I've had an Epiphany!

Luke 7:1-10 When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum . 2 There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." 6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,...

Christ In Our Home Devotions 3rd Sunday after Pentecost Faith even in the face of death 1. Make the sign of the cross over yourself and say: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 2. Pray Luther’s Morning or Evening Prayer: I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger. Keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please you. Into your hands I commend my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have graciously kept me this day. Forgive me all my sins, and graciously keep me this night. Into your hands I commend my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen. 3. Pray the Lord’s Prayer: Our F...

We like everything BIG.  Why be satisfied with just a 12 oz. soda, when you can get the 44 oz. Big Gulp?  Why settle for just a regular burger, when the commercial entices you with the half pound burger.  But BIG things don’t just come in good things.  We live in country where our economic crashes are BIG.  We have health issues that feel like BIG mountains.  On a daily basis we endure emotional stresses that seem to be so BIG that they are crushing us.  Everything in our world seems to be BIG! God also wanted Joshua to think BIG.  God came in person to reveal his BIG plans to his new chosen leader Joshua, “Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, Are you for us or for our enemies?   Neither, he replied, but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”   God revealed that it was going to take some BIG plan...

Artwork: Healing the Centurion’s Servant Artist: Paolo Veronese Worship Theme: Faith trusts in God’s power completely.  No matter how impossible the problem, faith believes that God can and will help.  Faith like that, given by the Holy Spirit, is not reserved exclusively for the direct descendants of Abraham. Rather, the gift of faith comes to every heart in the spiritual House of Israel.  Old Testament: Joshua 5:13-6:5, 20 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" 14 "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?" 15 The commander of the LORD's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is h...

Numbers 6:22-27 The LORD said to Moses, 23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24 "'"The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."' 27 "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them." Hand gestures are a very effective nonverbal form of communication. Think of some of the famous hand gestures made popular in TV and movies. In “Star Trek,” Spock separated his third and fourth fingers to give the Vulcan blessing, “Live long and prosper.” In the “Hunger Games” trilogy, Katniss gives the three-finger salute to express unity with people of the districts. In “Friends” and “Seinfeld,” if someone just kept yapping Ross would give the “blah-blah-blah” gesture. Elaine’s was a bit more expressive. If you are a loser, Ace Ventura will give you the “Loser” ...

Christ In Our Home Devotions 2nd Sunday after Pentecost Faith trusts in God’s power completely 1. Make the sign of the cross over yourself and say: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 2. Pray Luther’s Morning or Evening Prayer: I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger. Keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please you. Into your hands I commend my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have graciously kept me this day. Forgive me all my sins, and graciously keep me this night. Into your hands I commend my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen. 3. Pray the Lord’s Prayer: ...