Faith Based Support Groups - SEPTEMBER ~ Daily Devotion

"Maseratis, Too"

September 1, 2009



All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the Word of the Lord remains forever. 1 Peter 1:24-25



A brief note for those receiving this Daily Devotion for the first time:

This Daily Devotion from Lutheran Hour Ministries has been sent to you by someone who thinks you will find them as helpful as he or she has. There is no cost involved. Please read, or listen to what follows. If you would like the Daily Devotion delivered to your mailbox, you can sign up at this link: http://www.lhm.org/email/register.asp.



"Stuff." Most of us have some amount of stuff.

For a great many people, their stuff helps define who they are, how they think of themselves, and how they hope others will regard them.

Sadly, the stuff of advertisements doesn't always deliver. They promise us much, but really give us little. They promise to raise our standard of living, but often they only raise our standard of longing.

In all probability, if you check your basement, garage, attic, or closet you will find a lot of stuff that once seemed to be incredibly important, but now has been totally forgotten.

In short, stuff can let us down. It almost always lets us down; it withers and the flower falls.

I imagine that's the way it was for the fellow in Colorado who brought his vehicle into the recent Cash-For-Clunkers program. That vehicle, with less than 19,000 miles on the odometer, was an almost mint-condition 1985 Maserati.

For those of you who aren't car fans, that is a very, very expensive car.

Maybe once that vehicle was the apple of his eye, but now, well, he got $3,500 for it so he could buy a Subaru.

And as for the very, very expensive car -- it will be crushed.

Having said all this about stuff, maybe it's time to talk of the Savior.

In contrast to the limited ability of stuff to answer our lasting needs, we have Jesus Christ. Every promise He has made to us He keeps. Every gift He gives to us is precious.

And now -- pay attention because this is important -- when you get to heaven, nobody is going to ask whether you got there in a Maserati, a Mercedes, or a muscle car. The only thing you will need that day is faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, my attic and garage say there are many things in my life that come and go. You are the only Person who has eternal permanence. Grant me the grace to appreciate You and let others know how valuable You are. This I ask in Your Name. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Sorry"

September 2, 2009



If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9



A brief note for those receiving this Daily Devotion for the first time:

This Daily Devotion from Lutheran Hour Ministries has been sent to you by someone who thinks you will find them as helpful as he or she has. There is no cost involved. Please read, or listen to what follows. If you would like the Daily Devotion delivered to your mailbox, you can sign up at this link: http://www.lhm.org/email/register.asp.



New York's 10-year-old Clementine Lee is a young lady who likes classical music and has played the violin since she was four.

Clementine Lee is also an entrepreneur.

For the last year she and her father have been planning on selling lemonade in a park near their home. When beautiful weather came to New York, they set up their stand.

Business was good. In 20 minutes they sold 10 glasses of lemonade and most of the dozen chocolate chip cookies they had baked.

That's when disaster struck. Three agents of the Parks Department surrounded them and demanded to see their permit to sell. The father confessed they didn't have the necessary piece of paper.

That's when they shut down the father-daughter team and served the two a $50 ticket.

Dozens of people were outraged, and I was, too, when I first read the story. But then I read an update. The New York City Commissioner of the Department of Parks & Recreation, Adrian Benepe said, "The ticket would be set aside, the agent would be re-trained on rules and regulations and he would personally love to have a glass of Clementine's lemonade."

Good move, Mr. Benepe! Apparently, he is a man who understands a confession can often change things. In this case, Mr. Benepe's confession has changed a public-relations nightmare into some solid goodwill for the Department of Parks & Recreation.

Sadly, too many people have too much pride to follow Mr. Benepe's example. They refuse to apologize to another person, and they most definitely won't confess their sins to God. Indeed, they feel the Lord is being pretty pushy expecting them to make confession.

They miss the point, don't they? The Lord knows the gravity of our sins, and He sent His Son to live, die, and rise to take our sins away. When folks minimize and ignore their sins, they minimize the sacrifice.

On the other hand, when we confess our sins, we admit the intensity of our need and the immensity of God's grace. This is why, in our prayer today, we make this confession:

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, be merciful to me a sinner. Forgive what I have done wrong and the many times I have done those wrongs. Thank You for the sacrifice of the Savior and accept my joy at sins which are no more. Because of Jesus may this day be blessed and lived in thanksgiving and joy. In His Name. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"No Profit Here"

September 3, 2009



For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? Luke 9:25


This devotion is not about a man who recently tossed money from his car onto a Los Angeles freeway.

Nor is this devotion about the fact the police department asked all the folks who had picked up the man's cash from the freeway return it to the Azusa Police Department or the California Highway Patrol.

Truly, either of those topics would have made a good devotion, and I regret not being able to write them.

This devotion centers on the folks who stopped their cars on a Los Angeles freeway so they could get out and pick up the man's money. To all those folks, I have a question and that question is this: "Have you folks lost all touch with reality? Don't you know the kind of things that can happen to you on a busy expressway? Is your life really worth the few bucks you collected which are not your own?"

I guess that was three questions, and I feel better having asked them. Maybe you feel the same way. We all know having cash is nice, but there's no amount of money worth risking your life, is there?

That's the point Jesus was trying to make in today's Daily Devotion verse. He wants us to know we're not ahead if we manage to own the entire world but end up losing our souls.

That ought to be pretty basic thinking, but as the folks picking up cash on the highway show us, people don't always get the simple things. All around us we see folks who forget about their souls and spend all their time taking care of their bodies and minds.

Maybe that's why Jesus regularly encouraged people to have the right priorities. The Savior had come to give His life so we might be saved from our sins and spend eternity with Him. He didn't want us to forget Him, to ignore His sacrifice, or put eternal life way down on the list of things we are going to do someday.

Jesus wants us to keep first things first. That means believe on Him while today is still today. Now I'm pretty sure you do that, so let's pray for those who don't.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I give thanks You have saved me and the Holy Spirit has put faith into my heart. Today I speak for some special people in my life whose priorities seem confused. Be with _________, dear Lord, so they might see the wonders of Your love and the greatness of Your sacrifice. In Your Name I pray it. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

See Him With Your Heart"

September 4, 2009



(Jesus said) "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3



Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our International Ministry Centers to write our Friday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words.

In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour



Recently, the staff and volunteers of Lutheran Hour Ministries in Lebanon distributed Bibles and food parcels to needy people in southern Lebanon. At one church, the pastor invited people to come forward. He said, "Come, Jesus is here, and He is ready to heal every wound, wipe every tear, and mend every broken heart."

A nine-year old boy named Ibrahim, a refugee from the 2006 war, asked, "Is He really here? Is Master Christ really here?

An LHM volunteer replied, "Yes, He is here, but we don't necessarily see Jesus with our eyes-we see Him with our heart."

Ibrahim asked if Jesus could be sitting next to him. The volunteer said, "Not only can He be right next to you, but even within your heart." Ibrahim said he wanted to know God and trust Him completely. By God's grace, Ibrahim acknowledged his sins and placed his trust in Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, grant us childlike faith so that we might trust Your love and feel Your presence all the time. Amen.

Biography of Author:
Michel Matar is a guitarist in the Worship Band, a Christian music group performing since 1990 that has toured several countries with its Arabic, English, and French music. Jesus' love and forgiveness radically changed Matar's life in 1989. Since then, he has dedicated his life, his music, and his talents to serve the Lord. He and his wife Nuna-who sings and plays keyboards in the Worship Band-have five children.

"Hiding"

September 5, 2009



O Lord, You have searched me and know me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down. You search out my path and are acquainted with all my ways. Psalm 139:1-3



I have a friend whose work requires him to make frequent business trips to Japan.

Although he has always been impressed by the honesty of the people who are employed at the hotel where he stays, he doesn't believe in tempting people more than they can bear.

To that end, and so as not to place any enticement before the cleaning people, my friend has always hidden his expensive digital camera before he goes out.

He always hid that camera -- until the day came when he overslept and had to rush out for an appointment. His camera was left out in plain view.

Sure enough, when he returned to his room, the camera was gone. I don't need to tell you my friend was upset. He was upset with the cleaning lady; he was upset with life and, mostly, he was upset with himself.

He stayed upset until, quite by accident, he discovered the maid had put his camera back in his super-secret hiding place. His attempts to hide that camera had been foolish. All along the maid had known what he was hiding and where he was hiding it.

I think a lot of people try that same hiding stunt on the Lord. Because they have been able to keep many of their sins and shortcomings hidden from their families and business associates, they're sure they can do the same with God.

They may think they can fool God, but they can't. The Lord knows. Like that Japanese maid, He knows. He knows about all our sins and He knows where we try to keep them hidden. We try, but nobody can successfully hide anything from an all-knowing God.

Fortunately, we don't need to hide our sins. Those who call Jesus, "Lord," know He has taken away all their sins. When we believe in Jesus as our Savior, we can be at peace. Our sins are forgiven, and there's no longer a need to hide something that doesn't exist.


From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"



THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I thank You all my sins are washed away. Your sacrifice, Your death, and Your resurrection let me know my soul has been made whiter than snow. Now may I live my life in the freedom You give, and offer up the thanks You deserve. In Your Name. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,



Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Safety in the Storm"

September 6, 2009



Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Psalm 107:28-29



During my vacation in the mountains, I came across a very interesting pamphlet. It was so interesting I kept a number of free copies.

Maybe I should explain why.

The pamphlet gives advice on what a person is supposed to do if he ever gets caught in the open during a bad lightning storm. The directions say he should kneel down; he should bend forward and then put his hands on his knees.

While it doesn't say so in so many words, the idea seems to be that a person can increase his safety by reducing his profile. In short -- make yourself a smaller, shorter target.

Now I kept those pamphlets not because I'm petrified of lightning. I'm not. I set aside those booklets because the wisdom they contain seems to be equally applicable to other areas of life.

Think about it. On a spiritual level, haven't we all seen the lightning strike around us?

Lightning can blaze into our lives in the form of an illness, or some kind of problem at work, or an ongoing conflict at home, or through unanticipated financial difficulties or, well, you get the idea.

Now there are a number of things we can do when the lighting starts zapping.

We can stand upright and face the problem on our own, or we can do as the pamphlet suggests: we can drop to our knees, bow our heads, and pray to the Lord for His protection, His assistance, and His guidance. Actually, the pamphlet doesn't say that.

Now I can't say what kind of lightning storm is headed your way. I don't know how strong it will be, or how long it will last. I don't know a lot of things, but I'm pretty sure a storm is coming. If it is, the Lord wants you to be informed as to what you should do.

Like God's people, cry to the Savior in your trouble. Then, be sure that the Savior -- who lived His life to save you -- will bring you through the storm.


From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"



THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, for delivering me from past storms, I give thanks. Now I am bold to request that You will also bring me through the tempests and squalls that sin, Satan, and death are sure to send my way. When the thunder rolls and the lightning flashes, may I be sure You will keep me secure. In Jesus' Name. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Falsely"

September 7, 2009



Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven. Matthew 5:11-12a



"Falsely." That's the active word in this Daily Devotion.

On July 30th, mosque loudspeakers of Faisalabad, Pakistan, called on the faithful to defend their faith against Christians who had desecrated pages of the Qur'an. Fifty homes were destroyed in the rioting.

On August 1st, mosque loudspeakers in Pakistan's Punjab province called for a defense of the faith. The word echoed over the housetops that Christians had dishonored the Qur'an at a recent wedding. The mob ended up killing eight believers, a number which includes a seven-year-old-child.

Falsely. That's the active word in this Daily Devotion.

Government officials have condemned the violence. They have criticized security forces for not defending the Christians, and the government has also said there is no truth to the allegations of blasphemy. The charges were false.

Falsely. That's the active word in this Devotion, and it is also the word Jesus used when He described what would happen to those who would follow Him.

He warned His people would be reviled and persecuted and falsely accused.

But Jesus also said other things that are just as true. The Savior said His people would be blessed if they endured these pains. He said they would have a great reward in heaven if they, by the Holy Spirit's power, remained faithful.

And that's the second word worth remembering: Faithful. Jesus is faithful in keeping His promises. Today, while we continue to struggle in a sad and sinful world, those Pakistani believers who were martyred have already received their great reward in heaven.

So there you have a complete devotion. Satan is still spreading his lies and still saying all manner of falsehoods. The Savior is still bestowing His strength, support, and blessings. Satan's falsehood or the Savior's faithfulness . . . .

I know which one I will follow.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, Satan is still spreading his lies and half-truths. Today I pray for brothers and sisters around the world. Keep them secure in their faith and faithful in their witness to You who gave Your life so they might have life. In Your Name. Amen.



In Christ I remain His servant and yours,



Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"They Got It Right"

September 8, 2009



(Jesus said, referring to an Old Testament passage) "'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh?' So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." Matthew 19:5-6



Not so long ago Frank and Anita shared their recipe for a successful marriage.

They agreed that matrimony was always a matter of "give and take." It was also a matter of making up after an argument with a "kiss and a cuddle."

If that sounds a little hokey, please allow me to introduce this pretty average-looking couple to you. Frank and Anita first met at a YMCA dance in Plymouth, Devon, Great Britain. They liked each other. Eventually, they found they liked each other a lot.

Two years later they were married.

That marriage took place 81 years ago.

Frank and Anita spent their entire married life in the same town; they had children and they managed to survive the WWII bomb that fell on their home.

Recently, after more than eight decades Frank went home to the Lord. Anita was holding her husband's hand when he died.

Both had reached the age of 101. By God's grace they had managed to get it right.

Now I'm not exactly sure why I share the story of Frank and Anita.

Certainly, most of us aren't going to reach the age of 101; even fewer will manage to be married 81 years. Maybe I pass on their story because I believe that when God joins a couple together He can also make it so they stick together.

As I say, Frank and Anita were an average husband and wife. The day when they made their vows, they weren't wondering if they could set a record together. That record came about because -- every day -- this ordinary couple was blessed in some extraordinary ways by God.

The same Savior who gave His life upon the cross so the world might be forgiven and saved, the same Savior who rose from the grave and defeated death has the power to help us -- single or married -- with the living of each day.

And He also has the power to comfort Anita with a reunion in heaven -- a reunion which death can never destroy.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, for the cloud of witnesses around us, we give thanks. For Your being with us and transforming ordinary people and making them into extraordinary examples, I praise You. Now may I listen to Your directions and follow where You lead. In Your Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"He Knows Love"

September 9, 2009



By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 1 John 3:16



It was just a few minutes before 7 a.m. when the 14-year-old girl got on the Yazoo County, Mississippi, school bus and made her way toward the back.

She managed to get half way. That's when she stopped; that's when she reached into her flower-print bag; that's when she pulled out a chrome-plated 38-caliber pistol.

Those around her said she started waving the gun, ordering the driver to pull over, shouting and threatening the other children on the bus.

That's when Yazoo County football player Kaleb Eulls stood up and started walking toward the disturbed young lady. As Kaleb walked, in low tones, he kept repeating, "Put the gun down, put the gun down."

The girl didn't put the gun down, but she did look away from Kaleb. She looked away for just a second.

And that second was just what Kaleb needed.

The 6-foot, 4-inch, 255-pound football player did what he had been trained to do: he tackled that 14-year-old girl.

A second later, Kaleb was standing up with the gun in his hand -- a bona fide hero.

Of course, there are times when things don't go that way. There are times when the hero ends up dying.

That's the way it was almost 2,000 years ago when our innocent Savior stood up against sin, death, and devil. His was a grand and gracious gift of love, an incredible act of bravery, which called for Him to be sacrificed so we might be forgiven. His life was the present that made it possible for everyone who believed on Him as Savior to be given eternal life.

Yes, sometimes these stories end up with the hero dying on a cross. Or do they end that way?

Of course, that wasn't the end of Jesus' story was it? Jesus' third-day resurrection says that He is victorious. He has conquered and He is our Redeemer.

Thanks be to God!

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus I give thanks that the young man who was willing to risk his life to save others has been saved. Even more I give thanks that Your sacrifice for me has been accepted and with Your resurrection I am saved. May I live my life in a way that reflects my appreciation. In Your Name I pray it. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"A Mistake"

September 10, 2009



Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6



Trust is a wonderful thing if the person you trust is trustworthy.

The young woman first met 23-year-old "Chris" at a Detroit casino. His real name was Terrance McCoy.

On April 24th, they went out for dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings®. Since it was a date, Chris said he should pay for the meal. "The only problem is," he said, "I left my wallet in your car." Actually, his wallet was in his pocket.

Chris asked his date for the keys to her car so he could get his wallet. Actually, he wanted the keys so he could steal her Chevrolet Impala.

Before she knew what had happened, the young lady from Ferndale, Michigan, found herself

· stood up in the restaurant.
· with an unpaid dinner bill.
· with no car to get home.

The only happy part of the entire story is Chris was quickly caught. You see, he had sent a picture of himself to the young lady's cell phone, along with his home telephone number.

Trust is a wonderful thing if the person you trust is trustworthy.

While most of us may not have been taken for a ride as quickly as the woman in this Associated Press story, most of us must admit to having been conned by a charlatan or two.

We invest ourselves, our faith, and our trust in someone who is not worthy of it. When we realize what has happened, we are emotionally embarrassed and mentally battered.

Thankfully, we also know someone who can be trusted. Absolutely. Totally. 100 percent of the time. Jesus' sacrifice of Himself to save us from sin, death, and devil gives proof of His level of commitment.

When He says He loves us, He means it. When He says He is with us, you can be sure He is present at our side. When Jesus says we can call upon Him, trust in Him, rely on Him, and believe in Him, well, we can. Friends, in a world filled with people like Chris, Jesus' commitment counts for a lot.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I give thanks Your Word is solid and Your promise is reliable. Send Your Holy Spirit upon me so that I may be faithful to You. This I pray in Your Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Put Your Life In The Care Of The Lord"

September 11, 2009



Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this. Psalm 37:5



Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our International Ministry Centers to write our Friday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words.

In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour



While a lady was visiting her neighbor, she allowed her six-year-old son to go out and play in the yard. After a while, she went out to see what the child was doing. Nearby, was a painter on a high scaffold. To her dismay, the lady observed that her son had gone up to the last rung of the ladder.

"Arthur, get down!" the nervous woman yelled, alarming the child who began to look down full of fear. The painter immediately realized the danger the child was in and very calmly spoke to the mother saying, "Your boy is all right. I will take care of him." Then he told the child, "Look up and climb to where I am."

With a smile, and watching the man's eyes, the boy arrived safely to where the man was waiting. He took the boy in his arms and carefully started to climb down, finally handing him over to his mother.

How often do we look down when we face dangers and conflicts, rather than focusing on Jesus and trusting our lives to His care and guidance? When we are threatened by dangers and conflicts, we cling to our own strengths instead of looking to Him. We often forget to let Him guide us with His love through the difficulties of this life.

When it is your turn to face difficult tests, and you think you are sinking in misfortune, stop looking down and look up to Jesus with confidence. Remember the psalmist's words: "Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this."

Always remember, dear friend, that in the midst of adversity, the promises of our beloved Father are greater than the conflicts we experience in life.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love to help us confront our tests with great peace and the assurance You have provided protection. Help us savor the great blessings and immense love You have for us. Amen.


Biography of Author:
Alexander Jesus Perez Leon, the director of Lutheran Hour Ministries' Venezuelan office, wrote today's devotion. Established in 1953 in Caracas, LHM-Venezuela or Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones (CPTLN) meaning "Christ for All Nations," operates a radio and print ministry addressing issues like anxiety, sex, drugs, depression, occultism, and family relations. These programs are broadcast to more than 30 million people over 40 stations in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Spain, and Cuba.


To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.

"Blessed"

September 12, 2009



I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:12-13



If the Lord has blessed you with good health, I hope you spend some time giving thanks today.

It would be the appropriate thing to do.

