Devotional Book - Journey Lutheran Church

Dear friends,
A year and a half ago we began an incredible adventure when we formed Journey
Lutheran Church. We have an exciting vision for God’s mission to reach out to our
community. God can and is doing great things through us. It is exciting to think
about what the future holds. But how are we going to move into that future?
The prophet Isaiah encourages us to “Prepare the way of the Lord, remove every
obstruction” (Isaiah 57). Right now the obstruction keeping us from growing our ministry and realizing our vision is a very large mortgage payment. Our Journey Forward Appeal was created so we could dramatically reduce that mortgage and be better stewards
of our limited resources, using them to reach out with the Gospel instead of paying interest to the bank. We can do this.
The occasion for putting together this devotional book is the Kick-off of our Journey
Forward Appeal. We know that the church is not a building, it is the people; and the appeal will enable us to invest in people, in nurturing their faith journey. To help celebrate
our journey together we have invited a number of our fellow travelers to share their stories. They have been collected here and I invite you to join me in reading one of these
each day for the next few months. Like the disciples who walked together on the road to
Emmaus (Luke 24) may our hearts be warmed as we open the scriptures and discover
Jesus with us, through the body of Christ, his church.
Thank you for the privilege of being called to be your pastor at this exciting time in
the life of our congregation. We have been blessed to be a blessing. There is a wonderful joy that comes with thankfulness and generosity (for a great example of this, read the
scripture passage from 2 Corinthians at the end of this booklet). I am excited for us as a
congregation to be filled with this joy. Happy reading!
Pastor Steve
Day 1
“I was there to hear your borning cry, I’ll be there when you are old,
I rejoiced the day you were baptized to see your life unfold….”
“Borning Cry” is one of my more favorite hymns. The lyrics say it all. The wonder
and awesomeness of God’s love for us – me and you. He is with us from birth through
death. Here to guide and direct if only we allow him to do so. Even if I wander off the
path, he is there to guide me back. My own and very personal cheering section. Like the
hymn lyrics say, “I was there to cheer you on.”
I daily try to live the life, to “talk the talk” and more importantly “walk the walk.”
But unfortunately, because of my sinful self, I step off the path. Once again God is always there and helps me to get back on the path. “I’ll be there to guide you through the
night.” The dark times of one’s life most everyone has experienced at one time or another. But, God is present, and his love for me is still flowing during the dark times as well
as the good times. We are never alone; he is always with us. He has called us out, and by
name. We are his forever, just as described in Isaiah 43.
My experience of God’s love is that it is hard to compare it to most anything here on
earth. The closest that I can compare it to is the love of a parent to their child. While the
child does not always respond and do what is expected of them, the parent’s love does
not stop – it is still there. We are all God’s children. Let him into your life and hang on,
it will be an awesome ride! “When evening gently closes in and you shut your weary
eyes, I’ll be there as I have always been with just one more surprise.”
PRAYER: Father, thank you. Thank you for being there always for me, even when
I step off the path, and not always looking to step back on. You guide me back.
Once again make me your instrument and let your light shine through me so others
may see your love. Amen.
Dave Denson
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Day 2
“Just as I am without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidd’st me come to thee, O Lamb of God I come, I come.
Just as I am thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve,
because thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.”
I start this devotion with a favorite hymn. Music brought me to know scripture and a
music teacher “brought” me (to what was to become) Journey Lutheran.
We grew up, my twin brother and I, the youngest of six children. I always loved the
music and the fellowship of our neighborhood Lutheran church. My mother was a widow with six children in tow. Our church was a place of comfort, safety, friendship, and
song. I loved VBS, my Girl Scout troop met at our church, we had church picnics…it
was a place of comfort as a child.
Later in my life, I again wanted my church to be that place of “comfort.” I was going
through a very troubled time: insecurity, anger, divorce, and a new job. I turned to my
church to find solace and support. Things being what they were, my home church
would not accept my “brokenness.” Feeling utterly rejected, a dear friend/mentor/former
teacher reached out to me and asked me to join her church (formerly Christ the King,
but now Journey Lutheran). That one invitation led me to a place where God could forgive and start to work through me.
It has been many years since those days of rejection and that point when God allowed me to find him. He continues to forgive me and He also continues to love me.
When our congregation became Journey Lutheran, I felt that I truly had come home. It
is a community of believers that has a mission to help others. Journey Lutheran wants to
reach out to those in need, accept those that don’t feel accepted, and to reach out to help
community and world needs. Journey Lutheran wants to live out the words of Jesus.
Journey Lutheran is undergoing a capital campaign to continue
its work. Jim and I are committed to help this happen. We would
encourage you to do the same. We have a wonderful facility that
can become a vehicle for outreach. We fully support our Journey
Forward campaign because we know in our hearts that God’s love
will permeate outside these walls.
(Continued next page)
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PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for this community of faith. We know that
through Journey Lutheran, people will be loved, helped, and find solace when lost.
“Just as I am though tossed about,” I was found through Christ’s love reaching out
to touch me. “O Lamb of God, I come, I come.” Amen.
Deb Welander
Day 3
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life
I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for
me.” (Galatian 2:20)
I was born in the country of Laos during the Vietnam War. My parents were poor,
my dad was abusive and deaf and my mother was quiet and submissive. Growing up as
kid, I had many bully classmates. When I was about 14-years-old the Lao communist
soldiers came and chased us from our village and we were on the run, living in the jungle and hiding in caves for two years. After my mother died I was force to serve and live
with other families; we were all separated from each other, thought that we would never
see each other ever again. All my teenage years I always lived in fear and was on the
run, facing death, sickness, and starvation.
When I got to this country I was in a mess. I missed my family so much that I just
want to die. Only my pillow knows how much I cried because I did not know if my family was dead or still alive at that time. I quit school at the eleventh grade. I decided that
I was going to take a course in machine shop through the Job Corps program, work, and
hopefully make enough money to get married. But God had a better plan for me.
A friend invited me to a prayer night in a neighbor’s house in St. Paul, MN. That night
I was filled with the Holy Spirit and God turn my sadness to joy. All the sadness was
gone and soon after that I heard that my family was still alive.
God gave me a passion to become a pastor, I was 21 years old,
with one more year left to graduate; so I studied very hard, went to
school day and evening to get all the grade points that I missed
since ninth grade. I had 20 grade points and in one year I had to
get 25 more to get a total of 45 in order to graduate. I still do not
know how I was able to graduate, but I did. I graduated in 1984,
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and attended North Central University. I love Jesus and love to read the Bible. I have
brought many people to Jesus. I was sent with two other to Fresno, CA to preach and
invite people to come to an evangelistic event. We brought many gangsters to Jesus,
broken families are mended, the sick were healed, demons were cast out and people
were being filled with the Holy Spirit. The denomination that I served is called United
Christian Liberty Evangelical Church (UCLEC).
I then married Caroyee, my wife, in Fresno, CA; we have one son and three beautiful
daughters. Because I was a pastor we moved a lot. We moved from Fresno, CA to Eau
Claire, WI, back to Modesto, CA, from there to South Carolina and then to La Crosse. I
came to La Crosse in July 1999 to serve as Mission Developer to re-establish a Hmong
ministry. But by the time I got here most of the members had left. In the process of ten
years, we had members come and go, but we never had enough people to sustain the
ministry, so we decided to end close the Hmong ministry in August 2009. After that we
were part of Bridge of Life and now we are with Journey.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, out of all the chaos a better life was waiting for me. I would
be dead if not for you. When I think I am nothing, you make me something out of
nothing. When I think that there is no way out, you make the way. When I had
given up on life, you never gave up on me. I think that the Vietnam War was bad,
but many good things came out of this war. I couldn’t thank you enough for the
brave American soldiers who died, so I and many of the Hmong would have their
freedom. We gained more respect from the Laotians, before the war Hmong people
were really mistreated by the Laotians. Without the war I would not be here. The
war brought me and the Hmong here to experiences of your love and freedom. I
pray that with Journey Lutheran, we are like trash that is thrown in the garbage;
we are a mess, and all we can do is to offer our mess before you so you can create
something new. In Journey Lutheran Church renew us and revive us. Fill us with
the water of life, the fullness of your Holy Spirit, to give us the courage and
strength to boldly move toward the purpose that you call all of us to do. Amen.
Houa Moua
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Day 4
‘”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not
to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”’ Jeremiah 29:11
When I was asked to write a devotion my initial response was excitement; I was honored. Then what felt like at least a million ideas of what to write about popped into my
head. What should I write? Which scripture should I use? I was raised Catholic. Should I
use a hymn? There are so many that I love. The anxiety mounted!
I have been practicing Mindfulness meditation for about nine months to help with my
anxiety, so I prayed for inspiration as part of my meditation. The journey that brought me
back to church kept entering my thoughts. Bill and I are part of a church family that is
welcoming, supportive and nurturing. For the first time in my life I have invited others to
join me for worship.
Burdens can become blessings. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Don’t be
pushed by your problems; be led by your dreams. “
PRAYER: I invite you to take a few moments, pull up the Taizé Community
Choir’s “Lord Hear My Prayer” on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=xZ9ycGq1pW4), breath, be still, and focus your prayer with a mindful awareness.
O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer. When I call answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer. Come and listen to me.
Angie Ratekin
Day 5
“Children of the heav’nly Father, Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in Heaven, Such a refuge e’er was given.”
words by Karolina W. Sandell-Berg – a Swedish hymn.
I visited Karolina’s birthplace while traveling in Sweden as a
child. My father’s parents lived near Karolina’s home and it was a
big honor for them to introduce me to her home and song. My
grandparents emigrated from Sweden.
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In a time when I was searching for my greater purpose in life, I stumbled across Pastor Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? In it,
I found a passage that stuck with me and motivated me to get involved in our church’s
youth group:
“Time is your most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it. You can
make more money, but you can't make more time. When you give someone your time,
you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back. Your time is your
life. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time.
It is not enough to just say relationships are important; we must prove it by investing
time in them. Words alone are worthless. "My children, our love should not be just
words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action." Relationships take
time and effort, and the best way to spell love is T-I-M-E.”
As I reprioritized my life to spend TIME in more important areas, I found providing
an inviting educational forum for youth gave me great fulfillment. And, our Church
facility is a wonderful facility to gather. I can remember when we invested in expanding
the original facility to add educational rooms. We knew if we built it, more youth would
come. And now, we ask everyone to recommit to the support of our Church and help
retire the mortgage. Doing so will allow us to invest more in people and in our ministries.
PRAYER: I adopted this prayer as our family meal prayer during special occasions.
It stirs in me, again, to remember Why I Am Here. It is a Thanksgiving prayer from
Dear Abby's newspaper column, and written by her mother Pauline Phillips:
Oh, Heavenly Father, We thank thee for food and remember the hungry.
We thank thee for health and remember the sick.
We thank thee for freedom and remember the enslaved.
Stir us to service, that thy gifts to us may be used for others. Amen.
Bruce Anderson
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Day 6
“…Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt away,
oh, let me from this day be wholly thine.”
I grew up in a Norwegian Lutheran Family. My Grandmother, who came from
Norway when she was 8 years old, lived with us. During the last 2 years of her life she
was bedridden, and it was up to my sisters and me to entertain Grandma. So we played
church. My sister always got to be the preacher because she was the oldest and could
read. We would sing songs, tell the stories we learned in Sunday school, and recite bible
verses. Grandma loved to hear us sing. Her favorite song was “My Faith Looks Up to
Thee. Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior Divine…. We learned to sing that song about the
same time we learned to say table grace, both in Norwegian and English. This was the
beginning of my faith journey.
Three years in a row I attended Luther Crest Bible Camp at Alexandria, MN. During
one of those years, our guest Bible Study leader was Evangelist Allan Lee. Rev. Lee
spent most of his life in a wheel chair due to polio, and I couldn’t get over the fact that
he was always so happy. My faith grew a lot that summer.
I left home in January of 1955 for the big city of Minneapolis. One year I lived in a
house with 6 other girls (we shared 1 bathroom). Some of these girls had not grown up
like I had, and my faith was tested many times that year.
Then I met Doug, and we were married in 1958. During our 55 years of marriage we
have belonged to 10 different churches in 4 different states. Every time we moved we
would join a church and get involved. Belonging to a church was very important to us,
and with each involvement, my faith grew.
Our 3rd grandchild was born in 1984 and again my faith was tested. Baby Jessica was
born with the Trisome 18 Syndrome. She was given 6 months to live, but baby Jessica
lived for 2 ½ years, tube fed the whole time. I became one of her respite care givers.
Through her, my faith was strengthened and I am so thankful she was a part of my life.
Last year I had emergency surgery and the doctors told me if I
hadn’t gotten to the hospital when I did, I would have died within
5 to 10 hours. Once again my faith was tested and strengthened.
God was with me through that whole ordeal.
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PRAYER: Dear God, thank you for bringing me to Journey Lutheran Church. I
am so glad to be a part of this church family and I pray that the Journey Forward
campaign will strengthen the faith of those involved and that our membership will
continue to grow. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Carole Myhre
Day 7
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed
you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.” John 15:16
As a Charter member of Christ the King our darkest time occurred three years ago
this spring, with the loss of our pastor and a portion of the congregation that followed
him to a different worship setting. We were hurt, confused and scared of what the future
would bring to those of us who remained.
Then, in the midst of despair a miracle happened, another Lutheran Church with significant issues that threatened their survival came into our church life. They brought
with them a Pastor and a congregation brimming with energy, diversity, boundless optimism, a commitment to serve others and a love of Christ. The union of these two congregations has been the most significant event in my church life. We sense a feeling of
joy and sharing now that was sadly absent before. I want this to continue.
