derek Fosse
Hope Lutheran Church, Palm Desert, Calif.