Shade tree wisdom 5/31/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/31/2016 Can anyone? Jesus asks His disciples. “Which of you by being anxious Can add a single hour To is span of life. Then He ays, “seek His kingdom, And these things will Be added to you.” Luke 12,25.31 Most people now and then wonder about their death, when, how, suddenly, by accident, or what? Jesus tells us that ought not be one our worries, since the hour is already set by our heavenly father, So wipe this worry off your list, and do it now. GPD 5/31/16

Shade tree wisdom 5/30/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/30/2016 On this memorial day we can do no better than to sing. “God bless or native land, Firm may she ever stand, Through storm and night. When thee wild tempests rave Ruler of wind and wave Do Thou our country save, By Thy great might. So shall our prayers arise, To God above the skies, On Him we wait. Thou who are ever nigh, Guarding with watchful eye to Thee aloud we cry, God save the state. LSB 965,1.2. And we ad phrase From the Gettysburg address “and for his widow, And for his orphan” GPD 5/20/16

Shade Tree wisdom 5/29/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/29/2016 Jesus told His disciples always to be ready for duty. “Stay dressed for action, Always keep your lamps burning.: Luke 12,35 This advice fits us, and every Christian, well. He simply tells us to be ready to do what needs doing, and when it needs it. GPD 5/29/16

Shade tree wisdom 5/28/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/28/2016 Jesus paid for the sins we commit, Isaiah teaches that already in the old Testament. “But He was wounded For our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities Upon Him was the chastisement That brought us peace, And with His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53,6. It is well to be reminded what our forgiveness cost, His stripes, and then His cross and death. The cost of forgiveness runs high, cherish it always. GPD 5/28/16

Shade tree wisdom 5/27/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/27/2016 Here is a favorite hymn with so many. Jesus lead Thou on Till our rest is won; And although the way be cheerless, We will follow, calm and fearless, Guide us by Thy hand, To our fatherland. If the way be drear, If the foe be near, Let not faithless fears o’er take us Let not faith and hope forsake us, For through many a woe, To our home we go. LSB 718,1.2. GPD 5/27/16

Shade tree wisdom 5/26/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/26/2016 This bit enduring advice comes from the old Testament prophet Micah. “He has told you. O man, What is good, and what Does the Lord require of you But to do justice And to love kindness And to walk humbly With your God.” Micah 66,8. These words give us a perfect example of what pleases our heavenly Father does it not? And it is briefly stated so it is easy to remember. GPD 5,26,16

Shade tree wisdom 5/25/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/25/2016 This is one of the many old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. “But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, Who are too little to Be among the clans of Of Judah, from you Shall come forth for Me One who is to be Ruler In Israel, whose coming Forth is from of old, From ancient days. Micah 5,2 This one of the many prophecies about the coming Messiah. It seems hidden away, yet it stands there, declaring old truths. GPD 5/25/16

Shade tree wisdom 5/24/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/24/2016 This scene comes from the book of Acts and is about a treasurer’s trip to worship in Jerusalem. Philip was sent by God to tell him about Jesus. “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.” Acts 8, 15.16 Here is an example how mission work gets done. Nearly anything can be a starting point which may lead to a witness and, under God, a conviction. And one soul is saved to eternal life. GPD 5/24/16

Shade tree wisdom 5/23/16

Shade Tree wisdom 5/23/16 This is often used by so many Christians as a bed time prayer, and it is really fitting so to do. “Now the light had gone away, Father, listen while I pray, Asking Thee to watch and keep, And to send me quiet sleep Jesus, Savior wash away All that has been wrong today; Help me very day to bee Good and gentle, more like Thee.” LSB 87,1.2. LSB also provides the verses in German. If you can read it, one line stands out. “Deine Gnad und Christi blut, macht ya allen Schaden gut.” That really touches on the blood Christ shed on the cross for our sins, does it not? GPD 5/23/16

Shade tree wisdom 5/22/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/22/2016 This is the Christian walk, never an easy path, but the hard, demanding walk that Jesus calls for. “So whatever you wish That others would do To you, do also them. For this is the law And the prophets.” Matthew 7,12 Jesus is not teaching a ‘tit for tat’ behavior for us, but rather that we help others when we see a need. Especially when that need is something we can fill, without expecting as return for the help we might offer. GPD 5/22/16

Shade tree wisdom 5/21/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/21/2016 Here is what Christians do with the greatest pleasure. “Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.” Psalm 147,1 Often we sing all kinds of ditties, but forget the hymns we have learned. God declares it is fitting to do it. I remember fondly my mother either singing or humming while she went about her daily tasks. And it was pleasant to hear it. GPD 5/21/16

Shade tree wisdom 5/20/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/20/2016 This is often used as a prayer in pubic gatherings. “O give thanks unto The Lord, for He Is good, and His steadfast Love endures forever.” Psalm 106,1 It is a gentle reminder to those gathered for a meal that His love is constant and just never fails. Nor does it depend on how worthy we may be. GPD 5/20/26

Shade tree wisdom 5/19/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/19/2016 Keep this thought in mind as you bring your petitions. “Thou art coming to a king, Large petitions with thee bring: For His grace and power are such, None can ever ask too much.” LSB 779,2. We often forget in our prayers who it is we are praying to. It is not a wooden idol, it is the Almighty God who loves us and wants us to have. GPD 5/19/16

shade tree wisdom 5/18/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/18/2016 Keep this in mind when you think of Jesus. “For God did not send His Son to condemn the world, But that the world may Be saved by Him.” Jun 3,17 This simply adds a bit to what Christians call ‘the Gospel in a nutshell’, for want of a better term. It fills out the picture of salvation won by Jesus Christ on the cross. GPD 5/18/16

