God Pause for Monday, 11/10/2014
/Luther Seminary God Pause
Monday, 11/10/2014 Reading: Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18
There's a certain hush that falls over creation this time of year. A layer of snow has silenced the crunching leaves, the birds have migrated to warmer climates. The cold slices through the clouds leaving a crystal blue sky above Fairbanks, while the mountains tower in the near distance. There is beauty in this scene, but there is also unease. There is barrenness, but there is also hidden hope.
In the chilling lines of this short reading from the prophet Zephaniah, hope certainly feels hidden. Almighty God comes to set things straight. All the things we hold on to so dearly seem to melt away--security, future, wealth, even ourselves--all but the faith we have in God. Make no mistake: that causes uneasiness even in the most faithful! But when those things are melting away, our hope is revealed in Jesus Christ, the one who remains to show us God's mercy.
Thank you God for making things as they should be. As my life is re-ordered, give me hope that you are re-making me in the image of your Son, Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.>
Amanda Kempthorne Pastor, Lord of Life Lutheran Church North Pole, Ala. Master of Divinity, 2009
Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18 (NRSV)
7 Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is at hand; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, he has consecrated his guests. 12 At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the people who rest complacently on their dregs, those who say in their hearts, "The Lord will not do good, nor will he do harm." 13 Their wealth shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them. 14 The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter, the warrior cries aloud there. 15 That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements. 17 I will bring such distress upon people that they shall walk like the blind; because they have sinned against the Lord, their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. 18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord's wrath; in the fire of his passion the whole earth shall be consumed; for a full, a terrible end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.
Please forward this e-mail to a friend! http://send.luthersem.edu/public/webform/render_form/default/848eff8bea7092a93dfabe641c758499/ftaf/jcygk51rv7pgytti1o5iqlj3q6x7o/aenvdluzexlgddzhvqsdlgpsoyrqbbm?tid=3.NX4.ChNR1A.G5DB.Aw4nTQ..BEnmeQ.b..l.Ayzt.n.VGClQA.VGClQA.yCjJWQ
This God Pause daily devotion is brought to you by alumni/ae of Luther Seminary.
Luther Seminary educates leaders for Christian communities across the country and around the world. It is the largest of the eight seminaries in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
We invite you to join us online for our daily chapel service.
Luther Seminary Faith Resource Spotlight
You are currently subscribed to these God Pause daily devotions as pbm+saint-marks+3icvrj@squarespace.com
Manage your email preferences: http://send.luthersem.edu/public/webform/render_form/default/848eff8bea7092a93dfabe641c758499/manpref/jcygk51rv7pgytti1o5iqlj3q6x7o/aenvdluzexlgddzhvqsdlgpsoyrqbbm?tid=3.NX4.ChNR1A.G5DB.Aw4nTQ..BEnmeQ.b..l.Ayzt.n.VGClQA.VGClQA.yCjJWQ
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
For best viewing of future e-mails, please add communic@luthersem.edu to your Safe Senders List or Address Book.
If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please click below to Manage Email Preferences and uncheck the God Pause list. http://send.luthersem.edu/public/webform/render_form/default/848eff8bea7092a93dfabe641c758499/manpref/jcygk51rv7pgytti1o5iqlj3q6x7o/aenvdluzexlgddzhvqsdlgpsoyrqbbm?tid=3.NX4.ChNR1A.G5DB.Aw4nTQ..BEnmeQ.b..l.Ayzt.n.VGClQA.VGClQA.yCjJWQ
Unsubscribe from all messages, not just God Pause: http://send.luthersem.edu/public/webform/render_form/default/848eff8bea7092a93dfabe641c758499/unsub/jcygk51rv7pgytti1o5iqlj3q6x7o/aenvdluzexlgddzhvqsdlgpsoyrqbbm?tid=3.NX4.ChNR1A.G5DB.Aw4nTQ..BEnmeQ.b..l.Ayzt.n.VGClQA.VGClQA.yCjJWQ
This email was sent to pbm+saint-marks+3icvrj@squarespace.com by Luther Seminary 2481 Como Ave. | St. Paul | MN | 55108