Have you ever heard the joke about Pete and Repeat? It goes something like this…Pete and Repeat were sitting in a boat. Pete fell out. Who was left? Repeat. Pete and Repeat were sitting in a boat… Get it? It just keeps going. The joke gets repeated over and over. It’s usually a hit with kids. It’s easy to tell and offers giggles galore.

Our salvation does not need to be repeated. Jesus, our Savior, suffered and died for our sins. He never has to do it again. It was enough the first time.

Our reading for today says, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:27-28

What a relief it is to know that we need not live a life of fear from judgement. We don’t need to wonder if our sins are too great to forgive. We don’t need to constantly question our salvation. It’s not dependent on anything we do anyway. All believers can have full confidence in the “once and for all” forgiveness of sins. Jesus did it all for us and when he comes back, those who believe in him will joyfully enter the gates of his kingdom.

You know what’s not a joke? The judgement that unbelievers will face on that final day. While believers will be basking in the grace of Jesus, those who do not believe will be entering an eternal life of hell.

This, friends, is why our job of spreading the Good News is so important.

When children know a joke, they tell it to everyone to get a couple of laughs. They’re so proud of themselves to have news that brings joy. We have news that brings joy. We have news that brings life! Eternal life! And that, that is worth repeating.

One of the things that can be misunderstood by those who haven’t served in early childhood is naptime. Children quietly sleeping on their blankets with the lights dimmed and quiet music playing can happen. But it’s not unusual to have one or two children who just can’t find a way to settle in. You might look at them and wonder—“If someone gave me the chance to rest quietly every afternoon, I’d be out like a light.”

Today’s verses talk about finding rest in God. As you might imagine, this is not a rest from our physical needs. The rest referenced in this verse is a spiritual rest. Satan and the world are relentless. Satan knows so many subtle ways to attack us in an attempt to wear us down. He uses things like physical fatigue, doubt, relationship difficulties, and guilt. His voice is full of lies that we need to constantly fight against. “You’re not good enough.” “You haven’t done enough.”

Life this side of heaven is challenging. We can become overwhelmed. Where can we turn? “My soul finds rest in God.” Like the small child who reaches up to be held by mom, dad, or another loving adult, we can reach up to our heavenly Father. Our biggest issue is not a tired body but a soul that needs rest from the sin and guilt of this world.

“My salvation comes from him.” The greatest need we have or will ever have is taken care of. Our sin has been taken away. The record of our wrongs has been completely erased by what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Satan is tough. He doesn’t give up. It shows how much he hates God and God’s people. That can be a terrifying thought. However, even though we’re not more powerful than Satan and his lies, God is. That’s what the verses mean when they talk about God as our fortress. Fortresses were designed to be impenetrable. They had thick, high walls that could not be scaled by any individual. The arrows that the enemy would hurl at them were stopped by the strong stone fortress. That’s what God is for us. He’s our fortress. There’s nothing Satan can do that God can’t overcome. God’s protection is also relentless. His motivation is vastly different than Satan’s. He is motivated by pure, unconditional love for you, for me, for all people.

So what can you do? Fortify yourself. Arm yourself. Not with a suit of armor but rather with things like what you are doing right now. Be faithful with devotions, Bible studies, any time in the Word. Talk to God. Go to him in prayer. Be specific and ask him to protect you and those you care about. Encourage each other spiritually. Find ways to boost someone you know with God’s Word.

And rest. Time in the Word is a time of rest from the world and a focus on our Heavenly Father. Take time to just be still and consider who God is and what he has done for you. Time resting in God’s Word rejuvenates and encourages you in a way that no nap ever will. God is your salvation, your fortress. Trust in God. Rest in God.

A church in downtown Milwaukee has some incredibly beautiful stained-glass windows. In the front of the church is a huge window with the classic picture of Jesus sitting with children on his lap, in his arms, and all around him. Historically, stained-glass windows were often used to share important stories of the Bible to the community, especially for those who may not be able to read. Today, they continue to illustrate Bible stories not just to the worshippers in the sanctuary, but also to those who pass by.

