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From ssbdwels.com: Not Ashamed – October 15, 2021Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.Hebrews 2:11 #top .hr.hr-invisible.av-1g4ignz-594f42938c8dfc7e7ac530646d401b16{height:15px;}Not AshamedDaily Devotion – October 15, 2021Devotion based on Hebrews 2:11wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211015dev.mp3See series: DevotionsReal Men Love Jesus. The slogan appears on t-shirts, hoodies, coffee cups, and drink coasters. But why sell such items? Who would purchase them?It’s a bit of a reaction to an unfortunate trend. Christians are often pressured to feel ashamed of Jesus and to hide their faith in Jesus. The Real Men Love Jesus slogan is a marketing strategy designed to reverse that trend. It’s time for Christians to let their light shine, not hide it. Don’t be ashamed of Jesus!But have you ever wondered, “Could Jesus be ashamed of us?” After all, we are part of a human race that seems so self-absorbed. There’s so much chaos and disharmony in our communities. News outlets run stories about riots, wars, assaults, and trafficking. Could Jesus love a world like this?On a more personal note, I have a good deal of chaos and disharmony in my own heart. I’m supposed to love Jesus above all else. In reality, I’ve set my heart on so many other things. I’m supposed to trust Jesus. Instead, I stress myself out with worry or try to take matters into my own hands. I’m supposed to honor Jesus by the things I think, say, and do. Oh, how I’ve failed! Could Jesus love a person like me?He could. In fact, he does! John 3:16 reminds us that God loved the world so much, he sent Jesus to be our Savior. Jesus didn’t walk away from our self-absorbed humanity but willingly came running to our rescue. He took all the selfishness, sin, dishonor, and chaos of our hearts and communities—he took it all to the cross. And there on the cross, he suffered and died and made a perfect payment.The result? The sins of the world have been paid for by Jesus! On a more personal note, the sins of my past have been taken away. The times I’ve dishonored or distrusted my God—those have been forgiven. Jesus, my Savior, has washed me clean.What a way to start or end your day, knowing that Jesus loves you, has paid for all your sins, and isn’t ashamed to call you his brother or sister! #top .hr.hr-invisible.av-1c1e933-991b45e98a1df27c903a51138523e164{height:25px;}Prayer:Savior, Jesus, since you have loved me so dearly, help me never to be ashamed of you. Amen.#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-iz32kf-353a444a89ffaf3625ae74910530a89c{height:25px;}Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.ssbdwels.com/not-ashamed-october-15-2021/... See MoreSee Less

From ssbdwels.com: Never Alone – October 14, 2021The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.”Genesis 2:18 #top .hr.hr-invisible.av-1g4ignz-594f42938c8dfc7e7ac530646d401b16{height:15px;}Never AloneDaily Devotion – October 14, 2021Devotion based on Genesis 2:18wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211014dev.mp3See series: DevotionsAccording to Google, there are over eight million different species in the animal kingdom. Another article in an online animal journal identified ten of the most solitary creatures in the world. Out of all those eight million animal species, only ten prefer to be alone. The vast majority of animals prefer to be in packs, herds, and families. If that’s true for the animal kingdom, it is surely true for the vast majority of the seven billion human beings living on this planet.While some alone time can be valuable, most of us thrive with the company of others. It’s not good for us to be alone. We function better when we have relationships with other people. We enjoy sharing experiences and creating memories with others. We benefit when friends or family members offer up listening ears, helping hands, and empathetic hearts. We feel a sense of purpose when we lend our ears, hands, and hearts to those around us.Of course, all of us are different. We are unique individuals with unique personalities. Because of that, some of us might prefer just a few friends while others crave a much larger network. Yet, all of us thrive when we have some level of companionship.Our Creator God knows what we need, and in his generosity, he supplies it. In marriage, God provides for that deep human need in a unique and special way. Husbands and wives transition from the households of their youth and join together into their own personal family units. For those who aren’t married, God still provides specials bonds with siblings and friends and deep, life-long relationships with parents and children. Because we live in a sinful world, there will be times when spouses, friends, and family members depart. Even then, our God does not abandon us. It is not good for us to be alone. So our Lord assures us, “You’re never alone! I am with you always.” #top .hr.hr-invisible.av-1c1e933-991b45e98a1df27c903a51138523e164{height:25px;}Prayer:Lord Jesus, my dearest Friend, thank you for the people you have put into my life. Help me to see my family members and my friends as precious gifts from you. Fill me with your love so that I may be a faithful friend to others, as you have been to me. Amen.#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-iz32kf-353a444a89ffaf3625ae74910530a89c{height:25px;}Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.ssbdwels.com/never-alone-october-14-2021/... See MoreSee Less

