Épisodes

  • Tuesday of the Third Week in Lent
    Mar 10 2026

    March 10, 2026


    Today's Reading: Ephesians 5:1-9

    Daily Lectionary: Genesis 35:1-29; Mark 9:33-50


    “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2)


    In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.


    You don’t even need to look at the scientific research (although there is much!) to know that most of a child’s learning comes through imitation. Infants mimic the face movements of their parents. Little sisters and brothers learn to walk by trying to move like their older siblings and to keep up with them. We sound like our parents and the people we grew up around. The accents and inflections in our speech change when we move to a different part of the country or the world.


    St. Paul tells us that as children of God, we should be imitators of Jesus. We should “walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.” What is the best way to learn how to do that? Watch Jesus! Listen to Jesus! What do we see? We see someone who is kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving!


    To understand Ephesians 5:1, we need to consider what comes immediately before (the word 'therefore' is a hint for us to do just that!). “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Keep Jesus' life, words, and teachings always in mind. Pay attention as we walk through the Church Year, seeing Jesus honor His parents as He grows, love His enemies as they ridicule Him, find time for the weak and helpless as He cares for them, and give Himself up to death for the whole world.


    The people we listen to and watch have an impact on us. The company we keep will influence us. So, be careful about who you watch and who you listen to. Listen first to God in His Word; listen to your pastors as they preach Christ crucified for you; surround yourself with godly men and women to imitate in their lives; lean on good friends who will speak truth to you.

    If you want to be more kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, watch and listen to those who have these qualities. What will you find yourself doing if these are the things you listen to and watch? You’ll find yourself imitating them in your own life.

    In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

    Grant us grace to see Thee, Lord, Present in Thy holy Word-Grace to imitate Thee now And be pure, as pure art Thou; That we might become like Thee At Thy great epiphany And may praise Thee, ever blest, God in man made manifest. (LSB 394:5)

    Rev. Daniel Burhop, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reese, MI.

    Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.


    We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?

    In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms.


    Fully Free, now available from CPH.

    Voir plus Voir moins
    7 min
  • Monday of the Third Week in Lent
    Mar 9 2026

    March 9, 2026


    Today's Reading: Exodus 8:16-24 or Jeremiah 26:1-15

    Daily Lectionary: Genesis 29:1-30; Genesis 29:31-34:31; Mark 9:14-32


    “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Let my people go, that they may serve me. Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. Thus I will put a division between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.’” (Exodus 8:20-23)

    In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.


    The plagues were impressive in and of themselves. Destruction in various forms came upon the land of the Egyptians, and Moses let them know it would all happen before it did. That should have been enough. However, on top of that, God spared His Children from destruction. God “set apart” a specific area and said it would be safe, and it was. What did God have to do to protect them? Was it some great wall that He would have the people build? Was there a special prayer they needed to pray?

    No. God simply spoke His Word, and it was so. No flies would enter the land of Goshen. God was in command. He had all authority in heaven and on earth, so the flies did what He wanted. God uses His authority to “set apart” His people and to protect them.

    Long after this, Jesus took His disciples up to a mountain and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

    And then, long after that, a Pastor took you in his arms and did just what Jesus said to do. You were baptized, set apart, through water and the Word of Jesus. The Lord who commands all things with His Word spoke His Word upon you and made you His child, setting you apart. His Word now, just as then, makes it so.

    In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

    God’s own child, I gladly say it: I am baptized into Christ! He because I could not pay it, Gave my full redemption price. Do I need earth’s treasures many? I have one worth more than any That brought me salvation free Lasting to eternity! (LSB 594:1)


    Rev. Daniel Burhop, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reese, MI.

    Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.

    We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?

    In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms.


    Fully Free, now available from CPH.

    Voir plus Voir moins
    7 min
  • Third Sunday in Lent, Oculi
    Mar 8 2026

    March 8, 2026


    Today's Reading: Luke 11:14-28

    Daily Lectionary: Genesis 27:30-45; 28:10-22; Mark 9:1-13


    “As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!’ But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’” (Luke 11:27-28)

    In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.


    What does it mean to “keep” God’s Word? Indeed, there is some element of observing or obeying it. God knows what is actually good and bad for us, so when we follow God’s Word, things go better for us. Things usually go better when we obey our parents than when we disobey them. If you can keep from stealing, you won’t have as many troubles with the law. If you lead a chaste and decent life, your marriage will likely be smoother. If you can go without coveting, you’ll be happier. Being content and happy with what God has given us is a blessing!

    But that’s not all that it means to “keep” God’s Word. Keeping it also involves guarding it and treasuring it. We guard and treasure things that are important to us. You don’t want to lose your house keys or your wallet, so you keep them in a spot where you won’t forget them as easily. You don’t want to lose your passwords, so you choose something you can remember. You only have a certain number of hours in a day, so you guard your time to ensure you can accomplish what you would like to get done.

    In the same way, Jesus instructs us to guard God’s Word. We should treasure it. We should place it in areas where we won’t forget about it, such as near our beds or on the home screens of our phones. We should learn it by heart so that it’s with us wherever we go. We should make sure to keep certain times of our day and week free for it, such as Sunday mornings for the Divine Service, a weekly time for Bible Study, and a daily time for devotions.

    Are we blessed because we do these things? Well, yes and no. We aren’t blessed because we have somehow proved to God how faithful we are; We are blessed because that Word that we treasure is full of the promises of Jesus for you. That Word IS Jesus.

    In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

    O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.


    Rev. Daniel Burhop, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reese, MI.

    Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.


    We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?

    In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms.


    Fully Free, now available from CPH.

    Voir plus Voir moins
    7 min
  • Saturday of the Second Week in Lent
    Mar 7 2026

    March 7, 2026


    Today's Reading: Introit for Lent 3 - Psalm 25:1-2, 17-18, 20; antiphon: Psalm 25:15-16

    Daily Lectionary: Genesis 27:1-29; Mark 8:22-38


    “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.” (Psalm 25:1)

    In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

    O Lord, to You I lift up my soul. I trust in You. Yes, my life rests on You, for You are the unshakable foundation. That’s what my Baptism tells me. I have been put into You, my Mighty Fortress. Sin, Death, and Satan can’t crush and hush me for You have overcome these enemies by Your bleeding, dying, third-day rising. I believe this, O Lord, and yet I struggle. There are days I look around and my eyes get the best of me. It can look like Sin, Death, and Satan are in charge. O Lord, I know this is not true. You are Lord over all! Therefore, help me to walk by faith and not by sight. Open the eyes of my heart to see You as my deliverer. I’m helpless to save myself, after all, but I am not hopeless. You are my hope. This is not wishful thinking but a sure confidence that You will come through for me in Your way and Your time.

    I feel alone some days, but Your promise is that You are with me always. Your promises can’t fail. They will never lead me astray. You tell the truth, for You are the Truth. There’s no reason, therefore, for me to ignore what I’m going through or try to cover it up with a smiley face. I can be honest since nothing can surprise You. There are troubles in my life that I can’t get myself out of. Troubles that I am responsible for and those that have been brought into my life by others. These troubles teach me that I’m not in control. I ask You to consider all the sufferings and troubles I have, and please forgive me. Cover my sins with Your righteousness. Cleanse me with Your blood. Every part of my life, You have redeemed with Your blood, and I will on the Last Day get to see how You used it all for my good. I won’t be able to stop smiling!

    Now I wait. It’s not always easy with all the pains and problems in this life. So please, Lord, guard my heart from the attacks of Satan, who wants me to give in, give up, and give out. The Cross is my reminder that You can and will deliver me from all my fears and tears. You did not stay dead but rose on Easter Morning, securing for me my own Easter Morning on the Last Day! Because You are my refuge, I can’t be shaken. Nothing and no one can destroy me. I trust in You and will not be put to shame. O Lord, to You I lift up my soul.

    In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

    While I am a pilgrim here, Let Thy love my spirit cheer; As my guide, my guard, my friend, Lead me to my journey’s end. (LSB 779:5)

    Rev. Aaron Schian is pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Auburn, MI.

    Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.


    We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?

    In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms.


    Fully Free, now available from CPH.

    Voir plus Voir moins
    7 min
  • Friday of the Second Week in Lent
    Mar 6 2026

    March 6, 2026


    Today's Reading: Mark 8:1-21

    Daily Lectionary: Genesis 24:32-52, 61-67; Genesis 25:1-26:35; Mark 8:1-21


    “And his disciples answered him, ‘How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?’” (Mark 8:4)

    In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.


    We can be so forgetful when it comes to our Lord’s compassion towards us, can’t we? We’re not alone! What good company we have with the disciples! They got forgetful, too. Only two chapters earlier, the Lord fed five thousand men plus women and children using five loaves and two fish. Now in Mark 8, the disciples are faced with four thousand growling stomachs. No McDonald’s or Applebee's in sight! Whatever shall they do? Jesus gives them the situation. “‘I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.’ And his disciples answered him, ‘How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?’” (Mark 8:2-4) They were looking at the One who could and would feed these folks, but they got tripped up by the bigness of their need and fear.

    We, like the disciples, so often look at the bigness of our needs and fears and forget that there’s One who is bigger than our needs and fears! That One is Jesus, of course. Let’s fix our eyes on Him. His generosity knows no bounds! His compassion is for all! For you! For me! Compassion for Jesus is not just a feeling! Whenever Jesus has compassion in His Ministry, He does! He provides! He acts! His compassion produces action. We see His compassion for a scared-and-scarred World when He died for it. He gave everything He had on the Cross for you and me—every drop of blood to have us as His own. We belong to Him. Baptized in His Name, we lack nothing! More forgiveness than sin! More peace than anxiety! More life than death!

    Because Jesus has taken care of our biggie-salvation-needs, He’ll take care of our smaller, everyday needs as well. We’re reminded of this every time we eat and drink His Body and Blood. The Lord’s Supper fixes our eyes on the One who is compassionate towards us, feeding us food that fills us with His unending life. With the Lord, we lack nothing here in time and there in eternity. He will provide what we need for this body and life. Compassion is who He is and what He does for you.

    In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

    I am trusting Thee to guide me; Thou alone shalt lead, Ev’ry day and hour supplying All my need. (LSB 729:4)

    Rev. Aaron Schian is pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Auburn, MI.


    Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.


    We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?

    In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms.


    Fully Free, now available from CPH.

    Voir plus Voir moins
    7 min
  • Thursday of the Second Week in Lent
    Mar 5 2026

    March 5, 2026


    Today's Reading: Catechism: Eighth Commandment

    Daily Lectionary: Genesis 24:1-31; Mark 7:24-37


    “We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way.” (Luther’s meaning for the Eighth Commandment)


    In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.


    The Eighth Commandment! Thanks be to God for this commandment and Luther’s explanation! After all, the tongue can be so destructive. It’s teeny-tiny and yet can go scorched earth on a person’s life, as James reminds us: “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.” (James 3:5-6) Every one of us has had those moments when we stayed silent as gossip was shared, when we were delighted to share the faults and failures of others, when we embellished a story to make ourselves look better, or when we lied about someone to turn people against them. We have used our tongues as a wrecking ball. Reputations turned into rubble. Friendships fractured. Relationships ruined.

    Repent! All of us! Return to the Lord, for He is gracious and merciful! Go to His called and ordained man who uses his tongue to speak that passion-purchased pardon into our ears! “You are forgiven all for Jesus’ sake!” Those words cover all the bad our tongues have done. What Good News that Christ only speaks well of you and me! Forgives us all sins! Defends us from every accusation from Slithery Serpent Satan! Yes, Jesus is no adversary like Satan but our Advocate! Before the Father, He continually pleads for us, showing the Father the very wounds that won peace! Peace with God! Peace with one another!

    Having been forgiven, we now strive to live at peace with all. Yes, our tongues have been set free to defend our neighbor, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way. We now have the joy of imitating Jesus, who is our Advocate. Keep your eyes open every day for those opportunities to be an advocate to and for your neighbor. And when you sin with your tongue, what joy to hear once again Christ’s forgiveness from the lips of your pastor.

    In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

    “Bear no false witness nor defame Your neighbor nor destroy his name, But view him in the kindest way; Speak truth in all that you say.” Have mercy, Lord! (LSB 581:9)


    Rev. Aaron Schian is pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Auburn, MI.

    Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.


    We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?

    In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms.


    Fully Free, now available from CPH.

    Voir plus Voir moins
    7 min
  • Wednesday of the Second Week in Lent
    Mar 4 2026

    March 4, 2026


    Today's Reading: Mark 7:1-23

    Daily Lectionary: Genesis 22:1-19; Mark 7:1-23


    “And he said, ‘What comes out of a person is what defiles him.’” (Mark 7:20)


    In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.


    The topic of food can get complicated these days with all of the diets out there: keto, carnivore, Mediterranean, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc. In Jesus’ day, food was a controversial topic. Lines were drawn in the sand. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. There was a food fight going on, so to speak. Certain foods were deemed “clean” and therefore okay to consume, while other foods were considered defiled and dirtied, leaving a person ritually unclean and unable to worship at the Temple. Jesus stops the food fight when He says, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” (Mark 7:14b-15) The disciples have a tough time with this. It’s not what their Jewish mothers taught them. They would’ve been well aware of the clean/unclean categories. Jesus rocks their world when He tells them that food can’t defile anyone. Every bite passes the heart and is expelled. Jesus declares all foods clean! So then what makes a person defiled and dirty?

    Food isn’t the real problem since the heart of the problem is the human heart! And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” (Mark 7:20-23) No one gets away guilt-free from that list! Ouch! Leaves us all realizing that we have had thoughts, words, and actions that defile and dirty us. We’re all in the same boat. We confess together, “I, a poor, miserable sinner!” Dirty and defiled, we deserve damnation!

    Thanks be to God, we get what we don’t deserve! Grace upon grace! Jesus is the One who defiles and dirties Himself! He touches the unclean leper, lifts up the unclean dead, eats and drinks with unclean sinners and tax collectors. He takes upon Himself the dirt and defilement that damns! He bears our sins to die our death! Yes, He cries out those words of abandonment that we’ll never have to speak: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34). The Temple curtain is torn from top to bottom. The way to the Father is open to all through that godforsaken death on Good Friday. His blood cleanses us from all sin. “Take, drink, this is My blood shed for you for the forgiveness of all your sins.” There is food that sprinkles our hearts clean. Take, drink!

    In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

    Mine is the sin, but Thine the righteousness; Mine is the guilt, but Thine the cleansing blood; Here is my robe, my refuge, and my peace: Thy blood, Thy righteousness, O Lord my God. (LSB 631:5)

    Rev. Aaron Schian is pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Auburn, MI.

    Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.


    We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?

    In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms.


    Fully Free, now available from CPH.

    Voir plus Voir moins
    8 min
  • Tuesday of the Second Week in Lent
    Mar 3 2026

    March 3, 2026


    Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7 or Romans 5:1-5

    Daily Lectionary: Genesis 21:1-21; Mark 6:35-56


    “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)

    In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

    Through! What a tiny preposition, but that preposition is Good News for you! Paul states that “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1b) Peace with God is not through our brains and brawn, our achievements and accomplishments, our degrees and pedigrees, likes and looks. Peace with God is not even through how good we are as Lutherans or how good we have Luther’s Small Catechism memorized. Although it’s not a bad idea to store those words in your heart. Peace with God is through our Lord Jesus Christ. Period. No one or nothing else. The Jesus who lived the perfect life we couldn’t live. The Jesus who died the godforsaken death we deserved to die. The Jesus who was raised for our justification. Yes, you are justified–declared enough–all for Jesus’ sake! This is Good News that’s out of this World for everyone in this World! We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ!

    There’s more! Always more with the Good News! It’s no trickle of Good News but an endless gushing fountain! Paul tells us that “through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand.” (Romans 5:2a) His grace and not our grit got us into God’s House! What undeserved kindness and favor from God our heavenly Father! You need not doubt what God thinks of you. By faith in Jesus, you stand in God’s House as His beloved Child. Your Baptism assures you of this. Paul encourages us to remain in the Father’s House, a house that has grace as the floor, ceiling, and walls. In this grace place, “we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:2b) We look forward to our glorious resurrection on the Last Day when everything wrong will be made right, beautiful, true, and good!

    As we wait with Holy Spirit-ed confidence for the great-and-glorious Last Day, there will be pressures. You’ve felt them before, haven’t you? Paul tells us that we get to rejoice in the pressures of life because they produce endurance, that is, a hunger and thirst for God’s grace to sustain and shelter us 24/7. And endurance produces character, that is, we don’t despair over the pressures, but depend on God, who is leading us by the hand through the pressures into Paradise. And character produces hope; that is, no matter what our eyes see, we know we will outlast the pressures, all because of that little preposition “though”! Through our Lord Jesus Christ! Yes, through Jesus, we have peace with God today, tomorrow, and forevermore!

    In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

    In God, my faithful God, I trust when dark my road; Great woes may overtake me, Yet He will not forsake me. My troubles He can alter; His hand lets nothing falter. (LSB 745:1)


    Rev. Aaron Schian is pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Auburn, MI.

    Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.


    We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?

    In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms.


    Fully Free, now available from CPH.

    Voir plus Voir moins
    6 min