This indeed, is one of the most delightful, comforting, and yet saddest stories in the book of Mark. Jesus’ days were full of preaching, healing, comforting, teaching, and travelling from place to place on foot. Jesus’ disciples were his students, his friends, and his supporters. In today’s reading we hear how the disciples rebuked the people bringing their small children to see Jesus. While the Bible doesn’t reveal their motivation, it’s clear that they felt it necessary to try to send the children away.

It’s not often that we hear Jesus get upset but this was one of them. Mark uses the word “indignant.” While I can’t imagine how the disciples felt at his reaction, even more, I can’t imagine how those bringing the children responded. Jesus made it so clear that not only were young children important to him, but that the faith of young children was an example to all. Heaven belongs to those with simple faith and complete trust in what Jesus has done for us.

So, what’s the lesson for us? First, young children are precious to our Father in heaven. The work that you do to share God’s message of grace with the children and their families is precious to him.

A young child can do nothing to earn heaven. They can’t work hard enough, be kind enough, be perfect enough. And neither can we. Forgiveness, grace, heaven are all theirs and ours because of Jesus and because of the faith given to us by the Holy Spirit.

We don’t need to be Bible scholars. Jesus emphasizes that the simple, child-like faith that knows that it’s all up to Jesus and all about Jesus and what he’s done for us is all we need. Should we continue to learn all we can about God and what the Bible teaches? Absolutely! We look to learn more because we’re eager to know as much as we can about our heavenly Father-not because it helps us get to heaven but simply because we love him so.

As you think about that image of Jesus and the little children, picture the faces of the children you know, the people you know, and your own face looking into the smiling face of Jesus. He looks at each one and at you with the eyes of the loving Savior. He holds you in his arms each day and he asks you to do something for him—tell about him. Better than even the most beautiful stained-glass window, you can tell the children, their families, each other, and all about Jesus, their Savior. What a joy and privilege. May the Lord bless your telling!

Almost every child you’ve ever had loves to be line leader. On their day, they walk a little taller and for some, it’s an opportunity for pride. Because their turn is determined simply by a rotation of all in the class, they did nothing to earn that position. And yet they are so proud to be that class leader.

Just before the reading we focus on today, three of Jesus’ disciples were arguing about who was the greatest. How could they, who walked with Jesus every day, even begin to care about status? And yet they did. They wanted to determine who had what it took to be greater than those around them.

In his response, Jesus, the Master Teacher confronts their pride and flips the script on status. “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” The servant? Jesus would say yes, and he was the perfect example. The creator and ruler of all things became an infant and grew up in the world with the challenges of life all around him. For what? For us. Jesus set aside his glory, his presence in heaven, to become one of us, to serve us, to save us. When we consider all Christ has done, our hearts melt with gratitude and humility.

Jesus also picks up a young child and looking directly at his disciples (and us), he emphasizes how precious young children are to him. He tells them that if they welcome a small child, they are welcoming him. If they welcome him, they are welcoming God the Father. His point? It’s not earthly status or pride in accomplishments, but our status with God that matters. Like the line leader, our status is unearned by us, but paid for by our Savior, Jesus.

So, what does that mean for you and for me? First, we too, can be guilty of pride or a self-serving attitude when we compare ourselves to others. We can be critical of others in hopes that the worse others look, perhaps the better we look. As you know, it only makes us look worse. We look to God for forgiveness.

Second, the work you do is precious in the Savior’s eyes. Serving young children is not for the faint of heart but it is the work of the heart. It’s a work that reflects the Savior’s love as you patiently nurture a struggling child, comfort a weary little one, and celebrate their victories. It’s the work of the Savior as you tell them about Jesus and his love for them. Your work is not the work of presidents, corporate leaders, or athletic celebrities. It’s a humble service, a ministry, that nurtures the heart, the mind, the faith of a young one to grow as a child of God.

Who’s first? The servant, the small child, those around us as we welcome them to hear about Jesus, their Savior. May the Lord bless your mighty work to guide and nurture young souls. May he also bless you with a humble heart that knows that your true status is beyond any earthly expectation. You are God’s dear child, always in his eyes and in the heart of your Savior.

Power. There are many kinds of power. There is the power in fire. A firepit in the backyard can provide a relaxing evening. A fire in a dry forest can produce devastation and uncontrollable destruction. The power of the sun can warm the earth to help plants grow. The sun in a desert can take a life that lacks appropriate protection and hydration.

One word used to describe God’s power is omnipotent. I’m thinking that this may not be a word you use in your daily vocabulary. Me neither. But it’s a great word when we’re considering God’s power. Dictionary.com defines omnipotent as: almighty or infinite in power, as God. “Infinite in power” What does that mean? Infinite is another word for unlimited, endless, immeasurable. That describes God’s power. It has no limits. It can’t be measured or bound by earthly restrictions. He has the power to do absolutely anything.

That can be both comforting and jarring. God has the power to save and to destroy. God’s judgment will eventually be clear to those who don’t believe in him – divine retribution for rejecting his love and mercy. But that sad and stark reality is eclipsed by something even greater: God’s power to save is beyond any earthly power we can imagine. God’s expectations are clear. He demands perfection from each of us. Another reality is also clear. We are completely incapable of perfection. We were born sinful from sinful parents. We have never had a day without sin permeating our lives. Knowing God’s expectation and our ability for perfection, could cause us to fear. “Be strong, do not fear” God says to us. He is coming. He’s coming with judgment on those in who do not believe in him and he’s coming for you—to take you to be with him in heaven. How can this be? He expects perfection and we are far from it. Jesus—the simple and yet, overwhelming response from our God. God’s love is immeasurable and it’s what sent Jesus to be our Savior. Cross, tomb, and resurrection show God accepting his sacrifice to save you. Your imperfections went to the cross with Jesus and are covered by him, replaced by his perfect life in your stead. You don’t need to fear. You have peace with God because of all that Jesus has done for us.

God is a powerful God whose love uses his power to protect, save, and make us his own. And so, like the inspired words of Isaiah we can say, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come.” He is with you each day and one day will come to take you home to him in heaven. We are at peace in his power, in his powerful love and grace.

Oh, how I love your law! Does that strike you the same way it strikes me? Love your law? Love rules? Let’s take a closer look to understand what the Psalmist is saying.

For most, if not all of us, we don’t love rules, regulations, laws. We all acknowledge that most rules or laws were designed to keep us safe, keep order, to provide consistent expectations for all citizens. We follow the law to wear seatbelts designed to keep us safe in the event of a sudden stop or accident. We understand the need for laws that protect our homes and property. There are also a couple of obscure laws. Did you know that it’s illegal to drive blindfolded in Alabama? Think about that for a second… Don’t go fishing with your bare hands in Indiana-it too, is illegal. And no eating ice cream on Sundays in Oregon.

Why did God provide his precepts, his rules of conduct for his children, to all of us. Simply said—because he loves us. He loves us more than we can imagine. He provides his law to protect us. We’ve heard God’s laws described as a curb, a mirror, a guide. It’s a curb to give us boundaries in which to stay. The Law can keep us focused on our lives as God’s children and keep us on our path of faith. The Law is a mirror. When we look in the mirror, we see ourselves as we truly are. God’s Law shows us who we really are—sinful people. The Law reminds us that God’s expectation of perfection from us is unattainable. It shows us how desperately we need him. The guide reminds us that God’s Law provides direction as to what we should and should not do to lead a God pleasing life.

Our text today talks about loving God’s law and meditating or focusing on it all day long. It describes God’s law as sweeter than honey. What an incredibly positive way to reference God’s laws for us! God wants us to see his Law as something to treasure, something to crave. Imagine our lives without earthly laws and the chaos that would result. Now imagine our lives without God’s direction for us in his Law. He lovingly tells us how much he loves us, how much he wants us to be his children, how much he wants us to continue to grow in faith, and how much we need him. God’s love for us is immeasurable. Because of his love for us, we can treasure his laws and find motivation to strive each day to reflect his love in all we do. Like the parent who teaches their child not to touch a hot stove or walk into a busy street, God’s law is given to us wrapped in his love. He wants us to be safe in him, to lead a life knowing his expectation for us that is covered by his grace. So, wear your seatbelt, watch your speed on the road, and even more importantly, treasure God’s Law for us each day. It is indeed, sweeter than honey.

Bread. Such a gift! I am one of those who jumped on the sourdough bread train and haven’t gotten off and don’t plan to. There is something about taking the simplest of ingredients, water and flour, putting them together, and watching them turn into something so beautifully delicious! It’s a bit of a miracle that never ceases to amaze me. Bread is a staple all over the world. It is a simple food product that for some is basic nutrition. And in the countless varieties available across the globe, it is also an absolute treat!

In our reading for today, Jesus, as he often does, uses an example of a common item from our lives to illustrate a point. In his day, getting water was far more work than turning on a tap. A trip to the well each day was physical work. Bread was a staple in their diet. To have bread they started literally from the wheat itself. The steps from grinding to final baking were significant and repeated over and over in most households. This was a staple that would be very familiar and vital to anyone listening to him. “Never go hungry?” Can you imagine not having to work to make bread everyday for your family? “Never be thirsty?” No more trips to the well? But earthly hunger and thirst are not what Jesus was talking about. “I am the bread of life.” Jesus stating that he is “the bread of life” is a bold and shocking statement.

As you know, Jesus is not talking about our earthly life and its needs. He’s not referring to the bread in the oven and the water from the well. He is “the bread of life” and that life he speaks of is so much more than our earthly cravings. Jesus gives us himself in Word and Sacrament to feed us spiritually. He wants us to continue to grow in our faith in him. More than anything, his heart yearns for us to be with him for all eternity. Each day, you and I face temptation and guilt over sin. The struggles of the impact of sin in our lives can lead us to worry and despair. Our hearts are overly focused on seeking earthly comforts and often lack the zeal to go to the Lord daily in our prayers, devotions, Bible study, time with him in the Word.

Jesus reminds us, in the simplest of terms, that he is an answer to all our needs, but especially our spiritual needs. The cross, the empty grave, and Jesus’ ascension to heaven were all for you and for me. While he does provide for our physical needs, even more he provides us with hearts full of faith, blessed by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is indeed our bread of life that gives us the promise of heaven, forgiveness, and peace in him. Far more than the miracle of bread and water that can turn into earthy bread, we are gifted the miracle of God’s undeserved grace and mercy for us. In him we are blessed with spiritual food that feeds our faith today and that lasts for eternity.

I eat food so that I have energy for the day.
I exercise so that I can be strong and healthy.
I hang out with my family and friends so that I can continue to grow our relationships.
I read my Bible so that I can be strengthened through God’s Word.

God has some “so that” phrases too.

God sent his Son, Jesus, so that we would have eternal life.
Jesus lived a perfect life so that he could be our perfect substitute.
The Holy Spirit gives us the Word so that we can tell others of the love of Christ.

And finally, the one we are pondering today:

God provides for us and meets our needs so that we can help to meet the needs of others.

Have you ever wondered why God continues to bless you? There are times when just the right thing falls into our lap at the perfect moment when we truly need it. If you’re anything like me, you have never been without a roof over your head, whether it’s your own or a friend’s or family member’s. You’ve never been without enough food or drink to live. You’ve always had love from friends or family to support you. And I’d bet there are so many additional blessings you have that you could honestly live without, but they add some fun and comfort to your life.

Thank you, God for all you’ve given us! As our Bible verses for today state, God provides for us in every way! Then they go on to give us a reason for God’s generosity towards us: “so that you can be generous on every occasion.” Out of thanks to God for all he’s blessed us with, we in turn help others. We share a meal with them, we donate clothes, we offer a helping hand to fix a car or a leaky sink.

What about those people who need help that are not your friends? Let’s take some notes from Jesus himself. Jesus was a friend of sinners, so much so that he was chastised by some for it. He welcomed tax collectors as friends, he healed foreigners, he fed over five thousand strangers at one time!

Let’s be like Jesus. Let’s not only be wildly generous to our friends and family, let’s love friends and strangers alike, sharing a helping hand to anyone in need. That’s showing the love of Christ. That’s demonstrating thankfulness to the One who gave everything so that we might be saved.

Maybe you know the song “This Little Light of Mine!” You might be able to sing it in your head: This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine! And it goes on repeating itself. God has given us the brightest light in this sin darkened world – he has given us hope of eternal life with him! Let your light shine in your words and your actions repeatedly so that all might know the love of their Heavenly Father.

Almost everyone I have met has a Christmas tradition or two. Mine maybe isn’t so much of a formal tradition, but it was something that happened every year when I was growing up. My family would travel to my grandparents’ house over Christmas break, and we would spend a few days with all my cousins and aunts and uncles. Without fail, one of those nights we spent at Grandma and Grandpa’s would end in the cousins playing downstairs and the adults reminiscing of old times in the living room upstairs. And every year I would sneak upstairs to listen to their stories. I still have vivid pictures in my mind of some of the stories they told: the one where my grandpa had his camera almost stolen from around his neck by a guy riding a Vespa in Italy; the one where my grandparents stayed in a stranger’s hut while traveling through the Middle East: the many stories about my uncles playing basketball with the neighbors until Grandma rang the little bronze dinner bell from the porch.

The memories shared between people, especially family, are so special.

But the truths shared from God our Father are of incomparable value.

Now, there is one thing we must confront. Quite often there’s a fear that surrounds sharing the Gospel of Jesus. Maybe you’ve felt it. We clam up. Our palms get sweaty. Human worry says we won’t have the right words. Rejection tempts us to stop.

Don’t let the devil’s attempts overcome you in your efforts to preach the Good News! We need not – because we are sent with God’s own authority. The Almighty God goes with us. His Spirit leads us. His truth and mercy have freed us from the devil’s snares, and now we stand victorious with all the power of God. We hold the gift of eternal life on our tongues. May we never forget that the gospel holds the most powerful words we will ever speak!

Jesus, our Savior, took our sins to the cross. He bore our every worry, doubt, our failure to speak and act. He crushed the enemy’s plan to ensnare us and keep us from proclaiming the goodness of God. On that Sunday morning, Jesus rose from the grave, and our victory speech was written. It is finished. The grave cannot hold us. We have eternal life with God promised to us – it is written!

Now speak it!

Speak it with pride. Proclaim it with power in your voice. Don’t be ashamed – you hold the words of eternal life! Why keep them to yourself?

The pictures I’ve painted in my mind from the stories of my grandparents, aunts and uncles are so clear to me, but the picture I have painted of the glory that is awaiting me with my Savior Jesus is so much better. What’s even better is the fact that one day it will not be merely a picture in my imagination. I will experience the glory of God with my very own eyes. And so will you!

You have God’s authority. Go and tell someone.

At my wedding the pastor gave a beautiful sermon. It honestly didn’t start so beautifully though. Here’s what happened. We had asked him to preach on Lamentations 3:22-23 and he began his sermon by asking this question, “Who would ever want their wedding verse to come from the book of Lamentations? It’s literally a book about lamenting – sadness!”

