God Pause

God Pause With God Pause, you can take a daily moment for God. Sign up for a daily email devotion at www.luthe

06/24/2026

Rev. Dawn Quame, M.Div. 2005
Chaplain, Madison Healthcare Services, Madison, MN
St. John's, Marietta, MN, St. Paul's, Nassau, MN and Louisburg Lutheran, Louisburg, MN

Romans 6:12-23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:23

We don’t like to talk about sin. Perhaps we’d rather deny or disregard the reality of sin in our lives. We make excuses or try to place blame elsewhere, or we minimize the power of sin to control us. We expect God to cover us when we are the ones at fault. In Romans, Paul speaks of sin being no different than slavery and even death. We must come to terms with the sin in our lives and in the world. Denying the existence of sin only drives us deeper into despair.

Grace, on the other hand, gives us life. Knowing that our own efforts come up short, we look to Jesus for forgiveness. At the cross where Jesus died for our sins we are met by God’s love and the grace to sustain us as individuals and as a community.

Holy and loving God, help us to die to our old sinful selves and release those things that seek to destroy us and others. Give us your grace as we receive your forgiveness and teach us to extend your grace to all the world. Amen.

06/23/2026

Rev. Dawn Quame, M.Div. 2005
Chaplain, Madison Healthcare Services, Madison, MN
St. John's, Marietta, MN, St. Paul's, Nassau, MN and Louisburg Lutheran, Louisburg, MN

Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18

If one only reads these few verses from Psalm 89, one’s only image of God would be that of a faithful, benevolent God. But later in this same psalm, God is also accused of being one who has “rejected, spurned, been angry” and “ renounced the covenant.” Here, God promised to never violate God’s promises, but the psalmist still complains to God, saying, “You have renounced the covenant you made with your servant.” (v. 39)

In their disappointment and confusion, the people wonder if they can even trust God. With David as their anointed king, it would seem like God was already fulfilling promises. So, why would God choose to reverse it all? The problem, we learn, isn’t so much about God’s absence as it is God’s timing. Stan Mast says it this way, “With God, it is never a question of if, but of when. We may be confused and angry about God’s timing, but we should never doubt God’s love and faithfulness.”

Faithful God, teach us to trust in you and in your timing. Remind us of the love and the life you gave us at the cross, where you went down into darkness and death. Help us to know that when we are hurting, you go with us in our suffering. Give us hope and patience, knowing you love us. Amen.

06/22/2026

Rev. Dawn Quame, M.Div. 2005
Chaplain, Madison Healthcare Services, Madison, MN
St. John's, Marietta, MN, St. Paul's, Nassau, MN and Louisburg Lutheran, Louisburg, MN

Jeremiah 28:5-9

Jeremiah wasn’t the most popular guy in Jerusalem. When he insisted on speaking the truth about the coming destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, the people would not listen. Long before Jesus ever spoke of family divisions and taking up the cross to follow, Jeremiah was showing us what it looks like to serve God with one’s entire life. He lamented to God about the resistance he faced, but he still acknowledged God’s relentless presence, knowing that in the end God would prevail.

Of course, we can’t all be like Jeremiah. We aren’t all equipped with the resources or gifts to shake things up the way he did. However, we are all called to serve God in some way. Luther Seminary Professor Cameron Howard points this out, saying “But the world also needs leaders—from priests and prophets to kings and presidents, preachers and teachers, friends and influencers—who tell the truth.” The question is, in what ways is God calling you to serve?

God, you are all about the truth. Help us to put our trust in you and to listen to you as you ask us to sometimes speak hard truths to those who don’t want to listen. Break open our hearts as well to seek you out and to serve you throughout our lives. Amen.

06/19/2026

Pastor Young Chung, M.SM, ’02, M.Div., ‘16

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Lombard, IL

Matthew 10:29–33

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father… So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Jesus reminds us that even the smallest and most easily overlooked are seen by God. If God cares for sparrows, then we too are not forgotten. We are known and loved completely.

From this place of love, Jesus calls us to courage—to stand with him in a world of competing voices. Faith is not meant to stay hidden; it is meant to be lived. It is personal, but never private. When fear, ridicule, or shame tries to silence us, Jesus speaks a stronger truth: no one else defines your worth—only God does.

So remember: you are seen, you are known, and you are held by Christ—and that gives courage to speak, stand, and live your faith as a child of God.

Gracious God, when we feel small, help us remember that we are seen and known by you. Give us courage to stand firm in faith, even when we feel pressure or fear. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

06/18/2026

Pastor Young Chung, M.SM, ’02, M.Div., ‘16

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Lombard, IL

Matthew 10:24-28

Fear is natural when we feel exposed or vulnerable. We often protect ourselves by hiding parts of our lives—our doubts, struggles, even our faith. But Jesus points to a deeper truth: “Nothing is covered up …that will not become known” (26). This is not a threat, but a promise. What is rooted in God will come to light.

I was reminded of the Johari Window from a workshop on Emotional Intelligence and Human Relations. It describes a “hidden area” of what we keep to ourselves and an “open area” of what is shared and known.
Jesus invites movement from hidden to open: “What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light.”

In a culture that often keeps faith private, Jesus calls us to live openly and courageously. Because we are fully known and fully loved by God, we can live more honestly with God, ourselves, and one another—moving from hiddenness into light, not for shame, but for freedom.

