Waiting on God

In Isaiah 65 we hear these words- "From ages past, no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you who works for those who wait for him."  

You might ask yourself in light of these words how you are waiting for God.  Yes, "how" are you waiting for the Lord these days? 

There is such a thing known as "active waiting."  This kind of living in Christ means you are active in serving and loving all the while waiting on the Lord.

I find myself often waiting for the Lord to speak to me and answer my prayers. Or, I find myself waiting for the Lord to show me a sign.

The funny thing is this- we may be listening in a very selfish manner or looking in all the wrong places.  I am convinced that God loves to surprise us in our waiting.  

When is the last time God surprised you?

Blessings to you as you wait on the Lord,

Pr. Durk

Peace,

Pastor Durk

Striking Up A Conversation

So, last night at my son's baseball game his football coached happened to be walking through the park with his daughter. I saw him from a distance and waved. He walked right over and we greeted one another and asked how things were going with each other. He immediately responded, "Oh, fine." But, I could see in his eyes that things were not so "fine."

Remembering that he attends a local Lutheran church I asked him how things were going at his church. He commented about transitions at his church and how they've welcomed a new associate pastor.

At this point I shared with him that I had resigned my previous call at Maple Grove Lutheran and now was serving part-time at Discover Church (ELCA) in Brooklyn Park and that I was in the call process for a new pastoral position in the Minneapolis area.

I paused. And, he began to share about all his work transitions along with the pain and challenges that come with that. He also shared some family challenges as well. He shared how he ended up in the hospital with stress related physical symptoms. "I know the Lord has a plan through this, Durk"

Knowing what an experienced Christian this man is, I interpreted his comment as his confidence that no matter what happens in life our Lord Jesus Christ is with us-leading us, guiding us in the power of the Spirit, and building up our faith.

Next time you have time and someone responds "Oh, fine" get ready.
Peace,
Pr. Durk

Our Amazing God

This morning for my morning devotion I continued my reading through the book of Isaiah.  Today I read part of a what is known as a "servant song" in which the writer says that the servant was "wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5)

What disturbing image of redemption and image of God's love for us in Christ.  As we read the Old Testament with the lens of Christ these words of the prophet clearly point to the person and work of Jesus Christ.

I thank God for His amazing love that moved Him to send Jesus to suffer and die on the cross for our sins and for our wholeness.  

It is hard to imagine how our God could take such a step for us and our salvation. Only one word can capture the "why" and that is love.  

Peace,

Pr. Durk

Amazing Moments

Do you ever have those times in your life when you experience the joy of the Lord in a powerful and overwhelming way? 

At times we refer to these as mountain experiences or unforgettable moments in life.  There are times in life that just stick in your heart and mind.

2:00 a.m. o Sept. 11th, 1995 I am sitting on the back steps of our home in Minneapolis following the birth of our son, Eric, amazed at the miracle of his birth.

11:00 p.m. October 18 1993 my wife and I are back from the Des Moines airport where we picked up our 4 month old daughter, just flown in from South Korea  by a Holt International social worker.  

June 25, 1989 I am ordained into the ministry at First Lutheran Church in Kenyon, MN.  

December 25th, 1985  Susan and I are married at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Decorah, IA.  

What are those dates and times in your life that stick? That flood back into your mind and heart?

The Lord our God is an amazing Lord who works in our lives at all times, the wonderful and amazing times as well as the challenging and low times.

Blessings,

Pr. Durk

Our Awesome God

This morning for my devotional reading I spent time reading and praying Psalm 76. This psalm writer boldly proclaims, "Great is our God; more magnificent than the everlasting mountains....You indeed are awesome!"

What experiences have you had where you simply stopped and were overwhelmed by God's creative power and love? Maybe it was simply the smile and bright eyes of a child, or the morning sunrise, or, in the Minnesota today, spring bursting out all over the place.

When we are tempted to think everything is about us our human needs, we are reminded of how great and loving our God is through the message of so many psalms.

God reminded Job by asking him a long series of questions toward the end of the book of Job (i.e. where were you when I spun out this incredible creation?)

What do you think will remind you of God's incredible love for us in Jesus Christ? Pray with your eyes wide open and it will be flashed right before your eyes and heart.

Standing in the awesome light of God's love,

Pr. Durk Peterson

New Life in Baptism

I was privileged be part of a service at Discover Church this last Saturday night at which 20 people were baptized. Several children, youth, and adults were baptized in Christ by full immersion in a large tank of water in the sanctuary. This was a first for me in 20 years of ministry.

The expressions on the faces of the baptized as they emerged from the water simply amazed me . Huge smiles broke the water streaming off their faces as we applauded and prayed and gave our praise to God.

This service was grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ- emphasizing that baptism is what God does to us and for us. God washes us clean of our sin as we are baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Another impressive aspect of this service for me came with the wide age range. In my ministry experience I've baptized hundreds of infants and only a handful of adults and youth.

As others have noted, youth and adult baptisms truly are a sign of the church's mission and growth. Rather than evangelism by procreation, evangelism occurs in reaching the unchurched and those who have never been connected to the church.

Praise God for the newly baptized!
-Pr. Durk

Jesus and Children

Just this last Sunday a young girl ran up to me with a smile on her face wildly waving a small poster in the air. "Pastor Durk," she shouted, "look what I made!" She slowed for a few seconds to lift the poster right in front of my eyes. It was a picture of Jesus hanging on the cross and a bright sun painted in the upper right corner. She was so proud of her painting and so excited.

How excited or enthused are we as we complete our Lenten journey to the cross and get ready to celebrate the resurrection? I don't know about you, but every year I sense that things come crashing together during this week. The joy of the resurrection is already bursting with Easter planning and yet, the solemn time of Holy Week is just ahead.

May God bless you as you see Jesus on the cross and the bright sun of the resurrection coming soon!
Peace,
Pr. Durk