Worship into the Week- This Message of Life

 

Worship into the Week- Acts 5:12-32

The Apostles Heal, Meet Opposition.

The signs and wonders that the apostles 

were doing was known to the people.

The believers were meeting at the 

temple at Solomon's Colonnade,

 but people were afraid to join them.

They brought the sick people so that Peter's shadow might fall

on them and they were all healed.

The people came from all the villages around Jerusalem.

This didn't go well with the Sadducces, 

who were filled with jealousy, so they arrested the apostles.

But an angel of the Lord came at night to the public jail

 and opened the gates and released them saying,

"Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!"

So the apostles went at dawn and began teaching.

Amazing drama came next with missing apostles, 

locked gates and clueless guards.

A reporter announced the Apostles were once again 

teaching. They were promptly arrested again 

and brought before the high council.

They didn't follow orders and replied,

 "We must obey God rather than any human authority."

 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead 

after you killed him by hanging him on a cross...

We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, 

who is given by God to those who obey him."

This reading reveals much tension between the rulers

 in Jerusalem and the followers of Jesus. 

The heated conflict became aggressive with the Sadducees

 because of the proclamation of- Resurrection.

Not believing in the Resurrection set the Sadducees apart.

But this fervor in Jerusalem set fire to the power

 and political hierarchy. 

The testimony of the apostles was very bold, 

especially since the Sanhedrin was more concerned 

with man's opinion.

They did not defend their actions, or plead for mercy,

 but simply explained their actions.

What a wonderful reminder for us in today's world. 

 We must please and obey God first.

Worship into the Week- Palm Sunday-Easter 2025

 

Worship into the Week resources 

starting with Palm Sunday.

Deuteronomy 32:36-39

"Now see that I, even I, am He 

and there is no God bedsides ME.

Maundy Thursday- Jeremiah 31:31-34

"I will be their God and they shall be my people."

Good Friday- Isaiah 52:13-53:12

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace and with his wounds we are healed."

Easter Sunday Sunrise- Psalm 118:15-29

"I will not die but live, 

and will proclaim what the Lord has done."

Easter Sunday- Isaiah 65:17-25

"For behold, I create new heavens and earth

 and the former things shall not be remembered."

Finished the readings of this past 

 Holy Week.  So much to think about as another Lent 

ends and another Eastertide begins.

The days march right on...

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Griffin is 11!

 

The oldest grandson turned eleven this month.

I got to spend a morning out with him this year.

We celebrated with the family 

and a meal at the local Tony's in Saginaw.

Some Star Wars for a birthday this year.

Aunt Jess baked a birthday cake and we celebrated

 on Easter on your Baptism Birthday.

Some cousin time on Easter 

as we gathered to celebrate the Risen Savior and 

the gift of another year for Griffin.

The Schumacher family gathered together

and thankful for the gift of this young man.

Worship into the Week- God Makes a Way

 

Worship into the Week-

Isaiah 43: 16-21

At an event this past weekend we spent some time

 preparing for Worship with the Isaiah reading.

We used the new Open Spaces resources

 at Visual Faith® Ministry to pull out phrases and 

words in the reading.

Simply writing them out and putting them back

 together allows for better retention.

This image and the phrase-

"Behold, I am doing a new thing.."

Was with me during worship and into the this week.

God makes a way. 

We may be in the wilderness,

but we know the one who makes the path.

Therefore there is HOPE in this proclamation.

Some time spent in my Bible too.

Also a very special worship service with the 

installation of daughter Sara,

at her growing up church- 

Prince of Peace Lutheran in Springfield, Virginia.

She is the new Grow Group Director.

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Worship into the Week- Sing for Joy

 

Worship into the Week-

Isaiah 12:1-6

The Lord is My Strength and My Song

 This psalm is a song of praise and thanksgiving,

 anticipating a future salvation where God's people

 will recognize Him as their strength and song.

In this chapter Isaiah promises that on that day,

Israel will direct their attention to the Lord

and thank Him for all He has done for them.

We really do have spiritual amnesia 

and forget everyday the story of God's faithfulness to us.

 They will acknowledge that He was rightfully angry with them.

 But they will also thank Him for restraining His anger 

and mercifully giving them comfort (Isaiah 12:1).

Gospel Lesson- The Parable of the Lost Son

The reminder that we are all prodigals.

We have all been lost and found.

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Calendar Journaling- March 2025

 

Calendar Journaling- March 2025

Thanking God for the journaling

this past month. 

Using the The Way, the Truth, and the Life

 by Henri J.M. Nouwen.

The take away that stands out for me is:

I have thought about this every day since the 14th.

How do we live the way of Jesus?

What has gotten in the way of this ?

Have ideas and power become more important 

than people?

Somehow I feel like we have lost the way of 

following Jesus.

Lord, we need your help to return.

Allow me to make sure I see eyes and

feel hearts and listen well. Amen.

The Megiddo Mosaic

 

We recently were able to visit this exhibit

 at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.

We have visited Megiddo in Northern Israel eight times 

and so we were very excited to hear about this discovery.

Tel Megiddo is in the western edge of the Jezebel Valley

 about 19 miles southeast of Haifa.

The mosaic is about 16 by 32 feet.

This hall formed a wing of a large residential building 

used by Roman soldiers, namely the Sixth Ironclad Legion

 stationed at the nearby military camp of Legio

 in the Roman province of Galilee.

The Prayer Hall at Megiddo.

The Meggido Mosaic is nearly 1,800 years old - about 230 CE.

and is from the oldest known Christian worship space.

Megiddo's Biblical Significance was that it was at the crossroads 

of trade routes and the spot of many battles. It is associated with the concept of Armageddon, the final battle between good and evil as described in  the book of Revelation.

 

Both King Saul and his sons and King Josiah, died near Megiddo.

Josiah's death happened at Megiddo during a confrontation with Pharaoh Necho II.

The mosaic is on loan to the Museum of the Bible 

for 9 months and then it will be taken back to Israel 

and put in a permanent exhibit in Megiddo.

Worship into the Week- The Watchman

 

Worship into the Week-

Ekeziel 33:7-20

The Watchman's Message

Ekeziel was appointed by God 

as the watchman for Israel.

A watchman sounds the alarm when danger is coming.

When people hear the warning they still must decide

 whether to take action or not.

If they heard the alarm but ignored it, they must take the 

responsibility if their lives are not saved.

But if the watchman sees the enemy coming 

and does not sound the alarm, he will be held responsible.

So- the people are being warned of the coming judgment

 and the importance of repentance.

God's ultimate desire is that the wicked turn

 from their ways and live.

Even now we are reminded that there is hope 

for all of us with repentance

and a change of heart.

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Isaiah is 7!

Happy Birthday Mr. Isaiah.

This young man is seven and full of fun.

 He loves basketball and baseball.

Well- anything that ends in ball.

He has been learning some things on the keyboard.

Had some great times with friends at 

Sky Zone.

Many blessings to you dear Isaiah.

May the Lord be with you in this new year.

Worship into the Week- Change and Obey

 Jeremiah 26:8-15

Jeremiah's Escape from Death

Well the leaders really are not liking 

what Jeremiah has to say here.

Talking destruction language.

The LORD tells Jeremiah to give them everything-

every word, the entire message.

The response?

The crowd mobs him and the priests and prophets 

shout to kill him. 

But, the officials of Judah heard the commotion and 

rushed to the New Gate of the Temple 

to hold court and listen.

Jeremiah pleads his case and says, 

"The Lord gave me every thing that I have spoken."

So they would be killing an innocent man 

and that would weigh heavily against them.

 Then some wise old men stood up and said

this sounded like someone before!

Sounds like that prophet Micah!

Maybe, there is something here to listen to from this guy.

Repent. Turn from our sins. Change our ways. 

We could save ourselves from great harm.

None of us ever want to have sin pointed out.

It is often easier to go with the flow

 then swim upstream.

God's Word is pretty clear about what

 He demands and expects.

Time to tune in and listen up.

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Psalm Summary - Psalm 39

 

Psalm 39- Summary

Reading over this summary again today,

 after some time with this practice in January.

Always amazes me that each time I look at this work,

I see something different.

For me- that day.

Perhaps something else the next time.

God's Word is really just like that.

Alive and active in my life- each and every day.

In other groups in my life we are looking at:

 Busy, Rushing, and Fleeting time.

Merely moving shadows....

Each of us is but a breath...

The turmoil in me grew worse...

Remind me that my days are numbered...

How fleeting my life is...

Deep breath, and step into the tomorrow knowing that:

My ONLY HOPE is in you, Lord.

 

Worship into the Week- Milk and Honey

 

Worship into the Week- 

Deuteronomy 26:1-15

First Fruits and Tithes

When we really understand that all that we have

 is from the Lord, 

it makes so much sense to rejoice 

with a tenth of our goods as tithe back to the Lord.

Our life is a gift given by God.

Our goods are a gift given by God.

May the Lord be gracious to us in our time

 here on earth with His good gifts. 

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Worship into the Week- Return to Me

 

Worship into the Week-

Return to Me

Joel 2: 10-14

Life isn't going so well in the land of Judah 

with a plague of locusts consuming most

 of anything living.

Prophet Joel is seeking to bring some word

 of encouragement

 in the middle of destruction.

He speaks God's call for repentance-

"turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, 

weeping, and mourning. Tear your hearts 

not just your clothes, and return to the LORD your God."

Certainly a fitting reading for Ash Wednesday

 as Lent begins. 

God's hand is extended to His loved ones.

Joel reminds the people, 

"For he is gracious and compassionate,

 slow to anger, abounding in faithful love 

and he relents from sending disaster."

Even when we are in difficult times,

 we know that these fade from our memory. 

As we look forward to something that endures forever,

our hearts rest in hope of an eternal God 

and His future Kingdom.

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Worship into the Week- Face to Face

 

Worship into the Week- 

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Moses's Death

The amazing life of Moses comes to a conclusion in this chapter.

In the grand area from Moab  to Mount Nebo,

and beyond,

we see all the land that was promised to Abraham, 

Isaac and Jacob. 

This land will go to the descendants of Moses, 

and he has seen it.

But, he won't be allowed to cross into it.

Sometimes the focus is not what happens in our lifetime,

 but after our time here on earth.

The death of Moses marked a major transition of leadership.

He saw the Promised Land and then God appointed Joshua

 as his successor to lead the Israelites into Canaan.

A new chapter was unfolding of God's promise to His people.

God used this man whom He knew face to face as an

amazing leader in the land for Israel.

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Calendar Journaling- February 2025

 

Calendar Journaling- February 2025

Still working through the devotional- 

To Live is Christ by Beth Moore.

Her devotional is looking at the life of St Paul 

and I am enjoying this with our upcoming tour to Greece.

4 Colored pencils

A phrase that sticks.

A Journey along the way.

70 years of Baptism Birthdays

 Today is my Baptism Birthday-

February 27. 

I made this little booklet about 20 years ago. 

 I had made the plan to find my baptism date 

and celebrate that every year. 

Making this small accordion book was the first step.

Now I have the date marked in 

February for the 27th each year.

A few years later I made another remembrance

 with a few more details.

So on this day, as I flip the page to 27 

on the monthly prayer calendar,

 I give thanks for this day of "new birth" blessings.

Claimed by Jesus.

Forever.

What a gift.