Kal's Korner 10/13
Pastor Kalvin Waetzig • October 16, 2019
Open hands in a closed fisted world II
The Word: Matthew 6
Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” ESV
I shared this story in the message this past Sunday @ St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
Custom of the Empty Hands -- Bill Lokey --- OnSite 2019
It is said there was an ancient custom in Nepal that if a man loses something precious to him the rest of the tribe comes together, enters his home and takes something else from him as well. Through the centuries this custom was lost to most and thought of as cruel and barbaric to others who did not understand its origin. One day a man who was an old resident from that tribe, white-haired, but full of wisdom, was found and asked about the strange custom. He said his ancestors many generations ago had been true to pass down the secret of their tradition and its blessing through their family and he explained the mystery as follows:
“Take this small piece of bread in one hand and this grain in the other. Hold them out to be seen. If suddenly the precious grain is stripped from the one hand the other hand clenches tightly around the bread to make sure he does not lose it. There stands the man cursing this one hand that has lost his treasure bringing shame upon his whole family while his other hand grips the bread tightly to ensure he keeps what little he has left. With clenched fist, he threatens anyone who would get close enough to take away what is rightfully his. What does he look like now? He looks like a man staring through eyes of suspicion at anyone who approaches him. A man cursing his misfortune, his shriveled hand, and the many others he has learned to blame. This man crushes the hope of others in need and mutilates the bread in that same fist. The blessing to this ancient custom can only now be understood.”
When a precious loss occurs the other hand clings to what is left and the heart becomes either lifeless or closed. When the tribe and their chief came to his house and emptied the other hand the man fell to the ground in anguish with open hands … open hands now able to receive … to receive from all the other tribe members who had experienced loss before him. While the man with open hands, on his knees, blinded with tears was without strength, the fellow tribe people passed by filling his hands with baskets of bread, grain, jars of oil, tools for repairing, stones from a fireplace, carved shingles for a roof, and a place in their midst to call home. Yes, what he had was taken away so he had room in his hands and his heart to receive abundance.
-- Bill Lokey --- OnSite 2019
Take some time right now to apply the truths of this story to your own life right now. Reflect, Confess, and rejoice in Renewal by God’s Spirit.
In Jesus
Pastor Kal
P.S. See you this coming Sunday, October 20, 2019 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church
Worship @ 8:30 a.m. & 10:00 a.m.
The Word : 1 Corinthians 15 – Resurrection – Life 1 Cor. 15:20,23, “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep…23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.” ESV God’s Promise IX: 1 Corinthians 15:54, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” ESV For the believer in Christ, this promise is one of the blocks in the foundation of our unshakable hope. The grave brings sorrow, for sure. But it need not bring despair. The tomb could not hold Jesus, and since Christ is in you, the tomb will not be able to hold you either. I urge you, beg you, implore you to set your heart on this hope! Hebrews 12:28, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken…” Looking forward to connecting in worship with you at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church – Tracy CA this Sunday, March 8, 2020. Unshakable Hope Series. Worship times at 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. God bless you this day In Jesus Pastor Kal P.S. – Don’t Forget Daylight Saving Time – Spring Forward this coming weekend, Sunday March 8. P.S.S. Here is a listing of all the promises we’ve looked at to date in our current series: Unshakable Hope – Building Our Lives on the Promises of God. God’s Promise I: Genesis 1:26, “Let us make man (mankind) in our image, after our likeness.” ESV God’s Promise II: Romans 16:20, “The God who brings peace will soon defeat Satan and give you power over him.” NCV God’s Promise III: Romans 8:17, “We are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” NIV God’s Promise IV: James 5:16: “When a believing person prays, great things happen.” NCV God’s Promise V: 1 Peter 5:5, ““God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” ESV God’s Promise VI: Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses…” ESV God’s Promise VII: Romans 8:34, “Jesus…is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” ESV God’s Promise VIII: Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” ESV God’s Promise IX: 1 Corinthians 15:54, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” ESV