We have a very unique congregation with many different talents and strengths. We
also have a place of worship that is the foundation of this work; we owe it to ourselves
and to future generations to maintain this church, so we can continue to further this ministry. To this end I will do all that I can to continue his work.
PRAYER: Lord, help us to see the future, a future bright with the prospect of
helping others see your love. Help us overcome the obstacles that limit our ministry
to others. Help us, so that we can fully share what You have
given us, the Love of all mankind and a promise of eternal
life. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
John Haese
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Day 8
“I’ve been here before, now, here I am again,
Standing at the door, Praying You’ll let me back in.
Turn me around, pick me up, undo what I’ve become.
Bring me back to the place of forgiveness and grace.
I need You, I need Your help, I can’t do this myself.
You’re the only one who can undo what I’ve become.”
“Undo” by Rush of Fools
The year was 2005. I had just recently been divorced after a 28 year marriage, my 89
-year-old mother had passed away, my youngest son wouldn’t speak to me because I
had left his father, and I felt so alone.
I have always had a good relationship with God. I grew up in a Catholic family
where our church was the center of our world (my mom even taught in the school attached to our church, and I was in her 4th grade class). We went to church every day
during the school year, and sometimes even in the summer. After I graduated from high
school, I pulled away from going to church – guess I thought I was showing my independence. I still prayed and talked to God but thought I didn’t need to go to church to
do that. When I married and had children, I felt a longing to find a faith community –
I felt such a strong pull to do that. I wanted my children to be raised with God in their
daily lives. I found a church that we all liked and felt welcomed in – I eventually became the church secretary. Our family became very involved with youth group, Ministers of Communion, Leadership Board, fundraisers, and many other activities.
When my marriage came to an end, I again pulled away from church. I suddenly felt
alone and lost and wasn’t sure what direction to go. A couple of years after my divorce
I met and started dating Forrest. One of the most important things that we had in common was our Faith. Neither of us felt welcomed in the church that we had been attending before we met each other. I wasn’t allowed to participate because I was divorced.
We began a search to find a new Faith Home for the two of us.
One night when I was at his house there was a knock at the
door and a gentleman was there telling us about a new church in
Holmen and inviting us to attend. He was so warm and genuine –
you could tell by just that short visit that he was a man of deep
faith. That man was Pastor Steve from Bridge of Life. We decided to give it a try.
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The church itself was in a building that also housed a Bank. It seemed kind of weird
to me, but as I sat and listened to the music and Pastor Steve’s words, I knew that I had
found a new home. The hymn they were singing was “Undo” from Rush of Fools. The
words just spoke to me. “Bring me back to the place of forgiveness and grace.” As I sat
and listened, tears ran down my cheeks – I knew I was where I belonged.
Today, my husband and I are full-fledged members of Journey Lutheran. Journey
Lutheran is definitely “a place of forgiveness and grace.” Pastor Steve and his wife, Diane, are an amazing couple who truly “live” their faith. Pastor Steve works so hard and
does so much, but he isn’t alone – there are many others that do much behind the scenes
to make everything run smoothly. I feel so fortunate to have found this wonderful faith
community and to be a part of it. As we enter the Capital Campaign I know my husband
and I will talk and pray about what we feel we can offer to help keep this wonderful
church alive and thriving. I hope and encourage you to do the same.
PRAYER: Lord, You have been so good to me in helping me find “a place of forgiveness and grace” at Journey Lutheran. Help us to continue to live out our faith
by always being welcoming to those who walk through our doors looking and
searching for a place to call “home.” In Christ’s name, Amen.
Catherine Moe
Day 9
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John 1:4
I grew up in a very religious home with a loving family. I thought I was doing what
God wanted because I was doing everything that my parents asked me to do with the
church. I was a part of the Catholic Church but felt something lacking in the youth programming, so I joined my friends at the Methodist church for many youth fundraisers,
gatherings, social time, etc. We attended a weekend in Northern Minnesota at a convention called JUMY’s- Junior United Methodist Youth. As I listened
to a singer perform in front of a crowd of thousands of youths, his
words really hit me hard. His name was Michael W. Smith.
Since that time in the early 90’s, I began listening to Christian
music, even though it may not have been cool while I was in high
school or college. I never stopped listening to the music, but I
knew I needed to find a way to be closer to God. The answer my
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mom gave me to all my questions was, “Just believe.” I didn’t know what to do with
my faith journey. That is, until I met my wife. I finally had someone to go to church
with while in college. I know now to “just believe.” God works in mysterious ways;
you just don’t always know until after the fact. We have moved six times in our ten
years of marriage, but I have been lucky to always find Christian music no matter where
we have lived; 98.5 KTIS in Minneapolis/St Paul, Life 102.5 in Madison, WI, K-Love
Radio while I travel nationally for work, and currently 93.7 WWIB out of Eau Claire.
My wife and I wanted to find what type of church service, worship, and prayer
worked for our family. We were questioning what our relationship with God would be
like and how our family (with 3 young boys) would be involved. We started doing a
little “Church Shopping” for a year and a half in the Coulee Region. One Saturday afternoon we were sitting at the Kornfest parade and heard Christian music playing and
someone handed me a brochure. I thought nothing of it until a day later, after another
unsuccessful “Church Shopping Trip.” I said, “Where is that brochure? Let’s try that
one.” We started coming to Journey in September of 2011 and are charter members.
Finding ways to find more money to expand our outreach into the community
through this capital campaign is a big deal. It may not seem like much to hand out a
brochure at a parade, but it has changed my family’s life. I can only imagine what a few
extra dollars from each of us can do for someone else in the community that is on their
own “journey” to find a relationship with Jesus Christ. My Grandfather’s favorite scripture states from 3 John 1:4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are
walking in the truth.” Let’s help other souls begin their own faith journey.
PRAYER: Lord, You work in mysterious ways. Thank you for what You have
done for me and my family. Keep Your guiding hand on everyone else that is looking for answers in their faith journey. In your name we pray, AMEN.
Eric Siegel
Day 10
“When (Peter) noticed the strong wind, he became frightened and
started to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me” Matthew 14:30
A man is wandering in the dark until he stumbles off a cliff. As he
is falling, he is fortunate to catch hold of some branch that is anchored to the wall of the cliff. As he hangs there he cries out to the
darkness, " Help! Is anybody out there? Help!"
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Suddenly, a voice answers, " Yes. I'm here. I will help you." With relief and surprise the
clinging man asks, " Who are you? How will you help me?" The voice answers, " I am
God. I want you to let go. I will catch you." “The clinging man pauses for a long time
before he shouts, " Help! Is there anybody ELSE out there?"
Even though I have no idea where I first heard that story, it has always stayed with
me because it so clearly describes my experience of the spiritual life. For each of us,
there comes a moment of "letting go" or surrender.
Whether it is the experience of loss, or failure, or some similar painful predicament,
we find ourselves at the end of our rope. We no longer WANT to live this way. We are
no longer ABLE to live this way. We need rescue. We are powerless to save ourselves.
And so, in great desperation, we cry out, "Help!" And God answers.
Inevitably, there is a moment of surrender/letting go. We discover that we must let
go of some long-held belief, or habit, or relationship, or secret, or emotion. We let ourselves fall into the hands of a God who loves us and has been waiting to embrace us all
along.
PRAYER: Lord, When I come to the end of my rope, help me to let go and
surrender to you. I trust that you will be the one who will catch me. Amen.
Steve Spilde
Day 11
“I’m forgiven because you were forsaken.
I’m accepted; You were condemned.
I’m alive and well, your Spirit is within me
because you died and rose again.
Amazing love, how can it be that you, my king, would die for me?
Amazing love, I know it’s true; it’s my joy to honor you.”
Lyrics from “You Are My King”
I can’t ever remember not going to church. When I was younger
we went to a large traditional church, my brother and I were not
thrilled with it. It was hard to feel like you mattered when you were
so small and in such a large setting. When I was six my mom took
us to Bridge of Life. After the first service both my brother and I
asked her to “never take us back to the big church again.” At Bridge
of Life I felt like I mattered, people would talk to me despite my
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young age. It was through Bridge of Life that my brother first heard about, and went to,
Sugar Creek Bible Camp. He came back telling me incredible stories that sounded so exciting and fun. I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to go as well.
When I was finally able to go, it was every bit as enjoyable as I anticipated it would be.
I went back every year, and every year a new and exciting aspect was added to the camp
experience and I always learned more about having a relationship with God. However, it
wasn’t until the summer before my eighth grade year that camp became a truly powerful
spiritual experience. From then on camp was incredibly powerful and in the past two years
I’ve met incredible people including counselors and fellow campers. I was awed at their
incredible love for others, their strong faith and trust in God, and their amazing ability to
comfort those around them. The summers before my freshmen and sophomore year I went
through something called a Spirit Worship. In my life I have never experienced something
so life changing, and as the worship ended I cried tears I had kept in for far too long and
reflected upon the unconditional and incomprehensible love that God has for all of us.
From then on my entire relationship with God was closer and stronger. And although I still
have many questions and struggles with my faith I know that, although it is unbelievable,
Jesus, my King, died for my many sins and he will always love me, and at the end of the
day that’s all I need to know to sleep well at night.
As Journey Lutheran begins our first capital campaign I encourage you to give in any
way you can. I can only imagine how many more lives Journey could change and how
many more communities and organizations this church could reach out to once we pay
down our remaining debt. Instead of leaving you with a prayer I leave you with lyrics to a
powerful and favorite song of mine and invite you to reflect upon the awesome love God
has for each of us:
“When the rain is blowing in your face, and the whole world is on your case,
I could offer you a warm embrace, to make you feel my love.
When the evening shadows and the stars appear,
and there is no one there to dry your tears,
I could hold you for a million years, to make you feel my love.
I know you haven’t made your mind up yet,
But I would never do you wrong.
I’ve known it from the moment we met,
no doubt in my mind where you belong.
There is nothing I wouldn’t do to make you feel my love.”
Indiana Hauser (age 16)
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Day 12
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?
And not one of them is forgotten before God? Luke 12:6
Back in the days before we owned a washer and dryer, there were visits to laundromats
in whatever town we found ourselves in. We traveled some, playing music for a living. One hot laundromat afternoon, a sparrow had winged its way through the open door
into that busy detergent-scented space, and in its distress was flying from one end of the
room to the other. Something moved me to hold up my forefinger for the bird to perch upon - a different way to give the finger. The sparrow landed on my outstretched finger, I
walked out the door and it flew away free.
I can identify with that sparrow. Mostly, I am flying back and forth in a frenzy. But
through the living gospel, there is peace. Through the gift of Jesus’ teachings, God's forefinger is ever there for us to perch upon and experience freedom.
It has been wonderful to be part of the formation of Journey Lutheran Church. We are
blessed with Pastor Steve's diverse talents, great energy and inspired leadership. We have
a great church family. Journey seems to me to be the sort of ministry that Jesus called us
to. It stretches us.
The Spirit of Christ is upon Journey - and now what? Basking in the glow of the Spirit
would not honor the gift. We will honor it by stoking the fire. There is something special
here, and we need to nurture and spread it! I think that "Journey Forward" is the very best
way for us to do the heavy lifting that is now needed. We will shoulder it together.
PRAYER: May God bless us in the wonderful ministry of Christ through Journey
Lutheran Church, and may we each be richly blessed as we offer what has first been
so graciously given to us. Amen.
Larry Dalton
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Day 13
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made.
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. And the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:1
I was brought up in a Christian home. I attended Christian schools and went to
church and Sunday school every week. I memorized many bible passages in Confirmation class, yet I was just saying the words. I didn’t “get it.” I didn’t get the significance
of what the words meant.
After I went to college, I really fell away from God. I still believed in God, but I
wasn’t even sure anymore if I could call myself a Christian. I tried to reconcile my
doubts about Jesus being the Son of God by searching books and authors who wrote
about God, but I didn’t find Jesus in any book.
My dad died in 2004 and my mom in 2006. For several years after my mom’s passing, I was in a very “dark” place. I indulged in really self destructive behavior and really had lost my self- respect. My behavior had affected my husband and children.
In 2010, I had begun to attend church at Bridge of Life because I wanted my son to
attend. At one of the first services we attended, our Pastor showed a brief clip showing
people giving excuses for not going to church followed by a statement dispelling each
excuse. I really began to listen to the words and the music. I felt the Word of God
speaking directly to me and each song seemed to be speaking to me in a personal way I
could not explain. It brought tears to my eyes.
One Sunday, the phrase, “Living Word” was mentioned. I looked up more of Jesus’
teachings from the book of John. I had read them before, but never before had I felt a
personal connection with Jesus. I read, “I am the way, the truth, and the light,” and I
realized I had been running from Jesus. But by his Grace I was worthy! He gave his
life for us – for me - so that I could be saved. His light pulled me out of the darkness.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for giving me Your Son to
light the way so that I may live. I don’t deserve Your love and
forgiveness, but I know that by Your Grace I am forgiven.
Please help me to do Your will; to live my life for You and be
an example of Your Light of Salvation. Help me to always
hear Your voice, even when things do not seem to go right.
“Your will, not mine Oh Lord.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Heidi Hodgins
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Day 14
Synchronized Discipleship:
Kangaroo Care is an informal name given to the bonding of a newborn who is laid skin
-to-skin, tummy-to-tummy with its mother. It is used most often for neonatal intensive
care (NICU) babies. The outcome has proven remarkable when the fact that an irregular heartbeat of a new born will synchronize with the regular heartbeat of its mother
when all other options for correcting the uneven heartbeat have proven to be much too
invasive. The scientific name for this cooperative phenomenon, when two objects or
people want to “share the same frequency,” is entrainment.
“Entrainment is a good metaphor for how we might think differently about our Christian
lives. What Christian does not want the faithfulness of his or her life to “vibrate” more
resonantly with the heartbeat of the Lord Jesus? Who among us would not appreciate a
bit more synchronicity with Jesus’ impulse to love and serve? We all know the benefit
of faith in Jesus Christ. But imagine the possibilities that would accompany having the
faith of Jesus Christ – being so in tune with him that our words and deeds oscillate at the
very frequency that is the Lord’s own. ” (quoted from pages 22-23)
As Jesus was introduced to his disciples by John and they began following him (John
1:38), Jesus was amazed. He asks, “What are you looking for?” This was a loaded
question and the responses they gave meant these new followers wanted to abide by Jesus and learn from him for a very long time. They were committed, they took his teachings (connecting their humanity to his), loving those whom Jesus loved and synchronized the ‘swinging of the pendulums’ of all these varied lives to the same frequency as
Jesus. (excerpt and information taken from the Anatomy of Grace written by Peter W. Marty, Senior
Pastor of St Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, IA. ; Augsburg Fortress, publisher)
PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, help and guide us to synchronize our gifts, skills
and our blessings to support Journey Lutheran as a church whose members are on
the same frequency as Jesus. Amen.
John and Rosemary Burnett
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Day 15
A couple years ago my grandpa, Dave Denson, found out he had cancer. When I
found out I felt scared that I wouldn’t have him in my life any more. Because of his cancer treatments I could not hug him or sit real close to him during that time. I really worried about him a lot.
I prayed a lot for him to get better. Then I waited for God to answer my prayers. After I was done waiting I heard his cancer was gone. I realized God had answered my
prayers and helped my grandpa get through it. That made me feel really happy and relieved. I felt so thankful to God for helping my grandpa get better. From that day forward I thank God in my prayers every night before I go to bed.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for giving my grandpa the help he needed and for
guiding the brilliant doctors who helped out with his treatments and thank you for
creating the people who built our church where I prayed for my grandpa. Amen.
Josh Caylor (age 12)
Day 16
“For by grace you have been saved, through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift
of God that no one should boast.” Ephesians 2:8
I especially like this verse as it is comforting to know God’s love isn’t earned nor deserved but He offers it to us just the same. I am thankful and amazed at God’s unending
love for each of us. I grew up in a loving home without much conflict so I wasn’t prepared for a relationship with fear and violence.
Having experienced eight years of domestic violence until finally leaving when our
daughter was eleven months old I see how God has continued to walk beside me. He has
helped heal my heart and mind to go onto a more healthy life for me and my daughter.
He has been my closest friend and companion and I know I can
trust him completely to work all things for our good. He has
helped me to see again His view of my value which is so often
shattered and torn down in an abusive relationship.
No matter how difficult the road has been or how far you feel
you’ve wandered, God never gives up or forsakes us. His love
wonderfully restores, corrects and continues to remake us to His
image, when we turn to Him.
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Through trials and painful hard times He has been present in my life and my love and
trust in Him have grown as I have seen so many times the pathway He has made for us.
He has walked beside me to uplift and uphold me throughout my life and especially in
the last 23 years while raising my daughter and trying to give her a strong foundation of
faith. He uses our difficulties to make our hearts soft to His will and more compassionate towards others.
I have nothing but thankfulness at the blessings that God provides. Journey Lutheran
church has been a place we can worship and share our joys and sorrows and grow spiritually. I hope in our Journey forward campaign, we can continue bringing the message
of God’s healing love and redemption to the hurt and the broken.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for never letting go of us. Thank you for all of the
ways You bless us, and look after us. Forgive us for not having trusted in you because of our fear. We know You only want good for us, and that Your ways are the
best for us. We can trust You completely. Guide us here and help us to follow Your
will for our lives. Amen.
Karen Engelien
I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love Long the broken road
But I got lost a time or two I wiped my brow kept pushin through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you
And every long lost dream Led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart They were just northern stars
Pointing me on my way Into your loving arms
This much I know is true That God blessed the broken road
And led me straight to you.
I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to take the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand you've been there you understand
It's all part of this grander plan that is coming true.
Now I'm just rolling home into your loving arms
This much I know is true that God blessed the broken road
and led me straight to you.
“Broken Road” by Selah
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Day 17
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found; was blind but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come;
‘tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me; his Word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.
Our daughter-in law, Debi, passed away in October, 2009 after a long battle with
cancer. Our son Bob, family friends and members were caretakers for her over the last
6 months of her life here on earth. Our entire family loved Debi and prayed for her over
the course of this illness. Debi lost her battle and was taken home to be in heaven to be
with the Lord.
Journey Lutheran Church is launching a capital appeal. We believe this is in the best
long-term interest of our congregation. Everyone needs to do what they can to help
make it a success.
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for giving us our dear Debi for the short time she had
here on earth. You have been good to our family by drawing us closer together as
a result of this experience. We realize that our life here on earth is only for a short
period of time. Help us to never forget what You have first given us—ourselves,
our time and our possessions. Amen.
Jon and Judy Lindgren
Day 18
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,
and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:11-12
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I was raised on a farm in a small community near La Crosse. My parents were strong
and hardworking folks who were always ready to lend a hand to help someone in need.
They were loving parents, but always made sure their kids toed the line and did the
right thing. We always attended church together as a family, and Mom and Dad always
made sure we said our prayers.
When I moved from home to La Crosse, I continued to attend church, but it became
less important to me over the years. I attended many different churches, but I did not
find one where I felt I belonged or really wanted to be a part of. My church attendance
began to wane, but when I did attend I always picked up a copy of the “Christ in Our
Home” devotional book. I was beginning to feel lost and alone, even though I had my
family and many friends. After many bad relationships and two broken engagements, I
was in my thirties and wondering why I was alone and where my life was headed. One
evening before I fell asleep, I read the daily devotional with the scripture from Jeremiah. This scripture touched my heart in a way that had never happened to me before. I
believed that God had something special in mind for me; I just had to wait for the plans.
Being an impatient person, this was not an easy thing for me to do.
I met my husband, Chris, many years later. I know that we were brought together at
a time that was right in both of our lives. We are two very different individuals, but that
works for us. When I met Chris, I remember telling friends that he cared for me just because of who I was and not because he needed anything from me. When we were married, we had this scripture from Jeremiah read at our wedding.
When the new Mission Church was formed in the Town of Holland, I knew I was
going to be a part of it. That is a decision I have never regretted. When our two churches merged and became Journey Lutheran, I felt very strongly that this again was in
God’s Plan. I feel blessed to be a part of Journey and feel that I really belong here. I
find it easy to tell others about Journey and have even invited others to come and join
us. As we begin this new journey of our capital campaign, I know that God has a plan
and a good future for us all. I hope we all prayerfully consider what we can do to help.
Thank you.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for my family and for the
plans You have shown me throughout my life. Help me always
to listen with my heart to know Your will and Your plans for
my life. I ask You to bless our Journey family, as we all look
to the future with hope. Thank you. Amen.
Janet Kislinger
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Day 19
And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, “Let the children
come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to
you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it”. And
he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them. Mark 10:13-16
In the years between getting married and becoming pregnant with our first daughter,
we spent more weeks not attending church than attending. After moving away from
home, going to college, and moving to the La Crosse area, I never felt a connection to
any church I attended. We were invited to attend service by Pastor Steve not long after
moving to Holmen and finding out I was pregnant with our first daughter. From that
first visit on I knew there was a connection, and we never left, soon welcoming our first
daughter - then later our second and third.
One Sunday, shortly after welcoming our first daughter, I was told how worship service would never quite be the same now that I’m juggling a child. As I envisioned consoling a fussy infant, trips to the bathroom for diaper changes, chasing a toddler through
the halls, and cleaning up spilled toys and Cheerios, I knew that statement would be
true. But, because of Journey Lutheran Church, that statement is true in a different way
than it was originally intended (or perceived). Today I get to watch my 3 girls grow up
in a faith being taught by so many people. Worship service now means I get to see my 2
-year-old’s face light up and run across the aisle when she sees some of the important
adults in her life at church. I get to see my 6-year-old being encouraged to keep singing
or saying a prayer as she is learning to read along. I get to see my 9-month-old being
rocked to sleep in caring arms. I get to see my children be greeted with a smile and
wrapped in loving arms when we arrive. It is so easy to see God’s love though the Journey Lutheran community as they embrace my children. This (and so much more) is
worship service for me now with children. No, it is not the same as it once was, but because of the welcoming, family-friendly church that has been created at Journey Lutheran, worship service is so much more meaningful than it was before having children.
Our family is so blessed to be members of Journey Lutheran
Church. We could not imagine a more welcoming congregation to
be raising our children in. As you read this we are already embarking on the capital campaign journey. Our family will be making a
commitment to support the capital campaign, and we hope your
family will too.
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PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the gift of children. Thank you that Journey Lutheran welcomes families and children with open arms. Please continue to help us
reach out to other families. May Your Holy Spirit guide us all to be generous in
our participation in the Journey Forward campaign. Amen.
Brian and Michelle Renkas
Day 20
“I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
My faith has grown stronger through my life experiences. Even when I was a
small child I knew that God was with me. I felt a love for my church and God because I was so blessed to have been adopted through Lutheran Social Services to a
wonderful and loving family. I was raised in the Lutheran Church and continue to
have a very strong bond with the Lord and the church.
We all have bumps and curves on our path of life. Seven years ago my mother
passed away suddenly, and at that time I forgot that I needed to be strong and know
that God was with me. I was angry and felt abandoned for the first time. She was the
rock that held our family together and now everything was different. It is hard to go
on when you lose someone so very important to you, but knowing God was at my side
I was able to work through all of my grief.
My faith also grew stronger when the split happened at Christ the King. I realized
that God was calling me to be strong and to not agree with the Pastor and the people
that left. I am so grateful that I remembered that the Lord was always with me, because now I am part of a wonderful church family. Being part of Journey Lutheran
has made my faith even stronger.
Whenever you are feeling alone and troubled, please always remember that the
Lord is with you wherever you go. No matter how many bumps or curves on your
path of life. He will be there on your JOURNEY.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for always being there
when we need You. You make us stronger by knowing this.
Please be with people who feel abandoned, alone or scared.
Guide them and help them to find the truth in You! In Your
name we pray, Amen.
Jayne Oliver
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Day 21
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105
I grew up on a farm in the country near Mindoro. My folks worked outside of the
home as well as ran the farm. My father got sick and wasn't able to do a lot of things on
the farm, so some of it was up to me to take care of. My parents and I attended a small
church in the country. Lewis Valley Lutheran Church was a small community church,
and there I was a Sunday school teacher, attended bible school, and attended church
every Sunday.
In 1980, I married my first husband, moved to Milwaukee, lived there for about 12
years, and wasn't too involved in church. I would pray but never got to the point where I
would believe that God was listening to me. I had two children from my first marriage,
Angela, who is now 32-years-old and has disabilities, and Amy, who is now 30-yearsold and more or less is on her own. The last that I knew, Amy was in Milwaukee. I later
divorced my first husband. I remarried and my second husband became really ill. I tried
to get my faith together, but I failed. I didn't think that God was listening to me. My second husband was Catholic, but I felt uncomfortable in a Catholic church. I would try to
pray later, but I didn’t fulfill my task. In June 2005, my second husband died of lung
cancer. Afterwards, I went to River of Life for about six months, but it was not important to me at all. I wouldn't go every Sunday, and didn't even pick up the Bible to
read it. I tried to figure out ways that I could trust the Lord. I wondered why the Lord
was giving me these tasks that I couldn’t handle.
Then I met the most wonderful man of my life, my best friend Tom. We got married
in 2008 at Bridge of Life, and it has been the most wonderful five years of my life.
When we attended Bridge of Life, the pieces fell together in the puzzle. The people of
that church welcomed us like family, and we could just feel the presence of God. It was
an awesome feeling. They were caring, loving people. Then I joined the band and have
been singing ever since. I figured out that was the gift that God gave me, and am happy
that I am able to share it.
When we were going to merge with another congregation in
the area, we felt that it was the next road in our Journey, and that
no matter what our daughter would be accepted for who she is.
When we joined Journey Lutheran Church, it was the start of a
new beginning. Then Tom and I were blessed with caring for
someone who was in need. We are honored to be able to be in her
life.
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PRAYER: Thank you, God, for giving me the things in life that you have. I have
chosen some bad things, and now you have shown me to choose good things. God
Bless You for all the people You have given me in my life. We are blessed to see
the Journey that You have chosen for us. Amen.
Deb Sullivan
Day 22
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly and sisterly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Do not be
lazy but work hard, serving the Lord with all your heart. Be joyful because you have
hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times. Share with God’s people
who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12: 9-15
Journey Lutheran women’s bible study recently studied the book of Romans. It was
a challenging book for us to study. There were times that I felt I understood and there
were times I just did not get it. But one of the things I marveled at, and still do, is that
words written so long ago can still be so relevant. The words above are so straight forward, and say to me this is what God wants me to do. This is what being the body of
Christ, the church, is about. So simple, and yet there are days that I let my busy agenda
or fear keep me from following that still, small voice. I am so thankful I have a loving
God who doesn’t give up on me and will continue to call me each day to be His hands,
His feet, or His arms to the world around us.
It has been a blessing to me to see these verses lived out in the lives of people here at
Journey Lutheran Church. I am excited to see how God will continue to use each of us
as we move forward in this capital campaign.
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your abounding love and mercy.
Thank you that we can start each day new. Please keep our
eyes and hearts open to see where Your love will lead us today and as we journey forward. Amen.
Diane Meyer
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Day 23
When Pastor Steve asked me to tell the story of my faith, I first thought I really didn’t
have a very exciting story to tell. I was raised in a rural setting and belonged to a small
country Lutheran Church near Cashton, WI. I was an only child who lived what Dale jokingly refers to as a “privileged life,” arriving 12 years into my parents’ marriage. My
church life of Sunday school, Confirmation class, Luther League and regular Sunday worship was a constant and predictable force in my young, secure life.
I grew up, went on to Nursing School and married my high school sweetheart and settled into New Amsterdam– just a few miles from here. The trials in my life had been few at
that point, but started with the realization that my first husband had a problem with alcohol
abuse. He was a binge drinker who continued to hold down a job but became increasingly
suspicious and untrusting of me when he drank. Because of this terrible illness of Alcoholism, I often felt very alone.
Our first baby, Mark arrived the spring of 1972 and brought joy into our lives and that
of his two sets of adoring grandparents. The spring of 1975 my mother in law Ann began
to have severe headaches and was diagnosed as having a glioblastoma - the most malignant
type of brain tumor. She had surgery to remove as much tumor as possible, received radiation treatments and appeared to do well at the time. We knew, however, that her prognosis
was not good. My husband and I were happily distracted by another pregnancy with a due
date in October.
That summer, my parents were building a retirement house and making plans to sell the
farm. In September, my Dad called to say he’d had the strangest episode of tremors in his
left arm. He entered the hospital for tests and it soon became known that he too was suffering from a glioblastoma. What a cruel irony that two people in our immediate family
should be suffering at the same time with such a serious affliction. I prayed for strength to
give my parents and in laws the love and support they both needed. And especially cried
out to God – asking why my dear Father, who was only 61 years old, would not be able to
enjoy the retirement he’d worked so hard for. He would say to me, “I don’t want to die, but
I’m not afraid to die.” After his surgery and radiation, my Dad’s left
side was permanently weakened and he learned to walk with a cane.
In October, our baby girl was born. We named her Corrine and she
seemed perfect in every way. The day before her 3-month well-baby
checkup, her lips turned blue as she drank her bottle. The next day she
was diagnosed with a severe congenital heart defect. It didn’t cause a
heart murmur so it hadn’t been picked up at birth. As she grew her
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heart was failing and she began to have symptoms. Within a week, she had undergone open
heart surgery. Heart surgery on infants was in its beginning years in 1976. The repair was
successful, but she had trouble with post op bleeding and kidney failure. One complication
lead to another and in 3 days, to our horror, she passed away.
My mother in law died the following summer and my father the following December.
I’ve always thought, it’s a good thing we can’t foresee what lies ahead in our lives. If I’d
known, how could I have ever coped with the events that were to happen during that year
and a half; losing a daughter, mother in law, and Dad within the same year was a great trial
of my faith. I found it hard then, as I do now, to express how my faith in God helped me get
through those difficult weeks and months — but I know I couldn’t have done it on my own.
A Higher Power was at work. God’s grace shone down to help me. His grace shone down
through the loving support we received from our family, friends and church community.
His grace shone down through our pastor as he helped my husband enter alcoholic treatment. And even though we later divorced, I’m happy and proud that he remains sober to
this day. Hospice Care wasn’t part of our local health care back then. But God’s love shone
down through my parents’ neighborhood ladies who arrived each morning to help my mom
care for my dad at the end of his life.
It’s one thing to say “God will give you strength,” but as we all live our lives — sooner
or later — we will KNOW that God is always there for us. I thank Him every day for what
he has given me.
I’d like to end with a reading from James 1: 2-5. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers
whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and
complete, not lacking anything.”
I’m too human to face trials with joy, but I think that perseverance of faith is an ongoing
process. A process of becoming mature and complete throughout a life time and …. in the
end…. we will be with our God… and not lack in anything.
One of Journey’s missions is to be there to help people through situations similar to
those I’ve told about. Paying down the debt will help Journey have
the funds to provide ministry and programs that will help people
through the rough spots in life/ trials of faith.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, help us come to know that You are with us
always. Help us live lives that glorify You and through Your
grace help us face each day. Amen.
Kitty Ruosch
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Day 24
“I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the
world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27
I had been a regular "church goer" my entire life. Then somewhere along the way a
series of events happened and there were injustices (either real or imagined), and I "took
a break" from my then-home church. Time marched on, and I had been away for quite
some time. It never felt right, though. Something was always missing, and although I
continued to practice my faith at home, it just wasn't the same.
Then one day I walked down to the mailbox and there was a postcard from Bridge of
Life that read something like "Is there something missing from your life? Are you
searching for answers?".....sentences along those lines with an invitation to check out
their services at the Seven Bridges Bank Building, which is just down the road from us.
Sure, I wanted to go check it out, but that seemed like such a big step. I kept the card
but forgot about it until many months later when another card came. And then, eventually, another. Each time I received a card I really wanted to check it out, but didn't. Too
small a group. Would be noticed. Would be asked questions. Nope. Not right now. But
maybe.....just maybe this place was right for me. Then another card came, and it occurred to me that if I needed a sign indicating this was the right thing to do.....just how
many signs was I going to need?
The following Sunday, which happened to be Labor Day weekend, I went. I was
greeted warmly and everyone was very kind and friendly. That will be seven years ago
this coming Labor Day weekend and I haven't looked elsewhere or back since. I couldn't
be happier in my church choice, whether meeting at Seven Bridges Bank Building,
Holmen Square Mall, or the beautiful Journey Lutheran Church with the great (formerly)
Christ the King people. I have found my church home, and it has found me. No one's
faith journey follows an always sunny, straight, trouble-free path.
Journey Lutheran is launching a Journey Forward capital campaign. We have a lot
of debt that is hindering the wonderful work we could be doing as a
congregation if only we had the additional funds. I pray that God
helps us search our hearts and helps us find ways to dig deep to
eliminate or reduce our debt so that we can more freely do His
work for good. No one can do it alone. We have to do it together.
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PRAYER: Dear Lord, I pray that you help us walk through the many doors you
open for us. Help us find creative ways to help ourselves. Please give us generous,
thankful hearts. I am deeply humbled and grateful for the rich blessings you have
bestowed upon my heart and in my life. Please equally help and bless those whose
hearts are searching for you. Please comfort, help, and guide those who are seeking
peace of mind and heart. I ask this in Jesus's name, Amen.
Anna Olson
Day 25
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die,
A time to plant and a time to uproot.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build.
A time to weep and a time to laugh.
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them.
A time to embrace and a time to refrain.
A time to search and a time to give up.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
My love of this bible verse dates back to 1965 when the Byrds had a hit song using
this verse. Music is an important way of conveying God’s message. At this time of my
life, taking care of an aging parent, it is good to remember that God has a plan. We
should not worry, we should trust him, and let him be in charge.
Every day is a gift from God. At every stage of life, no matter
what is happening, God is with us.
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for all of the seasons of our lives.
Please help us to trust in You, be strengthened by our experiences and use our time wisely.
Leota Compton
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Day 26
“Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with
mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in
spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, preserver in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those
who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the
lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay evil for evil, but take thought
for what is noble in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Romans 12: 9-18
As a kid, you do not understand how important little things can be until you are faced
with a situation that pushes you out of your comfort zone. I’m a big believer that the
things an individual goes through in life significantly shape who they become— God’s
plan is so much bigger than our own.
It was the summer before my 5th grade school year and I was at swim practice with
my sister. Throughout our childhood, we swam and competed with the Coulee Region
Rapids, a swim club in La Crosse. Our family just got home from a family vacation and
swim practice was the last thing I wanted to be at. My dad was a swimmer in college, so
when we were practicing he swam in the deep end. It was about half-way through practice when I stopped and noticed my dad was floating in the deep end. I became anxious
and didn’t really know why until I heard my coach yell my dad’s name over and over.
My coach jumped into the water and pulled my dad onto the pool deck. He was unconscious and not breathing. My coach started CPR and when the ambulance arrived they
took my dad to the hospital. We later learned that he had had a massive heart attack; he
died on the way to the hospital. We were asked to say our goodbyes, but I waited in the
hallway as my family went in to see him one last time. I did not want to see him suffer
and I did not want to feel that pain—so I pushed those emotions away. I spent many
years pushing those emotions, as well as God, away, and I held onto that anger in my
heart. Why should I believe in a God that took away a father, brother, husband, and a
son; why should I believe in a God who took away happiness.
As the years went by I found no want or need to let Jesus into
my life. Confirmation wasn’t on the top of my priority list, and I sat
through the Wednesday night classes arguing with the Pastor about
my beliefs and what was right and wrong. “The Bible is black and
white… there is no grey!” My family taught me to love all, just as
God loves all of us. We were to treat everyone with respect and a
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warm heart, to listen and to be genuine with our actions. No matter their background or
way of life, you love them with your whole heart and give them positivity and kind
words to carry on. I did not feel that in Church, and I did not feel that throughout my
congregation. All I could think of was why a God with so much love was putting me in
a place that felt so empty. I continued to wear my mask of happiness but started to ask
myself why I was holding onto a pain that happened so many years before. I bottled my
emotions and was filled with such anger that I couldn’t understand. I finally realized
that I wasn’t being fair to myself, my family or my friends—and most of all I wasn’t
being fair to God.
I decided to let God back into my life, and I decided to do that mostly by my actions;
actions speak louder than words. I decided to attend Sugar Creek Bible Camp a week
out of the summer and realized that God wasn’t this mean and cruel person. He had
time and love for all of his people and creations—even someone who was holding onto
emotions that held them back from the gifts and calling that God had in store. I explored
and learned more about what God had to offer and I was starting to slowly understand
the plans and love God had for me. I continued to attend camp as a camper and staff
member for a total of 11 years. I saw how God worked through others and realized that
I was letting God work through me, even if I didn’t realize what was happening. I knew
that God had so many amazing plans for me, many of which are still to come. There
comes a time when everyone questions what they believe and who they are, but it is up
to you to decide if you want to let God work against you or with you—I have decided to
let him work with me. When I look at the beautiful church, not the building but the people, I see a combination of people coming from different backgrounds and lifestyles. I
also see followers of Christ that have created a family that allows God to shine bright
within them. I don’t see emptiness; I see love. God will never leave us, and we just have
to remember that it is ok to ask questions-- that is what makes our faith stronger. I have
dealt with pain, anger, happiness, heartbreak, laughter, and tears, but I know that with
all of those hard and happy times, I have seen God’s love throughout all of those life
experiences.
God’s grace and everlasting love give us guidance—whether times are rough and
bumpy, happy and full of joy, or filled with confusion that leads to
frustration. You have to live it out and go through the motions—all
of the ups and downs. Without those struggles, we wouldn’t know
failure. God wants us to show his love, even if we deny his love.
Even though we have painful and broken pasts, we need to let God
shine within us. God doesn’t want those who are perfect; he wants
those who are broken so he can fill us with his love. Life isn’t supposed to be easy, but it is worth it!
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PRAYER: So I leave you with this…
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial
relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection,
starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to
turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a
difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. To
bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor. (A Franciscan Benediction)
Ace (Amanda) Aakre
Day 27
“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his
stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on
the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
The other day I read a quote that said: “Do you think God ever gets sad? Like, ‘What
do you mean you don’t love yourself? I worked so hard on you…..’”
That quote really hit me because I think we become too consumed with all the flaws
about ourselves – that we forget that we come from the Lord. Media, Society, and peer
pressure have given us this deformed vision on what beauty really is. Beauty has become skinny models with perfect hair and men with a six-pack. When, in reality, beauty
is what comes from the heart, and that’s what God thinks matters the most. God created
you to be someone unique and different. He looks at you every day with pride because
of the beauty that you hold, and the kindness you spread every day. Remember that next
time you look in a mirror.
PRAYER: Dear God, please guide us in our lives to not look at
society’s distorted image of what we are “supposed” to look
like and instead let us find comfort in the fact that You find us
beautiful every day because You created it. Please also continue bringing love to our hearts and our actions. In your name
we pray, Amen.
Megan Oliver (age 16)
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Day 28
“In the stars that grace the darkness, in the blazing sun of dawn,
In the light of peace and wisdom, we can hear your quiet song.
Love that fills the night with wonder, love that warms the weary soul,
love that burst all chains asunder, set us free and make us whole.”
verse 2, Evening Hymn, Holden Evening Prayer
I heard the Holden Evening Prayer service for the first time thirteen years ago during
the Lenten season, and the words of the Evening Hymn have stayed with me since. In
mid February 2000, my Aunt Sue was diagnosed with stomach cancer and given six
weeks to live. The news was a tremendous shock to me and the rest of our family, as
Sue was loved by everyone. As I tried to offer her support and encouragement, I struggled with the idea that God could let this happen to such a good, loving, and caring
woman. Almost exactly six weeks from the diagnosis, Sue passed. Only five years older than me, her passing left a gaping hole in my life; Sue had been a close friend and
confidant for years. She was the one I turned to when I needed advice and encouragement, and finding my way following her death was overwhelming at times.
As I sat through the Lenten services that year, however, the words of the Evening
Hymn helped sooth me; for days and weeks following the services I found myself singing the songs and thinking of Sue. And I still do. When I see the star-filled nights or the
beauty of a sunrise, when I'm walking through the quiet of the hills, somehow Sue finds
her way into my mind, and I know she is at peace wrapped in the loving arms of God.
Jesus is watching over both of us.
A new chapter is unfolding for our family this year as we bring Barry into our
lives. We are so blessed and thankful for his loving presence. The blending of our lives
has created new challenges for us and we continually look to our faith to help us find
our way. Though our presence is less at Journey these days as our time is split between
communities, our church family is always in our thoughts, and we will do as much as
we can to be supportive of the campaign.
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for bringing Barry into our lives
and for watching over us as our family grows. Help us find our
way as we join our families. Help us, too, to continue to grow in
our faith. May Your loving spirit continue to guide our congregation and keep watch over our entire Journey family. Amen
Jody Jansky
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Day 29
‘“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and
not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”’ Jeremiah 29:11
2006 was the year I began my journey towards building my faith. I found myself between a rock and a hard place, searching for answers to hard questions. I was at a crossroads in my marriage. My then husband and I were searching for ways to make our
young marriage work. My heart was empty, my soul discouraged, and I knew I had
some daunting decisions to make.
The answers I had led to nowhere, and my world was filled with an inconsolable sadness. Disheartened with the lack of progress I was making to forward my situation, I decided to leave it up to God. I knew I could not continue to try and micro-manage my life.
All of my seemingly wonderful ideas had led me down the wrong roads. I had to give up
control. This was an extremely hard task for me. I always had my life mapped out. I
wanted my life to happen just as I had dreamed it would. Step by step, meticulous and
by my plan.
During this complicated time, I spent many moments in prayer. It was during this
time I first began attending Bridge of Life. I would sit in the back during services and
tears would roll down my face. It was hard for me to interact with others in the congregation because I was so hurt and knocked down. After a while, I began to understand
that I could not control my life. God was in the driver’s seat and he had a path for me.
I was to be a part of a bigger plan. A plan He has set forth for me.
After I surrendered all control, I began to see that His plan gave me hope; His plan
gave me a bright future. I could not have foreseen all of the happiness that was to be bestowed upon me. Sometimes it is hard to see the light when you feel surrounded by darkness. I now am in a marriage that fulfills my heart and soul, and we have been blessed
with a beautiful daughter that is the light of our world.
Bridge of Life and Journey Lutheran have been instrumental in helping me strengthen
my faith. I am so grateful Journey Lutheran was a part of God’s plan for me. I believe
we have so much to be hopeful for and such a bright future ahead as
a growing congregation.
PRAYER: Lord, bless us as your plans unfold for our parish.
Grant us perseverance and open hearts as we embark on this
journey together. Your plans for us are full of hope and prosperity.
Let this be reassurance for us in the days to come. Amen.
Brooke Lueck
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Day 30
“I was there to hear your borning cry, I'll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold.
“I was there to hear your borning cry…;” whenever I hear that beautiful hymn, I am
transported back to the first time that I heard it sung at our previous church, Coon Valley
Lutheran. As it was being sung by our congregation, I started crying. “I’ll be there when
you are old…” I then heard a lady behind me softly crying. With me, the song sent
memories of being there just a few months earlier to hear the “borning cry” of our first
grandchild. My daughter had been very young and had made the courageous decision to
place her daughter with a loving family for adoption. For the lady sitting in the pew behind me, “I’ll be here when you are old” brought thoughts of her mother who had recently died. Years later, this song was sung at the funerals for both of my parents.
As in the lyrics, God is there for us “to see our life unfold.” He was there to lead my
daughter and our family to an adoptive family who has so wonderfully allowed us to
share the life of our granddaughter. God was there to comfort my parents as their health
declined in their later years. He then was there for the rest of our family as we grieved at
my parents’ passing.
PRAYER: Thank you Lord for your continual presence throughout our lives. Amen
LuAnne Ekern
Day 31
“So love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. Memorize his laws
and tell them to your children over and over again. Talk about them all the time, whether
you are at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night or getting up in the
morning.” Deuteronomy 6: 5-7
I can’t truly say this is my favorite Bible passage, but it helps
illustrate the message I’m attempting here.
Adults, especially parents, have a profound influence on children.
My parents taught me good Christian values from the time I was
very little; honesty, compassion, forgiveness, and faith in God and
Jesus Christ. When I was around eight years old, I recall telling my
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mother I wanted to be a pastor. I can still see the look on her face but can’t really say if
it was a look of shock, awe or surprise. Well, life’s road didn’t take me to seminary, but
into agriculture, where I have spent my entire career. However, I have had many opportunities in day-to-day activities to share the values my parents gave me with people suffering the death of a loved one or struggling with conflict in their families. I have found
forgiveness for those who have taken advantage in business dealings. Life’s just too
short to have something like that stand in the way.
We here at Journey have a tremendous opportunity to be a positive influence on
children. The many programs which are available now, from pre-school to young
adults, need to continue to be effective. Programs like nursery, Sunday school, summer
Bible school, Sugar Creek, National Youth Conventions, Young Adults Study group,
and many more, are things that influence our children. These programs need to be continued, improved, updated and upgraded into the future. That will take a commitment
of people, as well as other resources, and us fully utilizing our wonderful facilities.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, precious God, we thank you for Your grace and mercy.
We thank you for all You provide us each and every day. Thank you for Journey
Lutheran Church and our wonderful family here. Help us to be a positive influence on children of our congregation, the community, and the world, for they are
our future. Be with us now as we move into the future. In Your name we pray,
Amen.
Ron Stanke
Day 32
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” John 14: 27
A faith walk with Jesus. Where do I begin? A baptism at birth
which I don’t remember? First Holy Communion in the second
grade in which I barely remember walking down the isle in a white
dress? Ninth grade confirmation in which I had many unanswered
questions and knew there was something missing? I’ll have to say
my real faith walk with Jesus did not start until my divorce. I left
home, joined the Air Force and met my husband at a base in Missouri. We came from two different religious up-bringings. We
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thought we could handle the differences, but did not, so there was no church in our 15year marriage. When the divorce came I was devastated, no family close by, a rebelling
12-year-old, a baby with medical problems, no job and all alone. My 12-year-old confided in a school friend, who then asked her to join the youth choir at their church. I
never heard of the denomination so I discretely followed my daughter one Sunday to
make sure this was not some cult. I was sneaking up the back stairs and planned to sit
in the back row, but was met by three people who introduced themselves and invited me
in with wide open arms to a bible study group of young adults called the “Searchers.” I
accepted and they handed me a plaque which they give to each new member. I read the
plaque and the tears started flowing. I tried to compose myself, but the tears kept coming, but then I felt this peace come over me and finally realized I wasn’t alone. It was
the U-turn of my faith walk with Jesus. The plaque hangs on my kitchen wall for all to
see. The plaque reads:
“The Searcher” by William Blake.
“I looked for my soul, but my soul I could not see.
I looked for my God, but my God eluded me.
I looked for a friend, and then I found all three.”
I am now a chartered member of Journey Lutheran Church, transferring from Bridge
of Life. I believe this church is faithfully walking with Jesus. It amazes me that God
has blessed this congregation with so many talented people. We could do so much
more if we could have this huge interest and mortgage payment behind us. What peace
and joy that would be.
“PRAYER: Our Father, Lord and Savior, thank you for being with us in forming
Journey Lutheran Church. Give our pastors, leaders, and all committee members
the wisdom, strength and patience to lead all of us in doing Your will, and give us
peace. Amen.
Mary Tauer
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Day 33
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to reap, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
I have been a Norwegian Lutheran all my life. If you have spent any time in the Coulee Region, you understand the culture here. After being adopted at 3 months, I grew up
on a farm outside of Holmen. My first mom, the one who adopted me, died in a car accident when I was eight. My dad remarried when I was ten.
Later, I was married and we had two children, Brandi in 1976 and Jeremy in 1981.
As life goes, my marriage didn’t last and I raised my two kids for about five years in
North Central Iowa, about five miles from their dad. I went back to school and received
my degree in Elementary Education. Jobs were hard to find in Iowa and my kids and I
decided to move to Wisconsin for my new position. Within weeks after our move, their
dad chose to take his own life. Brandi was 15 and Jeremy 10.
Brandi graduated in 1994 and moved to Minneapolis for school and work. She
turned 21 on April 23 and she moved back home to be closer to her family. Both Jeremy
and I had missed her and we were so glad she was near again! In
October, she went to visit friends back in Iowa. She wanted a last
camping weekend before it was too cold. On her way home, she
was in a car accident and was life-flighted to La Crosse. By the
time I was able to get there, it was too late. My Brandi was gone.
My life stopped. I was devastated. How could I continue? I
was lost. My son Jeremy was 15; how could I maintain enough to
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be a good mom to him? He and I were all that was left of my family. Friends and family
were there. For a long time, I was not left alone. I didn’t even know if I wanted to be
alone or not. It didn’t matter. Why? How could God take my baby girl, my long redhaired beauty? All my faith and love failed me. I was so angry with God. My life would
never be right again, NEVER!
She was buried on a Saturday afternoon and my memories are still a blur. My best
friend, and Brandi’s godmother, was by my side as we visited her grave, which was next
to her dad, before we were to head back to our home, get back to normal, our life… I
couldn’t leave, I was “stuck” there. My friend gave me time but as she later told me, she
prayed to help me go on to the next step.
In the next minute, she called my name and told me to look to the sky. There I saw a
young juvenile eagle circling above us. I was gripped. I looked at my friend, I smiled,
she smiled and we looked back to the sky. Now, there were two eagles circling! My
heart knew, at that moment, that Brandi had come for her father and now they were both
free! I said I was ready to go!
To this day, when things get tough and I really need it, I see my eagle! My light, my
flame, my sign. One item that was brought from our mission church to Journey is the
Christ candle at the front of the sanctuary. When I realized that I had finally found my
faith family, I wanted to contribute this candle in my daughter Brandi’s memory. I see
its flame each time it is lit, each time it passes its light to spread through the building,
and each time it lights a baptismal candle. I was not able to sing a complete song for
years after her death; I just couldn’t get through one without choking. Now, I can! Almost three years ago, on April 23, our church family welcomed Felicity into the world,
ten minutes later than the exact time Brandi was born. This beautiful family granted me
the honor of being Felicity’s godmother! I will forever sing this joy!
When our church congregations joined to create Journey, I had my hesitations. I
gratefully agree that this is one of the most wonderful things that happened for both of
us! We have so much life and love to share with each other.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, we know You will always be there with
us through whatever life gives us. You are strong and steadfast
and can handle all our doubts, our questions, our anger, our
unknown. Thank you for never letting us fly alone! Amen.
TJ Barth
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Day 34
It was the early 70’s. Imagine a world without smart phones, internet, even home
computers….no cable TV, just three main channels and, of course, PBS. In our part of
the world, the Red River Valley of the North (MN and ND) that is the way it was.
(Sometimes, if we were really lucky we could pull in WGN all the way from Chicago!) I
was about to graduate high school with a class of 54 students. The majority of them I
had started first grade with and saw them every day (except holidays, weekends and
summers) for the past twelve years. I was signed up for Tech school with half of them,
but I wanted more out of life. I decided to join the Woman’s Army Corp. It was a big
world out there.
I went to Basic Training in Alabama, and AIT in Missouri. I went back to Alabama
for my permanent duty of being a mail clerk in a training facility. I enjoyed my job of
handing out the news from home to the lonely recruits. Once again, no internet, email,
or smart phones, and long distance phone calls were expensive and rare. I made friends,
got a car, found favorite restaurants; simply had a life.
One day I walked into the NCO room and two of my fellow NCO’s (both women)
were kissing. They split apart, looked embarrassed and continued to watch TV. I started to notice a few more things after that. I wrote home to my mother that there were gay
people here. She wrote back there was no such thing. Remember I was a very naïve 18year-old from a rural area. I saw my first black person (in the flesh) only the year before. My mother, with the exception of one trip, had never been more than a 50 mile
radius from home.
This troubled me. I always had (ok, still do) a tendency to over-think things. I decided to talk to my CO (who also was gay, but first and foremost she was a wise, kind
leader.) As we talked, she could she how troubled I was and I got to the point where I
could barely breathe. Then all of a sudden, I simply just felt lighter. The weight was
gone. The worry was gone. The trouble was gone. It is hard to explain the feeling, but I
remember it to this day. Throughout the rest of my life as I read or hear of the poem
‘Footsteps in the Sand’ and the line, “it was there I carried you,” I
know that I was lifted up by the Holy Spirit, and that those troubles were not mine to bear.
I have had several very good friends that happened to be gay in
my life as I moved to different states. I know that their ‘lifestyle’
is not a choice, because no one would choose life to be so difficult.
It is a part of their being. That is the one thing that this naïve girl
learned a long time ago when He helped me to understand.
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PRAYER: Dear God, please help us all to learn, listen and be aware and open to
Your presence. It is only when we give up control that You can guide us on the
right paths. It is not our job to judge others, we can only judge ourselves and be
our best. Thanks for the lift – I couldn’t have done it without you. Love Me.
Mary Conway
Day 35
“Wherefore seeing we are also compassed (surrounded) by so great a cloud of witnesses
(who have borne testimony to the truth)….” Hebrews 12:1
“…we live in tents, not houses, for spiritually we are always on the move. We are on
a journey through the inward space of the heart, a journey not measured by the hours of
our watch or the days of the calendar – for it is a journey out of time into eternity. Christianity is more than….teachings written down on paper – it is a path along which we
journey – in the deepest and richest sense, a sacred way of life. There is only one means
of discovering the true nature of Christianity. We must step out upon this path and commit ourselves to this way of life.” (from “The Orthodox Way” by Kallistos Ware)
When we commit ourselves to this Christian way of life, we make a conscious decision to share our talents and resources for the good of the whole – for the benefit of the
great cloud of witnesses that is our larger Church - our beloved faith community. In this
sharing we bring the gospel of transformation and healing into our lives and our broken
world.
PRAYER: Lord, Your generous love has touched our lives in so many ways. Help
us to lead generous lives, committing the treasures of our time, talents and financial
resources toward building and sustaining our beloved faith community.
Mike Schnitzius
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Day 36
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not
fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though
its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Psalm 46:1-3
In November of 2011, my step sister passed away in a tragic car accident. She was a
young mother and it hit our family hard. Less than a week later, a dear friend of ours lost
his son who was only 24. That was only the beginning of a year of many losses for
me. Three family friends were lost in one car accident. Two old friends died of medical
complications. It seemed every time I turned around, someone I knew, someone young
and much before their time had passed.
