Living Hope Lutheran - Pastor's Blog

Pastor's Blog

January 2023

1/18/2023 7:40:21 PM

Contentment - God's Gift for You

God has a gift for you in this life. The gift is finding contentment in the place where God put you. This is true for every Christian! We are equally saved because of Jesus. We are equally God’s holy people. But we have been given different places in life. Solomon encourages us to find the joy in the place that God has given us.

In our Sunday morning Bible Class we are studying the book of Ecclesiastes. The book was written by King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived (1 Kings 3:12), and offers practical insight into the joys, frustrations, and purpose of life. Below is a section that we will be looking at.

Ecclesiastes 5:18–20 (NIV) Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

If you have not been attending this Bible Class, this insight from Solomon is just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many useful observations and encouragements in this book. Give the class a try! Time spent in God’s Word is always a blessing!

Pastor Wempner

Pastor Zarling

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1/4/2023 11:48:00 AM

God Will Not Give Up on You

In the book of Hosea, God spoke to a rebellious time in Israel's history. All sorts of sins were common. In particular, the worship of false gods was everywhere. This idolatry was deeply offensive to God.

In spite of the godlessness of Hosea's day, God could not help himself. He could not help but love his people! Admah and Zeboiim were cities near Gomorrah - which God destroyed in Genesis 19. But God's compassion was aroused; his heart was changed; he did not want to do the same to the people of Hosea's day.

This is who God is! In spite of our failures and sins, his heart is filled with compassion for us. You know the reasons that God should be angry with you and make you miserable - now and for eternity. Instead, he sent you a Savior who took away your sins. Instead of anger, you know God's love and forgiveness.

Nothing fills the heart with more joy and hope than to know God's compassion. Nothing compels us to trust God more than the confidence that he is filled with compassion. Nothing inspires a greater desire to live in ways that are pleasing to God than to know he is filled with compassion.

God will not give up on you! Trust in his compassion for you. Look to Jesus who has taken away your sins and know that God is on your side!

Hosea 11:8 (NIV) "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused."