Blessings Archives - Faith Lutheran Church, Wesley Chapel

Kurt Steinbrueck December 21, 2020

Blog Blessings, Mary

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You Are Highly Favored…Really?

You Are Highly Favored...Really?

“God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’” – Luke 1:26-28

Have you ever been blessed in a way that didn’t feel very much like a blessing at first?

We all love to receive blessings from God. We like receiving that unexpected check or promotion or being forgiven when we’ve really messed up. Sometimes, however, God’s blessings can cause a lot of difficulty in the immediate aftermath or, perhaps, for the rest of our lives.

Reluctant Prophets
This isn’t an unprecedented action from God. God called Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt and Moses tried to come up with every excuse in the book to get out of it. Jeremiah didn’t want to preach the message God gave him. Jonah tried to run away from God only to get an anatomy lesson on fish from God. God’s call to be a prophet was a great privilege and blessing, but not one that felt great at the time.

Paul had to leave his rising star life as a pharisee and became one of the hunted. Speaking of being hunted, David was hunted a few times in his life.

You Who Are Highly Favored
I wonder what it must have been like for Mary. She wasn’t wealthy or famous, but she was a devout Jew betrothed to a good guy and probably had a pretty decent life. Then God called on her for possibly the most amazing task in history, give birth to and raise the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of the world.

Sounds great, but what would it cost her?

It nearly cost her marriage and future. It most likely caused some scandal and snickering. Are people really going to believe the betrothed girl’s story about an angel and a virgin birth? Besides that, how do you raise the Son the God? I felt pretty unqualified when my wife was pregnant and she was just having a regular child.

Great Things Often Require Great Sacrifice
There may be times in our lives when God blesses us in ways that require sacrifice. It may be that we need to walk through something difficult to learn what God is teaching or to be in the position God wants us. It may also be that we are called upon to do something difficult.

Are we going to run from the call, like Jonah? Will we obey reluctantly like Jeremiah? Or will we respond like Isaiah and say, “Here am I, Lord. Send me.” Will we respond like Mary?

“‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’” – Luke 1:38

Heavenly Father,

I like when You bless me, but honestly, I prefer it when it’s without any hardship. Thank You for Your many blessings and help me, when the blessing does include hardship, to respond like Isaiah or Mary.

Amen

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck September 21, 2020

Blog Benediction, Blessings

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What a Blessing!

What a Blessing!!

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” – 2 Corinthians 13:14

What is your favorite departing blessing or benediction?

Many pastors end our worship services with the Aaronic Benediction (The Lord bless you and keep you…). The Irish have some pretty amusing blessings. There is probably a blessing or two which you really love.

Rather than simply signing off, Paul ends 2 Corinthians with the above benediction/blessing. It is rich in meaning.

The Grace of the Lord, Jesus Christ – How does God deal with you? It isn’t through laws and commands, it is through the grace of Jesus. Grace is unearned and undeserved favor. Rather than dealing with you according to your sins, He died for you so you could be forgiven and made a Child of God.

The Love of God – God is bound to you in love. He created you out of love, He redeemed you out of love, and He sustains you both physically and in faith out of love. God made you His Child through the grace of Jesus and loves you as a good Father. He protects you, supplies all your needs, and demonstrates the greatest of love for you.

The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit – God then unifies us by His Spirit. He joins you with Himself, dwelling in You and filling You. He joins you to His church, unifying you with all believers everywhere and of every time. God continues to commune with you and you with all believers through the sacramental meal of Communion.

May God be with you, the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is not some distant God nor is He some non-descript energy in the sky. He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You were baptized into the Triune God and it is the Triune God who goes with You, dealing with you by grace, bound to you by love, and unified with you and all believers.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your love, grace, and fellowship. Be with me. Deal with me according to Your unfathomable grace. Surround me with Your boundless love. Always stay with me.

Amen.

Now…May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck August 21, 2020

Blog Blessings, Faith, Provision, trust

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Why Wouldn’t He?

Why Wouldn't He?

“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” – Romans 8:32

Do you ever feel like you just don’t have what you need to endure in your faith?

There are days when Darnell just doesn’t feel like he could go on. The struggles of life just aren’t getting better. He’s putting everything into it, but it’s not getting any better. He prays, but God doesn’t seem to answer. Even though it’s hard to squeeze it in, he still gets to church most weeks. Though, he’s not sure he feels anything when he’s there. Every now and then he even finds himself wondering, do I still believe?

Have you ever felt like giving up?