I was at home one morning when I received the news of one loss. I got in my car in
tears and started to drive. I was confused and upset. I started driving not even knowing
where I was going. I ended up at Journey Lutheran. I sat in the sanctuary and prayed. Pastor Steve talked with me for a while. Other church family that was there that morning comforted me. I really felt at home and comforted.
It wasn't until later that day that I realized just how important my faith and Journey Lutheran had become to me. You see, years ago my reaction would have been much different. I would have found myself in a bar, drinking away my pain. Wow, how things have
changed. Journey was the place I turned to. Journey was where I felt comfort and love.
I always believed in God and had some faith, but only when I started going to Journey
Lutheran did I actually start my walk with Jesus. Only then did I live my faith. It was my
faith in God and my Journey Lutheran family that helped me get through that most difficult
time in my life.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for being with me in my times of trouble. Thank
you for this wonderful gift of Journey Lutheran. It isn't just a place to worship
You on Sundays. It is a home, a place for family to gather, a place of love and kindness, a place to mourn, a place to cry, a place of extreme generosity and so much
more. Thank you for my Journey family. They are kind, loving,
giving people that I am blessed to have in my life. Please bless us
through this debt reduction campaign. Let us truly appreciate
this place for all it is to us and can be for so many others. Amen.
Kristie Tweed
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Day 37
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14
I was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church. My belief in Jesus has been at
the forefront of my life. Growing up in a parsonage, I witnessed the faith in so many
people.
Throughout my life the Holy Spirit was stirring my soul. The first time I really felt
His “nudge” was the evening my 25-year-old sister, Ruth, died. My sister had just found
out that my other sister would be giving her a kidney the following Thursday. My parents looked so exhausted. I wanted to say, “please go out and I will stay with Ruth,” but
a voice said, “no, go home.” It was like a force pushing me out the door.
I did go home and received the call later that she had passed on my parents’ couch. I
was not supposed to be there with her, my parents were.
As we embark on this capital campaign may we be open to the Holy Spirit’s work in
“nudging” us to give generously.
PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, we ask Your blessing as the Holy Spirit “nudges”
us to act faithfully in this campaign and for the years to come. May we always be a
light to the community and beyond. Amen
Kay Schroeder
Day 38
“Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you
rest.” Matthew 11:28
We moved to this area in 2002, when I was pregnant with our second child. Though I
was familiar with this area, having attended college here, moving
away from our families and friends had a bigger impact on me initially than I planned.
After our son was born, I started having what I now know was panic
attacks. I would have real, sharp pains in my chest accompanied by
shortness of breath and fear. These attacks would arrive without
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warning and would interrupt my work and impact my function for hours. During these
attacks, I noticed my mind feeling drowned by worry. I imagined the worst and longed
for the comfort of my family and friends from home. These thoughts would escalate and
prove impossible to ignore, to the point where I felt that I would only be comforted by
their occurrence.
I did seek medical care and went through several tests and procedures to find that,
while my heart was well and functioning, my mind was telling my body otherwise. I
learned to control my anxiety through improving my eating habits, connecting with my
friends and family more often, engaging in regular exercise, and following a healthy
sleep regimen. I began to embrace my new home and the people that surrounded me in
my community. I also returned to my Savior after several years of struggling without a
church “home.”
I was encouraged to return to my faith by a close friend at work and found comfort in
this congregation. Everyone welcomed me and my family so openly, and the return to
scripture was a refreshing reminder that I am never alone. Though I still carry several
burdens, I am comforted to know that God will be here to listen to my prayers and
thoughts when I become overwhelmed.
Journey Lutheran has supported not only me, but the rest of my family in their spiritual development. The members have watched my children grow from toddlers to teenagers. They have exchanged congratulations and friendly conversations with us during
fellowship and expressed their heartfelt sympathies to us during times of loss and sadness.
I cannot be more grateful for our beautiful place of worship and the people in it. I am
supporting the capital campaign for the future of Journey Lutheran, to maintain space for
progressive spiritual programming that will continue to benefit people like me and my
family.
PRAYER: Lord, when I feel like I have too much to bear, I am
grateful that I can come to You with my worries and concerns.
Thank you for guiding me toward Journey Lutheran and the
supportive and welcoming people I am able to congregate with
there. Blessed be Your name, Amen.
Michelle Olson
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Day 39
When my daughter was born with special needs many emotions went raging through
me all at one time; I could not separate them. They were blended into one. Because I
had nowhere to vent my anger and fear I quite literally screamed at God. The only Bible verse I could remember was Exodus 34:7 “… will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children …” I felt that God was punishing my
daughter because of the life that I led many years ago. I begged God to make her
“normal” and punish me instead; when that didn’t happen I called God every foul name
and swore at him, using every term in the book.
I learned to route my energy from anger to advocating and learned everything I could
to ensure she would have the best life she could. Many, many years later, John 9:1-3
came to life for me: ‘As Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of
God might be displayed in him.”’ My daughter was born perfect in all ways that matter,
she is just as God planned. The only reason my daughter is labeled as having a disability is because society has placed it on her.
PRAYER: Lord help us to see each other, the way that you see you us: beloved
sons and daughters. Amen
Lora Purnell
Day 40
My life began on a farm in Whitehall, WI. Life was good until my marriage in 1951
in Arcadia. I married a man who abused me. I had three children in three years and had
seven more in the next fifteen years. We lived on a farm, milked cows, raised laying
hens and also raised hogs. We were very poor (as poor as church
mice) but at least we had our own eggs, milk, meat, and a garden.
One year my three older girls didn’t have winter coats to go to
school in. That’s when social services kind of got its start and so we
went there and got some used winter coats.
My husband was a very poor farmer. He didn’t like to get out of bed
in the morning. After I had my third child I hit rock bottom. I
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overdosed on aspirin and ended up in the hospital. During my stay there I suddenly realized that I had these young children and how much they needed someone to take care of
them. I don’t think my husband was capable of it. I asked a nurse to pray for me and I
think that’s when the Holy Spirit came into my life. After that I always felt as though
someone was watching over me. I dug in and told myself that I was going to do this even
if it killed me. The work was never done…constant chores, cooking, meals, washing
clothes, baking bread, gardening, etc… There were many lessons learned. As the children
got older they helped with chores, cleaning, dishes, etc… And, might I add, they also
walked to school.
All of my children are grown now; no one is in jail and nobody murdered anyone. They
have their own homes and are working and doing well. God has blessed me in many ways.
I have done things right and I have done things wrong. I did the best I knew how.
I got a divorce after 24 years of marriage because I felt like I was losing my spirit. I
didn’t want to go down with the ship. We sold the farm and I moved into a mobile home.
I still had four children at home. I got a job and raised my children. I have made many
wonderful friends over the years and I have my children so I am very grateful. My oldest
daughter bought me a beautiful home so I live in comfort. I live with my beloved dog,
Gabby, who is getting gray and going deaf. I have two kitties, Panther (he is black and
fearless) and Fluffy (my scaredy cat…he runs and hides when visitors come). I have some
health issues but I will overcome those, too. So, life is good. I love and am loved.
PRAYER: God you are my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
We put our trust in you. Amen
Alice Pyka
Day 41
Jesus said to His disciples, and then to all of us, “This is my commandment, that you love one another,” John 15:12. This was a new
commandment that superseded all others. The way of caring love is
the way of every Christian.
This caring love was a felt experience as I worshipped and fellowshipped with the members of Bridge of Life. I had health issues,
and the laying on of hands and prayers reduced my fears and assured me of God’s presence with me. This same spirit of caring
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love is being lifted up and practiced in our new Journey Lutheran fellowship.
I have been a member of several congregations and know how difficult it is to talk
about stewardship. Our mission as Christians takes many forms - it is not just about
money. But it is money, too. We each need to be challenged to make our gift to the
church a regular priority with the best we can do.
Church debt is a serious concern also. The larger debt we have, the more money we
pay. Money from the general fund to pay debt keeps us from using it for missions in our
church and community.
As you are asked to share, do so in the spirit of caring love for one another.
PRAYER: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. Amen
Ron Nordin
Day 42
‘Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom
of heaven belongs to such as these.”’ Matthew 19:14
Bringing my children to church and Sunday school has always been a top priority of
mine. I have always taken my commitment to their baptismal promises seriously, so when
I wanted Jacob to attend Sunday school, I was curious how our church would embrace this.
Jacob has obvious disabilities, including cognitive disabilities, which inhibits his abilities to
learn in the same way as other children. While discussing this with Pastor Steve, his response delighted me. Pastor Steve explained it didn’t matter if Jacob was able to learn in
the same way as the rest of us, what mattered was what others could learn from Jacob’s
presence. This mindset has helped me see Jacob’s role in our church, not simply as the cute
little boy in the wheelchair, but an important part of what makes Journey Lutheran a place I want to raise my children and my grandchildren!
PRAYER: Lord, we give thanks, for you are good
and your mercy endures forever. Amen
Karla Schroeder
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Day 43
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My
heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.” Psalm 28:7
I have been on many journeys throughout my adult lifetime… And I realize every day
can be a learning and growing experience. But through my many ups and downs, I’ve
come to realize that the Lord is my strength and shield, and all I have to do is trust in Him.
After graduating from college, I married as a young 21-year-old. My relationship with
my first husband was a distant one. He ran a small business, and when I wasn’t teaching I
worked at his camera shop or accompanied him to weddings on the weekends. Our relationship was like a business partnership; he was the CEO, I was the hired help. I readily
gave in to all his rigid expectations. We attended an ELCA Lutheran church together; but
only because it seemed like the right thing to do. We eventually went to marital counseling
to help sort out our differences. It was my saving grace. The counselor gave me the
strength to stand up for myself, be assertive, and most of all, to be myself! (Throughout
counseling and much self-discovery, I realized I had married someone just like my fatherwho I had been loyally obedient to my whole life.) After my marriage ended, I developed
some meaningful social connections and truly felt like a new person. “My chains were
gone. I felt set free,” as the song “Amazing Grace” describes.
For the next 24 years, I was a single gal with a new perspective on life. I was an active
person and busy with a lot of things outside my teaching job. I met some fun people, I traveled, and I adopted a few cats to keep me company. I attended a variety of churches and
joined a few, but never felt like I really “belonged” (maybe it was because I attended most
of those church services and functions those 20 years alone). I also went on several blind
dates over that span of time. Some situations set up by friends. Others through dating services. Several guys did not have the Christian qualities I was seeking, but I always persevered. I became very resilient, even through a few bad choices, thus learning some very
important life lessons. Honestly, over that span of time, I had always hoped I’d meet my
eventual soul mate through church.
Well, in summer of 2006, I answered a gentleman’s voicemail ad from “Dateline” in the
Winona/La Crosse newspaper. His name was Randy. He was looking
for someone active to do things with. Well, we met shortly after and
we hit it off from the start. We were an active couple, going hiking,
biking, roller blading, skiing, golfing, etc… and we also traveled together. Randy began attending my small ELCA Lutheran church with
me on Sundays. But, it was not the most meaningful place for me as a
member, and, even though we began to go to services there together,
we knew right away that it was not the “right fit” for us.
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After about a year of planning to get married and start a new life together, we knew we
needed to find a new church home. We had visited many churches in the La Crosse and
Winona area. During the winter of 2007, we came upon a very small congregation named
Bridge of Life, which met at the 7 Bridges Bank outside of Holmen. We both had very positive vibes about it after we left the service that morning. We knew that it was the place for
us somehow, even though Pastor Steve was not there leading the service. We remember
Diane greeting us right after church and offering her welcome. Of course we went back the
following week, just so we could get the full experience with Pastor Steve up front playing
his guitar. I was fulfilled by this contemporary worship and the messages it brought to me
in a personal way. The atmosphere and simple musical style was unlike anything I’d ever
experienced. It did not matter that it was in a cramped space in a bank building. I wanted
more.
One of my favorite places we’d been able to worship was the Wednesday night campfire
worship at the former Bridge of Life land site. It so reminded me of my camping days as a
young Lutheran, which are fond memories from Green Lake Bible Camp outside Spicer,
MN. One of my favorite songs from Green Lake Bible Camp in the late 60’s was, and is:
“Pass It On” It only takes a spark, to get a fire going.
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing.
That’s how it is with God’s love, once you’ve experienced it.
You want to sing. It’s fresh like spring. You want to pass it on.
The song “Pass It On” depicts how I felt about Bridge of Life—and now how I feel about
Journey Lutheran. Attending services and being part of a welcoming group has been very
uplifting and rewarding. The acceptance you feel with that of the pastor’s leadership and the
congregation in unlike many other churches (as it seems I have visited a lot of churches).
Because I am a special education teacher, I work with many unique situations and diverse
families. Not unlike Journey Lutheran - where everyone is welcome. I have tried to share
with others the Bridge of Life, and now Journey Lutheran, experience when I have a chance.
I forward the Journ-E (email info) to others as well as telling others to go check out information on the website. I’ve tried to invite others to come to a service or special event. However, I need to share more often, and tell more… I want to PASS IT ON.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I am very thankful for your guidance and love.
You have given me and the congregation of Journey Lutheran a lot
to be thankful for each and every day. We look forward to our
journey forward together and what lies ahead for all of us. We
pray for your help as we continue to be your faithful followers and
show pride in telling others about the Journey experience. In your
Holy name, Amen.
Marsha Burgett
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Day 44
“Do not be afraid, I am with you
I have called you each by name
Come and follow Me
I will bring you home
I love you and you are mine” “You Are Mine” by David Haas
Home – it’s such a simple, understated word for such a powerful concept. As young
adults John and I have worked to define what home means to us – physically, emotionally,
and spiritually.
