I don’t think we fully grasp the magnitude of being God’s children. Of being able to call, “Abba! Father!” to the creator and sustainer of the Universe!
And not just His children, but the fact that He would choose us, sinful and rebellious as we are, to be “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation…for His own possession is stupefying beyond all comprehension!
Let us taste this reality and see “that the Lord is good!”
Yet that’s who we are; who God has made us through faith in Jesus!
He has a purpose for us as His people, however. He has made us this, “that [we] may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light!” He purposes us “to offer spiritual sacrifices” in our lives, because we cannot help it, having experienced the manifold magnificence of it ourselves!
At 3:00 PM, Seminarian Daniel Heitshusen received his vicarage (think year-long internship) assignment.
He and Rachel will be headed about 2 hours south of St. Louis to Cape Girardeau, MO. where they will serve the good people of Hanover Lutheran Church under the supervision of The Rev. Rod Benkendorf. (Pastor Benkendorf and Pastor Scott were classmates in college at Concordia-NE.)
Daniel will have some preaching, visitation, and teaching duties (including a 6:00 AM Bible class on Fridays!).
They are very excited and looking forward to beginning their time at Hanover sometime in July. (Specific date TBD.)
Seminarian Daniel Heitshusen (LifeBridge member), receives his vicarage assignment to Hanover Lutheran in Cape Girardeau, MO.Daniel & Rachel, MO. District, LCMSThe Heitshusens following the service.Daniel & Rachel with Supervisor and wife, Pastor & Sarah Benkendorf.The Heitshusens during the worship service.
In addition, you may recall that on February 5, LifeBridge extended a Call to soon-to-be Deaconess Becky Jungklaus to serve as a “Missionary at Large” in the deaf community. That reality took another step forward with her receipt of that Call through the LCMS Council of Presidents (who serve as the Board of Assignments)!
Becky will finish some remaining courses this summer and we will Install her in the Fall.
Deaconess Becky Jungklaus (LifeBridge member), receives her first Call to LifeBridge as a missionary at large.Becky with Texas District President Newman and others.Becky & Pastor after the service.Becky and Jen outside of the chapel.Becky in the Recessional at the end of the service.
We praise and thank the Lord for His goodness of sending workers into the Harvest – and that LifeBridge is able to be a part of this vital and exciting effort!
Please continue to keep Daniel, Rachel, Becky, and the people of Hanover Lutheran as well as our own community in prayer!
Last week we looked at a faith that’s more precious than gold. Today we see that the cost of our ranson from our sinful ways was paid with something far more precious than gold – the blood of Jesus.
That high cost was necessary because of our high sin.
But it has been paid. Fully. Lovingly. And because it has been, we know that now, when we cry to Him for mercy,He hears us. He listens. He accomplishes because of His love.
So, “what shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits to me?” I will respond in love. In obedience. In joy. I will respond in truth and purity as far as it is in me. I will lift up and share with others this “cup of salvation” and hold onto it as something far more precious than gold; as something I will share, but never give up!
We have great, inexpressible reason to praise God!
For forgiveness, life, and salvationwon for us by Jesus through the cross and empty tomb is more than we deserve or could even fairly imagine!
It is a living hope that is realized and assured through faith in Him!
But that doesn’t mean that everything will always be easy while here on earth. Just because we live in the reality of the resurrection doesn’t mean the reality of a fallen world doesn’t still plague us.
We are assured of trials, heartaches, and persecution. We are guaranteed of persecution and testing of our faith.
That’s not only ok, but we rejoice in those trials, too! Scripture tells us that “the tested genuineness of [our] faith” is “more precious hat gold!”
Trials and testing won’t be pleasant, but through endurancethey cannot change Christ’s victory and our salvation!
T.Y.K.E.S. will be starting a new series on April 16, 2023, titled, “Queen Esther.”
Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Proverbs 3:5a (NIrV)
Synopsis: The story of Esther is an amazing one – the story of a girl who became queen and saved her people. Preschoolers will learn that just like Esther, God has chosen us to serve him too. That means we need to listen, obey, have courage to carry out God’s plans.
Objective: Kids will learn we have all been chosen by God to serve him.
