Zion Lutheran Church and School

Zion Lutheran Church and School We are a Christ-Centered family that cares for your daily needs of body and soul, reaching out to sha

02/14/2024

It’s Valentine’s Day. And it’s Ash Wednesday. That seems like a strange combination, doesn’t it? Love and ashes. Romance and dust. What do they have to do with each other?

Everything. In fact, it’s a gift from God to get to think about them both on the same day. To truly understand the grace of God, you and I need to see what happens when ashes meet love.

We get confused and think love is all about beauty and romance. You love someone because they are beautiful. You love someone because they fill you up. You love someone because they’re good to you.

But when they stop being beautiful… When they stop filling you up… When they stop giving you what you want… Then what? Then you move on and decide to love someone else, right? How shallow we are!

Love is different. True love is different. God’s love is different. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Notice two truths that powerful little verse declares: 1) We are sinners. We are dust. 2) God loves us. Christ died for us. Those two things shouldn’t go together. It should be impossible for them both to be true. “Love sinners? Die for sinners? No way!” Yes way. It’s called grace. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

The true love of God doesn’t depend on how beautiful you are. Actually, God’s grace is what makes you beautiful. The true love of God doesn’t depend on how well you fill God up. Actually, God’s grace is what fills your heart and soul. The true love of God doesn’t depend on you doing what God wants. Actually, God’s grace is what compels us to live for him. You are lovely, because you are loved by Jesus.

So today I hope you make time to think about both: Love and ashes. Confess your sins. Repent of them. Fall on your knees before God. And rejoice at the true love of Jesus, who takes dust and ashes and makes them into the children of God. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Love and ashes. Jesus and sinners. What a combination!

https://upsidedownsavior.home.blog/2024/02/14/when-ashes-meet-love/

02/14/2024

“Why?” Do you ever ask that? I read a story in a devotion book that really hit home in my heart. It said:

“A visitor at a school for the deaf was writing questions on the board for the children. One of the questions he wrote was this: ‘Why has God made me able to hear and made you deaf?’

That shocking question hit the children like a cruel slap on the face. They sat paralyzed, pondering the dreadful word, ‘Why?’ And then a little girl arose.

With her lip trembling and her eyes swimming with tears, she walked up to the board. Picking up the chalk, she wrote with a steady hand these precious words: ‘Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do’ (Matthew 11:26). What a reply! Why? Because this is what my loving Father was pleased to do.”

I bet you ask that same question, “Why?... Why me?... Why her?... Why not them?...” That question tears at your heart. It brings tears to your eyes. “Why?” So often, there isn’t an answer.

But here’s one thing you can be absolutely sure of: “Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.” Whatever “why?” you are asking today isn’t just bad luck. It’s not chance. It is the work of God your loving Father in heaven. You can trust him, even when you don’t understand why. God your Father loves you more than you can imagine. He proved that when he sent his Son Jesus to die on the cross for you.

When the “Why?” comes, learn to content your soul with Jesus’ words: “Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.”

https://upsidedownsavior.home.blog/2024/02/13/why-3/

01/15/2024

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went …

12/25/2023

Today on Christmas Eve, I pray you don’t miss two of the most important words of the Christmas story: “To you.” When the angel announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds, he said, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:11). “A Savior has been born… the Messiah… the Lord… to you!” The best part of Christmas is that Jesus was born “to you.”

To you whose heart is broken.
To you who feel all alone.
To you who can’t silence the regret.
To you who don’t know how you’re going to make it through today.
To you who wonder if it’s really all true.
To you who long to be loved.
To you who don’t deserve it.
To you!

Don’t miss it today. Don’t let anything distract you from what Christmas is really all about. Go to church and hear God’s message to you. Open your Bible to Luke chapter 2 and read about the Savior born to you. Rejoice that no matter what you’re facing in your life, no matter how unsurmountable the odds, nothing can change the truth that “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you!”

Merry Christmas!

12/14/2023

In many civilizations, the king’s coming is announced by trumpets and a herald shouting...

12/14/2023

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains a…

12/14/2023

The incredible story of God's upside-down grace to us in Jesus Christ.

11/01/2023

It’s hard to say something that is true about everyone...

11/01/2023

The world is so chaotic. It seems like so many things are falling apart. Do you need a rock to stand on? Do you need a fortress to surround you? Do you need a safe place for your soul to rest? Read these words from Psalm 31:

In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
Free me from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hands I commit my spirit;
redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth. (Psalm 31:1-5)

God is our Rock and our Fortress. His love and promises to you through Jesus never change, even as the world does. God is the Rock you stand on. God is the Fortress who surrounds you. Jesus is the One who gives our souls rest. Words like these from the Bible inspired Martin Luther’s famous Reformation hymn:

1. A mighty fortress is our God, A trusty shield and weapon;
He helps us free from ev’ry need That has us now o’ertaken.
The old evil foe Now means deadly woe;
Deep guile and great might Are his dread arms in fight;
On earth is not his equal.

2. With might of ours can naught be done; Soon were our loss effected.
But for us fights the valiant one Whom God himself elected.
You ask, “Who is this?” Jesus Christ it is,
The almighty Lord. And there’s no other God;
He holds the field forever.

3. Though devils all the world should fill, All eager to devour us,
We tremble not, we fear no ill; They shall not overpow’r us.
This world’s prince may still Scowl fierce as he will,
He can harm us none. He’s judged; the deed is done!
One little word can fell him.

4. The Word they still shall let remain, Nor any thanks have for it;
He’s by our side upon the plain With his good gifts and Spirit.
And do what they will—Hate, steal, hurt, or kill—
Though all may be gone, Our victory is won;
The kingdom’s ours forever!

https://upsidedownsavior.home.blog/2023/11/01/our-rock-and-our-fortress/

11/01/2023

It was an impossible situation...

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3360 Nebraska Avenue
Toledo, OH
43607

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Thursday 8am - 5pm
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Sunday 10am - 12pm

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(419) 536-8911

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