Morning Grace

For the season of Lent I'll be sharing devotions from Grace Lutheran's devotional book: "Forgiven."  While these devotions  are not my words and may not represent my own faith or theological understanding, they are  valuable personal faith perspectives of 40 of Grace's members and I am so grateful for their generosity in sharing them. Part Three: Telling the Story & Naming the Hurt Jeremiah 8:18-22 (acknowledgment of pain of betrayal) My joy is gone, grief is upon me,      my heart is sick. Hark, the cry of my poor people      from far and wide in the land: “Is the Lord not in Zion?      Is her King not in her?” (“Why have they provoked me to anger with their images,      with their foreign idols?”) “The harvest is past, the summer is ended,      and we are not saved.” For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt,   ...

For the season of Lent I'll be sharing devotions from Grace Lutheran's devotional book: "Forgiven."  While these devotions  are not my words and may not represent my own faith or theological understanding, they are  valuable personal faith perspectives of 40 of Grace's members and I am so grateful for their generosity in sharing them. Part Three: Telling the Story & Naming the Hurt Psalm 103:6-13 (God’s radical forgiveness) The Lord works vindication      and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses,      his acts to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious,      slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always accuse,      nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins,      nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as the...

For the season of Lent I'll be sharing devotions from Grace Lutheran's devotional book: "Forgiven."  While these devotions  are not my words and may not represent my own faith or theological understanding, they are  valuable personal faith perspectives of 40 of Grace's members and I am so grateful for their generosity in sharing them. Part Three: Telling the Story & Naming the Hurt Luke 17:1-4 (honesty of being hurt) Jesus  said to his disciples, “Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come!  It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble.  Be on your guard! If another disciple  sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive.  And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven ...

For the season of Lent I'll be sharing devotions from Grace Lutheran's devotional book: "Forgiven."  While these devotions  are not my words and may not represent my own faith or theological understanding, they are  valuable personal faith perspectives of 40 of Grace's members and I am so grateful for their generosity in sharing them. Part Three: Telling the Story & Naming the Hurt Ezekiel 33:10-11 (God’s call for repentance) Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: “Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?”  Say to them, As I live, says the Lord  God , I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel? Watchman - considered as an official military position; and biblically...

Apologies! There was a technical problem (mostly human error!) and the 3/25 post did not go out by email. Please read it at the blog site: (https://gracemorningdevotion.blogspot.com) For the season of Lent I'll be sharing devotions from Grace Lutheran's devotional book: "Forgiven."  While these devotions  are not my words and may not represent my own faith or theological understanding, they are  valuable personal faith perspectives of 40 of Grace's members and I am so grateful for their generosity in sharing them. Part Three: Telling the Story & Naming the Hurt Jeremiah 3:12-14 (God’s forgiveness of faithless Israel) Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: Return, faithless Israel, says the Lord. I will not look on you in anger,      for I am merciful, says the Lord; I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt,    ...

For the season of Lent I'll be sharing devotions from Grace Lutheran's devotional book: "Forgiven."  While these devotions  are not my words and may not represent my own faith or theological understanding, they are  valuable personal faith perspectives of 40 of Grace's members and I am so grateful for their generosity in sharing them. Part Three: Telling the Story & Naming the Hurt Matthew 5:21-26 (make reconciliation with others) “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever m urders shall be liable to judgment.’  But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister,  you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult  a brother or sister,  you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell  of fire.  So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister  has some...

For the season of Lent I'll be sharing devotions from Grace Lutheran's devotional book: "Forgiven."  While these devotions  are not my words and may not represent my own faith or theological understanding, they are  valuable personal faith perspectives of 40 of Grace's members and I am so grateful for their generosity in sharing them. Part Two: Understanding Forgiveness Luke 6:37-38 (benefit of forgiveness) “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven;  give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” Forgiveness is love. As you give love (forgiveness), God will continue to give you His love (forgiveness) in all things. God is generous, so much more than we are. Forgive those who hurt you. Prayer: Loving God, forg...

For the season of Lent I'll be sharing devotions from Grace Lutheran's devotional book: "Forgiven."  While these devotions  are not my words and may not represent my own faith or theological understanding, they are  valuable personal faith perspectives of 40 of Grace's members and I am so grateful for their generosity in sharing them. Part Two: Understanding Forgiveness Psalm 86:1-7, 15   (David’s trust in a forgiving God) Incline your ear, O  Lord , and answer me,      for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you;      save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God;  be gracious to me, O Lord,      for to you do I cry all day long. Gladden the soul of your servant,      for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,      abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you. Giv...

For the season of Lent I'll be sharing devotions from Grace Lutheran's devotional book: "Forgiven."  While these devotions  are not my words and may not represent my own faith or theological understanding, they are  valuable personal faith perspectives of 40 of Grace's members and I am so grateful for their generosity in sharing them. Part Two: Understanding Forgiveness Romans 12:17-21  (how to forgive) Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.  If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God;  for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”  No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.”  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. ...

For the season of Lent I'll be sharing devotions from Grace Lutheran's devotional book: "Forgiven."  While these devotions  are not my words and may not represent my own faith or theological understanding, they are  valuable personal faith perspectives of 40 of Grace's members and I am so grateful for their generosity in sharing them. Part Two: Understanding Forgiveness John 8:1-11  (all need forgiveness) While Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.  Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them.  The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them,  they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.  Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”  They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring agai...