On the other hand if you, or someone you love, has been battling sickness, this story may be just the ticket. Most of us remember the writings of Robert Louis Stevenson. What most people may not know is that Stevenson was bedridden for much of his life with tuberculosis.

One day his wife heard him hacking and coughing away. Wishing to test the resilience of his spirit, she asked, "And my dear, do you still believe this is a wonderful day?"

Stevenson looked at the pile of medicine bottles sitting on the windowsill in front of his sun-filled bedroom window. After a moment he replied, "I do. I will never let a row of medicine bottles block my horizon!"

I like that answer.

Following the example of the apostle Paul, Stevenson had learned to be content in whatever situation he found himself.

That's not a bad idea for all of God's people. Think for a moment. Has a row of medicine bottles been blocking your view of God's blessings and bounty? Is it possible financial reverses have been blocking the joy which comes in Jesus?

Most certainly there are things in life that can do their best to throw a shadow between God and His people.

When that happens, we need to lift up our eyes and look past the medicine bottles, the boss, the whatever. God is still there. We need to see the face of the Savior, His nail-scarred hands, and His spear-pierced side.

We need to see the risen Redeemer reaching out to us and lifting us up so we may see past the medicine bottles and gaze upon the great grace and love of God.


From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"



THE PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, help me to see all of the ways You have blessed me. When I feel something is blocking my relationship with You, send Your Holy Spirit so my eyes may be refocused on Your presence. In Jesus' Name. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

Visit here to be refreshed through a meditation on God's Word. The devotions are updated daily, and you can also receive these devotions daily via e-mail. If you would like to read a devotion from a previous date, please visit our devotion archives.


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"Life Is A Gift"

September 13, 2009



This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24



Recently, a pastor wrote me about a man in his congregation who was celebrating his one-hundredth birthday.

During the party, a friend came up to the centenarian and said, "Fred, I congratulate you on this wonderful milestone. The only thing I regret is that you won't be around to celebrate your second hundredth."

The birthday boy looked shocked. If he was, his surprise lasted for only a second.

The pastor shared the old man's reply. With a chuckle, he said, "I wouldn't be so sure I won't be around for that two-hundredth birthday party. The truth is, I'm feeling much stronger beginning my second century than I did when I began the first."

Bravo!

The truth is, nobody knows what his or her future will hold. Most certainly there will be joys and sorrows, sad days and glad days. The only thing of which we can be absolutely certain is that the Lord is in control and the Savior, who has won the last and final victory for us, has promised to be by our side.

Those are truths each of us should believe in.

After all, we can't change the past; we don't know what tomorrow will bring, or even if tomorrow will come at all. All we can do is say, "The Lord has given me this day; He has given me the strength to enjoy it or to survive it -- or to come home to be with Him in paradise forever."

Whichever way things turn out, I will put this day into the hands of the Savior who gave His life so I might be blessed with an abundant life now and a perfect life in the everlasting hereafter.

It seems to me if more people adopted that viewpoint, most of our worries about the future could be put to rest, and the regrets of the past would be forgotten. We would be able to live our lives saying, "This is the day that the Lord has made."


From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"



THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, each day that we wake up and live in Your love is a gift. Help me appreciate Your presence, Your grace, and Your Son. In Jesus' precious Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Throwing Down, Lifting Up"

September 14, 2009



Then the devil set Him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to Him, "If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down, for it is written, 'He will command His angels concerning You,' and 'On their hands they will bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone.'" Matthew 4:5-6



Do you remember Jesus' reply to that sinful suggestion of the devil? The Savior said, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test" (Matthew 4:7b).

It's good advice -- advice most applicable to a story that recently appeared in the Chicago Tribune. Let me begin that tale by asking this question: Have you ever, at the end of a vacation, said to yourself, "I wish this trip would never end"?

If so, I hope you never take that wish as far as did the man who was returning from a four-day cruise to the Bahamas. On the last night of the voyage, as his ship -- the Carnival Sensation -- was returning to port, the man jumped from his stateroom balcony into the sea.

He didn't fall; he wasn't pushed. He jumped. The ship turned around and searched for the man. The Coast Guard was called and sent out a helicopter, a cutter, and another boat to look for him. They all came up dry.

This might have been the end of the man's story, if it had not been for a Disney cruise ship passing by. Against all odds, the exhausted man was spotted, fished out of the water, and was taken to the port at Cape Canaveral. Talk about testing the Lord! You don't jump from a ship and expect to be picked up.

And if you're wondering about the man -- well, he asked to be returned to the ship from which he had jumped. Apparently, he wanted to take the same cruise again.

Testing the Lord. It's something we don't often talk about, but it's something most of us do. When God tells us to avoid something -- something that we want -- you know what's usually going to happen. Most of the time we will follow our will, not His.

And then? Then we expect the loving Lord to bail us out of our dilemma, our disaster, our calamity, our catastrophe. That kind of attitude also puts God to the test.

Testing God in this way is a terribly unfair thing for us to do. The Father doesn't have to prove His love, His care, or His compassion for sinful humanity. In His Son's life, suffering, death, and resurrection He has shown just how much He cares.

Far better, I think, for us is to trust the Lord, not test Him, to rely upon His Word, not rebel against it. Far better for the redeemed to remember Jesus words: "Not My will, but Yours be done" (Luke 22:42b).

THE PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for inventing hoops for You to jump through and prove Your love. Grant me the grace to see the wisdom of Your Word and the wonderful depth of Jesus' sacrifice. This I pray in His Name. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"He Took Our Illnesses"

September 15, 2009



That evening they brought to Him many who were oppressed by demons, and He cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases." Matthew 8:16-17



What were they thinking?

That was my reaction when I read a Reuters report that recently came out of Tampa, Florida.

Please let me explain: Steve Valdez went to that city's Bank of America branch for the purpose of cashing a check on his wife's account.

Knowing he would have to prove his identity, Steve came equipped with two photo IDs. Having looked at the identification provided, the cashier said Steve would also have to place his thumb on an electronic scanner to prove himself.

It was a request that caused Steve a problem. You see, Steve doesn't have hands and the prosthetic hands he does own don't come equipped with fingerprints.

Steve's case was taken to a higher court when the bank manager was called in. The manager said Steve either had to provide a thumbprint, open his own account, or bring in his wife.

Steve told them he didn't have thumbprints, he didn't want a separate account, and his wife wasn't anywhere near. And what was the end of the story? Well, Steve didn't get the check cashed.

To its credit, Bank of America has publicly said that while the thumbprint is a requirement for those who don't have accounts, the bank should have made accommodations.

You know, when our Savior walked this earth, He did more than make accommodations for those who were brought to Him with physical and spiritual problems. As the text indicates, Jesus "cast out the (evil) spirits with a word and healed all who were sick."

Those healings were a visible manifestation of the changes Jesus was bringing to a lost and sinful world. The healing of a body, the forgiving of a soul, the calming of a conscience, the defeat of death and devil were God's proof that He was -- by His Son's life, death, and resurrection -- reclaiming that which had been stolen from Him in the fall.

Even today, Jesus doesn't make accommodations for our infirmities, our faults, flaws, and transgressions. He conquers them. He eliminates them, and in so doing He forgives, redeems, and restores all who believe.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, it is impossible for us to understand why You would love Your disobedient children. Still, we give thanks for Your grace that comes to us by the Savior's victory over sin, death, and devil. May our lives reflect to others the hope we have been given. In Your Name. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Pretty Predictable"

September 16, 2009



No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Luke 16:13a



Although I don't have any solid statistics to substantiate my statement, I'm pretty sure there are very few car thieves reading the Daily Devotions.

Since you are not a car thief you may not know what car is the most stolen automobile in the United States. Would you care to take a guess? Cadillac? Mercedes? Corvette? Mustang? GTO?

It's none of those. The car that most often disappears from where the owner has placed it is the 1994 Honda Accord.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, last year more than 55,000 Accords were stolen.

Since you're not a car thief you might be curious as to why older Accords are disappearing with such frequency. According to those who know, the answers are pretty simple:

1. Older Accords don't have any anti-theft deterrent technology.
2. Older Accords have a lot of stuff that can be sold easily on the black market.
3. Owners of older Accords don't think anybody would steal them, so they don't lock them
and frequently they leave the keys inside.

This all adds up to one thing: older Accords are stolen more often because they're easier to steal.

If you think about that for a second you might conclude, as I have, that the devil works a lot like a car thief. He tries to steal the souls easiest to take.

And how does a soul become easy to steal? That's simple: don't search the Scriptures; don't go to the Lord in prayer; don't receive the Sacraments; don't make confession of your sin; don't receive the Lord's absolution; don't worship with others; don't use any of God's gifts, which are designed to keep His people from being taken to Satan's chop shop.

Our text for today is clear: somebody is going to own you. It is either going to be God or it is not.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, You are right; we cannot serve two masters. Please, send Your Holy Spirit so I may always belong to and serve You. Grant me the grace to be faithful -- faithful unto death so the crown of life might be mine. This I ask in Your Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Reconciliation"

September 17, 2009



Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19



Just a few days ago, True Compass, a book written by the late Senator Ted Kennedy, was published.

No matter how you may feel about the track record or politics of the senator, you may be interested to know what he said about his actions concerning the drowning death of Mary Jo Kopechne.

Describing his conduct in the 1969 accident as being "inexcusable," the senator confessed to being afraid, overwhelmed, and having made some "terrible decisions."

The part of the book that captured my attention was this poignant line: "Atonement is a process that never ends."

It is my prayer that you may know that line is wrong.

As Christians, we have the joy of knowing -- beyond any doubt -- that in Jesus there is absolute, complete, and total forgiveness of sin.

When the Savior knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane the weight of the world's transgressions were placed upon Him. When He breathed His last upon Calvary's cross, the penalty price for every one of those sins was paid.

By God's grace, believers are given repentant hearts and a powerful faith in the power of Jesus' holy, precious blood, His innocent suffering and death. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, believers are reconciled with their Lord. They know Jesus has done what they could not do: He has reunited them with the Father.

That was what St. Paul was saying when he, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote, "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation."

St. Paul had been involved with the murder -- the martyrdom of Stephen -- a pillar of the Jerusalem church. He knew if Jesus could reconcile a murderer and give him peace, He could and would do the same thing for others.

It's a sad thing Senator Kennedy didn't know that; it is a happy thing you do.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, for the sins You have forgiven, for the peace You bestow, for the atonement You have begun, completed, and given to me -- I am most grateful. May I, Your new creation, share that joy with others. In Your Name. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Threats Against Trust In God"

September 18, 2009



And he (Elijah) looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 1 Kings 19:6



Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our International Ministry Centers to write our Friday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words.

In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour



Jezebel was threatening the prophet Elijah. He had performed many miracles and had prophesied on several occasions. When Jezebel sent him a warning, he escaped to seek refuge in the desert. Once there, he wished to die, but God sent an angel to care for him and feed him. He regained enough energy and was sustained throughout his 40-day ordeal.

When Elijah thought all was gone and his situation was hopeless, it was then that God intervened to rescue him. Even in our lives today, God steps into our problems when we feel all is lost. Upon God's intervention, we can be like Elijah-completely transformed after he had eaten the heavenly bread.

Elijah's situation can be of great inspiration to Christians today in times of trial, sickness, poverty, economic recession, business failure, or even prison detention. If we remain confident in the Lord God and call upon Him for help, He is faithful and will transform us, leading us through any situation completely renewed.

Our response is that of perseverance and turning our lives over to God, who loves us so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to be our Redeemer and save us from all our situations, even from death.

THE PRAYER: Thank You, Heavenly Father, for loving us and caring for our every need. Amen.

Biography of Author:
The author of today's devotion from Cameroon is Tifor Ephraim, a high school teacher who has himself experienced detention at the Yaoundé Central Prison. Operating in Yaoundé since 2001, LHM-Cameroon and its volunteer corps is active in prison ministry, door-to-door evangelism, drama and music presentations, and outreach to the hospitalized and children living on the streets.

"Complexities"

September 19, 2009



Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7



Life can get complex.

Years ago a new soap was being marketed and the product needed an advertising program. A PR think tank came together and explored the possibilities. Nothing -- not the weirdest or wildest of suggestions -- was considered off limits.

To show you how far they wandered, one of the slogan suggestions was this:

"The alkaline elements and vegetable fats in this product are blended in such a way as to secure the highest quality of saponification alone, with a specific gravity that keeps it on the surface of the water, relieving the bather of the trouble and annoyance of fishing around for it in the bottom during his ablutions."

The advertising manager struck it all out and substituted two words: "It floats."

That manager understood there are two ways of looking at life.

There is the complex way and there is the simple way.

The complex way is to see things on our own, deal with things on our own, and to struggle against things on our own.

The simple way is to take all these things -- the things that are bothersome and complex -- and share them with someone else. Some people believe it is best to share those things with a counselor, a friend, or a family member.

St. Peter, in today's text says it is better to go the Lord's way. How did Peter say it? It is better to cast "all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you."

The Heavenly Father has shown the depth and scope of His caring when He sent His Son into this sinful world to save us. Here, Jesus endured the contempt and disrespect of humankind so we might be accepted. He died, so we might live.

Knowing the Lord cares for us changes everything. It can give us an almost euphoric feeling. You might almost say, "we float."


