Shade tree wisdom 7/31/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 7/31/2016 Truly, what a great comfort to know this when God said. “And no longer shall each One teach his neighbor and Each his brother, saying, “Know the Lord”, for they Shall know me, from the least Of them to the greatest, Declares the Lord. For I shall forgive their iniquity, And remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31,34. What a promise, spoken because Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of all mankind. GPD 7/31/16

Shade tree wisdom 7/28/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 7/28/2016 When it’s all been heard. “Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed Into judgment, with every Secret thing, whether Good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12, 13.14 With that, the book ends, leaving it all in the hands of God, where it always belongs anyway. GPD 7/28/16

Shade tree wisdom 7/26/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 7/26/2016 We are not alone, for Hebrews tells us. “Therefore, since we are surrounded By a great cloud of witnesses Let us also lay aside every weight, And sin which clings so closely, And let us run with endurance, The race that is set before us, Looking to Jesus, the founder And perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy that was set Him endured the cross, Despising the shame, and is seated At the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12, 1.2. We might well say, “if God be for us, who can be against us?” Who indeed. So take comfort from this truth. GPD 7/26/16

Shade tree wisdom 7/25/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 7/25/2016 St. James gives us some words of advice about temptation. “Blessed is the man who remains Steadfast under trial, for when He has stood the test he will Receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is being tempted, “I am being tempted by God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it is conceived gives Birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown Brings forth death.”James 1,12-15. We, in our frailty, must acknowledge the truth of it.

Shade tree wisdom 7/24/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 7/24/2016 Run a test first before you accept what is offered as truth. “Beloved, do not believe Every spirit, but test thee Spirits whether they be From God, for many false Prophets have gone out Into the world.” 1 John 4,1 This so true in our day when we hear so many voices offering what they claim to be from God. So John offers a test before accepting every Word that is offered as Gospel. GPD 7/24/16

Shade tree wisdom 7/22/16

Shade Tree Wisdom 7/22/2016 This is the only way for a Christian to behave to his fellow. “bearing with one another, And, if one has a complaint Against another, forgiving Each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, So also you must forgive.” Colossians 3,14 When anyone does not forgive, it rankles and festers and causes difficulties. It sours that life, as you might know by experience, No, best to forgive, and never give the devil an opening. GPD 7/22/16 \

Shade tree wisdom 7/21/16

GPD 7/21/16 Ever wonder what happens to the sins it is nature to do? Here’s the answer for all of us. “By canceling the record of debt That stood against us, With its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2,14 That’s what happened. Jesus paid the entire price for the sins of the world, to cancel our debt. And for this we surely must be grateful. GPD 7/21/16

Shade tree wisdom 7/19/16

GPD 7/19/16 Here Solomon gives some advice that is too often disregarded by some young people. “Hear, o sons, a father’s Instruction, and be attentive, That you may gain insight. For I give you good precepts; Do not forsake my teaching. Proverbs 4, 1.2. A parent who takes their role with attentive care will share his experiences and try to help the son or daughter avoid mistakes they may have made. That’s what he really it talking about here, such advice comes from experience. GPD 7/19/16

Shade tree wisdom 7/17/16

GPD 7/17/16 Here is one promise we can always rely on. “the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies ever come to an end; They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness” Lamentations 3, 22.23 “Every morning mercies new, fall as fresh as morning dew.” What a wonderful feeling, to wake up and greet a new day, air is fresh, dew lies on the grass, it’s wonderful, always. GPD 7/17/16

Shade tree wisdom 7/16/16

GPD 7/16/16 Love is really a fruit of our thinking toward our neighbor. “And now faith, hope, and love Abide, these three, But the greatest Of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13,13 Love shows itself by the way we act, or react, toward our fellow man. Are we happy when they have a better job, or a better car, or take vacations we able not able to? How is it? Something to give some thought to, isn’t it? GPD 7/16/17

Shade tree wisdom 7/15/16

GPD 7/15/16 Surely this is a life-long process, is it not? “Now the young man Samuel Continued to grow Both in stature and in favor With the Lord, a Also with man.” 1 Samuel 2, 26, Growing is a natural process, some get bigger and taller, others are a bit shorter. But the emphasis here ought to be on the word “favor”. In other words, he continued to grow into a person people liked and respected, and in then sought out for advice. He was a prophet sought out for his acumen and kindness. Something we too ought to try to emulate. GPD 7/15/16

GPD 7/11/16 Among other things, Psalm 91 promises that God will send His guardian angel to keep me. “He who dwells in the shadow of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, my Refuge and my Fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91, 1.2. For many Christians this Psalm is one of their favorites often quoted. It even evokes the picture Jesus used of the hen keeping her chicks under her protecting wings. It’s calming to know this truth. hade tree wisdom 7/12/16

GPD 7/11/16 Among other things, Psalm 91 promises that God will send His guardian angel to keep me. “He who dwells in the shadow of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, my Refuge and my Fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91, 1.2. For many Christians this Psalm is one of their favorites often quoted. It even evokes the picture Jesus used of the hen keeping her chicks under her protecting wings. It’s calming to know this truth.

Shade tree wisdom 7/9/16

GPD 7/9/16 Toward the end of the Book of Romans Paul gives us a reason why the Scriptures were written. “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15,4. Now there is the best reason why we should diligently and constantly keep on study the Scriptures. The best of all, isn’t it? GPD 7/9/16

Shade tree wisdom 7/7/16

GPD 7/7/16 Here is the apostle Paul explaining what justifies. He said. “A person is not justified By works of the law, but through Faith in Jesus Christ.. . . Because by works of the law No man is justified. Galatians 2,16 We often think because we are honest and dependable citizens we are in good standing with God. Paul is saying ‘not so, no man is justified before God by works’. The one and only way is to believe the death of Jesus Christ really did pay for our sins. GPD 7/7/16

Shade tree wisdom 7/5/16

Shade tree wisdom 7/5/16 Haman, the king’s counselor, persuaded him to issue a degree that On a certain day all the Jews living in his kingdom might be killed. Mordicai, a Jew whose niece was Esther, the queen, tried to persuade her to go the king with a petition, but she hesitated. Then he said, “And who knows whether You have not come to The kingdom for such A time as this!” Esther 4,15. There always seems to be a right time for certain tasks, and the question is always there when we face some tasks we might dread, who knows whether you have been give this to do for such a time as this. It is puzzling, isn’t it? GPD 7/5/16

Shade tree wisdom 7/4/16

Shade tree wisdom 7/4/16 On this July fourth when our nation celebrates independence day, listen to a hymn by Charles T, Brooks (D 1883). “God bless our native land; Firm may she ever stand, Through storm and night. When the 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 art ever nigh, Guarding with watchful eye, To Thee aloud we cry, God save the state! LSB 965,1.2. So, God bless America. GPD 7/4/16

Shade tree wisdom 7/2/16

Shade tree wisdom 7/2/16 Paul’s prayer in Philippians one reads. “I am sure of this, That He Who began a good Work in you will bring it to Completion at the day Of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1,6. This ought to be a daily prayer of every faithful pastor for his parishioners. Done regularly and with meaning. GPD 7/22/16