Which is true… Thankfully he dug into the text and got to the heart of it all, which is this:

God’s never-ending goodness drowns out everything else and completely changes our viewpoint.

Read the verses from Lamentations 3 with me today, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

In a book of the Bible all about lamenting, why are these beautiful words written? They truly are some of the only beautiful words in Lamentations.

Here’s the back story:

God’s people, the Israelites, his chosen people, had sinned against him again and again even after he had…
• taken them through the wilderness
• defeated their enemies left and right
• fed and nourished them
• given them the promised land
• and made their nation thrive against all odds

And now because of their rebellious acts towards God in spite of the prophet Jeremiah’s warnings, the Babylonians had finally taken them captive.

What now? Is that it, God? That would be something worth lamenting about!

The prophet Jeremiah looks down on the city of Jerusalem, the city of David, the place where the Temple was built, and he has nothing but sorrow. God’s people, the ones Jeremiah had been prophesying to for many years about God’s impending judgment, had been swept away by the Babylonians and taken captive, leaving the city in ruins.

Okay, here it is, here is where the beauty comes in. I know you have been waiting for it:

After much talk of darkness and affliction and wrath… after much lamenting… Jeremiah’s hope arises. It is a hope that could only be rooted in the One, True God… because God is faithful. That’s when he writes our verses for consideration today (Lamentations 2:22-23).

The thing about God is that he never changes. He is not here today and gone tomorrow.
He is not for us one moment and then against us the next.

No, God is always faithful.

And so, after Jeremiah sits and looks upon the ruins that was once the promised land, he remembers! He remembers that over 900 years ago when God promised he would take care of his people, to preserve them, to be with them… he meant it! And he would follow through.

For you and for me, it’s the same! You may be in a time of your life where you feel nothing but sorrow. All might seem lost, broken; you may be captive to Satan’s lies that there is no silver lining or light at the end of the tunnel.

If that is you, look out over your life from the viewpoint Jeremiah took, from God’s viewpoint. See the brokenness and disrepair, see what seems to be in shambles and remember that God is faithful! Have hope because his compassions never fail – they are new every morning. Do not be consumed with grief and sorrow, for great, yes, GREAT is his faithfulness.

The commentator and theologian Charles Spurgeon wrote on the book of Lamentations and phrased it this way, “See where Jeremiah gets his comfort; he seems to say, ‘Bad as my case is, it might have been worse, for I might have been consumed, and I should have been consumed if the Lord’s compassions had failed.’”

Ah, there is the beauty: God’s goodness, God’s faithfulness, God’s compassion. That’s where the beauty always lies.

Because of God’s faithfulness, we have hope. Without God we would fail every time, our life would be in ruin with no hope for tomorrow. Praise God that he is faithful and our view is now always one of hope… true hope in life eternal with Jesus!

Are you a good gardener? Maybe you thrive in planting a garden full of greens. Maybe you look at a plant and it dies. Whatever level of skill you have, it is pretty neat to watch what a tiny seed can do.

Teachers, you are planting seeds. There is no doubt that since the beginning of the school year you have seen growth in your students. Sure, physically they have grown. They are taller now, maybe bigger in stature. Most importantly, they have grown spiritually. Day after day of hearing the promises of God. Hours upon hours of singing his praises and praying with fellow classmates. Lessons upon lessons of learning about God’s love through so many Bible stories. You have planted so many seeds and you have no idea how many people have been reached by those seeds. Moms, dads, grandparents, people in Costco hearing your students belting out the song that they have been practicing for church, neighbors that constantly notice the joy that beams from your student hopping off of the bus after school. Breathe easy, because whether you are a good gardener or not, the Holy Spirit is in control of making these seeds grow. He is working in the hearts of each of your students. He is making those tiny seeds into something big and beautiful.