From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"



THE PRAYER: Dear Lord of Life, I rejoice that no matter how complicated our lives may appear to be, You have the answer, the direction, and can give the guidance. May this day be lived with a heart that gives thanks that You care for me. In Jesus' Name, I give thanks. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Light"

September 20, 2009



(Jesus said) "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20



It's true: many of us want more than we need.

That kind of longing for excess is part of our human condition. Because we want enough and more than enough, we don't desire daily bread as much as we want a bakery running 24/7.

And this kind of attitude doesn't begin and end with a desire for a lot to eat; such a desire can touch any aspect of our lives.

You know people who are not content to get a good night's sleep, or have a sound roof over their heads. What they're looking for is an ironclad guarantee the hurts and pains of this life will be kept at bay and the good and pleasant joys will always remain in their possession.

This may be why we would do well to learn a lesson from the glowworm.

Yes, a glowworm. In case you've forgotten your high school science class, the glowworm is a small insect, an insect that generates light to illuminate its path.

Understand, the glowworm doesn't light up the entire pathway or brighten the total road. What the glowworm does is this: as it takes its very small steps, as it moves across the fields, it produces enough light to illuminate the next step.

In short, the glowworm doesn't generate a lot of light -- just the light necessary to move forward.

As I said, some people can learn a valuable lesson from the glowworm. Rather than worrying about things situated far beyond their visible horizon, they should trust the Lord.

Why? Jesus' perfect life, His terrible death, and His glorious resurrection from the dead say He is a Man of His Word. If He says, as our text records, that He is with us always, then we ought to believe Him.

His presence is enough to take us safely through the unknown future to our blessed eternity.


From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"



THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You are the light in my darkness. Help me to remember that when You direct my paths, I have all I need. In Your Name, I pray it. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

Maybe some "bread" from the above devotion for Kelli's study....wink

"Reconciliation"

September 21, 2009



For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Matthew 6:13b (KJV)



This devotion is about power.

And it's not just about any kind of power, mind you. This devotion is about mini-power -- Volkswagen-generated mini-power.

In an effort to decentralize the nation's electrical dependency from its major power plants, Germany has come up with an idea. That country has decided it wants to put up to 100,000 natural-gas-powered Volkswagen Rabbit engines into people's basements.

Why would the German government want to do such a thing?

That's simple: these engines, with minor modifications, would become generators. These basement generators would have the ability to offset the need for two nuclear power plants.

Along with that, the decentralization would make it more difficult for terrorists to disrupt the grid. At the same time, it would allow for quicker recovery if a portion of the system ever went down.

On paper the arrangement seems to be quite attractive.

If it works, it won't be too long before others will copy Germany's success. I can see it now: Hyundai-powered homes and Corvette condominiums.

Of course, when it comes to our salvation, there is no alternative plan that can save us. Jesus remains the only Redeemer, the only rescuer, the only restorer of this sad, sinful world.

It is the Savior's sacrifice -- His life, His suffering, death, and resurrection that forgives sins and moves believers from **** to heaven.

Jesus is a unique plan; He is a gracious plan; He is God's all-powerful plan.

And because He is so very special, the saints of Revelation say, "Now the salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come" (Revelation 12:10b).

And I join with those saints in giving thanks.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, only in Your innocent suffering and death, only through Your glorious and gracious resurrection do I see the power that can forgive sins and adopt transgressors into the family of faith. May my heart be filled with thanks for what You have done for the world in general and me in particular. In Your Name. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"No Train Can Serve Two"

September 22, 2009



And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. And they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the LORD to anger. Judges 2:11-12



Ronald Cabrera is an engineer for The Long Island Rail Road.

Wait. Let's reword that: Ronald Cabrera was an engineer for The Long Island Rail Road.

According to the Associated Press, Cabrera lost his job because of a little, hard-to-be-noticed mistake.

That little slip-up was this: Cabrera let William Kutsch, a passenger, drive his train -- with 400 other riders aboard -- during rush hour -- at speeds up to 80 mph. Apparently, management took a dim view of Cabrera's ill-advised sharing.

As I read through Scripture, I've noticed the Lord also seems to take a rather dim view of His people allowing others to run their lives.

He didn't like it when Adam and Eve rejected His single Garden of Eden rule and accepted Satan's suggestion to sin. He didn't like it when the builders of Babel's tower decided they wanted to be masters of their fate, and He didn't like it when the Children of Israel indulged in what almost became their national sport: chasing after other gods.

The Bible in both the Old and New Testaments is clear: the Lord who has created, redeemed, and called us doesn't want some second-level substitute trying to pilot our lives.

That's what we're being told in the passage from Exodus that serves as the text for today's Daily Devotion.

By inspiration, Moses wrote those words so the Lord's children, in every age, might know how the Divinity gets angry when He's jilted for a cheap, nickel-plated Baal.

He gets provoked when He's discarded like an old shoe and He becomes annoyed when His people enshrine anything that removes Him from His rightly deserved number-one position.

Personally, I think the Lord's position is a reasonable one. He has a right to expect something from the hearts of those who know He has sent His Son to seek and save the lost. He has a right to expect something from us who have been redeemed by the Savior.

THE PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, I am often like Adam and Eve, preferring to listen to anybody's voice other than Yours. Forgive my flightiness and grant me the ability to be faithful to You who have done all for my salvation. In Jesus' Name. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Speak No More To Anyone In This Name"

September 23, 2009



But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name. So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Acts 4:17-18



Henry M. Jackson High School in Everett, Washington, believes in separation of church and state.

And the superintendent of that school really believes in the separation of church and state.

That's why, when some seniors asked to play "Ave Maria" at their 2006 graduation, the superintendent said, "No. Graduation should be a strictly secular service."

Separation of church and state, you know.

When the seniors said, "But this is not the Ave Maria everybody knows," they were still told, "No!"

When the seniors protested: "But there are no words being sung to this tune!" the answer remained a definite, "No!"

The case was taken to court, and the court also said "No."

One of the judges said the title of the song alone was enough to make him say, "No."

Other judges, more or less, agreed.

When I heard that verdict, three things occurred to me:

1. How far will the state go in its burning desire to erase religion from the lives of the young?
2. The seniors should have asked to play "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." That way, when they went to court, they could have made a case they were only playing a beer-hall tune. (The story goes that Luther based the hymn on a familiar drinking tune.)
3. I'm going to have to pray a lot more for the younger generation. I'm going to have to pray they be given the courage to be faithful when the world says to them, as it did to the first disciples, do not "speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus," so they may they do the right thing.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, today I pray for a nation that feels it can, without repercussion or consequence, erase You from the lives of its citizenry. May these leaders see how much they really need Your grace. I also pray for the young of our country who will be paying the price for this anti-God attitude. Lord, grant courage, commitment, and faith to these our children and grandchildren. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"A Guy Could Starve"

September 24, 2009



... certain Chaldeans came. . . . They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar. . . . "You, O king, have made a decree. . . . There are certain Jews (who). . . . pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. Daniel 3:8ff (excerpts)



The good news is this: they're not just picking on Christians; the bad news is Christians are still being picked on.

Confused? If so, allow me to explain.

Recently, the Islamic community in Egypt finished celebrating the annual festival of Ramadan. Those weeks are marked by, among other things, daytime fasting by the faithful.

It's a personal duty that many members of that faith take seriously -- just as you take your faith seriously. But there is a difference. While Christians don't demand unbelievers follow their customs or make the sacrifices they do, the Egyptian government, at least in some places, has no such reservations.

Just a few weeks ago more than 150 people were arrested in that ancient country. The people were incarcerated because they had been seen eating, drinking, or smoking during the hours the fast was taking place.

Now here's the corker: in past years, the actions of those non-believers would have been acceptable and allowable. This year that was changed as Christians, foreigners, and non-Muslims who had ignored Ramadan found themselves sentenced to a month in jail or being forced to pay a fine of $350. All this was because they had violated the tenets of a religion in which they don't believe.

In truth, it's hard to play by the rules when the rules keep changing. It's hard to keep your balance when somebody keeps yanking the rug out from under you.

That's why Pharaoh kept changing the rules on the enslaved Children of Israel. It's why Nebuchadnezzar changed the rules on Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. It's why the devil changes the rules on you.

The devil wants God's people to become discouraged, oppressed, and despondent.

This is why The Lutheran Hour preaches a changeless Christ to a changing world. We take seriously our duty to encourage all those who are, in spite of the world's changing rules, trying to remain faithful. As the hymn says, "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand."

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus for relative stability in my life, I give thanks. For those who are confused by the world's every-changing rules, my prayers. May they be given the wisdom to stand fast in their faith and glorify You. In Your Name. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,



Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"The Lord Restores Us"

September 25, 2009



He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes, with the princes of their people. Psalm 113:7-8



Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our International Ministry Centers to write our Friday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words.

In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour



Once upon a time, a skillful craftsman was walking down the street when he came upon a chair that had been thrown away. Its owner apparently considered it unworthy of serving the purpose for which it had been made and rejected it.

This man saw the chair with the eyes of an artist and became very interested in it. He removed it from the pile of trash and carried it to his workshop. He took the necessary time to clean and repair it. His interest in it was so great that he registered each step of the process with his camera. His original idea was to transform it into a beautiful chair that would be worthy of possession by an important executive. It was wonderful for him to picture the finished piece beyond its present condition.

The Lord wants to do the same with each one of us. "He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap," the Psalmist writes. God washes our souls with His mercy as it has been poured out upon us through the atoning work of His Son Jesus Christ. By His grace, He pulls us from the dumpster and makes something beautiful out of us-something worthwhile according to His divine purpose.

Even when we forget our mission in this world, we must always remember that, when the Lord raises us out of the dust, it is to seat us "with princes, with the princes of (our) people."

THE PRAYER: Lord remind us of the work You are doing in us each and every day. You are shaping us into a people useful for Your purposes. Amen.

Biography of Author:
Today's devotion was written by Wendy Pérez, who does public relations work with LHM-Panama, known in country as Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones (Christ for all Nations or CPTLN). Established in 1986 in Panama City, programs such as Equipping the Saints (ETS), Project JOEL, Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC), and print and electronic media vehicles are used to spread the Gospel in this country of more than 3 million people.

"Support"

September 26, 2009



... He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:5b-6



Most of us have heard the expression: "Into each life some rain must fall." From what people tell me, that expression, "Into each life some rain must fall," is a great understatement.

In truth, sometimes it seems like the rain falling in our lives is a never-ending monsoon. All too often it seems as if our resources to cope and survive are being pushed to their limits.

If you've ever felt that way, you might want to remember the true story of a besieged Scottish castle. For months the enemy had camped outside the castle's walls. For months the inhabitants inside had been virtual prisoners.

The invaders concluded the castle's inhabitants must be nearing the point of starvation. Confidently, they sent in some messengers to demand the immediate and total surrender of the fortress. In reply, the people of the castle threw a great string of fresh fish over their wall.

A subterranean passage to the sea had been enabling them to obtain an endless supply of food.

And how does that apply to you and me?

It applies this way: if you feel surrounded by problems and hassles, it is my prayer you also realize Jesus is your source of support. Yes, it's a good thing to rely on friends and family. They can be excellent in providing support. Sadly, they have a tendency to move away or pass away.

The same kind of weakness applies to any one or any thing in which you may look for help.
The only real, ongoing, support this life can offer is the Savior. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. He has offered to hear our prayers, to walk by our side, and to help carry our burdens.

Now, I don't know who is going to besiege me today. You don't know either. But I do know there is no force this world can marshal which can starve me out. I have a source of support who will be there to help me through -- guaranteed.


From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"



THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, there is no question the world is dedicated to wearing me down. I am thankful that You will give me the courage to get past my enemies, and by Jesus' grace, bring me to the final victory. Now, while my race is being run, give me that which I need to be faithful to You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Love"

September 27, 2009



The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:56-57



Human beings taking care of each other is the right thing to do.

Of course, because we are sinners, sometimes our motives are not as pure as they ought to be. That was certainly the case when a little boy returned from school and announced his class was going to be holding a food drive to help the community's poor.

His job, with parental support, was to go around his block and ask people for canned goods, peanut butter, and other non-perishables. Wisely, the boy practiced his skills on his mother. He asked if she had anything to give to those who were hungry.

His mother scanned her pantry shelves and finally said, "You can take this can of sardines. I don't know why I bought them. Nobody in the family likes sardines."

The boy's face clouded over with a mixture of skepticism and discouragement.

Finally, he voiced what was on his heart. He said, "But Mama, that means the poor people are helping us!" Mama had to agree.

That's a story, but, even so, it happens all the time. Too many public officials ask for our vote because they say they're "our friends." Then, after they're put into office; they develop amnesia and forget us.

Salespeople can be respectful, reliable, and almost reverential when they're making a sale. But, there are times when you try to return a product that is faulty or doesn't fit your needs, and you'll see their true colors.

It's a rare day when we find someone - anyone -- whose motives are directed completely to our betterment. If you've been hoping to meet such a person, I know one.

Look into Jesus' Bethlehem manger; see Him on Calvary's cross; kneel before Him risen as did Thomas. If you do that, you will see Jesus who gave Himself completely and totally to the winning of our salvation. Jesus came to give us grace, not to see what He could get.


From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"



THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, in a world of takers, help us see Jesus for who He is: the ultimate and gracious Giver. Having received His gifts, may I reflect them to others. In Jesus' Name, I ask it. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Feeding The Masses"

September 28, 2009



Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst." John 6:35



Those who worry about things are worried about global warming.

