Sunday, May 20
by, Daniel Grayvold

“Take care that you do not forget the Lord your God, by failing to keep his commandments, his ordinances, his statutes, which I am commanding you today. When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, an arid wasteland with poisonous snakes and scorpions. He made water flow for you from flint rock, and fed you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble you and to test you, and in the end to do you good. Do not say to yourself, “My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today.” Deuteronomy 8:11-20

Dear Conan the Confirmand,

Sometimes I get sick and tired of the preaching of the church that says God should get all the credit for what I have. Through my hard work I was able to save money and buy my house. With my good choices, I did not waste money on drinking or gambling. I made sure I saved money every month so I could take care of myself and my family. Why can’t I get a little credit now and then; why should God hog it all?

Signed,
Hard working in Hancock

Dear Hard-working,

God is the one who made you and everything around you. Therefore, it is he who actually made it possible for you to work hard and get all the wealth, house, and family you have.

Here is my prayer for you:
God, thank you for making me able to do the things I can, power to get things done, and help to fulfill my dreams for my family. Amen

Monday, May 21
by, Emily Jarvi

“Jesus said to the disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens, they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span or life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith? And do not keep striving for what you are to eat, for what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.’” Luke 12:22-32

Dear Conan the Confirmand,

I read in the Bible where Jesus said we are not to worry. He said God will take care of us. That is all well and good in theory. But the fact is, if I did not worry about providing food for my family, and all that they need each day, they might end up living in neglect! Isn’t it important to worry about your family and loved ones?

Signed,
Worried in Wakefield

Dear Worried,

God wants you to believe in his word. You may need help to provide for your family, but you need to trust God. God is always with us. It’s important, I think, to worry about your family and loved ones. Life is not always about food. Faith is important because faith in God helps us know that we are not alone. When we are worried then we should pray. God does not want anyone to be lazy and sit around. But when we have real needs, God promises to provide for us.

My prayer for you:
Dear God, please provide for your people who are worried about food, clothing, and what is needed for daily life. Help us to know you love us and help us to trust in you always. Amen

Tuesday, May 22
by, Logan Lannet

“The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand., satisfying the desire of every living thing. The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.” Psalm 145:14-16

Dear Conan the Confirmand,

Would you please answer my question, it has been bugging me a lot; my question is: If God gives so much daily bread to some people, why does God seem to give so little to others?

Signed,
Confused in Conover

Dear Confused,

It might seem that God gives a lot to some and little to others. But we read in the Bible that God really is generous, wanting to provide for all who are in need. I think the reason why some have too little is because those who are blessed with all kinds of things may be greedy and unkind. For the people of the world to have enough daily bread will mean that some people who have plenty must change their hearts and share more. People who are blessed with money and many things need our prayers so they don’t become selfish and stay that way.

Here is my prayer for you:
Dear God, please help the people of this world to share so that there is an equal amount of daily bread for all your people. Amen

Wednesday, May 23
by, Colin Lannet

“Happy are those whose help is in the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.” Psalm 146:5-8

Dear Conan the Confirmand,

If everyone gets “everything needed for this life,” why should I concern myself with the needs of other people?

Signed,
Miffed in Marquette

Dear Miffed,

You should show concern for other people because God loves everyone and you should love everyone too. So if anyone is in need you should care for them and help them through their troubles. This is what God would want from us because God “lifts up those who are bowed down.”

Here is my prayer for you:
Dear Lord, please help all who are in need. Amen.

Thursday, May 24
by, Sabrina Pietila

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7

Dear Conan the Confirmand,

If God gives me my daily bread “even without me praying for it,” why do I have to be grateful for it?

Signed,
Puzzled in Paulding

Dear Puzzled,

If you are never grateful for what you get, then you will never be satisfied with what you have. You should always thank God because if you like being thanked yourself, don’t you think God would like a thank-you once in a while? I don’t think God will stop giving when we are not thankful. The Bible says God loves all people in the world. But don’t you think we would be better persons with a happier attitude if we learned to be thankful?

Here is my prayer for you:
Dear God, help us to be thankful for what we have before we start asking for more. Amen.

Friday, May 25
by, Jacob Jarvi

“For if you truly amend your ways and your doings, if you truly act justly one with another, if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own hurt, then I will dwell with you in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your ancestors forever and ever. Here you are, trusting in deceptive words to no avail. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by name, and say, ‘We are safe!’ – only to go on doing all these horrible things? Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your sight? You know, I am watching, says the Lord.” Jeremiah 7:5-11

Dear Conan the Confirmand,

Last week in church they handed out a quiz about world hunger. One of the questions read, “Every day, 16,000 children die of hunger-related diseases. That’s one child every ____ seconds.” The answer is “every 5.4 seconds.” I know this is terrible, but why bring it up in church. I come to church to be comforted.

Signed,
Guilty in Gladstone

Dear Guilty,

Church is God’s house. We are always welcome in God’s house but sometimes his word is not comforting, but God still wants us to do his word. What God would want us to do is reach out for people who need help. God does not want us to be selfish, just helping ourselves. God wants us to be of help for all of his creation. God wants us to stop world hunger.

Here is my prayer for you:
Gracious God, help us as people to stop world hunger. Amen

Saturday, May 26
by, Zach, 7th grade
Calvary, Rapid River

“Whoever will be great among you must be servant of all.” Mark 10:43

I was born to be a leader. At least I like to think that way. But I also know that to be a real leader means to be a servant. The people at church who are the most important are the ones who serve others. So I try my best to always be helpful. I love to read at worship, and help at the communion, and ring the bell, and take the offering. If there is something that needs doing, I will try my best to do it. I learned this from my parents. They would say that worship is the most important part of their faith. But helping and serving are a close second.

This is what I think: the church needs all of us and all of our abilities. If you think you are a leader, maybe you should volunteer for the church nursery, or help out by washing dishes in the kitchen. God can make the humblest job a real joy and privilege. And he can make any of us into real leaders.

Eternal God, your Son Jesus came into our world to show us what it means to be great in the Kingdom of God. Help us to follow his example each and every day. Amen