The Word : 1 Corinthians 15 – Resurrection – Life 1 Cor. 15:20,23, “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep…23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.” ESV God’s Promise IX: 1 Corinthians 15:54, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” ESV For the believer in Christ, this promise is one of the blocks in the foundation of our unshakable hope. The grave brings sorrow, for sure. But it need not bring despair. The tomb could not hold Jesus, and since Christ is in you, the tomb will not be able to hold you either. I urge you, beg you, implore you to set your heart on this hope! Hebrews 12:28, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken…” Looking forward to connecting in worship with you at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church – Tracy CA this Sunday, March 8, 2020. Unshakable Hope Series. Worship times at 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. God bless you this day In Jesus Pastor Kal P.S. – Don’t Forget Daylight Saving Time – Spring Forward this coming weekend, Sunday March 8. P.S.S. Here is a listing of all the promises we’ve looked at to date in our current series: Unshakable Hope – Building Our Lives on the Promises of God. God’s Promise I: Genesis 1:26, “Let us make man (mankind) in our image, after our likeness.” ESV God’s Promise II: Romans 16:20, “The God who brings peace will soon defeat Satan and give you power over him.” NCV God’s Promise III: Romans 8:17, “We are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” NIV God’s Promise IV: James 5:16: “When a believing person prays, great things happen.” NCV God’s Promise V: 1 Peter 5:5, ““God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” ESV God’s Promise VI: Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses…” ESV God’s Promise VII: Romans 8:34, “Jesus…is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” ESV God’s Promise VIII: Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” ESV God’s Promise IX: 1 Corinthians 15:54, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” ESV
The Word: God Gets You – Hebrews 4:15 Hebrews 4:15-16, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” ESV God’s Promise VI: Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses…” ESV God’s promise: He gets us. He understands our condition. And because He understands and has acted on our behalf… We receive mercy and grace. We are not left to languish on our own. When we fall, we are not forgotten. When we stumble, we are not abandoned. It’s called the Incarnation and its stunning display of God’s grace and favor. God, limited Himself to time and space and became one of us. John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” ESV Had Jesus come to earth only in the form of mighty God, we would respect Him but would never draw near to him. After all, how could God understand what it means to be human? If Jesus were merely a human baby only, conceived by two biological parents, we would draw near to Him, but would never worship him. He would be no different that you and me. But with Jesus we have both – God and man at the same time. Fully human. Fully God. Because of his humanity we can draw near unafraid. Because He is God, we also worship and praise him. Looking forward to connecting in worship with you at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church – Tracy CA this Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020. Unshakable Hope Series. Worship times at 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. God bless you this day In Jesus Pastor Kal
The Word: 1 Peter 5:5-7 – Grace for the Humble God’s Promise V – 1 Peter 5:5, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” ESV Four Incentives for Humility Verse 5b: “God opposes the proud…” ESV Nothing could be worse than to have an infinitely powerful and holy God opposed to you. Verse 5b: "God gives grace to the humble." And nothing could be better than to have an infinitely powerful and wise God treat us graciously. He does that to the humble. The reason is not that humility is a performance of virtue that earns grace but that humility is a confession of emptiness that receives grace. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Verse 6: God will use his mighty hand to exalt the humble: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you…” ESV Verse 7: God will use his mighty hand to care for the humble: "Casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you." ESV All of which can help us to be less anxious in our lives…so that we might be truly present with God and with others. Looking forward to connecting in worship with you at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church – Tracy CA this Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020. Unshakable Hope Series. Worship times at 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. God bless you this day In Jesus Pastor Kal
The Word: James 5:16b-18 – The Power of Prayer “…The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.” ESV Well it’s been an incredible journey – Unshakable Hope – Building our Lives on the Promises of God. Here’s our journey so far… God’s Promise I: Genesis 1:26, “Let us make man (mankind) in our image, after our likeness.” ESV God’s Promise II: Romans 16:20, “The God who brings peace will soon defeat Satan and give you power over him.” NCV God’s Promise III: Romans 8:17, “We are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” NIV Coming Sunday, February 2, 2020 - God’s Promise IV: James 5:16: “When a believing person prays, great things happen.” NCV God hears our prayers as quickly as they are offered. Why”? Because they come from his child. Will God do everything you ask? Perhaps. Or he will do more than you imagined. He alone knows what is best. Our role is to stand firmly on the promise… James 5:16: “When a believing person prays, great things happen.” NCV You are never without hope, because you are never without access to God through prayer. Prayer is not the last resort. It is the first step. Looking forward to connecting in worship with you at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church – Tracy CA this Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020. Unshakable Hope Series. Worship times at 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. -- Pastor Kalvin L. Waetzig
The Word: Rom. 8:17, “We are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” NIV Dec. 31, 2012 — -- A homeless man found dead under a Wyoming overpass last week stood to inherit $19 million from his deceased adopted great aunt , a copper heiress net worth of $300 million fortune The body of Timothy Henry Gray, 60, was found Dec. 27 underneath the overpass of Union Pacific Railroad in Evanston, Wyoming. Gray died of hypothermia, according to a coroner's report, and police said there is no sign of foul play. "He appeared to have died from exposure," Lt. Bill Jeffers with the Evanston police told ABCNews.com. "He was just wearing a lighter jacket and jeans." Jeffers said that Evanston police had spoken to Gray last winter as part of a welfare check, and at that point he had an apartment in the area. Gray said that he appeared to not have a domicile at the time of his death. If you stood to inherit millions would you do all in your power to access that fortune? Yes? Really? Let’s talk about your inheritance. Glistening in the jewel box of God’s promises is this guarantee of your inheritance: God’s Promise III: Romans 8:17, “We are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” NIV As believers in Jesus Christ and all he has done for us, we are named by God as heirs – co-heirs with Christ. All that is of Jesus is ours. Everything. Life. Salvation. Forgiveness. Love. Is ours. In abundance. Join us at St. Paul's Lutheran Church this coming Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020 for this powerful series – Unshakable Hope. Worship at 8:30 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. God bless you this day In His great and precious promises In Jesus Pastor Kal
The Word: Rom. 16:20, “The God who brings peace will soon defeat Satan and give you power over him.” NCV Join us at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Tracy CA this coming Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020 for this powerful series – Unshakable Hope. God’s Promise II – Overcoming Deception Worship at 8:30 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. Stand on the promises of God regarding Satan’s influence: Rom. 16:20, “The God who brings peace will soon defeat Satan and give you power over him.” NCV 1 John 4:4, “God’s Spirit, who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world.” NCV 1 Cor. 10:13, “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” NIV James 4:7, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” NIV We are building our lives on the promises of God. Because his Word is unbreakable, our hope is unshakable. We do not stand on the problems of life or the pain of life. We stand on the great and precious promises of God. God bless you this week In His Promises In Jesus Pastor Kal
The Word: Genesis 1:26 - God’s Promise I: In God’s Image. Ever felt small? Ever felt insignificant? Ever thought of yourself as unimportant? Ever been told you are a lost cause. Don’t listen to that. You are God’s idea. You are God’s child. You are created in His image. CEO or unemployed – it doesn’t matter. Hot list or not list – doesn’t matter. Blue-blooded or orphaned – doesn’t matter. High IQ or low standing – doesn’t matter. First string or cut from the squad – doesn’t matter. According to the Bible you are good simply because God made you in his image. Period. You are precious to him because you bear a resemblance to him. You are His. God has created you and won you back through the sacrificial work of His One and Only Son, Jesus on the cross. God’s Promise I: Genesis 1:26, “Let us make man (mankind) in our image, after our likeness.” ESV You will only be satisfied in life when you engage in your role as an image bearer of God. Join us at St. Paul's Lutheran Church for Unshakable Hope Week 1: Created in God’s Image for His Glory. This Sunday, January 12, 2020 Worship at 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. -- Rev. Kalvin L. Waetzig
The Word: Colossians 2 – Keep God at Arm’s Length! Col 2:2-3, “that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” ESV I wonder what would have happened if the shepherds had had the attitude of non-connection the night the angels announced the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. The dialog might have sounded something like this… “Wow, those angels were really great! I haven’t seen anything that bright since the 4th of July.” Would they have said, “You know if I get the time, like maybe when I retire, I think I’ll do some follow-up on this thing that the Lord has told us about.” Or they might have said, “I really don’t want to loose this shepherding job. It may not pay much, but it’s all I have. If the boss would ever find out we left the sheep, it would be over, over man, I tell you.” “A baby? What’s to see in a baby?” Or “Look, I’m really tired from shopping all day, you guys go ahead and let me know what you find.” There are so many ways we open the door ever so slightly to God, but often it is not enough for Him to really shape our hearts and lives. More on this – Sunday, December 22, 2019 @ St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 1635 Chester Drive Tracy CA 95376 Worship at 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Give God your best this end of year and not because Santa is watching but because you know, truly know, and believe that God is good. His love us sure. His favor is without limit in the love of Jesus, our Savior and Lord. Share yourself and your gifts with joy and grace…as has been done for you…in Jesus. Amen. Plan now to attend Christmas @ St. Paul’s Christmas Eve: 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 11:00 p.m. Christmas Day: 10:00 a.m. God bless you this day In Jesus Pastor Kal