When I was growing up, people were worried about mass starvation.

The handwriting was on the wall. The world had too many people that could never be fed. Those nations too impoverished to buy or grow their own food would suffer terribly.

It never happened. Yes, there is starvation and there is hunger, but the mass starvation of hundreds of millions never happened.

Once reason it didn't happen is because the Lord sent us Norman Borlaug.

Born in Iowa, Borlaug was a scientist and a humanitarian. He was also the fellow who really had success with the "green revolution." His studies created grain that grew better and produced more in harsher conditions. It produced a lot more.

There are two reasons why I bring up Norm Borlaug. The first is because, at the age of 95, Borlaug has died. Since Borlaug is responsible for the saving of millions of lives, I thought you ought to know.

The second reason I bring up Borlaug is because I've heard a lot of news people say, "Borlaug has saved more people than anyone else in the history of the world."

Well, them's fighting words to a preacher. Borlaug did do wonderful things for this dying planet, but Borlaug's still small potatoes compared to Jesus.

If you want to talk about lives that have been saved, you have to look to the Son of God -- the Savior of the world. If you want to learn about someone who has changed countless lives, you need to hear of Jesus of Nazareth. You need to hear and believe that Jesus came into this world and gave His life for your life. He died -- so you might live.

And while Borlaug gave us the capacity to make numerous loaves of bread, Jesus was the bread of life, the water of life who forgives, and makes it so believers will never hunger or thirst again.

Jesus didn't give us a green revolution. His is a redemption revolution.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, for sending us people like Norm Borlaug, we are grateful. Their genius is a blessing. Still, our greatest blessing is Your Son, our Savior. Jesus has done what no inventor, and no humanitarian can do: He has given us Himself. He has given us salvation. For this, we give You our thanks. In His Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"It's Still Good News"

September 29, 2009



And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11



It's one of those good news-bad news stories.

The good news is there are signs the recession is coming to an end. The bad news is unemployment remains near 10 percent and home foreclosures continue to rise.

The good news is retail sales rose faster than they have in three and a half years. The bad news is retailers are thinking Christmas this year isn't going to be so good.

So there you have it folks. It's still September and you've just started reading the first Christmas devotion.

Understand that talking about Christmas this early wasn't my idea. I just do devotions about what I read in the papers and I can tell you, the sellers of stuff are already talking about how bad Christmas is going to be this year.

Maybe you feel that way, too. It's possible this bad news stuff has got you down.

If that's the case, I would like to share this simple thought: the angel's announcement is still solid and Jesus is God's good news who has come for everybody.

And unlike the storekeepers whose good news is directly related to the frequency of a cash register's jingle and the swiping of a consumer's credit card, God's good news is, well, it's just plain good.

It's not dependent on the economy, or on the state of world affairs. God's good news is good. Period. This Christmas we will be remembering the Son of God who was born to save us from ourselves, from our sins, from Satan, and from a world which had known only bad news.

That He was successful is good news, great news!

In fact, Jesus is such good news you don't even have to wait until December 25th to appreciate Him. The ever-living Savior is good news to you right now. He is by your side, you know, strengthening, listening, helping, and encouraging.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I imagine there will be a lot of bad news before December 25th arrives. In spite of that bad news, I give thanks. You have saved me and nothing -- not the worst of news -- can change that. For being my good news of great joy, I thank You. In Your Name. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Vindication"

September 30, 2009



Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me! Psalm 43:1



Have you ever found yourself going down a one-way street in the wrong direction?

If so, you understand what many Christian young men and women feel when they attend some of our nation's more progressive state schools. Professorial and public opinion soon lets them know that by believing in the Bible they are going the wrong direction on a one-way street.

As a result, these young folks often decide to remain silent in regard to any expression of their faith. They cooperate and they graduate.

Laying low in the weeds was not an option given to Chad Farnan, a student at a school in California's Capistrano Unified School District. Almost from the first day of class his history professor made fun of Chad's belief in creationism. "Superstitious nonsense" is what the teacher called it.

Almost every day thereafter, the teacher continued his tirades against Chad's faith. Finally Chad had enough. Armed with his tape recordings, Chad took the teacher to court -- and won.

Like the Psalmist says, Chad had been vindicated. These cases usually are brought against Christian teachers who have shared their faith, or prayed with a student. This is the first time this law has been used to protect a Christian's faith in the classroom.

Mr. Robert Tyler, a lawyer with the group representing Chad, has said, "this ruling will set a precedent for other cases involving students who are ridiculed for their faith by government-employed teachers."

This is just another way of saying the street may not be so one-way after all.

I pray this is true. At the same time we need to pray for all our young people who are entering a world that has grown bold in its attack upon Christianity and increasingly antagonistic in its loathing of our crucified and risen Savior.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, be with those who are young. Keep them safe, strong, and believing. Further, we pray they may find their faith vindicated when they take a stand for You. In Your Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"No, I Didn't Know"

October 1, 2009



For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23



The wages of sin is death.

Over the years I have run into many people who felt God's judgment was a bit harsh. They felt the same way about His warning to Adam and Eve. You remember what He said to them, "You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die" (Genesis 3:3b).

What do you think? Too strong?

If so, this might help. Recently, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission started pushing its program, which they call "Resale Round-up." It's a plan that halts the sale of any item that fails the government's standard on lead.

Do you wonder what that has to do with you? If so, let me ask you this: have you ever had a garage sale, a yard sale, or donated stuff for somebody else to have one? Did the items you sell and the items you gave away meet the government's rules about lead?

What? You don't know? That's sad. There is a 24-page book that tells you what is banned.
There is a Web site that tells you what is illegal. And, if you get caught selling something on that list, you can be fined.

"How big a fine?" you might ask. It can be up to $100,000 per infraction. As Inez Tenenbaum, the CPSC chairman says, "Those who resell recalled children's products are not only breaking the law, they are putting children's lives at risk."

You see, it's a big deal, and the government isn't letting people off. They don't want your money; they want you to do what is right.

That's just like the Lord. The Lord didn't want Adam and Eve to sin. He just wanted them to be thankful to Him for what He had done. He wanted them to do what was right.

They didn't. You know the rest of their story. I also hope you know the Savior's story. After death entered the world things seemed dark. They were dark -- so dark that the Lord had mercy on His helpless, hopeless children. That mercy was personified in Jesus, His Son.

So that we might have the gift of God, the Father allowed Jesus to be born, saw Him suffer, die, and rise. This Jesus did for us, so we might be forgiven and saved. That's God's grace in action -- and it is the absolute opposite of harsh.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks that Jesus has paid for my errors. I regret those sins and transgressions, but I also give thanks Jesus has paid for them. May I be less judgmental and more appreciative of Your mercy and grace. In His Name. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries