Skip to main content

Renewing Action

A "Walk for Water" experience invited all ages to put faith into action by learning challenges to clean and safe water access and supporting solutions.

God’s kingdom has broken into our troubled world. God reigns. Not suffering, evil or death. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection. And our acts of love bring this good news to fruition.
Word
In a a parable Jesus describes God as the owner of a vineyard: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.” The man then asks the gardener to cut down the tree. Jesus is the gardener and says: “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it.”
Connection
Lent is like springtime for our souls. A time to work on our faith and grow, like gardeners and landscapers with the first warm days. We should use this opportunity to hear God’s word and obey it, to renew our faith through action.
Take the chance we have from God and bear fruit through our actions.
March 22 was World Water Day. Through our actions that support ELCA World Hunger water projects, for example, people get access to clean water that saves lives through wells, irrigation, farm training, and sanitation education. You can give here.
Message
The Good News is: Water is a sign of God’s gift of saving your life. The vineyard is an image for God’s kingdom. God is patient and gives us the chance to produce good fruit in our life.
Jesus says to you: Renew your faith through action this Lent. Your actions can make sure those who suffer and thirst are saved and will become self-sufficient.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Power of Faith

Your faith doesn't need to be huge like a mountain. Faith the size of a tiny seed can accomplish great things. What are our excuses? We need more faith like the apostles? Or we don’t speak well like Moses? Or are too young like Samuel? Or are too old like Abram and Sarah? Faith might be able to move mountains, but only if you are committed to put it into action. Word The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” (v. 5) Oh, says Jesus, if you just had faith the side of a mustard seed, you could instruct a tree to uproot itself and plant itself in the sea. No, Jesus tells his followers, what they need is not more faith but the right attitude and purpose. He wants them to be messengers and servants. Connection Is it possible that too many people stop with faith confession and don’t take the next step of faith action? Can we call ourselves Christian without acting like Christ? Instead of only understanding or knowing God, you and I are called to work for God.
Post a Comment
Read more

Give Praise

Church vocal and bell choir in worship leads the assembled congregation to give God praise. Throughout the Bible, God and humans have used music to communicate with each other and about God’s greatness. Word In the Old testament, King David instructed the worship leaders of Israel to praise God for the kind and powerful help they received: “Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. ” (2 Chronicles 16:7-9) The songbook of the Bible encourages creativity and diversity for giving glory to God with a new song. In one of its poetic hymns we are told that it is not only fitting but pleasing to God to join all creation “... with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn. Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King!” (Psalm 98:6) And the early church saw spiritual songs as an expression of their new life in Christ. The apostle Paul wrote to believ
Post a Comment
Read more

In Touch with Jesus

The Matrix movies explored religious themes like alternate realities or salvation through a sacrificial hero. I like watching movies that entertain me, and touch on religious themes. For example Star Wars, the Matrix, or Gravity because I like Science Fiction, and also because they explore the reality of the supernatural while entertaining me. Do you remember the TV show “Touched by an Angel”? According to the late author Phyllis Tickle, it brought religion to TV and made faith accessible to a wider audience. It also showed that there is a desire for getting in touch with the divine in our lives. Word People flocked to Jesus to hear him and touch him. They came to hear him, and touch him to access his power that healed people. Getting in touch with Jesus shows us and connects us with the God’s goodness, possibility of life in harmony, and way to be blessed. Jesus declared that life with God transcends even adversity: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom
Post a Comment
Read more