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I'm sharing this journal entry from one of our sheep / shepherds for your encouragement and invite you to share your stories to keep us connected David
Thursday April 2, 2020: A journal entry:
JESUS WEPT.
A Morning mist of low cloud wrapped soft around the hills.
I read John 6 and tried to ponder on Jesus the living bread. But the mist beckoned and drew me outside, quickly enfolding me in its clammy embrace.
There was no pausing to choose direction. I headed straight up the hill blanketed in the foggy stillness, only birdcall echoing the inner certainty – she’s coming to pray.
Pray up the hill. I haven’t prayed up there for a while. I’ve prayed. But not there on God’s hill, my place of retreat.
At the summit, as cloud drifted and lifted, it was my heart that rained out its anguished plea, the cry for help with COVID19: LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER. Help us Jesus.
That was it. No wordy waffle. I perched on the rim of the damp bench, poised in grief and need; heart, mind and spirit turned to God, “Yet still do I praise you Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Living God.”
A lull then settled over me, like a mute button had been pressed to hush the turmoil of my distressed thoughts and wretched emotions concerning the plight of the world’s people. Wait. Be quiet!
Jesus wept. The words from last Sunday’s reading came to mind loud and clear.
33 When Jesus saw her crying, and the Judaeans who had come with her crying, he was deeply stirred in his spirit, and very troubled. 34 ‘Where have you laid him?’ he asked. ‘Master,’ they said, ‘come and see.’ 35 Jesus burst into tears. (John 11:33-35 NTE)
I too burst into tears, and as I wept, there at the top of the hill, I knew he was weeping with me. Weeping with all the world. Weeping for us all.
Turn to me. And I, turning, vision all awash, could see clearly, he was there. Feed my sheep. To this I shook my head, and thought, I’m no pastor. You are a minister of my word. Therefore, speak my word to others. Speak my word to one another. And suddenly understanding dawned. “You aren’t just saying this to me, are you? It’s your call to all of us: Feed your sheep. The responsibility is ours collectively.” And I pictured the scattered sheep, isolated from one another but belonging together and needing creative new ways of being church and speaking grace and hope to one another and others.
I plunged, then, down the hill, not following the worn paths but winding down the steeper slope, weaving through knee high weeds, around rocky mounds and patches of slippery flattened grass, to emerge at the wider base track.
Now is the time to forge new paths. Jesus is still the Way, the “base track” of my faith remains the same. It’s the network of familiar paths that represent how we have lived out our faith, that have fallen away, not God’s word or his kingdom, or his love.
I am thankful for this love that comes to us where we are: scattered sheep weeping in the mist of uncertainty. I’m thankful that Jesus wept and that his way isn’t set in stone. That he comes and calls us to discover a new and living way, today and tomorrow and the next day. Hallelujah! This is a new day! And the Jesus who weeps with us in our distress will renew us and lead us on beyond COVID19.
JESUS WEPT.
The autumn sun filtered a pale ray through the drifting grey. A reminder that the God who weeps, also sheds light as well as tears.
Hope builds faith
The devotions for the coming week are taken from Lutheran Tract Mission’s 2026 Lenten devotional, ‘Hope for Our Future’. Written by Anne Hansen, Lutheran Tract Mission’s Tract Development Officer, the devotions focus on how our futures and hopes are assured in Jesus Christ. The Lenten devotional is available here. It can be downloaded, printed or used as a digital flipbook.
by Anne Hansen
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love (Psalm 147:11).
Read Psalm 147:1–11
I believe that God gave farmers a mammoth share of faith. Year after year, they sow their crops in the hope that God will send rain for a good harvest. Other farmers spend money and time on feeding their animals in the hope that God will give a good return at the market.
While in Loxton, South Australia, I truly got to understand the meanings of faith and hope. In verses 8 and 9 of Psalm 147 is written:
He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.
But what happens when this doesn’t occur in our timing?
My farmer friends from Loxton have faced desperate times without rain, as well as seasons of good harvests. God asks us and those farmers to fear him (respect him) and to continue hoping that, in his unfailing love, he will provide what is needed. It may not be the desired rain, but it may come in the form of help from friends, neighbours and family coming together in faith.
When we are in need and hope, we pray! God hears the prayers of the faithful, and he will uphold you with the strength to cope for another day. Throughout the Bible, we read of God’s love and faithfulness – we only need to hold onto this hope and promise.
This is a beautiful psalm of promise in remembering all that God does for us:
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit (Psalm 147:3–5).
Our God is an incredible God. If he knows the billions and trillions of stars by name, he knows your name and hears the prayers of his children. God wants us to rest in the hope that he loves us and hears all our concerns. This Lenten season, open your hearts to pray – for your family, your neighbours, those in need and the world.
Hope builds faith!
Loving Father, you know all my needs and concerns. I come to you in prayer, asking for help for our farmers. Knowing that you hear my prayers, I place my hope in your promises. Amen.