Take a second to imagine monitoring outside recess. This time of year, outside recess is pretty enjoyable. The weather is getting nicer and sometimes you find yourself taking a little bit of extra time outside to enjoy the sun. Imagine watching the eighth graders push the preschoolers on the swings. Both groups of kiddos are smiling and enjoying themselves. There is something just so pure about the moment. It is special to see how the big kids have grown in their faith walk, leadership abilities, and even their love for their schoolmates. It is enough to bring tears to your eyes.

This time of year, there will be many ways in which the big kids are celebrated. There might even be slideshows of how they have grown over the years. For the parents, and maybe even for the teachers, it seems like yesterday that those big kids were the youngest in the school. Oh, how they have grown.

The seeds that have been planted are just outstanding. The Lord has truly blessed your efforts. Hopefully some of your students will consider working in the full-time ministry someday. Perhaps some of them will be leaders in their church in the future. God-willing, they will be faithful in attending worship services and serve their congregations in an abundance of ways.

Keep planting. God is working in each one of your students. He is working in you. Be faithful in your work and praise him for the beautiful things that only he can grow.

My family loves to go hiking. Well, let me change that a bit. My family, besides my youngest daughter, loves to go hiking. She would much rather sit in the car and drive around while looking at the breathtaking scenery, than get out of the car and hike to a peak to actually experience the scenery. Unfortunately, for her, she’s the youngest, so she is obligated to join in on the adventure. She usually makes sure that we take many rests along the way. On our most recent hike, I heard her saying to herself, “Every step gets you closer to the end.” It made me chuckle, but I was proud of her for finding a strategy to get through it.

Are you just getting through? No, I’m not talking about a hike, but rather, this earthly life that you are living. Are you just taking it step by step and waiting for your rest at the end? Maybe you are just trying to get through each day minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour. Maybe you look forward to laying your head down on the pillow each night and dread that beeping sound of the alarm in the morning. It can be difficult to feel fully rested, when our minds are racing and our calendars are full to the brim with activities that cannot be skipped.

In our verse for today, the Psalmist write, “My soul finds rest in God alone.” Exhale and read that again. “My soul finds rest in God alone.” Praise God. It takes the stress out of trying to figure out where we should turn to find rest. Sure, a nap gives us a boost and a nice walk might calm our mind, but rest, spiritual rest, comes from God.
When we feel overwhelmed, we can find rest in our heavenly Father. When we are overcome with anxiety or stress, we can go to his Word and be comforted with God’s promises. When we are tired and consumed with fears and doubts, we can pray to him and know that he hears every single word. When the guilt of sin weighs heavy on our hearts, God’s peace through his forgiveness is ours.

We don’t have to just “get through it”. We have the God of the universe on our side. The Psalmist calls him our “rock” and our “fortress”. There can be so much noise on the outside of that fortress, but we are on the inside, surrounded by him. God is protecting us from the chaos and blessing us with his peace. I hope that makes your shoulders go down. I hope it brings you rest to know that God has won every battle and is surrounding you with his love, grace, and mercy. Step-by-step, day-by-day, he is with you. You will have rest. It will be perfect. Keep going.

Are you busy? May is usually a very busy month for teachers. There are so many end-of-the-year activities going on. It’s possible that you are preparing your students for a play, concert, or maybe even a preschool graduation. May is busy. You are probably finishing up fourth quarter report cards and making sure that everyone takes all their supplies home with them on the last day. God be with you in all of those preparations. May is busy, and then it’s gone. Quiet. Finally, a time to take a breath and reflect.

In our reading today, Jesus was busy. He was busy preparing the disciples for his departure into heaven. He was busy encouraging them to remain in him. He was busy commanding them to love each other and keep his commands.

Jesus had to go away, but he would be with them again, eventually, forever in heaven. Jesus had to leave, but the Spirit would dwell in them, and therefore, they would never be without him.

In verse 27 of our Bible reading for today, Jesus tells his disciples, “And you must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.”
Read that last part one more time. “from the beginning.” The disciples had been with Jesus, just like your students have been with you since the beginning. You might be leaving each other soon, but the Spirit never leaves them. He is with them and he is with you.