Early in our marriage, John and I made a major decision to move our vision of “home”
to a new location in La Crosse, Wisconsin, from Casper, Wyoming. Although I was familiar with the area, having grown up in Wisconsin, it took some time for John to get used to
the new environment far from friends, family, and the wide open spaces of Wyoming. Our
decision to move was a leap of faith that God would lead us safely to a new home.
A year and a half ago John and I decided to make another “home” move, this time from
our “church home” in La Crosse to Journey Lutheran Church. We were anxious and afraid
to make this change; however, as a couple we felt led to make a change to a church that
would not be so far from home and would allow us to be more active members. I am glad
to say that Journey far exceeded what we hoped our new “church home” would be – we felt
welcomed and safe, like family, rather than strangers.
As with our family home, we realize that Journey has a mortgage and that the mortgage
prevents us from being able to expand the services that would help our church to reach out
and welcome even more people. We want to help pay down that mortgage so we can share
Journey’s message: “Whoever you are…However you come… You are welcome
here.” We want to welcome others home.
PRAYER: Lord, please help our church to work together to
raise the funds that will allow our church to grow and share
the message of Your love with others.
John and Meredith Hink
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Day 45
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the lands! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come
into His presence with singing.” Psalm 100, v. 1-2
When my sisters and I were young, we each got to spend one week a summer with
our Grandma Bergen. She lived in a little town in northern Wisconsin. I always loved
these weeks with her. Grandma B. was widowed when she was very young, so she had
to support her family. I remember her working in an old store with creaky wooden
floors. It was called “The Home Store,” and had everything from groceries to thread
and material. I loved going to the store with her and “working” alongside of her.
But though my memories of the store are strong, my memories of going to church
with her are stronger yet. She played the organ in a tiny wood-framed Lutheran church
in town. Of course the organ was located in the balcony and we had to climb a very
narrow, curving stairway to get to it. We had the small space to ourselves on Sunday
morning, but I had to behave as if I were in a room full of people. That meant a very
quiet and respectful demeanor on my part. Could my Grandmother ever play that organ! And not only that, but she could sing, too. I loved hearing her sing. Her strong,
true voice carried out over the congregation as she led them in singing the old hymns
that I now treasure. Even now, when I enter that church, it’s like going home, and I can
hear the organ ringing out the hymns of my childhood.
As I have been challenged in my life, my Grandma B.’s faith example is the one that
always sees me through. She walked with God. It was apparent in the way she lived
her life. Despite great odds she raised her children alone and placed her trust in God to
guide her. That is what I’ve tried to do.
My love of music is another gift I credit to my Grandma B. It still makes me smile to
think of when my kids were young and I’d belt out the hymns in church. My son would
always say that I was singing too loudly. This line from Psalm 100 was my favorite response. To me “singing joyfully unto the Lord” is how I express my
faith.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for the many talents You have
given us. Help us to use these talents to glorify Your Holy Name.
Amen.
Donnie Lee
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Day 46
I have always been active in church. When I was a kid I used to comment to my
folks that we went to church more than the pastor did! I met my wife Patty at the
church I grew up in. I took over as worship chair on the council about a month after
Patty was hired as our church organist. I won’t bore you with all the details, but, as
worship chair, I worked alongside Patty at that church and it wasn’t always easy.
About a year after Patty was hired, our pastor left for a new call, and, when the new
pastor started, his wife decided she would lead the church choir when she was able to
be there. Patty told me one day that the pastor’s wife had often been critical of her in
front of the choir during practices, and as worship chair I felt obligated to help with the
situation. I spoke with our church president and he spoke to the Pastor’s wife, but nothing much changed.
After working with Patty for a couple years, she told me she had been in an abusive
marriage for many years with an alcoholic husband, and she was getting divorced. After Patty filed for divorce, she and I started spending time together away from church,
mostly discussing the challenges we were having at church, and before long we were
seeing each other on a regular basis. We were careful to keep this outside the church
because we didn’t know how some people would react to our relationship, but as time
passed we ran into people away from church and this didn’t sit well with some. Some
people complained to the pastor that they saw us together, and the pastor called us to his
office, individually, to let us know that this would not be tolerated. Patty was fired on
the spot. I tendered my resignation, and, for the first time in my life, I was without a
church home. With the exception of a handful of people, I received very little support
from members of that church. A year or so later a member of that church passed away
and it was her desire that I sing at her funeral; the pastor refused to let me return to do
that. The church where my grandparents, parents and I all grew up no longer wanted
me there.
About a week after I left that church I started my search for a new place of worship.
I tried several churches in the area, and after trying six or seven places, I thought I
found my new church. I worshiped at my new church through
Lent and Easter of that year but wasn’t ever approached about
membership, and though I liked the pastor very much, she never
took the time to talk to me; it made me feel unneeded. About the
same time Patty was asked by the Pastor at Bridge of Life if she
would be available to play part-time for them. Patty spoke highly
of the church and suggested I try it out. I instantly embraced
Bridge of Life and never looked back. Bridge of Life had two
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pastors before Pastor Steve, and both pastors took the time to listen to our story, and
both made us feel like we were still worthy of God’s love. Pastor Steve did the same
after he arrived. God led both Patty and I to a church family that cared about us, and we
will be forever grateful. Bridge of Life helped me trust church again, and a couple years
later I was willing to try church leadership again.
I have fond memories from Bridge of Life that I will never forget, but over the last
year and a half I have discovered that God has bigger plans for us. Journey Lutheran
Church is what church is supposed to be about: caring people that love God and are passionate to do the Lord’s work. I feel so blessed to have met so many great new people,
and I am confident that the best is yet to come! I urge everybody in the congregation to
join me in prayerfully considering a generous gift to the Journey Forward campaign to
help secure what God has in store for us. Great things will happen here!
Prayer: Dear God – Thank you for Your love and the plan You have prepared for
us. Help us trust that You know what is right and help us remember that You will
provide for our every need. Thank you for Journey Lutheran Church and help
guide us into your desired future. Amen.
Jonah Denson
Day 47
Blessed be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above. - John Fawcett
My wife and I have been members of seven different churches since
we were married. In each church we have grown in faith and found
friendships. One church divided the adults into home churches. In
one of the member’s homes, we met once a month for a Bible Study
and time of sharing. “Blessed Be the Tie That Binds” was the song
our group sang together each time. This well-known hymn is about
the love and concern Christians have for each other. The tie that
binds them is the love they have for our savior, Jesus Christ, and,
through Him, for each other.
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Last year we were on a bus trip to New Orleans. It was Sunday morning and the last
day of our trip. The tour guide stood up as we started the day. She held up a manila envelope and said, “It has been our tradition on these trips to collect an offering and drop it
off at a church in a town we are traveling through.”
The envelope was passed around the bus and the travelers put money in the provided
small envelopes. Many also wrote messages on their envelopes. The next step was to
call a church in a nearby town. The phone was answered by the pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church in Woodhull, Illinois. As we pulled the bus up to a very small church in
this small town, the pastor came running out and jumped in. She told us she was the pastor at a church in another town and traveled to this church to do services. After a thank
you and a prayer, we were on our way. That must have been a surprising story to tell
the congregation that morning.
Now we are blessed to be members of Journey Lutheran and look forward to making
new friendships. It is a joy to see all of the activity in this building. We support the campaign to help continue and increase this ministry.
PRAYER: Lord, we thank you for the tie that binds us together as a congregation.
We are grateful for the work you are doing and are leading us to do at Journey.
Amen.
Scott Evert
Day 48
“I was there to hear your borning cry, I'll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold.”
Growing up, church was always a big part of my life, whether it was going to Sunday
school, attending bible camp, or youth group activities. That involvement has continued
into my adult life as a member of Journey Lutheran. Looking back,
I realize that my faith and religion took on a whole new meaning
when my daughter was born. I remember the day she was baptized,
listening to the congregation sing the hymn “Borning Cry.” I felt
such strong emotions while hearing the words: “I was there to hear
your borning cry, I’ll be there when you are old. I rejoiced the day
you were baptized to see your life unfold.” I knew that an awesome
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responsibility lay ahead, to raise Sophia to know Jesus Christ and live a life of faith.
My own faith has been renewed and strengthened as I watch Sophia grow in her love
for Christ. The enthusiasm she shows is exciting and contagious! I find myself wanting
to do more, learn more and serve others. Journey Lutheran has been an integral part of
this process for us. We feel blessed to be a part of the Journey family. As our congregation embarks on this new adventure, I look forward to everyone working together,
sharing their talents and resources.
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for all that You have given us. Please guide our congregation as we begin the Journey Forward campaign. Please help each of us to continue
giving of ourselves, our time, and our possessions. In Christ’s name, Amen.
Renee Monti
Day 49
I grew up in a house where faith was not talked about or practiced. Don’t get me
wrong; there were morals and values, but not faith. Yet, I always felt pulled toward faith.
I wanted to understand why people of faith did what they did and believed what they believed, but the only person who talked to me about faith was my neighbor Dorothy. She
explained the Bible to me, how Jesus was the fulfillment of the covenant that God made
with Abraham, and how we are called to live a life of purpose. This sounded amazing to
me; it also reinforced what I had always felt. Dorothy was a Jehovah’s Witness.
From the age of 10 until 22, I studied with and worshiped with Jehovah’s Witnesses. My
mom became opposed as I entered high school. The more I studied and prepared for baptism, the more I began to have problems with some of the Witnesses’ beliefs - one item in
particular was their belief of keeping company only with Witnesses. My best friend was a
kind and caring person who was not a Witness. She was also searching for a relationship with Christ, so how could she be a bad influence? At the age of 22, I finally decided that this was not a life or
belief system I could live with.
For the next 10 years I struggled with what I had learned and what I
saw in the world. I struggled with the existence of God altogether.
The no beginning and no end was hard for me to wrap my head
around. I met a man and we married; then in my early thirties I
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found myself pregnant. This was a miracle…I was told in my late teens that having children would be impossible without extraordinary measures. As my pregnancy progressed,
I found myself more and more amazed at how a woman’s body is the perfect environment to create life. And, on June 20, 1992, as I sat in a hospital room holding my newborn son and looking into his eyes for the very first time, I knew that I would never
again doubt the existence for God. I knew that this could not be an accident - that I may
not completely understand how God works, but that he does truly exist. As I think back
on that day, the scripture that always comes to mind is Psalm 46:10 - “Be still and know
that I am God…” There have been so many times, in the 20 years since my son was
born that I have had to remind myself of this verse. As adults we are supposed to fix
whatever situation we are confronted with. But, as a Christian I have to constantly remind myself that there is so much I can’t fix without God’s help and guidance.
When my family moved to Holmen in 1999, I began looking for an ELCA Lutheran
Church. I found one, and my children and I worshiped there for a while. Then Bridge of
Life began. I knew the Pastor, so the three of us went to worship for one Sunday. We
were only there to support the new mission start. At the end of worship both my 10-year
-old and 6-year-old asked that we switch to Bridge of Life. The small intimate environment and the emphasis on everyone’s personal relationship with Christ was what we
were all looking for. As Bridge grew, and then as we merged into Journey, I have
watched as my children’s faith has been nurtured and their understanding of what being
a follower of Christ looks like has grown.
I am amazed at the loving kindness that is abundant at Journey Lutheran. I can only
imagine what spectacular things we could do if our mortgage was reduced. Every time I
walk into our beautiful building I am thankful that the people who came before me had
the wisdom and courage to build exactly what we need…now let’s finish what they
started and pay down the debt so we can use this asset to its fullest.
The words to the song “Borning Cry” reminds us that no matter where in life we are,
God has always, and will always, be with us. This is a very comforting thought. Even if
we don’t have our eyes on God, He always has his eyes on us.
PRAYER: Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy,
tried and true; with thanksgiving, I'll be a living sanctuary for
you. Amen
Michelle Logan
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Day 50
I believe in the power of prayer. I believe God hears all our prayers and answers
them; it may not always be the answer we desire or what we think is best for us, but He
does answer them. God cares for us, loves us, and wants us to be happy, and that is why
He is always there for us.
Throughout my life I have prayed. I have found prayer to be comforting, giving me
the strength to get through difficult times and joy in knowing He is always there and listening. There are so many times prayer has offered me solace and courage.
Words from one of my favorite hymns seem to echo in my mind when I have difficult
times or need encouragement or strength. I hope you will remember these words and
find them as uplifting and comforting as I do.
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry ev'rything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit. Oh, what needless pain we bear.
All because we do not carry ev'rything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a Friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness--Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our Refuge--take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He'll take and shield thee, thou wilt find a solace there.
In this difficult financial time in our church, I know God will hear our payers and will be
there for us in our time of need. Remember our church in your prayers and embrace the
comfort it will give you. Know God is there to help and guide us and will Always answer.
PRAYER: May the Lord bless us and keep us. May the Lord’s
face shine upon us with grace and mercy. May the Lord look
upon us with favor and give us peace.
God’s blessings and peace.
Susan Reget
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Day 51
I will seek that which was lost and bring again that which was driven away, and will
bind up that which was broken, and strengthen that which was sick, but I will destroy
the fat and the strong, I will feed them with judgment. Ezekiel 34:16
I had always been a member of some church, somewhere growing up. I knew the
stories of Noah, Moses, Jesus and other guys in the Bible you learned about at Sunday
School each week. It was the same old thing – getting dressed up nicely, getting
dragged to church early in the morning, and being on you best behavior during the boring sermons. Oh, how I dreaded it more and more as the years went on.
“When I grow up, I’m not making my kids do any of this! I will teach them at
home. They don’t have to go through this to be a better person, right?” So that’s what I
did. I stayed away from everything church related when I was old enough to make my
own decisions. My kids didn’t have to go through all of the torture I did.
Then, one day, a friend asked what my kids were doing on Wednesday night.
