A Lenten devotion by Pastor John Boggs from Luther Preparatory School
Have you ever confided in someone about a worry and he or she responded, "That'll never happen. Don't worry." Oh really? Unless that person was God, how can he or she know that a car won't roll off that car-carrier ahead of you and crash into you? Or for you spring-breakers who escaped to a warm beach, that a shark won't venture into shallow waters and gobble you up? Or that your portfolio could shrink to half its current value? Or . . . or . . . or . . . "Don't worry. that will never happen," might be the best response some can offer, but it's shallow. Or how about this: "Sure, that could happen. In fact, most of the things we worry about could happen." Where's the comfort in that? God's message in Daniel 10 is, "Sure it could happen, but redirect your fear to something and someone even more terrifying—and to something and someone even more trustworthy. Welcome to God’s house and God’s people where together we untangle God's beautiful and helpful truth.
A Lenten devotion by Mr. Mark Kjenstad, Minister for Nurture.
Ham prayer – As in the pork product? Yes, that ham. Well, not really, but 2500 years ago, a man addressed the God of heaven with seemingly incompatible components. Find out what kind of mnemonic the holiday meat can be to help us pray the way Daniel did.
A Lenten devotion by Mr. Steve Pelischek from Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel.
Have you ever dreamed something terrifying but awakened with great relief that it wasn't real? What was scary wasn't real, so really . . . not scary. But what if the terrifying thing is real? Our God doesn't deal in make-believe. He knows the most frightening things that happen, could happen, or will happen to us. And he has some good news that makes it not scary. Confused? So was Daniel when he received the dream we'll study in Daniel 7. But when it was over, oh my, was he relieved. We’re glad you’re here to enjoy that same kind of relief.
A Lenten devotion by Pastor Clinton Kreuziger.
The name Daniel means in Hebrew, "God is my judge." The name fits. Read Daniel 6 and learn how Daniel cared little if his friends judged him for his talent, if King Darius judged him for his faithfulness to God, or if the lions judged him as tasty. God was his judge. He knew it and he lived like it. You have names like his. Jesus, in his sermon on the mount, declared you are salt, you are light, and you are blessed when people falsely speak evil about you. Why? You're his. But you're not alone. We’re glad you’ve gathered with us today to revel in our identity, praise God for it, and learn together how to live like it.
A Lenten devotion by Pastor Jon Bilitz from Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel.