A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S READ 
California dreamin’? I wouldn’t call this a “dreamy” summer. Far from it - with, for example, both gas prices and traffic climbing back up and COVID restrictions coming round again. Still, it’s not as bad as last summer, is it? Remember all those California fires and the pandemic being in full swing? Let’s not try too hard to recall all that. Yes, as challenging as life in this aching world has been and continues to be especially of late, the Scripture reminds us that there are much better things to think about, meditate on and remind ourselves of. Namely, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8) What an apt verse for these days we’re in, wouldn’t you agree? One simple way to summarize what that passage is asking us to meditate on is to say: “Jesus.” Think about it - true, just, pure, noble. These all best describe Jesus like no other person, place or thing on the planet. “Of good report”? Have you heard the Good News that Jesus loves you and freely sacrificed His innocent blood to grant you forgiveness, life and salvation? I know you’ve heard that good report before. And I invite you to hear (or read about) it again within the pages of this special summer edition of our Words of Peace newsletter. This month you’ll hear about the “Masks of God.” Did you know that God wears masks, too? Check it out and everything else that is lovely and worthy to peruse in this midsummer night’s read.

Coming Up In the Next 30 Days...

Click HERE to see our entire yearly calendar
Click for the latest Lutheran Witness
DAILY VERSE