Peace Lutheran Church - College Station, TX


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Nelson's Daily Devotions * Written by Pastor Kerry Nelson of Covenant Lutheran Church, Houston * Page-Long Daily Devotions * Commentary & Prayer * Sample of Kerry Nelson's Devotions			Subscription info for Kerry Nelson's Devotions To receive the devotions via your email send request to : Kerry Nelson OR access daily devotion each day via website: Nelson's Daily Devotions
Periodical Devotions in Print
Christ in Our Home * Booklet subscription, small size * Published quarterly * Daily devotions * Lectionary-based * Also available in large print * Free copies in our narthex at Peace * Or order a subscription through Augsburg Fortress 1-800-426-0115, ext 639			Word in Season * Booklet subscription, small size * Daily devotions for those more new to faith * Published quarterly * Order a subscription through Augsburg Fortress 1-800-426-0115, ext 639
The Home Altar * For Families with elementary-aged children * Interactive devotional booklet * Published Quarterly * Free copies in our narthex at Peace * Or order a subscription through Augsburg Fortress 1-800-426-0115, ext 639			Portals of Prayer * Booklet subscription, small size * Published quarterly * Daily devotions * Order a subscription through Augsburg Fortress 1-800-426-0115, ext 639
Other Devotions Worth Your Time
Upper Room Ministries * Upper Room on line & print * Devo'zine - devotions for Teenagers * Alive Now< * Weavings

Kerry Nelson Daily Devotions Sample Good morning. Welcome to Wednesday "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:5-11 Jesus did not count equality with God as something to be exploited...what a wonderful image for drawing a distinction between life as it is and life as it ought to be. We're taught in so many subtle and not so subtle ways that it is a good thing to strive to move up in the world. Caught as we are in that ancient "we want to be like God" quest, we consider it a virtue to move up. To move up in education, to move up to the top floors in office buildings, to move up in market share, to move up in responsibility. The higher we climb, the more perks we get. The irony is that the same upward bound quest that brings the best out of us also steals the best out of life. Houston is reeling today in the aftermath of the initial shocks of a major energy company spiraling into the ground. Over 4000 people lost their jobs yesterday in Houston alone. Retirement savings are decimated. The energy market is shaky. Why? Because of greed, ambition and fraud. The upward quest was soiled with exploitation. Israel is reeling today as the quest for human freedom gets lost in violence and power plays. The struggle is for control and domination, for exploitation. All are reduced to victims even as all justify their acts of aggression. Jesus emptied himself. He let go. He came to serve, not to be served. He exercised the transformative power of powerlessness. At the end of the day, when all that is powerful has fallen, when all the false gods we chase have been exposed, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. Let us pray: Dear Lord, as the ground beneath us quakes with change, as the symbols of our security are shaken, as we are driven to our knees under the weight of our own powerlessness, come to us. Come to us and show us the path to life. Come to us as we come to you, empty and open. In Jesus' name. Amen.