“Why?” I wanted to know. “Oh, because we have a program at church called Kid Connection and I thought they would want to come”. “I don’t know,” I said, “I’ll talk to
Jim”. “Whatever floats your boat”, was Jim’s response. So I decided to try it. I mean,
it wasn’t Sunday morning, and if we didn’t like it we didn’t have to go back. So we
went. Well, the kids loved it. They wanted to go back. So we let them and within a few
weeks we were going to Sunday church too.
It started to be not as bad as I remembered. I think the more casual environment and
the not so boring sermons helped. It was nice. It was a place that the kids, Jim and I felt
welcomed. We felt like we wanted to be there. It was through them I found my way
back. It was through them that Jim became baptized and became a child of God. It was
because of God working through them and my friend we are members of Journey Lutheran. We are no longer lost.
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for giving us the children we have to help us find our
way. Thank you for all of the people who lead the lost to your
ways. We truly are your children and tend to stray and get side
tracked. Thank you for always being there and accepting of us
when we return. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Heather Boardman
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Day 52
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites
out of Egypt?” God said, “I will be with you…” Exodus 3:11-12a
I have always felt a connection to Moses, especially when he hears God’s call at the
burning bush. When Moses arrives he is focused on what he cannot do and what he
doesn’t have. God is focused on what Moses can do and the gifts he does have. When
Moses surrenders and allows God to work through him, amazing things begin to happen.
A similar story has played out at many points in my life. An early “burning bush”
event happened when I was young in my first job of ministry. I was doing an internship at
a congregation far from home and I felt insecure in my untested abilities. It didn’t help
that I was following a very popular and more-experienced intern named Jason. My landlord was an elderly gentleman in the congregation named Lewis.
One day, when talking to Lewis, I shared my feelings of uncertainty. I was comparing
myself to the prior intern, pointing out the areas where I was not as gifted and not as experienced. After patiently listening for a while, Lewis interrupted me. He said, “Steve, God
has not called you to be Jason. God has given you different gifts from Jason. God has
called you to be Steve. God has called you to use the unique gifts that he has given you
and do things that Jason could never do. “ It was a turning point for me. I stopped focusing on what I couldn’t do and started looking at what I could do.
PRAYER: Gracious God, Thank you for the talents and the gifts that you have
given to me. Help me to see and celebrate what I have. You accept me as I am.
Help me to do the same. Amen.
Steve Spilde
Day 53
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to
you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12
Growing up, I had a very close church and community family. I
was baptized, confirmed, and married at French Creek Lutheran
Church. I raised my three children in a Presbyterian church,
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teaching Sunday school and Confirmation. After a divorce and seeing kids through confirmation, I lost my way. Life seemed to go bad, every step forward I went two back.
Then a friend convinced me we needed to go to church. We needed to reunite with
Christ. We went to several different churches in the area but never found one that felt
right. I wanted a church like the one I grew up in.
Then, by chance, her daughter went to YES, Holmen. She met some amazing people
and they invited her to their church. That church was Bridge of Life. We were greeted
by everyone and felt welcomed. I found my place where I wanted to be. I started going
to church every Sunday and Wednesday. I felt the need to go. I would leave feeling
uplifted. When we merged with Christ the King my faith soared even more. I was a
charter member of Journey Lutheran! I have my faith back. I found my way back and
now spread my love and faith to others.
PRAYER: Father in heaven, be with all of us as we continue in our faith journey.
Help us through the ups and downs that life throws our way. Comfort all those in
need. Keep us in Your loving arms today and always. Amen.
Lora Lebakken
Day 54
“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22: 6
My parents were married in 1940, and by the end of 1955 they had nine children.
We lived on a small farm with just a few cows, and my father also worked as a carpenter
and later as a custodian. As the youngest of the seven girls, I either wore hand-medowns or sewed my own clothes. We were poor but we were rich.
Mom and Dad instilled in all of us the riches of a loving family and the riches that
come from God’s love. We went to Sunday school with our
nickels tied into the corner of a handkerchief so we wouldn’t lose
them before the offering was taken. We went to confirmation
class and Luther League as teenagers. We sang in the Junior
Choir. We even sat through the Finnish services, not understanding a word of the LONG Finnish sermons, because they were important to our parents and grandparents.
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My parents trained us by the way they lived their lives. Did Proverbs 22: 6 give
them a guarantee that their children would always do what God wants? Did we always
do the right thing? I know I certainly didn’t, and I’m sure my sisters and brothers didn’t
either. But my parents’ deep faith gave them the confidence to let us make our own
mistakes and our own decisions.
We were poor but there was always enough to give generously to the church. My
parents loved and supported the church throughout their lives. I love Journey Lutheran
Church and I know how important it is for me to do all I can to support our “Journey
Forward” campaign.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, everything we have comes from You and we thank You.
Help us remember that our gifts to You can never match the gift You have given
us, your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Leah Wisnewski
Day 55
“Even though I am not with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit. And as though I
were there, I have already passed judgment on this man in the name of the Lord Jesus.
You must call a meeting of the church. I will be present with you in spirit, and so will
the power of our Lord Jesus. Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to
Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day
the Lord returns.” I Corinthians 5:3-5 (NLT)
We must be careful who we associate with. Those that live in sin, and are not willing
to change, we must not associate with them. It is much easier for a person to tear someone down than build them up.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to be mindful of whom I associate
with. If there are people in my life that are not good for me,
I pray You show them to me and give me the courage to break
ties with them. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!
Jessica Loken
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Day 56
We are trav’lers on the journey, yearning to believe
Hearts are burning, eyes are open. We are trav’lers on the journey of love.
What is life really all about in the struggle of faith?
Hear the word reaching out to you, Jesus is alive today.
Do we walk in our foolishness with our hearts ever slow
to the touch of the Holy One who is with us on this road?
We are blessed in the gathering at the table of grace.
Free to see in another’s pain the face of Jesus here today.
Life does not always go the way you expect it to. In fact, it usually only has a partial
resemblance to the way you thought it would be. So it was when my first wife, Mary,
and I were married on a beautiful fall day in La Crosse, October 6th, 1979. Our lives
were full of love, anticipation and excitement for our journey through life together. In
some ways it would be the way we thought it would be, with new jobs, our first house
and two kids. First a boy, Eric, and then a girl, Jessica. We also had our inevitable losses of people close to us during this time, including my wife’s mother when Mary was
only 28 years old. Throughout all that happened, good and bad, God, along with his
Church on earth, traveled next to us, celebrating or supporting as the case would be.
The kids were a great blessing. Both were healthy and happy and full of life. One
year after Jess was born, Mary casually mentioned a tiny lump in her breast, no bigger
than a BB. We had no way to know that this was the beginning of a 12 year battle with
cancer. As much as possible we kept our lives as normal as it could be. God became a
source of even greater comfort, guidance and hope that gave us the strength to carry on
as we did and to actually celebrate the life we were living, even with the things that
were wrong. Just after Jess turned 13, Mary’s journey through this life ended after 6
months of hospice care at home. As I held her hand when she died I experienced a sense
of total peace that cannot be put into words. It was as if she had
been allowed to show me the tiniest sense of what her new life
would be like, perhaps so we would not grieve for her. Since then,
those left behind continue on their journeys, starting new lives and
starting over. I am blessed to have a special woman in my life to
once again share this journey with and a loving God to show us the
way.
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We are also blessed to have a faith community that is strong and diverse. We also
have a great facility supporting our own members and outreaching to the local community and the rest of the world. I believe our “Journey” is just beginning and with a little
help will be there to help many other people in their journey.
PRAYER: Thank you, Lord, for always being there for us. You comfort us when
we need it, You share our joys, You light our path and point us in the right direction as we travel on this journey of life.
Forrest Moe
Day 57
“Be not afraid for I am with you always. Your are mine and I have called you by name
and you are mine. ” Isaiah 43
Have you every had the feeling of total isolation? The hopeless feeling that you are
in the middle of nowhere, alone and without direction?
I have not really personally experienced these feelings to any great extent, but I
could imagine the feeling that it would bring to one’s person. The closest feelings that I
experienced with the above mentioned for me took place back in 2009 -2010. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December of 2009, with the treatment following in early 2010. During the treatment process, I was so fortunate to be surrounded by many caring, compassionate, loving people. But yet there was still a void. The cancer treatments,
as many have experienced, is a long road that you travel on your own. For my journey
down this road, God’s Holy Spirit reached out to me very early in the journey. The Spirit directed me to the passages in Isaiah 43, the verses 1-5, “Be not afraid for I am with
you always.” For me, this was very comforting; the fact that I was not alone but God
was always by my side for the entire journey and beyond.
One struggles with words on how to describe the feeling of comfort of knowing that I was not alone in this and many other journeys since my experience of 2009 – 2010. Another piece to all of
this is the fact that God has called me out. Me! He called me out by
name and called me his own. I know that there is nothing that I did
to deserve this honor or privilege, but, wow, what a feeling!
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I encourage you during your daily life to listen to the Spirit; you, too, will not regret the
experience.
PRAYER: Father, thank you for being by my side, calling me out by name and
claiming me as one of your own. I could never make it through the journey of life
without your loving help. Help me to share the gift of your Holy Spirit with others,
so that they may also know and experience your love. Amen!
Dave Denson
Day 58
A couple weeks ago when I was leading a worship service at St Joseph’s Nursing Home
in La Crosse, we sang that neat old 1905 hymn, “God Will Take Care Of You.” Later I was
humming/singing the words of the chorus to myself:
“God will take care of you, Thro’every day, O’er all the way;
He will take care of you, God will take care of you.”
Funny how our minds and memories work, but this took me back to New Years of ’61’62. I was a senior at Luther College and on New Year’s Eve someone banged into the back
of my parked 1953 Chev. The culprit slid over my bumper, smashed the right tail light,
banged up the fender, and took off. I could still drive the car. My Dad and I pounded out
the fender, attached a “new” used tail light and I was “good to go!”
Back at Luther, I had parked the car and filed my insurance claim. The day the adjuster
came it was very cold and the car was nearly buried in the snow. Looking out the window
to the car, he said, “It’s too cold to go out there; would you settle for $275.00?” Being I’d
paid $300 for the car in 1958, I said “OK.” He wrote me the check on the spot.
Now here’s where this old hymn comes in; I had a bill at Luther’s business office for
$275 to balance my account for the semester. I was broke------ didn’t
know how I was going to pay this and it was due the next day. So I
marched right over to the business office and signed over my “brand
new” insurance check. They marked my bill “Paid in Full” and now,
once again, I was Good to Go! God had Provided!
I learned a great lesson about God providing and caring for me
that day. God truly will take care of me when I go forward with
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faith and trust in His Word and His Promises to be with me. As Kitty and I make our
commitment to the appeal, I’m Good to Go.
It’s really no different here for Journey as a congregation. We go trustingly, confidently and boldly forward in our “Journey Forward” Capital Appeal.
…through every day, o’er all the way; God will take care of US,
God will take care of US.
Truly, we’re Good To Go!!
PRAYER: God our Father, you’ve made it clear in your Scriptures; you will never
forget us. You’ve sent your Son to redeem us and Holy Spirit to guide and teach
us. Encourage us to believe confidently that you’ll always care for us. Amen
Dale Ruosch
Day 59
“Show me the path of life, in your presence there is fullness of joy” Psalm 16:11
As part of my seminary training, I spent an January Term living with a family of the Tohono O’odham nation (a Native
American reservation in southern Arizona). It was a marvelous
cross cultural experience. One of the primary symbols of the
tribe, found in the baskets and jewelry designs, was the
“Man
in the Maze”. It was the legend that spoke of their
origins,
but also was a metaphor for journey of life with all its twists and
turns.
I love the language of “being travelers on the journey” to describe our congregation
and the process of our spiritual growth. Thanks to all who shared stories of faith here in
this devotional book to enrich our journey together, especially as
we boldly move forward into the future that God has for us.
PRAYER: Thank you Lord for this community faith we call
Journey Lutheran. Guide and direct us in the path of life that
we may know the fullness of your joy. Amen
Pastor Steve
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Day 60
From Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians …
8
We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to
the churches of Macedonia; 2 for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and
their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For, as I can
testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, 4 begging
us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints— 5 and this, not merely as
we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us, 6 so that we
might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you. 7 Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this
generous undertaking.
8
I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the
earnestness of others. 9 For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he
was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. 10
And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only
to do something but even to desire to do something— 11 now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. 12 For if the eagerness is there,
the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. 13 I
do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a
fair balance between 14 your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be
for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. 15 As it is written, “The one who had
much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.”
16
But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same eagerness for you that I myself
have. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but since he is more eager than ever, he is going
to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the
churches for his proclaiming the good news; 19 and not only that, but he has also been appointed
by the churches to travel with us while we are administering this generous undertaking for the
glory of the Lord himself and to show our goodwill. 20 We intend that no one should blame us
about this generous gift that we are administering, 21 for we intend to do what is right not only
in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of others. 22 And with them we are sending our brother
whom we have often tested and found eager in many matters, but who is
now more eager than ever because of his great confidence in you. 23 As
for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker in your service; as for our
brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24
Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love
and of our reason for boasting about you.
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9
Now it is not necessary for me to write you about the ministry to the saints, 2 for I know
your eagerness, which is the subject of my boasting about you to the people of Macedonia,
saying that Achaia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them.
3
But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you may not prove to have
been empty in this case, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be; 4 otherwise, if some
Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say
nothing of you—in this undertaking. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on
ahead to you, and arrange in advance for this bountiful gift that you have promised, so that it
may be ready as a voluntary gift and not as an extortion.
6
The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who
sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each of you must give as you have made up your
mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able
to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 9 As it is written, “He scatters abroad,
he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”
10
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed
for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.11 You will be enriched in every way
for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; 12 for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many
thanksgivings to God. 13 Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience
to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and
with all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of
God that he has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
The Joy of Generosity
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