Devos

Monday, 08 March 2010

Friends,

If you're reading this in Western New York...Happy Day full O' Sunshine!

I woke up this morning and watched the sun begin to scream through my window and realized that, despite all its Monday-ness, this had a better than average chance to be a good day. (And I hadn't even had my Dunkin Donuts coffee yet!!)

I don't know about you, but sunshine affects my attitude. I try to choose my attitude every day, but it's a boatload easier when the sun warms my face. I have more energy, more enthusiasm and more joy. For me, there's even a physical and emotional response from that round globe way off in the distance. So doing a job which involves speaking words of hope and promise will be easier today!

My scripture reading for today said this to me: "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7 (NIV)

Those people must have been struck by sunshine as well! (Or maybe God himself??) It changed them and now they are affecting others.

But here's what was interesting about all this to me...it's where they went with those good tidings...to Zion! Not Zion in Clarence Center NY where I'm typing from, but the OT Zion that some equated with Jerusalem itself. Whether it was Jerusalem or another city on a hill that was supposed to understand God's promise and be light for the world, be God's people and share God's good news, it was a place that was on the inside track of the good news and hope. They should have known how impressive and real God was. They should have been acting like chosen people. They should have been good tidings givers themselves.

But whether they were or not, maybe they needed a boost...a good news boost...a sunshine boost...a boost o' God...so someone went...and shared those good tidings...that hope...and what a blessing it was for all who heard it.

So it sounds like today that you and I can go just about anywhere! And when we arrive, we will be with people who need to hear good news...who will be blessed by hope...who need to be reminded of the promise. So often the Scriptures and the call of Jesus sends us into the darkness of the world with the light of Christ.

But today we are reminded that the destination could even be Zion itself.

So take advantage of the sunshine that changes and brightens your heart...take advantage of the hope that you have found...take advantage of the promise of God that you have experienced...take advantage of the new life...new start...new forgiveness...new dialogs...and be a blessing to the place that you arrive!

Lord, help me realize I have something to celebrate and that celebration will bless others. Amen

Still in One Peace,

Pastor Steve Biegner

POSTED BY: AT 01:54 pm | Permalink | E-mail this

Wednesday, 03 March 2010

Trading Deadline

Friends,

If you are an NHL fan (that's hockey my Southern friends), you know today is the trading deadline. That means that by 3pm today NHL teams have the chance to trade players around the league to get ready to make a run for the playoffs.

I had a conversation with someone in the Buffalo Sabres organization yesterday and told him that if he could find a Top 10 goal scorer somewhere in the league, that I was OK with being traded to get that guy. He said, "You're worth more than that Steve." (obviously he's never seen me skate backwards). I said, "Well, if they throw in a case of good beer too, take the deal!!"

What if God had a trading deadline?

What if once a year God looked around from his war room with all our names on dry erase boards, looked at our stories, reflected on our gifts and how much had been invested in us already...and then started making trades!!!

Yikes! Would I still be on the team? Would you? Would we get shipped off to some last place team in South Dakota (no offense to South Dakota...I love South Dakota...some of my best friends are South Dakotans). Or would God want us and more like us still on the board at the end of the day so we could make that final push?

Well, from what I understand from the Bible about our Eternal and Almighty GM, it doesn't quite work like that...which is probably good for me...and maybe for you too.

Instead, we get signed to a long term contract through the gift of baptism and during our play in the league, we get the benefits of that promise... no matter what. He said, 'My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.' Exodus 33:14

God's been trying to tell us that from the beginning, but we do forget it every so often. He sealed the deal with the gift of his Son on the cross...and yet we still question and doubt that "we're worth more than that."

You are...worth it all to God. Worth the risk. Worth the sacrifice. Worth the gift. Worth the presence.

So skate on today with that in mind. Let that good news help you skate stronger and faster, forward and even backward sometimes. Let that good news help you see an opportunity to score for the Lord today. And be at peace, you've made the team.

You're worth more than that!

Lord, thanks for signing me to the long term deal. Amen

Still in One Peace,

Pastor Steve Biegner

POSTED BY: AT 09:57 am | Permalink | E-mail this

Zion Lutheran Church
9535 Clarence Center Rd
Clarence Center, NY 14032
(716) 741-2656
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