March 19, 2024
Dear Friends,
The little things add up, as I mentioned last week. It’s like the power of compound interest, which is how our Lord describes the abundance of his kingdom. Remember the guy who had 2 talents and doubled his investment. So also did the man with 5 talents. Meanwhile, the guy with 1 talent buried his and missed out on the compounding effects of growth.
Or, remember how those seeds that fell into good soil bore fruit, some 100-fold, some 60, and some 30.
That kind of growth is exponential. It’s the kind of growth that goes faster and faster the longer its growing. It’s the kind of growth where it doesn’t really matter how little you began with, what matters is sticking with it.
So, here’s a little thing, which I commend to you for every day:
This is a brief order for daily devotions. The parts you’ll have to add are simple – a Scripture lesson (more on that another time), the Apostles’ Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer. You can add any additional prayers you like.
Here’s my suggestion – do this every day. Do it with your family. Try it for a week, and don’t make up your mind about it until you’ve managed to do it for a week straight. Set aside the time every day. This is probably 5 minutes, maybe 10. You don’t have to be inventive, you just have to be disciplined. Form the habit! And then rejoice as you begin to experience the compounding effects of devotion to God’s Word. He has promised to give wisdom to everyone who asks for it!
“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live” (Isaiah 55:1-3).
One more thing! Here’s something I’ve shared with you each year for the last several years. There is a traditional set of readings for you to do at home each day of the week during Holy Week.
Pastor Andy Richard, from Mount Hope Lutheran Church in Casper, WY, compiled those traditional readings with some beautiful artwork that illustrates them. That compilation is called a Passion Book. You can download it here: http://www.concordialcms.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Passion-Book.pdf
You’ll see that there are readings for each day beginning with Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday – this coming Sunday). The readings are not all the same length – some are quite long, and others are quite short.
Download it and give it a try! Read each day and rejoice in Jesus’ suffering and death, which mean forgiveness and eternal life for you!
God bless and keep you,
Pr. Buchs
COMING EVENTS:
Wednesday, March 20
9:30 am – Chapel
10:00 am – Bible Study
6:00 pm – Small Catechism Bible Study
7:00 pm – Evening Prayer (Midweek Lenten Service)
Sunday, March 24
9:00 am – Divine Service
10:30 am – Music Rehearsal for Holy Week
Wednesday, March 27
9:30 am – Chapel
10:00 am – Bible Study
Thursday, March 28
6:00 pm – Choir Rehearsal
7:00 pm – Maundy Thursday Divine Service
Friday, March 29
6:00 pm – Choir Rehearsal
7:00 pm – Good Friday Service
Sunday, March 31
9:00 am – Easter Service