Shade tree wisdom 5/17/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/17/2016 Jesus does not leave us without divine help, for He makes this promise. “If I do not go away, The Helper will not come To you. But if I go away, I will send Him to you.” John 16, 7.8. This is the promise Jesus made to His disciples. We are not left alone, or helpless, for the Holy Spirit dwells in us placed there in Holy Baptism. So the gracious Father takes care of us. GPD 5/17/16

Shade tree wisdom 5/16/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/16/2016 This is always the best weapon for defending your salvation, “and take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword Of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Ephesians 6,17. If we use the Word to defend our faith, we cannot lose, ever. Thanks for the merciful God to arm us in the best way for a successful Christian life. GPD 5/16/116

Shade tree wisdom 5/15/16 (Pentecost sunday)

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/15/2016 From the ancient prophet come these fitting words of advice, so appropriate for our day, aren’t they? “He has told you, o man , What is good, and what Does the Lord require you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6, 8 That pretty well covers a life that is pleasing to God, and at the same time it is a good life to lead, pleasant and quiet. GPD 5/15/16

Shade tree wisdom 5/14/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/14/2016 This is where it starts. “Keep your heart With all vigilance, For out of it Flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4,23. Jesus warns us that out of the heart come man evil thoughts and actions. So this Proverb warns us to be very careful. Being very careful often helps us to keep from wrong deeds. Saying or doing things we later regret. GPD 5/14/16

Shade tree wisdom 5/13/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/13/2016 After Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation, he declared in praise of the Almighty God: “None can stay His hand Or say to Him What have you done.” Because God’s way is ever prefect, no one can question the way He does things. GPD 5/13/16

Shade tree wisdom 5/12/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/12/2016 It helps to know ahead if time which way to act So here Daniel has made up his mind beforehand. “But Daniel resolved That he would not Defile himself with The king’s food, or The wine that he drank.” Daniel 1, 8. Evidently the foreign king ate and drank what the Israelite law forbad, and Daniel was well aware of this. So Daniel foresaw a difficulty here, and determined to avoid it. It’s always best if we see such a situation and try to avoid it; save us from being embarrassed. GPD 5/12/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/111/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/11/2016 Life would be unbearable if we could not count on others doing what they promised or their job expects it of them. So cherish this promise. “For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures Forever, and His faithfulness To all generations.” Psalm 100. 5. What a comforting word this Psalm gives us. We can, and do, count on God always keeping His promise to us as He declares in this verse. GPD5/11/16

Shade tree wisdom 5/10/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/10/2016 This is what the Book of Acts reports about the ascension. “Men of Galilee, Why do you stand looking Into heaven? This Jesus, Who was taken up from you Into heaven, will come In the same way you saw Him go into heaven. Acts l,11 So Jesus went to heaven, but He will come again, and this time not to save, but to judge. GPD 5/10/16

Shade tree wisdom 5/9/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/9/2016 Keep this thought in mind today. “Holy Spirit, pow’r divine, Cleanse this guilty heart of mine; In Thy mercy pity me, From sin’s bondage set me free, LSB 496,3. GPD 5/9/16

Shade tree wisdom 5/8/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/8/2016 An excellent word for Mother’s day from the book of Proverbs. “Her children rise up And call her blessed; Her husband also, and He praises her.” Proverbs 31,28 If that is the kind of mother you were blessed with; the kind that takes you for worship and sits down and explains the salvation story, and the meaning of the cross and that Jesus Christ is our Savior because He paid the price for the sins we do, then you Are truly blessed. So this mother’s day be thankful to a loving God who gave you such a mother. GPD 5/8/16

Shade tree wisdom 5/7/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/7/2016 Our work is there for us to do. Jesus said. “Look I tell you, Lift up your eyes, And see that the fields Are white for harvest.” John 14,25 That’s the best way for a farmer to tell if his fields are ripe and ready for harvesting to store in his granary for later use. If he does not harvest the grain when its ripe, it breaks down and rots in the field, useless except to fertilize his field a bit. GPD 5/7/16

Shade tree wisdom 5/5/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/5/2016 This is often the apostle’s greeting when he wrote to the various congregations. “Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1,2. This is the way the Apostle often began his letters. He simply is reminding them that God in love brings mercy and peace to their daily life. Just as He does for us, and we do so often take it as our due. GPD 5/5/16

Shade tree wisdom 5/3/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/3/2016 After leading Israel r 40 years, Joshua said, in his farewell speech. “I am about to go the way Of all the earth And you know in your hearts and souls, All of you, that not one word Has failed of all the good Things that the Lord Your God promised Concerning you. All have come to pass For you, not one of Them has failed. Joshua 23,14 That’s quite a promise, but every word of it is true, for God’s word never failed, and that’s something we can truly depend on. GPD 5/3/16 Joshua 23,14.

Shade tree wisdom 5/2/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/2/2016 This is the blessing which ends most worship services. “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face Shine on you and be gracious unto you. The Lord look upon you with favor, Ad give you peace.” LSB page 166. When you consider it, the worshipper is sent out into the world with the peace of God ringing in his ears, a peace that goes with his every Step each day. How comforting thst is. 5/2/16

Shade Tree wisdom 5/1/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 5/1/2016 Just before the Lord gave Moses the ten commandments, He said. “And you shall set limits For the people All around.” Exodus l9,12 And that’s what the ten commandments are for, to set limits to our behavior. As sinful human beings we do have this tendency to test and try, maybe what is best left undone. Often we are the little kid who tries the ice in the beginning of skating season to see if it is safe yet. So with loving kindness our Lord gave us limits GPD 55/1/16