In the busyness of all of your end-of-the-year preparations, remind your students that even though your class will disperse for a time, they’re never alone. Even though they will be saying goodbye to the friendly faces at school and their daily time in the Word with their classmates is coming to an end, they have the Spirit dwelling among them. They can call on him, in Jesus’ name. He is available to them at all times.

Jesus had so many important things to tell his disciples, because he loved them. He knew that the most important thing was to see them in eternity. He wants to see us all there, too.

So yes, you’re busy, but busy doing his work. You are telling the next generation about their Savior! Your planning isn’t in vain. Your students will benefit greatly from your busyness. Their families will benefit greatly from your faithful work and urgency in sending them off with the news that they are never alone. May he bless your work and then may he give you time to rest, regroup, and then be busy doing his work again.

Imagine you are sitting around a campfire with a couple of friends. You just enjoyed a lovely evening of conversation when all of a sudden, a few campers from the campsite over, offer you the last of their s’mores supplies. You happily accept their gesture and stay out by the fire a little longer, enjoying all the goodness that s’mores have to offer. What a kind thing for those campers to do. They just freely gave you something so wonderful. You make a mental note to pass on that kind of generosity to others whenever you can.

In our reading today, it says, “This is my command; Love each other.” (John 15:17) And how do we do that? Sure, sharing s’mores is lovely, but earlier in this section from scripture, it says, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” (John 15:9-10)

We love by putting him above all else. We love by building people up with our words, instead of tearing them down. We love by being happy for others, and being content with what we have. We love by cleansing our hearts of hate and loving others as he loves them.

Our resurrection reality showers us with so much love that we don’t deserve. We struggle with loving others throughout each day. Maybe it’s a student that has been giving us trouble, or a parent that isn’t partnering with us as much as we would like. It might even be a co-worker that we just don’t work well with. And yet, we are called to freely love the way that we are freely loved, to shower others with acts of kindness, patience, gentleness, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23) People we know. People we don’t know. People that are easy to love. People that are notoriously difficult to love. There are no limits to his love, so there should be no limits to our love for others.

When we fall short, because we constantly will, give thanks to the One who loves perfectly, unconditionally, and constantly. It’s better than a sweet treat. It’s the love of Jesus and it’s ours! Share it.

If there is one thing in this world people chase, I think we could all agree that it is money. Now, don’t let me lose you here. Maybe you aren’t hoping to win the lottery or looking for the next side-gig or constantly checking your investments to see if they’ve gone up or listing everything you own on Facebook Marketplace. But I think we can all agree that a little more money wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing for our lives and more often than not we tend to chase wealth.

Do you know what God chases?

It’s you.

He chases after the sheep of his flock. We humans are just sheep-folk in need of a shepherd to guide us and keep us safe from the evil one trying to steal us from the safety of what the shepherd promises us. So when we wander off, our Good Shepherd chases after us because we are his livelihood, in other words, he lives for us! Just as sheep are the wealth of a shepherd, we are Jesus’ wealth. We mean everything to him!

Our Good Shepherd, Jesus, lives to serve us. Jesus lives to plead for us in front of the Father. Jesus lives to free us from the guilt and shame of our sins. Jesus lives to prepare a place for us in heaven.

The world promises us so much, but the world fails us even more. Wealth in this world promises a life filled with freedom to live how we want, to travel, to eat well, to dress well, to be entertained. But no matter the amount of wealth we have or chase after, it will always leave us feeling empty in one way or another.

But Jesus… our Good Shepherd promises us a wealth that is beyond our comprehension. When we sheep-folk listen to his words, we hear of the freedom that is already ours in Christ, no chasing needed. We hear of the goodness of God who wants nothing more than to be with us forever. We hear of the peace that awaits us in the arms of our Savior. We hear the truth that we are worth more than life itself. Jesus lives for us. We are his wealth!