2 Chronicles Bible Sketch

Humble + pray + turn = healing

The Holy Spirit nudges God’s people to humbly pray with thankfulness flowing from our hearts.

“if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV Bible marker sketch hand lettering

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 ESV

Healing blessings are provided by God

Humbleness is power the Holy Spirit gives believers to

• know the value of Christ’s suffering
• take responsibility
• say: I am sorry
• get unstuck from the mud of all sin—ours and those committed against us
• reject temptations to stay in or return to that wrong place
• seek Christ for mercy, shelter, protection and safety
• pray and have prayers heard
• receive cleansing and freedom
• listen to other’s perspective: thoughts, feelings and experiences
• take time to process situations
• have compassion
• be merciful
• be genuine 
• be content with not knowing all the hidden things of God
• take comfort in Truth
• have confidence of the presence of God within
• push forward in joy during both good and hard times
• be motivated by a pure heart made holy by Christ
• receive inspiration to share hope in Jesus

Our Creator promises to listen to repentant prayers of believers who seek Jesus. His beloved Son sacrificed out of love for us, was born, lived perfectly, suffered, died, then rose from death and ascended victoriously, so by grace, sinners are saved from punishment deserved. Christ intercedes for all who seek Him—and repeatedly—now until God’s judgement for eternity in heaven or hell. Power to trust the Word, receive forgiveness, embrace grace, healing, hope and peace is beyond understanding—it is a gift of faith.

Read or listen to

• A relevant devotion about The Courage of Jehoshaphat 
• An excellent sermon titled First and Foremost
• A Hymn Jesus, grant that balm and healing

Pray

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for welcoming us to have personal conversations with You. Help us listen for Your prompts to seek You in every situation and in the beautiful sanctuaries where congregations gather to hear Your Word and receive Your gifts. Thank you for opportunities to attend Church for communion with all believers. Reside in our hearts to equip and motivate us to share Your love. We look forward with joy to the Last Day when Your saving love brings perfect healing of the world You created and unites all believers with You for eternity. Amen.

1 Chronicles Bible Sketch

Give thanks!

I’m praising the Lord for the opportunity to go to church in person for the first time in three months! Covid-19 stay-at-home orders are slowly being lifted! While we waited for the re-opening, we were thankful for people and technology that brought online forms of worship services and Bible studies. God gives us abilities and ways to carry the mission forward and draw people to Himself.

Rhubarb is in season in Minnesota! Thank God before a meal or after dessert. Scripture tells us to pray without ceasing.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” 1 Chronicles 16:34 ESV Bible verse sketch markers doodle hand-lettering.

Thanksgiving is more than general gratitude

Thanking our Creator requires humility because we’d rather think we’re entitled to things. Provisions of food and shelter, protection, mercy, grace, healing and comfort are just a few gifts of God. 

“From a biblical perspective, if body and soul, house and home, wife and children, and the like are to bring us any real satisfaction or joy we must first reckon with the punishment that our sins deserve. Without mercy, without forgiveness and grace, without Christ, there is nothing much to give thanks for since it is all going to be destroyed or sent to perdition.” —David H. Petersen (read more)

Our help is in the goodness of our Lord!

The Holy Spirit works in us so we may listen and look at life’s situations from a full perspective and know God deserves all the glory for everything good.

“But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.” Psalm 10:14 NIV

His steadfast love endures forever!

Jesus is Lord. In Christ we receive the mercy and everlasting loving kindness of our Creator.

Chronicles contains ancient genealogies, lessons learned from family history, and prophetic hopes for the future. (watch an illustrated summary)

My church’s sanctuary is designed to optimize acoustics so voices—confessions, prayers, sermons, songs of thanks, praise and all types of musical instruments are beautiful there. Chronicles inspired J.S. Bach (read more)

• Bach Violin Concertos | Classical Baroque Music
• Hymns by Johann Sebastian Bach in the Lutheran Service Book, CPH
  • Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light, LSB 378
  • Tis Good, Lord, to Be Here, LSB 414
  • O Sacred Head Now Wounded, LSB 449
  • O Jesus So Sweet, O Jesus So Mild, LSB 546
  • A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, LSB 657
  • The Ancient Law Departs, LSB 898

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Father in heaven, to You alone do we owe thanks and praise. read more

Pray: Lord, we cannot see the possibilities of Your big picture of love that endures forever if we refuse to open our eyes. Take away our unhealthy assumptions that we know everything when, in truth, only You are all-knowing and have sacrificed all to save us. Forgive us when we forget and decline opportunities to listen well. Put Your genuine love to work within us to discern when to speak and when silence is effective in order to hear and empathize with others. Put helpful words in our mouths to give Your grace to others. Thank you for understanding and holding us while we endure hard things. Thank you for every gift of goodness. Amen.

2 Kings Bible Sketch

Do not be afraid

Abuse of the innocent, injustice, violence, protests, riots, depression, despair and corona-virus are concerns many of us fear

Individuals in  Minneapolis – St. Paul, Minnesota as well as cities throughout the United States and the world are frustrated and confused about addressing all forms of sin and its consequences

…What a baffling, babbling, cacophony of contradictory craziness. … Jesus has something to say just for you, … “Don’t be afraid.”
—Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison

Click and listen to a sermon and interview: Jesus Doesn't Babble: Jesus brings the Word of peace to those who have grown weary of all the babble. 
 

He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 2 Kings 6:16 ESV
Old Testament Bible verse sketch doodle hand-lettering rubber-stamp art.

“While we live in a world where there are spiritual and other forces of darkness all around us, we nevertheless live confidently as the people of God who are blessed with the ministering of God’s holy angels in our lives. Furthermore, we trust in the triumphant victory of Christ who destroyed the darkness of sin and death in our lives.”
—Rev. Dr. Dennis J. Goff  (read more)


“How do we consider the recent protests sparked by George Floyd’s death in a theological manner? How do we process our own reactions to these events through the lens of the cross?” Listen to Considering Protests for Justice by Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller

Enjoy learning about the Bible with illustrations?

“After David, Solomon leads Israel to a period of greatness, followed by failure and rebellion. Israel splits into two separate kingdoms, and the story traces the slow decline of both, resulting in destruction at the hands of foreign empires. God sends wave of prophets to hold Israel accountable, but Israel ignores them to their peril.” —The Bible Project  Watch illustrated video summarizing Kings

Lord Jesus, in your mercy, hear our prayer

• Forgive us
• Help us trust Jesus (increase faith over fear)
• Draw us to your Word that we may embrace all you have given us
• Guide us to grow by receiving Your gifts along with the community of a church family
• Bless those who are suffering mental anxiety and pain
• Restore what has been torn down
• Protect and deliver us from abusive evil aggression
• Bring truth and justice
• Bring health 
• Bring healing
• Bring wellness and success
• Bring peace
• Bring hope
• Renew and refresh us
• Fill our hearts with the joy of Your plan of salvation and lead us to share the Good News

Amen.