Lamb of God Lutheran Church, Slidell

09/07/2026

“New Memories…..Today”
Growing Together in God’s Grace”
Devotion #10

It wasn’t the way I wanted it to be. My dad was terminally ill and hospitalized. I wanted to relive the days when dad was well and revisit the times we went sailing together, fishing together, and simply enjoyed watching a good baseball game at the park. Those days, however, were now gone; but rather than brooding about the past being gone (like I was busy brooding) my dad suggested we turn on the TV in his hospital room and watch a baseball game together.
Dad’s idea proved to be very meaningful to me over the next years. That afternoon watching the ball game together created a new memory for us to enjoy, and, as it turned out, my dad would pass away into glory the very next day.
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118) The Lord has given us this day to enjoy our loved ones, His abiding presence, and the making of new memories, as different as those memories may be from years gone by.
With confidence in His care, we seize these moments and this day with our loved ones. We commend ourselves and our loved ones into His care. Through His gracious presence we open our hearts to enjoy the fullness of these moments with our loved ones as He makes new memories for us, even as we look to our joyous heavenly reunion which will know no end.
“Let each day begin with prayer, praise, and adoration. On the Lord cast every care; He is your salvation.” (Lutheran Worship #483)
Dear Lord, grant to me the faith and the courage of faith to see the blessings of this very day and to embrace my loved ones with Your comfort, assurance, and promise of eternal life in heaven. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Pastor Case

09/05/2026

Oh Come…….Let us Worship the Lord!

09/04/2026

“Moved by Divine Love” a devotion from Pastor Case
In my semi-retirement years, I still do a considerable amount of driving. Over these years and miles, I have learned to take special precautions when following behind or passing pick-up trucks toting loads of household or yard paraphernalia. The loads on most trucks look secure, but on several other trucks (Have you seen them?) those loads are not well secured at all. Those loads often shift dramatically, and at times some of those loads tumble out and bounce along the road. This especially seems to occur when the truck hits a bump, encounters a sharp corner, or attempts to conquer a steep incline.
Maybe it was my anxiety about following behind unsecured loads that riveted my attention recently on a slogan written on the back of a commercial moving van. The message read, “We move things that matter.” That message announced that these movers take extra care in handling, packing, securing, and transporting each piece of cargo with which they have been entrusted. “We care,” the movers were announcing, “and you can trust us to safely and carefully move your belongings. They matter to us.”
God is also in the “moving” business when you stop and think about it. Oh, He doesn’t directly concern Himself with moving couches, refrigerators, chairs, or tables. Rather, His moving activities are focused on moving people. Much like the movers’ slogan I mentioned, God also announces, “I move things (people!) that matter to Me.”
But how does God move us? What does He use to move us to know, believe, trust, and take comfort in Him? What does He use to move us to worship Him and to serve other people?
God could employ threats or fears to move us, and deservedly so. He could also employ guilt and shame to extort good works from us and even worship. The world is certainly familiar with such leverage, isn’t it? Perhaps you even know of people who occasionally (or frequently) resort to such means – even in so-called close relationships.
However, the Lord employs an entirely different tool to move us. He employs His gracious mercy. Through His love He accomplishes what no threats could ever bring about in our hearts. Through His compassion He secures us safely throughout our life’s journey as His people, even when we face steep inclines, bumps, abrupt curves, or any other potentially hazardous conditions.
The Lord moves what matters to Him, and you matter most of all. He continually embraces you in love. He teaches you that His love “keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil, rejoices in the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13) Yes, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God.” (1 John 3)
Pastor Case

09/04/2026

09/03/2026

Joy Charity Benefit September 12th 10-2
Beneficiaries: CCC, STARC, Slidell Animal Assistance League

09/03/2026

All Is Forgiven

Devotion #9 in the Bible series “Still Growing in God ‘s Grace,” a devotion from Cal Behrens, Commissioned Minister - LCMS and member of The Village Church in Lacombe, Louisiana

I am a retired Lutheran principal who now supervises students in an after-school care program. Recently I happened to overhear my students playing a new game they call, “Listen to me, but don’t judge.” The game works this way. The students share their stories of mischief, silliness, or embarrassment with their classmates, but the classmates promise not to judge their peers or to share these tales with others. The students do not seek forgiveness, just sympathetic ears and, curiously, the admiration of their peers for doing such things! The game sounds pretty good, except for a few things. There is no forgiveness for the deeds, no one really keeps the “secrets” for long, and no one fully trusts their classmates to forget what was shared.
It may sound like a silly game but imagine if we regarded God in the same way. Imagine all the impure words, thoughts, and deeds that would be hanging over our heads and the ongoing threat that sooner or later God would have His justified reckoning with us. Under those terms, over the course of your life and mine that list would grow very, very long, wouldn’t it?
However, our Lord handles our sins and failures differently. Through the prophet Jeremiah He promised to forgive and forget our sins. Through Jesus He kept that promise. He brings His forgiveness to us each day and assures us all is forgiven and all is forgotten. What divine relief to celebrate and to share!
“Chief of sinners though I be, Jesus shed His blood for me…” (Lutheran Worship #285)
Dear Lord, Thank you for Your forgiveness and Your forgetfulness through Jesus. There are no games with You; only grace and life. Through my words and deeds, please bring that Good News to others in need. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Calvin Behrens, Commissioned Minister-LCMS, retired Lutheran Principal and member of the Village Church in Lacombe, LA

