St. Luke's Blogs

Jessica Robertson entered the Pittsburg Marathon. When the race began, Jessica ran with all her might. The other runners quickly moved out in front of Jessica and before long she found herself last in the large pack of the runners. Although she was well on her way to completing the marathon, being last was not her desire.

It was not long into the run when Jessica began feeling the pressure of the race. She was feeling defeated. That was when she realized that she was not alone, after all…

There are so many sad stories from Ukraine, yet there are wonderful people, doing what they can, to help bless people affected by this terrible war.

One of the families that fled Ukraine is the Rohozhyn family. Liana and her son, Misha, fled from their home when the bombs began to fall. They made their way out of the country to a safe place in Amsterdam. It was a difficult trip for all the reasons you might imagine. Fleeing their home was complicated by the fact that Misha, a teenager, is non-verbal and has Down syndrome. Misha did not understand what was happening around his home or why he and his mother had to flee.  Liana told her son that they would be going on an adventure around Europe to Misha’s hero, WWE wrestler and actor John Cena.  Misha was willing to travel for the possibility to meet the person who was on all the posters in his room…

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” – Matthew 7:11

Our current sermon series at St. Luke’s is “The Prayer He Taught Us.” We are looking at the Lord’s Prayerfound in Matthew 6:9-13. This is the only time that Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray. Disciples are to pray to “Our Father in heaven.” While praying, disciples are to petition God for the things we need. Part of this prayer is the request, “Give us this day our daily bread.”

The request to “Give us this day our daily bread” is the practical part of the prayer. It is a specific request to help meet the daily needs of each person. It is a recognition of our dependence on God. During the times when we have little or the times when we have much, we are still dependent on God for all that we have. (Matthew 7:11)

My connection to God has changed significantly since becoming a mother.  I feel an endless cycle of gratitude, contentedness, planning for the next hour/day/week/month, while battling ugly and intrusive thoughts and then back to gratitude (since that is my way out of the darkness, typically).  Truthfully, I am struggling.  I no longer feel the pangs of wanting that I was used to in my relationship with God because He has blessed me with everything I could have ever asked for: an incredible husband who loves the Lord, a happy and healthy (and might I add totally lovely) baby girl, a job I adore, a home that feels like the safest place I have ever existed in, and a life that feels like a dream.  I want for nothing.  For the first time in my life, I am not seeking or striving, but I am sitting in everything He has for me… and you know what that leads to?  Feeling completely unworthy.  Fear that it will be taken away.  Worry that something will happen to my loved ones, and I will have to go back to survival mode, but now that I know this joy and happiness, I am not sure I would be able to do it again…

Pray then like this:

Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
    On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our debts,
    As we also have forgiven our debtors;
And lead us not into temptation,
    But deliver us from evil.

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.
I keep the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
    my body also rests secure.
For you do not give me up to Sheol,
    or let your faithful one see the Pit.

You show me the path of life.
    In your presence there is fullness of joy;
    in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” – Hebrews 13:16

Alex had a flat tire on her car. It was frustrating and inconvenient. Alex put her daughter in the car and went to the nearest tire shop. She was prepared to pay for the repair to the flat, but unfortunately, the tire could not be repaired. The people at the shop told her that her tires were bald, and she needed to replace all four tires. It was a matter of safety. The tires were so bad, it made her vehicle unsafe to drive.

The news that she needed new tires was unwelcomed, to say the least. Alex could not afford new tires. She was frustrated and worried. She did not have the money to buy the tires, but she did not want to drive her young daughter around in an unsafe car. She had a difficult conversation with the technician. That is when Alex received a tremendous surprise…