The Hartebeest and the Lion
I am the hartebeest. But the devil is not the lion. St Peter says the devil prowls around like a roaring lion. But he’s not the lion. Christ Jesus, our King, is the Lion.
“There is the dumbest animal alive,” our guide said, “It is the Jackson’s Hartebeest. Our nickname for him is ‘Stupid’.” Our Uganda mission team was blessed to be taken on a sight-seeing Safari in Murchison Falls National Park. “They are so dumb,” he continued “that they will forget that they are running from a lion and stop to eat something. Then they get eaten.” Instantly my brain went to Bugs Bunny cartoon mode. Our van filled with laughter as we imagined scenarios where the idiotic creature would be running from a lion and forgetfully wonder to himself, “Why am I running? This sucks… I need a snack... Oh look! Food.” Roar! Crunch. Suddenly the dumb cartoon animal, who gets a piano dropped on his head, was standing in front of me in the flesh. What an idiot. He even looks animated. There he is, the Jackson’s Hartebeest, a true life cartoon.....
Charcoal and Fish - Kingdom Life
We see the story of Peter and experience the smell of charcoal on a beach while Jesus is cooking fish. We see that Jesus restores us where we have failed, and from there, He sends us out to where He is already working.
![[Christmas Day] Beautiful Trees](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1766458441148-4Z6ZUARBSWFIBNXRVG4D/Christmas+light+Daya.jpg)
![[Sunday] A Song of Christmas Light - Wait | Simeon](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1766465408750-D8B3EGC204JHKAXLWITJ/Christmas+light+6a.jpg)
![[Sunday] A Song of Christmas Light - Pointing to Greatness Stave 4](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1766107074577-MKU6U8LW1N5S1EATE1RW/Christmas+light+4a.jpg)
![Christmas Dinner at Mission BBQ [photos]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1766111458710-ULPCKS16DAZCMUN7LI93/PXL_20251218_000243197.jpg)
Sarah's Kitchen on Monday
Many Members of Grace Lutheran PSL help every Monday at Sarah's Kitchen
Many members of Grace Help with Sarah's Kitchen every Monday. Making sure the hungry in PSL have a hot meal.
How Easter Changed Everything
Jesus says, “The Kingdom of God is at hand.” When you look at the crucifixion narratives in all four Gospels, it’s all about Jesus being enthroned as king.
Whether you’ve been around Christianity for years or are new to faith, you probably know the Easter story. It goes something like this: Humans are sinners; Jesus died as a sacrifice, paying for our sins; and then three days later, Jesus came to life again—the result of which is that His followers can go to heaven when they die. But what if we’re getting it all wrong?
Go Tell Peter: Kingdom Life
We all have that friend, the one who is impulsive, the one who talks before he thinks. Peter is that friend. When Peter really messes up, all things seem lost, but a heavenly messenger from inside the tomb says something profound.
![[Christmas Eve] A Song of Christmas Light](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1766459038816-RE9GU9A1NB5IBYM52X0S/Christmas+eve+.jpg)
What if I’m wrong?
we’ve developed a calloused layer of pride in our culture. If someone attacks our left- or right-leaning political position, or our Christian or atheist beliefs, we don’t start by assuming it’s possible we could be wrong.
During the Soviet-Afghan war (1979-1989), a group of U.S. special forces—operating undercover—were captured by Soviet special forces. On searching the U.S. soldiers, the Soviets found large amounts of U.S. dollars—funds designated for their covert mission. It was a ton of cash.
The Soviets were baffled to realize the U.S. soldiers were carrying out their mission willingly. Why would you be fighting in such a harsh, unforgiving place, when you could take all that cash and get out of there?
It was a turning point among the war-hardened team of men from the Soviet special forces. Their passports were held by their government while they were fighting in Afghanistan. They fought because they were under orders. Yet here was a bunch of guys who fought not only because they were soldiers, but because they personally believed in the ideals of their country.
This is a true story. I know one of the Soviet soldiers who was there. It changed his life and the lives of his men..............
Plots, Perfume, and Palms: Oh My - Kingdom Life
Do we really understand what is happening? People are yelling, “Save us from our Roman oppressors.” The religious leaders are plotting to kill Jesus to keep the Romans happy. And Mary is wasting burial perfume on someone alive.
Plots, Perfume, and Palms: Oh My
John 11 and John 12 are the scriptures today
Ban the Backyard
Ask any kid where he wants to play and he’ll pick the front yard. Why? Cause other kids are there, or might be soon if he starts riding or skating or drawing on the sidewalk with chalk
There is a common myth in America that what a happy family needs most is a Big Backyard. (This is similar to the myth that happiness increases in direct proportion to square footage, but that’s a post for another time). Those who do not live in homes at all, or live in homes with little or no yard, envision the big American backyard as some idyllic paradise where romping and ball tossing and having friends over for the annual margaritafest will elevate ordinary familial relationships to a level of almost scripted delight.
This is not only not true, but is the opposite of true: Backyards do not breed happiness. They breed isolation.