09/01/2026

The Secret of Giving Thanks
Devotion 9 in the series “Growing Together in God’s Grace” by Pastor Case

Growing up with my brothers, my parents, and my grandparents, Thanksgiving Day was celebrated in a distinctly traditional way. After we gathered around the table in anticipation of the big meal, dad would go around the table and ask each person what they were thankful for that year. As a child, giving thanks usually made some sense: you received what you wanted and so you gave thanks. No problem there. But there were some years when I basically found myself faking the giving of thanks. These were the times when things didn’t go as I had hoped – illness in the family, aging grandparents, struggles at school, dad losing his job…
Perhaps you, too, struggle with the notion of giving thanks in all circumstances. Maybe as you care for the older lambs in your life, or wrestle with financial burdens, or with work burdens, or with your own health setbacks your days are filled with a sense of emptiness or exhaustion. In those circumstances how can you sincerely give thanks?
St. Paul tells us that there truly is a secret to giving thanks. Here’s his beloved assurance for you and me: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4)
The “secret” of giving thanks does not lie within us, but in our Lord: ever-faithful, ever-resourceful, and ever-loving. Yes, He’s there with you right now and always will be.
“Thanks we give and adoration for Your Gospel’s joyful sound.” (Lutheran Worship #218)
Blessed and ever-present Lord, accept the thanks I bring to You today. Through Your tender mercies strengthen my faith in You. Lift me by Your grace to look to with assurance to You in all circumstances. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Pastor Case

08/29/2026

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down,let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!” Psalm59:6

08/28/2026

“God Remembers You”. A devotion from Pastor Case
I recently received several emails informing me that my “high school peers” allegedly want to leave messages for me on a website. For a monthly fee I will be allowed to access that website and unlock the ways they remember me as I was over fifty-five years ago!
In all honesty I don’t have a need to know or really want to know what these alleged classmates remember about me when I was in high school. My high school years were decidedly less than stellar – lazy in my studies, clumsy in most relationships, and even physically awkward. I have no trouble at all recalling those troublesome memories on my own, much less wanting now to pay money to have these troublesome memories confirmed. Who needs remembrances like that? Humbug! Perhaps you’ve received similar overtures coaxing you to revisit your less than stellar life from yesteryear. Good luck with that.
God also issues an invitation of sorts along a somewhat similar line. He invites us to visit His own specific memories concerning us. However, there is no need for us to be suspicious about His invitation or fearful of His recollections. His invitation comes with divine guarantees of mercy and grace.
First, He assures you that His invitation is not a scam but is instead His genuine invitation to visit the wonders of His love. Furthermore, there is no fee that will be levied upon you to access His remembrances; that cost has been fully paid for you by Jesus. In addition, His memories are not generated by technological trickery or by imposters; His memories of His walk with you are generated by His grace and truth.
He recalls His once and for all times deliverance of you through His Son. He recalls His promise to forgive and to forget your sins, to bestow upon you His gifts of peace and eternal life, and to abide faithfully at your side. He recalls His pledge to love you – today, and, indeed, forevermore.
Your Lord will never forget you, and He invites you to visit His memorable words and deeds on your behalf. You will find these living testimonies waiting for you in the Scriptures; you will find these in Holy Baptism; and you will find these in His Holy Supper. His memorable promises are inscribed upon your heart by His Spirit’s authorship – the thoughts, words, and deeds of love He has had and will always have for you.
Finally, your Lord continues to make new memories of grace with you each day. In doing so He bolsters your faith in Him and gives you the joy to celebrate anew His trustworthy remembrances and His steadfast love. Yes, “He recalls His promises and leads His people forth in joy with shouts of thanksgiving. Alleluia! Alleluia!” (Psalm 105, Isaiah 55)
Pastor Case

08/27/2026

“Still Growing in God’s Grace” Devotion 8 from Pastor Case
“Speak, O Lord, Your Servant Listens”
As the Lord in His wisdom continues to add days, months, and years to our respective lives here on earth, through faith in His goodness we join the psalmist and declare, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118)
However, in all honesty, often the latter days and months and years in our lives on earth can be accompanied by some slowing in our physical and mental abilities. These changes can become distressing for us. We may begin to question God’s wisdom, our remaining skills, and even our worth as His people.
However, one gift that remains over the years is sometimes overlooked or even minimized. This wondrous gift is listening. Although sometimes underestimated or even forgotten, the gift of listening to others is one of the greatest gifts of love we have to offer.
As God’s people we listen attentively to His Word of love for us in His Bible, in Baptism, and in Holy Communion. As God’s people we take comfort in knowing the Lord listens to us – our words, our thoughts, our sighs. And as God’s people we also lend our ears to others and listen attentively to them.
The Lord is at work through us in wondrous ways as we listen attentively to others. No fancy or sophisticated words are required of you to care in this special way. Your presence and your attentiveness to others as they share their words, their hopes, and their burdens are precious gifts of God you bring to them today. Yes, this is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice in it!
“Speak, O Lord, Your servant listens, let Your word to me come near; newborn life and spirit give me, let each promise still my fear…” (Lutheran Worship #339)
Dearest Lord, thank You for listening to me. Refresh my soul and continue to use me as your chosen listener to others. Thank You for the gift of listening You have placed tenderly into my life. Give me joy in serving as I, Your child, listen to others. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Pastor Case