Secure Trust
Read: 1 Peter 5:7
Meditation: A fathom is 6 feet. The CHRISTIAN has 60 fathoms
of 5/8" steel cable attached to 10 fathoms of 1/2" chain
attached to a 50 kilogram (110 lb) Bruce anchor. If you do the math,
that's 420 feet of anchor cable and chain. Seems adequate, right?
Why, you might wonder, did I bother?
Well, that lower part of the cable was becoming worn. It looked weak,
I lost confidence in it. When the wind kicked up and the strain grew
ever more taut I wondered if it would hold. At night in wind I couldn't
sleep. Why?
I had lost confidence in the integrity of the cable. I didn't believe
it would keep me off the rocks if the wind blew hard. Now my trust is
back. The ground tackle is strong. I sleep better at night. Even when
the wind kicks up and the waves grow larger.
Jesus says that He is my Good Shepherd, Bread of Life, Living Water
and the Vine to which I am attached. But I also like to think of Him as
my Ground Tackle. He keeps me safe in the summers and winters of my
life. He will not fail. I can confidently believe I am held securely in
the palm of His hand even when the winds kick up and the boat that is my
life begins to experience storms.
When I trust myself, that is rely on my own resources, I become
vulnerable like a worn, fragile link on an old chain. What a mistake!
But a confident trust in Jesus holds the boat that is my life secure.
Prayer: I believe, Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. In Your
name I pray. Amen.
Rev Elvin Borg
Skipper, M/V Christian
Wrangell,
Alaska
When You Are in Trouble
Read: 1 Peter 5:7
Meditation: The morning sunshine greeted my friend and
me with the promise of warmth and good fishing. My friend and I enjoyed
the ocean. And especially the trill of catching salmon at the peak of
the run on a warm day and a flat ocean! We were having so much fun we
hardly noticed the wind or the clouds building up on the horizon far to
the southwest.
My first indication of trouble was a distant island suddenly looming
much closer! All the more alarming because our little 18 foot boat was
pointed in the opposite direction. The current and strong wind along
with a tide change was sucking us dangerously toward the rocks. Even
more ominous, the gentle ocean waves had suddenly become roughly the
size of a house. They were frequent and breaking at their peak. Thoughts
of turning around and heading toward safer waters were soon discouraged
by the realization that my boat would soon be swamped from the back end
(the transom) if I tried to run with the breaking swells. Our only hope
was to point the bow of the boat straight into the swells- out farther
into the ocean and to the north side of the island! I remembered my Dad’s
counsel, "If you ever get caught in this place, go north until you
get to the other side of the island. There the swells will lose their
strength and you can turn around and reach safer waters on the opposite
side of the island." I believe our lives were saved that day
because I followed my Dad’s counsel.
How closely this mirrors the human experience with sin. We can be
going along fine in life. Everything seems promising. But then suddenly,
without warning we are caught in a dangerous place of temptation or in a
circumstance that threatens or even causes our faith to suffer
shipwreck. More than one Christian has experienced this in their life.
That’s why the Apostle Paul encouraged vigilance in our Christian walk
and why Peter spoke of Satan prowling around like a roaring lion seeking
to devour us. (! Peter 5:8)
Clearly we have to always be on guard. Nothing better prepares us for
threats to our faith than familiarity with God’s Word, faith in His
power to save and the willingness to obey. When confronted with imminent
danger on the seas, I quickly realized the hopelessness of our
situation. Instead I recalled my father’s advice and found safety. I
have discovered this pattern from nature repeated over and over again in
the spiritual areas of my life. I have also learned that even when I
take a wrong turn God is good and gracious to forgive sin and to cleanse
me from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
Because in truth, we are always in need of God’s grace to find our
way through life. As the Psalmist affirms, "when we were
overwhelmed by sin, you forgave our transgressions."
Prayer: Dear Father God, thank You for Your mercy when we need it,
Your Word to guide us safely through life and Your Son, Jesus who by His
life, death and resurrection makes this possible. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Rev Dr Don Johnson
Executive Director
Intimacy with God
Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Meditation: As I look around the Native gatherings we attend for
ministry, I see Christian sisters and brothers loving and serving the Lord.
In each gathering, conference or meeting we experience and witness growth in
relationship with one another and with God. I thank God for all of those
whom God has called.
What I have learning through these past years through our ministry with
our people is this: although God wants us to serve Him in spreading the Good
News of His salvation, God wants first of all to have a deep and growing
relationship with each of us. He yearns for us to have intimate fellowship
with Him above all else.
When this occurs, we won’t have to wonder about the will of God for our
lives, or how to know when God speaks through His holy Spirit. When our
relationship with Him is deep and intimate then we will readily hear the
Holy Spirit when He asks, "Will you go? Will you befriend that person
over there, will you encourage this one, and will you witness of my love
through Jesus over there to that one?"
More often than not, when our relationship with God becomes as God
desires, the blessings we receive run over into the lives of others. And so
it has been for us. As God has encouraged us to walk more intimately so also
have our three children observed and responded to re-dedicate their lives to
a close walk with God. What’s more, God initially brought them to Edmonton
to be close to us only to move each of them out in once direction or another
to serve!
Prayer: Father, thank You for staying near me - even when I was
heading in my own direction. Thank You for being faithful each day to make
me aware of Your presence: begin beside me every day of my life. In Jesus’
name, Amen.
Bev LeBlanc
Evansburg.
Alberta
Only a Middle Man
Read: Malachi 4:5-6
Luke 1:17 says that John the Baptist accomplished this. He prepared the
way for Jesus!
In a much more insignificant way, my ministry in Neah Bay is somewhat
like that of a John the Baptist, Jr. I am merely "a middle man"
preparing the way for effective ministry by Lutheran Native Americans. That
is the vision of Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots U.S. - to
see Native Americans rising up, called by the Holy Spirit, serving as
Christians leaders in their own communities and beyond!
David Sternbeck, your brother in Christ is one such man. He is a man of
God! Blessed with a sharp memory and hunger for God’s Word to reach the
lives of his people, David studies through Concordia Theological Seminary,
St Louis, and ministers to the people on the Olympic Peninsula of
Washington. Lord willing, he will be a vicar in the LCMS by the time you
read this. I am blessed to mentor another man whose faith in Jesus is
developing. Perhaps by the time you read this he may be overseeing ministry
at the Christian Youth Center in Neah Bay. Gordon is another Makah man who
is receiving distance education through the Leadership Advancement Process,
Concordia University Portland, Oregon.
As you can see, God is greatly enhancing this ministry. Members of the
congregation, gathering regularly for Word and Sacrament, are ever more
ready and willing to lend helpful ministry hands as we proclaim the message
of God’s Son, Jesus Christ-Incarnate, crucified, resurrected and
returning.
Prayer: Magnificent God, thank You for giving us Your Word and
sacraments through which Your Spirit is at work equipping all nations to
effectively proclaim the life saving message of Jesus Christ. In Your name
we pray, Amen.
Rev Dale Heinlein
Leading in Love, Honor and Faithfulness
Read: 1 Thessalonians 3:12
For 100 years, Chief Peter John lived with and watched over his people.
He saw the Creator in the world around him, knowing that his needs were met
by His bounty, the seasons provided for the people, and their cares were
carried by the Spirit of the Creator. Grace came to the people of the land
from the Creator. When the Savior was revealed to his people the chief was
among the first to come to faith in Jesus, and all his life he shared his
faith with his people.
As a traditional chief he encouraged and challenged his people to follow
the way of discipleship and new life in Jesus Christ. During the years of
development in the north the chief warned the people not to fall into the
temptations of the world, but honor traditional values and be strong in the
Lord. He praised the young as the investment of the future, long before it
was common to do so in our culture. He was able to share stories with young
people about the past as it applied lessons to the current time, and often
shared visions of the future. He spoke with love for the land and honor
among all peoples.
I was privileged to know the chief for a number of years and he spoke to
me about ministry and Christians love. Peter John honored our ministry by
sharing with us the lifework of showing Jesus in daily living. He valued our
ministry as partners who came to ministry in brotherhood. He spent his life
in leadership to the native community, sharing his love for the communities
who shared his joys and challenges through the years. He shared stories of
faith and leaders, and a vision that people would come from the native
community to the world at large, bringing healing and reconciliation to
people of different cultures. He was thankful to God for the blessings and
spiritual gifts within his people, and was open to declare them. He always
had Jesus first in his life.
The chief reminded me of the apostle Paul, declaring the risen Lord
daily, encouraging others in faith, thrilled to share Jesus in the world.
One of his prayers was for his people to love each other as Jesus loves
them. Today his memory is honored in the hearts of people across the north,
by his community, and in memorial buildings named in his honor. May the
example of his faith continue to encourage us as we declare the Savior to a
lost and hurting world.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for pastors and faith leaders
that care for Your people. Help us to care and honor them to Your glory. In
Jesus’ name, Amen.
Dan Treakly
Lay Minister/Pilot
Fairbanks,
Alaska
Safe in His Presence
Read: Matthew 11:30
There is a picture that I particularly like. It is a picture of Jesus
holding a little boy, talking to him gently as He is showing him a pretty
blue butterfly fluttering at the tip of his finger. You can see the child’s
response to this attention in his facial expression and in the way he is
also pointing to the butterfly. The child’s expression reflects his
response as one of openness and trust. The child seems so content.
I have always been drawn to this picture. In fact I have it in our office
in front of our computer where I can see it. The picture reminds me of what
it can be like or should be like if I fully comprehend what it is to be in
the presence of Jesus. To be in the presence of Jesus means I can put my
guard down against the things that harass my being. Like the child in the
picture I too, can respond to Jesus in openness and trust. Openness and
trust that comes from knowing that you are safe when you are in the
presence of Jesus. Openness and trust that comes from understanding that the
One who is caring for me, is able. That I can pause and see the beauty of
life and nature that is around me. In this picture it is the little boy who
is in the presence of Jesus and Jesus is pointing out the beauty of the
nature around him, and ultimately the goodness of life.
This picture has become a personal challenge for me to keep on going to
Christ to find my rest from the complexities of life that seem to
continually bear down on my being. As well, it is a reminder for me to keep
going to Christ in order to see the beauty that is around me, the beauty of
life and the beauty of nature. It is as if Jesus is calling us to come into
His Presence to find that sense of security that brings rest to our being.
We can go into His presence so that we can see the goodness in life and the
beauty in life. Often this is the image that comes to my mind when the
storms of life come. Yes, it is only when we are in the presence of Christ
that we find rest and see the beauty that is around us both in life and
nature. Pause for a moment this week and ask yourself what it means for you
to be in His presence.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, Thank You that there is a place for me to go
when life seems so hard. Thank You that there is a place for me to rest, and
begin to see the beauty that is around me. Help me today to find that place
again. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Linda Martin
Ministry Staff
Sioux Lookout,
Ontario
Made One by the Blood of Christ
Read: Ephesians 2:14
Last June I had the opportunity to visit Kentucky. I was there to
visit a friend of mine who is starting a training center for people
interested in reaching out to Native American people. It was a beautiful
evening and I was struck by the stars. We were staying out in the
country and the stars were so bright but there were other lights in the
night. For the first time I my 45 years I saw fireflies. It was amazing
that they could somehow create light, like little stars in the edge of
the forest. I was struck by the diversity of and wonder of God’s
creation. I also saw two orioles, again examples of the diversity of God’s
creation because I did not see them when I was growing up.
All this got me thinking about the diversity among people. Why does
the world have such a hard time embracing the diversity that exists
among people? We do a ministry among people who have been wounded, not
usually by circumstances or nature, but by other people. The Good News
is that Jesus came to bring reconciliation - He came to make people and
God friends again, but also people and other people.
Eph 2:13-14 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away
have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is
our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the
dividing wall of hostility.
As we bring the Good News to people across Canada and the USA we are
embracing the diversity that God has made. And the Jesus who, by His
sacrificial death and resurrection destroyed the walls of separation
between us - and especially our God.
Prayer: Dear Father, thanks for sending Your Son Jesus to be
our Savior from sin and the One who makes us part of Your family. In His
name we pray, Amen.
Ray Aldred
Ministry Staff
Winnipeg, Manitoba
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