Seeds of Faith

Every mother eagerly awaits the day when she can say, “I felt the baby move.” That movement is a concrete testament that the life inside is actually a human being. Kick, punch, twirl, and swim.

Now imagine if you could actually know what your baby was responding too.

After Mary found out she was bearing the Savior of the world, she went to visit her relative Elizabeth, who also was having a child in her old age. When Mary greeted Elizabeth, Elizabeth’s baby, John the Baptizer, leapt for joy in her womb.

Our Savior’s presence in the womb of Mary caused joy to the infant John in the womb. Why? Because salvation is being fulfilled and he came into contact with his Savior.

Come into contact with our Savior Jesus and even infants in the womb can leap for joy!

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn

Seeds of Faith

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many who put flags or flowers on the graves of fallen soldiers. Thanks be to God for those who die in service!

This past Sunday was another memorial day of sorts. It was the Feast of Pentecost, the day a gathering of believers were filled with the Holy Spirit enabled to declare the wonders of God in their own native languages.

What wonders of God were they declaring? That Jesus, the one who was put to death on the cross, rose from the dead three days later, and ascended into heaven to fill the world with His forgiveness.

Thanks be to God for the One who died in battle of your sin and rose victorious for you!

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn

Seeds of Faith

Gifts are so often cherished by those who receive them. The best gifts are the ones that will be used. But even the strongest toys will wear out or break and the prettiest flowers will whither and die.

John 17 says that our Heavenly Father has given us to Jesus. Does this mean we will be used by Jesus until we wear out?

We have been given to Jesus, not to be worn out with doing Jesus’ labor. Rather we have been given to Jesus so that we may have His glory. Jesus prayed to His Father in heaven, “The glory that You have given me I have given to them…”

Jesus gives us the glory of a right relationship with our Heavenly Father through the forgiveness He won for us on the cross. You continue to be His most cherished gift.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn

Seeds of Faith

Today is the celebration of the Ascension of Jesus into heaven.

After all, isn’t that the appropriate place for him? Jesus’ tour of duty on Battlefield Earth is done. The General of the Army has declared victory and now he returns to His throne in heaven through the clouds to sit back and look at what a good job he has done?

Actually, it is quite the opposite. Indeed, Jesus has gone back to where He came, the Father’s right hand of authority and power. The God/Man now reigns on the throne in His earthly body.

That is good news for you and me. He reigns as Your King of Kings, continuing to prepare a place for you in His kingdom. Jesus still keeps His promise to never leave us or forsake us.

All who believe in Him long to see Him in His heavenly glory. Yet now we must see Him hidden in Word and Water, Bread and Wine.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn

Seeds of Faith

Don’t pull on the plant, honey. As the 18 month old topples the pot off the stand. You just wish they understood your words completely. Oh, they hear them, and they may even grasp that you are communicating something important. But for the 18 month old, the details are sketchy. Mother’s understand it so well, lack of understanding fades. Disobedience lay around the corner.

Our Savior, Jesus, understood this so well. His disciples walked with him for 3 years and still didn’t grasp that Jesus must die to take away all sin, and must rise to new life to give us His eternal life. But it can’t be any clearer. Jesus said, “I have said these things to you that you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn

Seeds of Faith

Months upon months of knowing what is coming. Hours upon hours of preparation. You know the outcome. A bouncing baby boy or girl. But the woman knows what comes first. Pain. Birthpain. No one looks forward to that kind of pain. No it is the joy of the newborn child that is remembered months, weeks, and years to come.

So it is now. We live in a world of school shootings, natural disasters, broken homes, and the list goes on for each person who feels loss.

Jesus used the image of childbirth in John 16 to assure all those who put their faith in him. These are pains that lead up to a greater joy that no one can take from you. A joy of eternal life Jesus has prepared for you.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn

Seeds of Faith

Lassie! Come here Lassie! Come home! And the image of that ever faithful collie running through the woods or field all the way home into its master’s arms.

Do you hear your Master’s voice calling?

In the middle of all the cacophony of other voices and noise that distracts,

sometimes His voice seems to get lost.

Do you hear His voice? It is the one who calls out with truth and forgiveness and love. It is the one who knows your inner most heart and still gives himself for you so that you may have life.

Hear His voice now:

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice,

And I know them, and they follow me.

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish,

And no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn