In his book, A Little Book on Joy, President Harrison makes a lovely and comforting assertion in a story about how sinners should live with one another saying, "I didn't come to kill you. I came to forgive you. He wasn't on a mission of retribution. He was on a mission of...
Dr. Martin Luther, of blessed and holy memory, writes concerning the joy of the Church saying, “Grace and peace-these two words embrace the whole of Christianity. Grace forgives sin, and peace stills the conscience. The two devils who plague us are sin and the conscience, the power of the...
The Joy of Family. There are many things that God gives us as daily Bread and as 1st Article gifts. WE are given clothing and shoes, food and drink, land, animals, government, good weather, good reputation, good friends, good health, faithful neighbors, and the like. However, the greatest daily...
What does it mean to have a joyous marriage? Does it mean that husband and wife never argue? Is it that compromise is never a thought because both parties are always holding their tongues and just living with something they hate? What does a joyous marriage look like? Is it constant smiles...
Jesus spoke to His apostles saying, " These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11). These are the concluding words that He spoke in His little sermon that begins by preaching, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the...
One of the greatest things that brings me joy, and I pray it brings you joy as well, are the words of Holy Absolution. Luther speaks about this in the Small Catechism concerning the Office of the Keys saying, "What do you believe according to these words? I believe that when the called ministers...
For the last few Wednesdays we have looked at Sanctification. This is the end of posting about sanctification, just taking a different approach today and going forward one Wednesdays. For the foreseeable future, Wednesday will be known as Joyous Wednesday. The blog will be about something joyous...
In the Large Catechism, Luther says, "But if you forgive, you have this comfort and assurance, that you are forgiven in heaven. This is not because of your forgiving. For God forgives freely and without condition, out of pure grace, because He has so promised, as the Gospel teaches. But God says...