St. John's Lutheran Church

Resources for Prayer and Devotions

​


Picture

​​​
​Daily Bible Readings from the ELCA
Picture



​Daily Lectionary
Picture

​
​Daily Devotionals from Women of the ELCA
Picture


​God Pause: A Daily Devotion from Luther Seminary
Picture


​Morning Prayer
Evening Prayer
Night Prayer





​Meditations from Carol Dean Henn​

Coming soon
  • Home
  • About Us
    • History
    • Staff & Council
    • Bios >
      • Pastor Kimberly Greway
    • Life Events >
      • Wedding Policy
      • Funeral Policy
    • Committees
    • Land Acknowledgement
  • Worship
    • What to Expect
    • Music
    • Prayer and Devotional Resources
  • Get Involved
    • Women of the ELCA
    • Committees
    • Labyrinth
  • News
    • Newsletters
    • Council Meeting Highlights
    • Pastor Kimberly's Bible Blurbs
    • Memorials and Funerals
  • Education
    • Sunday School
    • Adult Sunday School
    • Bible Study
  • St. John's Cares
    • MA's Pantry
    • St. Afterschool
    • Lutheran World Relief
    • Meals on Wheels
    • Counseling Center
    • Community Meetings
  • Photo Gallery
  • Forms
    • Prayer Request Form
    • Altar Flowers Order Form
    • Father's Day
    • Missionary Sponsorship Form
  • Contact Us
    • Contact & Location
    • Communication Contacts

10/15/2017

Sunday October 15, 2017

Read Now
 
To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.                                                                                                                                                       John 1:12
         Today’s verse, which should be comforting and empowering, has too often been misused to suggest that only those people who dutifully recite Christ’s name can be called children of God.  One problem with such a view is that the Bible clearly tells us that God looks into our hearts.  He sees the good that we have done or not done, the love we have shown or not shown.  He isn’t looking for recitations of words; he looks for God-centered lives, lives of loving service, compassion, and acceptance of all people.  Another problem is that, when we try to elevate one faith or belief system over another, based on this verse, we are actually putting ourselves in God’s place.  We are making ourselves judges of who will or will not pass muster in the kingdom of God.  
        How arrogant!  And how unnecessary.  Our time would be better spent appreciating the miracle conveyed in this verse.  If we are willing to lift our lives, hearts, and spirits up to God, and to believe in his 
reality and goodness, we will be his children; all of us, even those who don’t know what to call him or how to worship him—those who simply look inward and heavenward and say ‘Thank you.  I love you.’  Even those.
©Carol Dean Henn, 2017

Share


Comments are closed.
Details

    Author

    Carol Dean Henn of St. John’s Windish Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, PA

    Archives

    September 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017

    Categories

    All

Home

​Welcome

Events​
 St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
715 Lincoln Highway
North Versailles, PA 15137-2027
stjohnsnvoffice@gmail.com
​​412-824-0277
Office Hours: Mon-Thu 8:00am-2:30pm
Contact Us
Join us for Sunday School at 9:30am and
​Worship at 10:45am on Sundays
Picture
​© 2022 St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, North Versailles, PA
  • Home
  • About Us
    • History
    • Staff & Council
    • Bios >
      • Pastor Kimberly Greway
    • Life Events >
      • Wedding Policy
      • Funeral Policy
    • Committees
    • Land Acknowledgement
  • Worship
    • What to Expect
    • Music
    • Prayer and Devotional Resources
  • Get Involved
    • Women of the ELCA
    • Committees
    • Labyrinth
  • News
    • Newsletters
    • Council Meeting Highlights
    • Pastor Kimberly's Bible Blurbs
    • Memorials and Funerals
  • Education
    • Sunday School
    • Adult Sunday School
    • Bible Study
  • St. John's Cares
    • MA's Pantry
    • St. Afterschool
    • Lutheran World Relief
    • Meals on Wheels
    • Counseling Center
    • Community Meetings
  • Photo Gallery
  • Forms
    • Prayer Request Form
    • Altar Flowers Order Form
    • Father's Day
    • Missionary Sponsorship Form
  • Contact Us
    • Contact & Location
    • Communication Contacts