Mt. Olive Lutheran Church

Mt. Olive Lutheran Church LCMS Church in Rockford, IL
Loving People to Jesus
Sundays at 8 and 11 am

06/08/2026

Mk 14:8 “She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.” Jesus, WOW! She did what she could. This convicts and challenges me. How often do I simply do what I have to, the minimum, merely what is necessary? I used to hate it when my students wanted rubrics for a class because rubrics are about minimums. Lead me to increasingly ask what more I CAN do? How might I demonstrate love more, both for You and for others? Convict me. Inspire me. Empower me. – 2 Cor. 8:3-5; Gal. 6:9-10; Col. 4:5; 1 Th. 4:9-10 – I do love You. Help me to love You and others better. “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” – Gal. 5:6

06/07/2026

Mk 14:6-7 “‘Leave her alone,’ said Jesus. ‘Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.’” Jesus, this is challenging. On the one hand, we love You best by attending to the needs of those about us – Mt. 25:34-40; 1 Jn. 4:19-21. On the other hand, we love You by desiring to be with You, spending time with You, attending to You, and showing humble devotion. Help me keep this in dynamic balance. – Jn. 13:34-35; Jn. 14:15; Ro. 12:1; Eph. 4:1-2,32

06/06/2026

Mk 14:4-5 “Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, ‘Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor.’ They rebuked her harshly.” Jesus, help me not be critical or judgmental of how others show You love and devotion. Rather, help me focus upon my own love and devotion so that it is demonstrated in Spirit and in truth. – Mk. 7:6-8; Jn. 4:24; Ro. 12:1; Ro. 14:1-13

06/05/2026

Mk 14:3 “While reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the L***r, a woman came with a Jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the Jar and poured the perfume on his head.” Jesus, this story makes me ask myself, “How much do I love You?” and “How lavish am I willing to be in my love for You?” Help me to reflect more upon Your love and Your giving of Yourself so that I might be increasingly moved by it to love You more and to love others as You have loved and love me. – Lk. 7:37-48; 1 Jn. 4:7-21

06/04/2026

Mk 14:1 “…the chief priests and teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him.” Jesus, as I reflected upon this verse today, my mind was led to ask a new question. I do not intentionally look to undermine You, but are there people in my life I do seek to undermine? I would like to think not, but…. I am reminded of Luther’s explanation of the 8th Commandment — “Defend, speak well of, put the best construction on everything.” If I am not putting the best construction on everything, if I am not explaining a person’s actions in the kindest way, am I undermining them? You have said, “Whatsoever we do to one of the least, we do to You,” and “Whatsoever we fail to do to one of the least, we fail to do to You.” What in my words and in my actions undermines others and in so doing undermines You? Forgive me, Jesus! – Mt. 25:40 & 45; Mt. 5:43-44; Mt. 12:36-37; Ro. 12:21; Eph. 4:29; Col. 4:6; Jas. 1:26

06/03/2026

Mk 13:32-33 “No one knows the day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” Jesus, I know You, and I am not worried for my eternal salvation, for You have secured that. However, I do need to be on guard and alert for others and their salvation, which You have also secured, but of which they may not be aware, and in ignorance forfeit. Each day, each hour is precious, as it could be our last for any of us. Help me to see and to take advantage of every opportunity to give witness to Your love and Your grace, but help me to do so with appropriate wisdom and sensitivity. – 2 Cor. 6:2; Gal. 6:9-10; Eph. 5:15-16; Col. 4:5; Ro. 10:14-17

06/02/2026

Mk. 13:31 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Jesus, in this life, there is truly little we can be sure of, but we can be one hundred percent sure of Your Word, although not necessarily one hundred percent sure of our understanding of it. Help me to increasingly know Your Word and give me a better/more accurate understanding of it. Increasingly move me not merely to be a hearer of Your Word, but a doer, a daily, hourly, minutely, second-to-second practitioner of Your Word. Help me also to guide and empower others in their knowledge, understanding, and application of Your Word. – Ps. 19:7-14; Ps. 119:105; Jn. 1:1-2,14; Jn. 5: 39-40; Jn. 8:31-32; Jn. 17:17; Jn. 20:31; Ro. 10:17; Col. 3:16; 1 Th. 2:13; 2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Tim. 4:2; Jas. 1:22

06/01/2026

Mk. 13:23 “Be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.” Jesus, this reminds me of the saying “To be forewarned is to be forearmed.” When we know what is coming or might be coming, we can be a thoughtful actor, rather than merely a “caught-off-guard” reactor. Keep me alert and prepared, so I might act as You would have me act rather than to simply react on thoughtless impulse. Thoughtless and prayerless impulse all too frequently leads to regret. – Eph. 6:13-18; 1 Th. 5:6; 1 Pe. 5:8

06/01/2026

Mk. 13:13 “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Jesus, this passage really challenges me. I want to be liked, and I tend to avoid confrontation. In the process, I probably compromise at times when I should be standing firm. When I do so, neither others, You, nor I are helped. Give me the strength and commitment to stand firm without compromise. – Gal. 1:10; Gal. 2:11-13 – But also give me a discerning spirit to know when compromise is appropriate and that I might exercise love wisely and with a humble, respectful spirit. – 1 Ki. 3:9-12; Pr. 1:5; Acts 16:1-3; 1 Cor. 9:19-22; 1 Cor. 16:14; Gal. 5:1; Gal. 5:13-14; Eph. 4:16; Phil. 1:9-10; 2 Tim. 1:7

05/30/2026

Mk. 13:9-11 “Be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. The gospel must first be preached to all nations. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” Jesus, I find these verses both discomforting and reassuring. I do not look forward to or relish times of trial or persecution, but it is comforting and reassuring to know that You are with me in such times, even as You are with me at ALL times. I am reminded of the writing “Footprints in the Sand.” In times of trial and persecution, help me find confidence and boldness, always clothed in love in and through You. In times of trial, move me to trust You more and more. – Josh. 1:9; Jn. 16:33; 2 Cor. 3:4-6; 2 Tim. 1:7; 1 Pe. 4:12; 1 Jn. 4:4

Address

2001 N Alpine Road
Rockford, IL
61107

Telephone

+18153993171

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