Gracious God, you know us completely and love us fully. Where we are afraid, give us courage. Where we hide, draw us into your light. Help us to live our faith openly and faithfully. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

06/17/2026

Pastor Young Chung, M.SM, ’02, M.Div., ‘16

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Lombard, IL

Romans 6:1b-11

Paul is doing something quite sophisticated in Romans 6. “Should we continue in sin in order that grace may increase?” His rhetorical question anticipates his rejection of such faulty reasoning. “By no means!” comes his forceful response, and then he continues, “How can we who died to sin go on living in it?” Here he shifts from argument to identity. He is not just correcting behavior; he is reminding believers who they are in Christ.
“Do you not know?” He appeals to what they already share—baptism. “Baptized into Christ” is vivid, participatory language. In baptism we are joined to Christ’s death and life, given a new identity as children of God.

In simple terms, Paul is saying: live as who you are—God’s child. Live not of the world, but in the world, shaped by the grace into which you have been baptized.

Gracious God, you have claimed us as your children through our baptism. By your grace, free us from sin and make us alive to you. Help us to live each day in the new life you have given us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

06/16/2026

Pastor Young Chung, M.SM, ’02, M.Div., ‘16

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Lombard, IL

Psalm 69:7-10 [11-15] 16-18

The psalmist declares, “For your sake I have suffered reproach,” pointing to faithful suffering—pain that comes from devotion to God. Zeal for God’s house has not brought comfort, but misunderstanding, rejection, and even isolation. Sometimes our struggles come from our own mistakes, but at other times, like for the psalmist, faithfulness itself is costly.

The language is heavy—shame, scorn, and alienation—even from family and community. Many know this feeling when standing for truth or living out faith. Yet the psalm does not end in despair. In the midst of “deep waters,” the psalmist cries out in prayer, trusting that God hears and will act, even when God seems distant.

When faithfulness feels costly, this psalm invites us to name our pain honestly, to keep praying, and to trust in God’s presence. Even in suffering, God sees, God hears, and God answers in steadfast love—and Jesus himself has walked this path before us and knows what we are going through.

Faithful God, for your sake, we sometimes bear reproach and feel alone. When trouble surrounds us, hear our prayers and draw near in your steadfast love. Rescue us and remind us we are never alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

06/15/2026

Pastor Young Chung, M.SM, ’02, M.Div., ‘16

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Lombard, IL

Jeremiah 20:7–13

I was struck by the opening words of the reading: “O Lord, you have enticed me, and I was enticed.” They carry deep emotion. Jeremiah makes it clear that everything began with God—a call so strong he could not resist, almost as if he were saying, “You persuaded me, Lord,” or even, “You deceived me.” It reveals the tension of his calling—caught between God’s difficult message and a people unwilling to hear it. He had tried to remain silent, but God’s word burned within him like fire, and he could not hold it in. He kept going because he trusted that God would deliver.

I can relate. I feel called to preach, and it is tempting to say only what people want to hear. Yet something stirs within me—I cannot stay quiet. God’s word compels me.

Don’t we all feel this tension at times—in our congregation, community, and beyond—between speaking truth and softening the message? Still, we hold onto God’s promise and keep going.

Gracious and persistent God, you call us even when your call feels heavy. Like Jeremiah, we resist, yet your word burns within us and cannot be silenced. Give us courage to speak your truth. Turn our fear into trust and our silence into faithful witness. Amen.

06/12/2026

Paul H. Moessner, D.Min. 2004
Retired, Omaha, Nebraska

Matthew 9:35 – 10:8 [9-23]

As migrants from western Europe moved across the North American continent, conflict between those wanting open rangeland and those building fences to protect their property and crops became heated, even deadly. The second portion of our gospel seems not to help.

To be sure, we hear of and pray for persons in other cultures being persecuted because they trust in Jesus. In our culture, we have to consider if the flock thinks liberty means doing it my way. What words are wolves using to distract sheep from Jesus? Do conflicts arise within households—of family or of faith—because we think we can ignore some of Jesus’ words and still call ourselves Christian?

May our difficult questions find guidance as we trust that only God gets to describe the vastness of God's Pasture. Only God gets to define who belongs in the Creator’s infinite, eternally gracious hand.

Thank you, O God, for the persons who help us through the puzzling questions of faith. Give us humble and confident focus to work for the truth of the extent of your unending grace. Amen.

06/11/2026

Paul H. Moessner, D.Min. 2004
Retired, Omaha, Nebraska

Matthew 9:35-10:8 9 [9-23]

Perhaps Jesus’ journey passed from pasturelands to fields of grain. Different images, yet the same creator God. Perhaps Jesus saw persons wounded by religious leaders who misused community for the sake of power. Perhaps Jesus saw persons longing for religious teaching that inspired authentic faith, life-giving hope, and lasting peace. Jesus’ perceptions of the crowds around him—then and now—invite those first disciples and us to pray, and then to do something.

To be sure, this reading invites questions. Why did Jesus limit where the disciples were to go? What does casting out demons look like in our day? And then we consider again this week’s key question: How vast is God’s pasture and who decides who gets to be included in that pasture? We get to hear answers to these questions and prayers in Jesus’ final words in Matthew’s Gospel, “All authority is given to me! Go!”

Thank you, O God, for the persons you sent to show me your love for me, too. Open my heart, transform my will, so that the persons you send my way this day, may see in me that you love them, too. Amen.

Address

2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, MN
55108

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when God Pause posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Place Of Worship

Send a message to God Pause:

Shortcuts

Share

Category