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IMITATORS OF GOD |
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How do you see God? I watch our grandchildren play and see God's laughter, hugs, love, and joy in them. Their innocence reflects God's purity, their ability to forgive reveals God's grace. I am aware that my words and actions are mimicked by our grandchildren (all six of them). So I pray often and share God's love with them as best I can as an imperfect human being.
They teach me that God loves to hear my genuine prayers. Their prayers are a cacophony of praise and thanks to God for their family members, playmates, dogs and cats, as well as the rolly pollys they love to pick up. Grandchildren pray straight from the heart.
"THEREFORE BE IMITATORS OF GOD, AS BELOVED CHILDREN, AND LIVE IN LOVE, AS CHRIST LOVED US AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR US, A FRAGRANT OFFERING AND SACRIFICE TO GOD." Ephesians 5:1-2
You have an awesome calling as "imitators of God." You are to be God's light in a dark world, His love in a hate-filled world, and His sweet fragrance in a foul smelling world. As you follow Jesus Christ, you know the truth and share God's love with all people. You walk to a different drum beat and dance to a new song!
My friends in the "way of Christ," or Via de Cristo, are faithful imitators of God. They teach others to be grace-filled people in their local congregations. As a spiritual director, I shared Jesus with them at our coed weekend # 77 on July 30 to August 2, 2009, at Weimar, Texas. Coed weekend # 78 will be on October 22 to 25, 2009, at Kerrville, Texas.
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, help us be imitators of God not only for our children, but for all people in the world. In Jesus' name. Amen. | | |
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ABOUNDING IN LOVEWhat is God like? The Creator loves you. He desires a relationship with all people on earth. His soft touch of grace is seen from Genesis to Revelation. His Son Jesus died for your sins and rose for your salvation. His Word,the Bible, shows you how to live. His Spirit brings to your memory all the events in the Bible.
"But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." Psalm 86:15
Your God is both just and merciful. He hates your sins and loves you. God's patience is amazing! Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Law, saw the people's idolatry with the golden calf, and smashed the stone tablets (Exodus 32:19). Moses went back up the mountain, God provided two more tablets, and as he came down "his face was radiant because he had spoken with God" (Exodus 34:29).
You are to be abounding in love for God, your neighbor, and yourself. You are the only Bible some people will ever read. By your words and actions you proclaim the steadfast love, mercy, and truth of the Lord God.
PRAYER: LORD, Thank You for giving me so many chances to turn from my sins and trust in Your grace. Help me to obey Your Law, receive Your Good News, and freely live in Your boundless love. In Jesus' name. Amen. |
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SOFT TOUCH OF GRACE | | Have you felt God's touch of grace? My grandmother was German and helped raise me. She also showed me a soft touch of grace. When my father died, my mother and I lived with Grandpa and Grandma Watson. It was then that I first felt God's touch of grace in my life. Christmas 1946 was like a dream world. I was 4 years old and playing with Harry Swoyer, my mother's friend. On January 1, 1947, I received a miracle from heaven at Salem Lutheran Church, Catonsville, Maryland, as I watched my mother, Bee Guttromson, and step-father, Harry Swoyer, being married. That was God's touch of grace for them and me. The curtain between life and death was opened by Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:19-22). I pray that you will also receive God's touch of grace through Jesus, "a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek" (Hebrews 7:17). He will bring you the good news of salvation this Christmas. Pastor Mel Swoyer, Director of Spiritual Care, Lutheran Social Services, Austin, Texas. www.lsss.org |
| How do you connect with God? The logo of this website is a painting of Jesus ascending into heaven. It is over the altar of Salem Lutheran Church, Catonsville, Maryland, where I was baptized on Christmas Day 1942. Born on September 16, 1942, I was a premie at 3 pounds, 4 ounces. The nurses prayed for me and I came home from Walter Reed Army Medical Center a day before Thanksgiving. They connected me to God through prayer. My father, Sgt. Melvin Guttromson,Sr., and mother Bee Watson Guttromson, prayed for me. They had lost another son before I was born. They dedicated me to God. "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God" (Psalm 42:1). You can connect to God through prayer. He is waiting to touch you with His soft touch of grace (John 1:17). Pastor Mel Swoyer, ordained October 14, 1973, in Killeen, Texas.
What kind of freedom do you want? You want freedom from war, but at what cost? You want higher wages and lower costs of living, but at what cost. If you worry about what you eat, or drink, or wear, then you have no freedom.
Jesus said, "Do not worry about your life ... But strive first for the kingdon of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:25,33). Real freedom comes from God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ. Remember those men and women who died serving freedom and ask God this Memorial Day to bless our One nation under God.
Prayer: LORD, we thank You for One nation under God, One church under Your Son, and One mission of loving all people by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Amen. The Rev. Mel Swoyer, Interim Pastor, St. John Lutheran Church, Thorndale, Texas. |
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