Ask any kid where he wants to play and he’ll pick the front yard. Why? Cause other kids are there, or might be soon if he starts riding or skating or drawing on the sidewalk with chalk. And once the kids come out to play, the parents are likely to follow. Parents who would otherwise be sitting alone watching their only child on a jungle gym big enough for a class of preschoolers now find, in the front yard, companionship.......
April 4th Meeting
We had a great devotional and made a picture frame craft.
This meeting's theme was about overcoming obstacles. The devotional was about joy in struggles and leaning on God so that we are stronger than before. Danielle shared some personal experinces from reading the book of Job. Some of you may be facing down giants right now (sickness, finances, hurts of all kinds) but we have a shelter from the storms of life (Jesus). The trials of this life are fleeting but life with God in paradise, that's eternal!
We also did a picture frame craft.
Notice, though given the same supplies, every frame is different.
FosterCare Packages
MOPs stuffed care packages for kids in the foster care system.
Last meeting, our own Jamie Franks shared how her family got involved in fostering. We all had a lot of questions, as God has placed these kids on our hearts. Two weeks later we got together and stuffed care packages for kids entering the foster care system. Each pack has personal care items like toothpaste and toothbrush, plus snacks and toys.
Thrivent provided a grant to help foster families too, by the starting of a foster closet (not a MOPs project, but one we support through clothing donations). It is a space for foster kids and their families to 'shop' for clothing, toys and necessities, free of charge.
Want to get involved? Drop off items for foster kids with MOPs for the care packages or the foster closet. Check out https://www.4kidsofsfl.org/TreasureCoast_FosterParentTraining to dive deeper.
Mercy Makes Mercy - Martin Luther
Therefore, see to it that you make no distinction between friend and foe, the worthy and the unworthy; for you see that all who were here mentioned, have merited from us something different than that we should love and do them good.
Now how is God our heavenly Father merciful? In that he gives us all things, natural and spiritual, temporal and eternal, gratuitously and out of pure goodness. For should he give to us out of and according to our merits, he would have to give us only hell-fire and eternal condemnation. Therefore what he gives us in our possessions and honor, is given out of pure mercy. He sees that we are captives of death; but he is merciful and gives us life. He sees that we are the children of hell; but he is merciful and gives us heaven. He sees that we are poor, naked and exposed, hungry and thirsty; but he is merciful, and clothes, feeds and gives us to drink, and satisfies us with all good things. Thus, whatever we have for the body or spirit, he gives us out of mercy, and pours his blessings over us and into us. Therefore Christ says here: Imitate your Father and be also merciful, as he is merciful.....
From Spite to Ashes - Questioning Gods Wisdom
If anybody had a reason to live in a house of spite, with large amounts of animosity and resentment, it was Job. But he prayed for his enemies. So did Jesus. And, by God’s grace, so will we!
Jesus Humbly
Died and Rose for you
He Lives in You
So you can be a Living Sacrifice
For your Friends and Enemies.
Job 1:1-6
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed[a] God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
Job 42:7-10
7 After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. 8 Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the Lord had told them, and the Lord accepted Job's prayer.
10 And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Honest Faith: Pride Addiction
Pride makes you think that when you have success, that you have to reach that level of success again just to be okay.
I am confident that the entire world is pretty familiar with the story of Lucifer’s fall from grace. I think a lot of people are also familiar with the story of Adam and Eve, who also had a bit of a problem and fall from grace. As a child that was something I was taught multiple times, but there was a larger point to these stories. There was an underlying theme of pride; of beings trying to be like or better than the Divine. I linked a wiki page for Lucifer (primarily to the mythology section) above that tells of similar stories in other cultures.
I was inspired to write about mental health this week, but I was struck with the larger problem that makes it such an epidemic. This isn’t just in our country this is worldwide. Human beings have become addicted to our pride. We are a race of proud creatures who are terrified at the prospect of being humble or letting someone else get ahead of us.
After Great Pain, Where Is God?
Jesus himself, crucified and near death, gave voice to the question many people overwhelmed by pain ask: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
These days I find I’m more alert to the grief and sorrow around me than I once was. In part it’s a product of my age, of youth giving way. I’m guessing my situation is not that different from many of yours.
Last month I checked in on a childhood friend whose 13-year-old son committed suicide last year after struggling with a brain injury. He told me, “I’ve stopped crying every day, which is a major transition.” He added, “I spent more than a year trying to get him well and keep him alive, and only in recent days have I finally, mostly, lost that mode of thinking. I don’t have to do anything now because I can’t.” Yet in his dreams, my friend said, his son is still alive and he’s checking on him to make sure he’s O.K.
Week in Photos! Baptism! Wednesday! Fairs!
Baptism of Valentina Isabella Sosa
Wednesday Nights Lately.
Olivet Biography Fair
Questioning God's Wisdom - God and the Problem of Leveiathan - Book of Job
Job, you have been questioning God. Now God is going to question you.
"Who are you, Job? Were you there at the advent of the universe? Can you keep Leviathan as a pet?"
Sermon Enhancers and Resources.
Job 41
“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord?
Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you put him on a leash for your girls?
Much like Scrooge, the shepherds sat in darkness until the heavenly angels came, bringing the light of a well celebrated Christmas.