From ssbdwels.com: Complementary Companion – October 13, 2021The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”Genesis 2:18 #top .hr.hr-invisible.av-1g4ignz-594f42938c8dfc7e7ac530646d401b16{height:15px;}Complementary CompanionDaily Devotion – October 13, 2021Devotion based on Genesis 2:18wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211013dev.mp3See series: DevotionsAfter God created the world, he had Adam give names to all the creatures God had made. It would have been obvious to Adam that every creature had a companion—Mr. Lion had Mrs. Lion, Mr. Giraffe had Mrs. Giraffe, and so forth. It was God’s intention to supply Adam with a companion too. His creating activity wasn’t quite complete. To a certain degree, Adam could have found some level of companionship within the animal kingdom. But God wanted to give him an even better gift, so he created Eve. Eve shared Adam’s humanity. Eve was a friend. Adam now had someone “suitable” for him. He had someone similar to him and equal to him, but uniquely different. He had someone to share in his joys and help carry his sorrows; someone to grow old with; someone to talk to. Not only did Eve provide Adam with companionship and vice-versa, but they also formed a compatible, harmonious team. Jesus said, “God created them male and female” (Mark 10:6). God very consciously and carefully created two distinct genders so they could team up together and complement each other.Even in a world where some try to erase the differences between genders the Bible shows a loving Creator who knows how to give good gifts, special gifts, varied gifts. In a marriage, what one spouse lacks physically, emotionally, or psychologically the other can provide. Where one might be weak, the other can be strong. Husbands and wives are teammates and partners, but that doesn’t mean they will always have the same jobs, opinions, or ideas. Instead, they bring into the relationship different strengths, different abilities, and different backgrounds. They are better together than they are apart.Husbands and wives, take a moment to consider how unique and even how different your spouse may be from you. Rejoice in those differences. Thank God for the complementary companion he has given you. #top .hr.hr-invisible.av-1c1e933-991b45e98a1df27c903a51138523e164{height:25px;}Prayer:Gracious Lord, ever since the beginning of the world you have showered your people with good gifts. Thank you for the many different and unique people you have put into my life. Help me to shower them with kindness and affection. Amen.#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-iz32kf-353a444a89ffaf3625ae74910530a89c{height:25px;}Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.ssbdwels.com/complementary-companion-october-13-2021/... See MoreSee Less

From ssbdwels.com: Relationship Instructions – October 12, 2021Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.Ephesians 5:21 #top .hr.hr-invisible.av-1g4ignz-594f42938c8dfc7e7ac530646d401b16{height:15px;}Relationship InstructionsDaily Devotion – October 12, 2021Devotion based on Ephesians 5:21wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211012dev.mp3See series: DevotionsAccording to one internet survey, the BILLY/OXBERG bookcase and the PAX wardrobe are the two pieces of IKEA furniture that are the most complicated to assemble. Customers complained that the directions were too complex. Numerous reviewers fussed about having leftover pieces and the assembly process taking five hours or more.Some things you can take out of the box and build without even looking at the instructions. Not the BILLY/OXBERG bookcase or the PAX wardrobe. You want to follow the instructions. The same is true when people enter into friendships. There are some basic instructions you want to follow for the friendship to be successful. Be kind to one another. Treat each other with respect. Be honest. Those are valuable instructions when it comes to all human interactions and relationships. Honesty, kindness, and respect are particularly valuable in marriages. God doesn’t give spouses a 400-page document of dos and don’ts, but he does give a very basic directive: Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.The natural tendency for human beings is to look out for self, to serve self. In other words, ME FIRST! God reminds us that a different mindset is what makes marriages and relationships work. Not me first but my spouse first. When spouses submit to one another, they are saying, “I want your needs to be met before mine. I want your happiness and your goals to come before mine.” Submitting to one another looks less like a tug-of-war contest and more like a gift-giving contest (if such a thing existed).And if we’re looking for a role model, we need look no further than Jesus. And, if we’re looking for a boost to help us do less taking and more giving, we need look no further than Jesus. The patience, love, and forgiveness he shares with us are all the motivation we need. The way he put our needs ahead of his own and the way he sacrificed his life to save ours is the boost we need to keep sharply focused on a Christ-like mindset—not me first, but others first. #top .hr.hr-invisible.av-1c1e933-991b45e98a1df27c903a51138523e164{height:25px;}Prayer:Lord Jesus, your deep love for me enables me to love others. Whether I am single or married, young or old, help me to think, to love, and to act more and more like you. Amen.#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-iz32kf-353a444a89ffaf3625ae74910530a89c{height:25px;}Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.ssbdwels.com/relationship-instructions-october-12-2021/... See MoreSee Less