St. Luke's Blogs

Just a few weeks ago, the NFL made the news as another player returned to an NFL roster. It was Monday night, January 2, when Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin, went into cardiac arrest on live TV. The world watched as the Bills’ medical staff worked to bring Damar back to life. The quick thinking and skill of those medical personnel saved Damar’s life. They literally brought him back to life, right there on the turf.

Thankfully, Damar Hamlin not only survived, but has since made a remarkable recovery. That Monday night football game was never restarted. The shock made it impossible for players and coaches to continue. The season did continue, but without Damar…

I have several coffee cups at work.  The other day, I was looking at one of my favorites and noticed how stained and dingy it looks.  Wendy was there and it kind of embarrassed me, so I said, “I really need to give this cup a good washing!” (or something like that), to which she laughingly replied, “It doesn’t seem so bad when it’s our own stains, does it?”

I’ve thought about her words several times because there’s some real profundity there!  Throughout my life, I’ve done things I’ve later regretted; things that added “stains” to my life.  I’m not talking only about when I was young and inexperienced either; I’ve done things, like last week, that I wish I could change!!  I’ve also said things I wish I could take back, after I’ve thought about them…

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Anani′as. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Anani′as.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”  And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul; for behold, he is praying,  and he has seen a man named Anani′as come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Anani′as answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem;  and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name.”  But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;  for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”  So Anani′as departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized,  and took food and was strengthened.

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” John 21:15

The grace of God is truly amazing. Wrapped into our understanding of grace are so many wonderful parts of our life of faith. Grace is God’s presence in our lives. We are not alone as we walk the journey of life. Deuteronomy states, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be in dread of them: for it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Grace is also the forgiveness of our sins. In love, God pardons us from mistakes and wrongdoings and makes lives free from the power of sin. Paul writes in the book of Ephesians, “But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” (Ephesians 2:4-5) This forgiveness and freedom from sin gives us hope for life today and for eternity…

Have you ever received a thank you note for something you did, or a gift you gave? It makes you feel valued. It is nice to know that someone considers you worthy of their time to say thank you. It lifts your spirit when you receive a note that someone took time to write. Notes of gratitude are so important. They are wonderful to receive and important for us to write.

The Apostle Paul wrote both letters of 1 and 2 Thessalonians to a young church that he started with some of his fellow travelers. Their time in Thessalonica was successful in that they were able to share the good news of Jesus and several people were converted to the Christian faith. However, their time was cut short when they were forced to leave town after they stirred up trouble with the local authorities. Paul was disturbed that their presence in this community was not well received and even more concerned that he had so little time to spend with the young Christians that had come to faith under him. This is the backdrop of 1 Thessalonians…

Jason Hardesty is a wonderful example of how we can spend our days looking for moments of beauty and joy. Jason is a driver for UPS. He delivers packages in New Orleans. A few years ago, Jason decided to take a few pictures of dogs along his delivery route. He posted them to his social media account. It made Jason and his friends so happy. Jason soon began taking selfies with pets, while driving his route. He would make posts every Friday.

Soon, Jason’s social media following began to grow…

“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” – Psalm 25:4-5

This past weekend, I watched an inspirational Disney movie with my youngest daughter called, “Onward.” It’s one of our favorites for many reasons. 

It’s set in a once magical land made up of elves, sprites, trolls, and many other mythical creatures. It’s about two elf brothers, Barley and Ian, who lost their dad at a young age. In fact, the youngest brother, Ian, wasn’t born until after his dad passed.

Ian carries around this sadness and fear of letting others close wherever he goes, but Barley isn’t afraid of anything. He has embraced life and is determined to keep dreaming. Ian is extremely embarrassed of Barley’s outgoing nature and is consumed with the fact that he never got to meet his dad.

It’s Ian’s birthday and his dad has left both brothers a special gift…

They had endured the trials of that holy week in Jerusalem. Jesus entered the city to the waving of palms and the shouting of “Hosannah.” Shortly after that, Jesus was betrayed, arrested, brutalized, and killed. This struck fear into the hearts of the ones who followed Jesus so closely. They knew the tomb was empty that Sunday. Some of the disciples had seen the empty tomb for themselves. They were filled with hope that Jesus was alive. They were also filled with fear that they would be arrested and persecuted next.

In John’s Gospel, in the very chapter that tells of the empty tomb, Jesus’ resurrection and His appearance to Mary Magdalene, we find many of the disciples locked in a room, fearing for their lives. I can only imagine what was going through their minds as they hid in fear for their lives…

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”