As we prepare to pause for a national day of Thanksgiving, let these words of Psalm 138 remind us of our greatest reason to be thankful. The Lord, the great and glorious God of all things, has worked for our salvation and continues to bless us, even in the midst of troubles. He will not leave us! He will save us!

We have countless reasons to be thankful – big and small reasons. God’s grace is our greatest reason to be thankful! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!

"I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
before the “gods” I will sing your praise.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
When I called, you answered me;
you made me bold and stouthearted.
May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth.
May they sing of the ways of the LORD,
for the glory of the LORD is great.
Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly,
but the proud he knows from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes,
with your right hand you save me.
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands." (Psalm 138 NIV)

Pastor Aufdemberge

Pastor Kneser

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Pastor Zarling

What are you looking for in life? There are times when we are actively looking for something. Maybe you have hunted for a new job. When looking for a car, you shop and compare. Even when doing something as simple as buying an apple, you look carefully; you don’t take the top one but want one that looks ripe and is not bruised.

Believers are told to “pursue” the traits in the verse below. We are to actively chase after and find these.

Make time for God’s Word in your life. There you will find “righteousness, faith, love and peace.” In the Scriptures you hear the reality of who you are. You are a forgiven and dearly loved child of God. You are the object of his attention and work.

Life doesn’t tell you that. Hardships, failures, sins, and death would suggest we are on the outside. But that is not true! Because Jesus is your Savior, you are one of God’s people. His death and resurrection proclaim that you are alive and will be live for eternity. You know the peace of his love and forgiveness. Your gifts, abilities, and talents are the ways that you can serve him now.

Look for righteousness, faith, love and peace as you hear and believe God’s Word. Look for them in how you think and speak and act as God’s child. Pursue God’s grace and his ways. The effort is always worth it!

"Pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace." (2 Timothy 2:22)

Pastor Aufdemberge

Pastor Kneser

Pastor Wempner

Pastor Zarling

It is not easy to be a Christian. God calls us to believe things we have never seen. We believe our sins are forgiven – not because of anything we have done to erase them, but because he is gracious. We believe in a God we cannot explain – he is one God who is three separate persons. We believe that in the water of baptism God washes away sins and creates faith and that in the bread and wine of communion we receive Jesus’ body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins.

God also calls us to live in a way that is not easy. We struggle against the sinful urges that come from within us. We do not follow the ways and philosophies of the world. We recognize and identify evil in the world – even when others try to rationalize, excuse, or accept evil. We want to live godly, loving lives of service to others is a way that reflects God’s will and the grace he has showered into our lives.

What hope do we have to believe the impossible and live as God’s people in a sinful world? In his letter to the Colossians Paul wrote this:
"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." (Colossians 1:9–12 NIV)

Through Jesus, the Father “has qualified” you for life in his kingdom! He has worked faith in your heart through the Holy Spirit. He continues to strengthen and guide you with his Word. He has washed away your imperfections in the blood of Jesus and now views you as qualified to be in heaven!

It is not easy, but by God’s grace, you are a member of God’s kingdom for all eternity. Be strong and take comfort in his grace! Crush your doubts with the promises of God’s Word. Renew your strength as you hear and believe the good news of what Jesus has done for you. You are perfectly qualified to be God’s child because Jesus is your Lord and Savior.

Pastor Aufdemberge

Pastor Kneser

Pastor Wempner

Pastor Zarling

You cannot help but think about our government as our nation has had another election. Regardless of the outcomes of any of the elections, God’s Word has instruction and encouragement for God’s people. In Romans 13:1 (NIV) we read, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” Christians, more than all others, recognize that God has established government and will use it according to his will. As such, we are called on to respect our leaders.

Martin Luther wrote a great deal about the government. Among his many comments, he reminds us to be respectful. He wrote, “Respect for a governmental official is a very necessary requirement in a state. Therefore, we should pray to God for the officers of the state, for they can easily become corrupt, since 'honores mutant mores, numquam in meliores' (honors changes morals, never for the better), and they are easily turned into tyrants.”

Yesterday was a day to vote. Today is a day to pray for our leaders and nation. Today is also a day for us to show respect for our leaders in the way we talk about whoever wins the elections.

Pastor Aufdemberge

Pastor Kneser

Pastor Wempner

Pastor Zarling