Do we really know Jesus?

Bethlehem Lutheran Church 14531 Old Olga Rd. Fort Myers, FL 33905 Phone: (239)694-3878 www.blcefm.org Week 23 Friday June 05, 2015 - Thursday June 11, 2015 Do we really know Jesus? Sunday, June 7, is the Second Sunday after Pentecost. My 9am sermon at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Ft. Myers, FL will be drawn from this weekend's Gospel lesson, Mark 3:20-35. "Then Jesus mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call Him (Jesus). 32 A crowd was sitting around Him, and they told Him, 'Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you' 'Who are my mother and my brothers?' Then He asked, as He looked at those seated in a circle around Him and said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God s will is my brother and sister and mother.' (vss. 30-35). So, what happens when the people closest to us, even our own family members, totally misunderstand what our mission is in life? This misunderstanding is the crux of this weekend's Gospel lesson; when Jesus' siblings, and even His own mother, are not grasping what their own immediate family member (Jesus), is on earth to accomplish. 1

Pastor s Weekly Devotion (Cont.) Friday June 05, 2015 - Thursday June 11, 2015 This Gospel lesson begins with these words, "Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples were not even able to eat. When His family heard about this, they went to take charge of Him, for they said, 'He is out of His mind.' (vss. 20-21). I think that we would all agree, that one of the most painful situations that we can experience is when... YOUR OWN FAMILY DOESN'T UNDERSTAND YOU... WHEN, THEY JUST DON'T GET IT!! This Sunday we will be singing the beautiful hymn, "My Faith looks up to Thee" (vs. 1) "My faith looks up to thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine! Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt away, O let me from this day, be wholly Thine!" Jesus makes a powerful statement near the end of the Gospel lesson (printed above). He says that, as much as He loves his immediate family members... Those whose faith... "looks up to Him"... ARE HIS REAL FAMILY MEMBERS!! We will also sing an old Gospel song, "Without Him" (vs.1) "Without Him I could do nothing, Without Him I'd surely fail, Without Him I would be drifting, Like a ship without a sail. Jesus, oh Jesus, Do you know Him today, Please don't turn Him away, Oh Jesus, my Jesus, Without Him how lost I would be." May we each be strengthened in our worship this weekend... AS MEMBERS OF JESUS' FAM- ILY 2

Pastor s Weekly Devotion (Cont.) Friday June 05, 2015 - Thursday June 11, 2015 3

Bethlehem Lutheran Church 14531 Old Olga Rd. Fort Myers, FL 33905 Phone: (239)694-3878 www.blcefm.org Week 25 Friday June 19, 2015 - Thursday June 25, 2015 Facing Life's Storms Sunday, June 21, is The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost. My 9am sermon at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 14531 Old Olga Rd., Ft. Myers, FL will be drawn from this weekend's Gospel lesson, Mark 4:35-41. "That day when evening came, He (Jesus) said to his disciples, Let us go over to the other side. Leaving the crowd behind, they took Him along, just as He was in the boat. There were also other boats with Him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said to him, Teacher, don t you care if we drown? He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, Quiet! Be still! Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.he said to His disciples, Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? They were terrified and asked each other, Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him! 1

Pastor s Weekly Devotion (Cont.) Friday June 19, 2015 - Thursday June 25, 2015 As we continue into the long Pentecost season of our Church Year, we find a number of comforting Gospel lessons. This weekend's lesson is perhaps one of the most practical comfort teaching lessons that Jesus shares... HOW DO WE FACE LIFE'S STORMS?? There are no shortages of... LIFE'S STORMS!! This Scripture text POWERFULLY speaks to each one of us... "WHY ARE YOU SO AFRAID?? DO YOU STILL HAVE NO FAITH?" This weekend we will sing the hymn, "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me" (vs 1) "Jesus, Savior, pilot me, Over life's tempestuous sea; Unknown waves before me roll, Hiding rock and treacherous shoal. Chart and compass come from Thee: Jesus, Savior, pilot me." This hymn gives the clear answer to the question, how do we face life's storms??... Buy making sure that you are following Jesus' chart and compass!! We will also sing "Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me" (vs. 2) "God, when the tempest rages, I need not fear; for You, the Rock of Ages, are always near. Close by your side abiding, I fear no foe, for when your hand is guiding, in peace I go." This hymn says it well... "God, when the tempest rages, I need not fear; for You, the Rock of Ages, are always near." In your worship this weekend, may you be assisted in keeping your hand in the Lord's hand!! 2

Pastor s Weekly Devotion (Cont.) Friday June 19, 2015 - Thursday June 25, 2015 3

Bethlehem Lutheran Church 14531 Old Olga Rd. Fort Myers, FL 33905 Phone: (239)694-3878 www.blcefm.org Week 26 Friday June 26, 2015 - Thursday July 02, 2015 Seeking Jesus' Touch.. This Sunday, June 28, is The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost. My 9am sermon at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 14531 Old Olga Rd., Ft. Myers, FL is drawn from this weekend's Gospel lesson, Mark 5:21-43. " Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, 'My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.' So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed. Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, 'Who touched my clothes?' (vss 22-30). 1

Pastor s Weekly Devotion (Cont.) Friday June 26, 2015 - Thursday July 02, 2015 This weekend's Gospel lesson shares two powerful accounts about people desperately seeking Jesus' touch, Jairus is seeking healing for his daughter, and the woman with serious medical issues, who reached out to touch Jesus in a crowd. In both situations their was a miraculous impact on both of them... TO THE TOUCH OF JE- SUS!! The Bethlehem Lutheran family has truly been impacted by "the touch of Jesus" for the past year and a half, through Rev. Bill and Darlene Miller, as they have been leading our worship music. They are leaving next week to move to Buffalo, NY, where he will be serving in a Hospice leadership position. Bill's service at Bethlehem was the second time that I served along side of Rev. Bill Miller. Back in the mid-'90s, Bill and I served together at my previous church. I am sad to see him leaving... AGAIN!! On Sunday, June 28, we will be saying farewell to both Bill and Darlene (and their granddaughter, Jazmine) during Bethlehem's 9am worship service. A 10am Potluck Brunch will immediately follow this worship service. One of the Gospel songs we will sing this Sunday morning is "He Touched Me" (vs. 1) "Shackled by a heavy burden, 'Neath a load of guilt and shame. Then the hand of Jesus touched me, And now I am no longer the same. He touched me, Oh He touched me, And oh the joy that floods my soul! Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole." Who are the people in your life, who God has used... TO TOUCH YOU?? 2

Pastor s Weekly Devotion (Cont.) Friday June 26, 2015 - Thursday July 02, 2015 We will also sing "God be with you, till we meet again", (vs.1) "God be with you till we meet again; By His counsels guide, uphold you, With His sheep securely fold you; God be with you till we meet again. Till we meet, till we meet, Till we meet at Jesus' feet; Till we meet, till we meet, God be with you till we meet again." May God keep placing people in your life... TO SHARE JESUS' TOUCH WITH YOU!! May you be a person who is seeking to... TO SHARE JESUS' TOUCH WITH OTHERS!! 3