Anne Hansen has worked as the Lutheran Tract Mission Development Officer for almost 20 years. She lives in Noosa, Queensland, with her husband Mark (a pastor). She enjoys leading Know Your Bible (KYB) and Mainly Music. For relaxation, she loves walking, reading, gardening and playing pickleball.
Hope-filled waiting
The devotions for the coming week are taken from Lutheran Tract Mission’s 2026 Lenten devotional, ‘Hope for Our Future’. Written by Anne Hansen, Lutheran Tract Mission’s Tract Development Officer, the devotions focus on how our futures and hopes are assured in Jesus Christ. The Lenten devotional is available here. It can be downloaded, printed or used as a digital flipbook.
by Anne Hansen
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning (Psalm 130:5,6).
Read Psalm 130:1–8
It was 1980, and I sat at the bus stop, waiting and waiting for my bus to come to take me to the city, where I would catch another bus to Immanuel College in Novar Gardens, an inner south-western suburb of Adelaide.
The bus had been due 10 minutes ago; I was going to miss my connection with the city bus. What could I do? There were no mobile phones to call or to check if the bus was on time. I was unable to contact my mum, so I just had to sit, wait and hope that it would come.
Eventually, I learnt that my bus had broken down. Another arrived to take its place and take me to my destination. I was late to school that day. I sat there, trusting that a bus would come to take me to school. I knew I had the right time and the right place, but I just had to sit and wait in hope.
How many times have you sat and waited in hope for God to come and act? Waiting for a family member to come home when they are late? Sitting by the bedside of a loved one as they struggle in pain? Waiting by the phone to hear the results of a test, but it seems to take hours? God hears and cares; still, we wait in hope for the Lord.
The writer of this psalm, presumed to be King David, repeats a part of the above verse: ‘… more than watchmen wait for the morning.’ I have learnt that things repeated in the Bible are emphasised for a reason.
Watchmen were night workers; they worked all night and finished when the sun came up. They knew that their shift would end, for morning does come, but it just takes time.
We are to put our hope in the Lord our God. He hears our cries, prayers and pleas – we must wait for the morning to come. It will inevitably come … just wait with hope!
We wait as ‘watchmen wait for the morning’.
My Lord and Saviour, help me to wait and to trust that you will bring me an answer in your timing. Sometimes it is difficult to wait, but please give me patience in my hope for your help. Amen.
Anne Hansen has worked as the Lutheran Tract Mission Development Officer for almost 20 years. She lives in Noosa, Queensland, with her husband Mark (a pastor). She enjoys leading Know Your Bible (KYB) and Mainly Music. For relaxation, she loves walking, reading, gardening and playing pickleball.
Psalm 119
The devotions for the coming week are taken from Lutheran Tract Mission’s 2026 Lenten devotional, ‘Hope for Our Future’. Written by Anne Hansen, Lutheran Tract Mission’s Tract Development Officer, the devotions focus on how our futures and hopes are assured in Jesus Christ. The Lenten devotional is available here. It can be downloaded, printed or used as a digital flipbook.
by Anne Hansen
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word (Psalm 119:81).
Read Psalm 119:41–48,81
So, what do you know about Psalm 119? It is the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verses. Did you know that Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem written in eight-verse stanzas, and each stanza is named after a letter of the Hebrew alphabet?
It is not known who wrote this chapter – some say King David, others Ezra and others Daniel. What we do know is that the author has a profound love and desire to obey all of God’s words, which are a source of life, hope and wisdom. The overall theme of this chapter is that through obeying God’s word, we will be blessed with happiness, guidance and security.
The word ‘hope’ appears only five times in this chapter, but each time it is mentioned, the hope is related to God’s word. God’s word, the Bible, has power. The laws, testimonies, commandments, judgements, promises and words are all written to guide, comfort and give security, life and hope.
God’s word is described as ‘sweeter than honey’ (verse 103), ‘a lamp to my feet’ (verse 105), ‘more precious than thousands of pieces of silver and gold’ (verse 72) and ‘a refuge and shield’ (verse 114). The writer faces persecution and opposition because of their devotion to God; however, they find security and comfort in all of God’s promises.
The Bible is not just an old piece of history written about people from ancient times, but it is God’s living word. Every time it is opened and read, something new about God’s love and faithfulness is discovered. God’s word is a ‘light for my path’ (verse 105), and ‘All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal’ (verse 160). It is in God’s word that our answers can be found, and our lives have purpose. In our God, we find strength for each day, comfort in pain and hope for a blessed future with a loving God.
Read the Bible – it will give your life purpose and hope for the future!
It is in your word, Lord, that I find direction and peace for my life. Your Bible is living and active. Help me to read it regularly and apply the messages to my life. Amen.
Anne Hansen has worked as the Lutheran Tract Mission Development Officer for almost 20 years. She lives in Noosa, Queensland, with her husband Mark (a pastor). She enjoys leading Know Your Bible (KYB) and Mainly Music. For relaxation, she loves walking, reading, gardening and playing pickleball.