Satan loves to attack Christians and he does it in a variety of ways.

Temptation to sin – Why should I follow God’s Commands when I like this?
Sudden painful hardship – Why would God do this to me?
Prosperity – Why do I need God if I have everything I want?
Dead Religion – I’m doing what I’m supposed to do for God, why don’t I feel anything?
Prolonged hardship in life – Why doesn’t God listen and help?
…

God will give you the strength to endure.

When we are tempted:

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13

When we feel pain or grief:

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” – Psalm 147:3

In prosperity:

“The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. 16 You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.” – Psalm 145:15-16

And I’m reminded of the parable of rich fool (Luke 12:16–21).

When we’re just going through the religious motions:

“For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” – Psalm 51:16-17

In prolonged hardship:

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

When you start to feel like your losing your faith or you just can’t endure, ask God for help. He will give it. He will give you strength. He will revive your soul.

He gave you your faith, why wouldn’t He give you the strength to endure?

That’s what our passage in Romans 8 is all about. Not only does God give us faith and save us by His grace, but He graciously gives us all things we need for salvation, including the strength to endure to the end.

Heavenly Father,

Give me strength. There are times when I feel like giving up. There are times when I feel tempted away. There are times when I feel numb. In all these and at all times, be with me. Strengthen my faith that I may endure until that time You bring me to be with You and are joined with all the saints who have gone before me.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck July 31, 2020

Blog Blessings, Service, Serving Others

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Blessing Bags

Are you having trouble making ends meet?

The impact of the coronavirus is more than just on our health. It has affected many people’s finances and livelihoods.

We would like to help.

This Sunday (Aug 2) at 12:30pm near the entrance to Foam Flower Blvd we will be giving out what we’re calling, “Blessing Bags.” These are bags filled with paper towels, groceries, and toilet paper.

The Blessing Bags are free and just our way helping out and letting you know someone cares.

You can simply show up on Sunday, but supplies are limited. To ensure you will receive a Blessing Bag, fill out the form below and request a Blessing Bag in advance.

Thank you and God bless!

PS – This form is just for the blessing bags. You will not be put on a mailing list.

Kurt Steinbrueck July 10, 2020

Blog Almighty God, Blessings, Gifts

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Immeasurably More

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” – Ephesians 3:20-21

Do you ever feel like you are asking too much of God?

I’ve met a lot of people over the years who have expressed to me that they either feel like they are asking too much of God or don’t want to ask too much of Him. It usually sounds something like this.

Me, “Can I pray for you about this?” Person, “No, you don’t need to bother God with this.”
Me, “Have you asked God for help with this?” Person, “I’ve already asked Him for too much.”
Me, “We should pray about this.” Person, “Nah, I can handle this. There are lots of other people who need His help more than me.”

God Isn’t Us
The reason we may think like this is that we often think of God as being like us with the same attitudes and limitations like us. Behind these thoughts are one or both of two assumptions.

God is limited in His resources or can only pay attention to so many people at once.
God will get irritated if we keep asking for things.

We think this because that’s how we are. However, God isn’t like us. He isn’t limited like us. He isn’t selfish or easily angered like we can be.

Ephesians 3:20-21 tells us that not only can God handle anything we ask of Him, but He is able to do immeasurably more. In other words, you can’t even imagine how much God can and will do.

God knows our limits and our needs. He is the one who provides and sustains all things. He forgives our many, many, many sins. He works for the good of those who love Him and, of course, supplies all that we need for the mission He has given us as His Church. It’s His mission, after all!

So go ahead and ask.

Rather than limiting what we ask which either speaks too much of ourselves (I can handle this) or too little of God, ask freely, but ask with the understanding that God will give where He knows it is good.

He may not give us the winning Power Ball ticket because it may not be what is best for us. He will always forgive because that is always good and needed.

So, go ahead and ask…and trust that He will provide all that we need for life and salvation.

Heavenly Father,

You are Almighty God, Creator of all things, and able to do anything. You are also loving and generous. Forgive me for when I doubt Your ability or think too highly of myself. Please provide all that I need.

(Take a few minutes to ask for anything)

I ask these things, trusting that You will provide what is good and withhold what is not good. I ask not for my will, but that Yours be done.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck June 13, 2020

Blog Blessings, Gifts

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Good Gifts

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” – Luke 11:13

Are you good at giving gifts?

Who is the best gift-giver you know?

I’m not a good gift-giver. If I don’t have a list, I struggle to come up with good ideas. There are some people I know, however, who always seem to have the perfect gift for people. They don’t rely on lists. They even tend to ignore lists because they have ideas that even you haven’t thought of…and they are right!

Good Gifts from Bad People
Even as bad at giving gifts as I am, I still can come up with some pretty good gifts for my kids. Some are gifts like toys, some are fun experiences, and some are gifts of wisdom (they don’t always want those).

It’s amazing that I can give good gifts like this considering how bad I am at gift ideas and, even more, how much of sinner I am.

Jesus doesn’t beat around the bush in our passage from Luke 11. He just goes right ahead and calls the people, “evil!”…and He was talking to His disciples!!

We are all sinners. We have evil thoughts and do evil deeds every day. Yet, we still give good gifts, at least sometimes.

Good Gifts from a Good God
Now, imagine what God, who is not sinful, who is the definition of pure love, can give. How good are His gifts?! Sure, some of those gifts are fun and some are ones we’d rather not get (do I need to learn patience, today?!), but they are all good, better than what we could give.

He is the perfect gift-giver. He always knows exactly what we need. He has given us the greatest gift of all, His Son.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your many gifts and blessings. Thank You, especially, for Jesus.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck January 8, 2020

Blog Blessings, Repentance

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God Bless You Even If It Hurts

God bless you even if it hurts

“Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said. Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” – Amos 5:14-15

Will God help you as you rob a bank?

How about as we gossip? Steal? Tear someone down?

No…sort of.

We should not expect God to help our sinful plans and actions, but He does still continue to work for our good despite our sin.

How might He do that?

He may frustrate those sinful plans. He may burden our heart with guilt. These are acts of love even if they frustrate or cause us pain. Consider this. If a baby starts crawling towards the stairs from the second floor, his parents may grab him quickly and firmly tell him, “No!” The baby may be scared or cry because his parents just preventing him from doing what he wanted. Is that love? Yes.

How about the teenager who is caught doing drugs? If her parents ground her for a month and embarrass her by talking about it with her school’s principal and her friends’ parents so they can help address the problem. Is that love? Yes.

Whether He frustrates our plans, burdens our hearts, embarrasses us, or something else, whatever it is, God continues to work in our lives for our good. Out of love He works to bring us to repentance and to receive forgiveness. Praise God!

So, God will still bless us even when we do wrong. It’s just that He’ll probably do it in a way that frustrates those actions. However, when we seek His will and love good, He can bless our actions as well.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for loving me even when I do what is wrong. Teach me to love what is good. Change me to seek what is right. Correct me and discipline me when I seek evil that I may repent and be forgiven. Thank you for loving me.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

The Other Six

How To Use These Posts
The Other Six is a short, daily devotional blog post. You can use these posts for personal devotions, however, I’m also going to write them in such a way that you could use them for family devotions. I’ll include a Bible verse, questions and/or discussion points, and a closing prayer. I highly encourage you to do these devotions with your family or friends if possible.
Enjoy!

Kurt Steinbrueck November 19, 2019

Blog Blessings, Genesis, Joseph, suffering, The Bible

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God Blesses Joseph…Sort Of

God Blesses Joseph...Sort Of

“So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.’ Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, ‘Make way!’ Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” – Genesis 41:41-43

If the passage above were the beginning of Joseph’s story, it would be pretty awesome. However, it’s not. It’s more like the middle and what leads up to this point isn’t nearly so great sounding.

Sold into Slavery
If you remember my blog post from last week (link), Joseph was hated by his brothers. They plotted to kill him, but in a last minute moment of mercy, his oldest brother convinced the others to just sell him into slavery and convince their father Joseph had been killed by a wild animal.

Falsely Accused
As a slave, Joseph worked for an Egyptian named Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials. Despite his circumstance, Joseph put forth his best effort as though he were working for the Lord. He did well so Potiphar liked him and put him in charge of his whole household…until Potiphar’s wife accused Joseph of attempted rape (she was really the one who tried to seduce him). So Potiphar has Joseph sent to prison.

Sent to Prison
Joseph spent years in prison. Joseph, again, despite his circumstances, decided to serve God however he could in prison. Eventually, he was put in charge of all the prisoners…but he was still in prison.

Left in Prison for Years
Then Pharaoh’s baker and cupbearer offended Pharaoh and got tossed in prison. They each had dreams one night and, by the grace of God, Joseph was able to interpret the dreams. They would both be released from prison, the cupbearer to be restored to Pharaoh’s palace and the baker to be killed.

Joseph asked the cupbearer to remember Joseph when he was restored and ask Pharaoh to release him. However, once the cupbearer was restored he forgot all about Joseph and Joseph spent another two years in prison.

Made Second Most Powerful Person in Egypt
Then Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret. The cupbearer finally remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh about him. Pharaoh sent for Joseph who was able to interpret the dream, a warning that there were to be seven years of plenty and then seven years of famine.

Joseph recommended the Pharaoh that the Egyptians be made to save a portion of the crops from the good years so they were have food for the famine years. That’s when we finally get to our passage. Pharaoh liked Joseph’s plan and decided to put him in charge of it and made him the number 2 person in all of Egypt.

A Difficult Path
Joseph had a difficult path. If we knew Joseph at the time, we probably would have understood if he got mad and threw in the towel. Yet, Joseph, after each disappointing development, chose to trust that God would work through the situation. So, he served God wherever he was.

I’ve told this story with an emphasis on the negative parts, but the Bible is clear that God was with Joseph through this whole journey. He blessed him at home. He blessed him at Potiphar’s. He blessed him in prison. Finally, He blessed him with Pharaoh.

What will your path look like?

For Joseph, God wasn’t just working to bless Joseph, He provides for Joseph’s family (the start of the people of Israel) during the famine through Joseph’s position. He also provides a place for them to move in Egypt where they will prosper. In the bigger picture, God was moving forward His plan of redemption for all mankind.

What has happened in your life? Has it been one success after another or have there been some setbacks along the way, maybe even unfair setbacks. I’m not saying that you’ll end up second in command of a nation, but I wonder if, at the end of your journey, you’ll look back and see some amazing things of how God was working through all of it?

Heavenly Father,

You bless us when things are going well and when they appear to be going badly. You even take the results of our sin and the sins of others and work good for Your people. Help me, like Joseph, to trust that You are working whether things are going how I want or not. Help me to chose to serve You no matter what my circumstance.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck September 26, 2019

Blog Abraham, Blessings, Genesis, The Bible

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Blessed to be a Blessing

Blessed to be a blessing

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” – Genesis 12:2-3

Genesis 12 marks a bit of a change in the book of Genesis. In the first 11 chapters, some spectacular things happened (creation, the Fall, the great flood, the tower of Babel, etc.) and at least 2000 years pass, not including the time before the Fall.

At Genesis 12, the speed of the narrative slows down and we start the period of the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God’s story of redemption also begins to follow a specific lineage, Abraham and his descendants…who would become the people of Israel, the chosen people of God.

God Chooses Abraham
The choosing of this people began with the choosing of one person, Abram (later to be named Abraham by God). Abraham was an interesting choice. We may have expected God to choose a man of perfect faith and no sin, but He chose Abraham instead.

Abraham was a worshiper of idols. However, when God called Abraham, Abraham responded in faith. God’s Word came to Abraham and through it God created faith and then Abraham obeyed in faith. Yet, even then, Abraham would have plenty of episodes where he sinned and doubted. It’s one of the great things of the “heros” of the Bible, they aren’t all that heroic. Rather God works through these weak and flawed people (does that remind you of anyone?)

Blessed to be a Blessing
When God chose Abraham, God promised to bless him in many ways. He promised many descendants, land, and nations. Yet, the greatest way God blessed Abraham was to make him a blessing. God promised that “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Of course, this was a promise of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Jesus would be a descendant of Abraham and Jesus would bring life and salvation to the whole world. What an amazing blessing!!!

You Are Blessed to be a Blessing, Too
There are many similarities between Abraham and you. Even though you are a sinner like Abraham, God has chosen you. His Word has come to you and created faith in your heart. He then blesses you in many ways, including by making you a blessing to others.

Just as salvation came to the world through Abraham’s lineage, thus blessing all peoples, you can bring the saving Good News of Jesus Christ to those around you. What an amazing blessing!!!

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for sending Jesus to save us. Thank you for then blessing us to be witnesses for you. Help me to share Your love and Your Gospel, and, thus, be a blessing to others.

Amen

You can read the full account of Abraham’s calling in Genesis 12:1-9. Click here to read it.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Blessings

You Are Highly Favored...Really?

What a Blessing!!

Why Wouldn't He?

We would like to help.

Immeasurably More

Good Gifts

God bless you even if it hurts

The Other Six

God Blesses Joseph...Sort Of

Blessed to be a blessing

Faith Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, FL serving Lutz, Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes, and New Tampa, FL