Reaching the Lost. Discipling the Saved. Sharing the Love of Jesus with Everyone.
The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
GENESIS 2:15
We all live somewhere with neighbors and it matters to Him how we relate to the people He has put around us.
God values what He creates and has given a creation mandate to humanity: “work and keep the land.”
As Christians, we know that Jesus redeemed us, not to escape this mandate, but to fulfill it right where God put us.
We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10
LifeBridge has a strategic plan to help us focus our energies on how to fulfill our mission and serve the Lord and our community.
It includes a focus on “strong youth and family ministries,” having a welcoming, non-judgmental environment, serving “beyond our walls” and “growing in faith.”
Some of this we do better than others, but what a wonderful set of goals as we “love where we live” and “connect people to Jesus!”
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:36-37, 39
LifeBridge was founded with a mindset of reaching and serving this community where God placed us.
Our mission statement is “Connecting People to Jesus by: Reaching the Lost, Discipling the Saved & Sharing the Love of God with Everyone.”
Indeed, we “love where we live” – and the people who love around us!
Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:3
Confirmation is a time to “confirm” your faith in Jesus and commitment to the Scriptures.
It is not the end of a journey, but the promise to continue on growing in the journey of Faith.
In today’s Scriptures we hear the call to “love each other” and “humble” ourselves like children.
These godly commands seem simple in theory, but are difficult in practice.
Yet if we commit ourselves to continue to walk in them, we will be blessed in our walk with God and in how others are brought to Him, too!
May we all confirm our Faith in Jesus in this way!
Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.”
Matthew 16:24
Sometimes it’s difficult to know and understand God’s Will. At times it seems counter to what makes sense – or to what we want or believe His Will to be.
Peter certainly had that mindset!
It couldn’t possibly be that Jesus – God’s Chosen One, the Messiah, was suppose to “suffer many things…be killed…and on the third day be raised.”
Jesus must have it wrong! Jesus should be corrected.
But Jesus has some harsh words for Peter: “get behind Me, adversary! You are a hindrance to me.”
YIKES!
The thing is, God knows what He’s doing and we need to get on board with His Will; not try to get Him on board with ours.
And His Will is always right! His Will saves. His Will has challenges, but accomplished so much more than we can think or imagine!
May God’s Will be done – and may we not be an adversary to Him!
On February 5, 2023, LifeBridge issued a Divine Call to Rebecca (“Becky”) Jungklaus to serve as a missionary-at-large Deaconess.
On April 26, 2023, at a service at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, that Call was realized and ratified through the Church.
On Sunday, November 26, 2023, at 3:00 PM, Deaconess Becky Jungklaus will Commissioned and Installed in this ministry through a Rite at LifeBridge! This will be followed by a reception!
This is a big deal and very exciting!
Becky, who many know as an ASL teacher at LifeBridge and beyond, serves many, though primarily the deaf community all around!
The deaf population is an enormous mission field, with well over 90% of deaf people either not knowing or not believing in Jesus!
Becky is working to change that; teaching and sharing the saving Gospel of Jesus!
You can reach Becky by email at bjungklaus@lifebridgesealy.com.
We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (a theme verse for LCMS Deaconesses.)
Deaconesses are women who serve as professional church workers. They support and assist pastors as they share the Gospel and serve God’s people through works of mercy, spiritual care and teaching the Christian faith. They serve in congregations, on the national and international mission field, and in a variety of other settings and service organizations particularly to women, children and God’s people with special needs.
They are trained to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through works of mercy, spiritual care, and teaching the faith.
“Deaconess” comes from the Greek word διάκονος (“diakonos”), meaning “servant.”
Their motto is:
Working in faith
Laboring in love
Remaining steadfast in the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Join us for the short service at 3:00 PM and stay for the free reception following!
Some of this information came from the LCMS website here and here.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
We are beset by the Fall; having a body and mind that is corrupted and in decay with the rest of Creation.
But that reality isn’t permanent.
When Jesus offered His Body as a living sacrifice, He reversed that curse; transforming and conforming back to Himself.
Through Faith in Him, we also are no longer to be “conformed to the world” but instead “transformed by the renewal of our minds” and able to offer our bodies as holy, redeemed, living sacrifices in all we do!
How amazing is that?!
God is good!
Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.
Matthew 15:27b
The story of Ima Hogg, the “First Lady of Texas” is well known; sometimes not for her enormous generosity, philanthropy, and blessings to Houston and Texas, but because of her unfortunate name.
But we can take that which may be seen as a detriment and be extremely blessed by it!
In the Gospel for today, Jesus tells a women that “it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” The women doesn’t dispute that she’s a dog, but responds with one of the greatest statements of faith and truth in Scripture; “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
Crumbs of God’s grace is more than enough!!
With that truth, I can proud say, “Ima Dogg!”
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Romans 10:13
Sometimes we feel like everyone and everything is against us; like the weight of everything is going to crush us.
But we have an almighty God who lifts our burdens and carries our sorrows. A God we can call upon to help us in any need and at any time. And the promise is that, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!”
Saved from sins. Saved from burdens. Saved from death. Saved for eternity!
EVERYONE who calls on Jesus!
What great news! What great comfort!
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1
Coming off of Hosea, we hear from another prophet who covered much of the same ground. But Isaiah shares more about the coming Savior and Messiah and the new reality ushered in by Him.
“Come” and share in something beautiful, eternally nourishing, and free! “Come” and share in Truth, forgiveness, and life itself. Put away falsehoods and all that comes with them.
“Come!”
What a beautiful invitation! What a beautiful reality! What a beautiful Savior!
“COME!”
I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God instead of entirely burned offerings.
Hosea 6:6 (ceb)
Israel’s destruction will take place. It’s punishment will happen. Pain and suffering will be inevitable.
But that won’t be the end.
They will repent and God will restore!
This will happen with a remnant in their return, but ultimately in the sending of the Messiah, Jesus; through Whom all is restored!
Praise God for His goodness, His love, His restoration, and His Chosen One, Jesus!
May we seek and see His haling and restoration in Him all our days!
I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God instead of entirely burned offerings.
Hosea 6:6 (ceb)
Hosea 13:14 is quoted in 1 Corinthians 15. There part of the passage is explained and fulfilled: yes, death and the grace have some success, but the ultimate victory is ours through Jesus!
The kingdom of Israel didn’t know that ultimate fulfillment, but they did know that God was their Savior in Egypt, and that should have guided their heart and actions.
Yet, they didn’t, and they paid a heavy price.
Victory over death and the grave – and everything else – has been given to us through Jesus! Let us live in that joyful, glorious, and everlasting reality!
“Thank You, Lord, for that victory in Jesus!”
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